EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

1st MTA gains sales agency for Sinco

1st Machine Tool Accessories (1st MTA) is now the sole sales agent in the UK and Ireland for the modular range of zero-point work-holding products manufactured by Slovakian firm Sinco. The versatile MultiZero is said to be the most capable on the market as it incorporates more zero points than any other: up to 273 in a single solution.

Established more than 40 years ago, Sinco manufactures in excess of 250 standard MultiZero modules, comprising base plates, pallets and fixtures. The product family offers five different pallet types for manual or automatic clamping of parts on a machining centre, die-sink or wire-erosion EDM machine, measuring machine, or assembly station. Sinco also produces fixturing arrangements to suit the bespoke work-holding requirements of users.

For further information www.1mta.com

Productive Machines joins AMRC

Productive Machines has joined the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) as a new member with the aim of helping to increase productivity and reduce carbon emissions in manufacturing. Productive Machines, an AMRC spin-out company, specialises in AI-based technology designed to reduce waste and optimise machining processes through easy-to-use solutions.

The partnership between the AMRC and Productive Machines signifies a strategic alignment of expertise in the pursuit of precision engineering. As the newest member of the AMRC, Productive Machines brings its knowledge and disruptive technologies to the collaborative table, contributing to the AMRC’s mission of driving net-zero manufacturing.

For further information www.productivemachines.co.uk

UMATI opens showroom in China

Interested parties in China can now explore UMATI more fully and experience the benefits of open, standardised OPC UA-based interfaces live and in person. The joint connectivity initiative of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) and VDMA (German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association), representatives of which recently opened the ‘Smart IoT in Production’ showroom in Pudong near Shanghai.

Dr Alexander Broos, head of research and technology at the VDW and UMATI project manager, says: “The future of connectivity is digital, but sometimes a physical platform is needed: a place where people can share ideas and present products. The showroom highlights in tangible form the benefits of UMATI in China, one of industry’s most important and largest markets.”

For further information www.umati.org

New MTA president’s charity named

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) traditionally supports two charities during the year and, for the first time, the president’s charity has been chosen as the Children’s Hospital Charity, supporting Sheffield Children’s Hospital to provide world-class care to children the world over. One of three stand-alone children’s hospital in the UK, Sheffield Children’s Hospital provides world-class care to 260,000 children each year. The charity, chosen by MTA president Tony Bowkett, works to enhance Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and its reputation in the care, prevention and cure of illness in children.

For further information www.mta.org.uk

300 members of Tomorrow’s Engineers Code

The Tomorrow’s Engineers Code, managed by EngineeringUK, is celebrating an important milestone: the community now has over 300 members dedicated to increasing the diversity and number of young people entering engineering and technology careers.United by this common goal, the collaborative community has expanded to include organisations from across the engineering, technology and education sectors. Aiming to improve their engineering outreach programmes for young people, members share knowledge and best practice, and commit to four pledges to shape their engagement activities and strategy.

For further information www.code.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk