Ceratizit Green Award

Cutting tool manufacturer Ceratizit has been awarded the Platinum Medal by EcoVadis,
placing it among the top 1% of more than 150,000 companies worldwide that have made
sustainability a priority. Says Andreas Lackner, member of the Ceratizit Group executive
board, says. “The Platinum rating from EcoVadis is the result of intensive collaboration
across all departments. Every idea, every detail and every improvement contributed to this
success. It shows what we as a company can achieve together with our employees once
sustainability becomes an integral part of daily work.”
More information www.ceratizit.com

Bridgnorth Aluminium Returns to 24/7 Operations

The UK’s last remaining producer of flat rolled aluminium coils is set to buck challenging
economic conditions by returning to 24/7 operations in key process areas. It will be the first
time in three years that Bridgnorth Aluminium has reached these production levels and
should create new employment opportunities in the town and nearby areas.

“Aluminium is taking on a far greater significance and profile as we move towards net zero,
with the material ideally suited to recycling, lightweighting, and use in batteries and
renewable power generation,” explains commercial director Adrian Musgrave. “Thanks to
recent investments, our strong technical teams and ongoing staff training, we’re in a really
good position to take advantage, with strong export growth expected.”
More information www.bridgnorthaluminium.co.uk

AMufacture open day to feature HP technology

Additive manufacturing specialist AMufacture is teaming up with global technology leader
HP to showcase the latest advances in 3D printing. The company is throwing open the doors
of its Portsmouth base for an open house and demonstration day in collaboration with HP
Additive Manufacturing Solutions. Co-founder Craig Pyser says the event on 20 January is a
chance to highlight huge steps forward in additive manufacturing.

The event – which runs from 10:00 to 15:00 and includes lunch – will feature live HP Multi
Jet Fusion demonstrations; technical workshops; real case studies; breakout discussions on
security, scanning, materials, manufacturing, postprocessing and quality control; and
networking opportunities with industry professionals.
More information https://bit.ly/4sG88HG

Hyundai to Use AI Robots on Production Lines

At the CES 2026 technology exhibition in Las Vegas earlier this month, Hyundai Motor Group
(HMG) and its collaboration partner Boston Dynamics, announced plans to integrate cutting-
edge AI robotics across all HMG manufacturing sites worldwide. Many companies develop
robots, but HMG says the key differentiator of its AI robotics lies in the ability to apply and
validate these technologies at scale.

Carrying heavy objects that were once the duties of humans is just one example of the
technology’s promise and potential. Before deployment, robots will first undergo learning
and training at the Robot Metaplant Application Center (RMAC), set to open this year at the
‘HMG Megaplant America’ in Georgia. Robots trained at RMAC will start sequencing tasks by
2028, with more complex operations like assembly beginning by 2030.
More information www.hyundaimotorgroup.com

Starrag RCS 8.0 CAM software suite now available

Starrag’s new RCS 8.0 CAM software for the machining of turbine blades now has learning capabilities. Demonstrating over 30 years of software experience, the latest version of the software also integrates pioneering functions such as automated workflows and precise geometrical adaptation to variable unmachined parts – a clear step forward for complex freeform contours.

‘Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien’ – perfect is the enemy of good, noted French philosopher Voltaire over 300 years ago. He warned against destroying things that are already good in the pursuit of perfection. The skilled programmers in Rorschacherberg, Switzerland, have been heeding this warning for more than three decades. Instead of rashly discarding the tried and tested, the Starrag teams developed it further.

Early RCS versions 1 to 6 were mainly used in the five-axis machining of aerospace components. The subsequent 7 series brought advances such as best-fit workpiece alignment, automatic ‘dengeling’, collision avoidance and combined roughing/smoothing strategies, while updates to RCS 7.8 brought numerous optimisations for practical use. Importantly, users who switch to the latest version will not have to go without these tried-and-tested functions and the features that were introduced in version 7.8.

RCS 8.0 is characterised by comprehensive backwards compatibility with projects from RCS 7.x.Existing NC strategies, program structures and milling paths can be transferred over and seamlessly integrated into the new form of AI-supported machining. Users benefit from familiar processes – enhanced by automated workflows, modern geometry algorithms and AI optimisation. Notably, RCS 8.0 brings advances in user guidance, process control and real-time feedback. A modernised user interface, intelligent navigation with integrated error analysis and asynchronous workflows enable continuous work without interruption.

More information www.starrag.com