Fintek brings Hirtisation process to UK

Surface finishing specialist Fintek has become the exclusive UK agent for the H-series of machines from Rena Technologies Austria GmbH. The machines use the patented Hirtisation process, which removes support structures and powder cake, but goes further by reducing the surface roughness of metal parts manufactured by 3D printing. Hirtisation is suitable for all common metals and alloys, and all types of metal 3D printing technology.

Fintek managing director, Jonathan Dean, says: “The Rena H-series complements our existing disc, drag and stream finishing ranges from OTEC. They expand considerably our subcontract capability and machine offering for the surface finishing of additively manufactured metal parts.”

For further information www.fintek.co.uk

Automated machining package

As industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturers will face renewed challenges as production ramps up again. The skills shortage has not gone away; if anything it has worsened, making the availability of machine automation more pressing. To help meet these challenges, XYZ Machine Tools has created an automation and machine package that provides a cost-effective route to maximising productivity.

The package revolves around the three-machine LR series of XYZ vertical machining centres, with prices starting at £99,870 for a combination of the 500 LR and the XYZ Robo-Tend automated production cell. Robo-Tend features a Kuka Cybertech robot with 10 kg lifting capacity (larger versions available) with vision system. A major advantage of Robo-Tend is the potential for quick disconnection and repositioning to another compatible XYZ machining centre or, to allow conventional use of the machine with an operator.

For further information
www.xyzmachinetools.com

Growth prompts new investment

Oldham-based Hopwood Gears, which derives half of its turnover from the manufacture of steel, aluminium and plastic gears – and the remainder from high precision subcontract work (particularly for the robotics and defence sectors) – has invested in a new Makino U6 H.E.A.T wire EDM machine from NCMT. The machine, which is capable of long periods of unattended operations, will help the company boost production capacity.

Behind the latest investment by the family-run firm was a doubling of turnover to £4m over the past two years, despite the pandemic.

Operations director Calum Baines says: “We first became aware of NCMT when we attended a gear seminar at their Coventry technical centre and were impressed with the level of technology, as well as the build quality of the machines.”

The new Makino at Hopwood spends 90% of its time in gear production activities, mainly for the wire-cutting of keyways in hardened steel.

Hopwood Gears’ managing director Cory Hopwood says: “As a result of our rapid growth, there was a shortfall of EDM capacity and we were constantly running behind with orders, but that situation has changed dramatically.”

He says that the Makino U6 H.E.A.T. is 30% quicker at cutting than the other EDM machine on-site and uses 30% less wire. The higher speed is due to a combination of machine rigidity and two large, high-pressure flushing pumps that are able to evacuate chips efficiently, allowing the wire to be pushed harder. Unusually, it is possible to mount a 16 kg wire spool that lasts for the whole of a ghost shift, without need for a space-hungry side loader.

For further information
www.ncmt.co.uk

Smart factory production line

LISI Aerospace (BAI UK) and the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) have jointly secured £975,000 in funding from the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) to unlock productivity gains, new markets and reduce waste in the fastener industry through the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies. The pilot production line for high-precision aerospace fasteners, at BAI UK’s Rugby facility, will help define the ‘smart factory’ by pioneering the use of machine learning, data analytics, indirect fault detection and other cutting-edge digital technologies.

For further information
www.amrc.co.uk

Winbro strikes partnership deal

Machine tool manufacturer Winbro Group Technologies has signed a partnership deal with the Engineering Technology Group. The new agreement will streamline and enhance the route to market for Winbro solutions and provide greater accessibility for customers.

Winbro Group Technologies is a specialist in the design and manufacture of advanced machines and technologies based on non-conventional processes that include high-speed EDM drilling and ECM (electro-chemical machining). The company offers a range of high-technology machining systems for the production of cooling holes and other forms and features in turbine components, thus earning a strong reputation in the aerospace, industrial gas turbine and power generation sectors, as well as electronics, medical, electric vehicles and battery technology.

Further solutions offered by Winbro include laser drilling, cutting and ablation, and creep-feed grinding. The company has a manufacturing and assembly facility in Coalville, with another facility in Rock Hill, SC, USA where Winbro can configure machine systems either as a single process or dual complementary process machines.

Winbro Group’s chief commercial officer Andy Lawson says: “The partnership with ETG is an ideal marriage of Winbro’s technology innovations in non-conventional machining and ETG’s broad base across many sectors. Wherever ETG’s customers have a problem that cannot be addressed with conventional machines, Winbro can potentially offer a solution.”

ETG’s group managing director Martin Doyle adds: “By forming this partnership, ETG will identify opportunities whereby manufacturers across the entire spectrum can benefit from investing in Winbro machine tools. The ETG team is excited for the opportunity to work with this key producer of machine tools, and once again promote and support the UK manufactured brand.”

For further information
www.winbrogroup.com
www.engtechgroup.com