Prince Manufacturing Expands Asheville Tube Laser Cutting Capacity for OEM Contract Manufacturing

Mills River, North Carolina — Prince Manufacturing has expanded its metal fabrication capabilities at its Asheville, North Carolina facility with the addition of a new Longxin automated tube laser cutting system, strengthening the company’s ability to support OEM customers with precision tube fabrication, welded assemblies, frames, rails, brackets, guards, and other tubular metal components.

The new equipment adds automated tube-processing capacity for material up to 3 inches in tube diameter and up to 18 feet in length, with a fully automated feed system and square indexing capability. For Prince customers, this investment is not simply a new machine purchase. It represents expanded capacity, improved production flexibility, and a stronger platform for North American contract manufacturing programs.

Longxin Laser publicly describes itself as a manufacturer specializing in tube laser cutting machines and pipe laser processing equipment. Its tube laser systems are designed for processing round, square, rectangular, and profile tubes, supporting industrial metal fabrication applications where accuracy, automation, and repeatability are important.

Expanding Tube Fabrication Capability at Prince Asheville

Prince’s Asheville facility already plays an important role in the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint. The new Longxin tube laser cutter expands the plant’s ability to process tubular metal parts more efficiently and with greater repeatability.

The confirmed new capabilities include:

• Fully automated tube feed
• Up to 3-inch tube diameter cutting capacity
• Square indexing capability
• Tube length capacity up to 18 feet
• Support for tubular components used in fabricated and welded assemblies

This type of equipment is especially valuable for OEM customers that use tubular frames, guards, support structures, rails, equipment bases, racks, brackets, handles, and welded assemblies. Instead of relying heavily on manual sawing, measuring, layout, drilling, coping, notching, or secondary fit-up work, tube laser cutting can help consolidate multiple processing steps into a more controlled and repeatable operation.

That matters because many OEMs are under pressure to shorten lead times, simplify supplier networks, and improve quality consistency while still controlling cost.

Why Tube Laser Cutting Matters to OEM Customers

For many manufactured products, tube-based components are deceptively complex. A simple rail, frame, support, or guard may require accurate cut length, hole placement, slots, end profiles, notches, weld-prep features, and consistent part-to-part repeatability.

When those operations are handled manually or across multiple work centers, variation can increase. Handling time can grow. Weld fit-up can suffer. Production flow can slow down.

Automated tube laser cutting is designed to help address those problems by improving how tubular material is processed before welding, forming, finishing, or assembly. For customers, the practical benefits can include:

• Better repeatability from part to part
• Reduced secondary handling
• More efficient processing of long tube stock
• Improved weld fit-up
• Faster new product introduction support
• Cleaner integration into downstream fabrication and assembly
• Reduced reliance on multiple outside suppliers
• Better responsiveness for production and prototype work

The real value is not just the cut. It is what better cutting enables downstream: faster assembly, less rework, smoother flow, and more predictable production.

Strengthening Prince’s Contract Manufacturing Platform

Prince Manufacturing has long positioned itself as a solution provider for OEMs that need more than a single-process supplier. Prince’s broader capabilities include metal fabrication, forming, finishing, assembly, packaging, sequencing, and shipping. Company materials describe Prince’s manufacturing model around helping customers streamline operations, remove inefficiencies, and improve productivity through integrated contract manufacturing solutions.

Prince’s core services also include laser cutting, turret punching, stamping, press braking, welding, machining, powder coating, liquid coating, e-coating, assembly, kitting, sequencing, and Mexico shelter services.

The new tube laser asset fits directly into that model. It gives Prince another in-house capability to support customers that want a more integrated supplier for metal fabrication and assembly work.

Instead of sourcing tube cutting from one vendor, welding from another, finishing from another, and assembly from another, OEMs can engage Prince as a broader manufacturing partner. That approach can help reduce supplier complexity, transportation waste, work-in-process delays, and coordination burden.

Supporting North American Manufacturing Strategies

This investment also aligns with the market’s broader movement toward North American manufacturing resilience.

Many OEMs are reviewing supply chains that were historically dependent on long-distance sourcing. They are looking for ways to reduce logistics risk, improve response time, support reshoring or nearshoring strategies, and increase control over critical production programs.

Prince is positioned to support that shift because it operates in both the United States and Mexico. The company offers contract manufacturing, Mexico shelter manufacturing, and hybrid manufacturing models, giving customers multiple ways to build capacity in North America.

Prince’s broader presentation materials describe its ability to help companies manufacture in the U.S., Mexico, or through a hybrid model, while also supporting contract manufacturing and shelter manufacturing under the IMMEX/maquiladora structure.

That flexibility is important. Not every product should move to Mexico. Not every product should remain fully in the U.S. Not every company needs a shelter operation. Many OEMs need options. Prince’s value is helping customers evaluate the right mix of cost, risk, quality, lead time, and operational control.

The Asheville tube laser investment adds another capability to that North American platform.

Applications for the New Tube Laser Capability

The new Longxin tube laser system can support a wide range of OEM and industrial applications, especially where tubular metal components are part of a larger assembly.

Potential applications include:

• Equipment frames
• Structural tube assemblies
• Machine guards
• Support rails
• Brackets and mounting structures
• Material handling components
• Enclosure frames
• Welded tubular assemblies
• Industrial carts and racks
• Agricultural equipment components
• Power distribution and electrification-related structures
• Data center infrastructure components
• Heavy truck and off-road equipment parts

The strongest fit will likely be programs where tube cutting is connected to downstream welding, finishing, assembly, packaging, or sequencing. That is where Prince can create more value than a standalone laser cutting supplier.

A Practical Investment in Customer Capacity

Manufacturing customers are not looking for equipment lists. They are looking for capacity, reliability, cost control, and suppliers who can solve production problems.

This new asset gives Prince Asheville a stronger ability to help customers that need tubular metal parts produced efficiently and integrated into larger fabrication or assembly programs.

“This investment expands what we can offer OEM customers from our Asheville operation. The new automated tube laser gives us additional flexibility for tubular components, welded assemblies, and production programs that require repeatability, speed, and strong downstream integration. Our goal is always to help customers reduce risk, simplify their supply chain, and improve manufacturing performance.” — Bill Emberson, VP Sales & Marketing, Prince Manufacturing

About Prince Manufacturing

Founded in 1965 as Prince Automotive then Prince Manufacturing a U.S.-owned contract manufacturing company serving OEM customers across industrial, transportation, agriculture, power distribution, communications, appliance/HVAC, heavy truck, powersports, and related markets.

Prince specializes in metal fabrication, forming, finishing, welding, assembly, packaging, sequencing, and shipping of metal and composite products. The company operates in the United States and Mexico and offers contract manufacturing, Mexico shelter manufacturing, and hybrid manufacturing solutions.

Prince helps customers increase capacity, reduce operational risk, improve cost competitiveness, shorten lead times, and simplify complex manufacturing supply chains.

OEMs looking for tube laser cutting services, contract metal fabrication, welded assemblies, or broader North American contract manufacturing support can contact Prince Manufacturing to discuss their production needs.

FAQs

What new equipment did Prince Manufacturing add in Asheville?

Prince Manufacturing added a new Longxin automated tube laser cutting system at its Asheville, North Carolina facility. The equipment includes automated feeding, square indexing capability, capacity for tube up to 3 inches in diameter, and support for tube lengths up to 18 feet.

What are tube laser cutting services?

Tube laser cutting services use laser technology to cut, notch, slot, pierce, and profile tubular metal components. This can improve repeatability, reduce secondary operations, and support better fit-up for welded assemblies.

What types of parts can be made with tube laser cutting?

Tube laser cutting is commonly used for frames, rails, brackets, guards, supports, racks, handles, machine structures, and welded tubular assemblies.

Why does automated tube laser cutting matter for OEMs?

Automated tube laser cutting can help OEMs reduce manual processing, improve consistency, shorten production flow, and simplify fabrication of tubular metal components.

Does Prince Manufacturing offer more than tube laser cutting?

Yes. Prince offers broader contract manufacturing services, including laser cutting, stamping, press braking, welding, powder coating, e-coating, liquid coating, assembly, packaging, sequencing, and Mexico shelter manufacturing services.