This will depend on the type of sheet metal processing performed in your workshop. While both hydraulic guillotine shears and plasma cutters are designed for cutting metal sheets, the nature of their operation is completely different, and each machine is better suited for a different type of production.
Guillotine – a mechanical machine for simple cuts
A guillotine performs a simple mechanical cut and does not generate heat, meaning no additional operating costs related to temperature (electricity). It is not capable of cutting very complex shapes, yet it does offer certain advantages that a plasma cutter does not. Above all, it cuts much faster and with greater accuracy. It performs precise straight cuts, ensuring clean edges, which makes it ideal for repeated cutting of identical parts.
For example: if you have a sheet measuring 3 × 1.5 m and need to cut 100 pieces sized 3 × 1.5 cm, a guillotine will complete this task with 100 quick blade strokes. For a plasma cutter, this process would take significantly longer, and the results may be disappointing. The edges will never be perfectly smooth, and incorrect parameters may lead to errors. Additionally, during plasma cutting some material is irreversibly lost — meaning the number of parts produced may be lower than expected.
Plasma – greater capabilities, but also higher operating costs
A plasma cutter is suitable for cutting virtually any shape — simple or complex. It excels when holes must be cut or when parts require irregular edges. In these areas, the mechanical guillotine simply cannot compete. A plasma cutter gives you complete freedom in terms of project complexity — the only limit is your imagination.
On the other hand, choosing a plasma cutter involves higher operating costs. The machine consumes significant amounts of electricity. As mentioned earlier, it offers no material savings compared to a guillotine. The cutting speed is also considerably slower. All this means that cutting a simple piece of metal with a plasma cutter takes more time and generates higher expenses.
Plasma Cutter or Guillotine Shears – Which Is More Cost-Effective?
The choice depends entirely on the type of production you run. It is easy to see that a plasma cutter has a major advantage over a guillotine because its range of capabilities is far broader. A guillotine cannot perform most projects — it cannot cut even a simple hole or create parts with irregular shapes. Choosing a plasma cutter is an investment that allows you to offer a wide range of services and manufacture parts in many shapes.
On the other hand, the guillotine performs better for simple, straight cuts and parts of uniform dimensions. If your workshop produces mainly such elements, hydraulic guillotine shears will be fully sufficient. For simple cuts, choosing a guillotine saves both time and material.