CONTENTS
Volume 179 Number 4302 January 2021
10 Lead feature Laser sharp
The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has invested in a new
state-of-the-art Synova LCS305 waterjet guided laser machine - the
rst to be operated in the UK, Justin Burns investigates
16 2020 Review of the Year A year like never before
2020 is a year that will forever be remembered due to the global impact
of the Covid-19 pandemic, as manufacturing rallied around to ght the
virus. However, one of the positives coming out of the crisis has been
the accelerated use of new technology which is helping overcome
challenges
22 Forging FutureForge
Justin Burns reports on the FutureForge development, a new facility at
Strathclyde University’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) that
will open in June 2021 and is aiming to revolutionise the historic hot
forging sector
26 Automation & Industry 4.0 Automating for productivity
Fastems held a virtual seminar where it launched a new loader to the
marketplace and also announced upgrades to its manufacturing
management software
30 Automation & Industry 4.0 Robotic solutions
CNC Robotics adds robotic machine-tending system to its portfolio to
help manufacturers boost production. The company is helping
customers from different sectors, to drive operational ef ciency and
grow their businesses
32 Machining centres Driving performance
A 3-axis Spinner machine drives performance; Doosan machines
improve production and help rms meet continued demand; and
Haas, Grub and Mazak machining centres all prove their worth on
the shop- oor
38 Quality & Metrology Precise investments
Mitutoyo CMMs have been used by two manufacturers to improve
their quality and inspection processes, while Nikon Metrology and Zeiss
have introduced new products to the marketplace
42 Punch, profi le, bend, form Outlining the future
With many manufacturers reporting the return of growth following the
pandemic’s peak, Steed Webzell picks out some key recent
investments that are already proving their worth
46 Tool, mould and die making Investment injection
The high performance, quality machining of injection moulds in the UK
demands the latest technologies in order to compete with low-cost
rivals overseas, as Steed Webzell reveals
Regular sections
7 Comment
News round-up
8 Construction starts on new
AMRC facility
8 Trumpf releases its rst
automated arc welding system
8 Ceratizit launches new
LiveTechPro app
8 SLM Solutions appoints
Kingsbury to sell products
8 Volkswagen invests in
Stratasys 3D machines
8 MTC chief executive wins
top award
9 British engineers start work
on new spacecraft
9 NCAM at the MTC gets a
new 3D printing machine
9 Make UK’s rst metrology
technician apprentices
9 NMITE open for business
and applications
9 Siemens expands its AM
ecosystem with new deals
9 75 years for metrology rm
Optical Gaging Products
New products
9 Horn expands range
9 Tebis extends capabilities
9 New Fanuc robot
9 Comau exoskeleton
9 Citizen improves models
9 Kennametal new line
9 ITC widens offering
9 Siemens new IoT offering
9 Trumpf punching machine
9 Total releases products
48 Classifi ed section
50 This month
25 years ago...
10
Cover image: courtesy of Synova
25years ago
Atwo issue month, and our comment piece in the rst discusses
sector is by and large, doing pretty well, which is set to continue for
the foreseeable future. The Machine Tool Technologies Association’s
annual forecasting seminar heard that the UK market for machine
tools is expected to have shown a 26 per cent increase in 1995 and
will grow by a further 18 per cent in 1996 and 1997.
European manufacturers of high-precision internal grinding wheels,
super nishing wheels and honing stones, has established a UK base
at Poole in Dorset, while Derek Price revealed he is planning to move
his UK headquarters from Hinckley into new premises in the West
Midlands within the next few months.
UK agent for the Taiwanese-made Johnford range of ver tical machines
and Wenlock Machine Tools of Leicester is named exclusive UK agent
for the range of CNC lathes by Monforts.
grinding machine maker Douglas Curtis Ltd, and its parent company
Douglas Curtis Machine Tools to nd out where the growing company
came from and is going; provide a guide to the complex and changing
world of wheel and dressing technology; and look at improvements in
areas of process control, generators and automation in development
50
UK machine tool industr y on the rise; Alfons Schmeier establishes UK base; Derek
Price planning premises move; Machiner y awards up for grabs; US company Strippit
launches UK operations; Marbaix signs exclusive deal
january 1996
In news, we report how Alfons Schmeier, one of the leading
Meanwhile, Advanced Technology Machines, has been appointed
In feature articles in the rst issue of the month, we have: a visit to
Key Events
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how the business climate is probably “as good as it’s going to
get” before the next General Election and that the machine tool
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▼ ▼ ▼
6,138th performance
of “Cats” is held in London, surpassing
the record of Broadway’s
longest-running musical,
“A Chorus Line”
The coatings for
the highest performance
▼
For more information:
cutting.tools/en/dragonskin
jan 96
Endeavour
10, Space
Shuttle STS
72, launches
into space
▼
A record
£42 million
is won by three
people in the
Lottery in Great
Britain
NUM leader
Arthur Scargill
announces he
is defecting from the Labour Party to
set up his own Socialist Labour Party
▼
Terry Venables says he will
resign as manager of the
England national football
team after the 1996 European
Championships, taking
place in England
of EDM.
In this issue, we also visit Luneside Engineering to
nd out about an ambitious strategic development
plan focusing on rapid expansion through
sales, marketing and acquisitions; focus
on sheetmetal, by paying a visit to
Harlow Sheet Metal, which turns over
£11m, employing 200 people across
sites in Harlow, Essex and
Cwmbran, South Wales; and as
turnover for subcontractors involved with the fabrication and forming of
sheetmetal showing an increase, Machinery examines the activities
that lie behind this improvement.
In the second issue in January, our comment piece focused on the
1996 Machinery Awards for Innovation in Production Engineering,
which due to the high quality in the four categories, saw four entries
listed in each category. Companies were aiming to win one of the
prestigious industry awards for their innovative projects, problem
solving and smart thinking.
In news, we report how Strippit opened a new 2000 square foot
Technology Centre at Swindon bringing all aspects of the rm’s UK
operations under one roof. The new facility includes demonstration
and training areas, technical support, tooling and spares for CNC
Punch presses, as well as supply and service for Strippit unitised
tooling and Di-Acro bench-mounted shears and benders.
In other news, Derek Machine Tools held an open house that we
report took place “in an atmosphere of con dence and optimism”, as
the company reported turnover had increased signi cantly in 1995 to
£12m from £7m in 1994.
Meanwhile, Marbaix signed an exclusive UK sales agreement with
Acro Automation Systems of Milwaukee; RK International Machine
Tools was awarded ISO 9002 accreditation after two years of careful
planning and a six-month test for its new quality system; Leicesterbased
machine tool company Eurospark reported sales had increased
250 per cent to £4m in only its second year of trading; Startrite
marked its 50th anniversary with a move to new premises in
Rochester; and the Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association reports
machine tool sales for the rst 10 months of 1995, rose by 38.2 per
cent and had already surpassed gures for the whole of 1994.
In feature articles, we investigate the Department of Trade and
Industry-supported Total Preventative Maintaining Experience; talk to
British Aerospace about sheetmetal parts being made at their Filton
Factory; and pro le Bristol Tool & Gauge Group, which has celebrated
50 years in business. ■
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