Big success for ITC at EMO exhibition

Those visiting the ITC stand at last month’s EMO 2019 exhibition in Hanover, Germany, were impressed enough with the innovations on show to place significant enquiry and order numbers. ITC was making its first ever appearance at EMO.

Although already boasting an extensive European footprint with distributors on the continent, ITC used the show as a launch pad to grow its pan-European distributor base, a goal that was achieved with a high number of reputable agents and distributors keen to have the UK brand as part of their portfolios.
The company’s latest trochoidal milling innovations proved popular among those from the aerospace, motorsport, mould and die, and general engineering industries.
Notable was the company’s Cupro-coated, harmonic-flute geometry 5021 series of five-flute end mills, as well as the newly developed 5031 series stub-length, square-end tools. From the six-flute trochoidal milling stable, ITC demonstrated its latest 6051 series of square-end or multiple corner radii tools, which were supported by the 6011-F, 6021-F and 6031-F.
Indeed, the milling tools on display included square, ball-nose and radius tools, with a wide array of dimension, geometry and coating choices. Additionally, the variety of chamfering, countersinking, thread milling, drilling and reaming products provided a balanced solution for all industry sectors.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

£6m more funding for Sharing in Growth

Manufacturers serving the aerospace industry now have a new opportunity to learn best practice in productivity and competitiveness improvement, thanks to increased government support for the Sharing in Growth (SiG) programme.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has awarded SiG a £6m contract to help the UK companies compete more successfully in the global aerospace market.
Business Minister Nadhim Zahawi says: “SiG continues to deliver excellent results – boosting productivity, creating quality jobs and helping UK companies take a leading role in the global aerospace market. This is an important programme for the UK’s world-leading aerospace sector, securing more than £4bn in contracts and contributing to our export strength. That’s why we’ve extended our support for the programme by £6m.”
For further information www.sig-uk.org

Sliding-head lathes with LFV

Citizen Machinery has added two sliding-head, twin-spindle turn-mill centres of 32 mm bar capacity to its Cincom programme. Designated L32-X LFV and L32-XII LFV, both feature the firm’s patented low-frequency vibration (LFV) software in the control’s operating system that acts in two axes to convert what would normally be long, stringy swarf into short, more manageable chips. LFV is particularly helpful when machining stainless steels, plastics and copper, and can be applied not only to turning, but to grooving, thread cutting and drilling.

Different to the two other L32 bar autos in the range, the eight-axis L32-X adds a Y2 axis to the Z2 axis on the back tool post. So does the nine-axis L32-XII, which additionally has +90/-45° B-axis swivel on the front gang tool post, where rotary tools can work at either spindle to produce angled holes. Both machines are available in 35 and 38 mm bar diameter versions, and may be used with or without the guide bush.
Citizen’s L32 design is modular, enabling users to streamline their manufacturing costs by selecting functions that achieve the optimum machine configuration, while retaining the option of being able to add extra functionality later. A workpiece conveyor is standard. Control is via the Industry 4.0-ready Mitsubishi 800 CNC, which allows up to three tools to be in-cut at the same time.
As many as 44 tools for front, back and cross machining are available in the L32-X model, while the B-axis L32-XII version accepts four fewer. The speed range of the 3.7/7.5 kW main spindle and 2.2/3.7 kW counter spindle is up to 8000 rpm. Both have a C axis for use in conjunction with driven tool stations in the three tool carriers.
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

7 millionth fastener sold by Zoro UK

Zoro UK, a supplier of fasteners, fixings, tools and equipment for industry, is celebrating the sale of its 7 millionth fastener since it commenced sales in December 2017.

Chris Matenaers, marketing director of Zoro, says: “We value being a reliable part of a supply chain, supplying fasteners to UK industry. Our next-day delivery and quality brands ensure we help to keep the manufacturing production chain moving without unnecessary downtime. In fact, after introducing our new order subscription service, we are expecting to sell over 8 million fasteners this year. The service will cut the time spent re-ordering, reduce human error and ensure smooth production.”
For further information www.zoro.co.uk

Versatile coolant system from Floyd

The HEB MiniPlug high-pressure coolant system for sliding-head lathes has been released in the UK by Floyd Automatic Tooling.

The benefits of high-pressure through-coolant are well documented and, in recent years, this type of system has become the norm among users of sliding-head turning centres. However, the issue for machine shops is the complexity and non-productive time taken to set-up high-pressure copper coolant pipes. This job is time consuming and often requires pipe cutting and bending, which is challenging in a work envelope as compact as a sliding-head turning centre. Then, what if the machine shop has to change tools and configurations?
The process starts over. All of this effort can be avoided with HEB MiniPlug.
When a tool change is required on a sliding-head machine, the operator must change the tool or insert, and the respective tool holder has to be detached, often with difficulty, from the through-coolant distribution system. With HEB MiniPlug, a high-pressure quick-connector system eliminates time-consuming tool changeovers and the respective changeover of high-pressure hoses. The HEB MiniPlug system helps to reduce machine downtime by simplifying tool set ups for each individual job and cutter. Instead of changing the connection in an overcrowded and difficult-to-access work envelope, HEB MiniPlug allows end users to simply plug in the flexible braided hoses.
For use with coolant pressure up to 200 bar, the stainless-steel connectors and braided hoses are robust, flexible and corrosion resistant – ensuring coolant hoses will last for the lifetime of the machine tool. The HEB MiniPlug system is available with a coupling and seal plug, manifolds, hose set, MiniPlug Jacks, and adaptors.
HEB MiniPlug is available in three different sizes to suit all modern HPC adaptors and machine configurations.
For further information www.floydautomatic.co.uk