25this month
Lack of both industrial and government backing to support
world-leading gear manufacturing technology is bemoaned
this month. Gears are a basic mechanical engineering product
whose accuracy/performance requirements are always required to
increase – today its electric car demands. In 1994, Cran eld
Precision Engineering (now part of French group Fives) already has
world-beating technology. We suggest it deserves backing. In our
second issue of the month, the American machine tool industry’s
recovery is celebrated, although it is national not international
demand that is the spur. The biennial IMTS event underlines that,
which we attend and report on. Recent entrants in the vertical and
horizontal machining sector, such as Haas Automation, are making
their presence felt (although it is verticals that are the real growth
sector nationally and globally at this time); PC-based/PC-fronted
CNC systems are another trend; machine tool rebuilding/retro tting
is also prominent; and the country’s National Machine Tool
Partnership is helping the country’s industry develop its technology.
244361_V23_MACH_Ceratizit 28/03/2019 11:08 Page 1
In news, Japanese machine tool builder Hitachi Seiki (subsumed
within DMG Mori today), having opened a German operation a year
ago, is planning a larger factory there that will open in two years’
time. Currently able to build 180 vertical machining centres, the
expansion will double that. And news from German company Traub
Heckert is that it has incorporated laser into one of its turning
centres. Drilling, milling, slitting and heat treatment are all claimed
possible. Italian rms are in buoyant mood, with attendance gures
for the country’s Bi-Mu show
well up; orders are also on
the up.
In the UK,
increasing
global
demand for
low-cost
vertical machining centres is underlined by the Birmingham
operation of US machine tool maker Cincinnati Milacron (parts now
subsumed within Fives) announcing that orders for its Arrow line of
machines are three-times those forecast.
Another US machine tool maker with a UK base is Giddings &
Lewis (also today subsumed within Fives). It is celebrating 25 years
of UK operation with an event at the former Cross International
plant in Knowsley, Merseyside plant. This is the new centre of
operation for the rm, who previously ran its UK business from
Arbroath, Scotland. There are plenty of machines on the oor in
build, we note.
In a sign of this proto-digital period, the Copper Development
Association is making available a ‘data disk’ for £5 that gives
detailed information on certain materials’ inclusion in a
forthcoming CEN standard. Also re ecting the way information is
delivered at this time, cutting tool expert Hertel (now subsumed
within Kennametal), coolant specialist Castrol and material
stockholder Macready’s Carbon & Alloy Steels have togeher
published a paper wallchart – “The Machinist’s Guide to freecutting
carbon and alloy steels”. And Sandvik Coromant has published a
900-page tome covering Modern Metal Cutting. Move along, no
websites to see here.
Feature articles this issue include: punch press, laser and
plasma technologies and their uses, but it is punch presses that
hold sway at this time still; the development of a production control
system, Redthorn, by a sheet metalworking company that has
found favour with many – the package continues to be available
today; a report on the technology and use of horizontal machining
centres, which at this time run second to verticals, as far as
demand is concerned; a short report on the subcontract gearmaking
sector and also latest gear-making technology; and, as is
pretty typical for this period, several pages across three features
covering the rebuilding and retro tting sector.
58
years ago
UK gear-making technology; US show underlines change & growth; laser comes to
turning equipment; vertical machining centre demand high; G&L 25-year celebrations;
communication before the web; subcontractor develops production control software
october 1994
oct 94
▼ ▼
PA
Key Events
Korea’s Daewoo
says will
start selling
cars in Britain
next year
Chinese fl ag: ParamePrizma /stock.adobe.com Pulp Fiction: movies / Alamy Stock Photo
Venus Williams’
professional debut
at age 14; beats
world no. 58
Shaun Stafford
Burton ‘Burt’
Lancaster,
American
actor (Spartacus),
dies of
heart attack
Pulp Fiction,
starring John
Travolta &
Samuel L
Jackson,
released
Rover Group
launches
Rover 100;
facelifted
Metro
▼
▼ ▼
PA
PA
China
performs nuclear
test at Lop
Nor, PRC
Phil Talbot / Alamy Stock Photo
/stock.adobe.com