Boost for space park

Space Park Leicester has been selected as a new centre to offer the business incubation programme for UK start-ups run by the European Space Agency (ESA).

The ESA Business Incubation Centre (ESA BIC) supports innovative start-up businesses using space technologies or data, enabling them to gain a competitive advantage in today’s global marketplace. Building on the growing list of companies at Space Park Leicester, organisations joining the ESA BIC will gain access to the University of Leicester’s R&D capability across a number of areas.
For further information www.le.ac.uk/spacepark

Global award for Big Kaiser

The EWA automatic fine-boring tool from Big Kaiser, which is represented in the UK by technology partner Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), has won the ‘production performance’ category at the Global Industry Awards 2020.

Entered for the award through Boulland DPM, Big Kaiser’s partner in France, the production performance category highlights innovations focusing on the significant improvement of key metrics or performance through productivity gains.
Jose Fenollosa, head of R&D at Big Kaiser, says: “The EWA is far ahead of the rest in its level of automation and sophistication. This gives our customers real benefits in terms of time and money saved, which makes it ideal for Industry 4.0 applications. We’re already talking to potential customers, including a number of leading machine-tool manufacturers.”
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Aerospace specialist acquires AMF Precision

A £43m critical supplier to the aerospace sector has made its latest acquisition as it looks to target new opportunities in the defence and medical sectors.

Manchester-based Aero Services Global Group (AS.G), which manufactures airframe structural equipment and aero-engine components for more than 20 leading primes and tier-one suppliers, has welcomed AMF Precision Engineering to its portfolio of companies.
The Wirral-based subcontract technology specialist joins six other manufacturing businesses in the group and provides additional cleanroom and long-bed machining capabilities, not to mention direct access to customers in medical, defence and a host of research centres across Europe. AS.G’s announcement comes just a few weeks after it secured a £31m funding package from Magnetar Capital and Close Brothers Invoice Finance to support ambitious three-year growth plans.
For further information www.aeroservicesglobal.com

Laser suits small and medium-sized tube

Yamazaki Mazak is launching a new laser-processing machine specifically designed for the high-speed, high-volume cutting of small and medium diameter tube.

The new FT-150 Fiber is a compact laser-processing machine that benefits from an ergonomic design, with the operator area, loading station and unloading station all located on the same side.
Equipped with a 3.0 kW fibre resonator, the FT-150 Fiber can process single workpieces up to 6500 mm in length and 150 kg in weight, with a maximum tube diameter of 152.4 mm. Mazak says that 8000 mm and 180 kg capacity options are also available.
The machine can cut a wide variety of materials used in the architecture, automotive, construction and furniture industries, including mild steel, stainless steel, copper, brass and aluminium.
Designed for maximum productivity, the FT-150 Fiber can perform multiple processes, including cutting, tapping, drilling and thermal drilling. In-process time is reduced as it negates the need for processes such as punching, deburring and hole tapping. Productivity is further improved thanks to a large-capacity bundle loader, which can automatically load raw material weighing up to 4 tonnes.
The FT-150 Fiber can also unload workpieces in a variety of ways, from standard solutions to automatic sorting systems for the efficient production of large-volume and multiple part models. Finished components up to 3000 mm in length can be unloaded (a 4500 mm option is also available) into parts buckets, or via an optional conveyor belt. The sorting system can sort and unload small, medium and large finished parts in four different areas.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Simultaneous launch by Mills CNC

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has introduced two Doosan five-axis machining centres.

The two machines – the DVF 6500 (650 mm diameter table) and the larger capacity DVF 8000 (800 mm diameter table) – are from the same stable as the Doosan DVF 5000 machine that was launched 18 months ago.
Both machines are compact and have a rigid structure for increased accuracy, improved surface finish and greater process reliability. The new models boast 45 m/min rapid traverse rates and are equipped with oil-cooled, directly-driven BT40 spindles (up to 22 kW/18,000 rpm) to suit 3+2, 4+1 or full five-axis simultaneous machining.
Also featured are servo-driven automatic tool changers (up to 120 tools) with a 1.3 second changeover time, roller LM guideways and direct-drive rotary tilting tables (A axis = +120/-120°; C axis = 360°).
The DVF 6500 and DVF 8000 machines are available with a choice of control (Fanuc 31iB5, Heidenhain TNC640 or Siemens 840D with ShopMill software), and are supplied with thermal compensation systems and a long-life, grease lubrication system. A collision protection system can also be offered
as an option.
There are some differences, however. The DVF 6500 and DVF 8000 have different-sized travels (DVF 6500 = 750 x 785 x 600 mm; DVF 8000 = 1000 x 900 x 685 mm) and different table loads (up to 1000 and 1400 kg respectively).
Within the DVF 8000 range a specific ‘Turning’ model can also be specified. The DVF 8000T, with its integrated function, has the same technical specification as the DVF 8000 in most respects, except for a lighter maximum table load (700 kg) and a faster C-axis feed rate (600 rpm).
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk