Ram Reman Reduce Machining Times Tith XYZ 320 LTY

Driven by a need to produce more accurate, increasingly complex components in shorter lead times, Dorset-based hydraulic engineering specialist Ram Reman Ltd has invested in an XYZ 320 LTY turning centre.

Established more than 30 years ago and part of the Rotec Group since 2015, Ram Reman designs, manufactures and refurbishes hydraulic equipment for industries including defence, marine, aerospace and utilities. The company produces a wide range of components, such as cylinders, manifolds, fittings and end caps, using a mix of manual and CNC machine tools.

According to technical manager Tony Foster, growing demand to reduce manufacturing costs and improve efficiency prompted the investment: “Many of our parts require both turning and milling. We wanted a machine that would reduce set-ups, lower production costs and free up our existing machines for work they are better suited to.”

Following discussions with XYZ’s Dorset area sales manager, Russell Bedford, Ram Reman selected the XYZ 320 LTY. Its 78 mm bar capacity, 320 mm turning capability, higher spindle speed, 32 kW main spindle motor, driven tooling and 100 mm Y-axis travel offered the flexibility needed to consolidate operations on a single machine. The benefits were immediate.

“A recent large stainless steel component saw machining time cut by 50% compared with our older machines,” says Foster. “The spindle power makes a real difference, while the 12-station VDI turret and Renishaw tool presetting arm reduce intervention and speed up tool changes and set-up. We can also machine features, such as end-cap scrolls, far more efficiently than before.

“The XYZ 320 LTY has improved our productivity, increased flexibility and strengthened our competitive capability.”

More information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Gateway To The Future

His Majesty King Charles III visited the UK’s largest space cluster recently to mark the official opening of the UK Space and Defence Gateway. The initiative aligns with the principles of the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Astra Carta, a framework launched by His Majesty, as Prince of Wales, to ensure the space sector supports a sustainable future. This dedicated space and defence sector hub at Harwell Campus near Oxford is set to drive collaboration between government, academia, innovators and industry. It will link innovation to investment, building partnerships to shape tomorrow’s space and defence economy.

More information www.harwellcampus.com

COMPASS Opens Doors

A landmark investment to build next-generation industrial and manufacturing capabilities for future aerospace production has officially opened at the University of Sheffield AMRC. The £54m open-access Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS) R&D facility, which has Boeing as its first user, opened earlier this month. It is set to de-risk and accelerate high-rate, large-scale composite production and marks a major step in securing the long-term future of UK aerospace manufacturing by enabling production at true rate and scale. Demand indicates that more than 40,000 aircraft will be needed over the next 20 years.

More information www.amrc.co.uk

Next-Generation Human-Robot Safety

Oxford Technology is investing in BeyondFence, a robotics company developing ISO-compliant technology that allows humans and robots to work safely together without traditional physical safety barriers. BeyondFence replaces safety perimeters with certified intelligence built around the robot’s surface. By integrating this touch-detection technology, BeyondFence empowers robots to freeze movement instantly upon physical contact with a human hand or torso, for example. The investment from Oxford Technology will support the company’s initial operating costs as it progresses toward securing its first commercial sale.

More information www.oxfordtechnology.com

Record Order Marks Milestone For Hydrogen UAVs

Intelligent Energy (IE), a specialist hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer, has unveiled a 120 kW hydrogen fuel cell power system for heavy-lift fixed-wing drones and secured its largest commercial order to date in the uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) sector. The twin milestones come as Intelligent Energy’s UAV business continues to grow, driven by rising demand for hydrogen-powered drones capable of flying further, carrying heavier payloads and operating for longer than battery-powered alternatives. The announcements follow the UK Government’s commitment to invest £5bn in drones and autonomous systems.

More information www.intelligent-energy.com