EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Status offers Kreon arms

Status Metrology Solutions – a UK provider of CMMs, metrology software and calibration services – is expanding its portfolio with the addition of Kreon portable measuring arms and PolyWorks software. The move means Status is now a UK distributor of the full Kreon portable arm suite, including Onyx and ACE models. It reinforces Status’s position as a complete metrology solutions provider, offering customers even greater choice and flexibility for 3D measurement and inspection. The new Kreon Onyx and Kreon ACE portable arms deliver ISO 10360-12 certified accuracy for both tactile probing and 3D scanning.

More information www.status-cmm.co.uk

Machine shop assembly begins

Steelwork assembly has started on the landmark new machine shop building of Sheffield Forgemasters, which the company says will become one of the world’s most advanced, large-scale machining facilities. McLaughlin & Harvey kicked off the New Year by putting up the first steel frames for the new facility on Weedon Street, which will span 30,000 m², with a height of 32 m. The building’s steel framework is due for completion in June, with gantry cranes for the facility fitted by October, and the roof and cladding to follow later in the year. In total, the plant will house 24 new machines.

More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Free Download of Software-Defined Automation

Flexxbotics, an autonomous manufacturing platform specialist, has released its software-defined automation as a free download, providing direct access to industrial-grade automation technology for advanced manufacturing operations worldwide. The download delivers a powerful and extensible production-ready run-time environment, low-code HMI, developer’s studio, and complete API for smart factory interoperability and orchestration.

Flexxbotics’ free download is not a trial or evaluation version. It includes the SDA run-time, Studio and API with no time limits, capacity restrictions or disabled capabilities.

More information https://flexxbotics.com/download/

Manufacturing Initiative to Support Fusion Energy

A new UK research initiative will explore new methods to manufacture materials for extreme environments, starting with those used in fusion machines. The project, called DIADEM (Design of Interfaces for Additively Engineered Metamaterials), is led by researchers at the Centre for Additive Manufacturing at the University of Nottingham in partnership with the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

The initiative is funded by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s Adventurous Manufacturing programme, and supported by partners that include Rolls-Royce, the MTC and Aerosint. DIADEM will initially focus on a key fusion technology challenge – how to process two fundamentally different materials – tungsten and copper – simultaneously, to manufacture parts for use in future fusion power plants.

More information www.bit.ly/4a2hsOs

Xtrac Kicks off 2026 with £1m Investment

As part of Xtrac’s continuous improvement philosophy, the specialist in transmission technology has confirmed a £1m investment in the three new machines at its Thatcham headquarters in the UK: a Sodick EDM machine, a DMG Mori CNC turning centre and a Behringer bandsaw. Together, this trio of arrivals will further improve Xtrac’s ability to deliver high-precision gearing solutions to the highest quality.

Xtrac also remains committed to staying at the cutting edge of gear design and manufacture by investing in the upgrade of existing equipment to take advantage in developments in technology and software. In December, the company’s Klingelnberg P40 gear inspection machine was upgraded to deploy the latest closed-loop bevel manufacture process and technology suite.

More information www.xtrac.com