Implant manufacturer opts for Makino wire EDM

A new U6 HEAT from Makino has replaced two outdated wire-cut EDM machines at orthopaedic implant and associated surgical instrument manufacturer MatOrtho. The new wire-erosion machine arrived at MatOrtho’s manufacturing facility in Leatherhead towards the end of March 2023, with installation performed by NCMT, the sole UK sales and service agent for Makino.

David Shand, operations director at MatOrtho, says: “The new Makino wire EDM will significantly increase our instrument production capacity compared with the two machines it replaces. Greater accuracy and speed will allow us to meet our R&D needs and support future sales. This latest significant investment comes at an important time in our transformation as we expand to meet the growing demand from our worldwide customer base.”

Selection of the Makino was due to the quality of both the machine’s build and the service received during the sales process, right through to training at NCMT’s Technical Centre in Coventry. Another important aspect was the environmentally friendly operation of the U6 HEAT, which has low running costs, particularly in respect of reduced wire consumption. Shand adds that it will help drive the company’s transition towards a net-zero carbon footprint, especially as only one EDM machine is now drawing power rather than two.

NCMT’s Jon Marshall, Makino EDM sales manager UK south, says: “The Makino U6 HEAT is geared towards high-performance production which, together with the machine’s inherent precision, makes it a perfect fit for MatOrtho’s requirements for both production and research.It’s been a pleasure dealing with Paul Clancy, the company’sproduction engineering manager, and the whole team throughout the process and we at NCMT look forward to assisting MatOrtho with its future investments.”
For further information www.ncmt.co.uk

MSP to showcase automated CNC machining

Metrology specialist MSP will stage an automated CNC machining showcase on 5 July (09:30-16:00) at Biesse Group UK in Daventry. The event will include on-machine demonstrations, one-to-one workshops and opportunities to gain expert advice for CNC machining processes. The on-machine demonstrations will challenge manual production processes using automation. MSP will showcase five-axis CNC machine tool capability checking, automated probe set-up and calibration, and micron-accurate part alignments in 75% less time. New and existing users are welcome.
Register at www.bit.ly/3paM244

£270m Navy radar contract

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems a 10-year contract worth £270m to support the Royal Navy’s three main radar systems: Artisan, Sampson and Long Range Radar (LRR).Every major Royal Navy ship from Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers to Type 45 destroyers feature at least one of these systems, which BAE Systems designs and manufactures.The support contract and joint investment secures around 400 highly-skilled British jobs and underpins BAE Systems’ radar business in Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth in Hampshire, Great Baddow in Essex and Hillend near Edinburgh.
For further information www.baesystems.com

Britten-Norman re-shoring aircraft production

UK aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman is planning to increase production rates and repatriate aircraft production to its historic home in Bembridge, Isle of Wight. The move is a major change for the British SME, which has been manufacturing its aircraft in Eastern Europe since the late 1960s.Britten-Norman will invest in new jigs and tooling to create two additional production lines, andintroduce new sustainable energy initiatives.

In the coming months, the company will embark on a recruitment campaign, further boosting job creation in the UK’s Solent Local Enterprise Partnership area. The focus will include aircraft fitters and technicians, production engineering and supply chain roles. In addition, the expansion will create new traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities on the Isle of Wight and in south Hampshire.
For further information www.britten-norman.com

Toolmaker keeps pace with automotive market

With its own press shop serving the production facility of a major automotive plant in Eastern Europe, Essex-based Alpine Tools recently entered the market for a new wire EDM machine. Faced with a requirement to manufacture tools for its in-house press operations and various subcontract customers, the company selected a Sodick VL600Q CNC wire-erosion machine from a shortlist of six.

“Our previous wire EDM [not Sodick] was reaching the end of its useful life, so it was time to invest in another,” explains managing director Keith Chetland. “I used an Excel spreadsheet to cross-reference and benchmark six EDM machines. We chose the VL600Q from Sodi-Tech EDM for a number of reasons, notably the 10-year positioning accuracy guarantee, which shows confidence in the technology.”

Since arrival, the machine has been busy with a variety of tasks, including the manufacture of high-precision press-tool punches and dies. Alpine Tools also usesits new Sodick wire EDM to undertake press-tool maintenance.

In addition, the machine serves the company’s subcontract tool-room operations. Here, the company produces fixtures for machining and welding, along with inspection gauges and other tools from materials such as tool steel, stainless steel and even aluminium. These tools end up in sectors such as medical, heating and lighting.

“We’re an independent toolroom so we’ll take on anything that comes through the door,” says Chetland. “The new Sodick gives us greater accuracy, better economy and a somewhat larger working envelope than we had previously.”

He adds: “We’ve not run lights-out yet, but we plan to. It will be nice to go home at night knowing that we’ll arrive next morning and find the machine still running, without stoppages due to a failed wire re-threading operation, for example.”
For further information www.sodi-techedm.co.uk