BLM Group announced the ability of high-pressure (HP) dry air, or compressed air, to be used as an assist gas on all of its flat sheet and tube laser cutting systems. Systems using compressed air can achieve faster speeds, improved cutting and smoother edge quality, especially in aluminum applications. When used in aluminum applications, HP dry air produces virtually dross-free cuts while gaining up to 150 percent increases in speed on 1/8-in.-thick aluminum. Compressed air can also be an appropriate choice for mild steel applications, where it has a lower cost yet comparable speed to nitrogen.