MTC signs up 3M

Global science-based technology manufacturer 3M has become the latest company to join the Manufacturing Technology Centre. 3M operates 97 manufacturing and converting facilities in 35 countries. The company employs 2150 people in the UK across 15 locations, including six manufacturing sites producing abrasives, personal safety equipment and adhesive tapes. 3M has been working alongside the MTC since 2018 on a number of different projects and as part of its membership, is expecting to focus on utilising manufacturing technology and application to abrasive and adhesive systems.
For further information www.the-mtc.org

MAN Group creates 50 new jobs

A unique collective of manufacturers is embarking on a major recruitment drive after a string of reshoring wins and new breakthroughs in electrification technology. The Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN), which comprises eight subcontract manufacturers and a specialist engineering design agency, has more than 50 different vacancies currently up for grabs and is urging people to come forward to make the most of the opportunities.

Roles range from SMT quality technicians and casting experts to technical sales and CNC machine setters, with firms also placing their faith in the future by investing in a host of interns and apprentices. Peter Davies, CEO of James Lister & Sons and co-chair of the MAN Group, says: “Despite all of the economic challenges out of our control, UK manufacturing is really buoyant at the moment and there are lots of opportunities out there for firms who are delivering new innovations and world-class performance.”
For further information www.man-group.co.uk/careers

Demand continues to rise for bow-top railings

Bow-top or hoop-top railings, are an increasingly popular solution for marking property boundaries and dividing open spaces. Proving highly popular for schools, parks and light commercial properties, they are an aesthetically pleasing solution, while their tubular construction ensures a strong and secure fence. Fabricators across the country pride themselves on bow top railing manufacturing, however the bow top itself can be a stumbling block.

Selmach Machinery says an increasing number of customers have been enquiring about solutions for bringing the manufacture of bow-top railings in-house. Many have previously been buying in the bow-top part of the railing and fabricating together the rest of the fencing. By bringing production in-house it enables manufacturers to have a greater control on the whole process, saving costs and negating supply chain issues.

The process is straightforward in principle, taking tubular steel, bending it through 180° and repeating. But what is the most effective production method? According to Selmach, the Curvassi range of bending machines achieve fast and accurate bending in round and square tube, flat bar, round bar, and square bar. Suitable for producing bow-top fencing hoops, the machine are available with either a manual or fully hydraulic vice. These bow-top fencing bending machines are suited to production environments as a 180° bend take just four seconds to complete.

Assorted tooling allows users to handle either solid or hollow tubes for forming into bow tops. These solution costs from £7000 to £12,000 + VAT.
For further information www.selmach.com

Two new tube benders for Meyer Werft

Around 400 km of tube, 52,000 individual pieces, are installed in a single cruise ship: this is the sheer quantity that the Meyer Werft tube centre manufactures for every ship that Meyer Werft in Papenburg launches. Here, the German shipbuilder is once again relying on two new machines from Schwarze-Robitec. The machines ensure fast, safe and high-quality processing of tubes of various dimensions due to the use of multi-stack tooling, which eliminates a major part of the time-consuming tool-change process.

For more than 17 years, the Papenburg shipbuilder has relied on the tube bending machines from Schwarze-Robitec. Now, the tube bending expert has put two new machines into operation at Meyer Werft: a CNC 100 HD MW bends steel and stainless steel tubes with diameters ranging from 42.2 to 88.9 mm, while a CNC 220 HD MW handles the 114 to 219 mm range.

Both machines are equipped with a so-called five-stack tool tower in the respective diameter range, which allows the majority of the tools to remain set up simultaneously thanks to the multi-level tool design. It is thus possible to bend tubes of different diameters and wall thicknesses without changing tools.

Components such as the pressure die and clamping jaws, as well as the massive bending former, are very large and heavy for the tubes required by the shipbuilding industry. Changing by crane costs time and energy and involves quality risks for the bending outcome, as the tool needs re-adjustment each time. Only the bending mandrel and the collet inserts in the index head require changing by Meyer Werft for a different tube size. The company therefore benefits from enormous setup time savings and a steady, consistently high-quality bending result.
For further information www.schwarze-robitec.com

Mid-range press brake has auto tool-change

Following the success of Amada’s ATC press brakes, with more than 1000 units installed globally, Amada has expanded its proprietary ATC technology to its mid-range line-up for the first time. Previously only available on high-end press brakes such as the Amada HG-ATC and its predecessor the HD-ATC, the new Amada HRB-ATC mid-range model features a full size ATC, offering exactly the same number of tool storage racks as the company’s HG-ATC.

The new machine comes with a package of Amada tools based on an assessment of the customer’s manufacturing requirements. Importantly, the HRB-ATC is completely compatible with Amada AFH/Promecam standard tool sets. As a result, any existing customer using these tools can load them manually to the new machine if desired.

A CNC press brake with ATC capability brings many advantages to companies that want to increase the amount of time their machine is engaged in actual bending activities. The ATC can reduce set-up times by up to 80% in comparison with an operator loading a tool manually, which is a clear benefit for subcontractors or companies that undertake several tool layout changes a day. Additionally, while the ATC is functioning, the operator can simultaneously complete other tasks, increasing overall efficiency.

The presence of the ATC and its rapid set-up potential makes the new press brake particularly ideal for those processing small batch sizes. Subcontract fabricators serving markets such as refrigeration, kitchen equipment, retail display, furniture and construction, for instance, will certainly benefit, reports Amada.

Customer advantages also arrive from the reverse punch system. Amada says that its ATC is the only solution on the market that can reverse tools automatically.
For further information www.amada.eu