Tuesday 2 December 08 - 13:25
 

Fabrication

  • Free Guide Explains Types of 'Rusting' of Stainless Steel

    01 Nov 2006

    Anopol, a stainless steel finishing company, has published an illustrated guide, available free, detailing how to protect the various grades from post-fabrication corrosion.   

  • Dedicated Fabrication Units Maintain Integrity

    01 Nov 2006

    Fabrication specialist Arc Energy Resources has secured a further contract from Hydro International to manufacture Hydro Vortex Drop Shaft Systems. This contract will be completed using one of Arc Energy’s new dedicated fabrication units by staff skilled in working with the specialised materials. Project manager Neil Cook says that, with all stainless steel fabrication, great care must be taken to avoid distortion and maintain the integrity of the material.   

  • Long Extrusions Require New 5-Axis Machine

    01 Nov 2006

    Bromyard-based Holden Aluminium Technologies Ltd (HAT) has recently won a major contract from Stuart Fraser to supply component parts for the installation of platform screens on the metro systems in central France. HAT has recently installed another new Italmac Zeus 7000 five axis CNC machine centre which offers capacity in excess of 7m in length. With this machine HAT will machine aluminium extrusions that create the structure, doors and frames for the screens.   

  • Demand Grows for Friction Welding Services

    01 Nov 2006

    Halesowen based Thompson, the friction welding specialist, has boosted its flourishing subcontract service with a £750,000 investment programme, which has included the installation of new machinery.   

Industry News

  • Manufacturing of the Future Will See More Women in the Workforce

    01 Nov 2006

    Manufacturing is transforming from a traditional model of mass production based on labour, land and capital equipment to manufacturing based on knowledge, innovation, skills and technology. As a result, what has been traditionally viewed as a sector dominated by men will hopefully see an influx of women into the profession as the perception of the industry changes and manufacturing as a career route becomes more desirable, says Arthur Richardson, Director, South West MAS.  

  • Nanotechnology Network is Open for Business

    01 Nov 2006

    A new era with a complete network of 22 Nanotechnology Centres linking up across the UK was officially ushered in early this month at the Technology Strategy Board's annual conference, "Innovate 2006". The Nanotechnology Centres will turn cutting edge ideas into business success. 
     

  • Senior Defence Speakers Discuss Requirements

    01 Nov 2006

    The Defence Technology Exchange Networking Congress on 30 November 2006 is an event open to technology-focused business of all sizes and types, academic institutes, and support organisations with an interest in developing business collaborations in the defence sector.   

  • Report Examines China's Engineering Sectors

    01 Nov 2006

    UK Trade & Investment has conducted the first in-depth report, “China Engineering Scoping Study”, into the vibrant Chinese engineering sector. The report is aimed at UK based SMEs who are looking to take advantage of China’s expanding engineering sector and need comprehensive market information before launching into the China market.  

  • UK Aerospace and Defence SMEs May Be Endangered

    01 Nov 2006

    A report from Mercer Management Consulting, one of Europe’s biggest management consulting firms, revealed that the UK should support SMEs in the aerospace and defence industry or risk losing this industry sector completely.   

Moulds & Moulding

  • EuroMold

    01 Nov 2006

    EuroMold, the 13th world fair for mouldmaking and tooling, design and application development, takes place November 29 to December 2, 2006, at the Exhibition Centre Frankfurt, Germany.   

  • Rapid Tooling For Complex Parts Relies on Master Mouldmakers

    01 Nov 2006

    Omega Plastics continues its revival with the announcement that in the  past two months it has quoted for more than £1 million of business
    from potential customers here in the UK. Having been taken out of administration, following investment by a trio of north east-based engineers, the specialist in rapid aluminium mouldmaking and lowvolume moulding of complex plastic parts is turning its fortunes around.   

  • Second HSM Machine Joins Robot Fed Cell

    01 Nov 2006

    Avenue Mould Solutions, Sligo, one of the most advanced facilities in Ireland, for the manufacture of injection moulds, installed a second robotically-loaded Roeders highspeed machining (HSM) centre in February. The investment has allowed Avenue Mould to expand its machining capacity to keep pace with increasing demand for injection moulds from the medical sector, which it predominantly serves; only 10% of turnover is automotive. 
     

  • Founder Buys Back Firm

    01 Nov 2006

    Mike McDonough, who originally launched Sertec Plastics Ltd in 1986, has bought the company out of the Sertec Group, in a management buyout, with financial backing from Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance in Birmingham. The business is now looking to expand near the current 36,000 sq ft Witton premises and to add skilled staff as the business grows.   

Precision Engineering

  • Repeated Investment Attracts Repeat Orders

    01 Nov 2006

    Over the past 18 months, the prismatic machining workload at Havant-based precision subcontractor, Long & Marshall Ltd increased to a point where the company had to consider another five-axis machining centre. Since 2002, the company has continually invested in full five-axis machining centres from DMG (UK) Ltd, which has helped attract new business, particularly from the defence sector. 
     

  • Export Targets Widen for North-West Contractor

    01 Nov 2006

    Recently back from Berlin trade fair Innotrans, the team at Lancashire based precision machining and welding company Merc Engineering UK Ltd are currently gearing themselves up for their next slice of success in the world of export. Following their attendance at the German exhibition, the company is now talking to several potential new clients, particularly in the rail industry.   

  • Software Development Maintains Business Edge

    01 Nov 2006

    Leicestershire based JJ Churchill Ltd has implemented a further Jobshop system from Planit, which plays a key role in the company’s continuing growth.   

  • Sparking Capability Updates for Motorsport

    01 Nov 2006

    Surrey-based Delen Tooling has acquired its fifth Sodick EDM, an AQ35L spark erosion model featuring the latest linear drive technology. The machine will help the company produce titanium components for an array of motorsport customers.   

  • New £1m Facility Will Integrate Laser Cutting

    01 Nov 2006

    Shearline Precision Engineering has begun construction on a £1 million extension to the company’s existing showcase facility in Ely, Cambridgeshire, to accommodate Hybrid Laser Tech Ltd, the precision laser cutting company it acquired last year. Due to be completed in the Spring of 2007, the new building will feature a number of state-of-the-art environmental features such as rain water collection and usage, and energy generated from wind power.   

  • EDM Project Aims to Improve EU Precision Engineering Sectors

    01 Nov 2006

    GTMA is participating in KnowEDM, a new three-year, EUsponsored, collaborative research project which aims to improve the competitiveness of the European tool making and precision engineering sectors by achieving a 35% average cost reduction while cutting leadtimes by up to 50%. These objectives will be achieved by developing knowledge-based automated EDM technology, which will be integrated into toolmaking and the manufacture of high precision components.   

  • Latest Turning Centre Improves Value Added Content Per Employee

    01 Nov 2006

    HS Rowe and Partners Ltd purchased another Miyano machine from Macro CNC at MACH 2006. 
     

  • Increasing CNC Capacity Reflects Rate of Growth

    01 Nov 2006

    Scotland based Swissmatic purchased a Miyano BNJ-42SY fixed head turning centre recently from Bewley & Co the new distributor for Macro CNC, the UK and Ireland subsidiary of Miyano machine tools. The machine features a back-working turret and paired Rspindle that significantly increases the processing speed on the right side of the cutting operation, the Miyano was a must have machine for Swissmatic.   

  • Ultra-High Precision Serves Niche Markets

    01 Nov 2006

    To combat the competitive threats in today’s subcontract precision engineering market, companies need to continuously invest in distinctive capabilities and advanced technologies. During the past year alone Jefferson Engineering has invested over £1 million in state-of-the-art 5-axis high speed CNC machine tools in order to develop distinctive capabilities, and penetrate those niche markets demanding ever-higher levels of precision from component manufacturers.   

  • Rapid Advance into CNC Reflects Swing to Lower Volume, Higher Value

    01 Nov 2006

    Rapid advances in CNC machining have taken place at Lancashire based Kirkham Engineering. The company has undergone a radical change of machinery with the purchase of 10 CNC sliding head and fixed head machines.   

  • Thermal Deburring Service Wins Award

    01 Nov 2006

    For the 4th year running UK specialists in thermal deburring, Deburring Centre Ltd, has been awarded Premier Supplier Status from ITW Finishings UK Ltd who manufactures all types of industrial spray finishing equipment and accessories. With a strong client base in the hydraulic industry, where thermal deburring is often stipulated for safety critical parts, Deburring Centre Ltd is the only subcontractor in the UK offering this service.   

  • Clean Cut Technology Investments Achieve Tightest Tolerances

    01 Nov 2006

    Birmingham based Sheen Spark has invested in state of the art EDM machinery throughout the year. The company has purchased a Charmilles Roboform 50 CNC Spark Eroder and a Charmilles Robofil 440cc Wire Erosion machine.   

  • Latest Investment Boosts Capacity for Components up to 10mm Diameter

    01 Nov 2006

    APT Leicester Ltd has underlined its ongoing investment in high productivity CNC machinery with the installation of two new Star SR- 10J sliding head lathes at the company’s Groby headquarters in Leicester.   

Rapid Prototyping & Manufacturing

  • Full Line Product Development Capability Extended Across Europe

    01 Nov 2006

    ARRK Corporation is moving towards achieving its European strategic objectives to increase its Full Line Product Development Service, and also to provide a more local service to rapid prototyping customers across Europe. The company has established a new business in the Netherlands whilst also acquiring Dutch Group SPG’s patented tooling technology. In a separate deal ARRK has also secured a stake in premier Italian injection moulder HCM.   

  • TCT2007 Will focus on Benefits to Manufacturers

    01 Nov 2006

    One year on from the relaunch as a stand-alone event, the TCT Conference and Exhibition has outgrown its current venue at the Heritage Motor Centre.   

  • RIM Service Wins Tough Industry Award

    01 Nov 2006

    The Protomold Company Ltd has won The National B2B Centre Award for Integrated e-Business at this year’s Manufacturing Excellence (MX) 2006 ceremony held in June. According to the organisers, the awards are generally considered to be “the toughest industry awards in which to succeed” with a rigorous judging process involving self-assessment audits, company visits from a team of MX assessors and presentations to a panel of industry experts, chaired by Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya KB CBE of the Warwick Manufacturing Group.   

  • Rapid Manufacturing Review of the Year

    01 Nov 2006

    On 7th December 2006 the RPMA will host its 2006 Rapid Manufacturing Review of the Year. This will take the best of the RM presentations given throughout the year and bring them together at a one day event in the heart of London.   

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