VMC performance creates development opportunities

When Mounts and More originally started in 1996 it was intended to be a part-time enterprise, but the business quickly morphed from being a small distributor of products for wheelchair users, into a service and support centre for not only individual users, but hospital groups across the UK and Europe.

From this experience of being what managing director Ian Bullock describes as being the “middle-man” he began to develop his own ideas, which initially were passed straight back to Daessy, the Canada-based supplier of the equipment he was selling.
“As part of that agreement we were precluded from selling other products, but they gave us their blessing and support to start designing and making our own accessories and custom parts to complement the Daessy mounting system,” says Bullock. “As many of these designs were unique to our local requirements, it made sense to invest in our own manufacturing capability. Also, as a manufacturer, we would be able to access greater export support from the Government.”
Mounts and More’s core market is the supply of mounts to assist wheelchair users in the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. The most familiar user of such equipment was the late Professor Stephen Hawking. Through its longstanding association with Daessy, Mounts and More has built a strong business supporting higher dependency wheelchair users, which equate to around 10% of the market, where funding is more readily available to purchase accessories that make life easier for these customers.

“The other 90% of wheelchair users find it increasingly difficult to access funding, which is why we are focussing on developing products that allow them to adapt off-the-shelf technology to meet their needs,” explains Bullock. “For example, a fully specified Eyegaze communication device can cost well over £10,000, but we’ve developed a bracket that allows an Eyegaze camera to be used with a Microsoft Surface Pro to create a basic Eyegaze device.”
To develop these products, Mounts and More initially invited quotes for machining work but could not find anyone interested. As a result, the decision was taken to invest in some machining capacity. Budget and space restrictions limited the choice and capability of the first Chinese machines, which also came with their own issues in terms of reliability.
These factors would open the company’s eyes to the potential of investing in more robust and quality machinery. Therefore, when additional floor space became available, Bullock and his son William, looked to invest again, with the first requirement being increased machining centre capacity.
Initial research by William Bullock identified the XYZ 750 LR as the ideal machine, and his investigation confirmed that the quality and performance of the XYZ machine, along with service and support, would meet requirements. Price was also a factor, with Yorkshireman Ian Bullock’s reaction being “how much?” However, with subcontractors now refusing to quote for the volumes needed, or giving extremely long lead times, he knew it was the right investment.
“We initially considered buying a used machine, but the security provided by a new machine in terms of the back-up we could call on if we had any questions related to programming and operating the machine, or in terms of service, convinced us that a new model was the way to go. With the arrival of the XYZ 750 LR we have got back control of production. We could no longer be dependent on others; we had to have the ability to make things ourselves.

“The machine also allows us to provide a much more bespoke service, as we can modify designs quickly to suit customer needs. New product development is enhanced as we can produce prototype parts when we need them. We have hundreds of ideas, such as our recently developed mini floor stand, which takes just 40% of the floor space required by conventional systems. This has proved to be a success and having the XYZ machine means we can turn ideas like this into reality, sooner rather than later.”
The speed and build quality of the XYZ 750 LR linear rail-type machining centre has brought significant productivity gains. An example of this are the riser blocks used on the new Mounts and More mini floor stand. Previously, on the company’s old machine, it took seven minutes to produce a one-off. Now, thanks to the 13 kW, 8000 rpm spindle and up to 20 m/min feed rates, four of these risers are produced each cycle in just over six minutes, a near 80% saving per part.
In addition to cycle time savings, Mounts and More is also seeing an improvement in surface finish thanks to the build quality and performance of the machine’s linear rail construction.
“We can certainly push the XYZ machine harder and faster than before, and achieve better quality products,” says Ian Bullock. “We can now manufacture bespoke systems and further develop our own product range with a view to expanding our market reach to beyond the 10% of the sector that we already serve.
“One unforeseen advantage of the XYZ 750 LR was the effect it has on customers,” he adds. “We regularly get visits from NHS trusts and wheelchair manufacturers, and the machine makes a distinct impression on them. We’re selling them a premium product and having the XYZ machine enhances that perception in their eyes.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

AP&T installs 100th press hardening line

AP&T, which has worked with press hardening technology since the beginning of the 2000s, was entrusted with supplying an ultra-modern press hardening line to MA Polska’s facility in Tychy, southern Poland.

The line was deployed in spring 2018. Not only was it the first of its kind for MA, it was also the 100th press hardening line that AP&T had installed at that point. In other words, the installation was a milestone for both companies.
MA’s new line is a complete, turnkey state-of-the-art solution, and is equipped with AP&T’s proprietary system for in-line process monitoring, which means parts can be manufactured with a consistently high level of quality in a carefully controlled process with short cycle times. As a result, the car industry’s CQI9 quality standard can also be effectively fulfilled.
“MA understood the opportunities afforded by our technology early on, which has made co-operation very invigorating,” says AP&T product manager Lennart Johansson. “It is always especially gratifying when both parties aim high and are able to reach common goals.”
The headquarters of MA are in Rivoli, Turin, Italy, and the company has been a major manufacturer of cold-formed sheet metal parts for the global automotive industry since the 1970s. A few years ago the company decided to begin manufacturing press hardened components as well, which thanks to the combination of low weight and high strength, are increasingly being selected for use in modern passenger cars.
For further information www.aptgroup.com

Ball screws suit large powder presses

S-HTF series ball screws from NSK are for the first time enabling powder-press manufacturer Osterwalder AG to employ servo-electric drives on its larger machines, rather than conventional hydraulic drives.

As a result, new systems such as the Osterwalder OPP 2000 multi-level machine with 2000 kN press force, use around 80% less energy than hydraulic counterparts of equivalent power output. In addition, pressed parts are produced with significantly higher dimensional accuracy, which reduces the amount of reworking and substantially lowers process and material costs.
Lyss, Switzerland-based Osterwalder offers a wide range of machines, and with the CA-SP and CA-HM electric powder presses introduced around five years ago, brought to market a completely new type of drive technology. Direct Drive Technology (DDT), as it is known, comprises servo-electric motors and NSK ball screws, and thus replaced the hitherto dominant hydraulic drives in this field of application.
The DDT drive principle has proven itself over the past five years, initially for press forces up to 160 kN, and then up to 640 kN. As a result, it was only logical for Osterwalder to take the next step and equip its larger presses with this drive technology. However, the HTF series from NSK and comparable ball screws from other manufacturers reach their limits here with regard to nominal service life.
As part of its ongoing development programme, NSK had in the meantime developed its S-HTF ball screw series, which would prove extremely timely for Osterwalder. S-HTF ball screws offer a higher dynamic load capacity with the same dimensions, thus delivering a service life that is significantly extended.
Endurance tests performed in the NSK laboratory showed that the TF technology used in the ball screws of the S-HTF series results in triple the service life, as well as a 30% higher dynamic load capacity.
For further information www.nskeurope.com

Sodick opens HQ

Sodick Europe welcomed 170 guests to the grand opening of its new architect-designed headquarters in Warwick.

Kenichi Furukawa, president of Sodick Co Ltd, son of Sodick’s founder Toshihiko Furukawa, helped CEO Peter Capp and other VIP guests break the traditional sake barrels to bring good fortune to the enterprise. At 4200 sq m, the building has been designed with expansion in mind and, on a 1.2 hectare site, there is plenty of space for further growth at a later date. One of the key advantages of the new building is its large, temperature-controlled showroom.
For further information https://sodi-techedm.co.uk/

High load forming cylinder

Roemheld’s newly developed block cylinder S (‘strong’) is purposed designed for use in forming technology, including punching machines. This sturdy and compact cylinder is a further development of the established Roemheld block cylinder.

The block cylinder S is hydraulically double-acting and universally applicable for all linear movements with high force requirements. According to Roemheld, the cylinder can withstand high mechanical and thermal loads, and is suitable for operating pressures up to 500 bar and operating temperatures up to 200°C. Versions up to 250°C are also available on request.
Block cylinder S shows its strengths where high loads and side loads are to be expected, such as on punching, pressing, trimming, bending and stamping machines, as well as in joining and press-in devices. All designs are equipped with piston and rod guide rings, which absorb side loads between the moving components. The rod guide rings also prevent direct metal contact between the piston and cylinder housing, minimising mechanical wear. Importantly, the operating pressure of block cylinder S must be limited to 250 bar for these applications because of very high loads during punching.
As a result of numerous variants and small dimensions, block cylinder S can also be used for a range of other applications, such as operating core pullers and sliders in mould tools. The cylinder can also be deployed in fully automatic production systems with short cycle times thanks to its high load capacity. Inductive stroke end controls are provided for optional position monitoring.
A total of five sizes with piston diameters from 32 to 80 mm, and four stroke lengths from 25 to 100 mm, are available. If required, the standard stroke can be shortened by 5 to 29 mm by means of a shrink-fit distance bushing. Piston variants with internal or external thread
can be supplied.
For further information www.roemheld.co.uk