Start-up builds future on used machines

Ferro (Midlands) Ltd, which began operations in 2019, has used the success already enjoyed by the business to invest in pre-owned machine tools from Amada: an LCG-3015 3.5 kW laser cutter and HFE-1003 press brake. Both of these used machines, which were installed at Ferro’s Market Drayton facility and running within five weeks of first contact, have been fully refurbished by the Amada UK team of engineers.

Co-founder and company director Malcolm Evans, who has 18 years of industrial experience in engineering and supply services, sets out the reasons for investing in the machines: “We reached the point when our outsourced laser-cutting spend was on parity with the running costs of having our own laser and housing it in a newly constructed unit.”

Although Ferro initially considered low-cost options for its capital investments, including machines on eBay, the company was wary of the fact that it had not operated this type of kit previously.

“The idea of installing machines like these by ourselves, then working out how to program and use them soon became pretty daunting,” says Evans. “I know a few others who have gone down this road and most end up calling in the OEM’s engineers to sort things out. We decided we could get into a world of pain by not going through an authorised machine-tool subsidiary or dealership. We’d seen Amada machines at other companies and heard good reports, so they were our first choice.”

With its Amada LCG-3015 3.5 kW laser cutter, Ferro now provides a complete sheet-metal laser-cutting service for a range of materials, including steel, stainless steel and aluminium, from 1.2 to 12 mm thick.

For further information
www.amada.eu

Critical parts from CloudNC

Bladon, a specialist in the design, development and manufacture of Micro Turbine Gensets (MTGs) for the telecommunications sector, has chosen CloudNC to make and deliver its most challenging critical parts. “CloudNC are focussed on technology that delivers quality and efficiency – as well as flexibility and resilience – and they have the capability to machine parts that some of our previous vendors simply couldn’t make,” says Andy Roberts, head of supply chain at Bladon. “They spent the time to understand our product and the critical nature of the parts we need.”

For further information
www.cloudnc.com

Manufacturing hits 10-year high

The IHS Markit/CIPS UK Manufacturing PMI was revised higher to 58.9 in March 2021, from an initial estimate of 57.9 and above February’s 55.1. This revision points to the steepest month of expansion in factory activity since February 2011, underpinned by stronger demand from both domestic and international markets, the vaccine roll-out and loosening of lockdown restrictions. Manufacturing output grew at its quickest pace since last November and new business climbed at its second-fastest pace for over three years. Furthermore, jobs growth hit a seven-year high.

For further information www.markiteconomics.com

Machining diversity with Delta laser

Inside the compact footprint of the Winbro Delta laser machine is a spacious work area that offers X, Y and Z-axis travels of 1500, 750 and 1000 mm, supporting the continuous C-axis rotary table and ±140° B axis. Now, this next-generation technology is available from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) after it became a technical partner of Winbro Technologies Group.

The latest Winbro Delta laser machining system can be applied to a multitude of applications that include percussion drilling, drilling on the fly, five-axis high-speed cutting, welding, 2D and 3D shaped-hole machining via ablation, ceramic coating removal via ablation, and aerospace cladding for repair or overhaul. The flexibility of the Winbro Delta laser machining system makes it possible to combine these processes in a single machine by using dual laser sources.

Inside the compact footprint of the Winbro Delta laser machine is a spacious work area that offers X, Y and Z-axis travels of 1500, 750 and 1000 mm, supporting the continuous C-axis rotary table and ±140° B axis. The Delta machine is capable of a linear and rotary accuracy of 0.015 mm and 15 arc/sec, with repeatability of 0.010 mm and 10 arc/sec.

Within the Delta platform is a raft of technology advancements, such as component scanning and mapping, focus control, a patented six-point probing system, breakthrough detection, crash protection, tool-tip interpolation, a quick-change nozzle system, and a selection of nozzle assemblies.
Winbro can integrate Delta with different types of YAG and CO2 Lasers and, in particular, a range of fibre lasers – the choice of which is dependent upon the application. Control is via a Heidenhain iTNC640 CNC.

For further information
www.engtechgroup.com

Promotion at Eclipse Magnetics

Eclipse Magnetics, part of the Spear and Jackson Group, has promoted senior sales manager, Dave Smith, to the position of sales director. Smith joined the Spear and Jackson Group in 2017 as key account and country manager at fellow group company, Bowers, before gaining promotion to UK sales manager in 2019. He went on to join Eclipse Magnetics in 2020 as senior sales manager. With over 20 years of sales experience, both in the UK and overseas, Smith brings a strong technical background to the role, as well as proven people and budget management skills.

For further information www.eclipsemagnetics.com