EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

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

NCMT reaches milestone

NCMT is celebrating 60 years of trading. The company was formed in 1964 by Gerry Gray after he won the exclusive right to market Japanese-built Makino machining centres and spark-erosion machines in the UK and Ireland, an agreement that persists to this day.In 1976, a second agency was added to sell Okuma machine tools, also from Japan, into the same markets. The move introduced extra CNC machining centres to NCMT’s portfolio as well as CNC lathes and grinders. In other news, NCMT will stage a pre-MACH open house at its Coventry showroom on 7-8 February.

For further information events@ncmt.co.uk

FourJaw doubles customer base

FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics says that the number of manufacturers using its plug-and-play machine monitoring platform more than doubled in 2023. In addition, the company’s installed base – the number of machines monitored by manufacturers using FourJaw technologies – increased almost threefold. FourJaw’s platform captures real-time production data from machinery and combines it with operator feedback to generate insights that improve productivity, operational efficiency, and financial and environmental performance. More than 120 manufacturing businesses worldwide now use FourJaw. 

For further information www.fourjaw.com