University’s challenge accepted by ETG

Over its 150-year history, the School of Engineering at Newcastle University can lay claim to being the birthplace of great ideas that changed the world. It is this propensity to push the boundaries of innovation that has recently seen the university invest in a Mitsubishi wire EDM machine from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG). 

Newcastle University recently invested more than £110m to re-develop its Stephenson building, aptly named after engineering pioneer George Stephenson, the renowned ‘father of the railways’. Part of the investment includes new plant and equipment to support students, academic researchers and industrial partner projects.

The university’s technical team leader for manufacturing, Stuart Baker, says: “By investing in a new EDM machine we could keep as much of our work as possible on-site to increase the student experience. Having the technology on-site also enables us to demonstrate the EDM process in considerable depth.”

He continues: “The Mitsubishi MV1200S scored the highest above other applicants on our tendering process, particularly as our new workshop in the new Stephenson Building is very sustainability-focused. Mitsubishi’s MV1200S has a wealth of energy efficiency measures that tie in with our ambition to be a carbon-neutral facility by 2030. One such innovation that caught our eye and scored highly above other vendors was the Mitsubishi E.KO Ioniser system, which is environmentally efficient compared to standard ion resin systems.”

Mitsubishi says its E.KO ioniser system offers the world’s most innovative and ecologically optimal technology for the production of deionised process water used in wire EDM. The E.KO Ioniser completely replaces the mixed bed resin and is therefore one of the most environmentally friendly solutions in the field of process water treatment. 

More information www.engtechgroup.com

Filtermist recruits BDM

A Telford manufacturer that helps machine shops create cleaner and safer working environments is embarking on a major international expansion drive. Filtermist, which employs over 150 people, has appointed Graeme Bell as its new global business development manager. The filtration expert will be responsible for driving new opportunities in the APAC region, particularly India and China. Bell has already spent time visiting customers in China, Korea and India, before serving a central role in the Filtermist delegation that exhibited at the IMTEX exhibition.

More information www.filtermist.com

Sustainability from Seco

The ambition of cutting tool manufacturer Seco is to make manufacturing fast, easy and sustainable and, in 2025, the company is launching impactful initiatives to help customers reduce their environmental footprint and foster responsible business practices. For instance, the company is expanding its Life Cycle Assessment models for some turning and milling products. The models will provide customers with CO2 emissions data, use-phase estimates and insights into the benefits of circular services. Also, Seco’s Cutting Data Engine will enable users to calculate CO2 emissions based on estimated power consumption.

More information www.secotools.com

ACE completes £350,000 investment drive

Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE), which will celebrate its 25th anniversary later this year, has installed two additional single-chamber Chemcut etching machines and a UCE developer for creating quicker and cleaner imaging. The £350,000 investment means the company can produce 325,000 sheets every year at its Hortonwood facility, a 30% boost in throughput. Importantly, ACE can also tap into greater product line flexibility and increased accuracy. With the new investment, company bosses are already looking to boost market share in electrification, aerospace, medical and filters.

More information www.ace-uk.net

New Parts Finishing show set for November

The new Parts Finishing trade fair, taking place on 12-13 November 2025 in Karlsruhe, will kick off with an innovative concept. Adapted to the changing requirements of the manufacturing sector, it will present solutions for production steps that include deburring, component cleaning and surface finishing at a single venue. The event’s duration of just two days and turnkey, customisable booth packages ensure reasonable and precisely calculable costs for participation and associated expenses. Parts Finishing will also host a bilingual expert forum on both days of the show.

More information www.parts-finishing.de