GKN Aerospace buys AM specialist

GKN Aerospace has acquired a pioneering Swedish additive manufacturing (AM) system business as part of its Engines business’s journey to transform its supply chain and offer more sustainable and advanced material solutions to customers. Permanova Lasersystem AB, based in Gothenburg, is a specialist in advanced laser technology and cell integration, and a current supplier of laser welding and laser metal deposition systems to GKN Aerospace. The move is also a milestone in the company’s sustainability journey, with AM reducing material and energy usage by up to 80% compared with traditional manufacturing.
For further information www.gknaerospace.com

MTC signs up IP-based green-tech business

Fast-growth green-tech business Katrick Technologies has joined the Manufacturing Technology Centre as a Tier 1 member. Katrick’s patented suite of technologies uses the power of oscillation to provide profitable zero-carbon electricity and power saving.
The MTC will support Katrick Technologies’ next generation of infrastructure and help the company bring its patented technologies to market. Over the next year, Glasgow-based Katrick Technologies will work alongside the MTC to develop further its novel urban wind device and related business activities.
For further information www.the-mtc.org

Wayland sells additive system to RAF

Wayland Additive, developer of the Calibur3 metal additive manufacturing (AM) system, has installed its technology at the Hilda B Hewlett Centre for Innovation, part of No 71 Inspection and Repair Squadron based at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire. Equipped with world-leading 3D printing and scanning equipment, the opening of the new centre marks the Royal Air Force’s first steps into advanced component manufacturing.

AM is a brand-new capability for the RAF and will ultimately provide a breakthrough in its ability to design and produce its own aircraft spares on demand. Will Richardson, CEO at Wayland Additive says: “Calibur3 overcomes common problems with metal AM, and uses the NeuBeam process that delivers on all of the advantages of metal electron beam powder bed fusion technology while overcoming the troublesome issues that have traditionally limited wider adoption.”
For further information www.waylandadditive.com

Unison recruits ex-Addison employees

Unison Ltd, a UK manufacturer of tube bending machines and the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, has recruited several former employees of now-defunct Preston-based Addison Forming Technologies Ltd (formerly known as Addison McKee). Already working at Unison are former Addison Forming Technologies international sales manager Andy Worthington, proposals engineer Luke Gibson, software engineer Bill Watson and machine tool designer Dan Gallagher. Unison expects further new starters in the coming weeks.

“With new Unison tube bending technologies and software solutions in the pipeline, new markets to break into, and exciting long-term strategic plans, we took the decision to recruit as many former Addison team members as we could justify and, in doing so, keep their considerable skills in the UK,” says Unison’s joint managing director Alan Pickering. “We simply couldn’t sit back, do nothing and allow such talent to be wasted or enticed overseas.”
For further information www.unisonltd.com

Precision is no ‘pipe dream’ for Pipetronics

As a manufacturer of high-performance electric and hydraulic sewer pipe rehabilitation robot systems, Pipetronics GmbH utilises two in-house CNC machining centres fitted with a wide range of Big Kaiser tools and tool holders that are available in the UK from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC). With headquarters in the South German town of Stutensee, Pipetronics uses the Big Kaiser range of products for the production of its robots’ turned and milled components.

To ensure complete coverage of all production processes, Pipetronics purchased a Grob G350 five-axis machining centre and a Mazak i400 ST turn-mill centre. Both feature robot automation.

“To mill very close to the clamping device along the spindle, a slim, stable and precise tool holder is required, which is where tool-holder specialist Big Kaiser comes into the picture,” says Rolf Dettinger, head of CNC manufacturing at Pipetronics. “From my previous job, I have significant experience with Big Kaiser spindle tools and Big Daishowa tool holders. After being repeatedly disappointed by the quality of the default chucks used on the Grob, I finally contacted Big Daishowa and they kindly provided us with the Mega Double Power Chuck for testing.”

Seeing the impressive results during the test phase, Dettinger was so impressed that he ordered several Micro collet chucks from the Mega Chuck series for the Mazak machine in addition to the tested power chuck.

“For our application, the Big Micro Chuck collet chucks offer optimal performance characteristics for machining hard-to-reach workpiece areas, where conventional collet systems fail to deliver,” he says. “Thanks to its groove-free collet nut, vibration at high speeds are prevented. The key is that this Big Kaiser micro-collet system is slim enough to implement in all our machining operations.”
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk