From die hard to die easy

MACH Machine Tools, part of the Vigilance Group, has supplied Aluminium Extrusion Tooling (AET) Co Ltd – a relatively new start-up company based in Gloucestershire – with a new MACH 710MM+ vertical machining centre. The machine was installed at the company’s production facility in Staunton in July 2019.

Since its arrival, the machine has been used to produce high-precision customised hollow, semi-hollow and solid extrusion dies for the company’s growing UK and international customer base, which serves the building/construction, transportation, automotive, consumer goods, electrical and energy sectors.
AET manufactures a range of different diameter dies from 105 to 550 mm diameter. The MACH 710MM+ is being used to machine the smaller to medium-sized diameter dies, with the average size being 260 mm diameter.
Lead times for delivery depend on the complexity of the die, and the customer. The typical lead time for less complex dies is seven days, with three weeks being the average for more complex dies.
Explains Lee Knight, director at AET: “We are in a competitive global industry. As a relatively new company making its way in the world it was important that we invest in advanced and proven machine-tool technologies to ensure that we’re able to meet customer quality requirements and delivery schedules, and to be within their cost parameters.
“The MACH 710MM+ is a technically excellent machine,” he adds. “It’s fast, accurate and reliable – all key performance attributes. We are particularly impressed with the machine’s smooth and responsive acceleration and deceleration, and its ergonomic design that provides great operator access to the machining area.”
In addition to its performance, another positive was that the machine was available immediately from stock and could be acquired on a three-year MACH hire lease contract.
For further information www.machmt.co.uk

Free courses for those furloughed

Furloughed apprentices and employees are being given the opportunity to learn new skills thanks to a new package of support from the Training and Manufacturing Group (TMG).

The not-for-profit organisation is working with its technical partners to deliver a suite of technology courses to members that will help bridge the skills gap, increase R&D and support the post COVID-19 recovery.
Industry experts Bauromat, Guhring, ETG, Hexagon MI and Ceratizit WNT, alongside business specialists BDO, FBC Manby Bowdler and In-Comm Training, have agreed to host the interactive sessions completely free of charge and will cover crucial topics ranging from automation, robot/CNC programming and cutting tools, to arc/resistance welding, PLC programming and pneumatics. The courses will initially be delivered through short webinars or one-to-one sessions at partner sites, adhering to social distancing rules.
For further information www.in-comm-tmg.co.uk

Coolant benefits engineers and the NHS

Rocol will be donating 5% from sales of its new semi-synthetic cutting fluid to NHS Charities Together for the remainder of 2020, the company has confirmed. Ultracut 370 EP has been specially formulated for use on a range of ferrous and non-ferrous metals in both cutting and grinding operations.

Ian Fenney, Rocol metalworking fluids segment specialist, says: “As is the case for many businesses, we wanted to show our support to the NHS and the amazing work that people working in the health service have done during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Ultracut 370 EP is bright blue when diluted, it seemed fitting to donate a percentage of each barrel we sell for the rest of 2020 to NHS Charities Together.”
For further information www.rocol.com

Pendle Engineering installs another XYZ

While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented concern for many in the manufacturing sector, there remains an air of positivity.

For example, machine orders continue to be taken by XYZ Machine Tools and, as a result, deliveries continue to take place on a daily basis to customers across the UK and further afield. A case in point is the recent despatch of an XYZ 3010, the largest vertical machining centre in the XYZ range, to Pendle Engineering in Nelson, Lancashire.
The XYZ 3010, which weighs in at 25 tonnes, is the fourth XYZ machine purchased by this fabrication and CNC machining specialist. Pendle’s decision to make the investment at this time was driven by the confidence it was seeing from customers, while at the same time delivering a significant increase in machining capacity with its axis travels of 3000 x 1000 x 800 mm, backed by an 8000 rpm spindle. Pendle Engineering now has the capability to machine pieces weighing up to 4000 kg.
“Our subcontract steel manufacturing services are supplied to a broad range of sectors, and the encouraging levels of customer demand gave us the confidence to invest,” says Chris Smith, managing director at Pendle Engineering. “This new machine not only bolsters our existing capacity, but allows us to bring the machining of larger (>1 m) workpieces in-house. These unprecedented circumstances have without doubt added an extra dimension to our investment decision-making, but we’re planning for the long term and are delighted to be working with XYZ once again.”
XYZ Machine Tools has continued to support its customers throughout the pandemic and this has been rewarded by a steady influx of new machine orders. The company currently has around 50 machines in build and under pre-delivery test.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Comau launches global solutions network

Comau has introduced a global web-based networking platform designed to support SMEs by creating a win-win ecosystem between ‘verified’ system integrators and companies exploring automation opportunities.

To help different sectors reap the benefits of automation in an intelligent and cost-effective manner, the Comau Marketplace platform features case studies, targeted solutions and industry guidance on how automation can help increase productivity and lower overall costs. The platform also helps system integrators propose solutions and interact with potential customers.
For further information www.comau.com/marketplace