www.machineryclassi ed.co.uk
briefs Sandvik Coromant/Microsoft venture
briefs
Microsoft & Sandvik Coromant
are working together to
digitalise manufacturing
Sandvik Coromant has embarked on
a unique venture with Microsoft to
drive forward the development and
digitalisation of the manufacturing
industry. The collaboration, due to
commence Q1 this year, seeks to link
up parts of the production chain to
create solutions for the next
generation of manufacturing. The
contract also includes an
acceleration of the internal
digitalisation network for Sandvik
Coromant.
Sandvik Coromant's CoroPlus
offering, developed in part with
Microsoft, is based on Azure IoT
Suite, Cortana Intelligence Suite and
Dynamics 365 for Field Service.
Among other things, the offering
connects people, machines, tools
and data on a single platform to offer
customers a better basis for decision
making and provides an overview of
the various developments in the
manufacturing process.
"We see this collaboration with
Microsoft as key to the success of our
digital strategy. We have a historic
relationship with them and look
forward to continuing our journey,
creating value by working together to
develop and implement solutions for
the manufacturing industry to
guarantee ef ciency, sustainability
and growth. This unique partnership
represents a new way for our
companies to work together more
closely to develop our competence,"
explained Nadine Crauwels, president
of Sandvik Coromant.
Filtermist offers additional services
to rms making medical parts
With capacity to spare at the current
time, Filtermist is offering
manufacturing support to other
companies. The rm operates two
fabrication facilities, one in Telford
and one in Wetherby, as well as
having a comprehensive engineering
division that includes a team of
quali ed design engineers.
Historically, Filtermist has only
designed and manufactured its own
brand products, but the current
climate means it has capacity to
support other rms, if needed.
Director of manufacturing Simon
Barron explains: “Our business is
global and whilst many of the UK’s
manufacturers remain open, this isn’t
the case in other countries, so
demand for our core products is
starting to decrease in some
territories. Many of our UK customers
are involved in manufacturing parts
for ventilators, as well as other
medical devices and components
required to help combat COVID-19."
In addition to its normal services
such as LEV testing, it is offering
engineering design, as well as a full
range of fabrication services,
including welding, laser cutting,
spinning, bending and rolling, as well
as control panel building and
electrical support.
NIkken delivers tools & more
Nikken business manager Danny
Wells has been working with
customer Roscomac, helping to
maintain production of the rm's
medical components.
Wells has over 13 years’
engineering experience as a CNC
programmer and was a previous
employee of Roscomac, which
has over 40 years’ experience in
serving for a variety of industries
including medical, aerospace,
defence, and oil and gas.
In recent weeks, Roscomac
has seen a huge increase in
demand for medical components.
Rising to the challenge, the
company has hired 10 new
members of staff to increase
production. Current staff
members have expanded their
primary role, including two
CADCAM programmers who are
now running machines. Nikken’s
Wells is adding further to the
company’s expanded workforce.
Says Joseph Martello,
Roscomac managing director:
“Nothing gets in Nikken’s way to
support this important activity.
It’s at times like these when you
really know who can support
you.”
Roscomac boasts over 60
CNC machines at its Worthing
site, giving it the ability to
machine components with most
technologies under one roof, from
multi-axis turning, sliding-head,
CNC grinding and mechanical
assembly. With the need to
maximise output, Roscomac has
begun emergency 24 hours per
day shift working, with machines
being required to run with the
minimum of intervention.
The company has invested in
a range of Nikken products, citing
high reliability, level of quality
and effective support as deciding
factors. These tools are now
employed making a variety of
medical equipment parts.
Royal Mint drops coins for visors
The Royal Mint began mass
manufacturing medical visors last
week for NHS frontline care
workers, with the rst batch
already delivered to The Royal
Glamorgan Hospital.
The Royal Mint, usually known
for making coins, bullion and
gifts, has a state-of-the-art
manufacturing facility in
Llantrisant. Engineers at the site
found a rudimentary design for a
medical visor online and began
developing prototypes – turning
the concept into an approved
design in just 48 hours. In
addition, The Royal Mint has
supplied the local NHS with other
essential PPE equipment from its
stores, along with project
management support.
The visors will initially be
made available to Cwm Taf
Morgannwg University Health
Board Wales, but The Royal Mint
says it can produce thousands
per day, subject to securing
enough raw components.
It is now appealing for
manufacturers across the UK to
help source 1.0 mm PET clear
plastic which is currently in low
supply (visors@royalmint.com).
Leighton John, director of
operations for The Royal Mint
said: “My sister works for the NHS
and it really focuses your mind on
the challenges they are facing,
and the opportunity we have to
support them.
“On Wednesday 25 March
at 9 am we knew nothing about
medical visors, but we set our
engineers the task of developing
essential medical equipment that
could be easily made on site –
within seven hours they’d created
a medical visor, and within 48
hours it was approved for mass
manufacture. We’ll shortly post
the speci cations on our website
to enable other rms to make
them, too."
8 April 2020, issue 2 - Machinery Classifi ed
/www.machineryclassi