EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Mazak names open house dates

Yamazaki Mazak’s annual UK open house will take place on 3-5 December. themed ‘Team Mazak’, this year’s event will spotlight close customer relationships and how collaboration can enhance productivity and profitability. Attendees will witness first-hand Mazak’s commitment to supporting customers at every stage, including pre-sales, installation, training and post-sales.

The open house will boast a line-up of over 20 machines, all in live-cutting action, and four automation systems. Customers are even promised a sneak peek of the company’s new laser machining area to showcase how automation has improved productivity in Mazak’s own factory.

More information www.bit.ly/4fcVNUh

New chair for Euroforge

A leading UK manufacturing figure is now the chair of the automotive group within Euroforge. Steve Morley, current president of the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), took up the influential role at the association’s autumn summit in Milan on 21 October. He is now responsible for developing a strategy to tackle some of the major issues impacting European automotive forgers, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), fluctuating energy prices and the availability of material across the supply chain.

More information www.euroforge.org

Starrag at MENE 2024

At the Manufacturing & Engineering North East (MENE) exhibition in Newcastle, Starrag will present a host of new technologies, many of which have not been seen previously in the UK. On 28 November on Stand 55, innovations from the Switzerland-headquartered machine tool manufacturer will include the new Dörries VT 28 vertical turning centre. Capable of machining components up to 17 tonnes with a maximum diameter of 2.8 m and a height of 2.65 m, the Dörries VT 28 is a multi-functional, high-precision and flexible vertical turning centre for everything from rough to finish machining in a single operation.

More information www.starrag.com

Unison offers Mackma tube benders

Unison Ltd, the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation, is now offering mandrel-free (empty bending) rotary draw tube and pipe bending machines from Mackma of Italy, alongside its own product range. “We recognise that not every company requires the absolute ‘minimal ovality’ or speed of production that mandrel bending provides,” explains joint managing director Alan Pickering. “For that reason, earlier this year we set about choosing a manufacturer of high-quality mandrel-free tube benders that we would be happy to represent through our UK and USA divisions, and our global agent network.”

More information www.unisonltd.com

Major casting process investment

Bridgnorth Aluminium has kickstarted a major investment drive in new technology as part of a long-term growth plan targeting new markets. The company, which employs more than 330 people, has seen sales increase by 33% in 2024 and is currently recruiting for another 10 roles. Bridgnorth Aluminium manufactures aluminium coils for use in lithographic printing plates, pharma and household foils for packaging, and battery foil stocks for electrification. The £1.6m investment will see the arrival of new molten metal filtration equipment required prior to the casting process.

More information https://bridgnorthaluminium.co.uk/