The Role of Laser Cutting in Construction Building Techniques    

laser cutting construction industry
April 17, 2023

With each new technological advancement, the movement toward environmentally friendly behaviors continue to gain advancements. Therefore, the same can be said with new construction techniques. For instance, the role of laser cutting in construction building techniques has led the industry towards a cleaner and less wasteful process. 

Cutting stainless steel and utilizing laser cutting techniques has given the industry a quicker, more efficient way of creating impressive structures as it helps reduce the waste it once created. 

However, what is the role of laser cutting in construction building techniques, and how has it changed to benefit the environment? How has steel been used to create some of the impressive buildings we see today? Additionally, are there buildings that could have benefited from laser cutting techniques? 

Let’s dive into the role of laser cutting in construction. But first, let’s look at how laser cutting can help protect the environment. 

How Does Laser Cutting Benefit the Environment? 

The use of newer technology, like laser cutting, has dramatically reduced the carbon footprint in the construction industry. 

Laser cutting has allowed the construction industry to: 

  • reduce waste 
  • use less energy 
  • provide longer-lasting machines 
  • use fewer lubricants 

Laser Cutting Reduces Waste 

Fiber laser cutters use incredible precision, which allows construction teams to plan and use material more efficiently, which reduces waste as a whole. 

Laser Cutting Projects Created by High-Performance Machines Use Less Energy 

Laser cutting allows metal workers to produce a higher amount of output with a lot less energy. Fiber laser cutting machines use about 70% less electricity, thus reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. 

Laser Cutting Machines Last Long 

Laser cutting machines are built to last, which is why they are so high in demand. A new machine has a lifespan of about 15 years, which means less replacement and less waste. 

Laser Cutting Machines Do Not Require Lubricants 

Lubricants contribute to environmental waste and pollution. However, laser cutting machines do not need lubricants to protect against abrasion. This shows how laser cutting has reduced waste and benefited the environment.  Even though laser cutting has made things easier on the environment, how has it helped the construction industry?  

Let’s tackle that topic next.  

What Are the Advantages of Laser Cutting for the Construction Industry? 

Laser cutters are a vital component in the construction process. From the project’s conception, laser cutters are used to create architectural models with incredible accuracy. Even before laser cutting machines were common, creating miniature architectural models has always been one of the first steps toward creating many of the monuments that exist today. In fact, many impressive steel buildings worldwide had a similar creative process. 

Nevertheless, laser cutters speed up the process and aid in production by processing parts quickly and retaining the intricacies and highly decorative details that give a steel structure its identity. 

So, which steel monuments worldwide have incredible amounts of steel that could’ve benefited from these techniques? Let’s take a look.  

Famous Steel Monuments that Could Have Benefited from Laser Cutting Techniques 

Some of the most impressive structures on our planet were created with steel. If these monuments were created today, a CNC cutting machine would have accelerated the speed of the construction process and helped the environment. Nevertheless, these structures are impressive technological accomplishments on their own. 

Let’s take a look at a few of the most impressive steel structures around the world. 

The Burj Khalifa 

The tallest building in the world currently stands in Dubai, UAE. The Burj Khalifa used 39,000 metric tons of steel, including about 15,500 square meters of embossed stainless steel. 

This incredible monument is three times taller than the Eiffel Tower. However, when it comes to creating structures with steel, so much steel was used to build the Burj Khalifa that it could extend a quarter around our world. 

The Brooklyn Bridge 

Did you know the Brooklyn Bridge took 14 years to complete? Construction on a big project like this could have benefited from a laser cutting machine to move it along.  

However, not all of it is made of steel. The bridge sits atop limestone, granite, and cement towers. Nevertheless, the creation of this monument marked a victory in technological achievement in 1869. 

Gateway Arch 

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, is made from a carbon-steel interior and stainless steel exterior to give it a pristine finish. The steel used for the arch is from 6.3mm thick grade 304 stainless steel and weighs 804 tons. Its peak stands at 630 feet. 

Taipei 101 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan 

Taipei 101 Tower is 1,667 feet (about twice the height of the Empire State Building) tall. Even though it’s a tall and beautiful steel structure, that’s not the most impressive fact about this building. 

The top of the tower has a giant pendulum. During earthquakes, the pendulum swings in the opposite direction to reduce the natural sway of the building. 

The Empire State Building 

One of the most talked about steel structures in the United States is the Empire State Building. It contains 730 tons of aluminum and stainless steel. The building was constructed with a lightning rod at the top, which gets struck by lightning many times per year.  With so many technological features for its time, it’s no wonder that it is such a popular building with visitors.  

Although these steel structures are impressive, the construction industry has made incredible advancements with laser cutting technology to speed up the process, create architectural models and cut steel plates for construction purposes. 

Steelway Laser Cutting Can Help You with Your Next Laser Cutting Project 

Laser cutting has made a difference in what can be achieved for the construction, automotive, and medical industries.  

Steelway Laser Cutting provides exceptional services to accurately produce stainless steel products with precision and ease. We take great pride in helping our clients complete their projects on schedule and within budget. Our goal is to provide satisfactory results for construction professionals across all industries.  

Our experienced professionals are based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania but also serve the greater area of Philadelphia and are the perfect choice for your next construction project.  

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you get the results you need for your construction project.