Tidyco invests £150,000 in new machinery

Derby-based Tidyco, a supplier of hydraulic and pneumatic products to the UK rail industry for over 40 years, has invested £150,000 in state-of-the-art tube-bending machinery. The CNC tube-bending machine includes a programmable robotic measuring arm coupled with machine-to-machine (M2M) technology. Tidyco says that the investment will allow it to rationalise outsourcing activity so as to provide cost-effective solutions to its client portfolio.

The expansion contributes towards Tidyco’s commitment to smart manufacturing, addressing topical industry 4.0 subject matters.
Importantly, the company fully supports the Government-fuelled Industrial Strategy and Midlands Engine initiative whereby the family-owned business believes that ongoing investment will contribute towards manufacturing growth throughout the region. The new tube bender was part-funded by the University of Derby’s Invest to Grow initiative, with equipment being procured from Addison Saws and other local suppliers. Former Mayor of Derby, John Whitby, officially opened the manufacturing plant expansion.
Phil Mason, production director at Tidyco, says: “As a business, Tidyco is committed to a long-term growth strategy whereby continuing investment in additional manufacturing equipment forms part of overall critical success factors. The addition of a tube-bending facility will enable the company to supply customers with products in a much faster, accurate and cost-effective manner, while empowering new and existing staff working with our quality-control procedures. Ultimately, the investment further bolsters opportunities regarding new market penetration.”
Additional tube-bending capabilities include: a tube shaper measuring arm; full reverse engineering functionality; proficiency in bending most tubes from 8 to 50 mm; and STEP file conversion.
For further information www.tidyco.co.uk

XYZ at TCT

At the TCT Show (NEC, 25-27 September) XYZ Machine Tools will have on display the HP Jet Fusion 3D 4210 printing solution along with its associated processing and fast-cooling station.

Displayed on stand N47, this combination can print at up to 4500 cm3 per hour, with 100% of any excess material being recycled and re-useable. The machine can be configured for continuous production printing, eliminating in many cases the costs associated with injection mould tools. Apart from the processing speed, another attraction of the HP Multi Jet Fusion technology is its ease of use, says XYZ.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

OES deal

US-based Belcan, a global supplier of engineering, supply chain, technical recruiting and information technology services to the aerospace, defence, automotive, industrial and government services markets, has acquired the assets of UK-based Omega Engineering Services (OES) from parent company Passionate About People (PAP).

The terms of the transaction, which closed on 31 July, were not disclosed. OES, headquartered in Cheltenham, is a specialist in the testing and development of control equipment for use in the aerospace and industrial sectors.
For further information www.omega-oes.co.uk

Bake Off contestant from NARMC

An engineering researcher at the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) is taking part in The Great British Bake Off.

Dr Rahul Mandal, a research associate specialising in light-based measurement of engineered components, started baking cakes for colleagues at the NAMRC only two years ago. He is now a contestant in the 2018 series of the hit baking competition, broadcast on Channel 4 from 28 August. He joined the NAMRC in 2015, to develop automated techniques for inspecting components for contamination and flaws.
For further information www.namrc.co.uk

Expanded factory doubles production

Househam has completed work on a six-figure investment at its new factory in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire.

The new facility increases the company’s factory’s footprint by 30% and production capacity by 50%, with double the number of construction bays for Househam’s latest self-propelled agricultural sprayers. There is even space to test the biggest sprayers in the company’s range. The expansion comes after a successful 12 months for Househam, which saw the company grow its exports by 25%. The factory also houses a second-hand workshop, offering servicing and parts to its global customer base.
For further information www.househamsprayers.co.uk