Made Smarter launches peer network

Made Smarter North West has launched a new peer-to-peer network that aims to
accelerate digital adoption among SME manufacturers. The Digital Champions Network
brings together businesses that have engaged with Made Smarter’s adoption programme,
including graduates of its Leading Digital Transformation and Leading Change for Digital
Champions programmes.
The initiative will connect employees actively engaged in digitalisation, from the top floor to
the shop floor, at different stages of technology adoption. In-person and online events will
take place throughout the year that enable participants to share learning and experiences,
thus forging long-lasting connections.
More information www.madesmarter.uk

GE Aerospace signs net-zero charter

GE Aerospace has signed the Defence Aviation Net Zero Charter set out by the UK’s Ministry
of Defence (MOD). Scott Keating, regional GM – sales & business development for European
defence and systems at GE Aerospace, says: “This marks a significant step forward in our
efforts to collaborate and share best practices with our partners. It will help ensure that
defence aviation positively contributes to the UK Government’s net-zero ambitions and the
Royal Air Force’s aspirational goal to achieve net zero by 2040.”  
Shaun Harris, director support and chief engineer at the Royal Air Force, adds: “Defence
aviation must be able to retain its ability to operate globally, to defend the UK and its allies
in a changing climatic environment, while also significantly reducing our own carbon
emissions.” 
More information www.geaerospace.com

New Walter brand for lightweight materials

Walter Tools is raising its profile for the machining of lightweight components with the
arrival of its new FMT competence brand. The machining solutions provider is bringing
together its global presence and the technical expertise of lightweight machining specialist
FMT (Frezite Metal Tooling).
In the overall share of processed materials in the manufacturing industry, the proportion of
lightweight materials such as aluminium alloys continues to grow significantly. Machining
specialist Walter has therefore been consistently expanding this area of its portfolio for a
number of years.
The new Walter FMT competence brand showcases the importance of lightweight
machining for Walter to its global customer base and wider industry. It stands for the added
value that Walter says it offers customers through various services from consulting and
planning to implementation and maintenance, and for a trusting partnership that goes far
beyond tools.
As vice president of Walter Lightweight Business Unit, Pedro Pacheco will be responsible for
the new competence brand. He served as the first managing director of FMT from 2006 to
2017 and took over the role again in 2019.
“My focus will be on bringing together the expertise and working methods of FMT and
Walter’s PCD division in the optimal way,” says Pacheco. “We want to increase our reach in
the market significantly and contribute to Walter’s strategic growth targets. I want to create
the right structures and processes to provide current and potential customers with an
attractive offering that enables them to achieve their own economic goals.”

More information www.walter-tools.com

Ceratizit makes bespoke step drill for Volz

Rochdale-based Volz Engineering is a subcontract machining company that services the
automotive, aerospace and agricultural industries. With six CNC machines running 18 hours
a day, Volz sends out more than 500 parts a week.
Constantly looking for process improvements, a standout example of a tooling
recommendation which had tremendous impact was for a bespoke step drill. Required for a
job needing the drilling of one hole at different diameters at depths, Volz previously used

multiple inserts. However, swapping tools throughout the process reduced the overall
reliability and accuracy of the finished product, making it difficult to achieve the critical
tolerance of 0.02 mm. The machine process, with the necessary changes to tooling, took a
total of 26 minutes. This is where Ceratizit identified an opportunity to optimise the process.
Purposefully created to fulfil Volz’s exact specifications, Ceratizit designed and
manufactured a unique step drill. After installation, the total machine process time reduced
by more than 50% to just over 10 minutes. Moreover, using step drill requires just one
machine process to achieve the different diameters.
“The step drill was a game changer,” states James Alletson, operations manager at Volz
Engineering. “Not only did the time taken to machine each part dramatically decrease, but
with no machine interruptions we could achieve a greater level of precision. Since using the
step drill we haven’t had to replace it yet, despite the 500 parts a week it’s drilling.”
Impressed by the initial results of Ceratizit tooling, Volz began to switch out more tooling.
Indeed, a Ceratizit vending machine arrived on the shop floor around 18 months ago.
More information www.ceratizit.com

Introducing a smarter way to rough bore

Hole-making specialist Big Kaiser is expanding its modular CK family with new head types for rough boring. Available in the UK from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), the new SW head for the CK1, CK2 and CKB3 boring tools includes Big Kaiser’s Smart Damper technology. This innovation minimises vibration and eliminates chatter, which is of critical importance when conducting rough boring operations.

Big Kaiser says the modular CK system is the world’s most versatile tooling system and, with support from industry experts at ITC, will exceed the performance and results of any other hole-making system. The new additions to the CK modular precision tool system are also available for the full Big Kaiser SW rough boring family.

“The Smart Damper SW heads offer six times higher boring efficiency with twice the cutting depth and three times the cutting conditions of other rough boring heads,” states Giampaolo Roccatello, chief sales and marketing officer for Big Kaiser Europe.

Based on a cylindrical connection with a radial locking screw, the CK system has been continuously improved over the years to meet changing needs and increases in machine tool performance. Compatibility with existing tools remains a stringent requirement for newly designed products. As well as interchangeability within the Big Kaiser family, the CK system is also fully compatible with all machine tool interfaces and enables customers to create tool assemblies specific to each machining application.

The integration of the Smart Damper shortens the distance from the damping mechanism to the cutting edge. This minimises vibration and enables the CK system to achieve better surface finishes and improved metal removal rates, while also prolonging tool life and enhancing surface finish.

More information www.itc-ltd.co.uk