New MD at KMF

Sheet-metal fabrication and machining firm KMF Group has appointed David Boughey as managing director for KMF Precision Engineering.

Boughey brings with him 25 years of leadership experience and knowledge in precision engineering. Starting his career as an apprentice at GEC, he has worked across various blue-chip engineering organisations including MAN Diesels, Howden and Hayward Tyler. With full responsibility for the leadership and development of KMF’s Precision Engineering business, Boughey will play a key role in meeting the company’s ambitious growth targets.
For further information www.kmf.co.uk

Lloyds Bank commits more funds to AMTC

The Coventry-based Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre (AMTC) is partnering with Lloyds Bank in a development that sees more funds released to recruit and train much-needed manufacturing apprentices.

Lloyds Bank already supports apprenticeship training at the AMTC with £10m funding over 10 years. Now Lloyds is partnering with the AMTC to release £9m more through the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Scheme. The move will allow SMEs to take on apprentices, fully-funded by the Apprenticeship Levy scheme and Lloyds Banking Group’s unspent levy.
For further information https://the-amtc.co.uk/

AZL wins at JEC

At last month’s JEC World 2019 exhibition in Paris, AZL won the JEC Innovation Award 2019 in the ‘Industry & Equipment’ category with its ‘Ultra-Fast Consolidator Machine’.

The new machine is said to offer both high flexibility and mass production of tailored thermoplastic laminates with reduced scrap. Fully consolidated multi-layer laminates with different fibre directions can be produced in cycle times below 5 seconds. This capability is accomplished through a combination of laser-assisted tape placement with in-situ consolidation and a piece-flow principle, which has not been used previously in such a way within composite production.
For further information https://azl-aachen-gmbh.de/

£50m clean mobility centre

A £50m state-of-the-art facility for creating cleaner mobility has opened in Coventry, giving a major boost to the UK automotive industry.

Copyright 2018 Mike Sewell (tel: 07966 417114) Photograph by Mikey Sewell.
Official opening of the Centre For Advanced Low-Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS) at Coventry University’s Innovation Village.

The Centre for Advanced Low-Carbon Propulsion Systems (C-ALPS), a collaboration between Coventry University and global engineering specialist FEV Group, is looking to harness cutting-edge academic and commercial expertise to support the development of next-generation electric, hybrid and combustion engines. The capabilities will be available to OEMs, SMEs in the supply chain, as well as technology partners keen to accelerate the creation of new propulsion systems.
For further information www.coventry.ac.uk/c-alps

Alcon installs trio of VTLs

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has recently supplied brake and clutch system specialist Alcon Components with three new Doosan vertical turning lathes (VTLs).

The trio of Doosan V8300 VTLs were installed at Alcon’s Tamworth facility as part of a process improvement solution to manufacture the company’s range of high-performance brake discs.
Prior to the acquisition of the Doosan lathes, and the implementation of the new manufacturing process, Alcon machined its brake discs on three horizontal fixed-head lathes. These ‘legacy’ machines, while still performing satisfactorily, are relatively old having been purchased in 1983 when Alcon Components was first established. As a consequence, the machines are slow and increasingly prone to breakdown.
Explains Brian Cutler, Alcon Component’s production engineering manager: “Our business is growing and demand for our braking systems is at an all-time high. So it was clear that we needed to invest in and significantly upgrade our brake disc manufacturing cell.”
The new flexible manufacturing cell at Alcon comprises three new Doosan 15” chuck V8300 VTLs with Fanuc controls. Each is positioned in close proximity to the next, enabling rapid part transfer. A range of different sized brake discs is being produced. The discs are made from cast iron and machined to tight tolerances and high surface finishes. Alcon currently machines approximately 500 to 600 discs per week in the new cell. Brake disc diameters vary in size (from 200 to 405 mm) depending on the end application.
“The machining process using the three V8300 VTLs has enabled us to ramp up production and reduce part
cycle times by up to 40%,” concludes Cutler.
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk