PP C&A signs new Winbro deal

A strategic manufacturing outsourcing specialist has signed a major new deal to support the development of a UK-built EDM drilling machine. PP Control & Automation, which employs over 230 people at its facility in the West Midlands, will assemble the EDM generator module that forms the heartbeat of Winbro Group Technologies’ new HSD-351 model.

A new production cell manned by eight PP C&A experts has been set-up to complete the build, with work on the first 25 units set to begin shortly for use in drilling holes in complex aerospace and industrial gas turbine blades and nozzle guide vanes. It is a mutually beneficial relationship that has spanned a decade and 10 different model variants, with the decision to outsource continuing to provide production ‘flex’, reduced assembly time and improved supply chain management for the Leicestershire-based firm.

Tony Hague, CEO of PP C&A, says: “If you’re going to write a book about strategic manufacturing outsourcing and how it can work, I’d like to think this relationship would be in the case study section. To work with a company that operates in such a demanding field for 10 years is some achievement, and we’re delighted to be entering our ‘testimonial year’ with a new machine tool to help them build.”

He continues: “The HSD-351 is an EDM machine that packs so much power in so little space and we have been instrumental in helping produce the heartbeat of the model – the EDM generator module.”

With a footprint of just 2.5 sq m, the HD-351 boasts a capacity of almost 700 electrodes across a range of diameters.
For further information www.ppcanda.com

Growth keeps coming at GM Group

Following a successful debut at the MACH exhibition in April, the GM Group has further expanded its team by appointing a new area sales manager for the south of the UK. Andrew Yeomans is a seasoned engineer with more than 35 years of industry experience. The new appointment will target sales of the Victor CNC portfolio and build brand and market awareness in the southern counties.

As the UK’s exclusive distributor for the Victor CNC machine tools, the GM Group has witnessed significant growth, which more than justifies both the company’s recruitment drive and its investment in a new facility planned for completion this autumn. GM Group is investing heavily in its factory expansion, new staff and infrastructure to enhance customer service, support and sales.
For further information www.gm-cnc.com

MGP delivers business support plea

A business support programme that has created and safeguarded over 10,000 manufacturing jobs is urging local authorities to ensure assistance remains in place under the new funding landscape. Bosses at the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), which provides grants and consultancy to SME manufacturers in 18 LEP regions, are warning that the potential gap between European Regional Development Funding and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund could see businesses left without the assistance they need. The MGP has delivered more than £13.5m in grants to 4300 companies over the past three years.
For further information www.manufacturinggrowthprogramme.co.uk

World’s leading EV manufacturer turns to ONA

The world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has placed an order with ONA for the purchase of two units: an AV130 wire EDM model and the first recently introduced ONA Iris T10 machine.

This leading EV automotive company is currently optimising its manufacturing process, reducing the number of parts necessary to produce car bodies. “Our new car body production system reduces production time, operation costs and factory size, while tool and equipment costs are also reduced,” the company says.

Stepping up to help the plant meet this goal is ONA and its large-scale AV130 and Iris T10 machines.

This customer has been the first to incorporate a new ONA Iris model into its facilities.
Earning the trust of a manufacturer as important as this one was based on three key points. First, the ONA Iris has a simple, intuitive and easy-to-use interface with a large number of digital tools incorporated to simplify handling for any user. Second, the machine has a powerful graphics engine: the user can create all of the simulations needed to test possible results before launching the project. This way, the customer has absolute control over the manufacturing process, making changes easily until obtaining the desired result. And all of this while the ONA Iris is in full production with another project.

Last but not least, ONA says that its Iris machine integrates the market’s most powerful generator, which is 100% digital, configurable and programmable. This high-performance, smart digital generator can reach 400 A of intensity, which ONA says is the most power on the market. More power means more productivity.

The automotive company also acquired a new ONA AV130, the market’s largest wire EDM machine for workpieces weighing up to 10 tonnes.
For further information www.onaedm.com

OPS-Ingersoll EDM supports Proctor & Gamble

In 2018, the mould-making department at Procter & Gamble optimised its portfolio to meet requirements for multi-cavity moulds that need small, high-accuracy geometries. In addition, the company wanted to continue its changeover from copper to graphite electrodes, which began in 2014. With the investment in OPS-Ingersoll’s Eagle G5 Precision die-sinking EDM machine, which is available in the UK from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG), Proctor & Gamble has fulfilled this task. Now, the company has numerous options for making the manufacturing processes more efficient and economical, while having the ability to tackle new challenges.

Prototyping and tool-making activities at Procter & Gamble focus on dry and wet shavers as well as manual and electronic toothbrushes. To meet high interchangeability and accuracy demands, the Kronberg plant in Germany was looking for a new die-sinking EDM machine.

“After a short benchmarking exercise, we realised that there was no machine on the market that was comparable to the Eagle G5 Precision,” states Jürgen Mohr, group head of innovative prototype and moulding technologies. “We’ve found that the quality characteristics of the G5 Precision have enabled us to meet our requirements for high precision in multi-cavity moulds and high-quality surfaces.”

With optimal process reliability and the fact that it is no longer necessary to intervene in the process to optimise the erosion technology, Proctor & Gamble can now manufacture parts with an accuracy of less than ±0.01 mm in a fully automated process. There are enough examples in Kronberg that speak for the use of EDM, including mould cores with a clamping length of 250 mm that tend to vibrate during milling. Where these parts used to be milled and partially eroded, they are now finished in a single EDM operation on the G5 Precision.
For further information www.engtechgroup.com