Gibbs gears up for quality

Gibbs Gears produces high-precision gears, shafts and machined components for sectors such as aerospace, motorsport, medical, marine and electric vehicles. In keeping with its enduring quality philosophy, the Stoke Mandeville based business regularly updates its equipment in this critical area. The latest additions to Gibbs Gears’ quality control aids are two newly installed Zeiss CNC CMMs.

As an enthusiastic user of a Zeiss DuraMax CMM for many years, the company placed an order for a Zeiss Contura CMM for use within its temperature-controlled quality department and a latest-generation Zeiss DuraMax CNC CMM for use on the shop floor. Both machines feature rotary tables to provide 4th-axis capabilities and the ability to undertake complex, high-precision gear inspection routines.

Chief inspector Rob Jackson says: “Having enjoyed trouble-free operation from a DuraMax CMM and excellent service from Zeiss UK for the past eight years we have a natural bias towards the brand. However, given the potential major outlay and importance of accurate CMM inspection to our quality function, we also looked at alternative options.”

The Zeiss Contura CNC CMM is now helping to ensure the rapid completion of high-precision, complex inspection routines in Gibbs Gears’ busy inspection department. Notably, the machine is Industry 4.0 ready thanks to the use of a common interface. Gibbs Gears’ inspectors can therefore switch between different sensor technologies, such as optical or tactile probes, in just a few simple steps. The DuraMax is equipped with the VAST XXT scanning sensor so, in addition to undertaking all customary inspection routines, the adaptable CMM can also capture contours and freeform surfaces.

“The impressive speed and accuracy of our new Zeiss CMMs has enabled us to meet the challenges of increased precision and significantly reduce our inspection times,” concludes Jackson.

For further information
www.zeiss.co.uk

Calls grow for supply chain support

Supply chain support and longer-term assistance are top of the wish list for UK manufacturing SMEs if they are to make the most of the post-pandemic recovery and the long-anticipated UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Over 75% of the 335 firms questioned by the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP) in its latest report indicated that supply chain improvement would make them more profitable, while grants to help them buy new equipment and invest in new technologies to support digitalisation would make the biggest difference to ongoing performance.

The survey – the largest ever undertaken on the future of industrial business support – showed that management teams wanted access to specialist external advice and funding to drive profitability (68%), increase sales (62%) and boost productivity (58%). Some 75% felt that leadership and management training would be beneficial, while 83% wanted business support delivery from experts with significant industry experience.

For further information
www.manufacturinggrowthprogramme.co.uk

Successful bending workshop

Bystronic UK enjoyed a successful bending workshop earlier this month. The two-day event focused on supporting existing press-brake operators by expanding their knowledge and increasing their skills with machines and tooling. Demonstrations and interactive presentations covered all aspects of bending technology, from improving set-up times, to automation and programming, and a big focus on tooling and tooling maintenance.

The visitors were able to learn from Bystronic global bending expert Gerrit Gerritsen, who has over 35 years’ experience. Bystronic UK is now planning another event: the company’s open house will take place on 4-8 April and will showcase all of the latest Bystronic technology. Visit the company’s website to book a place.

For further information
www.bystronic.co.uk

First IP54-rated measuring arm

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has introduced full IP54 protection for its latest range of Absolute Arm models, together with other usability improvements and compatibility with the HxGN SFx asset management service. From ultra-high-accuracy probing with the Absolute Arm Compact to high-productivity 3D laser scanning with the Absolute Arm 7-Axis and Absolute Scanner AS1, every new Absolute Arm model will be fully equipped for the demands of measuring and monitoring in the most challenging measurement environments.

According to Hexagon, an IP54 protection rating is a market first for portable measuring arms and comes alongside a further environment-related improvement that sees the system’s maximum operating temperature increased to 45°C. Together with the Absolute Arm’s portability and versatility, these updates complete a package that is suitable for the demands of the hot and dusty environments in which metrology-grade inspection is used all over the world.

“In the past few years we’ve seen a migration in where our arms are being used,” explains Anthony Vianna, product director – portable measuring arms. “Whereas once most arms would sit in a nice clean metrology room, today we see them used on shop floors, in foundries and close to machining centres. That’s why this update to the Absolute Arm is so important – we want our customers to go into those environments with total confidence that they can measure anywhere.”

Also arriving with this update are improvements to the functionality of the Absolute Arm wrist display, now upgraded to a touchscreen, and the RDS software that drives it. These are changes intended to further enhance the ease of on-the-ground measurement processes by bringing more functionality to the point of measurement and reducing trips back and forth between the arm and its control computer.

For further information www.hexagonmi.com

Dugard expands presence in Scotland

With UK manufacturing exiting the pandemic at speed and the fuel crisis pushing the UK government to source more fuel from the North Sea, Dugard has appointed Ross Love as area sales manager for Scotland. Love has almost 20 years of experience in the manufacturing sector.

Sales director Colin Thomson says: “Ross has an excellent track record in technical sales in the cutting tool sector, which will put him in good stead for his future with Dugard. Additionally, as a former machinist, CNC programmer and applications engineer for a machine tool company, his fundamental knowledge and understanding will be extremely beneficial to customers of Dugard in Scotland.”

For further information
www.dugard.com