Angular Plunge-Cut Grinder Improves Production

Over the past 50 years, Wandel CNC-Technik GmbH has developed into an established supplier with its own product portfolio. The Swabian family business, which is now managed by the second generation, has continuously expanded its production spectrum: from milling to turning and grinding. By investing in an EMAG WPG 7 angular plunge-cut grinding machine, the company has expanded its grinding capacities in a targeted manner.

Wandel has 23 employees and produces between 15,000 and 20,000 components per month. The product range includes forged blanks, drive shafts and intermediate flanges for the commercial vehicle industry, as well as classic machine components such as worm shafts. In the grinding area, the company concentrates on symmetrical or round components with diameters ranging from 10 to 150 mm, and lengths of up to 1,000 mm.

The WPG 7 is the fourth grinding machine to be added to the company’s machine park. It was purchased specifically for the machining of flange nuts, for which angular plunge-cut grinding is a technological requirement. The machine is designed for batches of between 20 and 200 pieces and is re-tooled up to twice a day at high capacity.

The decision for a dedicated angular plunge-cut grinding machine was based on several factors: Wandel already had a straight plunge-cut grinding machine for long and larger components. The compact design of the WPG 7 enables short travel distances and fast movements – a significant advantage over larger universal machines. The limited space at the site also spoke in favour of the compact solution.

One particular advantage of the WPG 7 is its thermal stability. The compact design reduces heat transfer, which means that the machine works with precision immediately after switch-on.

More information www.emag.com

Walter Tools joins DMQP

Strengthening its worldwide partnership with machine tool manufacturer DMG Mori, Walter Tools is now part of the DMQP (DMG Mori Qualified Products) initiative. For manufacturers striving to build the ideal solution for their business, the DMG Mori online machine configurator enables manufacturers to specify the exact requirements for their machine tool. As a DMQP partner, UK manufacturers specifying a DMG MORI machine can benefit from up to 30% discount when using their DMQP certificate to integrate a Walter cutting tool package into their machine.

More information www.walter-tools.com

Tooling in five days

Celebrating its 35th anniversary as a partner to manufacturers worldwide, Quickparts has launched Quick Mould, a rapid tooling solution designed to transform product development speed and flexibility for customers across Europe. Available now across the EMEA region, production takes place at Quickparts’ European centre of excellence in Pinerolo, Italy, ensuring fast regional support and reduced logistics times. Whether iterating prototypes, validating a process or gearing up for low-volume production, Quick Mould is designed to help engineers move from concept to functional, production-grade parts in record time.

More information www.quickparts.com

Fecken-Kirfel gets ready for next generation

Jochen Klein (administrative director) and Dr Paul Grzeschik (director of technology and sales) joined the board of directors at Fecken-Kirfel on 1 October 2025. The move is in preparation for the scheduled retirement of the company’s long-serving managing director Volker Schiffer in 2026, representing the first step into a new era for this long-standing manufacturer of cutting and splitting machines. The new managing directors will be based in Aachen. During the transition period, Schiffer will continue to lead the company with the future management tandem while gradually stepping back into a consulting role.

More information www.fecken-kirfel.de

Start-up programme launches in South Yorkshire

A new start-up programme to turn ideas into investable ventures has been launched by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), supporting growth of high-value jobs and contributing to the development of a thriving, innovation-led economy in South Yorkshire.Co-funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the University of Sheffield in its first year, the ‘FerretWorks: Startup’ programme supports early-stage entrepreneurs with the tools, resources and expert guidance needed to develop product and build scalable, sustainable businesses.

More information www.amrc.co.uk