Machine tool factory expands

At a grand opening held last month, DMG Mori unveiled extensive improvements to its Famot machining centre and CNC lathe factory in Pleszew, Poland, one of the largest production facilities in the group with around 700 staff. A total of €60m has been invested, partly to extend the factory to 50,000 sq m, including 14,000 sq m of production area and 7000 sq m devoted to assembly, which together receive more than 140,000 parts a day from store. In the production hall alone, 50 machine tools, mainly from DMG Mori, operate around the clock. New also are a castings store, logistics hall and inductive hardening facility.

The remainder of the investment went on digitising the entire process chain, from receipt of order, through production planning and monitoring, machine data acquisition, supply chain management and machine assembly, to shipping. It is the first DMG Mori plant to operate digitally over a manufacturing service bus, end-to-end, on all added-value levels.
For further information www.dmgmori.com

Collaborative project

A collaborative research project between the AMRC and Sheffield University Management School (SUMS) is exploring ways to overcome the barriers that SMEs face when adopting new technologies to improve performance and drive innovation.The University of Sheffield’s AMRC and SUMS are combining their expertise to deepen the understanding around the obstacles presented by new technology introductions, and how businesses can be better supported to overcome those barriers. Programme leads have been named as AMRC company engagement manager Shirley Harrison and Tim Vorley, professor of entrepreneurship at SUMS.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

Star at Velden

Bolton-based Velden Engineering has continued its investment programme with the arrival of a Star ST-38 sliding-head lathe featuring T565 barfeed. With the latest technology such as live tooling and independently programmed axes, the machine will boost efficiency by allowing parts to be manufactured in one set-up, while also extending the company’s capabilities for complex mill-turn parts within the 42mm diameter range.Clifford Bromilow, Mechanical Engineering Apprentice of the Year 2018, will take on responsibility for the Star ST-38 as programmer, setter and operator.
For further information www.veldenengineering.co.uk

Automotive award

Complex machined castings specialist Grainger & Worrall’s commitment to industry and the engineers of the future has been recognised through an international automotive sector award.The company held off strong competition to take the Apprenticeship Programme category at the Automotive Global Awards, which were staged at the London’s Savoy Hotel. The Apprenticeship Programme award recognises the company which has implemented the most comprehensive, exciting and beneficial apprenticeship programme, encompassing both the apprentices and those who train them and support their development.
For further information www.gwcast.com

Apprentice open evening

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry has invited the engineers of the future to look at apprenticeship opportunities available in its Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre (AMTC). With the plan of recruiting nearly 100 apprentices to start in September 2019, the AMTC is holding an apprentice open event in December that will provide potential trainees with an insight into the centre’s apprenticeship programme.
The apprentice open evening will be held on 6 December between 17:00 and 19:30, and pupils, parents, careers advisors, teachers and college staff are all welcome.
For further information https://the-amtc.co.uk