EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Horn Technology Days “complete success”

Cutting tool manufacturer Horn held its 9th biennial Technology Days open house at its Tübingen headquarters in Germany last month. Attended by around 3300 visitors from 33 countries, a total of 50 partner companies also took part in the event. Some 20 demonstration components were machined live on various machines using Horn tooling.

Visitors were able to expand their knowledge during six specialist presentations entitled ‘Mastering processes in theory and practice’, which were combined with the live machining demonstrations. Topics included machining aluminium with PCD tools, machining small bores, grooving, parting-off, form grooving and turn-milling. Those wanting more detail were able to take part in moderated demonstrations in three live production areas.

More information www.horn-group.com

Design and Engineering Showcase

Among the key focus exhibitions of Smart Manufacturing Week (4-5 June, Birmingham NEC) is the Design & Engineering Expo, dedicated to designers and engineering professionals from all tiers of the supply chain looking to reduce costs, streamline and optimise future strategy. Attendees can uncover the latest technologies, learn from those breaking engineering boundaries and connect with suppliers to gain a competitive edge.

The Design & Engineering Expo will gather cutting-edge technological advancements and educational thought leaders so that engineers from all disciplines can discuss and learn about issue-solving from peers. Visitors can discover information on essential subjects like software, connectivity, IOT, VR, AI, data-led design, CADCAM, prototyping, and more.

More information www.smartmanufacturingweek.com

170+ thought leadership sessions available

Featuring some of the biggest names in manufacturing and engineering, Smart Manufacturing Week (4-5 June, Birmingham NEC) will deliver over 170 sessions of free, high-impact content across seven dedicated theatres – including solution-focused sessions, summits and masterclasses. With keynote presentations from industry thought leaders and expert-led discussions, every corner of the show floor will offer valuable insights. Plus, the Technology Showcase Arena brings the latest exciting innovations to life, offering a hands-on look at the future of the industry.

More information www.smartmanufacturingweek.com

Get set for Smart Manufacturing Week

Smart Manufacturing Week 2025 (4-5 June, Birmingham NEC) is the UK’s biggest and most vibrant gathering for industrial innovation. The event brings together over 13,500 attendees and more than 450 solution providers to explore the technologies, strategies and connections shaping the future of manufacturing and engineering.

At the event, four dedicated exhibitions cover smart manufacturing technologies that include design and engineering, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, maintenance and reliability, robotics, and more. With over 1000 products and services on display, plus Innovation Alley – dedicated to helping young businesses break on to the scene – there is plenty to see and learn at Smart Manufacturing Week.

More information www.smartmanufacturingweek.com

The die is cast

A global leader in complex aluminium sand castings has secured a King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation after a breakthrough in developing lightweight structures for electric vehicles. Grainger & Worrall, which employs 525 people at its state-of-the-art facility in Bridgnorth, has developed methods to produce prototype gigacastings rapidly and consistently so they perform like ‘die-castings’ made for high-volume cars and off-highway production. This capability gives customers the opportunity to test vehicle designs quickly before committing to expensive production equipment.

More information www.gwcast.com