Unlocking productivity at Mazak Discovery Week

Running on 6-9 December, Yamazaki Mazak’s ‘Discovery Week’ open house aims to help machine tool and laser processing users find solutions that overcome a host of productivity-led challenges to improve efficiency and minimise downtime. The event, which will be hosted at Mazak’s European manufacturing plant and technology centre in Worcester, will be supported by over 25 partners with expertise in tooling, tool management, swarf management, CADCAM and finance.

There will be more than 20 machines on display, including live cutting demonstrations on a range of five-axis, horizontal, vertical, CNC turning and laser processing machines, many of which will be equipped with third-party automation systems. Among the technology highlights will be Mazak’s newest vertical machining centre, the VCN-700. Designed and manufactured in the UK, visitors will see live production of the VCN-700 as part of the factory tours.
For further information www.bit.ly/3t4YHDX

XYZ Machine Tools expands Poland presence

With the opening of its purpose-built showroom in Zabrze, Poland, XYZ Machine Tools is embarking on a programme of expansion. Visitors to the new showroom will get to see the potential of the ProtoTRAK control system, with eight machines on display from the ProtoTRAK range of bed mills and lathes, as well as the 2-OP portable VMC and TMC machining centre series.

In support of the new showroom, XYZ has appointed two sales managers: Piotr Madeja and Jan Wyremba. Madeja has a wealth of experience in cutting tool sales and applications, while Wyremba’s experience is in machine tool sales, working for leading manufacturers. Madeja and Wyremba started their employment on 1 October and have spent a month at XYZ Machine Tools headquarters and factory in Devon, UK, undergoing intensive product training.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Kerf plasma cutting machine takes centre stage

As the name suggests, Serious Stages Ltd is a manufacturer of festival stages, temporary buildings, towers, arches, sports ramps and bespoke structures for the entertainment industry – an industry all but decimated by the pandemic. Fortunately for the Wells-based business, it found a new market sector that has exceeded all expectations, trebled growth and increased manufacturing demand. To fulfil this exponential rise in demand, the manufacturer has invested in an UltraSharp plasma cutting machine from Kerf Developments.

Fabrication workshop manager Rob Watts says: “Before the pandemic, we were considering a laser or plasma machine, as we were subbing-out over £500,000 of laser cutting each year. The pandemic halted the decision process, but back in March 2021 the movie industry got back to production and we won a substantial order for the next Mission Impossible film. This gave us the confidence to move forward. We looked at several options and then an industry contact suggested we spoke to Kerf. As a company with a complete range of plasma, waterjet and oxy-fuel cutting machines, Kerf recommended its RUR2500 UltraSharp plasma cutting machine with a Lincoln Electric Fineline 170, 170 amp plasma cutting system.”

He adds: “We are delighted with our new Kerf machine. From day one, the sales engineers were knowledgeable and interested in our business and applications; it wasn’t just about the sale. This duty-of-care has been carried through every step of the process and now the machine is installed, the service is unparalleled. From a production standpoint, the machine will pay back in less than two years and it will save us upward of £750,000 in subcontracting costs. It provides design freedom and efficiency, and it reduces our turnaround times and creates a synergy between the design office and production.”
For further information www.kerfdevelopments.com

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week

Employers and engineers are being asked to flood social media with positive images, stories and messages about engineering careers to show young people the real face of engineering.
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, now in its 10th year, aims to shine a spotlight on engineering, engineering careers and engineering professionals. The whole engineering community is invited to join the campaign (7 to 11 November) to showcase modern engineering and inspirational engineers and technicians. A Tomorrow’s Engineers Week toolkit is available, with sample posts and a range of ways to get involved.
For further information www.teweek.org.uk

UK-first for machine tool feedback control

A UK-first in digital twin technology research to develop autonomous, self-optimising subtractive processes for sustainable manufacturing has been achieved by research engineers at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).
A team of AMRC experts have successfully produced a novel, real-time digital simulation model for feedback control of subtractive cutting operations as part of a technology portfolio related to online machining process simulation, monitoring and control – believed to be a UK-first without the use of expensive sensors.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk