Hydraulic chucks for tool grinding

Mapal has developed its first line of hydraulic chucks specifically for tool grinders. The HydroChuck Grind-A and HydroChuck Grind-M are manufactured for shank tolerance h6 and demonstrate low wear characteristics, says the company. In designing the new HydroChuck line, Mapal has paid particular attention to minimising access restrictions to the tool and achieving the best possible grinding wheel run-out.
The automatic workpiece clamping of the HydroChuck Grind-A is characterised by its energy-efficient function. The workpiece is clamped by means of a cup spring pack that ensures the hydraulics of the machine are only required for releasing the workpiece. Using two dial gauges, the hydraulic chuck can be set and adjusted in just a few minutes to micron precision. Furthermore, any ‘wobble’ can be compensated, says Mapal.
Complementing the automatic chuck (Grind-A) is the HydroChuck Grind-M, which is designed for manual workpiece clamping using a hexagonal head screw.
The HydroChuck Grind-A is available for the clamping of tool shank diameters of 20mm, whereas the HydroChuck Grind-M has been developed for 12, 20 and 32 mm tool diameters. Reducing sleeves are available to accommodate common tool shank sizes.
For further information
www.mapal.com

Female era

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry says it is gearing up for highest ever intake of female apprentice engineers since launching the organisation’s apprenticeship programme. Increased awareness of the range of career opportunities for women in engineering has reaped dividends for the MTC’s Lloyds Bank Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Programme. Of 42 apprentice places on offer this year, females applicants are expected to take up seven spaces.
For further information
www.mtc-myfuture.co.uk

Timken buys Groeneveld

The Timken Company,
a global specialist in engineered bearings and mechanical power transmission products, has reached an agreement to acquire Groeneveld Group, a Netherlands-headquartered provider of automatic lubrication solutions used in on- and off-highway applications, for approximately $280m. For the 12 months ending 31 May 2017, Groeneveld Group sales were approximately $105m. The transaction is expected to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share in 2017. Additionally, Groeneveld Group has a strong margin profile, which is anticipated to be accretive to Timken’s EBITDA margin.
For further information
www.groeneveld-group.com

10-off AM machine order from China

SLM Solutions Group AG, a supplier of
metal-based additive manufacturing (AM) technology, has won an order for 10 SLM500 multi-laser AM machines. This is the first order of this magnitude that SLM Solutions has received for the SLM500 model. SLM has been pursuing the goal of further establishing itself in Asia, where it already has subsidiaries in Singapore, China and, since 2017, India. This order is an important step for further growth in the region and is proof of high demand worldwide for AM systems suited to industrial applications. The machines are to be delivered
to a customer in China within the next 15 months.
For further information www.slm-solutions.com

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