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Industry News
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Orders for Robots Rise to Record Level
01 Nov 2004
Worldwide investment in industrial robots went up 19% in 2003, and went up another 18% to the highest level ever recorded in the first half of 2004. Although robot investment in the UK surged in 2003, the UK is still lagging far behind the rest of Europe in robot use. These figures were issued in a new report co-sponsored by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).
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What To Do Now That Lean is Not Enough?
01 Nov 2004
Lean is becoming universal, and continuous improvement needs to be a way of life just to survive. Manufacturing is losing 10,000 jobs per month, and subcontractors are most vulnerable. They need to provide "cradle to grave" services to customers including product development, maintenance support, and long term financial benefits, says Arthur Richardson of the MAS in the South West (SWMAS).
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Capacity Trader Offers Win-Win 'Bid & Buy '
01 Nov 2004
An 'e-Bay' inspired site for buying, and bidding for, engineering services at best prices within certain time intervals was launched at the East Midlands Manufacturing Show at the end of September.
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Universities' Expertise Shapes Future of Aerospace Industry
01 Nov 2004
Northern Aerospace Technology Exploitation Centre (NATEC) was established by the Universities of Northern England to 'pull' research out of universities and 'push' it into industry. Accessing 200 academics and £300m equipment, NATEC has over 40 aerospace business units at universities and colleges across Northern England, which are delivering new products and new technologies that have enabled aerospace companies to reduce development costs and risks, and will help them stay ahead of the competition.
Joining, Fabrication & Assembly
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Acquisition is a 'Good Fit' for Precision Fabricator
01 Nov 2004
The acquisition by Bristol's specialist electron beam welding and precision machining company, Ravenscourt Engineering, of McGrane Precision, a well respected machining subcontractor from the Gloucester area, is a 'good fit'. The company combines electron beam welding and machining to manufacture parts in a more cost effective manner. Billets for machining can be 'fabricated' using electron beam welding thus reducing material costs and machining times.
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Micro Laser Welding Service Launched
01 Nov 2004
ABR Specialist Welding has recently launched a specialist laser welding production service for the micro welding of small and delicate assemblies. Within the past 12 months, ABR has installed two new laser systems, and now has a suite of four pulsed laser systems.
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Umbilical Mechanism Required Controlled CNC Turning Capacity
01 Nov 2004
Atlantic Engineering's recently installed Bridgeport XP3 HPD vertical machining centre and CNC lathe proved invaluable during the fabrication of a complicated umbilical mechanism connection that demanded stringent quality requirements for use in the offshore gas industry.
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Dynamic Changes Continue A Pace
01 Nov 2004
For the past 140 years, A Taylor & Son of Leeds has continually modernised and moved forward when so many less well established engineering companies have struggled just to survive. The company has self financed three major expansions in the last 10 years, and the latest developments are the appointment of a new works manager and the installation of a production control system upgrade.
Precision Engineering
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Man, Machine & Society
01 Nov 2004
Readers of Engineering Capacity are invited to a free lecture presented by William Starling, consultant to European Automotive Industry. 'Man, Machine & Society', is organised by the Society of Engineers, and begins with refreshments at 6pm on 15th December 2004, at the Medical Society of London.
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Machining Prices Halved By Investment Policy
01 Nov 2004
By adopting a policy of buying affordable, high technology production equipment, George Thompson, managing director of Tewkesbury-based contract machinist, Helander Precision Engineering, has reduced component prices over the past five years by 48%. In the last three years, Helander has invested £1.6 million in new machine tools.
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Engineer Entrepreneur Celebrated in National Photographic Exhibition
01 Nov 2004
A Dundee man who established a successful precision engineering company with the help of The Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) will feature in Enterprise Works - a photographic exhibition launched this month to celebrate 21 years of young people who have overcome barriers to start up in business with The Prince's Trust, supported by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group.
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EDM Capability Adds New Dimension to Precision Machining Portfolio
01 Nov 2004
Merc Engineering UK has installed a precision CNC electrical discharge machining section to complement their existing CNC turning and CNC milling capacity. The company specialises in the manufacture of small/medium sized precision machined components in difficult to machine aerospace and subsea alloys, such as Inconel, Hastelloy, titanium, Duplex stainless steel and metal matrix composites.
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Contractor Collaborates On Design and Manufacturability
01 Nov 2004
Linx Printing Technology, a world leader in industrial ink jet coding, has been working with Shearline Engineering in a partnership involving design and manufacture for one of its machined components used in its industrial ink jet coders.
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New CNC Turn-Mill Increases Efficiency
01 Nov 2004
In October of this year, Metrics Engineering, specialists in CNC Milling & Turning, took delivery of the latest Dugard CMZ turn-mill centre. "Because of the built-in spindle, work that previously would have to be turned and milled on two machines can now be completed on one machine. This of course reduces set-up times and allows materials to be handled only once, substantially reducing run-times and increasing efficiency for the production of medium size batches of components" says operations manager Julian Sandrey.
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RP Bureau Upgrades Sintering Capability
01 Nov 2004
The firm that designed such 1960s icons as the Reliant Scimitar car and the Chopper bicycle for Raleigh now concentrates exclusively on modelmaking and rapid prototyping (RP).
Surface Engineering
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Treatment Facilities for Stainless Steel Expanded
01 Nov 2004
Anopol (South), the Hampshire-based part of stainless steel treatment specialists Anopol, has expanded into a new factory with state-of-the-art facilities. The new premises and plant, representing an investment of over £1m, were opened last month.
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Expertise Helps SMEs Improve Surface Coatings
01 Nov 2004
The resources available for SMEs to improve the quality and productivity of surface coated products were significantly increased in March when NATEC (see page 3 of this issue) commercialised the Surface Engineering facilities at the University of Salford. The business unit offers tailor-made surface analysis and material property modelling solutions to industry.
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Trade Powder Coater Invests in 'Magic' Booth
01 Nov 2004
Euro Quality Coatings Ltd the Cardiff based Powder Coating specialists have recently concluded a deal to further invest in their facilities with the installation of a new ITW Gema 'magic plus' powder-coating booth.
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Graphical Print Finishing Adds to Laser Cut Parts
01 Nov 2004
Steve Carter at John Dent Engineering reports that in addition to conventional plated and painted finishes (usually powder coat) offered with laser cutting services, the company now also offers high specification wet painting or graphical image printing onto metal, wood and plastic.
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Energy Cost Savings Enable Line to Compete with Hard Anodising
01 Nov 2004
Surface treatment specialist Poeton Industries claims that the state-ofthe-art processing line it opened a year ago to meet the growing demand for its Apticote 300 coating, is so energy efficient that it is able to compete with conventional hard anodising processes for most high-quality applications.
