EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Stratasys selected for war AM programme

Stratasys’ parts-on-demand business, Stratasys Direct, has been selected to take part in the US Department of War’s (DoW) Joint Additive Manufacturing Acceptability (JAMA) IV Pilot Parts Programme, a multimillion- dollar initiative to accelerate qualification and deployment of 3D-printed parts across military platforms and systems.

“In 2025 Stratasys saw double-digit annual revenue growth from aerospace and defence, demonstrating that AM is a becoming a key capability for defence sustainment and supply chain resilience,” says Foster Ferguson, vice president – industrial business unit, Stratasys. “Stratasys Direct already ships over 100,000 parts annually to the defence industry, and programmes like JAMA will accelerate qualification of parts so organisations can deploy them faster across operational platforms.” 

More information www.stratasys.com/en/stratasysdirect

In-Comm MD to run London Marathon for charity

A manufacturing training leader and novice runner is preparing to take on the iconic London Marathon, taking place on 26 April, to raise vital funds for the Good Shepherd in Wolverhampton. Gareth Jones is MD at In-Comm Training, which provides apprenticeships and upskilling opportunities to engineering and manufacturing firms. Located across two technical academies in Aldridge and Telford, the firm recently completed a 12-month partnership with the Good Shepherd as its Charity of the Year, providing over £25,000 worth of contributions through corporate volunteering, in-kind support and fundraising.More information www.bit.ly/424g7lw

Finecast welcomes UK industry stakeholders

Finecast, a West Sussex-based precision casting and machining specialist, opened its doors to a diverse delegation last month to address one of the most pressing challenges facing UK manufacturing today: the future of the domestic casting industry. Delegates comprised members of the Worshipful Company of Founders, a historic livery company dedicated to supporting and promoting the modern metals and casting industries. Also attending the event were industry leaders, academics, engineers and apprentices. 

The day began with an informal roundtable discussion, followed by a behind-the-scenes tour of Finecast’s advanced foundry and machine shop. Finecast has recently invested £2m in its machine shop capabilities and is in the process of achieving NADCAP accreditation.

The company also employs advanced inspection technologies such as GOM optical 3D metrology systems for precise geometric measurement.

More information www.finecast.co.uk

CNC sawing and drilling

On stand 18-230, GEKA is presenting CNC solutions for steel processing, with a strong focus on beam drilling and tube laser cutting technologies designed to improve productivity, accuracy and workflow efficiency. Among the highlights is the DSB CNC saw and drill line, developed for the automated machining of structural steel beams within a single automated workflow. GEKA is also showcase its tube laser cutting solutions for manufacturers working with beams, tubes and structural profiles that require precision and clean edge quality when laser cutting tubes. GEKA’s tube laser solutions extend up to 40 kW capacity.

More information www.geka-cnc.com

Sodick brings innovation

Sodick Europe, along with sole UK distributor Sodi-Tech EDM, is displaying six machines on stand 20-350. Taking the spotlight is the Sodick ALC600P ‘i Groove + Edition’, which the company says marks a significant leap in wire EDM by combining high-speed processing with energy-efficient operation. This award-winning machine features several innovative elements that establish new sector standards, including Sodick’s iGroove patented wire rotation technology that spins the wire during cutting to improve precision, performance, wire stability and surface finish – all while reducing wire consumption by up to 30%.

More information www.sodick.eu