Laser cutting in 2026: when to choose fiber and when to choose CO2

In 2026, if you point to a cutting machine on a fabrication floor, chances are you are pointing at a laser. The laser segment now holds close to 55% of the global market for cutting equipment, a clear sign that it has become the default technology wherever precision, speed and a clean edge matter.

The word laser hides two different technologies, however. Fiber and CO2 solve problems that do not overlap, and confusing the two remains the most common mistake on a first purchase.

Fiber is for metal

The fiber laser is the right choice for sheet metal and for metals in general, including reflective ones. It concentrates high power into a very fine spot and leaves behind a minimal heat affected zone, so the edge comes out clean and the part does not warp. Double table models swap the sheet while the laser keeps cutting, which means the production flow no longer stops between parts.

CO2 is for everything else

The CO2 laser works non metallic materials and also handles fine engraving, used for personalisation and decoration. A workshop that serves both the signage side and the furniture side actually needs both technologies rather than just one. They do not compete with each other, they complement each other.

Power, automation and waste

The clear trend of the year is ever higher power paired with automation. More than 60% of the plants investing right now do so for lines that are as automated as possible, where human intervention keeps shrinking. A big part is played by intelligent nesting software, which arranges parts on the sheet so tightly that it can cut material waste by up to 15%. Over the long run, this is exactly where a significant part of the savings hides.

The practical conclusion is simple. If your main focus is metal, you choose fiber. If you work non metallic materials or do engraving, you choose CO2. And if you do both, the healthiest approach is to treat them as two machines that complete each other.