World’s most advanced laser welder

A leading battery technology manufacturer has completed the successful commissioning of what it describes as the world’s most advanced laser welding machine. The installation and operation of the IPG Photonics EV Flex welder is a significant milestone for the UK facility of Alexander Battery Technologies, which marks its 40th anniversary this year.

CEO Mark Rutherford says: “With the EV Flex laser now active, representing an investment of more than £500,000, our production has transformed. We can now produce our battery packs, crucial for high-end applications like e-mobility and robotic technology, with a level of precision and quality that sets a new industry standard.Our enhanced production capability has become a cornerstone of our robust growth strategy.”

For further information www.alexandertechnologies.com

Seco brand wins at Transform Awards

Last September, cutting tool manufacturer Seco launched a radically updated visual identity and a long-term brand strategy. The company described this as the first in a sequence of major steps, as the business positions itself as a leading global name for industry innovation, efficiency and sustainability. At the Transform Awards Europe in London last month – which awards excellence in rebranding and brand strategy with a focus on transformative creativity, strategy and implementation – Seco won the Gold award in thecategory‘Best Visual Identity from the engineering and manufacturing sector’.

For further information www.secotools.com

Q1 growth for subcontract market

Qimtek’s latest Contract Manufacturing Index shows that the UK subcontract market continued to grow in the first quarter. The index was up 4.5% in the first three months of 2024, building on the strong upswing at the end of 2023.Projects and budgets that had been on hold continue to be unlocked as manufacturers place orders and suppliers are busy quoting for work. February was the strongest month since March 2023.

The baseline for the index is 100, which represents the average size of the subcontract manufacturing market between 2014 and 2018.The CMI for Q1 2024 was 82, compared with 78.5 for the previous quarter.Machining accounted for 48% of the market, up 35% on the previous quarter, while fabrication represented 49%, down 5% on the previous quarter.

For further information www.qimtek.co.uk

Electric robot lifts large loads at longreach

Mitsubishi Electric is launching itsMelfa RV-12CRL vertical articulated robot, which offers 1504 mm reach and 12 kg payload capacity. The robot’s wide effective working area makes it suitable for a variety of processes and industries, includingmachine tending, automotive and lithium-ion battery manufacturing. Users will also be able to take advantage of built-in functions that streamline implementation, enhance safety and reduce downtime.

The high payload capacity and long reach means the latest Melfa robot can deliver high levels of versatility in pick-and-place and assembly applications. Performance is also enhanced by the RV12CRL’s ability to operate at high speeds, with the arm designed to accommodate high inertia and momentum. This resilience means the robot can support precise positioning even when handling heavy loads, maintaining accuracies of ±0.04 mm.

Users of Mitsubishi Electric’s newsix-axis robot can equip it with Melfa SafePlus for extended safety functions. This technology uses sensors such as light curtains to limit speed, torque and reach upon detecting human workers nearby, allowing it to operate without safety cages. The ability to safely work in shared spaces without having to stop whenever a worker approach makes it effective in flexible production environments.

The robot uses next-generation servo motors with battery-less encoders that eliminate the need for battery replacements or back-ups, reducing both maintenance costs anddowntime.

Barry Weller, product manager -mechatronics at Mitsubishi Electric Automation Systems UK, says: “Thanks to its innovative features and performance of the Melfa RV-12CRL robot, this latest addition to our range offers a cost-effective and efficient solution for repetitive handling operations involving large and heavy items.”

For further information www.bit.ly/3Qg93wU

Kuka KR Fortec has dynamic performance

Kuka says that its new KR Fortec industrial robot delivers versatility in a small footprint. Dynamic performance results in short cycle times,whilea compact shape makes it suitable for tasks such as handling and spot welding. Moreover, the fast KR Fortec tackles all this with low energy consumption.

The KR Fortec is available now, including with an extended arm that handles loads of 240 kg across a reach of 3700 mm. Technically, this heavy-duty robot fits between the KR Quantec and KR Fortec ultra. Cross-model modularisation ensures high transfer of robot series components.

Maximilian Pettkuhn, portfolio manager at Kuka, says:“We developed the KR Fortec to achieve a lower TCO and launch a resource-saving, lightweight product. The new robot is up to 700 kg lighter than its predecessor.”

According to Kuka, the KR Fortec is reliable with a long, trouble-free service life and low maintenance requirements. Furthermore, optimised accessibility makes maintenance work easy and quick. The two in-line wrists adopted from the KR Quantec and KR FortecUltra models are waterproof and dustproof as standard. Beyond that, the KR Fortec can operate between 0-55°C. Several foundry variants are available for harsh and dirty environments.

The working envelope of the KR Fortec is expandable with the KL 4000 linear unit, which is modularly adaptable between 1.5 and 30 m. A further advantage: the KR Quantec also fits on the KL 4000. For co-operation with the KR FortecUltra on the same linear unit,customers shouldselect the KL 5000. This allows users to continue adapting and combining products easily to meet individual requirements.

For further information www.kuka.com