Heatrod acquires Graybar

Bolton-based electric-heating specialist Heatrod Industrial has acquired Wellingborough-based GrayBar Ltd, a manufacturer of products for the rail industry. Heatrod is part of Nibe Element (the world’s largest heating-element manufacturer) and represents Nibe in the UK. The acquisition will become part of the Nibe Rail group, working closely with the team at Denmark-based San Electro heat, one of Nibe’s specialist rail divisions. Graybar commands annual sales of circa £1.2m and a regular operating profit of 10%. The company collaborates closely with Network Rail and leading contractors.

For further information
www.heatrod.com

Additive Casting comes to DMC

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) has struck a partnership with Enable Manufacturing, the UK-based start-up behind Additive Casting®. This novel process overhauls traditional casting with the help of additive manufacturing to deliver a modern, viable solution that embraces Industry 4.0 principles. Suitable for a variety of part complexities and sizes, the Additive Casting process is available in more than 130 different metals. Customers of Silverstone Park-based DMC can access the process from March onwards.

For further information
www.digitalmanufacturingcentre.com

Walter delivers thread of productivity

With the arrival of the T2710 series, Walter is extending the concept of its multiple-row thread-milling cutters for producing shorter threads. Thanks to small spaces between insert rows, the T2710 offers the highly productive processing of thread depths up to 1.5xD.

Even with short thread depths, the simultaneous machining of several thread sections by the T2710 series reduces machining time. Productivity is further amplified by the wear-resistant thread-milling inserts of the Walter WSM37S Tiger-tec Silver grade.

Suitable for universal use, the rigid tool body incorporates multiple rows of indexable inserts for thread milling. The tool body design features minimum spaces between the insert rows to increase productivity levels when creating short threads.

Walter’s new tool is suitable for threads carrying a nominal diameter that starts from 20 mm and upwards with a thread pitch range from 1.5 to 6 mm, and for imperial threads a TPI of 18 to 6. To meet the complete needs of industry, Walter has introduced several inserts for threads from M125 to UN 5-inch, inserts with a pitch range from 6 to 10 mm and 4 TPI, as well as inserts with a 55° flank angle for BSP threads.

With T2710 it is possible to direct the coolant supply both radially and axially, enabling customers to adapt the process for the machining of blind or through holes, optimally flushing the swarf from the thread. The Walter T2710 series is for universal application on steel, stainless steel, cast iron, non-ferrous metals, high-temperature alloys and even hardened steels up to 55 HRc.

The new additions add to the existing standard insert range that includes M24 to M125, UNC1 to UN5, and G1 to G3 ½-inch.

For further information
www.walter-tools.com

Quickgrind offers Amazon ordering

Cutting tools from Quickgrind are now available to purchase on Amazon, in turn making the next-day delivery of standard product lines a certainty.

By using the Amazon platform, customers can order cutting tools as late as 22:00 in most areas with guaranteed next-day UK delivery. Quickgrind says that no cutting-tool manufacturer with an established logistics platform can provide a service that offers such a responsive service. Furthermore, customers can get free one-day delivery on eligible items and take advantage of consolidated shipping and ‘Amazon Day’ events, with predictable and convenient weekly deliveries.

Although bespoke engineered solutions from Quickgrind will continue, the company will introduce a standard series of products through the Amazon logistics platform. This move not only opens Quickgrind up to the whole UK market, but further afield, such as the US, mainland Europe and Australia. Furthermore, it will give Quickgrind exposure to enthusiasts, job shops and small manufacturers.

The Amazon online store is familiar to most households and businesses, and this familiarity reduces the complexity of purchasing for work purposes and can reduce overall procurement time. In short, being able to automate approval processes (all part of Amazon Business) helps limit the administrative burden.

Additionally, customer control and consolidation of spend can be achieved through a single ‘multi-user’ account with built-in features. This capability eradicates what procurement staff call ‘long-tail’ and rogue spending. Customers can track all their orders with ease and transparency.

Leveraging the Amazon Business store produces lower costs with quantity pricing available, alongside reduced shipping costs. For example, customers can spend just £80 for unlimited deliveries per year. This provides manufacturers with the traceability and confidence that staff can order cutting tools for urgent jobs that may come in at short notice.

For further information
www.quickgrind.com

Arrowsmith takes-off with MSC

As a prominent tier-one subcontract supplier to leading aerospace OEMs, Coventry-based Arrowsmith Engineering relies upon the expertise of its supply chain, and in particular MSC Industrial Supply.

Arrowsmith, like the entire aerospace sector, has witnessed the perfect storm of reduced orders and output, COVID-compliant distancing and staff on furlough – all created by worldwide flight restrictions. However, Arrowsmith has overcome numerous industry downturns in its five decades of business, and this experience has seen the company once again adapt to market conditions. With MSC supporting the subcontractor over the past five years to deliver cost reductions and productivity savings of more than £500,000, Arrowsmith has again called upon its supply partner to support it in the machining of more than 50 aluminium engine components.

MSC reviewed the proposed strategy for five set-ups on a pair of three-axis machining centres and subsequently adapted the process to two set-ups on a single five-axis machine.

The solution included the adaptation of the existing zero-point clamping system to add a secondary clamping plate and two Lang vices for clamping the extra-long parts.

In terms of tools, MSC knew that machining aluminium aerospace components of this type is best suited to the solid-carbide milling range offered by SGS Carbide. Sharing the details of the project with SGS, MSC remotely created and optimised a selection of cutting tools that would enhance machining performance and tool life, while consolidating the number of tools required.

By adapting the machining strategy to just two set-ups, MSC has guaranteed process stability for critical aerospace components with tolerances across the part tied to less than 50 µm. MSC has also instigated a machining strategy that is yielding a cycle time of just 2 hours 20 minutes.

For further information
www.mscdirect.co.uk