BAE cuts first steel for HMS Sheffield

The first steel has been cut for the UK’s newest warship, HMS Sheffield, at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Glasgow. 27-year-old apprentice fabricator burner, Michael Miller, carried out the ceremonial act. It marked the official start of construction on the fifth of eight ‘city class’ vessels and is a significant milestone for the programme and British shipbuilding as a whole.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, attended the ceremony alongside a range of senior dignitaries from the UK Government, armed forces and industrial partners. All eight Type 26 frigates will be built on the Clyde, with the work sustaining nearly 2000 jobs in Scotland and 4000 jobs across the wider UK maritime supply chain for decades to come.

More information www.baesystems.com

First digital-specific event for Kuka

Following the recent establishment of its digital division, Kuka presented its portfolio at the company’s first software and digital event under the motto ‘Kuka digital: powering your business’ at its headquarters in Augsburg. The company, known for its industrial robots, is focusing increasingly on the consistent and seamless digitalisation of industrial landscapes.

At the event, Kuka’s development and technology centre was transformed into a discussion platform for software, digitalisation and AI. In workshops, panel discussions and keynote speeches, customers and partners discussed current challenges in the economy and solutions for driving end-to-end digitalisation. An expo area provided insights into Kuka’s software and digital offer for the entire production lifecycle.

More information www.kuka.com/en-gb/kuka-digital

40 years of workplace safety innovation

Halifax-based A-SAFE, a specialist in workplace efficiency and safety solutions, is celebrating four decades at the forefront of industrial safety and efficiency. The company’s journey epitomises a great British manufacturing success story, from its roots as a visionary family business to its evolution into a global operation. Under the leadership of brothers James and Luke Smith, A-SAFE has expanded from a team of 20 to a global workforce of 750, with a presence in over 65 countries. The company’s commitment to innovation continues with its latest Industry 4.0 advancements.

More information www.asafe.com

London press launch for MACH 2026

Located next to Somerset House on the banks of the River Thames, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) provided the backdrop for the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) to launch MACH 2026. The next edition of the UK’s largest exhibition for machine tools and manufacturing technologies will take place on 20-24 April 2026 at the Birmingham NEC, where 30,000+ attendees are expected.

More than 65% of the show’s floorplan is already taken, 16 months ahead of the event. The key theme for the 2026 edition will be unprecedented support from key industry associations such as Make UK, the MMMA, GTMA, BTMA, PTMA, Automate UK, Composites UK, BPF, BFPA, HVMC, and the Catapult Centres. Among key speakers at the press launch was Professor Rab Scott (pictured) of the IET’s Digital Futures Policy Centre.

More information www.machexhibition.com

New connection for replaceable-head mills

Mapal has introduced a patent-pending bayonet-type connection for milling cutter systems with a replaceable head. Users benefit from easy handling with a rigid connection and optimal cooling. The tool manufacturer also saves carbide with the connection, conserving resources.

The functional principle of the new connection could not be easier: the replaceable head only has to be inserted and turned 90° to achieve locking. That is a lot easier than the previous system for replaceable-head milling cutters from Mapal or comparable systems where the replaceable head is threaded and has to be screwed-in several turns. 

Mapal’s new bayonet system achieves very high rigidity thanks to its large cylindrical face connection. While the force only acts on one side when tightening a thread due to its pitch, the Mapal system ensures a symmetrical insertion and good distribution of force.  

Together with the connection, Mapal is introducing a new tool-holder design. The tool holder has a ring of cooling channel bores, which enables a much higher volume of cooling than conventional internal cooling is able to provide. By channelling the coolant directly to the area of the cutting edges, the tool life is extended and machining quality improved. 

In addition, by eliminating the need for a central cooling channel bore, the milling head becomes much more stable. The tool holder is 10-15% more rigid than comparable systems, reports Mapal, resulting in higher achievable form and position tolerances, smoother processes and longer tool life.

 

The solid-carbide replaceable heads from Mapal offer high process reliability as inserts cannot become loose at high temperatures. If tool breakage does occur, the connection’s simple assembly ensures operators can resume the machining process quickly.

More information www.mapal.com