Dugard grows sales team

Dugard is once again strengthening its team with the appointment of a new area sales manager. Paul Roberts is now the company’s representative for southwest England and south Wales. He brings vast experience to the company, entering the industry almost 25 years ago as an apprentice toolmaker. Sales director Colin Thomson says: “Paul has a proven track record with a technical understanding and ability to solve problems for customers that will be a genuine asset to Dugard. He has spent several years working with manufacturers in the southwest, so his local reputation and insight will be of huge benefit.”

More information www.dugard.com

OrthoSolutions installs Hurco machines

Maldon-based OrthoSolutions, which designs, develops and manufactures implants and instruments used in surgical repair of the foot and ankle, has invested in a purpose-built production facility and purchased two Hurco machine tools. The move will bring previously outsourced work in-house and accelerate prototyping.

The new Hurco VM10i vertical machining centre (with 4th-axis rotary table and tailstock arrangement) and TM6i CNC lathe will perform a majority of the milling and turning operations required. They have already been busy providing a notable improvement in lead times for prototypes, while allowing quick and easy program editing in response to feedback from surgeons.

More information www.hurco.co.uk

Renishaw joins US-based AM Coalition

To help educate key decision makers, stakeholders and the public about the importance of additive manufacturing (AM), Renishaw has joined the US-based Additive Manufacturing Coalition. As a member, Renishaw will help engage and educate manufacturing and research policy leaders across the federal government to emphasise the benefits of AM to national security, health, information security, manufacturing and more.

Renishaw will now receive invitations to quarterly policy roundtables with key decision makers. John Laureto, AM business manager – Americas, at Renishaw, says: “As the use of AM expands further and into new markets, the AM Coalition helps stand as a voice in support of all that this process has to offer. As a member, we’ll help drive AM use to improve economic prosperity and national security.”

More information www.renishaw.com

Online Tool For Volume Manufacturing

Quickparts, a provider of custom manufacturing solutions, is launching a new online tool to
streamline the request process for volume production. The new QuickQuote tool caters in
particular to customers with large-scale or complex projects in CNC machining, injection
moulding and additive manufacturing. The user-friendly interface allows customers to
upload files and enter details such as proposed production scheduling, lead times, quality
requirements, design specifications, materials, accreditation needs and preferred processes.
This approach triggers a rapid response from a dedicated project team at Quickparts.
More information www.quickparts.com

Recognising future engineering talent

The Design & Make Challenge 2024, organised and run by the Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN) earlier this month, attracted nearly 100 pupils from 15 schools in what was one of the largest independent STEM events ever held in the UK. Southam College, Barclay Academy and Lawrence Sheriff High School took the main prizes, winning the Efficiency, Innovation and Manufacturing Awards respectively. Judges liked the way they tackled their challenge, using a box of simple materials to build a device that could securely lift a 23 kg metal block with nothing more than a pulley system.

More information www.man-group.co.uk