Around 80,000 expected at MAKTEK

The eight edition of MAKTEK Eurasia,a major international exhibition for metal-cuttingmachine Tools, metal-forming machinery, tooling,metrology, CADCAM software and many other manufacturing technologies will take place on 30 September to 5 October 2024. Taking place at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Centre in Istanbul, the show will provide access to the latest technologies, innovations, industry trends and co-operation opportunities.

The previous edition of this biennial exhibition in 2022 saw 1000 exhibitor span 14 halls across 120,000 m² of floor space. In total, nearly 80,000 visitors were in attendance. According to an organiser survey, nearly 62% attended the show to see new innovations, while almost 49% visited to make contact with new suppliers.

More information www.maktekfuari.com/en

MACHINES FROM XYZ OFFER CLASSIC PERFORMANCE IN VINTAGE CAR PARTMACHINING

Thetford-based RKE Engineering and its sister company ROTOSHIM are benefitting from the
arrival of a new ProTURN RLX 1630 lathe, supplied by XYZ Machine Tools. The machine joins
four other XYZ models on site, including an RMX 2-OP portable machining centre. Technical
partner and founder Craig Harvey is a career-long fan of XYZ’s ProtoTRAK®-controlled
machines thanks to their ease-of-use and reliability. A core activity of the machines at RKE
Engineering is the production of parts for pre-war vintage cars, including iconic classics such
as Ford Model A and Model B automobiles.
RKE Engineering was established in 2018 as a precision subcontract machine shop, taking on
a wide variety of projects. As a machinist at his previous company, Harvey became familiar
with XYZ machines and their ProtoTRAK® controls. This experience led him to choose XYZ as
the preferred machine for RKE.
“From the outset we were always going to invest in XYZ machines,” he says. “The machines
work well and are so easy to use. We have five XYZ models now, all bought from new with
the exception of a pre-owned Edge 2000 turret mill. Even though that machine is nearly 25
years old, it gives me virtually no problems whatsoever, which speaks volumes about the
reliability and longevity of XYZ machines.”
Core business at the six-employee company is largely R&D work, alongside maintenance and
repair jobs. Production machining is typically the territory of ROTOSHIM, which produces
vintage car parts, including shock adsorbers, oil pumps, water pumps, pulleys and flywheels.
“We invested in the new ProTURN RLX 1630 because we needed another lathe to undertake
our shock absorber work,” explains Harvey. “We originally started making dampers for
vintage cars to fill dead time in the workshop, but it soon turned into a beast of its own. We
supply parts to customers around the world now. I knew the RLX 1630 would fit the bill
perfectly, offering enough performance to undertake both our production and R&D turning
work.”
The XYZ ProTURN RLX 1630 offers 400 mm swing over bed, 760 mm between centres, a 54
mm bore and a 2500 rpm spindle benefiting from constant surface speed capability.
Complementing the machine is the ProtoTRAK® RLX control, with users able to enjoy rapid
production of programs thanks to its conversational programming software on the 15.6-inch

touchscreen. The machine is helping RKE Engineering and ROTOSHIM increase capacity,
efficiency and output due to its ability to operate either manually or under full CNC control.
“I love the ease-of-use that ProtoTRAK® controls provide,” says Harvey. “New operators get
up to speed very quickly. I can also step in if required. It doesn’t happen often but with
ProtoTRAK® it’s like riding a bike – you never forget. I’m not sure I could say the same if we
used any other type of control.”
Business at RKE Engineering and ROTOSHIM is currently strong, with vintage car work
performing particularly well. The company manufactures parts that are no longer
commercially available for classic vehicles, including three variants of the Ford Model A:
1927-31; 1932; and 1933-34.
For example, the design of the ROTOSHIM lever-arm shock absorber uses the essential
elements of telescopic dampers: steel shim stacks control fluid flow, while pressurised oil
prevents cavitation. These elements combine to allow damper tuning and provide the
optimal ride in accordance with vehicle weight and spring stiffness. The company supplies
the dampers pre-set without any need of adjustment – just bolt on and drive.
“One of our operators machines the aluminium damper body from a drop forging on the
XYZ 2-OP,” explains Harvey. “We complete these high-precision components, four at a time,
in two operations using just eight tools. During machining, our operator can walk away and
get on with something else. This approach makes it a very cost-effective part for us.”
A full in-house design and consultancy service supports an overhaul of all vintage car
components to improve characteristics such as strength and performance. This combination
of traditional engineering excellence with modern, forward-thinking solutions is a real
market differentiator. Importantly, all ROTOSHIM products undergo a stringent QA process,
including testing to failure under extreme conditions.
“Our passion lies in enhancing the driving experience by pushing the boundaries of classic
car part technology to meet modern standards for vintage car enthusiasts.”
A recent case-in-point involved a racing shock absorber for an Austin 7. With the help of its
new shocks, the Austin 7 was able to ride the apex of bends much better and break the lap
record in its class by 12 seconds. The car went on to win several first places in a series of
significant races.
“Due to achievements like this I can honestly say we never lose a customer,” concludes
Harvey. “The XYZ machines are a big part of that success. Having these machines in-house
means we can offer a wider range of services and attract the best staff, which in turn
promotes growth.”
More information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Keyprod strengthens production monitoring solution

Software provider, Keyprod, a subsidiary of JPB Système, has introduced new efficiency-enhancing features to its production monitoring solution, which enables manufacturers of all sizes and from any sector to reduce machine downtime.

The user-friendly, cloud-based Keyprod system connects, tracks and measures the effectiveness of all manufacturing process elements, including existing software, machinery and associated applications. This capability provides a consolidated, real-time vision of production operations to analyse different quality and performance indicators, such as overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Feedback from customers indicates that the use of Keyprod can deliver an increase in OEE of up to 15%.

The new Keyprod features include a global loss analysis dashboard that offers manufacturers a comprehensive breakdown of inefficiencies and production losses. By analysing performance data, Keyprod identifies various sources of losses, such as machine failures, micro-stoppages and defects. This targeted insight enables corrective action to optimise OEE, leading to increased productivity and reduced costs.

Keyprod also offers a new alert systemthat allows operators to respond instantly to production anomalies. Real-time notifications enable swift intervention to prevent minor issues from escalating, ensuring production continuity and enhancing team responsiveness to unforeseen events.

Furthermore, an advanced planning feature transforms factory operations to analyse historical and current data. Use of this featureleads to more accurate and adaptive production scheduling, optimised workflows, reduced production lead times and improved on-time delivery.

Keyprod’s plug-and-play Keynetic and Keyvibe devices can be magnetised to production machines and installed in less than 10 minutes without necessitating machine downtime or cable connections. The scalable web platform also adapts to changing industry needs by incorporating new technologies over time.

More information www.keyprod.com

Plan, manage and optimise factories in digital reality

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has launched a new digitalisation solution, Digital Factory, to help manufacturers build accurate digital replicas of their plants. It enables manufacturers to optimise floor plans and quickly pivot production lines, and prepare for smarter and more sustainable future factories with open interfaces that enable digital twins of shop-floor assets. Such solutions could save a global manufacturing company millions of pounds a year by avoiding costly mistakes and offering a 50% reduction in travel costs and on-site training. 

Hexagon addresses this issue through its expertise in: reality capture and surveying equipment; software to visualise, explore and simulate scenarios in 3D; and high-productivity cloud-native collaboration workflows. Digitalisation technologies are a proven technology with over two decades of use in civil infrastructure, architecture and public safety. However, their potential has yet to see full realisation in the manufacturing space, where significant disruption now requires manufacturers to rethink their production equipment and use of space.

According to research, 32% of manufacturers believe that outdated or ineffective manual processes and workflows are barriers to productivity and collaboration. Digital Factory is a future-ready alternative to traditional factory planning that enables manufacturerstoramp up productivity and increase efficiency in remodelling, preventing costly mistakes. It also empowers more efficient collaboration between manufacturing and operations teams from anywhere in the world. The core of the solution is improved access to up-to-date data in immersive virtual environments that reflect reality, addressing a major barrier that smart factory initiatives face today. 

Hexagon offers complete workflows to ensure manufacturers achieve the maximum value, from scanning the factory and processing the data into actionable 3D models for various applications, to managing the data in the cloud.

More information www.bit.ly/4eiiB3J

BLM’s MES software now for all machines

“ProTube Enterprise is the Manufacturing Execution System [MES] developed by our Software Division for production management of BLM Group’s tube processing, cutting and bending machines, with an awareness of the ever-increasing importance of software in the development of advanced manufacturing solutions,” says Paolo Benatti (pictured), technical director of BLM Group’s Software Division. “Now, the system is being extended to embrace sheet metal processing. ProTube Enterprise therefore changes its name and becomes Prometheus, keeping the fundamental aspects unchanged: a single communication interface with the customer’s ERP, a single order and job management system, a single planning system, and a single monitoring dashboard.”

The extension of production management to sheet metal laser cutting represents a major step forward in offering integrated solutions. Through a single management system, the customer has a complete and unified view of all production processes, regardless of the technology used. This allows for greater flexibility and ease in the planning and execution of jobs. Through the communication interface, enriched for unified tube and sheet metal management, the customer can interact directly with orders, monitor production progress, manage any rejects by preparing corresponding completion orders if necessary, and receive notifications in real time.

“Thanks to Prometheus, the customer can constantly monitor the status of the machines, control production in real time, and intervene promptly in case of any problems such as redirecting production from a machine stopped for maintenance to another,” says Benatti. “With Prometheus, the user does not perceive the technological differences of the various

connected machines, but rather a same management mode for all plants, which facilitates the operator.”

More information www.blmgroup.com