Bearing firm invests in Studer grinder

Wimborne-based Loadpoint Bearings, a UK manufacturer of air-bearing spindles, has invested in a Studer FavoritCNC universal cylindrical grinder to help increase its output following the company’s move to a new, three times larger facility.

Operations director Richard Broom says: “Our air-bearing spindles are used for a range of exacting applications, such as in precision rotary tables for metrology-based systems. To make sure that Loadpoint spindles are manufactured to the highest quality standards we use a range of advanced machine tools, not least our 18-year-old Studer S36 grinder. In addition to our old Studer delivering the levels of sub-micron precision and first-class surface finish characteristics that we require, over the past two decades it has proven to be highly productive and extremely reliable.
“Despite having enjoyed a first-class experience with Studer and the company’s regional agent, Advanced Grinding Supplies, when an additional high-quality grinder was needed, mindful of possible technical advancements made by other manufacturers, we did look at a couple of other brands,” he adds. “However, having had an impressive demonstration of a Studer FavoritCNC, we were convinced that this was the ideal machine for our grinding needs and we were happy to continue our loyalty to the brand.
“The help of Peter Harding, the owner of Advanced Grinding Supplies, was invaluable when specifying our new Studer machine and ensuring that it corresponded with our specific requirements. Now in constant use, our Studer FavoritCNC is producing impressive volumes of premium-quality, highly precise components.”
For further information www.adgrind.co.uk

Seco names new president and CEO

Fredrik Vejgården has been appointed by Seco Tools as the company’s new president and CEO. Since 2015, Vejgården has been vice president – strategy and business development at Sandvik Machining Solutions (SMS), where he has been driving the development of the SMS strategy and building the foundation for a new digital division.

Prior to this role, Vejgården worked at Luvata for 10 years, where he held different executive positions responsible for business operations in the UK, Americas and China. Vejgården also has a background as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co, with a focus on operational topics such as lean manufacturing and procurement.
For further information www.secotools.com

Gibbs Gears chooses Klingelnberg Höfler

Gibbs Gears has recently installed a Klingelnberg Höfler CNC external/internal gear grinding machine at the company’s Stoke Mandeville headquarters.

The Klingelnberg Höfler Viper 500K will further expand the busy concern’s gear-grinding capacity and enable the production of complex gear geometries to high standards. Klingelnberg Höfler machines are available in the UK from Micronz.
Explaining the purchase, Paul Stevens, operational director, says: “The acquisition of the Klingelnberg Höfler Viper 500K gear grinder was prompted largely by our growing business within the Formula One, Formula E and other motorsport classes. It was also driven by a significant increase in business from the hypercar and aerospace sectors. The common denominators between all of these industries is their need for the highest standards of precision and quality, the technically challenging nature of the complex gear geometries they specify and their frequent requirement for fast delivery times.
“Due to increasing business with these demanding sectors, we recently undertook a search for a cutting-edge gear grinder,” he continues. “Although a couple of the technically advanced gear-grinding machines that we considered ticked some of our boxes, the only machine that delivered on all of our requirements was the Klingelnberg Höfler Viper 500K. It also helped our decision that many of our customers use Klingelnberg machines and have been delighted with their performance.
“Now fully operational, in addition to manufacturing gears with the demanding standards of precision and quality that we require, the Viper 500K has the speed of operation and quick change-over characteristics that are now improving productivity and reducing delivery times.”
For further information www.micronz.co.uk

Alex surface grinder now in UK

Master Abrasives is introducing further machines to its showroom in Daventry having installed an Alex Machine Tools’ NH-500 surface grinding machine, which is new to the UK.

The demonstration area at Daventry was initially set up to show the range of Master precision grinding products, including conventional and superabrasive grinding wheels, diamond dressers and superfinishing products. Master-branded products will be available to support any in-house demonstrations and display the potential of both Micromatic, and now, Alex machines.
Alex Machine Tools, which is headquartered in India, offers a range of surface grinding machines, including a reciprocating hydraulically-operated model, a high-power rotary surface grinder, creep feed machines and a series of double-disk grinders. The machines can incorporate CNC, automatic in-process gauging and material handling automation, depending on the customer’s application and requirements.
Martin Stevens, Master Abrasives’ applications engineer, is fully conversant with the latest developments at Alex Machine Tools and the most recent progressions in technology. With a background in grinding applications engineering, Stevens has the technical expertise to help customers find the best solutions for their precision grinding needs.
Ian Meredith, applications engineering manager at Master Abrasives, says: “Now that the Alex surface grinder is installed, we are able to offer demonstrations and potentially grind customer parts when required. The demonstration machine will be a great aid in promoting Alex Machine Tools
across the UK.”
For further information www.master-abrasives.co.uk

WorldSkills announces 2019 team

The UK’s best and brightest young skilled apprentices and students have been selected to represent all four nations in Team UK at the ‘Skills Olympics’ in Kazan, Russia (22-27 August).

More than 30 young professionals from sectors such as engineering, construction, and digital and IT, have cleared the highest hurdle in a two-year challenge to be the best in the world. These skilled young people have already triumphed in regional and national competitions and had one more momentous obstacle to overcome at team selection events the length and breadth of the UK. The results were revealed at Loughborough University.
For further information www.worldskillsuk.org