The latest Contract Manufacturing Index (CMI) for the second quarter of 2021 showed a 57% increase on the same quarter last year. Although slightly down (-8%) on Q1 2021, the month of June recorded the highest market figures since August last year. Indeed, at the end of June, the market was some 10% higher than in the quarter preceding the pandemic. This strong growth has continued into July but the market is still very sensitive to uncertainty in material supplies, transport shortages and the number of people having to self-isolate due to the Covid-19 ‘pingdemic’.

Sourcing specialist Qimtek produces the CMI, which reflects the total purchasing budget for outsourced manufacturing of companies looking to place business in any given month. This represents a sample of over 4000 companies that could be placing business. Together, these companies have a purchasing budget of more than £3.4bn and a base of over 7000 suppliers.

For further information www.qimtek.co.uk

At the beginning of June, Porsche and Schuler started the operation of a fully-connected press shop in Halle (Saale), Germany. Apart from a servo press line with an output of up to 20 strokes per minute, the smart press shop features a state-of-the-art blanking line: a Schuler Laser Blanking Line 2.18 equipped with two cutting heads for processing strip material with a width of up to 1880 mm.

Blanking lines with lasers do not require expensive and heavy blanking dies, which is why they are particularly suitable for the production of new parts or small batch sizes with frequent product changes. The continuously moving coil material is processed into blanks at high cutting speeds. Thanks to tooling-free scrap separation, the result is high output rates. Furthermore, the system ensures gentle transportation of sensitive materials such as aluminium.

According to Schuler, the Laser Blanking Line 2.18 is the ideal solution for the smart press shop in Halle, which focuses on the production of aluminium outer skin parts in small batch sizes. By recording various measured values of the system, as well as the coil material (by smart marking of the blank), the line that supplies the blanks for the servo press line forms the point of departure for a track and trace system.

For further information
www.schulergroup.com

General Motors has revealed plans to invest $40m in its Pontiac Stamping Plant. The company will use the investment to renovate the existing facility and install new, highly flexible fabrication machinery and presses in support of future electric vehicle production and various product applications. Renovation work will begin immediately. GM anticipates the investment will create 20 new positions.

‘Flex Fab’ sheet metal fabricating technology will enable repeatable, custom and precise stamping, reducing costs for low-volume applications. According to GM, Flex Fab will require little or no additional tooling investment to fabricate new stampings for future products.

“This investment will bring the latest in flexible sheet metal fabrication technology to the Pontiac team,” says Phil Kienle, GM vice president of North America manufacturing and labour relations. “Our manufacturing capabilities create a competitive advantage for GM and I’m confident the team at Pontiac Stamping will continue delivering excellence in all areas of the business as they deploy this new equipment.”

Pontiac Stamping currently employs 191 hourly and 31 salaried employees. The hourly workforce is represented by UAW Local 653. The plant began production in 1926 as part of the Oakland Motor Car Company and became part of the Pontiac Motor Division in 1932.

For further information
www.gm.com