Heller partners Porsche Penske Motorsport

Horizontal machining centre manufacturer Helleristhe latest technology partner of Porsche Penske Motorsport. The co-operation was visible for the first time at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans last month. Heller CEO Dr Thorsten Schmidt says: “We and Porsche share the same values: precision in detail and sustainability in development and production. As part of the co-operation, we’ll work closely with Porsche Motorsport and the entire technology network.”

Beyond Le Mans, further appearances in the WEC racing series will follow, including in Italy (Monza) and Japan (Fuji). Porsche Penske Motorsportis also participating in the IMSA racing series, which includes appearances on famous tracks such as Daytona and Indianapolis. The Heller logo is clearly visible on the Porsche 963.
For further information www.heller.biz

18th edition of Aluminium China

Aluminium China, one of the world’s largest aluminium trade shows that serves as an industry barometer, is set for its 18th edition as it opens at the ShanghaiNew International Expo Centre this week (5-7 July). RX Greater China, the show’s organiser, is gearing up for the largest Aluminium China ever staged to offer the ultimate one-stop platform where visitors will learn the latest in the aluminium industry presented by the global companies at the forefront of innovation. The organiser expects visitor numbers to exceed 25,000.

Committed to promoting the sustainable development of the global aluminium industry, the exhibition will bring together new products, technologies, processes and applications across the entire aluminium value chain. Aluminium China aims to pave the way for new business opportunities and collaborations that will reshape the future of this vital sector.
For further information www.aluminiumchina.com/en-gb.html

700% growth in three years in partnership with XYZ

James White joined NSK Precision Engineering in 2015 and took the company over in 2019, making a new CNC machining centre his top priority. His research led him to invest in anXYZ 750 LR with 750 x 440 x 500mm travel, Siemens 828D control (with optional ShopMill), and linear rail technology for fast acceleration and deceleration rates.

“XYZ Machine Tools listened to where we wanted to take the business, asking the right questions, showing that they understood how our company works,” he says.“They also came up with an attractive solution to get our CNC machining capacity started. We already had a 1994 XYZ turret mill with ProtoTRAK control, which is used daily, so this gave us extra confidence in our decision.”

Taking over NSK Precision Engineering, which has been in operation since 1995, was a steep learning curve, figuring out how to manage both the workforce and the day-to-day administration of the company. Additionally, White relocated the company from its previous 1500 sq ft factory to a new 10,000 sq ft site near Reading, while growing turnover by 700% and increasing his workforce from two to seven.

“Previously, we were subcontracting a lot of work to local companies,” he explains.“Investing in CNC has enabled us to take this work back in-house, which gives us more control over quality and delivery while at the same time improving our profit margins. At the old factory, we were limited for space, restricting which XYZ machine we could choose. With the new factory and the increase in workload we’ve been able to make a further investment in a XYZ 1000 LR with 4th-axis rotary table, Siemens 828D control with the ShopMill option, expanded 24-station tool carousel and a swarf conveyor.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Increasingthe engineering aspirations of girls

EngineeringUK has released a new report which brings together the available evidence on interventions that aim to increase the engineering and technology career aspirations of girls.Despite some improvements, women still only make up 16.5% of the engineering workforce, compared with 47.7% of the overall workforce. Providing high-quality impactful STEM outreach activities for girls, therefore, is a vital part of addressing this issue.A summary of existing evidence, the report aims to inform programme design and delivery for STEM engagement practitioners and funders, and highlight any evidence gaps.
For further information www.engineeringuk.com/rer-girls

Summit success for Soraluce

At the summit of machine tool manufacturer Soraluce last month, the company set about demonstrating its expertise in milling, boring, multi-tasking and automated solutions. Notably, Soraluce presented its new Performance Line with live demonstrations. The event also celebrated the grand opening to the LEED-certified Soraluce assembly plant.Through a guided tour, the company showcased spaces that focus on smart damping, digital services, head manufacturing and aerospace solutions. Ward CNC is the UK and Ireland representative for Soraluce machine tools.
For further information www.soraluce.com/en/summit