Manufacturers of sheet metal components, forgings, fasteners and cold-rolled sections can get vital support to help them cope with soaring energy costs according to a sector trade body. The Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) has received notification from the Environment Agency that the Climate Change Agreement (CCA) scheme has reopened to new entrants, but firms only have until 31 March to stake their claim.

Thousands of businesses – already struggling with supply chain disruption and the aftermath of the pandemic – could be eligible for a discount of up to 100% of the tax they will be paying on their gas and electricity bills. Bosses at the CBM made the rallying call in a bid to raise awareness among companies that did not know the change of rules could help them benefit from the discount on the Climate Change Levy while the replacement scheme is under consultation.

For further information www.thecbm.co.uk

Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has introduced the new Widia M1600 face-mill series for roughing to semi-finishing operations in steel, stainless steel, cast iron and nodular iron materials. With 16 cutting edges and a novel insert design, Widia says that the M1600 performs exceptionally well under various machining conditions, including those with low power, unstable set ups and long overhangs.

“Face milling is one of the most common machining operations, so we designed a versatile and cost-effective solution that delivers substantial improvements concerning metal removal rates in steel and cast iron for our customers,” says Anna Kim, Widia’s indexable milling global portfolio manager. “The M1600 represents a turnkey solution for general engineering, energy and automotive customers who want to reduce their face-mill inventory and increase their machining outputs.”

The 16-edge, precision-ground insert with positive geometry facilitates low cutting forces and low power consumption, resulting in higher tool life and attractive cost per edge, reports Widia. Notably, the M1600 has one universal insert geometry in three versatile grades: WP35CM, WK15CM and WU20PM. The WP35CM grade targets all types of steels, while WK15CM is for cast-iron materials and performs best in dry applications but is also suitable for wet conditions. The universal WU20PM grade is for the machining of steel, stainless steel and high-temperature alloys, in both dry and wet face-milling applications.

The ‘smart’ insert design features a seating surface below the cutting edge that promotes smooth chip flow and reduces cutting forces on the tool. The insert also has a curved cutting edge and is axially positive, resulting in reduced power consumption. M1600 face mills are available in six metric diameter ranges between 50 and 160 mm.

For further information
www.itc-ltd.co.uk