IES grows turnover by almost a third

IES, a global provider of equipment-moving services, logistics and project management in high technology industries, has announced an increase in turnover of almost a third since the start of the pandemic, with 22% in the past year. In 2021/22, the company’s annual results reveal that IES recruited new engineers and commercial specialists, who now account for 15% of the total workforce. The company is currently building its team to take account of recent business wins from existing and new customers.

One apprentice, Harri Green, was a finalist in the ‘Outstanding Apprentice of the Year Awards’ in the engineering and manufacturing category of a major regional award scheme. He was the only student in his college’s history who achieved a perfect score across all of his subjects. The company also celebrated its 30th year of operations. Founded in 1991, it now operates from a 30,000 sq ft facility in Bristol.
For further information www.ies.co.uk

Hidden benefit of Corporation Tax rise

The announcement of an increase in Corporation Tax to 25% was met with obvious dismay from across industry, but for manufacturers that want or need to invest in new capital equipment the rise has a silver lining. The first-year 130% tax relief provided by the Government’s super-deduction scheme, introduced in April 2021 and applicable to any new equipment with unlimited value, now provides a bigger investment incentive.

“When applied to the new Corporation Tax rate, customers can make significant savings on new machine tools,” states Nigel Atherton, managing director of XYZ Machine Tools. For example, the purchase of a machine tool valued at £100,000 would generate tax relief of £130,000, at the old rate of Corporation Tax, saving the customer £24,700. With the tax rate at 25% that saving increases to £32,500. If a company kept the £100,000 of profit in the bank it would cost £25,000 in tax instead.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Living and breathing continuous improvement

GF Machining Solutions has recently supplied two high-performance Mikron machining centres with Heidenhain controls to Mechlam Precision Tooling, a precision mould tool, fixturing and subcontract manufacturing specialist based in Haydock.

The new MILL E 700U simultaneous five-axis machine, equipped with an integrated seven-station APC, and the new, large-capacity VCE 1200 Pro three-axis machining centre are major additions to Mechlam’s 8000 sq ft facility.

The machines are now being put through their paces producing a range of complex, high-precision parts that include intricate components for mould tools. Materials machined include aluminium alloys, tool steels, stainless steels, Inconel and plastics.

A hallmark of Mechlam, and one that helps explain the company’s continuing success and the strong position it occupies, is the quality of the parts it is able to machine: exacting tolerances of ±5 µm and surface finishes down to Ra 0.2 µm are the rule not the exception.

Explains Martin Atherton, Mechlam Precision Tooling’s owner and director: “We’ve always invested in GF Machining Solutions’ technology. The machines are reliable, represent great value and deliver the accuracy, repeatability and surface finish we require, and our customers demand.

“The MILL E 700U gives us simultaneous five-axis machining capabilities which enables us to machine complex and intricate features and details on mould tool parts and precision components that cannot be achieved, quickly or easily, using 3+2 operations,” he adds.
“Furthermore, because we can machine parts to completion in a single set up on the MILL E 700U, processing times are reduced, production bottlenecks are avoided, accuracy is maintained and customer lead times are more easily met.”

The productivity and efficiency gains delivered by the MILL E 700U have been amplified with the integration of the workpiece pallet changer.
For further information www.gfms.com/uk

Process-safe five-axis machining

With the DMU H monoBLOCK series, DMG Mori says it has successfully implemented its customers’ requirements for flexibility, process reliability and automation. Now, the machine tool manufacturer has released the new DMU 85 H monoBLOCK and DMC 85 H monoBLOCK as a consistent expansion of the series. The new size aims in particular at users from the mechanical engineering, mould and die, aerospace, and semiconductor sectors.

Thanks to the optimised chip fall, horizontal five-axis simultaneous machining allows absolutely process-reliable production of complex workpieces. In the case of the DMU/DMC 85 H monoBLOCK, travels of 850 x 1150 x 900 mm serve a wide range of components. The long Z-axis travel makes this size suitable for deep-hole drilling.

The swivel rotary table, which is mounted on both sides, can support a load of up to 1000 kg (800 kg for the version with pallet changer). It can be used for five-axis machining of individual parts, as well as series components on clamping towers. A solid basis for precise machining is provided by the inherently rigid machine bed, the horizontal gantry concept, the thermosymmetrical design and the integrated cooling concept. Linear drives in the X and Z axes, and a direct drive in the C axis, also ensure maximum dynamics, while speedMASTER spindles facilitate high-speed applications.

To increase productivity, the DMU 85 H monoBLOCK and DMC H 85 monoBLOCK can be automated according to customer specifications – both for individual parts and in series production. For the former, for example, the new PH Cell 2000, a retrofittable handling system for up to 21 pallets and workpiece diameters up to 1100 mm diameter, is available.
For further information www.dmgmori.com

Four-machine FMS meets rising demand

A major supplier of aerospace parts in Italy is counting on a Starrag-developed flexible manufacturing system (FMS) to deliver exceptional machining rewards and reduced piece-part costs. Once commissioned, the four-machine, minimally-manned automated solution will operate around-the-clock to meet rising demand for aero-engine components.

Based on a quartet of Heckert HEC 500 X5 multi-axis machining centres, each featuring a five-axis trunnion-type table, the FMS will be served by an integrated pallet system and a centralised tool storage facility that will house 2000 tools to cover all eventualities in the single set-up, multi-task machining of the family of parts.

In addition to highly efficient cutting and cycle times, the Heckert machining centres will also ensure high-accuracy cutting – to within 2-3 µm – of the titanium and high-alloy steel workpieces which range in size up to 500 x 500 mm.

These systems may contain varying Starrag Group machines plus the integrated technologies of, for example, workpiece handling/holding and transport, cell control and tool storage systems, as well as complementary processes such as grinding, deburring, component cleaning and finish inspection.

In this case, the HEC 500 X5 machining centre was the optimum choice in terms of specification and performance. Not only does the machine’s XYZ envelope of 1000 x 800 x 1000 mm (and 800 kg capacity 500 x 500 mm pallets) meet all workpiece size demands, but the up to 82 kW/1500 Nm/15,000 rpm/65 m/min (rapid traverse rate) spindle also provides the required power and cycle time capabilities. Additionally, the machine’s B axis can rotate 360° at 80 rpm, while the A (swivel) axis operates at -45° to +91° at 15 rpm to enhance the machine’s multi-axis capabilities.
For further information www.starrag.com