Cobot show

On Stand CM28 at Advanced Engineering 2017 (NEC, 1-2 November), visitors to the stand of Universal Robot (UR) distributor RARUK Automation will be able to see how humans and robots can work collaboratively.

UR now offers three ‘cobot’ arms in its range, each categorised according to their payload limits. The smallest and most recent addition is the table-top UR3, which is virtually noiseless and compact with a footprint of just 118 mm. Total weight is only 11 kg but payload is 3 kg and, in common with other UR arms, has ±360° rotation on all wrist joints and infinite rotation on the end joint.
For further information www.rarodriguez.co.uk

Heat treatment innovation on display

On Stand P52 at Advanced Engineering 2017 (NEC, 1-2 November), Wallwork Group will be showcasing its research and development capacity. From sites in Manchester, Birmingham and Cambridge, the company provides a range of metal improvement services.

Heat treatments include solution, age or precipitation hardening and tempering, nitriding by gas or plasma and more. Coatings include TiN, CrN, CrALN, TiALN, DLC and multi-layer variants. The company is also a centre of excellence for vacuum brazing, producing complex component assemblies by joining same-metal or dissimilar metals.
For further information www.wallworkht.co.uk

Open Mind expands UK team

Open Mind Technologies, which last year posted record sales figures, has employed three new staff to help underpin the CAM software specialist’s growth levels. Karl Oram has joined after spending 25 years as a CADCAM specialist in Canada. Appointed as an application engineer, he will apply his experience to conducting demonstrations, on-site support and training for end users. In support, Joshua Harper and Cory Jamieson have also joined Open Mind, as application engineer and junior application engineer respectively.

Adrian Smith, managing director at Open Mind Technologies UK, says: “To underpin our continual growth, we have a strategy in place to employ more sales engineers and application engineers. It is the application engineers that will support new customers beyond the post-sales process with assistance for all technical queries. Our new recruits will enhance customer experience and service while supporting the sales engineers.”
For further information www.openmind-tech.com

Micro-abrasive waterjet machines on show

On Stand L1 at Advanced Engineering 2017 (NEC, 1-2 November), micro-machining specialist Rainford Precision will premiere the new line of Finepart micro-abrasive waterjet machines.

Visitors to the stand will find an intriguing new method of cutting common aerospace materials such as CFRP, glass, ceramic and aluminium alloys.
In comparison to conventional methods such as milling, wire erosion or die sink EDM, the Sweden-built Finecut waterjet system eradicates the issue of heat generation through machining. By processing parts without generating high temperatures, the waterjet series eliminates any structural or metallurgical concerns. Finecut machines have a micro-fine jet of just 0.2 mm with a positional accuracy of ±2.5 µm and an adjustable jet pressure from 500 to 4000 bar.
For further information www.rainfordprecision.com

Ford Engineering partners Gateshead College

Ford Engineering Group has chosen Gateshead College to deliver apprenticeships, workforce development programmes and traineeships as part of plans to upskill its existing staff and create engineering career opportunities for young people.

The first apprentices have already started, splitting their time between Ford Engineering’s sites across the region and the college’s Team Valley-based Skills Academy for Automotive, Engineering, Manufacturing and Logistics – a £5.5m purpose built facility that has seen recent investment of more than £300,000 in machinery and tooling.
For further information www.gateshead.ac.uk