Around 100 trainees at VCampus event

The Vollmer VCampus training event for trainees from the cutting tool industry took place for the first time recently. VCampus was organised by sharpening specialist Vollmer which, via the Sieglinde Vollmer Foundation, is dedicated to the development of young people. Approximately 100 trainees were on-site at the company’s Biberach headquarters to gain new motivation, inspiration and knowledge through practical workshops on industry-specific topics. The young learners also had the opportunity to form extensive networks in a relaxed atmosphere.
For further information www.vollmer-group.com

Major apprenticeship contract

An independent training provider is celebrating winning its largest apprenticeship contract in years after signing a major deal with Lander Tubular Products. In-Comm Training, which operates three technical academies across the Black Country and Shropshire, has become the strategic training partner of this supplier of precision engineered metallic and plastic manipulated pipe assemblies for the automotive, commercial vehicle and off-highway sectors.

The company will recruit some 40 Level 2 apprentices in Lean Manufacturing Operations over the next six months in a bid to develop a future talent pool that can help the manufacturer meet a rapidly growing order book. This new relationship will cover all recruitment and selection, advice on tapping into funding, induction processes and delivery of training, with In-Comm trainers and assessors permanently based at Lander Tubular Products’ in-house academy in Birmingham.
For further information www.in-comm.co.uk

XYZ Machine Tools to open new showroom

With 19 machine tools under power ready for demonstration the Grand Opening of the new XYZ Machine Tools showroom in Huddersfield will take place on Wednesday 21st September. This will provide an ideal opportunity for anyone considering a machine purchase, with XYZ Machines on show ranging from the entry level KMX 2000 turret mill, through the ProtoTRAK range of bed mills and lathes, as well as Siemens controlled machining and turning centres, including the UMC-5X simultaneous five-axis machining centre and the brand new SS65 twin spindle turning centre. The doors are open between 9 am and 3pm with no requirement for pre-registration. XYZ Machine Tools team of area sales managers and applications engineers will be on-hand to provide demonstrations on any of the machines and to discuss individual machining requirements. Located just off junctions 24 and 25 of the M62 at Innovation 25, Unit 7 Bradley Business Park, Dyson Wood Way, Huddersfield HD2 1GN the XYZ Machine Tools Huddersfield showroom is ideally located for customers along the M62 corridor. In addition to refreshments being served throughout the day a buffet lunch will be available at midday and every visitor will receive a free vernier caliper, delivered after the open day, as a thank you for attending.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Gestamp adds extension to Japan plant

Gestamp Hotstamping Japan is expanding with a new plant building on its premises in Matsusaka. This decision is part of Gestamp´s expansion in Asia, which is key for the global strategy of the company. Following the plant opening in 2018, the expansion meets increasing demand for parts from Japanese manufacturers in the automotive sector.

The relationship of the company with Japan, already long and fruitful, is deeply rooted in the country with this plant and two sales offices. One is Gestamp Tokyo, also home of the group´s R&D centre, inaugurated in 2017. In addition, the company´s subsidiary Edscha, specialised in mechanisms, has a sales office located in Yokohama. The new expansion of the Matsusaka plant is scheduled to be operational by June 2023.

As Gestamp’s first Japanese base, Gestamp Hotstamping Japan has been supplying parts to domestic and overseas automakers and will introduce a next-generation hot-stamping line that combines a large press with an environmentally friendly electric furnace that avoids burning gas to heat the blanks. This capability will enable Gestamp Hotstamping Japan to supply automotive manufacturers with one-piece, high-strength, lightweight parts, contributing to the Japanese automotive industry’s accelerating shift to EVs.

To kick-start the project, a ceremony took place at the Mayor’s office in Matsusaka City Hall. Masato Takegami (Mayor of Matsusaka city) and Toshiya Hara (general manager of Gestamp Hotstamping Japan) signed the location agreement for a new plant building expansion.

“This expansion project will not only be a simple capacity increase, but will also provide solutions for the demand of next-generation vehicles such as EVs by installing a new hot-stamping line with bigger press and high energy-efficiency furnace.”
For further information www.gestamp.com

Partnership takes press hardening to new level

Together with GEDIA, AP&T has created what is probably the world’s most advanced production line for manufacturing press-hardened automotive components.

AP&T’s latest press-hardening production solution lays the groundwork for providing car manufacturers with lighter, safer and more flexible designs that are cost- and energy-efficient. The solution includes AP&T’s proprietary servo-hydraulic press, boasting up to 70% lower energy consumption than conventional hydraulic presses, and TemperBox, which enables the combination of soft and hard zones in the same finished component.

The first commercial production line containing both innovations became operational at GEDIA in Germany in the fall of 2019, with subsequent installation of the same equipment at the company’s facilities in Spain and the US. It is no coincidence that GEDIA and AP&T are pioneering the future of press hardening in the industry: it is a result of a deeply rooted collaboration between the two companies that has lasted a decade.

Jörgen Theander, AP&T’s person responsible for the project, says: “Together with GEDIA, we have now developed what is probably the world’s most advanced production line for manufacturing press-hardened automotive components. By collaborating, we not only solve technological challenges and gain valuable experiences, we also manage to meet high expectations.”

So how does the end result compare to earlier AP&T press-hardening lines? First and foremost, the new lines are considerably more energy-efficient, much due to the fact that the servo-hydraulic press consumes up to 70% less energy than conventional hydraulic presses. The latest generation of multi-layer furnaces, consuming 40% less energy than its predecessors, also delivers an important contribution. In addition, the new lines make it possible to shorten manufacturing cycle times of certain products by up to 20%, freeing up time for more production.
For further information www.aptgroup.com