RNLI engineers visit industry trailblazers

In its 200th year, the RNLI has a long history of embracing innovation to help save lives at sea around the UK’s coast.Always open to learning new ways of doing things, a group from the lifesaving charity recently visited Sellafield’s Engineering Centre of Excellence at Cleator Moor to find out how industry innovates.Craig Branney, Sellafield’s head of off-site developments, hostedthe RNLI engineers, explaining how team members collaborate and innovate, including with the supply chain, to develop solutions in a highly regulated nuclear decommissioning sector.
For further information www.bit.ly/43jTEQy

Forth creates new job positions

An engineering company that is enjoying further expansion due to increased demand for its bespoke solutions is creating new jobs.Six roles will become available at Forth, which has bases at Maryport, Cleator Moor and Barrow, all in Cumbria. The company delivers engineering solutions to industry challenges across the UK and worldwide, serving industries such as nuclear, oil and gas, renewables, agriculture and utilities.

Mark Telford, Forth’s managing director, says: “As predicted, 2023 is proving to be a very exciting year for Forth. We have several exciting and innovative projects in the pipeline.One of the most pleasing aspects of this work is that we’re able to create even more job opportunities in the local area.We remain passionate about keeping jobs in Cumbria by bringing as many projects to the county as possible, supporting our communities and boosting the local economy.”
For further information www.forth.uk.com/careers.

Trumpf open house

Trumpf UK will stage an open house at its Luton headquarters on 12-13 July. The event is a prime opportunity for OEMs and subcontractors to see the latest machine and software solutions in laser cutting, punching, welding, bending and laser marking technologies. Special focus will be on how to remove secondary laser cutting processes by automating part separation and skeleton handing. Visitors will also see demonstrations of new features, such as Edgeline Bevel, an innovation that allows flat-bed laser machines to produce chamfers and countersinks in sheet metal.
For further information www.bit.ly/43DoOSz

Fivefold increase in machine productivity

Having over 50 years of experience in engineering, Team Inc (UK) is a company that specialises in leak-sealing services and solutions. With offices in Carlisle and throughout the UK, Team Inc has grown into a global brand with a reputation that extends from here to its headquarters in the US.

Among the company’s best-selling components are high-pressure injection adapters, which are finish-machined using reamers against a 24/7 schedule. The reamers used previously to machine these high-pressure injection adapters, made from high-tensile alloy steel (A193B7 and A320-L7), allowed Team UK’s engineers to produce between 1500-2000 parts a year. However, reamer wear was prone to causing component damage, leading to scrapped materials and waste. Ceratizit therefore recommended its Fullmax reamer.

Cutting data for the new reaming process was 1722 rpm with a feed rateof 1722 mm/min (1 mm per revolution feed). Saving 50 seconds per component, Team UK managed to increase its throughput to between 8000 and 10,000, equating to a fivefold increase in productivity.

Ceratizit’s new Fullmax Reamer also meant that fewer components saw damage during the process. As another benefit, whereas the new Fullmax Reamers show when they need replacing, there was no way for engineers to tell if the old reamers were wearing.

Chris Mitchell, manufacturing manager at Team UK, says:“Normally, when you want to increase process efficiency as much as this, there is a huge expense either through providing more manpower or buying expensive equipment. However, the new reamer was actually cheaper than the one we were using previously and it has provided a fivefold increase in the production of this adapter, which is absolutely outstanding. As well as this, it has virtually eradicated any waste in terms of scrapping parts.”
For further information www.ceratizit.com

Space Week set for lift-off in Cumbria

Later this month, manufacturers in Cumbria will have opportunities to see how they can diversify into the space industry. ISH (Industrial Solutions Hub) is hosting Space Week across West Cumbria on 26-30 June. The event will feature a wide range of speakers from the space industry, who will address business delegates at Lakes College, Workington on 26-28 June. Leaders from the UK Space Agency, the Satellite Applications Catapult and businesses already operating in the space sector will share information on how the market works. The Space Skills Alliance will also deliver a workshop presenting the skills needs of the industry.
For further information www.bit.ly/3IKHIPF