SteelBuy hits £1m sales

SteelBuy, an easy-to-use online marketplace where businesses can buy and sell metals quickly and securely, has recorded over 300 transactions and £1m+ sales in revenue since it launched at the start of the year.Users from across the UK are leveraging the technology to achieve faster and more efficient deals for their mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, with all the logistics and invoicing managed through the encrypted platform.Within seconds,sellers can post their material with product specifications, test certificates and price per tonne ready for consideration by potential buyers. All transactions are anonymous.
For further information www.steel-buy.com

Subcontractor reaches new standard with Mitutoyo

Cwm Engineering has been on an acquisition trail over the past few years to target growth in high-technology sectors. As part of its journey, the Welsh company has moved to a new purpose-built 10,000sqft factory to make space for its investment in new machine tools. With more than five machines purchased in the past three years, the company recognised a requirement for a dedicated inspection department with high-end metrology equipment, which is why CWM Engineering installed a Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex V 7106 CNC CMM and a Mitutoyo surface roughness machine.

Cwm Engineering’s managing director Malcolm Walters says: “We’re fully aware that when potential customers visit a subcontract manufacturer, they want to see a dedicated metrology department to instil confidence in their supply chain choices. When it came to selecting equipment, Mitutoyo was the stand-out brand for our business. Mitutoyo is a name that everyone knows and respects as an industry leader and our previous experience with them was exceptional.”

Alluding to why the company invested in the Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex V 7106, Walters adds: “It has a measurement range of 700 x 1000 x 600mm packed into a small footprint. Furthermore, the level of information that can be obtained from the reporting system far exceeds anything we hadpreviously.”

Cwm Engineering also purchased a Mitutoyo surface roughness measuring machine, opting for a handheld solution to aid portability around the machine shop, if necessary.

Walters concludes: “Our investment in new Mitutoyo technology will put us in a strong position for the future. Furthermore, the Mitutoyo MCOSMOS software enables us to fully network our quality activities and reporting.”
For further information www.mitutoyo.co.uk

Mastercam acquires post-processor developer

Sandvik has acquired Canadian company, Postability,a bespoke software development firm developing NC post processors that will become part of Mastercam. The company launched in 2008 to focus exclusively on Mastercam post-processor services through partnership with North American and international reseller channels. Postability’s team largely comprises mechanical and mechatronics engineering graduates who work tirelessly to provide client with top levels of support and customer service.

“The addition of Postability’s post-processing technology makes industry-preferred solutions more accessible to Mastercam users around the world,” says Mastercam president and CEO Meghan West. “This acquisition enables us to support our customers by integrating best-in-class post-processing technology along with improved responsiveness and technical support.”

The purchase adds talent, technology and diversity to Mastercam’s ecosystem of solutions. Mastercam says that Postability’s solutions and support are best-in-class and will now be accessible globally through itsreseller channel. With the addition of Postability, Mastercam users will have the opportunity to acquire a broader range of post-processing technology with excellent support and responsiveness.

Jodi Spall, owner of Postability, states: “We are very excited to sign this agreement of acquisition with Mastercam and Sandvik. Joining the Mastercam team will enable us to bring our technology to more Mastercam users around the world.”

Mastercam has no plans to change relationships with any external vendors, customers or support solutions as a result of this purchase. The company says it continues to shape the future of manufacturing, and is committed to expanding the tools available in the Mastercam ecosystem through organic growth and acquisitions.
For further information www.mastercam.com

Okuma launching next-generation control at EMO

Okuma is launching a new CNC system, the OSP-P500, on stand B36 in hall 15 at the EMO exhibition in Hanoverthis week (18-23 September). The smart machine control, which Okuma manufactures in-house, combines productive and precise machining with ease-of-use, energy efficiency and safety features to protect against cyberattacks.

Initially, five-axis machining centres in Okuma’s MU-V series and the Multus series of multi-tasking turn-milling machines will feature the new control. NCMT, the sales agent for Okuma in the UK and Ireland, advises that this latest CNC system has twice the computing power of conventional machine controls, shortening cycle times by up to 15%. It is particularly well suited to high-speed machining applications that demand top-quality surface finishes.

Notably, the control features an on-machine digital twin to facilitate the high-precision simulation of machining processes, reducing set-up times and speeding production. By performing these simulations on the machine itself, production can start immediately afterwards. Alternatively, with the digital twin on a PC, it is possible to perform simulation offline while production is in progress on the machine.

Even inexperienced users benefit from the advantages of the control due to its user-friendly interface. A ‘Smart OSP Operation’ function simplifies programming on the shop floor by providing automatic guidance through all the necessary steps. People without any prior experience can learn how to machine a component in one day, reports Okuma.

Featuring a comprehensive security system, the control protects machine processes, programs and data from cyberattacks. Advanced identification of users and encryption of communication according to the OPC-UA standard prevents unauthorised access.

Thanks to the integration of Eco Suite Plus, the OSP-P500 also reduces power consumption. Smart features record and analyse every operating status as well as CO₂ emissions.
For further information www.ncmt.co.uk

Ward CNC welcomes partner innovations

UK machine tool supplier Ward CNC is supporting principal partners such as Soraluce (hall 13, stand B30) and Takisawa (hall 17, stand B22) at EMO. As an expert in milling and boring, Soraluce is bringingits automated solutions to the table, with a particular focus on the company’snew ‘Performance Line’ and a new generation of heads. Turning machine specialist Takisawa Japan is using the show to release its new ‘green machinery’, while new models from Takisawa Taiwan include the latestNX-2000economic two-spindle turning centre.

Ward CNC is also announcing new partnerships with Gurutzpe (hall 13, stand B25), a Spanish company that designs and manufactures CNC multi-tasking lathes, and Ronchini Massimo (hall 12, stand A12), an Italian company that produces high-end CNC milling routers for the metalworking industry. “The added value that these companies bring will complement our existing array of machine tools to provide even more choice for customers,” states Ward CNC managing director Simon Whitworth.
For further information www.wardcnc.com