Renishaw celebrates 50 years of innovation

This year, Renishaw is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The company, which began trading on 4 April 1973, will mark this significant milestone with a year of global activities, including open house events at its largest sites, family days for employees and a ‘50 at 50′ charity initiative that will see £150,000 donated to 50 not-for-profit organisations in the 36 countries where it has offices.

The company was formed half a century ago to commercialise the invention of a touch-trigger probe by now executive chairman Sir David McMurtry, solving a dimensional measurement problem at Rolls-Royce when manufacturing Olympus engines for the supersonic Concorde aircraft. Today, Renishaw is listed on the FTSE 250 index with a current valuation around £3bn. The company employs 5200 employees in 36 countries, including 3400 staff at its sites in the UK, primarily in Gloucestershire and south Wales.
For further information www.renishaw.com

Northern Industrial joins Radwell International

On 1 April, Northern Industrial joined Radwell International in a move designed to bring increased efficiency, better value, and the ability to adapt and scale the combined offering to meet the global purchasing needs of customers worldwide.General manager of Europe, David Lenehan, says: “After over 40 years of growth, Northern Industrial is delighted to become part of Radwell. Already employing over 2000 people in 15 locations, Radwell is a global force to be reckoned with, whose services, ethics and culture are in-line with everything we have built here at Northern Industrial.”
For further information www.nicontrols.com

Aluminium component milling at expert level

Walter is extending its range of solid-carbide milling cutters for ISO N machining with the addition of two distinct roughing specialists, the MD265 Supreme and the MC268 Advance. The MD265 Supreme three-edged cutter with a diameter range from 16 to 25mm is available as coated or uncoated, standing out with its coolant channels in a star-shaped configuration, as well as robust cutting edges with RAPAX profile.

It was designed to achieve high productivity and process reliability required in sectors such as automotive. Whether uncoated with polished surfaces or coated with Walter’s new WJ30DD grade, it can optimise chip removal, reduce material build-up and extend tool life. This is of particular interest for manufacturers machining die-cast aluminium with the high silicon content.

Also new to the portfolio is the 6 to 25mm diameter range MC268 Advance. Incorporating a polished innovative profile that can be used universally, it is designed for long-chipping wrought aluminium alloys that are often found in the aerospace industry, for example. The coolant outlets of the three or four-edged milling cutter feature a radial arrangement for strategies such as dynamic milling. Furthermore, it reduces tooling costs as it is suitable for reconditioning.

Both solid-carbide milling cutters aim to reduce machining times in ISO N materials and increase metal removal rate. The V-shaped cutting edge, which is typical of both milling cutters was developed in-house at Walter, which says it is the only one of its kind on the market. Grooved cutting-edge profiles split the chips into short, easily controlled segments. This effect increases process reliability and allows users to work with reduced cutting forces.
For further information www.walter-tools.com

Gripple names new MD

Gripple, a manufacturer of wire joiners and tensioners for agriculture, innovative suspension solutions for construction, and engineered solutions for civil, solar and infrastructure applications, has appointed a new managing director for the UK & Ireland and new board directors. Kevin St Clair takes up the role of UK managing director following 21 years at Gripple, while Charlotte Hill will replace St Clair in his former role as operations director and Sam Ryall joins as supply chain director. St Clair says: “My focus will be on delivering strong results in the UK and continuing to improve our global service and support.”
For further information www.gripple.com

Mapal expands in Poland

Mapal Narzędzia Precyzyjne (Mapal precision tools) in Poland has a new head office, havingacquired 5000 sq m premises in Komorniki, not far from the previous site in Poznań. The new site has modern office spaces, conference rooms and social areas, its own logistics and storage areas,and a well-equipped showroom for customers. Mapal has invested around €2m in the facility.The company employs 72 people in Poland, including 31 engineers.

Dr Jochen Kress, president of the Mapal Group, says: “Our business in Poland has developed brilliantly over the past 25 years. Demand for our products has steadily increased and it makes us proud that we’re taking on a leading role as a tool supplier and service provider in Poland, especially in the area of tool management. Of course, we also owe this to our competent team on site, which takes excellent care of our customers and ensures the smooth running of the manufacturing processes.”
For further information www.mapal.com