FANUC Hails UK Robot Stars

A team representing the UK’s finest young robotics talent, and supported by factory
automation specialist FANUC UK, has been honoured at WorldSkills Lyon 2024. Jason Scott
and Charlie Carson, both from Northern Ireland, were awarded the Medallion for Excellence
in the category of Robot Systems Integration, where they competed against teams from 18
different countries.
The duo attended Northern Regional College and Scott now works at AES Global while
Carson attends the University of Ulster. Over 1500 young people from 69 countries
competed over four days of competition in 62 different skills at WorldSkills Lyon, which was
watched by over 250,000 spectators.
More information www.fanuc.eu

Laser processes with AI intelligence

Machine tool manufacturer Trumpf and machine learning (ML) specialist SiMa.ai have
entered a strategic partnership for lasers with AI. Together, the companies are developing
AI chips and software to improve welding, cutting, marking and 3D printing processes. The
technology will drive more efficient laser applications that accelerate the production of
electric cars, for example.
Edge ML applications that run completely on SiMa.ai’s machine learning SoC (system on
chip) are said to see a tenfold increase in performance and energy efficiency, bringing higher
fidelity intelligence to ML use cases extending from computer vision to generative AI. At
Trumpf, approximately 90 worldwide are working on AI, primarily in product development.
More information www.trumpf.com

Offshore Wind Partnership

The National Composites Centre (NCC), Bristol Composites Institute (BCI) and Vestas have
established a strategic technology research partnership to anchor the UK’s future wind
industry. This enhanced, sustained collaboration will accelerate turbine blade technology
development necessary to propel the UK’s clean energy superpower ambitions and enable
supply chain resilience. The UK Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan estimates the
domestic economic opportunity for the sector to be worth up to £92bn by 2040. Key to
maximising market potential is advanced product and technology development.

More information www.nccuk.com

AMRC Training Centre Reaches Milestone

‘The premier league of engineering apprentice training’, ‘enabling enhanced productivity in
manufacturing’ and ‘an apprenticeship scheme worth every penny’ is what employers and
apprentices said about the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre as it celebrated a
decade of delivering apprenticeships and skills. The AMRC Training Centre brought together
apprentices, alumni, hard-working colleagues, key stakeholders and valued businesses to an
event highlighting the milestone. To date, the AMRC Training Centre has recruited more
than 2200 apprentices and worked with circa 400 different businesses.
More information www.amrctraining.co.uk

Klingelnberg innovations on show at AMB

At last month’s AMB 2024 machine tool exhibition in Stuttgart, grinding machine specialist Klingelnberg presented its latest developments. The company’s stand featured a Höfler Speed Viper cylindrical gear grinding machine, a Höfler R 300 cylindrical gear roll testing machine and a Klingelnberg P 40precision measuring centre. 

Focusing on high-volume, large-scale grinding, the HöflerSpeed Viper is available in three models to suit individual requirements: Speed Viper 300 in single-spindle configuration, and Speed Viper² 180 and 80 in dual-spindle configuration. The latter ensures minimal non-productive time, fulfilling productivity requirements of the automotive industry. 

With a partial or full automation system, Speed Viper can also feature an automation interface that meets the VDMA 34180 standard. ‘Gear Operator’ machine software and a process-oriented navigation system via wizard technology make operation easy, even in complex applications. And last but not least, ultra-modern drive and control technology maximises energy efficiency.

The metrology on the Höfler R 300 provides a reliable way to determine the root causes of gearbox noise. Due to the short measuring time, it can easily integrate into any manufacturing process and enable 100% quality control of gears. The R 300 is designed for all-roll testing processes that are relevant for evaluating the running behaviour and noise behaviour of gears. These include the single-flank test, structure-borne noise test and torsional acceleration test. 


Klingelnberg also presented its tried-and-tested P 40 with advanced hybrid metrology, a combination of tactile and optical metrology. Using optical sensor technology developed specifically for gear measurement, it is now possible to measure not only pitch, but also waviness on the tooth flanks. 

Machine from Klingelnberg are available in the UK from Micronz.

More information www.micronz.co.uk