EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Mapal names new chief sales officer

With effect from 1 July 2024, Claudio Gabos is the new chief sales officer of precision tool manufacturer Mapal Group and thus becomes part of the Mapal executive team. He takes over the role from Siegfried Wendel. Joining Mapal in 2015, Gabos has been managing director of the Italian subsidiary since 2017. He was also responsible for strategic projects on a global scope.

“We are delighted that we’ve been able to recruit Claudio Gabos for the position, a trusted colleague who has the ideal qualifications for this role,” says Dr Jochen Kress, president of the Mapal Group. “We’re convinced that he’ll make an important contribution to our further development.”

More information www.mapal.com

First NMITE cohort enters workplace

The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has reached a significant milestone with its first students entering the workplace. Among the first to complete one of NMITE’s innovative degrees are individuals who have secured impressive and prestigious positions in industry, showcasing the effectiveness of NMITE’s unique educational approach.

NMITE set out with a mission to revolutionise engineering education and took in its first students in September 2021. Located in Hereford, the institute offers forward-thinking integrated engineering degrees. NMITE’s curriculum is hands-on and project-based, ensuring students gain real-world experience from day one. 

More information www.nmite.ac.uk

Group Rhodes expands in its 200th year

Group Rhodes, a Wakefield-based OEM providing metal forming and composite forming solutions, has significantly expanded its workforce across all four divisions over the past six months to meet the needs of customers. The move includes six new employees for Group Rhodes, four for its Rhodes Interform division, four for BJD Crushers, and two for its Craven Fawcett business. Most of the new appointments are within the company’s manufacturing and machining operations. Group Rhodes has recently announced major new domestic contracts with companies such as Ibstock, Zentia and Cascade Manufacturing.

More www.grouprhodes.co.uk

Industry leaders head aerospace consortium

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division and Boeing have formed the Rotor Dynamics Consortium (RDC) in collaboration with some of the biggest names in the aircraft and aerospace engine industries. The RDC will define, drive and standardise rotor dynamics modelling and simulation requirements, with the goal of enabling airframe and aerospace engine manufacturers to overcome the engineering challenges of more sustainable and efficient propulsion systems in a safe way.

The consortium will build on finite element methods embedded throughout design, validation and safety certification workflows to apply next-generation multi-physics simulations. Notably, RDC members will meet to discuss and formulate strategies on the best application of MSC Nastran, considered the most accurate digital alternative to expensive physical testing.

More information www.hexagon.com

Ultrasonic welds on 3D prints

Telsonic UK is collaborating with the Nottingham office of Stratasys, performing a series of interesting 3D-printed polypropylene ultrasonic weld trials. A Stratasys H350 produced parts for the tests. Initial abstract trials were conducted with Telsonic’s 35kHz Handystar Energy handgun system to check the ultrasonic weldability of the material using various techniques. The success of these tests led to further investigation, guided this time by Telsonic UK, with new trial parts having features that reflect real world application shapes and weld preparation features for automotive ultrasonic welded joints.

More information www.bit.ly/3xu8Gso