EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Group Rhodes expansion

Group Rhodes, a manufacturer of solutions for the metal-forming, composites and material handling sectors, has marked its 200th anniversary by revealing a 2323 m² facility expansion adjacent to its production facility in Wakefield. The new area will allow the group to enhance its operations with new spares and storage space, enabling it to be more responsive to customer requirements. The news comes just weeks after Group Rhodes announced it had appointed 16 new employees across its Rhodes Interform, BJD Crushers and Craven Fawcett businesses.

More information www.grouprhodes.co.uk

World tour for Igus recycled bicycle

The starting signal has been fired: the ‘Igus:bike’ is now on a world tour. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of polymer product specialist Igus, the bright orange bicycle made from recycled plastic will travel the globe for a whole year. On display in 16 countries, the aim is to familiarise industry, media and consumers with a new form of urban mobility that combines fun with the sustainable circular economy of plastics. The urban bike does not rust, needs no oil and is virtually maintenance-free. Igus:bike began its journey from the company’s Cologne factory in Germany.

More information www.igus.eu/blog

Unlocking cryogenic material behaviour

The National Composites Centre (NCC) has demonstrated the use of a novel cryostat to screen a wide selection of materials at cryogenic temperatures. The low-cost process highlights the best candidates for detailed material testing using conventional methods.

Multiple cryostats are now available, including microcrack fracture toughness and shear fixtures, with others under development, such as impact. The new 3D-printed cryostat provides the capability to screen cryogenic material properties quickly, while offering insight into failure mechanisms.

More information www.nccuk.com

December open house at Hurco

Hurco’s annual end-of-year open house exhibition will take place on 3-4 December (08:30-16:30) at its High Wycombe showroom. Lunch is provided, along with refreshments throughout the event. Taking centre-stage this year will be a full display of Hurco’s many five-axis machine configurations.

As many as 20 of Hurco’s technology partners will also have their own stand offering tooling, work holding, CADCAM software, metrology, automation, mist extraction, rotary tables, barfeeds, angle heads, probes and machine tool finance. This gives existing and potential Hurco customers the opportunity to discuss their complete requirements.

More information www.hurco.com

IFR names new president

FANUC Corporation’s chief technical advisor, Takayuki Ito, has been elected as the new president of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), which represents 3000 organisations in over 20 countries. Ito has more than 40 years of experience in the robotics industry and was previously IFR vice president.

“I’m proud to continue the work of my predecessor, Marina Bill, who has been a great ambassador for the world of robotics,” he says. “We are witnessing rapid change in the automation of industrial and service applications around the world. Together with Jane Heffner of Mobile Industrial Robots as the new IFR vice president, I look forward to our mission.”

More information www.ifr.org