Heller to host virtual event

German-owned machine-tool manufacturer Heller, which also operates a manufacturing facility at its UK and Ireland subsidiary’s headquarters in Redditch, will stage an international, interactive online event on 10-12 November. Anyone wishing to register for V-CON 2020 should visit https://v-con2020.com/login

Matthias Meyer, managing director of the Redditch operation, says: “This will give visitors a unique exhibition experience with the opportunity to meet our experts and partners, while exploring our virtual world of production solutions.”

The programme is already available online and, following registration, it will be possible for participants to put together a personal agenda. Several times each day, a ‘TalkPodium’ will provide an opportunity for virtual visitors to attend live discussions and play an active role with a chat function. Additionally, round tables will enable an exchange with Heller experts and machine users in order to benefit from their real-life experiences.

Included in the event will be a virtual 360° tour of Heller’s Nürtingen factory. There will also be an overview of the full range of products and services provided by the manufacturer, including its Industry 4.0 offering, which is known as Heller4Industry. Representation by a wide range of well-known, third-party supplier companies will round off the event.

For further information
https://v-con2020.com/login

100,000th DAF CF/XF truck

Leyland Trucks has completed the build of its 100,000th DAF CF/XF truck: a CF 530 ‘FAT’ 6×4 drawbar chassis. The truck is part of a batch of four vehicles ordered by DAF Trucks Australia and is shortly to be exported after it was specified for the country’s fuel tanker market. The Leyland production facility has been producing DAF-branded commercial vehicles since the late eighties. Nowadays, Leyland Trucks builds the full range of DAF LF, CF and XF chassis in any configuration.

“This 100,000th CF and XF model produced at the Leyland assembly plant is a hugely significant milestone for Leyland Trucks,” says managing director Brennan Gourdie. “There is a proud heritage of truck building in the UK and at Leyland, culminating with the production of the current DAF line-up. Reaching 100,000 CF and XF chassis is a landmark moment representing an exceptional commitment from everyone here at Leyland and the wider DAF organisation.”

For further information
www.leylandtrucksltd.co.uk

Gear-grinding masterclass with Kapp Niles

On 16-20 November, Kapp Niles will be hosting a digital event for manufacturers to explore gear technologies and the latest gear-grinding product advancements. Exclusively available in the UK from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG), the Kapp Niles brand is known for its gear-grinding production technology. The webinar series will commence on 16 November with an introduction to Industry 4.0 solutions. On 17 November, Kapp Niles Metrology Division will host a seminar on the efficiency of high-precision gear measurement, which will be followed on 18 November with a webinar on the integration of QA into the gear-finishing process.

For further information
https://expo.kapp-niles.com/

Superior Levels installs XYZ bed mill

Faced with a need for additional machining capacity, Minehead-based Superior Levels opted to install an XYZ SMX 5000 bed mill (now the RMX 5000) from XYZ Machine Tools.

“All of our machining is CNC and the design of the levels is inspired in part by my aerospace background, with the cut-outs – which are both for weight saving and practical reasons – resembling wing ribs,” states Bill Parfitt, who founded the company five years ago. “Calling the company Superior Levels meant we had a lot to live up to, but we concentrate on delivering the highest standards, not wanting to compete with the low-end plastic products found in DIY stores.”

As part of the quality drive, Superior Levels developed its own I-beam extrusion for the body of the level, which is then machined on the SMX 5000. The SMX 5000 gives Superior Levels the capacity to machine the longest products in its range at 2.4 m in length. Accuracy is key for the pockets that house the bubble vials, along with the weight-saving pockets. The latter will enable Superior Levels to access other product opportunities that will be advantageous to its customers around the world. The company currently exports to 21 countries as far afield as Australia, all of which has been achieved through word-of-mouth recommendations and customer reviews on social media.

“We chose XYZ Machine Tools for this latest machine for a number of reasons, but mainly for the ProtoTRAK control, which was a step-up from our existing control system,” explains Parfitt. “The control allows us to do exactly what we want and deliver the accuracy that we need, while the overall package was also excellent value for money. In addition, the training and support we can call on made it easy to deal with XYZ. The consistency and accuracy with which we can machine pockets has led to us developing a new accessory range that we will be launching soon.”

For further information
www.xyzmachinetools.com

£3.8m smart factory opens

Harwin has started production at its new manufacturing facilities in Portsmouth. Providing an additional 1200 sq m of factory floor, the new plant is enabling the company to quickly and significantly scale-up the production of its high reliability (Hi-Rel) connectors to meet market requirements. The total investment is £3.8m, £1m of which brings in state-of-the-art equipment, with the last few Industry 4.0-ready machines arriving over the coming 12 months.

Harwin has a policy of replacing production equipment every five years to keep up with the latest developments in machinery, thus maintaining reliability and operational effectiveness. In 2016, a new-build 3000 sq m factory was opened, while an R&D centre and apprentice training hub was set up in 2019. The latest round of investment also includes a new training area to support staff with ongoing professional development, encouraging advances in skills and job flexibility.

For further information www.harwin.com