MTA president steps down from role

Andy Hodgson, president of the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), has regrettably had to step down from the role (and as an MTA board member) for personal reasons. Dave Burley, senior advisor to the board of NCMT and current MTA vice-president, has kindly stepped into the position. James Selka, CEO of the MTA, says: “We are sorry to see Andy retire, but totally respect his decision. We’re incredibly lucky to have a talented and strong board representing our members, and are grateful and delighted to welcome Dave Burley into the role of president.”

For further information
www.mta.org.uk

Special tools on short delivery times

Via its Xpress rapid delivery service, Walter now offers its customers special tools delivered within four weeks, less than half the time it usually takes. Before now, customers were already able to order certain milling cutters, drills and indexable inserts via Walter Xpress. However, Walter is now adding grooving tools and cutting inserts to its range. As a result, the G1011 and G4011 monoblock grooving tools, and the double-edged and four-edged cutting inserts from the DX, GX and MX systems, are now available via the Walter Xpress service.

For further information
www.walter-tools.com

Sustainable manufacturing

The second annual National Manufacturing Summit will focus on sustainable manufacturing in the UK, which is working towards a net zero economy. Following on from COP26 and the successful inaugural National Manufacturing Summit in March, the 2022 event will be an opportunity to set a framework for sustainable manufacturing, pulling together the opportunities of emerging technologies and the need to remain globally competitive. The summit, hosted by the MTC in Coventry on 8-9 February will be a hybrid event featuring live, face-to-face presentations and discussions, as well as an interactive virtual audience.

For further information
https://nmsummit.co.uk

High-performance coatings for carbide inserts

Horn has introduced two high-performance coatings, IG6 and SG3, for the carbide inserts it manufactures for turning applications. Despite being less than 0.005 mm thick, such coatings can extend service life by a factor of 10 or more compared with uncoated inserts.

IG6 is a copper-coloured, aluminium-titanium-silicon nitride (AlTiSiN) coating for machining steels in groups P and M with Horn’s S224 and S229 grooving systems. In conjunction with the adapted carbide substrate, the coating allows faster material removal rates and significantly extended service life. Standard inserts are available from stock, while for special designs, Horn Greenline orders can be delivered within five working days of the customer signing off on the drawing.

Horn’s SG3 coating is for machining titanium alloys and superalloys, as well as for hard turning and hard grooving applications, and can withstand temperatures of up to 1100°C. Now that the advantages of the tool coating have been proven on selected Horn tool systems, the 105 Supermini grooving and boring system products are available from stock.

Over the past 15 years, Horn has developed a high level of expertise in the coating of precision tools, starting with five employees and one coating system and growing to over 50 employees working across 14 coating systems. Engineers are constantly researching and developing new and existing coatings with the aim of delivering ever higher performance. Horn continually invests in new, modern technologies. In 2015, CemeCon delivered to Horn the first of three HiPIMS (high power impulse magnetron sputtering) systems, which was the first in the world. The technology enables the formation of coatings that are very dense and compact, as well as extremely hard and tough.

For further information
www.phorn.co.uk

UAE acquires 80 Rafale F4 jets

In the presence of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Vice-Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, signed a historical contract with Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, CEO of Tawazun Economic Council, for the acquisition of 80 Rafale F4 jets for the United Arab Emirates Air Force & Air Defence (UAE AF & AD).

Says Trappier: “This contract is excellent news for France and for its aerospace industry; for the entire ecosystem of 400 companies, both large and small, which contribute to Rafale. It represents thousands of guaranteed jobs in our sector for the coming decade. This contract, which is the largest ever obtained by the French military aerospace sector, consolidates a national industrial base that is, without doubt, unique in Europe.”

For further information www.dassault-aviation.com