‘Good’ grade for MTC Training

MTC Training’s staff, learners and partners are celebrating the success of the organisation’s first full Ofsted visit. The skills provider, which seeds the UK manufacturing industry with future-proof engineering skills through bespoke specialist training programmes, secured an overall rating of ‘Good’, with ‘Outstanding’ grades for ‘Personal Development’ and ‘Behaviours and Attitudes’.The inspection took place across MTC Training’s two centres: the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre in Coventry, and Oxfordshire Advanced Skills in Culham.
For further information www.the-mtc.org

Pheonix Tooling rises to the proving-out challenge

A Black Country specialist in precision press-tool design and manufacture is targeting £3m turnover by 2025 after it completed a £1.1m investment drive that included the installation of a complete new press line.Phoenix Tooling & Development, which supports customers in the automotive, construction, white goods, electric vehicle and medical sectors, has extended its long-standing relationship with Worcester Presses to purchase a new 500-tonne Ching Fong press and full coil line.

The GTX 500-D offersa long tool bed (3.4 x 1.5m) and is equipped with a 3-in-1 Tomac decoiler, straightener and feeder line that allows the business to build larger tools and, more importantly, prove-out complex tooling projects.This is a major development for the Aldridge-based business, with the company now able to give its growing customer base full confidence that the tooling produced will stamp components to the required production rates, quality and consistency. The business also has the equipment needed to simulate full production testing and support a seamless handover process to its clients.

“We relocated last year and thought about whether to persevere with our 1930s Wilkins and Mitchell 300 tonne press,” says Martin Mulvey, managing director of Phoenix Tooling & Development.“After careful deliberation we decided to use the move as the perfect time to search for a more powerful press with better control and ancillary equipment that could accelerate our try-out and commissioning processes.”

He continues: “Worcester Presses has been superb. Russell and his team spent lots of time exploring our requirements, challenging our approach, and then identifying possible solutions – the best one being the impressive Chin Fong GTX 500-D and Tomac 3 in 1 TLF4-800 coil line.”
For further informationwww.worcesterpresses.co.uk

Bobcat invests in energy-efficient press technology

Bobcat, a manufacturer of compact construction equipment, is increasing production capacity at its Gwinner, North Dakota facility, with the help of AP&T Group. A new, highly automated tandem press line, which recently began production, will more than double press production capabilities, reduce energy consumption, lower noise levels and improve the forming of complex sheet metal parts.

“This investment will provide us with new capabilities and efficiencies in our metal stamping operations, and it aligns with our commitment to innovation, sustainability and continued investments in our manufacturing footprint,” says Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America.

The new line includes AP&T’s energy-efficient servo-hydraulic press and automation. Furthermore, the assignment includes line integration, operator training and support.

“Bobcat is one of the first companies in North America to invest in the future by implementing this automated solution using our new press technology,” says Dr Christian Koroschetz, chief sales officer at AP&T Group. “This investment also supports Bobcat’s interest in pursuing sustainable, energy-efficient manufacturing solutions.”

The new AP&T servo-hydraulic press is 70% more energy efficient than a conventional AP&T hydraulic press. According to the company, the press also provides increased productivity and superior forming capabilities, which enables the pressing of more intricate and complex designed parts, along with shorter cycle times.

Bobcat first became aware of the new press technology through a relationship with Wisconsin-based TCR Integrated Stamping Systems, an equipment manufacturer consultant and system provider for the metal-forming industry.

“While visiting AP&T in Sweden, I was introduced to their latest automation breakthrough and knew it would provide a significant advancement for Bobcat,” saysTodd Wenzel, president of TCR. “In addition, AP&T demonstrated their new servo-hydraulic technology.”
For further information www.aptgroup.com

Ground-breaking agreement

The Manufacturing Technology Centre and the Herefordshire-based New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering have signed a ground-breaking agreement, leading the way to regional partnership and industrial and educational growth.The collaboration will build on the advanced technologies of the MTC and the academic quality and distinctiveness of NMITE, providing students with hands-on access to the latest manufacturing equipment and techniques. MTC@NMITE will also work with local businesses in transferring and adopting knowledge to boost manufacturing productivity and sustainability.
For further information www.the-mtc.org

Howells on track forsuccess with ITC

Founded in 1946 as a radio and TV repair shop, Howells Railway Products has travelled a long way since its early days. Today the company has an extensive list of marque clients that include household names like Siemens, Network Rail, Alstom, Transport for London, Bombardier, Babcock Rail and others. To work at the cutting edge of technology, Howells Railway Products has added a new 40,000 sq ft CNC machine shop with 26 Haas machine tools and cutting tools from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC).

The company has worked with ITC since 2018. A recent project saw ITC introduce the Widia line of indexable cutting tools with modular drills and high-feed shell mills on CLA3 alloy steel castings (end bracket components for rail stretcher bars).

A 63 mm Widia M8065HD face mill set about removing 6 mm of excess casting stock in a single pass as part of a facing and shoulder milling process. With the previous high-feed face mill removing material at a rate of 1mm per pass, the M8065HD significantly improved cycle time.

Always looking to take productivity gains to the next level, ITC then introduced the benefits of aBig Kaiser system to the end bracket components, helping to produce an 88.1mm diameter bore at a depth of 65mm. Previously performed using a 50mm diameter indexable shell mill helical interpolating inside the bore, the process took 3 minutes 30 seconds.

The idea to change the process from helical interpolation to a plunging application paid dividends using a Big Kaisertwin-bore tooling system (SW rough boring head). Howells Railway Products runs the twin-bore head at 542rpm and 81mm/min feed rate, reducing the cycle time by 2 minutes 50 seconds per part.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk