Asia’s largest used machinery expo

After the grand success of the UMEX 2017 used machinery expo in Mumbai, India, the show’s organiser ITEI is pleased to announce that the 12th edition of UMEX will this year take place in New Delhi on 29-31 August.

Asia’s largest exhibition for pre-owned machines will be hosted at the Pragati Maidan venue, where over 300 exhibitors and around 8500 visitors are expected to fill more than 7000 sq m of space.
Organised in co-operation with MTI magazine, exhibitors will be present from countries that include China, Germany, France, India, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, UAE, UK and USA, presenting used metal-cutting and metal-forming solutions to the marketplace in India and beyond. To extend the platform further, UMEX 2018 will be staged in conjunction with five other leading industry events: IMEX (new machine tools); CWE (cutting and welding equipment); TechIndia (engineering); MMMM (minerals, metals, metallurgy and materials); and the Hand Tools and Fasteners Expo.
For further information www.umexonline.com

Midland Machinery set for 20th anniversary

Midland Machinery (Heavy Lift) Ltd will soon be celebrating its 20th anniversary.

The family-run company, which is based in Wednesbury, West Midlands has contracts throughout the UK and Ireland, and has become one of the UK’s leading providers of heavy-lift transportation. The company’s fleet consists of specialised heavy-goods vehicles with low loaders, semi-low loaders, trailers with loading ramps, lorry-mounted crane vehicles, Versa-Lifts and fork trucks, and fully-equipped site vehicles. Midland Machinery has its own escort vehicles for abnormal loads.
Recent investments include a Scania tractor unit in 2017 (pictured), which offers up to 78 tonne capacity. New to the fleet in 2018 is a 25/35 Versa-Lift, which provides lifting capabilities of around 16 tonne, while up and coming for 2019 is a new Faymonville four-axle, low-loader curtainsider, which is currently being manufactured. Additional services available from Midland Machinery include internal machinery relocations and storage for abnormal large equipment, if required. All health and safety regulations are handled comprehensively with the provision of method statements, risk assessments and bespoke lifting plans.
For further information www.midlandmachinery.co.uk

Insert app boosts productivity

In a move designed to help machine shops increase productivity, tool life and process reliability, Walter is now offering an app that enables users to quickly and easily replace existing cutting tools – including those currently applying competitor tooling – with the latest Walter indexable inserts.

Rather than endless menu options, a simplified search function within the Insert Converter app allows users to make selections based on insert grades and geometries – inputting the current geometry before the alternatives available from Walter are displayed.
Recommended grades or geometries may vary considerably depending on the workpiece material type, in which case the user will receive additional details such as the coating process or ISO classification and, in the case of ISO geometries, the indexable-insert type. Applications include ISO turning, grooving and parting off, while in addition to carbide cutting tool materials, CBN, PCD, ceramic and cermet are also covered.
Walter’s Insert Converter app is compatible with Android and iOS (Apple) devices, and is available as a web version via a browser – and offline, if required. The app can be downloaded from the App Store, Google Play or via Walter’s website.
For further information www.walter-tools.com

Cutting tools – and a great deal more

A recently signed annual ‘Preferred Partnership Agreement’ has been signed between Glasgow-based Walker Precision Engineering and Seco Tools UK.

The agreement, with its emphasis on continuous improvement and best-practice methods to help WPE increase productivity levels, reduce operational costs and optimise machining processes, provides the company with preferential and priority access to a range of Seco’s technical consultancy services, including: on-site and off-site technical support; turnkey and process improvement; documented cost reduction (DCR) programmes; custom tool design, manufacture and supply; STEP (Seco Technical Education Programme) training courses; regular updates on new technologies and process developments; and new tooling and service introductions and upgrades.
To ensure that the agreement is focused, proactive and maintains momentum, regular monthly planning and quarterly review meetings with key personnel from WPE and Seco are scheduled.
Within the first few months of the agreement being signed, the partnership was delivering results, most notably with the machining of a complex precision chassis part-manufactured by WPE for a defence industry customer. Working in partnership with Seco’s product and technical staff, and employing process improvement strategies and a focused DCR programme, WPE has been able to reduce cycle times for this part by 40%.
At one of the planning meetings, Seco presented an overview on My Pages – the company’s digital portal that provides customers with access to Seco product information, cutting data, previous purchase history and test reports. Benefits include the ability to quickly and reliably find the most appropriate tool for any specific application, which is achieved by searching the on-board SUGGEST database and selecting specific component characteristics, machining priorities and machining strategies that will be employed.
For further information www.secotools.com

CBN-tipped cutting inserts unveiled

The 315 system from Horn for internal and external grooving has gained a new range of single-edged, CBN-tipped inserts suitable for hard machining applications. Inserts are available for producing grooves from 1 to 3 mm wide and up to 5 mm deep.

A large contact area on the insert seats directs the cutting pressure efficiently into the holder, while the central clamping screw enables maximum tightening of the insert for vibration-free, accurate machining. These properties make the system suitable for counteracting the high forces generated during hard turning. The holder range is available in monoblock design and as a cartridge system for HSK-T and PSC connections.
In other product news from Horn Cutting Tools, the company says that Boehlerit’s new turning tool holders with connections for internal coolant supply are now available in the UK. The holders are available from stock with toggle clamp (ISO-P) and screw clamp (ISO-S) systems, allowing manufacturers to benefit from the productivity advantages of cooling directly at the cutting edge.
The P variety is suitable for all ISO indexable inserts. There are no loose components and only a few spares are required, making them easy to handle. According to Horn, inserts can be clamped quickly and securely, and released easily, while chip flow is smooth as there are no obstructions.
S-type tool holders also enable the insert to be secured simply and safely, in this case using a cone-shaped positioning screw. Here too, chip flow is not compromised and a maximum of three spare parts is needed.
For both types of holder, the coolant is supplied at the back of the shank end as standard, or from below the head as an option.
For further information www.phorn.co.uk