Audi to restart production in Europe

Audi will gradually initiate the restart of production at its plants in Europe during the coming weeks, following its temporary suspension in mid-March.

The upcoming regulated restart in the worldwide Audi production network, together with suppliers and service providers, will be co-ordinated with the Volkswagen Group, and will focus on a comprehensive package of measures for employee safety. In this respect, Audi is following the guidelines of the Robert Koch Institute and the regulations of health authorities in the respective country.
“Audi teams of experts have adapted processes with a view to health protection in consultation with specialist departments and works councils,” says board member for production Peter Kössler. Vehicle production at the Audi sites will be gradually ramped up from the end of April onwards, according to a fixed plan. Engine production in Győr, Hungary, has already started.
For further information www.audi.com

Battling the virus with help from ITC

The switch from sign making to producing face masks at Swansea-based Valley Group arrived when Richard Dawson, a director of the company received a telephone call from a lifelong friend and well-respected doctor and clinical lead at the Hywel Dda University Health Board, who said its existing supplier of face masks had exhausted its capacity, leaving 10,000+ staff in desperate need of protection.

One critical factor for Valley Group was the cutting of 0.5 mm thick PETG face visors, which had to be free from burrs and sharp edges. However, the Valley Group has been a customer of ITC for more than a decade, so when it came to cut thin plastic sheets on its Biesse Klever routing machine, ITC recommended the Clearcut 180 series of solid-carbide, single-flute down-cut routing tools. Valley Group’s router runs at 24,000 rpm with a feed rate of 10 m/min. With demand rising, the company is aiming to start a second shift so it can increase production from 700 to 1400 masks per day.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

XYZ delivers on its promise

The first customer to take advantage of XYZ Machine Tools’ offer of free loan machines to aid the fight against COVID-19 has taken delivery of its machine. The Midlands-based subcontractor needed additional turning capacity to assist with an order for respirator and oxygen regulator valves.

Having assessed the options, the user selected an XYZ320LTY turning centre with Y-axis and live tooling capability.
Delivery took place on 15 April, with commissioning and training completed the following day so that production could begin immediately. The offer of a completely free of charge loan machine is open to any business currently manufacturing components for any emergency medical equipment that will be used to assist the NHS at this
critical time. Subject to availability and suitability, the customer can choose any ex-stock model from XYZ Machine Tools.
For further information sales@xyzmachinetools.com

Starrag UK names sales manager

Starrag UK has bolstered its nationwide sales team with the appointment of Phil Roberts as sales manager to meet an increasing number of enquiries for its machine range and engineering solutions.

Roberts, whose role will include focusing on customers in Starrag’s target areas of aerospace, energy, transportation, industrial and medical devices, brings to Starrag UK more than 20 years’ experience in production engineering and machine-tool sales, especially in developing solutions for complex turning and multi-axis milling applications.
For further information www.starrag.com

Kennametal drill for aerospace

The B21*SGL solid-carbide drill with through-coolant has been unveiled by Kennametal. Designed for stainless steel, nickel and cobalt-based alloys, the B21*SGL with patented point geometry and monolayer PVD AlTiN coating, is said to deliver improved productivity and longer tool life in aerospace and energy sector applications.

Frank Martin, product manager – solid-carbide drills, says: “In customer tests, the B21*SGL consistently outperforms competing drills, producing more holes in less time, with improved hole straightness and surface quality. The new design virtually eliminates the risk of chipping and flaking that lead to drill failure. And thanks to a unique point gash, it offers the lowest thrust level on the market, enabling productive drilling even in delicate workpiece geometries.”
Among the problems with aerospace alloys is their tendency to stick to the cutting tool, leading to built-up edge and corner chipping. The B21*SGL’s proprietary gash geometry, polished cutting edge, negative rake corner margin and ‘chip-friendly’ flute design, mitigates these effects, while encouraging chip evacuation and reducing cutting forces.
“Several customers have seen tool life improve by two to six times in a variety of challenging materials, even after increasing feed rates by up to 50% in some cases,” says Martin.
Drilling is a critical machining process, especially for those producing turbines. As the operation typically comes near the end of the production cycle, when workpieces are at maximum value, a broken drill can damage or even destroy components worth thousands of pounds.
Matthieu Guillon, key account manager – aerospace, says: “This new solid-carbide drill will bring value to anyone needing to drill large numbers of holes in Inconel, titanium, PH-series stainless steels and other heat-resistant super alloys.”
For further information www.kennametal.com