Mollart order

Mollart reports that a UK-based packaging company has ordered a Drillsprint LD2-750 two-spindle gundrill. The machine is being used to produce moulds for plastic bottles requiring a heavier wall section, incorporating pre-formed cores with accurate and uniform positioning of cooling holes within thin-wall section areas of the moulds.

Hole sizes being created by the packaging specialist are between 3.3 and 22 mm diameter by up to 400 mm deep, although in terms of capacity, the machine is able to produce holes between 2 and 25 mm diameter by 750 mm in depth.
For further information www.mollart.com

New VP/MD announced at Proto Labs

Rapid prototyping specialist Proto Labs has named Bjoern Klaas as vice president and managing director of its European operations effective from 1 December 2017. Klaas will replace John Tumelty, who will facilitate a smooth transition until his retirement at the end of December.

Proto Labs launched its manufacturing services in the UK in 2005 and has since expanded to serve all of Europe with additional manufacturing operations in Germany and Finland. The company’s European region reported revenues of £50m for the 12 months ending 30 June 2017, representing growth of 20%.
For further information www.protolabs.co.uk

Metrology innovation days at Faro

Faro is staging two UK metrology innovation days, the first on 7 November in Rugby, with another set for 21 November in Oxford. During the events, the company will demonstrate some of its newest metrology solutions, including a brand-new smart inspection solution that utilises an advanced application for viewing complex 3D data on an iPad.

This allows for easy inspection and documentation throughout the manufacturing process. Visitors will also have a chance to familiarise themselves with Faro’s Early Adopter Programme, which provides customers with early access to new products before they become widely available.
For further information www.faro.com

ETG taps into girl power

A UK machine tool supplier is benefitting from ‘girl power’ after its newest technical co-ordinator marked a major milestone. Chloe Reeve, 23, has just completed her 25th training course for Engineering Technology Group (ETG) clients, just four years after joining the business as an apprentice. She has played a key role in the firm’s roll-out of its Technical Academy Network and her latest course involved putting three employees from tool manufacturer Guhring through their paces on the new Hardinge Bridgeport XR760.

“2017 has been a great year for me and I’m really enjoying the new role, where I’m interacting a lot more with customers to make sure they receive the right technical advice and training on some of the new technology we are supplying,” she says. “During my own development, I’ve learned a variety of different CNC Programming languages, including Fanuc Turn and Mill, Siemens ShopTurn, Shop Mill and Heidenhain’s 530, 620 and 640 controls.”
For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Cutting tool specialist expands team

As part of its strategy to cultivate a larger customer base in the UK, Quickgrind has employed Sean Luck and Graeme Hogg as business development managers. “Sean has worked with some of the leading machine tool and cutting tool manufacturers in a variety of roles, and this flexibility and expertise will be invaluable as we move forward,” says managing director Ross Howell.

“Likewise, the specific expertise of Graeme in our target sectors will be a huge asset. We are excited to have Sean and Graeme join the team and everyone at Quickgrind is looking forward to seeing these guys on-board and getting around the industry.”
For further information www.quickgrind.com