Dean Group celebrates golden jubilee

Northwest manufacturer Dean Group is celebrating 50 years of high-quality manufacturing services. Some 80 guests recently attended the Black Swan in Warrington to celebrate the company’s past achievements and bright future. As well as employees and their families, the event hosted many influential members, such as key suppliers and executives who witnessed the founding of Dean Group. In addition, current managing director Graham Stubbs gave an impassioned speech about the company’s journey that was well-received by everyone, including chairman Christopher Dean.
For further information www.deangroup-int.co.uk

More capacity for high-purity cleaning

Ecoclean GmbH’s new High-Purity Test Centre, officially inaugurated at its German production site in Dettingen unter Teck at the end of last month, complements the company’s 15 existing technology centres in the high-purity sector. The facilities and conditions can carry out cleaning trials on components demanding the highest cleanliness requirements. Such parts are needed, for example, by equipment manufacturers supplying the semiconductor industry, in precision optics, as well as in laser, measurement, analysis and high-vacuum applications.
For further information www.ecoclean-group.net

Turning convention on its head

GF Machining Solutions, Fraisa, and Blaser Swisslube have teamed up to develop the GR3 graphite machining system. Designed for wet-machining graphite operations, the system can also cut other materials on the same machine, even in the same set-up. According to GFMS, the result is an efficient process that is able to achieve 0.005 mm tolerances while providing a healthier work environment and lower tooling costs.

“It’s a perfect interplay between machine, metalworking fluid, filtration and tooling,” says Martin Spencer, managing director at GF Machining Solutions (UK). “With this most recent innovation from GFMS, we have not only solved the problem of dust build-up, but also now allow a single machine to be used for graphite, copper and steel machining.”
For further information www.gfms.com

Eriks invests £0.5m in technology centre

Industrial service provider Eriks has invested more than £500,000 in its specialist sealing and polymer technology centre in Barnsley, increasing capacity and creating jobs. The company has invested in four new machines at its Oakwell View production operation, and made significant improvements to the warehouse facility. This programme of tactical expenditure has created five new permanent jobs, taking Eriks’ Barnsley team to 85 in total.

Costing more than £120,000, a new Taurus 300 steel-to-steel press is among the arrivals as Eriks sees growth in the use of high-value sheet materials such as nickel-reinforced graphite and silicon-impregnated glass fibres. These materials require a high closure force per unit length. Further investments include a £190,000 CPC-BT60 travelling-head press, a Kiss-Cut ABC60 press and an Infinite 6010 CNC router.
For further information www.eriks.co.uk

ITP Aero joins University of Sheffield’s AMRC

Major aeronautical engine manufacturer, ITP Aero, has become a member of the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), recognising its excellence in developing new products and processes, and training new talent and skills. As the world’s ninth largest engine manufacturer and a founding member of the Clean Aviation programme, ITP Aero has positioned itself as a driving force behind the pursuit of more sustainable solutions aimed at developing ultra-efficient engines, as well as laying the foundations for hybrid-electric and hydrogen-based propulsion systems.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk