Visors set to cut through PPE shortage

An Essex-based manufacturer is using its expertise in cutting systems to design and make vital equipment to support frontline medical staff in the fight against COVID-19. Blackman & White has responded to the national call for urgent PPE by getting its CAD engineers to create a visor that is made from polycarbonate or acetate to make the most of its in-house cutting capabilities.

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The firm is looking to utilise spare capacity in the demo room at its facility in Maldon, where Orion and Genesis V machines can use dual motion control routers and laser capabilities to produce 300 units a day. Bosses are now appealing for other businesses to support their efforts by: helping to source material that is currently hard to find or not of the right quality; assisting with product specifications; and identifying healthcare facilities in need of this vital safety equipment.
Eiko White, director at Blackman & White, says: “We can easily make 300 per day, but we’re struggling to source the right quality material; this is where we need help. The big stumbling blocks are 1 mm polycarbonate and 1 mm acetate.
“Our customers, who have been quick to come forward and offer their assistance, have been making do with alternatives, but supplies are drying up and, inherently, the costs are climbing,” she adds. “If we can get access to the right material, we can hopefully do our bit to protect NHS and care workers on the frontline.”
Blackman & White, which employs 28 people, is the UK’s only manufacturer of cutting systems, with all machines designed and manufactured from start to finish at its factory.
For further information www.blackmanandwhite.com

Free access to CNC machining platform

In response to the challenges facing the machining sector due to the onset of COVID-19, Orderfox.com – a major online marketplace where CNC machine shops can secure contracts – is offering free access to its digital platform until 30 April. As such, machinists can keep operations and production activities running to safeguard their long-term future.

CNC machine shops can easily make their capacity available to the entire manufacturing sector via Orderfox.com, using filters to specify technical and lead-time capabilities. Users can now communicate, submit quotes and manage incoming RFQs digitally and free of charge. Orderfox.com says: “If we stick together, we will win this battle and come out of the crisis even stronger.”
For further information www.orderfox.com

Ventilator Challenge

A consortium of significant UK industrial, technology and engineering businesses from across the aerospace, automotive and medical sectors, has come together
to produce medical ventilators for the UK.

The VentilatorChallengeUK Consortium is led by Dick Elsy, CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Over the past two weeks the consortium has been working hard to investigate the production of a range of ventilator design options to meet a high-level specification for a rapidly manufactured ventilator system developed by clinicians and the MHRA.
For further information www.ventilatorchallengeuk.com

Third Kimla laser at Concept Metal

Concept Metal Products has invested in an additional Kimla machine to boost its 10 m metal-cutting offerings.

Having already purchased 10 x 2 m (4 kW) and 4 x 2 m (6 kW) Kimla fibre lasers, the company has ordered a third machine to increase further increase its capacity. The 6 kW, 10 x 2 m machine will be installed at the firm’s Manchester factory by MBA Engineering later this year.
One of the only companies in the northwest to cut and bend up to 10 m lengths, Concept Metal specialises in fabricating larger items for a range of different industries, including highways, rail, nuclear and waste management.
General manager at Concept Metal Products, Dean Barnard, says: “Being able to provide a larger scale of laser-cutting capabilities to our customers and a range of industries is of huge benefit to us. It’s great to be able to offer these services with the high level of efficiency and precision that comes hand-in-hand when working with Kimla machines.
“As this is our third laser-cutting machine investment, we needed a machine able to manufacture long parts as this is something only we can offer in the northwest,” he adds. “Combined with our LVD tandem press, which is capable of forming parts up to 9 m long with first-bend depth up to 605 mm, the additional Kimla laser cutter will assist in boosting this area of the business.”
Managing director of MBA Engineering, Bradley McBain, adds: “This is another example of how we deliver solutions to match a company’s business strategy, rather than simply supply an off-the-shelf solution.”
For further information https://mba-eng.co.uk/

AXYZ now stocking WardJet

Following the acquisition of US-based waterjet cutting solutions specialist, WardJet, AXYZ is now stocking and distributing a range of waterjet machines in the UK and throughout mainland Europe and Asia.

Among the offer is the latest small-format WardJet waterjet cutting machine. Part of the A series of machines, the A-0612 shares the same industrial design features and performance capabilities of the larger-format models, but in a more compact size.
The A-0612 has been developed to accommodate the requirements of engineering shops where floor space and the need for more cost-effective production equipment are major considerations. A key benefit of the machine is that, although similarly configured waterjet machines invariably operate at pressures ranging from 2068 to 3103 bar, the A-0612 will operate at 4137 bar. This enables machine owners to match the performance capabilities of much larger waterjet machines, but at a commensurately lower cost.
In common with all of the larger-format machines, the A-0162 is based on a heavy-duty tank construction embodying formed 6.35 mm thick steel for the side and floor, and a 125 mm box channel for added strength, supported by a 12.7 by 150 mm steel reinforcement bar. The A-0612 also incorporates multiple cutting-tool heads, an industrial-grade rack and pinion drive system, and an optional water level control system and cutting table enclosure. These attributes combine to reduce splashback (and thus conserve water) and subdue machine noise.
The machine is supported with proprietary MOVE motion control software and a comprehensive performance warranty.
For further information www.axyz.co.uk