Dr Liam Fox opens Swift-Cut facility

Secretary of State for International Trade, Dr Liam Fox, recently opened the new factory, offices and demonstration suite at Swift-Cut Automation, a British designer and manufacturer of CNC plasma-cutting tables. During his visit, he spent some time discussing Swift-Cut’s growing success in the international export market. In just six years since Swift-Cut’s inception in 2011, the company now exports over 80% of its products globally.

Working closely with the Department of Trade, Swift-Cut has opened channel partners in 26 countries and, with the continued support of the government, is now successfully expanding into the USA. “Swift-Cut is exactly the sort of company we need to be replicating across the UK,” said Fox. “Success stories like this are flying the flag for British quality and expertise, bringing a boost to their local economies.”
For further information www.swift-cut.co.uk

Invest NI extends reach to Doha

Invest Northern Ireland is to increase its presence in the Middle East with a new regional manager based in Doha, Qatar. The announcement comes as Invest NI chief executive Alastair Hamilton (pictured left) visited the country to meet the UK Ambassador to Qatar, Ajay Sharma (right), and the Department for International Trade team.

Photo By: Sadie Packer Photo (www.sadie.photo)

“This new post in Qatar will strengthen the support we already offer in the IMEA region through our offices in Dubai and Jeddah. The new regional manager will have a specific focus on Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iran, where we see real potential for companies in Northern Ireland to grow their exports, particularly in sectors such as engineering and manufacturing.”
In the year up to December 2016, companies in Northern Ireland directly exported goods to the value of almost £29m to Qatar. Machinery and transport equipment accounted for the majority of this, at almost £16m.
For further information www.investni.com

Churchill DT wins HSBC export award

Churchill Drilling Tools is celebrating after winning the ‘High Growth Markets Exporter of the Year’ category at the 2017 HSBC Scottish Export Awards. Mike Churchill, CEO and commercial director, says: “Our export journey has been incredible. For example, in the Middle East, we have gone from a standing start in 2016 to today being the leader in our market. Our export success is testament to the added value that our technologies bring to our clients and the experienced support we are able to provide 24/7.” Churchill Drilling Tools opened a new 11,000 sq ft workshop facility in
Abu Dhabi, UAE, last November.
For further information www.circsub.com

Lantek sets up office in UAE

Lantek, a specialist in software solutions for the sheet-metal industry, recently opened its first UAE office in the city of Sharjah. “The Emirate of Sharjah is a hub for industrial enterprises, and we think it will be an important location for Lantek,” says Alberto Martínez, CEO of Lantek. “We have more than 500 clients in these nations, but the potential is huge because of the investment they are making in the lead-up to Expo 2020 in Dubai. We also plan to reach other Persian Gulf countries from this office.”

Although 85% of Lantek’s business comes from abroad, the company’s domestic market in Spain is up 22%, making it a top performer. According to Martínez, this shows that “our clients have begun to shake the fear of investing”, and that “companies that weathered the crisis are stronger because of it”.
For further information www.lanteksms.com

HSM with OptiCool spindle technology

GF Machining Solutions’ Mikron MILL S600U five-axis machining centre for mould and die makers is now equipped with new HVC140 (StepTec) spindles. The StepTec Opticool spindle system, with its enhanced polar thermal balance, controls the temperature of the machine’s spindle and spindle bearings to improve part accuracies and surface finishes.

StepTec’s HVC140 spindles deliver high power and speed (13.5 kW/42,000 rpm), and feature proven OptiCool technology. Also contributing to the spindle’s performance is an all-new bearing design using ceramic hybrid bearings. As a result of their incorporation, radial and lateral stiffness are increased by 16% and 60% respectively. Furthermore, radial and axial run-out, as well as repeatability, of less than 2 µm
is achieved at the tool interface.
The machining centres, with their rigid base construction, combine high dynamic direct-drive technology with a range of design and build features and integrated ‘Smart’ software modules. These include: Ambient Robust, which monitors and regulates thermal variation detected in the machine’s base and drives; OSS (Operator Support System), which helps customers optimise their machining processes based on workpiece specifications/dimensions and their specific machining priorities – speed, accuracy and surface finish; and ITC/ITC 5AX (intelligent Thermal Control), which eliminates the need for, or reduces the time required for warm-up cycles.
For further information www.gfms.com