In short: Plan the site before you order: floor space for the machine plus loading, automation and maintenance access; a foundation suitable for the bed; an electrical supply sized for the whole system, not just the laser; gas supply; fume extraction; and laser-safety and machinery-compliance documents for your market.
Floor space
Allow for the machine footprint, the exchange table travel, the electrical cabinet, chiller, extraction unit and gas supply, plus access for sheet loading, forklifts and maintenance. Automation and storage towers add substantially to the footprint. Ask for a layout drawing with all peripheral units before you sign.
Foundation
Large-format and high-dynamic machines need a level, stable floor; some require a dedicated foundation. Use the manufacturer's foundation drawing and have a local engineer check it against your floor.
Laser cutter power consumption: size the whole system
The laser source is not the only load. Industrial fiber lasers convert electricity to laser light at roughly 30–40 % wall-plug efficiency (sources 1, 2). That means a laser source producing 20 kW of light draws in the order of 50–67 kW from the grid at full output (20 ÷ 0.40 to 20 ÷ 0.30) — before the chiller, drives, extraction and air compressor are added. Ask for the machine's total connected load and the recommended supply rating.
| Load | Why it matters | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|---|
| Laser source | Largest single load at full power | Electrical input at rated output |
| Chiller for the fiber laser | Removes the heat the laser does not turn into light | Rated power and cooling capacity |
| Drives, CNC, auxiliaries | Motion and control | Connected load |
| Fume extraction | Runs while cutting | Fan power and airflow |
| Air compressor / N₂ generator | Only if you produce gas on site | Power at required pressure and flow |
Gas supply and fume extraction
Decide early how you will supply oxygen, nitrogen or air (see chapter 2), where tanks or compressors will stand, and how extracted fumes are filtered or exhausted under local rules.
Laser safety and machinery compliance
- Laser safety: EN ISO 11553-1:2020 sets laser-safety requirements for laser processing machines, in addition to IEC 60825 (source 3). Ask which standards the machine is designed to.
- European Union: Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 applies to machines placed on the EU market from 20 January 2027, replacing the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC (source 4). Check that the declaration of conformity you receive matches the rules in force on your delivery date.
- Other markets: Australia and the Gulf states have their own electrical and workplace-safety requirements.
Installation and handover
Typical steps: unloading and positioning, levelling, electrical and gas connection, laser and chiller commissioning, axis calibration, acceptance cuts and operator training. See installation & training.
Frequently asked questions
How much electricity does a 20 kW laser use, and what power supply and chiller does it need?
At roughly 30–40 % wall-plug efficiency, a 20 kW laser source draws in the order of 50–67 kW at full output (sources 1, 2). The chiller, drives, extraction and any compressor come on top.
How much electrical power does a 20 kW fiber laser need?
With fiber-laser wall-plug efficiency of roughly 30–40 %, the laser source alone draws in the order of 50–67 kW at full output. The chiller, drives, extraction and any compressor come on top, so always ask for the total connected load.
Which standard covers laser safety on cutting machines?
EN ISO 11553-1:2020 sets laser-safety requirements for laser processing machines, alongside IEC 60825.
What changes in the EU in 2027?
Machinery placed on the EU market from 20 January 2027 falls under Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 instead of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.
Sources
- Laser Focus World, “High-efficiency optical pumping” — industrial ytterbium fiber lasers above 30 % wall-plug efficiency — www.laserfocusworld.com (accessed 2026-10-20)
- IPG Photonics YLS-CL series datasheet — wall-plug efficiency stated as > 40 % — www.findlight.net (accessed 2026-10-20)
- EN ISO 11553-1:2020, Safety of machinery — Laser processing machines — Part 1: Laser safety requirements (catalogue entry) — iteh.es (accessed 2026-10-20)
- TÜV NORD, “Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230” — applies to machines placed on the market from 20 January 2027, replacing Directive 2006/42/EC — www.tuev-nord.de (accessed 2026-10-20)