Hardide gains Nadcap accreditation

Hardide Coatings Ltd has gained Nadcap accreditation for coatings. Nadcap is the world’s leading independent certification programme for special processes within the aerospace and defence industry. The accreditation, in addition to the company’s current certifications to AS9100, ISO9001 and ISO14001, means that Hardide can expand its business in the aerospace sector and provide its tungsten carbide-based coatings to any of the aerospace prime contractors or their supply chains worldwide.
Philip Kirkham, CEO of Hardide Coatings, says: “Aerospace is a key growth market for Hardide and this is a significant achievement and milestone toward realising the clear potential for our coating technology in this sector. An increasing number of aerospace companies require their suppliers to be Nadcap accredited, so to be fully approved opens up the market to us.”
For further information www.hardide.com

AMRC apprentices visit House of Commons

Apprentices from the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) were invited to the Houses of Commons at the end of last month to celebrate work bridging the gap between innovation in industry and academia.
The event, organised by the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult), showcased the University of Sheffield’s growth and performance when working with industry. Open to all MPs, the reception also highlighted how Catapult organisations like the AMRC and Nuclear AMRC are helping to shape the UK manufacturing innovation landscape that will deliver the UK’s Industrial Strategy. This year’s AMRC Training Centre ‘Apprentice of the Year’ winner, Leigh Worsdale, McLaren apprentice Ian Hutchinson and Nuclear AMRC apprentice Jordan Wagstaff attended the event.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

Planned investment in machine tools

Pentaxia is set to expand, with more than 20 new jobs in the pipeline, and a move to 70,000 sqft of new manufacturing and office space later this year. The company says that plans for the new facility include investment in new machine tools. Enjoying growth of more than 60% during the past 12 months, Pentaxia has seen a rapid increase in demand for lightweight, high-performance components from its blue-chip customers. The company has had an offer accepted on a new site to the north of Derby, which will triple current production space. More importantly, the site covers six acres, which gives Pentaxia room to expand.
For further information www.pentaxia.com

Hexagon to build €90m smart factory

Hexagon has revealed plans to invest approximately €90m in a new 52,000 m2 production facility in Hongdao, China. The new site will primarily produce metrology systems for the MI (Manufacturing Intelligence) division. There will also be office and meeting space, recreational areas for employees and a Hexagon solution centre. Construction is slated to begin this year, with completion targeted for 2020.
“The factories of the future must be flexible, modular working environments with data-driven ecosystems that embed agility and quality into every phase of the production process,” says Hexagon president and CEO Ola Rollén. “Our new facility not only will deliver high-class products and services for our customers in China and the surrounding region, but pioneer new technologies to support smart manufacturing.”
For further information www.hexagonmi.com

Revealing the future of laser technology

Trumpf presented tomorrow’s laser technology at the ‘Laser – World of Photonics’ trade fair in Munich last month.
A new beam guidance concept for ultra-short pulse lasers took centre stage. At the moment, it is technologically impossible to send ultra-short laser pulses down a flexible glass fibre to the workpiece – the laser pulse is so intense that it destroys the glass fibre. However, Trumpf has a new concept that gets around this problem and enables new ways to flexibly integrate lasers into machines and facilities.
“This is a real game-changer,” says Klaus Löffler, managing director and head of sales at Trumpf Laser und Systemtechnik GmbH. “Some 30 years ago the first laser light cable suitable for industrial use proved the breakthrough for solid-state lasers; our new beam guidance concept promises to do the same for ultra-short pulse lasers today.”
New diode laser technology was another highlight at the show. With it, Trumpf says it is laying the foundations for “green production” in industrial manufacturing. The company presented a diode laser that is not only suitable for conventional applications such as soldering, hardening and laser deposition welding, but can also handle industrial applications that require significantly higher beam quality. A clear advantage of diode laser technology is its high efficiency.
The TrumpfDira product range, specially designed for applications in the research sector, was also on display. These laser amplifiers deliver high-energy picosecond pulses combined with high repetition rates; for instance, to pump optical parametric amplifiers.
For further information
www.trumpf.com