Latest Machinery Trade News: 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

Cottrill & Co is holding an online auction of equipment owned previously by a Nottinghamshire, UK-based injection mould toolmaker... [Read More]
Heritage Global Partners is hosting an online auction of equipment used formerly at a power plant in Stade, Germany... [Read More]
1st Machinery is facilitating an online auction of equipment used previously by Bodycote, Neath, UK... [Read More]
Troostwijk is staging an online auction of assets owned previously by steel plate processor, Oxybel, LiÃ¨ge, Belgium... [Read More]
GoIndustry DoveBid is conducting a private treaty sale of a hydraulic blanking press line used by Renault Trucks, VÃ©nissieux, France... [Read More]

Nikon CT drives R&D

The University of Leuven is applying computed tomography (CT) to research the geometrical accuracy of industrial components, both internally and externally.
Many parts have internal features that are difficult to inspect non-destructively.
Examples are hollow hydroformed camshafts, 3D... [Read More]

Omax name distributor

Abrasive waterjet machine manufacturer, Omax, has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Aqua Machinery to market, sell and support Omax JetMachining and Maxiem JetCutting centres in Mexico.
Aqua Machinery's main office, workshop and showroom in Mexico City will offer a range... [Read More]

Press shop consolidation

DRB Holdings Ltd, and its subsidiary DRB Engineering Ltd, have been acquired by Walsall Pressings Company Ltd. Birminghambased DRB is a Â£6m turnover provider of metal pressing, manufacturing and toolmaking services. Operating through two divisions, DRB Engineering and Holloway Tool, the company is a tier one supplier to consumer electronics and industrial... [Read More]

EOS introduce M400

A new additive manufacturing (AM) machine for producing parts from metal powder, layer by layer, has been launched by EOS.
Called EOS M400, the system is the first of a new generation, building on established metal AM machines in the company's... [Read More]

Brandauer install wire EDM

Contract presswork and stampings specialist, Brandauer, has commissioned two new wire EDM machines from GF AgieCharmilles.
The machines, both CUT 3000 models, were installed at the company's Birmingham facility in a speciallyconstructed, thermally-controlled EDM manufacturing cell.
The CUT 3000 machines are among the most advanced... [Read More]

Mapal boost service standards

In line with its commitment to providing the best levels of customer service and support, precision machining expert Mapal has added a new member to its UK customer external support team.
This means the team now... [Read More]

Show on course for record

Southern Manufacturing returns on 12-13 February and early indications are that the event will once again see a record number of firms participating.
The 2013 event witnessed over 700 exhibitors from every branch of manufacturing and industrial technology gathered at the FIVE international exhibition venue alongside Farnborough Airport.
The 2014 event is likely to see numbers swell to around... [Read More]

Record open house season

XYZ Machine Tools is reporting that the company's recent series of open houses held at its showrooms in Blackburn, Nuneaton, Tiverton, Sheffield and Livingston, resulted in the sales of 66 machines.
This record breaking run was led by the open house at Blackburn, which saw orders for 23 machines taken over two days at a value of close to Â£1m.
XYZ will commence its 2014 open houses with events... [Read More]

Hexagon launch CoreView 7.0

Hexagon Metrology has announced CoreView 7.0, the new version of the company's 'White Light' suite.
The latest software version provides an option of 'on the fly' capability to generate high quality data in STL format fast and seamlessly (STL models are created in parallel to... [Read More]

Revamp for Almac

Recently acquired Tornos Group company, Almac, says it has been undergoing a transformation.
A new identity has been developed to be consistent with the image of the Tornos Group, hence the inclusion of the colour blue... [Read More]

Defence contract underway

An initial batch of 15 kits comprising seven machined components for the marine defence industry in France has been completed by the Resolven, UK facility of Mollart Engineering following extensive development trials with the customer.
So complex were two key parts in the contract, a thin wall housing and a mounting plate, both were machined... [Read More]

Exol make trip to JLR

Exol Lubricants, the UK's largest independent oil blender, has bolstered its lean production expertise with a visit to the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) production facility at Castle Bromwich.
Exol's operations team visited the JLR site, which employs more than 3000 people to... [Read More]

Aqueous is the clear winner

Electron beam welding requires components to be scrupulously clean to ensure integrity of the welds, or so says Woking-based Electron Beam Processes (EBP).
Historically, cleaning with solvent and detergent removed oil from the surfaces, butcoolant residue left after CNC machining... [Read More]

Mubea aim at transport market

Haco Group member, Mubea Systems, a manufacturer of four- and fiveaxis CNC machining centres for exceptionally long aluminium and steel profiles, is targeting the mass transportation market as an area for future growth.
Trains are getting faster and are covering ever greater distances.
With countries like China nearly doubling its high... [Read More]

Three-in-one jaw module

Now available in the UK from workholding specialist, Leader Chuck Systems is a new Hainbuch jaw module which is small, flexible, can be quickly changed, and covers a large clamping range.
Available in two sizes, JM144 clamps from 25 to 115mm, while JM215 clamps from 25 to 200mm diameter.
The system is suitable for... [Read More]

Rotary tables unveiled

At just 99mm deep, the body of the new Kitagawa CK160 rotary table is said to have a smaller footprint than any other model on the market.
This ultra-compact fourth axis is suited to mounting on the table of BT30-taper machining centres and provides manufacturers with a larger working envelope... [Read More]

Wilco take Miyano

The installation of fixed head Miyano BNJ51-SY3 turning centre by Citizen Machinery at subcontract machinist Wilco Manufacturing of Birmingham has provided a solution to bridge the company's volume production turning business and its smaller batch... [Read More]

Training school refurbished

Earlier in the year Rotherham College of Art and Technology (RCAT) approached Phil Geesin Machinery with a view to refurbishing its training school machine shop.
The company was asked to quote for the overhaul, strip-down and re-spray of 22 machine tools.
The machines were collected from Rotherham on 1 July and after working on the equipment... [Read More]

Walltopia climb with PowerMill

Although the manufacture of climbing walls may be one of the most unusual applications for Delcamâ€™s PowerMill CAM system, the reason for the choice of software by Walltopia was one of the most common: a desire to maximise the productivity of a new five-axis machine tool.
Sofia-based Walltopia purchased... [Read More]

KMF expand in Europe

KMF (Precision Sheet Metal) is continuing to expand in central Europe with the strengthening of the company's business development team working from its Slovakian manufacturing facility.
The Newcastle-under-Lyme based manufacturer of sheet metal components and assemblies opened its European manufacturing centre in 2011 to support a growing list of customers in the region.
To further build on the facility... [Read More]

Strong secondhand market

Kerf Developments is reporting significant growth in both its new plasma cutting machines and its range of second-hand machines.
In terms of the latter, all ageing machines are returned to the engineering team at Kerf, where they are completely stripped down and inspected.
The machines are then rebuilt and repainted back to their original specification and performance levels.
Kerf then supply and support these... [Read More]

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Xtrac welcome Duke of Kent

His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, has visited the Berkshire headquarters of motorsport transmissions manufacturer Xtrac.
The company's first royal visitor was introduced to managing director Peter Digby... [Read More]

Russian visit measures up

To help ensure high levels of sales in Russia, UK CMM manufacturer Aberlink recently hosted a delegation from the Russian Institute for Metrology (VNIIM).
As CMMs can only be sold in Russia if they are tested and found to be within their declared accuracy statement (then listed on the state register), Aberlink welcomed Andrey Moskalev and Zoia Fomkina from the VNIIM.
Following two days of rigorous testing, Aberlink's Zenith... [Read More]

Monday, December 16, 2013

Auction Spotlight

Tiger Group is conducting a live and online auction of assets owned previously by Flabeg Solar, Clinton, Pennsylvania, US... [Read More]
GoIndustry DoveBid is facilitating an online auction of equipment used previously by BAE, Eaton... [Read More]
Fairfield Industries is staging an online auction of vertical machining centres no longer required by a Newcastle-based manufacturer... [Read More]
1st Machinery is hosting an online auction of assets from various UK sites... [Read More]
Cottrill & Co is holding an online auction of equipment owned previously by a Nottinghamshire, UK-based injection mould toolmaker... [Read More]

Done and dusted

Dust extraction specialist, Dustcontrol UK, has launched a selection of new mobile dust extraction products.
The first unit entering the market is the Aircube 1200, which will sit between Dustcontrol UKâ€™s current Aircube 500 and 2000 models.
The new Aircube 1200 can be used in large rooms, cleaning air at rates of up to 1100m³/h.
The second offering is the new DC 3900 single and twin... [Read More]

Vericut 7.3 shipping now

CGTech is now shipping version 7.3 of Vericut CNC machine simulation and optimisation software.
It features a number of enhancements designed to improve performance and simulation of the CNC programming and machining process.
For instance, changes... [Read More]

Five-axis waterjet head

Water Jet Sweden has launched its new Beveljet 60 five-axis waterjet cutting head as part of the company's 'Ultra High Pressure' cutting programme.
With the range of movements extended to Â±400Â° in the C-axis and Â±91Â° in the B-axis, the Beveljet 60 offers uninterrupted processing of contours and... [Read More]

Roughness tester launched

Taylor Hobson has developed a new series of portable roughness testers robust enough for shop floor use.
The new Surtronic S-100 series features 50mm stylus lift with right-angle attachment and more than 70mm stylus reach to allow... [Read More]

Entry level CNC lathes

Available for the first time in the UK is a new European-built CNC lathe range with Fanuc touch screen control.
The range starts with a swing over bed of 360mm, a centre height of 180mm and 75 mm between centres â€" all for Â£21,200.
The machines also... [Read More]

Feeler TC20 introduced

With the UK launch of Feeler's TC20 Alpha drilling and tapping centre, the Engineering Technology Group can offer a machine that is said to compete directly with market-leading brands on performance, but at around half the price.
The machine is being pitched at the fast,... [Read More]

Slider does the work of two

Chris Law, project leader at the Huddersfield factory of VTL Group, says that the ability to hob in the main spindle of a Traub TNL18/7 sliding head lathe while reverse-end machining in the counter-spindle results in a one-hit cycle time of 60 seconds to produce an automotive spline shaft for a Toyota gearbox.
During comparative cutting... [Read More]

Alphacam expand

CAM software specialist, Alphacam â€" the fastest growing brand within the Vero Software stable â€" has made three new engineering appointments to its development team.
Chris Howlett... [Read More]

Robot quickchange system

Schunk has enlarged its standardised robot accessories programme with the introduction of an extremely flat quick-change system.
The SWS-001, with less interfering contours than competing systems, is said to be the smallest automatic... [Read More]

MTA name next president

During the MTA's recent AGM, it was announced that Tony Bowkett, managing director of Nikken Kosakusho Europe Ltd has... [Read More]

Inauguration of Atlas plant

Pakistan Atlas Hitec (Pvt) Ltd held the inauguration ceremony of its manufacturing plant last week.
The new company is a joint venture between Atlas Group and Denso Corporation, Japan, wherein Atlas Group... [Read More]

YMT to sell DMG Mori

Under a new distribution agreement, manufacturers in the southwest of England and along the south coast to Kent are able to buy DMG Mori machine tools either directly from the OEM or through YMT Technologies.
The agreement also gives YMT exclusive... [Read More]

Oil and gas boosts sales

Machine tool supplier, Dugard, is reporting a number of recent sales to oil and gas sector customers.
Among their number is energy sector subcontractor, Glasgow-based Main Tool Co, which has taken two Samsung PL45MC CNC lathes and a PL60MC CNC lathe, as well as two heavy... [Read More]

Amada support next generation

Amada UK has demonstrated the company's commitment to the next generation of engineers by celebrating its third year as lead sponsor of the Sheet Metal Technology competition at the Skills Show 2013.
As a programme comprising hundreds of events and thousands of young people, the Skills Show is the UK's largest skills and careers event.
A total of 82,147 attended... [Read More]

Trac acquired by US firm

Crewe, UK-based manufacturer, the Trac Group has been acquired by US-based Chromalloy, a subsidiary of the Sequa Corporation. Trac Group is a tier-one component supplier to the aerospace and energy industries.
The company provides design, engineering and manufacturing of high and low pressure turbine components that include... [Read More]

Dassault acquire RTT

Dassault SystÃ¨mes, a specialist in 3D design software, 3D digital mock-up and PLM solutions, has signed an acquisition agreement for an 84% controlling interest in Realtime Technology AG (RTT), a provider of 3D visualisation software.
The acquisition of Munich-based RTT will include... [Read More]

Job creation at a high

Thanks to production and new order growth at, or near, 19-year highs, the UK's manufacturing sector is currently witnessing the fastest job creation since May 2011, says audit and tax specialist, KPMG.
Furthermore, the UK Manufacturing PMI for November rose to... [Read More]

Rebuilding Chernobyl

A Haco DrillFlex CNC drilling and milling machine is helping to create a new protective 'sarcophagus' for Chernobyl's reactor No. 4, which was partly destroyed during the disastrous explosion of 1986.
The machine is being used to machine the structural steel pillars used in the new sarcophagus dome.
The DrillFlex, which was purchased by Ukraine-based subcontractor, UTEM, is unique... [Read More]

GMF joins with IFB

In 2014, the established Global Manufacturing Festival (GMF) will run as part of the International Festival for Business (IFB).
It will take place on 24-25 June at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham with a trade show, conference, keynote speakers, workshops and 150 exhibitors.
The festival is being organised by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the University of Sheffield AMRC with Boeing, and... [Read More]

Mahindra add new facility

Mahindra Aerospace has inaugurated a state-of-the-art 25,000 sq m aerostructures manufacturing facility on the Narsapura Industrial Estate near Bangalore.
The plant has the ability to produce large, complex sheet metal parts using CNC routing, stretchforming, bladder press, heat treatment and other specialised equipment.
The facility also features five-axis CNC machining, a fully-automated surface... [Read More]

JCB announce 2500 positions

Industrial vehicle manufacturer JCB plans to create 2500 new jobs by 2018 as part of a Â£150m expansion of its business.
The firm is to build a factory in Uttoxeter, replacing one at Rugeley, and construct an excavator manufacturing plant in Cheadle.
The move comes in response to the Government's 'National Infrastructure Plan', which involves about Â£375bn of investment in energy, transport... [Read More]

Renishaw host royal visitor

On 26 November, His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex visited Renishaw to present the company with its 16th Queen's Award and to make a special 40th anniversary presentation to its co-founders Sir David McMurtry and John Deer.
During his visit, Prince Edward witnessed demonstrations of Renishaw's advanced engineering... [Read More]

One company â€“ three divisions

One company â€" three divisions

On 1 January 2014, GF AgieCharmilles will become GF Machining Solutions: the name change underscoring the fact that Georg Fischer AG (GF) is a unified company with three divisions.
GF AgieCharmilles today offers a diverse portfolio that includes including milling, EDM, lasers, spindles, tooling, automation... [Read More]

IMTMA stage Productivity Summit 2013

The seventh in a series of Productivity Summits was held in Pune by the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association (IMTMA) at the end of last month.
The summit offered an opportunity to understand and learn from the experiences and best practices of leading Indian companies.
It brought together productivity gurus, champions and aspiring leaders on a common platform to share experiences... [Read More]

Monday, December 09, 2013

Auction Spotlight

Peaker Pattinson is conducting an online auction of equipment used formerly by Robert Pringle Engineers, Harlow, UK... [Read More]
1st Machinery is holding an online auction of machinery from various sites in the Midlands... [Read More]
Cottrill & Co is hosting an online auction of machine tools used previously by Gramton Engineering and others... [Read More]
GoIndustry DoveBid is facilitating an online auction of equipment used previously by BAE, Eaton, Danfoss and others... [Read More]
Fairfield Industries is staging an online auction of vertical machining centres no longer required by a Newcastle-based manufacturer... [Read More]