Barnshaws delivers rolled steel cylinders

The Hamilton branch of metal-bending expert Barnshaws has delivered 11 rolled steel cylinders to form two deaerator vessels destined for the Johan Sverdrup oilfield in the North Sea.

Work had to be carried out within three weeks, meeting transport arrangements and ensuring the deaeration vessels could be installed on the offshore platform as quickly as possible. Barnshaws rolled 35 tonnes of steel plate at 16 mm thickness to a diameter of 3.8 m, producing the 11 finished cylinders. Offshore platforms are hazardous working environments where safety and space efficiency are of the utmost importance, so the rolled cylinders had to adhere to stringent quality levels.
For further information www.barnshaws.com

XYZ to host seminar at the MTC

XYZ Machine Tools is hosting a seminar to highlight the future of five-axis machining and robotic machine tending in collaboration with the MTC (Manufacturing Technology Centre) in Coventry on 17 October.

The event will include presentations from leading figures involved in five-axis machining and robotics. Speakers will include: James Selka, chief executive at the Manufacturing Technologies Association; Mike Wilson, managing director at Kuka UK; MTC chief engineer – intelligent automation, Jeremy Hadall; Paul Stout, managing director of Adelphi Automation; Juan Martin, European five-axis technical director at Buffalo Machinery; and Jonathan Theobalds, managing director at Rivercircle.
Demonstrations will also be carried out on the new robot-centred XYZ Robo-Tend mobile machine tool automation system, as well as the XYZ UMC-5X simultaneous five-axis machining centre. The day will be split into two session, morning (09:00) and afternoon (12:00), so visitors have a choice of which to attend.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Renishaw apprentice heads overseas

Renishaw apprentice Ryan Harris recently participated in a two-week Erasmus programme in Germany, funded by the EU.

The programme gives Welsh college students first-hand experience of engineering in another country and broadens their knowledge of the industry by showing them different approaches. As part of the Erasmus programme, four students from Coleg Y Cymoedd were selected for work experience at Stadler Anglenbau GmbH, including an all-expenses paid trip to the company’s facility in Altshausen, Baden-Württemberg. Stadler Anglenbau designs and manufactures waste sorting plants and components. Says Harris. “The scheme enabled me to learn from and work with peers who have come through a different education system. I’m really glad that I got to take part in the programme because it opened my eyes to a new industry, a new country and a new approach.”
For further information www.renishaw.com

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