Friday 21 November 08 - 19:44
 

Cutting & Profiling

  • Automated Laser Cutting Cells Are a Step Closer

    01 Dec 2005

    An automated linishing machine installed at fine limit sheetmetal work and laser cutting specialist Carlton Laser Services, of Leicester, represents the completion of the first phase of plans to invest £1.2m in robotic laser cutting and fabrication cells. The large automated Kuhlmeyer belt grinder is to be followed by other high technology, fast set up machines, including robotic folding and laser/punch combinations. 

  • Laser Cutting Acquired

    01 Dec 2005

    Shearline Precision Engineering Ltd, the UK's leading 'total manufacturing solution' provider, has announced the acquisition of Hybrid Laser Tech Ltd. 

  • 'Weldex' Cancellation Adds More to MACH 2006

    01 Dec 2005

    There is to be welding, joining, cutting, and fabrication at MACH 2006 (15 - 19 May 2006, NEC, Birmingham) following the cancellation of the Weldex show, due to run alongside MACH. 

  • Large Capacity Extended

    01 Dec 2005

    West Midlands based Barnshaw Profiles cutting division of Barnshaws Steel Bending, has the capacity and expertise to cut any shape for architectural supports, stiffeners or features. The company has recently invested in two new profile cutting machines: a twinhead Hypertherm Hyspeed plasma with a cutting speed of up to 5.4m per minute; and a six head flame cutter. 

  • Software Investments Keep Pace with Demand

    01 Dec 2005

    Rojac Ltd, Birmingham, has recently completed the second installation phase of FabriTrak Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software system. Rojac's investment in SolidWorks 3D CAD/CAM is also carrying on a pace in line with the growing demand from various customer groups for solid modelling of sheet metal assemblies. 

Honing & Deep Hole Drilling

  • £300k CNC Investment Underpins Shift in Focus

    01 Dec 2005

    Premier Deep Hole Drilling Ltd has over the past two years followed a strategy of moving from being the UK's largest independent deep hole drilling company to become a single source for deep drilled and machined components. This has included over £300k investment in CNC machining up to 6-axis, cylindrical grinding and supplier management personnel and systems. 

  • Total Honing Machine Count Reaches 35

    01 Dec 2005

    Apperley Honing has completed the end of another busy year with the commissioning of a 2m stroke Honing-AG machine fitted with Sunnen MPS tooling. This comes on top of two Sunnen Cylinder Kings and an 1805 automatic hand honing machine that were installed during the spring and summer. The company has also acquired two American built Barnes horizontals, a further two Delapena Beamstrokers and two Delapena Speedhones over the last 12months, bringing their total honing machine count up to 35. 

  • Extra Spindles Added as Demand for Gun Drilling Continues to Grow

    01 Dec 2005

    An extra Mollard gun drilling machine and vertical Delapena honing machine have been installed at Albans Deep Hole Drilling and Honing. Director Alan O'Brien says that his company needed more machine spindles to keep up with increasing throughput, in addition to the trend for ever tighter delivery schedules. One of the benefits offered by this company is the ability to get a fast response and decisions regarding time scales. 

  • Largest DHD Machine in Europe is Up and Running

    01 Dec 2005

    The £700k deep hole drilling (DHD) machine installed recently at TBT UK Ltd, Birmingham, is up and running. It is probably the largest subcontract deep hole drilling machine available in Europe, drilling off centre holes of up to 80mm diameter and 4m depth in block type components up to 20t in weight. 

  • Imminent Expansion in 2006 Will Secure Further Aerospace Business

    01 Dec 2005

    Continual growth and investment under new ownership has seen Perfect Bore Manufacturing expand its machining capacity in recent years to offer proprietary machining operations. Continuing success in securing long term business within the aerospace sector has lead to plans for imminent expansion at the Andover site. 

Industry News

  • MTA Gets Closer to Member's Customers

    01 Dec 2005

    The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) is exhibiting for the first time at Autosport, 12-15 January 2006 at the NEC Birmingham (www.autosportinternational. com). Located in Hall 19, the Association will be within the dedicated manufacturing technology section. 

  • Subcon 2006

    01 Dec 2005

    Over 200 exhibitors are expected to sign up for the UK's premier subcontracting event which will be held at the NEC, Birmingham, 1618 May next year. Subcon 2006 takes place alongside Mach, Drives and Controls, Electrex and Airtech, Environmental Technology and Solid Modelling. 

  • Pilot Visitors Learn Japanese Approach to Manufacturing

    01 Dec 2005

    A group of 20 industrialists and education staff have recently returned from a pilot visit to Japan in a 'learn from the best' initiative being run jointly by the SMMT Industry Forum and the Automotive Academy. 

  • TCT Breaks New Ground

    01 Dec 2005

    The TCT 2006 exhibition and conference, which will take place at the Heritage Motor Centre in Gaydon 19-20 September 2006, is breaking new ground by dedicating its two day conference to Rapid Manufacturing. 

  • Industry is Opening Up to Networking Concept

    01 Dec 2005

    Structured, professional networking is an important tool to help you gain an invaluable insight into the latest innovations and practices within your sector to help your business work more effectively. Arthur Richardson, director of the South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), talks about the importance of networking and how it can provide a platform for greater success. 

Tool & Machinery Services

  • Toolmaker Fights Back with a Fast Parts Supplier

    01 Dec 2005

    One of the ways that AL Tools, the Nottinghamshire manufacturer of injection mould tools and die casting dies, is retaliating in the face of increased competition is to use DMS-Diemould for all of its standard part and hot runner requirements. "If one of our customers required a spare or replacement part, DMS will get the item in the post to us the same day, which is invaluable to companies like ours where lead-times are vital", says director Peter Riley. 

  • Machine Purchased at Internet Auction

    01 Dec 2005

    Pontypridd-based precision toolmakers FSG Tool & Die, is now the proud possessor of a large 1300 x 700mm capacity, Proth surface grinding machine, successfully purchased at an internet auction. 

  • GTMA Launches Tool Leasing Programme

    01 Dec 2005

    In response to requests from members, GTMA, in association with Barclays Asset Finance, is launching a tool-leasing programme - yet another GTMA initiative to strengthen UK Supply Chains. The programme will allow toolmakers to offer press tools and mould and die tools to their customers on a lease basis, financed through Barclays. 

Turned Parts

  • Short Runs and Quick SetUps Attract New Orders

    01 Dec 2005

    When a new Star SR32J, was delivered earlier this year to the Chingford based turned parts contractor Inro, it marked the company's 25th year in business. It also represented the latest development in a continuing investment programme that has contributed in excess of £2.5m worth of the latest machine tool technology over the past seven years. 

  • Modern Plant Staves off Overseas Competition

    01 Dec 2005

    Hertford subcontractor Qualiturn Products is streamlining its production facility with the addition of two Star SR-20RII multi-axis mill turn centres. Owner Bernard Groom said that the latest investment will ensure that all of his 15 Star sliding-headstock lathes are now of top specification in terms of number of axes, traverse speeds and hence production output. 

  • BTMA Business Includes Shaping Training Plans for Young Engineers

    01 Dec 2005

    The BTMA continues to attract new members throughout this year. 

  • Clean Room Assembly and £2m in New Machines Adds Value for OEMs

    01 Dec 2005

    Stourbridge Turning and Grinding Ltd (STAG), West Midlands, offers high quality, added value precision parts, to a wide variety of OEMs and first tier manufacturers around the world. Over the past two years, the company has invested £2m in latest technology machinery, and has moved to a new 21,000sq. ft factory, with dedicated clean room assembly area. 

  • New Star Brings 90% CNC Turning

    01 Dec 2005

    Quantum Precision Engineering, Birmingham is now 90% CNC turning thanks to its latest acquisition, a Star SR32 purchased three months ago to compliment the other four Star machines and six Nakamura fixed head with live tooling. The company aims to achieve one hit machining and to eliminate costly second operations as much as possible. 

  • World's First Deco 20s Takes on Smaller Batches

    01 Dec 2005

    WML Engineering Ltd has always been an innovative company looking to progress in the continually competitive UK subcontract market - so when Tornos launched the new Deco 20s at EMO in September, the Swansea based company was on hand to buy the world's first Deco 20s. 

  • Arrell Hosts Factory Visit for Fellow BTMA Members

    01 Dec 2005

    BTMA member, Vince Walker, managing director of Arrell Engineering Ltd invited all the participants of a BTMA meeting to visit his factory in Rutherglen, Glasgow. The members found the types of components being machined were in the main much larger than those they machined in their factories. All agreed that Arrell's investment in technology and apprentices had really paid off and that they had a factory to be proud of. 

  • Miyano Flies from Japan to Meet Urgent Demands

    01 Dec 2005

    Burgeoning orders for close tolerance aerospace industry components have led precision turning specialist, APT Leicester Ltd to purchase its third Miyano BNJ 42 S CNC fixed head lathe in the past 12 months. As well as providing welcome additional high speed CNC turning capacity at the company's Groby, Leicester site, the latest machine was needed so urgently that it had to be flown in from Japan just to meet APT's production demands. 

  • Strategic Alliances Offer Cost Reduction Options

    01 Dec 2005

    Currie & Warner Limited (C&W), one of the original members of the BTMA, and a forerunner within the UK's turned-parts supplier industry, has recently formed strategic alliances with partner companies in India and China. This move enables the company to retain its particular "niche" manufacturing capability, and also provides greater flexibility and options for reducing manufacturing costs. 

  • Production Efficiency Boosted by FMS

    01 Dec 2005

    Burgess Hill subcontractor, HPC Engineering, has invested £1.5m to purchase a new Makino A100 2APC horizontal machining centre, upgrade an existing, similar machine on site, and link both with a Fastems automated storage and retrieval system for machine pallets and raw materials. The resulting flexible manufacturing system FMS has made a big impact on production efficiency across a wide range of large components, some of which are up to 1.5m long. 

Turning & Milling

  • Speed and Accuracy Rely on Programming

    01 Dec 2005

    Brighton-based Thomas Hatchard & Sons Ltd (THS) has a 60 year track record of success in precision engineering that is based on fast, accurate and cost-effective production of often high value, low volume components in a variety of raw materials. 

  • 'Heavyweight' Lathe Muscles in for Oil Work

    01 Dec 2005

    The first Harrison Alpha 1800S manual/CNC lathe with centre distance of four metres to be supplied in the UK, is helping Summit Precision Engineering of Solihull to manufacture high precision components for the oil and gas industry. 

  • Prestigious Facility Sets off Machining Capabilities

    01 Dec 2005

    Long & Marshall Ltd, Havant, has completed a move to a prestigious new 2,500m facility in the last few months. The company specialises in very close tolerance production of complex components. Subcontract CNC milling includes 5-axis capability. L&M also offers capacity on its mill-turn Gildemeister Twin 65 and a host of other CNC milling and turning centres. 

  • Mill/Turn Investments Go From Strength to Strength

    01 Dec 2005

    Drey Precision Ltd introduced another Mazak Horizontal Y-axis control NC Quickturn Nexas 200MY mill/turn machine in May this year. Investment in mill/turn machining centres has resulted in shorter lead-times and greater responsiveness. 

  • Plans for Expansion

    01 Dec 2005

    In 2006 Claro Precision Engineering Ltd will acquire additional production space at its Knaresborough site to accommodate increased production. The extension of the premises by the company which manufactures a wide range of machined components, kits and assemblies for the medical, aerospace, instrumentation, defence and microwave sectors, will facilitate the installation of new equipment. 

Stevens Rowsell is a specialist precision sheet metal engineering company in East Sussex