Key European role for FANUC’s Bouchier

Tom Bouchier, managing director of factory automation specialist FANUC UK and FANUC Ireland, will take on the additional role of northern Europe co-ordinator, vice president FANUC Europe, from 1 September 2025. FANUC says this strategic appointment demonstrates its commitment to strengthening the company’s European sales strategy and reinforcing collaboration across the region.

In his expanded remit, Bouchier will provide co-ordination and guidance across northern Europe, supporting FANUC UK’s continued growth and alignment with the company’s broader European goals. He says: “In my expanded role, I’m looking forward to aligning the goals and aims of FANUC UK and FANUC Ireland with those of FANUC EU, bridging the gap towards a more successful, innovative and productive manufacturing sector.”

More information www.fanuc.eu

Start-up programme to accelerate innovation

Digital transformation specialist PTC has launched a new start-up programme to help early-stage companies bring new products and innovations to the aerospace and defence market faster. The initiative offers free access to PTC software that includes its Creo+ software-as-a-service (SaaS) CAD solution, Onshape cloud-native CAD and product data management (PDM) platform. Firms can also tap into the Codebeamer+ application lifecycle management (ALM) solution, as well as a start-up package for its Arena product lifecycle management (PLM) and quality management system (QMS) solutions.

More information www.bit.ly/3GXIxHc

Boosting UK Offshore Wind Manufacturing

The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) has launched its 2025 Manufacturing Facility Support Programme (MFSP). Applications are now open for a new round of funding aimed at boosting the UK’s offshore wind manufacturing capacity. The MFSP is designed to support businesses seeking to build new or expand existing manufacturing facilities that serve the offshore wind sector

With a total funding pot of £2m available, the programme offers grants of up to £500,000 per project to support early-stage, pre-investment activities that pave the way for significant capital investment in UK manufacturing. Successful projects will be expected to generate at least £5m in capital investment within two years, £5m in annual revenue and 20 new UK jobs within five years. 

More information www.bit.ly/41rLxlU

Clearcut winner in ACM delamination challenges

Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has launched its Clearcut range of single-flute balanced routing tools, specifically engineered to eliminate delamination issues when machining aluminium composite material (ACM) panels.

ACM panels have become increasingly popular in signage, architectural cladding and display applications. To meet growing demand for faster turnaround times, more manufacturers are now printing directly on to ACM panels before cutting. This workflow significantly reduces lead times but introduces new machining challenges. ITC says it listened to the industry and developed a solution with its Clearcut range of cutting tools.

“The trend towards printing directly on to ACM substrate before cutting has created a perfect storm for delamination issues,” says Sally Hunt, technical sales manager at ITC. “Manufacturers gain significant time savings in production, but they’ve discovered that conventional cutting tools simply cannot handle the increased complexity of machining pre-printed panels without causing costly damage.”

Traditional cutting tools often leave jagged edges with visible print layer damage, forcing manufacturers to choose between speed and quality. However, with the slow helix Clearcut series of routing tools from ITC, manufacturers can maintain both of the key metrics.

ITC’s solid-carbide Clearcut range is VITREO coated, with the company reporting that the slow helix geometry ensures maximum productivity with unparalleled edge finishes. The single-flute routing tools are available in both coated and uncoated variants, with unbalanced or high-performance balanced tools offered.

The balanced tools are designed for modern digital cutting tables that incorporate high-frequency spindles operating at speeds exceeding 30,000 rpm. Notably, the single-flute balanced design on a 6 mm shank provides construction that eliminates vibration at high speeds, preventing print damage and substrate delamination.

More information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Fine-pitch milling cutter suits aluminium parts

Kyocera Corporation has launched its MD90 super-fine pitch cutter, a new milling tool specifically designed for machining aluminium parts in industries such as automotive.

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for lightweight, high-strength aluminium components, driven by advancements in vehicle fuel efficiency and the rise of electric vehicles (EVs). Additionally, the increasing use of smaller machines in manufacturing sites has created a need for cutters that can efficiently and effectively process machines aluminium parts. According to Kyocera, the MD90 not only meets these needs but also offers potential cost savings through its high efficiency and quality, making it an attractive option for manufacturers.

The MD90 features a 24-insert design with a diameter of 125 mm, enabling efficient and high-quality machining of aluminium components.

Among the main benefits of the MD90 include the ability to maximise machining efficiency. The proprietary shape of the holder ensures high rigidity, even with super-fine pitch specifications. This design reduces chattering and enables efficient machining with a table feed of Vf ≥24,000 mm/min.

Lightweight aluminium holders are a further advantage, ensuring suitability for small machines tools (BT30).

With the MD90, Kyocera says customers will gain from high-quality production. PCD inserts are specifically engineered to reduce burr, achieving surface roughness of 0.8 μm Ra or less. Moreover, the company says that the double coolant holes and streamlined chip pocket structure offer excellent chip control performance, ensuring smooth and precise machining and long tool life.

Of course, every application presents unique requirements. For this reason, the MD90 is available with customised configuration options. Cutting diameters range from 20 to 350 mm diameter, and the cutting-edge geometry can be precisely tailored to suit specific operational demands. This level of flexibility ensures optimal utilisation of the tool’s full potential.

More information www.kyocera-unimerco.com