Deal signed for largest UK robots

Aerospace automation specialist Loop Technology has signed a deal with FANUC UK for
seven new robots – including the largest industrial robot ever ordered in the UK, the FANUC
M-2000iA/1700L. Three FANUC M-2000iA/1700L six-axis robots will be delivered to the
University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) for its new
innovation facility in South Yorkshire.
Part of Project Compass (Composites at Speed and Scale), the Loop/AMRC deal also
encompasses two further FANUC M-2000iA robots: a 1200L and a 900L model. As part of a
separate project, another 1700L model, along with an additional 900L unit, have been
ordered by Loop Technology to form part of a high-rate composite preforming cell for a
North American aerospace client.
For further information www.fanuc.eu

£10m heavy engineering plant

Subcontract manufacturer, WEC Group, is constructing a state-of-the-art 60,000 sq ft heavy
machining and fabrication facility in Blackburn. The development marks a significant
milestone in the group’s ongoing expansion strategy and is set to become one of the largest
subcontract machining plants in Europe, serving sectors such as nuclear, defence, offshore
and general engineering.


The facility will feature six large CNC machining centres capable of handling components up
to 20 m in length and 5 m in diameter. This will significantly expand WEC Group’s existing
capabilities, which include a trio of large Correa and an Asquith Butler travelling column
milling machines. The new plant is expected to create 60 new jobs, including 10 additional
machining apprentices.
For further information www.wec-group.com

Injection mould maker automates machining

Based in Budapest, Euroform provides an injection mould-making service from design to
production. The firm currently uses eight machining centres from DMG Mori for tool
production, including DMU monoBLOCKs, an HSC 75 linear and, most recently, a DMU 100 P
duoBLOCK. The latter features a PH Cell 2000 automation system for pallet handling to allow
unattended production at night and during the weekends.
The five-axis simultaneous machining of workpieces up to 1100 mm in diameter by 1600
mm long and weighing 2200 kg has already taken place on a DMU 100 P duoBLOCK.
Euroform’s experience with the machining centre was consistently good, leading to the
purchase in 2022 of a latest-generation model with a 1000 × 1250 × 1000 mm working
envelope.
When Euroform ordered the new DMU 100 P duoBLOCK, DMG Mori already had a large
pallet handling system in development, based on the smaller PH Cell 300. The bigger
capacity automation system handles pallets measuring up to 1100 mm in diameter, so is
able to deploy Euroform’s 1000 × 800 mm pallets. The PH Cell 2000 has 12 pallet positions
on two levels and can accept workpieces up to 1350 mm tall.
As Euroform almost exclusively manufactures one-offs, pallet handling such as the PH Cell
2000 is the optimal solution. Operators set up jobs offline on several pallets using a zero-

point clamping system while machining is in progress on another mould, so production
downtime is minimal, even at night.
Another focus area that supports business development at Euroform is digitalisation. The
mould maker is an enthusiastic adopter of the digital ‘my DMG MORI’ app when it comes to
online service requests.
For further information www.dmgmori.com

The die is cast

Phase two of a demolition project has started at Sheffield Forgemasters to make way for the
UK’s largest open-die forging line. Unused buildings on the Sheffield Forgemasters site,
north of Brightside Lane, are being removed as the second phase of work gets underway to
create space for a new 13,000 tonne heavy forge and its 12,700 sq m housing. Victorian-era
forge and foundry buildings will make way for the new facility, creating one of the most
efficient open-die forging operations in Europe and the largest in the UK. The demolition will
eventually expose the whole footprint of the new facility, which will dominate the skyline.
For further information www.bit.ly/3Ubjxyq

Bruderer launches UK-first at MACH 2024

A UK-first took place at MACH 2024 in Birmingham last week when Bruderer ran its BSTL
350-88 live at the event. The leading high-speed press manufacturer set-up a full production
line to showcase the machine’s capability in the volume production of small and miniature
components.
According to Bruderer, the BSTL comes into its own for precision and continuity and uses up
to 30% less energy when compared with older machine models. The turnkey line at the
MACH exhibition featured a state-of-the-art pallet decoiler and winder, with purpose-built
‘MACH’ tooling producing commemorative giveaways for visitors to the stand. Experts from
Bruderer UK were also on hand to talk about the company’s growing range of machines and
associated partner technology that is helping its customer base in automotive, aerospace,
building products and electrification.
“MACH 2024 was a massive moment for our UK business and was the first time anyone saw
the BSTL 350-88 produce products at a major manufacturing event,” explains Adrian Haller,
managing director at Bruderer UK. “It was one of the main attractions of the rapidly growing
Metalworking Village at the show, showing customers how they can remain competitive
when tendering for mass production projects.”
He continues: “This latest press also utilised our latest control system, which is accessible
using different devices via a web browser, with remote state-of-the-art maintenance and
the highest cyber security. The BSTL 350-88 is a fantastic new addition and I believe will be
one of our best-ever sellers.”
Bruderer also used MACH to introduce the BSTA 710-220 to the UK market. The company
says this press is all about delivering more space for complex stamping tools with the
longest bed length (2.2 m) of its type in the world.
For further information www.bruderer.co.uk