Ford Dagenham installs seven robots

Ford Dagenham has invested in seven UR10 Universal Robots from RARUK Automation to automate the previously manual task of applying fasteners to engine blocks.

The fasteners are now applied automatically to engines that arrive on the production line every 30 seconds, across a 24-hour, three-shift operation. UR10 collaborative robots pick up fasteners and run them down threads in the engine blocks to secure exhaust manifolds in position. Development of the process and application was fully supported by RARUK Automation, including training.
For further information www.rarukautomation.com

Laser Scanning expands with second CMM

Inspection and reverse-engineering capacity has doubled in terms of throughput, while the size of component that can be measured has increased more than five-fold at Laser Scanning Ltd, based near Sheffield, following the installation of a second, larger CMM built by LK Metrology.

The latest LK 20.12.10 ceramic-bridge CMM with 2,000 by 1,200 by 1,000 mm working volume has joined a smaller 8.7.6 model.
The purchase of the larger CMM was prompted by the receipt from Derby-based JCB Power Systems of a contract to assist with the quality control of cylinder blocks and heads for the engines that power the OEM’s off-road vehicles. JCB has its own LK machine equipped with a touch probe that serves the production line in Derby. Laser Scanning assists by providing measurement and inspection of goods-in to the plant, where it has a QC engineer permanently stationed.
In addition, the Chapeltown facility helps out with preparing CMM programs and proving them out, as well as inspecting prototypes to support JCB’s R&D department.
While the engine plant does have laser-scanning capability on an articulated arm, the level of detail that can be acquired is less, as its scanning resolution is 23 µm, much lower than the best CMM-mounted scanner in use at Laser Scanning.
Managing director Johnathan Rigby says: “By working with JCB’s inspection department and R&D team we’ve been able to free up our customer’s machine to concentrate on production QC. They also appreciate the greater detail we’re able to provide for new prototypes, as laser scanning allows us to show them the form of a component, as well as supply measurement data.”
For further information www.lkmetrology.com

Robo-Tend well received

XYZ Machine Tools unveiled its Robo-Tend mobile machine-tool automation system to customers at two recent customer days held at its facilities in Devon and Nuneaton. Both events were well attended, with the new system receiving strong interest among companies looking to increase productivity and reduce overheads.

“In developing Robo-Tend the brief was to create a simple, easy-to-use robotic automation system that would appeal to a wide range of customers, especially those who may not have considered automation as an option previously,” says Nigel Atherton, managing director of XYZ Machine Tools. “Therefore, it was pleasing that many of those in attendance recognised this, with comments that it was one of the simplest systems they had seen.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Filtermist grows distribution

Filtermist is investing in a new distribution centre in Shropshire to help meet growing demand for products. The company, which is part of the Absolent Group, has taken on a 30,000 sq ft unit just a few minutes’ walk from its purpose-built headquarters on the T54 Business Park in Telford.

Impressive organic sales growth and an acquisition trail that has seen the company purchase the DCS Group and Kerstar Ltd in the past six months, resulted in the decision to create a central facility that would be responsible for Filtermist’s logistics operations. The move will further enhance stock control and delivery lead times, as well as release additional capacity to increase the firm’s metal fabrication footprint.
For further information www.filtermist.co.uk

Focus on innovation at Metalex Vietnam

Metalex Vietnam 2019 is set to take place on 10-12 October at the SECC venue in Ho Chi Minh City, where organisers are once more expecting a bumper crowd through the doors to see the latest innovations in the world of machine tools, precision engineering and metalworking technologies. A total of 18,848 visitors attended the 2018 event.

More than 500 brands from 25 countries are expected to be on show at Metalex Vietnam. Those looking to upgrade their production or grow their business will be able to access unprecedented ideas and collaborative partnerships, not just through the exhibition, but via concurrent seminars and networking opportunities. Among focus areas at the show will be machine tools, machine accessories, sheet metalworking equipment, mould and die technologies, industrial robots, cutting tools, abrasives, metrology solutions and surface treatment systems, to list but a few.
For further information www.metalexvietnam.com