DMG Mori Sets Open House Date

Expertise in five-axis machining, freely scalable automation and integrated manufacturing processes for high precision and productivity in every manufacturing process will be the themes of DMG Mori’s forthcoming open house in Pfronten, Germany. The event is taking place from 26 to 30 January for the German, Austrian and Swiss markets, and from 2 to 6 February for all international guests. 

DMG Mori will show over 40 machines and more than 20 automation solutions. Several world premieres will provide the focus, including the new CTX 450 4A universal turning centre and theLASERTEC 65 DED Hybridpowder nozzle additive manufacturing machine, which is also capable of machining. Asecond-generation DMU 65 H monoBLOCK five-axis horizontal machining centreis a further highlight.

More information www.dmgmori.com

MACH MACHINE TOOLS SUPPLIES COLLEGE WITH MANUAL MILLS, LATHESAND DRILLS

Shrewsbury College’s engineering workshop is a large, modern and impressive facility
replete with, among other technologies, a range of high-performance CNC and manual
machine tools. In 2021 the college upgraded the machining capacity and capabilities of its
workshop by acquiring 10 manual milling machines, 10 lathes and a pedestal drill from
MACH Machine Tools. Shrewsbury College followed up this main investment in 2022 and
2023 with the acquisition of a second pedestal drill and two more manual milling machines.
The acquisition of 24 new MACH machines in total, in such a relatively short timeframe, is
proof of the college’s committed to continuous improvement. Shrewsbury College’s stated
intention of building and maintaining a world-class engineering resource for students,
apprentices, employers and the wider community, remains a primary focus. The machines
comprise 12 MACH VS-1 (Classic) manual turret-type mills, 10 MACH L-1340 manual lathes
and two MACH SB 30 pedestal drills.
Since 2016, Shrewsbury College has been on an investment mission, improving and
upgrading its engineering, manufacturing and machining resources to “better meet” the
training and recruitment requirements of local and regional employers.
Recent investments, facilitated in part by sizeable grants from the Marches Local Enterprise
Partnership (LEP) combined with funding from the college itself and other partners, has
seen the college radically transform its engineering workshop. The facility now includes a
state-of-the-art CAD and design suite with advanced 2D/3D modelling software, additive
manufacturing technology, CMM equipment, a Festo FMS Industry 4.0 ‘Smart Factory’ suite,
and a range of CNC and manual machines. Also on site are MIG, TIG and MMA welding bays,
plasma and laser cutters, a CNC press brake, and a robotic welder.
Says Andrew Lee, who is Shrewsbury College’s director of apprenticeships & employer
partnerships, as well as the curriculum director for mechanical, manufacturing,
electrical/electronic & automotive engineering: “2016/17 was a watershed moment for the
college and the investments made in advanced technologies. It helped elevate our profile
and increase and enrich our engineering provision.”
Shrewsbury College is constantly improving and expanding its engineering curriculum to
keep pace with technological developments, help combat the ongoing skills shortages of
employers, and prepare students and trainees for the changing world of work. Upgrading

the capacity and capabilities of its workshop is therefore crucial in making sure the college
can meet these objectives.
“We regularly meet up with local and regional employers, collectively and individually, to
better understand their needs,” says Lee. “These discussions provide us with accurate
market intelligence that we use to help shape and direct our provision.”
It was, in part, this intelligence gathering and employer feedback that led the college, back
in 2021, to audit and benchmark its existing manual machine tool capacity and capabilities.
“The review revealed that our manual machine tool provision needed expanding and
upgrading to ensure the skills we developed with our students and apprentices, met the
needs of industry,” he says. “The increase in engineering courses and apprenticeship
programmes on offer, combined with larger numbers of students/apprentices, was putting
pressure on our existing manual machine resource.
“We needed to more than double the number of manual mills and lathes in the workshop to
ensure the quality and relevancy of the practical and skill-based content of our engineering
courses. We also had to acquire an additional stand-alone manual drill to handle routine
drilling and tapping operations.”
Shrewsbury College prepared and advertised a detailed open tender inviting potential
machine tool companies to submit comprehensive proposals to supply of a range of manual
machines (10 lathes, 10 mills and one drill. Every submission was reviewed against
evaluation criteria and weightings to determine which proposal offered the best-value
regarding price to performance.
MACH Machine Tools, with its extensive manual machine tool line-up and experience of the
education sector, scored highly with its tender submission and was duly shortlisted.
Following a visit by Shrewsbury College representatives to MACH Machine Tools’ facility in
Bristol, and a secondary visit to Neath and Port Talbot College, which had recently invested
in similar MACH machines, the company was awarded the contract.
MACH Machine Tools’ tender response was successful for several reasons, including: the
technical quality, price and availability of the machine tools recommended; the level of
service and support on offer, including delivery, installation and training; and the scope,
scale and value of ‘social’ support available (i.e. sponsorship, promotions and advertising).
Says Lee: “MACH Machine Tools submitted a competitive tender that represented real
value. We hadn’t dealt with MACH previously, but the quality, build and specification of the
machine tools they recommended, in addition to their price point and the company’s
aftersales service and support, put them in the box seat.”

MACH VS-1 Classic manual mills feature a rigid design and build. They feature large
worktables (1219 x 229 mm), variable-speed 5000 rpm spindles and two-axis DROs. MACH L-
1340 lathes are compact machines equipped with quick-change tool posts and tailstocks,
and feature anti-vibration and stress-relieved beds, backlash eliminators, and two-axis
DROs. MACH SB 30 pedestal drills are supplied with 405 x 505 mm tables, 1.5 hp motors and
a 75-3140 rpm spindle capable of drilling various materials.
Concludes Lee: “The MACH machines are great performers, proving accurate, flexible and
reliable. Their acquisition has strengthened our manual machining capacity and capabilities,
enabling us to provide students and trainees with relevant, practical and transferable skills.”
The machines are in constant use – six hours a day, five days a week, 45 weeks a year, and
must always be reliable and ready for action.
“We were so pleased with the initial tranche of machines supplied in 2021 that we followed
this up in 2022 by acquiring a second MACH SB 30 drill, and again in 2023 when we ordered
another two VS-1 manual mills.”
More information www.machinetoolsalesonline.com

Five-Axis Machining Centre Options Include Ultrasonics

Occupying just 3.8 sq m of space on the shop floor, a compactfive-axis machining centre with a working volume of 220 x 370 x 290 mm is now available from DMG Mori. The new DMU 20 Linear can meet a wide range of applications, from the micro-machining of watch components, through EDM electrode and impeller production, to die and mould making.

A rigid, FEM-optimised cast bed and thermo-symmetrical gantry design have been coupled with Magnescale axis position measuring systems to ensure long-term stability and machining accuracy to within single-figure microns.

The A-axis trunnion swivels from +130 to -93°, allowing flexible machining strategies and enhancing the operator’s view of the workpiece. The C-axis table rotates at up to 150 rpm, optionally 1500 rpm, while offering a positioning accuracy of two arcseconds. Zero-point clamping is standard, with the customer able to choose Erowa, Schunk or another make. There is also provision for the vacuum clamping of delicate or thin-walled workpieces.

The machine features a Fischer spindle (HSK 32, 42,000 rpm) as standard, although HSK 32 or HSK 40 spindles up to a maximum of 60,000 rpm are available. If elevated levels of precision are necessaryin combination with long running times, a shaft-cooled version is available for the HSK 40 variant. The tool magazine offers 26 pockets, optionally up to 60 tools, suitable for flexible production requirements with frequent tool changes.

For machining hard, brittle materials such as glass, Zerodur or technical ceramics, the machine is available as a third-generation Ultrasonic 20 Linear. In this model, tool rotation is superimposed with an additional ultrasonic oscillation, reducing the force generated by the tool during machining by up to 50%.

More information www.dmgmori.com

Positive investment for precision subcontractor

Mills CNChas recently supplied NextGen Precision, a precision subcontract specialist based in Blackburn, with a new high-performance three-axis vertical machining centre.The machine, a fourth-generation DNM 5700 from DN Solutions equipped with Siemens 828D control, was installed at NextGen’s machine shop in July 2025. It is the first machine tool acquired from Mills CNC in the company’s 44-year history.

NextGen Precision is a successful family-owned business that employs five members of staff.

The company is committed to continuous improvement and, as such, regularly invests in its people, plant and machinery.NextGen is currently undergoing a strategic review and revamp of its machine shop in order to strengthen the company’s supply chain relationships and facilitate organic growth opportunities with existing customers in the highly-regulated aerospace, security and nuclear sectors. The business is also looking to win business from new customers.

In spring 2025, a new customer operating in the security sector approached NextGen Precision to discuss its requirements for high-precision components supplied in volumes up to 2500 per month.

Says Stephen Fairbrother, NextGen Precision’s co-owner and director:“Although the new business was clearly welcome, we could see the quantities involved would put our existing machining capacity and capabilities under pressure.As a result, we made the decision to invest in a new high-performance machining centre and run it in tandem with one of ourexisting machines.”

Says Mark Fairbrother, Stephen’s brother and fellow co-owner and director:“Before we approached the market to talk to individual machine tool suppliers, we drew up a detailed checklist for the new machine.”

The checklist included the following ‘must have’ features: a rigid design and construction; a powerful, high-torque, directly-coupled spindle; a good-sized worktable; and a generously sized and fast tool changer.

After reviewing suitable machines, NextGen Precision visited Mills CNC’s facility in Leamington where it was introduced to the fourth-generation DNM 5700.

“We liked and valued their approach,” says Stephen. “Not only could they ‘customise’ the DNM 5700 to meet our requirements, they could also arrange a flexible finance solution install the machine from stock in double-quick time.”

He concludes: “We’re delighted with our newDNM 5700, which is fast, accurate and flexible.We’ve also developed a great working relationship with Mills CNC.”

More information www.millscnc.co.uk

£7m for tidal turbine tech

Orbital Marine Power, the Scotland-based operator of the world’s most powerful tidal turbine, has secured a multi-million pound investment to advance its international commercial projects and contribute to the wider decarbonisation of energy.The investment follows a major vote of confidence from Canada, where the Province of Nova Scotia recently awarded Orbital and Eauclaire Tidal significant new tidal energy licences through the province’s 2025 procurement process.Orbital harnesses tidal energy along the UK coast, from Orkney to the Isle of Wight, sourcing its materials and manufacturing domestically.

More information www.orbitalmarine.com