Editor’s Pick

MACH 2026 space filling up fast

The ballots for MACH 2026 have concluded and the floor plan is filling up rapidly. With strong on-site sales, MACH 2026 is already well over 50% occupied. The organiser is now encouraging further potential exhibitors to book early to secure a prime location on the floorplan and spread the cost over several months with flexible payment options.

At the last show in 2024, exhibitors reported a £200m in sales directly attributable to the event. With over 26,000 attendees at MACH 2024, exhibitors tapped into an audience eager to discover the latest advancements. In fact, 93% of exhibitors generated significant leads, highlighting the potential for 2026 participants to forge lasting connections and increase their reach.

More information www.machexhibition.com

ENORMOUS ACCURL PRESS BRAKE BUILDS ON SUCCESS AT AYRSHIRE METALS

Ayrshire Metals Ltd, a leading manufacturer of cold-rolled sections for the construction
industry, has invested in a 14 m long, 640 ton ACCURL 6+1 axis tandem press brake from
Axe & Status. Featuring a wide range of advanced features, the new ACCURL press brake is
raising productivity, quality and traceability to new levels at this progressive and ambitious
manufacturing business.
The Ayrshire Group can trace its origins back to the 1800s, when it was largely a
manufacturer of ships on the west coast of Scotland. The company has come a long way
since then and is now a leading manufacturer of cold-rolled sections at its 6.5-acre owner-
occupied site in Daventry, Northamptonshire. The ISO9001 and CE/CA accredited company,
which also has a subsidiary sales and technical office in Munich, Germany, manufactures
most of its product range from S450 zinc-coated galvanised steel.
Five main product groups comprise the vast majority of manufacturing output. While
traditional business at Ayrshire Metals is purlins/rails, the company also manufactures
mezzanine floors, load-bearing steel framing systems and proprietary products like its
AyrFrame™ lightweight, high-strength modular system and SwagBeam™ portal frame
building system.
Until recently, Ayrshire Metals relied on a press brake that had been running since 1996.
With machine reliability levels falling, the company decided it was time to invest in a new
resource. Indeed, the new press brake is part of a five-year planned investment programme
at Ayrshire Metals.
“Rather than replace like-for-like, we wanted a slightly bigger press brake to provide more
capacity in both length and thickness,” explains managing director Scott Reilly. “We looked
at three potential suppliers, but the responsiveness of Axe & Status caught our attention.
Not only was their communication very clear from the outset, but Axe & Status also grasped
the urgency of our situation as it wasn’t economic to keep repairing our existing press brake.
Another major influence on our purchase decision was the value for money offered by the
ACCURL press brake against competitor machines.”
The ACCURL tandem CNC press brake from Axe & Status arrived in June 2024, with machine
operatives at Ayrshire Metals immediately commencing a programme of training.
“As you can image, the new ACCURL is very different to our existing 28-year-old press
brake,” says Reilly. “It’s akin to moving from a DOS operating system to Windows, such is
the contrast. We can now use the DELEM DA66T 2D graphical/3D visualisation touchscreen

control to draw the required profile at the press brake without having to create a program
manually. The difference is night and day.”
The ACCURL has also increased production capability at Ayrshire Metals. The company is
today able to bend lengths up to 14 m, compared with 12.6 m previously. In addition,
whereas its existing press brake is on the limit when bending metal at 3 mm thick, Ayrshire
Metals can now form sheet up to 4mm thick across material up to 14 m long. For shorter
lengths it is possible to bend much thicker material.
“We’re hoping this extra capability will allow us to access new markets. At the moment, we
focus solely on construction products for buildings, but starting from 2025 we want to
explore sectors outside of our traditional comfort zone.”
All products at Ayrshire Metals are made to order. The company holds no stock and there is
no minimum order.
Says Reilly: “While we make our high-running products on a rolling mill, the ACCURL gives us
the flexibility to manufacture bespoke items. Compared with our existing press brake, we
now enjoy more productivity and far greater reliability. Moreover, our uptime is 100%
compared with around 70% previously. Speed of response is vital in the construction sector
and we’ve seen a big boost in machine availability and OEE (overall equipment
effectiveness).”
Ayrshire Metals runs two shifts (day and night). Depending on workload, the company has
the option to run its ACCURL press brake around the clock if necessary.
“The construction market is very price-sensitive, both here in the UK and in mainland
Europe, where we export around 50% of production. There’s very little loyalty. So any
advantage in productivity and/or efficiency will help us remain competitive and potentially
improve our margin, which is vital for the future of the business.”
The 14 m, 640 ton ACCURL servo-hydraulic tandem press brake at Ayrshire Metals features a
throat depth of 750 mm and Y1, Y2, X, R, Z1 and Z2 axes. The company can switch quickly
between tandem or single-mode operation at any time, and transfer bending programs
between the two presses. Among many notable features is high dynamic Y-axis control for
over 30% higher productivity. Further features include LAZERSAFE light guard systems, Wila
crowning, quick-release clamping, a LAZERSAFE LZS-XL system with tandem adaptor system,
CE and CSA-certified LAZERSAFE-embedded IRIS block laser, and AP01-AP02 sheet followers.
Ayrshire Metals also has two licenses of ACCURL’s DELEM TL offline software, one at each of
its technical offices in the UK and Germany. The company can seamlessly send fully
simulated and tested data files between facilities. It is now implementing full networking in
support of direct file transfer to the press brake.
“Skills remain a big issue,” states Reilly. “A major advantage with our ACCURL press brake is
the ease of training operators. If you can draw a profile, you can program the machine. It
was a big selling point.”

Generating annual turnover in the region of £20m with 60 employees in the UK and a
further 20 in Germany, Ayrshire Metals wants to build on its success with further growth.
And the best way to meet this ambition is through investment.
“We’ve been around for many years and it’s easy to carry on as normal,” says Reilly.
“However, you sometimes need to take a step back and see what new manufacturing
technologies are available. It’s about improving our capabilities and efficiencies to provide
customers with the best value possible. With our ACCURL press brake we are more
productive, more accurate and have much better traceability. All of these factors benefit
our customers.”
With features such as the ACCURL Hybrid Servo ECO function and IE3 class high-efficiency
motor, the environment will also benefit.
“It’s too early to say, but we’re expecting a sizeable percentage reduction in energy
consumption. We’ve started our journey to net zero, so any carbon footprint reductions are
very welcome.”
ACCURL tandem press brakes from Axe & Status are available up to 6000 tons capacity and
24 m in length, with support from comprehensive warranty and service packages. A three-
year arrangement is in place with Ayrshire Metals, for example.
More information www.axestatus.com

1st MTA offers Breuning IRCO automation

Under an exclusive partnership agreement, 1st Machine Tool Accessories (1st MTA) is introducing the UK and Irish markets to the extensive range of bar feeders, load/unload systems and custom solutions manufactured by German automation specialist Breuning IRCO. The equipment is suitable for automating CNC sliding-head and fixed-head turning centres, including multi-tasking lathes, as well as mill-turn machining centres, rotary transfer machines and special purpose machine tools.

The strategic collaboration introduces a new era of standard and tailor-made automation solutions for CNC machine tools, including short and long bar feeders, workpiece handling systems and hybrid automation arrangements, helping manufacturers to enhance productivity, efficiency and profitability. As a result of the new partnership, 1st MTA is able to provide users with local expertise and consultation, as well as installation services and ongoing after-sales support.

Modular product design allows for fully bespoke solutions that fit individual customer requirements. Notable is the advanced vibration damping built into the barfeeds, which improves the reliability of feed and positioning, as well as machining stability. This factor is especially important when turning long or heavy bars, or indeed any bar at high speed.

The accurate alignment of stock with the machine tool and precise synchronisation of barfeed and machine ensures smooth operation, efficient production and process control. Stock feeding is consistent, resulting in high-quality components, few machining errors, and minimal scrap and material wastage. Added benefits include longer-lasting tools that save cost, and the absence of vibration to extend the machine’s operational life.

The barfeeds can handle a wide range of material sizes from 3 to 104 mm in diameter, and up to 6 m in length (optionally 10 m). More information www.1mta.com

Quaser fits the bill at Beechwood Engineering

As a family-run business that started trading from a small unit near Blackpool town centre, Beechwood Engineering has evolved into a major local manufacturer with a capital investment of more than £1m in the past 12 months. Part of this acquisition trail has seen the company invest in a Quaser MV184EH machining centre from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG).

Managing director Stewart Churchill says: “We produce everything from one-offs to batch runs in the thousands, machining materials from plastics to exotic alloys. While the majority of our machining is complex five-axis work, we produce many jigs, fixtures and parts that do not warrant motion in five axes. For this, we wanted a new three-axis machining centre with a Heidenhain control to replace an older machine as part of our continuous improvement programme.”

Beechwood Engineering has bought several machines from ETG down the years, including a Quaser MV204CPL machining centre back in 2012.

“While that machine has since been moved on, we were very impressed with its performance, rigidity, stability and reliability,” says Churchill. “So, when it came to buying a new three-axis VMC, we didn’t look any further than ETG.”

The 23-employee ISO9001-certified manufacturer still has other machines from ETG on its shop floor, such as a Nakamura-Tome NTRX-300 multi-axis turning centre, so it is fully aware of the quality and service available. Both were factors in the company’s latest acquisition.

“The key drivers in installing our Quaser MV184EH were an updated and more productive platform for programming, setting up jobs and holding tight tolerances. Since the machine was installed, it’s been running day and night, machining parts such as complex jigs and fixtures. It also produces valves, plates and other parts for the oil and gas industry.”

More information www.engtechgroup.com

EUROBLECH 2024: PIONEERING THE TRANSITION TO GREATER PRODUCTIVITY

From 22 to 25 October, the international sheet metal working industry will gather at EuroBLECH 2024 in Hanover, Germany. Under the theme, ‘The Power of Productivity’, some 1300 exhibitors from 40 countries will showcase the world’s largest selection of sheet metalworking technology under one roof, all designed to boost performance and efficiency.

Spanning over 160,000 m² of space, the event will feature a wealth of live demonstrations and product premieres. The exhibition will also host a packed event programme, guided visitor tours, the EuroBLECH Awards and a dedicated ‘Careers Day’ to promote young talent.

EuroBLECH covers the entire supply chain in 15 technology sectors. The event attracts high-profile visitors with decision-making power, all seeking innovative manufacturing solutions and machines. Technologies on display comprise stamping, punching, pressing, forming, cutting, joining, welding, fastening, handling, finishing, quality control, CAD/CAM/CIM software, tools, warehouse and factory equipment, material recycling systems, and many more.

This week’s 2024 edition will once again offer a unique visitor experience at the core of the industry, kicking off four days of intense product sourcing, networking and learning. A strong line-up of suppliers from around the globe will fill nine exhibition halls with thousands of exhibits and live machinery.

“We are currently witnessing rapid developments in automation, robotics, AI and IoT devices,” explains Evelyn Warwick, event director of EuroBLECH, on behalf of RX. “Digitalisation, connectivity and big data are playing a crucial role here, allowing more efficiency, precision and real-time adjustments within the production process. This year’s EuroBLECH will be the place to look for guidance on how to use these game-changers in a meaningful way within your own production. Making informed choices is the key to unlocking the true power of productivity in terms of output, performance, costs and sustainability.”

Among the exhibitors will be Yamazaki Mazak, which will announce the European debut of its OptiPlex 3015 Ez laser processing machine. According to the company, this cutting-edge technology offers high-quality laser processing capabilities at a cost-effective price point. The 6 kW machine on display at EuroBLECH will be exhibited as part of a fully integrated manufacturing cell, which takes the workpiece from raw material through to the finished parts.

Another exhibitor with a focus on laser cutting will be LVD, which will also unveil a new machine offering low investment and operating costs. The new laser is available in three configurations to meet price/performance needs and thus deliver the lowest cost per part manufacturing. It can be equipped with a MOVit Load-Assist automation system.

Elsewhere at the show, BLM Group will present its LS7 sheet metal laser cutting system with a 20 kW power source and automatic warehouse in a compact tower version for 24/7 continuous production. According to BLM, the LS7 is a compact, high-performance laser machine with a fast pallet change of only 9 seconds.

As the sector’s flagship event, EuroBLECH successfully fosters a culture of innovation, pushing progress within the industry. This year’s event will host many young companies and new participants alongside well-known global players, giving visitors exclusive access to an ever broader array of fresh ideas and technologies.

One out of five companies in the halls will be a new exhibitor, while a dedicated ‘Young Innovators’ Pavilion in hall 15 will feature promising start-ups from Germany. Besides Germany, major exhibitor countries for 2024 are Italy, Türkiye, China, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, India, Finland, France and the USA. Around 64% of all exhibitors are based outside Germany.

A total of 76 companies are shortlisted for a EuroBLECH 2024 Award, industry prizes that recognise outstanding achievements in technical excellence and innovation. Six winners will be honoured at the official awards ceremony on the first day of the exhibition, at 17:00 in the presentation area of hall 27. The ‘Award Trails’ are a new highlight this year, featuring all nominated companies. Six trails filled with cutting-edge innovation are waiting to be explored, one for each of the award categories: Stamping and Forming Technology, Cutting Technology, Joining Technology, Surface Technology, Automation and Handling, and Sustainability.

For visitors wishing to explore further the transformative power of innovation, EuroBLECH offers carefully curated guided visitor tours focusing on productivity solutions by companies such as Amada, Libellula, OTC Daihen Europe, Panasonic Connect Europe, Rico-Thomas Castro Silva, SEYI Presses Europe, Voortman Steel Machinery and Wila. Each stop includes a short presentation and Q&A session with an exhibitor representative. Tours can be booked online.

The popular speaker forum will make a return, featuring expert talks and presentations on key topics such as automation, robotics, cobots, IoT and the industrial metaverse. Sessions run alongside the exhibition in the presentation areas in halls 26 and 27. A special panel discussion will address ‘Automation as a solution to mitigate skilled labour shortage’ on Wednesday 23 October at 15:00 in hall 26.

And Friday 25 October is ‘Careers Day’, promoting young talent in the industry. Students and apprentices are invited to visit the exhibition free of charge to help them engage with potential future employers and groundbreaking technologies on the market.

The official event website provides extensive information on the exhibition profile and show visit, including a full exhibitor list with company and product descriptions, and a comprehensive online show preview with search and filter functions to help attendees find the companies and products most relevant to them. With a simple click, users can create a list of favourite suppliers which they can export for easy access on multiple devices. Visitors can also subscribe to the EuroBLECH e-news to keep informed ahead of the show.

Daily opening times are 09:00 to 18:00. Tickets are €39 for a day ticket and €70 for a season ticket (valid on all four show days). Additional ticket options include guided visitor tours at €25. The ticket shop and registration are available online.

More information www.euroblech.com