120+ years of welding and cutting expertise. Combirex, SXE-P, and Suprarex CNC plasma and oxy-fuel machines for steel service centers, shipyards, and high-volume production worldwide.
Get a Free QuoteESAB was founded in 1904 in Gothenburg, Sweden by Oscar Kjellberg, who invented the coated welding electrode that transformed metal joining from a craft into an industrial process. Over 120 years later, ESAB has grown into one of the world's largest manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment, with operations in more than 80 countries and headquarters in North Bethesda, Maryland. Their cutting systems division produces some of the most advanced CNC plasma and oxy-fuel machines in the industrial market.
What separates ESAB from most CNC plasma table manufacturers is vertical integration. ESAB designs and manufactures their own plasma power supplies (the m3 Plasma and iSeries lines), their own CNC controllers (Vision T5 and T6), their own cutting machines (Combirex, Suprarex, SXE-P), and their own nesting software (Columbus). This end-to-end control means every component is engineered to work together, which translates to better cut quality, easier troubleshooting, and single-source accountability. Most other manufacturers rely on third-party plasma sources from Hypertherm or Thermal Dynamics.
ESAB's cutting systems are designed for the same market as Messer and Lincoln Electric's industrial division: steel service centers, shipyards, heavy equipment manufacturers, and structural steel fabricators that process large volumes of plate in multi-shift production environments. These are not hobby machines or small-shop tools. An ESAB Combirex is a capital equipment purchase that competes for the same budget as a building addition or a fleet of delivery trucks.
| Model | Cutting Area | Plasma Compatibility | Price Range | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suprarex SXE-P | Custom (5x10 to 10x40+) | ESAB m3 Plasma, iSeries | ~$40,000+ | Entry-level industrial, plasma-only |
| Suprarex HD | Custom (6x12 to 12x60+) | ESAB m3 Plasma, iSeries, Kjellberg | ~$80,000+ | Multi-process plasma + oxy-fuel |
| Combirex DX | Custom (6x12 to 14x80+) | ESAB m3 Plasma, iSeries | ~$120,000+ | Flagship multi-head, bevel cutting |
| Custom / Multi-Gantry | Unlimited custom | Any ESAB industrial system | $150,000 – $300,000+ | Full production line integration |
High-volume plate processors that need multi-shift production, automated material handling, and multi-process cutting from a single global manufacturer.
Bridge builders, building steel fabricators, and structural shops that need precision bevel cutting and high-definition hole quality on thick plate daily.
Facilities already running ESAB welding equipment that want single-vendor standardization for cutting, welding, consumables, and service support.
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ESAB stands for Elektriska Svetsnings-Aktiebolaget, which translates to "Electric Welding Company" in Swedish. The company was founded in 1904 in Gothenburg, Sweden by Oscar Kjellberg, who invented the coated welding electrode. Today ESAB is headquartered in North Bethesda, Maryland and operates globally. They are one of the oldest and largest welding and cutting equipment manufacturers in the world, with operations in over 80 countries.
ESAB CNC cutting systems range from approximately $40,000 for a basic Suprarex SXE-P configuration to over $300,000 for a fully equipped Combirex DX with multiple cutting heads, beveling capability, and integrated nesting software. Like other industrial manufacturers, ESAB provides custom quotations based on specific requirements. These are capital equipment purchases typically financed through equipment leasing or CapEx budgets. Smaller fabrication shops should look at mid-range brands like ShopSabre or Torchmate instead.
The Combirex is ESAB's flagship CNC cutting machine platform. The Combirex DX is a multi-process gantry machine that can be configured with plasma cutting, oxy-fuel cutting, plasma marking, and bevel cutting capabilities. It features ESAB's proprietary Vision CNC controller, precision servo drives, and heavy-duty gantry construction built for multi-shift production environments. The Combirex is designed for steel service centers, shipyards, and heavy equipment manufacturers that need high-throughput, multi-process cutting on a single platform.
Yes. ESAB manufactures their own plasma cutting power supplies under the m3 Plasma and iSeries brands. ESAB m3 Plasma systems are designed specifically for CNC mechanized cutting and are engineered to integrate seamlessly with ESAB cutting machines. This is a significant advantage over manufacturers who depend on third-party plasma sources, because ESAB controls the entire cutting system from the CNC controller to the power supply to the torch, allowing tighter integration and optimized cut quality.
ESAB and Messer are direct competitors in the industrial cutting equipment market. Both companies have over 100 years of history, global service networks, and multi-process cutting capability. ESAB has a broader product line that includes welding equipment, filler metals, and automation systems in addition to cutting machines. Messer is more narrowly focused on cutting technology. In terms of CNC plasma cutting machines, both deliver comparable production quality. The choice between them often comes down to regional dealer support, existing equipment fleet compatibility, and specific application requirements.