Vaillant expands UK facility

Having seen record demand for heat pumps as a result of its successful multi-technology strategy, Vaillant is to extend its UK manufacturing facility. Based in Belper, Derbyshire, Vaillant Industrial UK will begin manufacturing heat pumps alongside its range of high-efficiency boilers from 2022. The company believes there must be an urgent increase in support for installers within the industry. Only this way will it be possible to expand the skills base sufficiently to meet the Government’s target of 600,000 heat pumps sold per annum by 2028.

For further information
www.vaillant.co.uk

Rotary table puts subcontractor in pole position

Oxfordshire-based specialist subcontractor CNC Techniques specialises in machining Formula One components from exotic metals such as titanium, Waspaloy, Inconel and Hastelloy. The mainstays of the company’s machining capabilities are its Hurco three- and five-axis machine tools. To provide an additional two axes to the three-axis machines, CNC Techniques recently invested in a rotary table from PL Lehmann.

“Although we are kept busy throughout the year, our workload more than doubles in the traditionally busy Formula One months of December through to February,” says company founder Paul Eden. “Therefore, at that time of year, apart from working around the clock, we need to work smarter and employ equipment with greater flexibility.

“As well as giving us the ability to achieve five-sided machining in a single set up, I was assured that a PL Lehmann CNC rotary table would withstand the high forces involved in machining exotics and deliver the required levels of precision,” he continues. “The installation of the rotary table was carried-out by knowledgeable technicians who made all of the connections to our machine tool’s control system. Then, whilst observing the rotary table’s try-out I realised how easy it was to operate. We now use the rotary table along with our Lang Technik work holding. In addition to standing up to the machining forces involved in machining exotics, our new CNC rotary table is simple and fast to operate, and is making a significant contribution to our 3+2 axis machining capabilities.”

As floor space is at a premium in most machining environments, mounting a CNC rotary table inside an existing three-axis VMC provides a major advantage over purchasing a large five-axis machine tool.

For further information
www.lehmann-rotary-tables.com

Robotic tool changer series expanded

Stäubli has expanded its MPS robotic tool changer series to cover all robots and payloads. Five new sizes are now available, covering payload capacities from 15 to 80 kg. Key characteristics of the new compact range include repeat accuracy of ±1.5 µm and a wide variety of available transfer technologies.

Automatic tool changing systems can significantly increase the flexibility and productivity of a robot. Indeed, for many manufacturing processes and applications across a wide range of sectors, automatic tool change systems are the only way to address the specific and individual operations required.

All Stäubli robotic tool changing systems are based on a modular product concept, with three different and efficient ways for customers to obtain their ideal tool changing system. The MPS Complete designation offers pre-configured complete systems ready for immediate use and available on short delivery times, while Stäubli’s MPS Modular option offers production-ready solutions tailored to meet individual customer requirements. The third option is MPS Customized, which is designed around the pre-requisites of each unique application.

Feed-throughs for pneumatics or vacuum are already integrated into the locking units of the new systems. For customers considering future flexibility and functionality, there are numerous additional modules available for the transmission of pneumatics, vacuum, signals, data transmission up to 10 Gbit/S, shielding, earthing, RFID tool coding and data storage. Combining these different technologies and modules as required makes it possible to configure a solution for the widest possible range of applications.

The location of the transmission modules is also highly flexible, allowing users to position them as required to suit the individual robot’s cable package, and order them using a simple code.

For further information
www.staubli.com

Made in Britain accreditation for Bowers

Bowers Group, which manufactures its bore gauges at a dedicated facility in Bradford, has recently achieved the Made in Britain accreditation. To maintain the quality and accuracy of its bore gauges, the company uses a measurement solution from within its own range of products: a Baty profile projector. As part of the Bowers Group, Baty also manufactures its profile projectors and vision systems in the UK, achieving its own Made in Britain accreditation last year. During the manufacturing process, Bowers Group uses the Baty R400 profile projector and complementary Fusion Software to ensure the accuracy of all parts.

For further information www.bowersgroup.co.uk

Fintek celebrates 40 years of surface finishing

In a year when the pandemic has been at the forefront of news and posing severe challenges for component manufacturers, surface finishing specialist Fintek steps into its 40th year of trading on a high note. Land acquisition for expansion, new machine ranges from partner OTEC and AM post-processing machines from RENA Technologies, ensure the company continues its mission to serve the UK market with advanced surface finishing technologies. Founded by Jonathan Dean in July 1981, originally as Finishing Techniques, the company quickly established itself as a UK expert in metal surface finishing.

For further information
www.fintek.co.uk