UK’s most automated 3D print facility

Midlands 3D has opened what it believes to be the most automated polymer 3D print production facility operating in the UK. Earlier this month, the company threw open the doors of its new HQ at an industry open day, showing how it has more than quadrupled its floor space and taken the opportunity to upgrade its fleet of HP MultiJet Fusion (MJF) Printers, adding a proprietary automation system to each.

The automation system enables machines to change their ‘build unit’ automatically once a build is complete, enabling another build to begin within minutes. Utilising these technologies enables the machines to run continuously, dramatically increasing overall efficiency, lowering operating costs and lead times for large print runs.

More information www.midlands3d.com

QA industry highlights in a nutshell

A new event format, ‘QA Expert Days’, will kick off a new event rhythm for Control, the international trade fair for quality assurance, in 2026. In future, the trade fair will take place in odd-numbered years – next time on 27-30 April 2027. In even-numbered years, the industry will gather for the two-day QA Expert Days. The debut of the two-day congress event, which presents specialist knowledge and industry innovations in a compact format, will take place on 20-21 May 2026. This exclusive meeting of experts will be a high-calibre and concentrated meeting among sector decision-makers.

More information www.bit.ly/44FRXzZ

Biggest Finals Day Yet for TDI Challenge

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) held its biggest finals day yet for the Technology, Design and Innovation (TDI) Challenge 2025. This year’s event has grown larger than ever, featuring over 20 finalists presenting their innovative projects to an esteemed panel of nine judges.

This year’s TDI Challenge was, once again, hosted by Yamazaki Mazak in Worcester and sponsored by the Gene Haas Foundation, Vision West Nottinghamshire College and Imagineering. Participants (students aged 14-19) were invited to submit a design and a 2-minute demonstration video. The Key Stage 4 winner was Nia Wood for her ‘Signal Cycle’ project, while Pacha Pritchard was named Key Stage 5 winner for his project ‘Time & Tide’.

More information www.thetdichallenge.co.uk

Ward CNC reveals recent lathe deliveries

TW Ward CNC Machinery is celebrating the completion of several recent projects. For instance, a Hyundai-Wia L300LMC CNC turning centre has just arrived safely at the premises of a valued customer. This powerful and versatile machine marks a significant upgrade in the customer’s production capabilities and reinforces its commitment to investing in high-performance machining solutions.

The Hyundai-Wia L300LMC is a robust, heavy-duty CNC lathe designed for demanding turning applications. It comes fully equipped with features that include a C axis and driven tooling for complex machining operations, as well as hardened and ground box guideways for increased rigidity and longevity. Further features providing benefits to customers include a high-speed servo turret to boost productivity and reduce cycle times, and a large 15” chuck for handling sizeable workpieces.

According to Ward CNC, the machine is suited to customers requiring a dependable solution for medium to heavy-duty turning work across industries such as automotive, oil and gas, aerospace, and general engineering. Following delivery and full mechanical installation by Ward CNC’s experienced engineering team, the next step will be applications training on the machine’s Siemens control system.

Another recent project saw Ward CNC successfully deliver and install two brand-new CNC lathes, followed by dedicated applications training for a smooth and productive transition. The machines delivered were a Hyundai-Wia HD2200C box-guideway CNC lathe built for durability and precision, and a Takisawa NEX108 compact, linear-guideway CNC lathe for high-speed, high-accuracy work.

The  Hyundai-Wia HD2200C offers a 10” chuck, 380 mm maximum turning diameter, 500 mm maximum turning length, 3500 rpm spindle, 12-station turret and FANUC control.

More information www.wardcnc.com

Precision at its strongest with WFL M70 MillTurn

The new M70 MillTurn, the latest addition to the WFL product family, is suitable for applications which require both productivity and precision. It offers working lengths up to 8000 mm and a swing diameter up to 850 mm. In addition, WFL says the new M70 MillTurn offers optimal stability and geometry for precise, reliable machining thanks to high pull-in forces at the tool interface, as well as a range of additional options for productive deep-hole drilling processes and special technologies. With the capability to machine workpieces weighing up to 5000 kg, the MillTurn is suited to heavy-duty applications.

The M70 MillTurn features the familiar, reliable disc tool magazine or chain magazine offering up to 200 tool stations and capacity for tools weighing up to 35 kg with a maximum length of 900 mm. In addition to automatic tool changes, the set-up process can also take place in parallel to the machining time, which allows the magazine to be tooled for different orders without any loss of time. Two magazine variants are available for heavy special tools weighing up to 200 kg each.

According to WFL, the M70 also features reliable main and milling spindle drives, delivering precision and advantageous versatility for different customer needs.

Specially developed tools which have been designed to work seamlessly with the MillTurn enable the precision machining of complex workpieces. As hard to access machining areas often require the use of long special tools, the use of robust prismatic clamp holders means that boring bars, solid drills and angular heads can be attached to the turning-boring-milling unit in a highly stable manner.

More information www.wfl.at