Help dealing with late payments

The recently launched office of the Small Business Commissioner is offering a free service to help small firms deal with late payments.

Based in Birmingham, the office was created to ensure fair payment practices for Britain’s 5.7 million small businesses and support them in resolving their payment disputes with larger companies. Established under the Enterprise Act 2016, the SBC is headed by the Small Business Commissioner Paul Uppal, and is part of a package of measures to tackle late payment practices between businesses across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
For further information www.smallbusinesscommissioner.gov.uk

Degree for a digital future

Tooling specialist Walter is preparing people for an Industry 4.0 future via a new Bachelor of Science course at Baden-Württemberg Co-operative State University (DHBW) in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany.

Industry 4.0 means that mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and information technology are growing closer together to form an intelligently networked production scenario, says Walter. According to the company, the interlocking of the analogue and digital world requires a lasting change of attitude, not just in companies, but also in universities.
The new co-operative Bachelor of Science in Business Information Studies will commence in autumn 2018, combining scientific study with Walter’s practical experience. Students will switch between the university and Walter AG every three months. In this way, they will gain knowledge, professional experience and so-called soft skills in equal measure. After a three-year study programme and a thesis, graduates will complete their education with the academic title Bachelor of Science.
For further information www.walter-tools.com

Small but powerful machine tools

Yamazaki Mazak is ramping up the promotion of its Primos range of machines for UK machine users.

The new campaign, which has the strapline “You don’t have to be big to be powerful”, promotes the QT-Primos series, a range of compact turning centres, and the VC-Primos 400 SG, a compact vertical machining centre. Aimed at entry-level users, all machines in the Primos range can be characterised by small footprints, circa 20% less than equivalent machines in their class, says Mazak.
The QT-Primos 50 SG CNC turning centre is designed for mass production environments, but with minimum floor-space requirements, while the QT-Primos 150 SG is a similar compact machine equipped with a servomotor-driven drum turret that features high-speed, non-lift turret indexing. The new campaign also includes the VC-Primos 400 SG, a compact vertical machining centre equipped with a 12,000 rpm spindle and 30-taper interface.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

ITC supports north with apps engineer

In line with its expansion strategy, which has seen year-on-year sales increases exceeding 15% over the past five years, Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has appointed applications engineer Gary Murrey to its growing team.

He will support the sales efforts of northern area technical sales engineers, Jason Clark and Gary Heaney. Murrey has almost 30 years of experience that includes an apprenticeship as a machinist at shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft and lengthy periods as a five-axis machinist and programmer with GE Aviation. He was also a production and applications engineer with the 600 Group and a senior manufacturing engineer at VTL.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

METALTECH promises even more growth

After a successful 24th edition of METALTECH in May, the show is set for yet another growth spurt in 2019 with the impending move to MITEC and new owners UBM promising a wave of enhancements.

METALTECH 2018 was the largest in the exhibition’s history, featuring over 35,000 sq m of floor space serving 2000 exhibiting companies and some 14,125 visitors. In addition, the show’s business matching service staged close to 200 meetings between buyers and suppliers.
The announcement of the exhibition’s move to MITEC, Malaysia’s largest and most modern exhibition centre, means exhibitors will be able to utilise larger-volume halls and advanced facilities, with visitors enjoying a more convenient, integrated and innovative experience. Relocating to an upgraded venue for 2019 coincides nicely with METALTECH’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Next year’s event is set to run from 22-25 May 2019, and 90% of 2018 participants have already rebooked their places.
For further information www.metaltech.com.my