First NMITE cohort enters workplace

The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has reached a significant milestone with its first students entering the workplace. Among the first to complete one of NMITE’s innovative degrees are individuals who have secured impressive and prestigious positions in industry, showcasing the effectiveness of NMITE’s unique educational approach.

NMITE set out with a mission to revolutionise engineering education and took in its first students in September 2021. Located in Hereford, the institute offers forward-thinking integrated engineering degrees. NMITE’s curriculum is hands-on and project-based, ensuring students gain real-world experience from day one. 

More information www.nmite.ac.uk

Group Rhodes expands in its 200th year

Group Rhodes, a Wakefield-based OEM providing metal forming and composite forming solutions, has significantly expanded its workforce across all four divisions over the past six months to meet the needs of customers. The move includes six new employees for Group Rhodes, four for its Rhodes Interform division, four for BJD Crushers, and two for its Craven Fawcett business. Most of the new appointments are within the company’s manufacturing and machining operations. Group Rhodes has recently announced major new domestic contracts with companies such as Ibstock, Zentia and Cascade Manufacturing.

More www.grouprhodes.co.uk

Industry leaders head aerospace consortium

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division and Boeing have formed the Rotor Dynamics Consortium (RDC) in collaboration with some of the biggest names in the aircraft and aerospace engine industries. The RDC will define, drive and standardise rotor dynamics modelling and simulation requirements, with the goal of enabling airframe and aerospace engine manufacturers to overcome the engineering challenges of more sustainable and efficient propulsion systems in a safe way.

The consortium will build on finite element methods embedded throughout design, validation and safety certification workflows to apply next-generation multi-physics simulations. Notably, RDC members will meet to discuss and formulate strategies on the best application of MSC Nastran, considered the most accurate digital alternative to expensive physical testing.

More information www.hexagon.com

Kerf Developments reveals laser focus

The showstopper on the stand of Kerf Developments at the MACH 2024 exhibition in Birmingham, UK, earlier this year was undoubtedly the new Linc-Cut Fiber 1530A fibre laser cutter. According to Kerf, the machine offers dynamic kinematics, rigidity and precision.

Available as a 3, 6 or 12 kW machine initially with a 3 x 1.5 m or 4 x 2 m bed, the Linc-Cut Fiber 1530A synchronises laser cutting and axis movements to deliver accuracy, repeatability and speed. An auto-focus laser head with automatic gas and cutting height calibration delivers the necessary repeatability, while a compact laser source with fibre core diameter of 75 μm supports high cutting quality.

The new arrival also incorporates a CNC system that integrates with two surveillance cameras to control and monitor all machine operations. With drawing software and automated nesting, the control includes a database of parameters for all material types and thicknesses. The machine offers rapid axis movements of 110 m/min and positional accuracy of 0.03 mm.

Alongside the Linc-Cut Fiber 1530A at MACH was the new Kerf Ultra, a machine that provides both oxy-fuel and plasma cutting in a single machine. For existing customers of Kerf models, the new Ultra represents a technological leap forward that marks the arrival of next-generation profile cutting technology. With improved speed, precision, repeatability and cut quality over previous models, the new Ultra achieves elevated parameters by introducing a brand new motion system and new linear slide technology that sits upon an enhanced machine frame design.

For further information www.kerfdevelopments.com

Nukon Lasers and Lantek in UK collaboration

Premium Turkish laser manufacturer Nukon is one of Lantek’s OEM collaborative partners, combining the 2D/3D technology of the former with the expertise that the latter brings with its Lantek Expert software for programming 2D lasers and Flex3D software for tube cutting lasers. Nukon Lasers UK, the company’s UK and Ireland distributor has been working with Lantek’s UK office for two years, already collaborating in the installation of multiple machines.

Steve Haddrell, sales director at Nukon Lasers UK, says: “By partnering with Lantek our customers are productive within days of the machine installation. It also provides us with confidence in the success of every project we undertake.”

According to Haddrell, 2D laser technology is very mature and the quality of the Lantek software is a factor in differentiating Nukon from its competitors: “Lantek has all the essentials, including heat dissipation, job estimates, film burning for plastic-coated sheet, common line cutting and powerful nesting, ensuring optimum yield from the sheet material.”

Laser cutters from Nukon feature US-made, high-quality nLIGHT resonators with CutLine adaptive beam control ‘on the fly’ during cutting. One of the benefits of the CutLine system is a much smoother finish on thicker materials via the tuneable beam profile. Nukon machines also feature Beckhoff controls and drives, piercing and cut sensors, automatic nozzle changers, as well as multiple options for load/unload automation.

“Lantek Expert and Flex3D products are head and shoulders above others in the market,” concludes Haddrell. “Lantek software is fully featured and the quality of the support staff and their depth of knowledge gives us complete confidence.”

For further information www.lantek.com