RK and Haco launch OptiForm CNC press brake

RK International Machine Tools is continuing its partnership with Belgian sheet metal machinery manufacturer Haco by introducing the Haco OptiForm 30150 CNC press brake to the UK market. The company says this collaboration brings a new generation of high-performance, cost-effective bending technology to British manufacturers, combining European engineering with local support and service.

The OptiForm Series (OPF), launched in 2025, is Haco’s reimagining of the entry-level CNC press brake. Designed for efficiency, ergonomics and fast delivery, the OptiForm 30150 (3 m, 150 T) is suitable for workshops upgrading from manual brakes or expanding capacity. It offers a compact footprint with a rigid frame, as well as the Haco EasyBEND multi-touch CNC – a PC-based 2D graphical control for intuitive operation.

Two configurations are available: a standard version with a two-axis back-gauge featuring manual crowning; and a ‘+’ version with four-axis back-gauge (X, R, Z1, Z2) featuring CNC crowning.

The Haco OptiForm is manufactured in the EU, which means UK manufacturers benefit from shorter lead times, budget-friendly pricing and full UK-based support from RK International, including installation, training and aftersales service.

“The OptiForm is a smart, future-ready solution for fabricators who want to modernise without overinvesting,” says Bart Huys, global sales manager at Haco. “We’ve combined the simplicity of our SynchroMaster with a modern design and intuitive control, making it perfect for the UK market where flexibility, reliability and value are key.”

More information www.rk-int.com

Pre-use checks app

A new digital app aims to tackle one of industry’s most persistent safety problems: an inconsistent approach to routine equipment inspections. The app from CoreRFID is believed to be the first stand-alone software for pre-use checks on equipment. It enables companies to replace paper checklists with a digital system that improves compliance with safety regulations, provides greater transparency and creates a complete audit trail. Suitable for any equipment type, Initial results from trials suggest that early detection could not only improve safety but could also extend equipment life and reduce damage costs by 12-18%.

More information www.corerfid.com

Marketing appointment

ModuleWorks, a provider of software components for the manufacturing industry, has appointed Clinton Perry as its new head of global marketing. He joins ModuleWorks with over 20 years of experience at Autodesk and Delcam, where he held senior roles in applications engineering and marketing. His appointment marks a significant step in ModuleWorks’ ongoing growth strategy and underscores the company’s ambition of accelerating innovation in manufacturing, helping the industry’s solution providers to bring smarter, more connected digital workflows to market faster. 

More information www.moduleworks.com

Avingtrans’ Businesses Support Sellafield 

Three of Avingtrans companies have come together to engineer key components for the new SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) at Sellafield, Cumbria – supporting the site’s ongoing capacity to remove radioactivity from various effluent streams. Stainless Metalcraft (Chatteris), Hayward Tyler (Luton) and Hayward Tyler Fluid Handling (Glasgow) were appointed by Altrad Babcock to design and manufacture remote maintenance pumps for the SCP. Notably, Stainless Metalcraft manufactured the pump casings and provided quality and project management services.

More information www.avingtrans.plc.uk

Seco digital tool will drive sustainability

In 2021, cutting tool manufacturer Seco proposed an idea: the Industrial Sustainability Assessment – a tool to help Seco’s production units assess their sustainability level, making it easier to prioritise and identify actions toward effective and impactful improvements.
Since 2024, the Sustainability Assessment Tool has provided support in tracking progress towards Seco’s global sustainability goals. The company has now initiated work to explore the potential for an externally adapted version of the tool for stakeholders and customers who may also find this approach relevant.

More information www.secotools.com