GM investing $40m at stamping plant

General Motors has revealed plans to invest $40m in its Pontiac Stamping Plant. The company will use the investment to renovate the existing facility and install new, highly flexible fabrication machinery and presses in support of future electric vehicle production and various product applications. Renovation work will begin immediately. GM anticipates the investment will create 20 new positions.

‘Flex Fab’ sheet metal fabricating technology will enable repeatable, custom and precise stamping, reducing costs for low-volume applications. According to GM, Flex Fab will require little or no additional tooling investment to fabricate new stampings for future products.

“This investment will bring the latest in flexible sheet metal fabrication technology to the Pontiac team,” says Phil Kienle, GM vice president of North America manufacturing and labour relations. “Our manufacturing capabilities create a competitive advantage for GM and I’m confident the team at Pontiac Stamping will continue delivering excellence in all areas of the business as they deploy this new equipment.”

Pontiac Stamping currently employs 191 hourly and 31 salaried employees. The hourly workforce is represented by UAW Local 653. The plant began production in 1926 as part of the Oakland Motor Car Company and became part of the Pontiac Motor Division in 1932.

For further information
www.gm.com

Official launch for DMC

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) is heralding a new era of UK manufacturing with the launch of its all-new advanced engineering and production facility at Silverstone Park. Built from the ground up to solve complex engineering challenges, the DMC utilises state-of-the-art additive manufacturing (AM) processes, connectivity and pioneering engineering to support companies operating at the forefront of their sectors.

As an end-to-end solutions provider, the facility brings together metal, polymer and silicone additive manufacturing with complementary machining, finishing and inspection services for a fully connected process chain. Partners include Renishaw, DMG Mori, Produmax and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). Three local MPs attended the launch – Dame Andrea Leadsom, Andrew Lewer and Greg Smith – alongside representatives from SEMLEP, BTVLEP, Silverstone Technology Cluster and Silverstone UTC.

For further information
www.digitalmanufacturingcentre.com

Okuma expands automation solutions

To enable all companies an easy step into automation, Okuma is now offering a new combination of lathe and robot system. Users can benefit from a flexible automation solution with high cutting performance on the entry-level Genos L3000-e Standroid, which is available in the UK from NCMT.

The Genos L3000-e with Standroid is a horizontal universal lathe equipped with flat guides and a solid turret design. Okuma’s new model is a package version completely equipped and ready to use. A comprehensive accessories package is standard, containing an integrated motor spindle with three-year spindle warranty, NC tailstock, chip conveyor and a tool-holder package, as well as a three-jaw hollow chuck. The proven Thermo-Friendly Concept developed in-house ensures high workpiece accuracy.

Okuma’s Standroid robot system is part of the Okuma Roid series and is specifically for the automation of small and medium-batch sizes. As it comes with the new Roid Navi system with dialogue user interface, no prior robot knowledge is required. The intelligent OSP-P300LA Okuma control software makes it easy to operate, also leading to shorter set-up times. Additionally, the machine and the robot are both integrated into the proven Collision Avoidance System (CAS), which makes the whole system safe to operate without exception.
With the Genos L3000-e Standroid, Okuma is offering an automation solution that enables an easy step into automated production for all company sizes.

“A small footprint and optimised operation makes the Genos L3000-e Standroid a dedicated tool to increase productivity and maximise machine utilisation,” states Jakob Simon, automation specialist at Okuma Europe GmbH.
Deliveries in Europe will start next month; pre-orders can be placed now.

For further information
www.ncmt.co.uk

JEB takes-off with new turning centre

When JEB Precision won an order to manufacture a complex component for an aerospace air handling system, the Northwich-based subcontract manufacturer recognised that its existing production method required an upgrade in order to improve productivity. The solution arrived in the shape of a Nakamura-Tome AS200L-MYS turning centre from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG)
The S130 grade stainless steel parts were required in batches of more than 100 per month, but the existing five set-up process on multiple machines was an unsustainable long-term solution.

With six turning centres from ETG on-site, JEB Precision was already familiar with the extensive solutions available, but this was to be the first Nakamura-Tome machine.

Discussing the project, JEB operations director Michael Bebbington recalls: “Although our Hardinge turning centres are very capable machines, the Nakamura-Tome AS200L-MYS is a twin-spindle machine with milling capability and Y-axis machining that is built on a very robust platform. By investing in this technology, we were immediately able to reduce set-ups, increase throughput, improve process reliability and quality, and free capacity on our other machine tools.”

Before the arrival of the Nakamura-Tome AS200L-MYS CNC turning centre, the 83 mm diameter by 23 mm aerospace part demanded an extensive seven-hour set up time across several machines, although the combined cycle time was only 30 minutes.

The Nakamura-Tome AS200L-MYS at JEB Precision features a Hainbuch collet chuck in the main spindle and a Hainbuch expanding mandrel on the sub-spindle for ID clamping to ensure complete machining in a single operation. The part is machined complete in just 20 minutes on the Nakamura-Tome AS200L-MYS and, in the early days of gaining familiarity with the twin-spindle workhorse, JEB had slashed 30% off its programming time, a figure that is destined to improve as the company enhances its understanding of the machine.

For further information
www.engtechgroup.com

Hardinge to acquire Weisser

Hardinge Inc and JG Weisser GmbH & Co KG have entered into a definitive agreement under which the former will acquire the latter, enhancing Hardinge’s turning and milling platform with an attractive portfolio of products and technologies. Weisser, which has sales of approximately $90m, is a German manufacturer of multifunctional turning machines and turning centres, as well as automation solutions. The transaction will bring together two complementary businesses, accelerate the Hardinge growth strategy and increase core capabilities in highly attractive segments.

For further information
www.weisser-web.com