UK recovery taking hold

A major new survey reveals that output volumes and orders are improving at UK manufacturers, while investment intentions are significantly better than the previous quarter. According to the latest survey published by Make UK and business advisory firm BDO, Britain’s manufacturers are beginning to move through the gears as growth prospects become more positive for the rest of 2021.

While investment intentions remain negative, they are significantly up on the past few quarters, and Make UK hopes that the Budget announcement of a ‘super deduction’ tax break will provide a boost. In addition to upgrading its forecast for manufacturing, Make UK has slightly upgraded its GDP forecast for 2021 to 5.5%, from 5.4%. The survey of 314 companies took place between 27 January and 17 February.

The report is available at https://is.gd/nimova

Dagenham gets Transit Custom nod

Ford’s Dagenham engine plant will manufacture the latest advanced-technology diesel engines for the next-generation Ford Transit Custom range. Ford Otosan – Ford’s joint venture in Kocaeli, Turkey – will assemble the latest Ford Transit Custom range, beginning in early 2023. The announcement, with its anticipated incremental engine volumes, helps to safeguard jobs at Dagenham.

While Ford expects around two-thirds of its commercial vehicle sales in Europe to be electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030, diesel will continue play an important role in commercial vehicle applications in the years ahead – especially as the total volumes of Ford Transit and Transit Custom sales continue to grow.

For further information www.ford.co.uk

Connected metrology at the DMC

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) is further expanding its partnership with Renishaw through the addition of connected metrology solutions. This new agreement is critical to the DMC’s on-site machining and inspection capabilities, delivered via precision engineering specialist Produmax. The partnership will see Produmax’s machining and inspection services linked into the DMC’s intelligent, connected process chain, making for a key element in the realisation of a true digital twin and the real-world application of Industry 4.0.

Equipped with a new DMG Mori DMU 60 eVo Linear five-axis machining centre, Produmax will utilise a Renishaw OMP600 optical probe in conjunction with NC-Checker and NC-PerfectPart software from Renishaw associate company MSP, to ensure machine capability and enable complex part alignment prior to machining. A Siemens controller will proactively adapt machining processes to the subtle variations in net-shape components made through additive manufacturing.

During machining, a Renishaw NC4+ Blue laser tool setter will help the DMC achieve the high levels of precision required to deliver the necessary tolerances and surface finishes. Produmax will then analyse the parts using a Renishaw Revo five-axis measurement system to certify quality.

Revo’s multi-sensor capability and high-performance scanning provide Produmax with non-contact and surface finish analysis in a single CMM. The CMM will come equipped with Renishaw’s five-axis tactile scanning and touch-trigger probe, surface-finish measurement tools (SFP2) and non-contact optical fringe probe (RFP). This suite of technology will give the DMC and Produmax the ability to carry out a variety of measurement tasks in a single datum system and in one operation.

Headquartered at Silverstone Park, the DMC aims to realise the disruptive potential of additive and connected manufacturing.

For further information
www.digitalmanufacturingcentre.com\

White paper on vehicle part machining

A new white paper from Soraluce sets out how to maximise productivity when manufacturing parts for industrial vehicles and forestry machinery, including bulldozers, harvesters, forwarders and mobile cranes. In these demanding applications, the development of technologically advanced manufacturing solutions that reduce machining times and offer high availability and accuracy is key to meeting the sector’s production challenges.

Machine tool manufacturer Soraluce (represented in the UK and Ireland by long-term partner Ward CNC) offers a range of machining solutions to manufacture industrial vehicle parts. Thanks to its development of milling solutions, and expertise and experience in machining, Soraluce is able to deliver customised machine tools adapted to each application. Based on this knowledge, the company has produced a new white paper, revealing the keys to improving productivity in the machining of industrial vehicle components.

Download the white paper at https://is.gd/usoruh

Grinding wheels for manual operations

Compared with conventional resin-bonded grinding wheels, Engis says that its Dia-ForZ range of diamond-plated wheels offers many significant benefits, including greater operator safety. For instance, as the diamond grit is electroplated to the metal body, the wheel cannot fail, break or come apart due to abuse. This factor is particularly important in hand-tool operations, where it is easy to drop the grinder, or the machine over-speeds due to the failure of the governor.

Dia-ForZ diamond-plated wheels last longer and cut faster than aluminium oxide and zirconia alumina alternatives. Furthermore, because diamond stays sharper for longer and cuts faster, less force is required to remove imperfections on castings, leading to enhanced operator ergonomics.

The wheels do not need to be dressed, thanks to greater grit exposure than is seen in conventional wheels. In addition, as the wheel does not wear like a conventional wheel, there is no loss of form or peripheral speed, resulting in less dust.

The Dia-ForZ range is available in portable Ty 1, Ty 6 and Ty 27 versions, as well as cut-off wheels, burrs and wheels for robotic cells.

For further information
www.engis.com