Succession planning proves vital at Alloy Wire

A UK manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire is on course to celebrate a record year, less than 12 months on from a MBO designed to protect the ‘unique values’ of the business.
Alloy Wire International, which began trading in the Black Country more than 77 years ago, has seen sales rocket by £3m since completion of the deal in January, taking turnover to £18m with the prospect of breaking £20m in 2024.Demand from customers in more than 63 countries has been behind the initial boost, but the company is now adamant that its commitment to extending employee ownership will drive ongoing success.
For further informationwww.alloywire.com

SPF project

The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) and ITP Aero have co-developed a project to minimise energy use and material waste, and enhance productivity throughout the lifecycle of the aerospace superplastic forming (SPF) process. The three-year £750,000 project aims to develop a predictive tool that identifies the lowest temperature possible for successful SPF across ITP’s product range.This new tool will be capable of predicting microstructure evolution, damage initiation and alpha-case formation during SPF.
For further information www.bit.ly/44R55PL

PTG Holroyd chooses gearboxes from Apex Dynamics

PTG Holroyd is using the APC and ADseries of high-torque, low-backlash planetary gearboxes from Apex Dynamics as part of its ultra-precise CNC helical rotor and gear grinding machines.

Gearboxes are an integral part of PTG Holroyd’s technology as they drive the machine’s axes, making precision key. The company had very specific requirements for output torque, accuracy and product dimensions, and was seeking the optimal gearbox solution. PTG Holroyd approached planetary gearbox specialist Apex Dynamics with a set of tight specifications for its helical grinding machines, which Apex was able to meet with its APC and AD series.

Working alongside PTG Holroyd’s engineers and design teams, Apex Dynamics UK identified the optimalsolutions for the machine tool manufacturer’s helical grinding machines.

The specific Apex Dynamics’ high precision planetary gearboxes best-suited to PTG Holroyd’s helical grinders were from the APC series of rotary flange style gearboxes (with 55:1 ratio) and the Apex AD series of compact gearboxes (with 50:1 ratio). Both product ranges deliver high torque, low backlash of less than 1 arc-minute and high levels of accuracy.

The APC series comes with a patented curvic coupling output, giving a high-concentricity, low run-out, high-torque, zero-backlash connection. Its case-hardened and ground gearing offers high accuracy and high wear resistance for the gear train and, by adding a fourth planetary gear, boosts torque capacity by up to 25%.

The compact, helical, one-piece planetary cage design of the Apex AD series provides PTG Holroyd with a range of benefits. These includea stiff and accurate rotating flange design that supports accuracy of less than 1 arc-minute,and a flange to flange distance as short as 70mm, making it capable of fitting into the smallest spaces.
For further information https://apexdynauk.com/

GrindingHub will be bigger and more international

Five months before the event opens, it is already clear that the next GrindingHub will be bigger and more international. Some 375 companies from 28 countries have already secured a place at the trade fair for grinding technology, which will take place on 14-17 May 2024 in Stuttgart.

The increase in exhibitors from Asia is particularly impressive. The organiser has received just under 50 registrations so far. The first GrindingHub was still suffering from the after-effects of the pandemic, whereas freedom of travel today allows companies from all over the world to make their way to Stuttgart. This is particularly evident among the Chinese: the number of exhibitors from China has grown from four to 32. China is currently the largest national producer and largest market for grinding technology.

As another trend, more abrasives manufacturers will be represented in 2024 than at the launch event, for instance. The broad range on show – including everything from grinding machines themselves to appropriate software tools, process peripherals and measuring and testing systems – raises the appeal of the trade fair for users of grinding technology.

Martin Büsch, head of marketing for central Europe at Saint-Gobain Abrasives, says: “As far as we’re concerned, GrindingHub has established itself as the leading trade fair for grinding technology within a very short space of time. We therefore see it as an excellent and useful opportunity to engage with our customers, potential interested parties and top-class experts.”

Markus Heering, executive director at the VDW, adds: “The VDW will begin the layout planning shortly. We are delighted about having to open a fourth hall thanks to the increase in the number of exhibitors.”
For further information www.grindinghub.de

Student success in robotics

The winners of the 2023 WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition, held in conjunction with FANUC UK, were announcedat an awards ceremony in Manchester last month. Representing the best of the UK’s rising robotics talent, Hannah Currie and Peter O’Neill from Northern Regional College in Northern Ireland beat over 50 talented young apprentices and students to take gold at the national finals, which were held over three days at FANUC’s UK headquarters in Coventry. The duo now have the chance to represent Team UK at the WorldSkills International Industrial Robotics competition in 2024.
For further information www.bit.ly/484XXBj