Editor’s Pick

Multi-Part Clamping Transforms CNC Machining

With hundreds of zero-points across the table or pallet of a vertical or horizontal machining centre, Sinco MultiZero work holding offers modularity and precision when securing multiple components for machining. The systems are sold into the UK and Irish markets under an exclusive agency agreement with 1st Machine Tool Accessories, which also provides a consultancy service to manufacturers wishing to maximise the advantages of the Slovenian-made work-holding equipment.

Central to Sinco’s approach to increasing CNC machining efficiency and profitability are the virtually limitless work-holding arrangements made possible by its MultiZero base plate. It features an array of precisely spaced, conical, zero-point locations at 50 or 100 mm centres. The high-density grid maximises machine capacity usage by simplifying multi-part clamping all over the machine table, utilising matching centring elements on the underside of other MultiZero modules that fit accurately into the conical holes.

The additional modules include clamping pallets that attach directly to the base plate and can hold workpieces directly. Five different pallet types are available for manual or automatic clamping of parts on a machining centre, while a die-sink or wire EDM machine, measuring machine, or assembly station may be similarly equipped. Pallets can be supplied fitted with an RFID chip to allow integration into an Industry 4.0 factory environment, enabling automation, digitalisation, automatic data capture and scheduling of production.

Other accessories such as modular vices, stoppers and risers can be mounted on top of the clamping pallet in countless ways to suit different workpiece sizes and shapes.

More information www.1mta.com

Advanced Engineering opens registration

Visitor registration is now open for Advanced Engineering UK, an annual UK exhibition for engineering and manufacturing professionals. Taking place on 29-30 October 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham, Advanced Engineering is the UK’s only event that connects the entire industrial ecosystem. This year, the show features additions like the expanded Composites Pavilion, SME Village, ADS Pavilion and AM2 Forum.

The 2025 event comes at a pivotal moment for UK industry, following the Government’s announcement of a new 10-year industrial strategy. With measures that could reduce electricity bills by up to 25% for over 7000 manufacturing firms and billions earmarked for innovation, R&D and AI, the strategy signals a renewed focus on long-term industrial growth – a direction that will be reflected across the show floor at Advanced Engineering 2025.More information www.advancedengineeringuk.com

Factories to See Electric Bills Cut

More than 7000 British factories are set to see their electricity bills slashed by up to 25% from 2027, as the Government unveiled its new Industrial Strategy last week. British manufacturers currently pay some of the highest electricity prices in the developed world, but the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will cut electricity costs by up to £40 per MW hour for electricity-intensive businesses in sectors like automotive and aerospace.

These firms will be exempt from paying levies such as the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market. The Government is also increasing support for the most energy-intensive firms – like steel plants – by covering more of the electricity network charges they normally have to pay through the British Industry Supercharger. Such businesses currently get a 60% discount, but from 2026, it will increase to 90%.

More information www.gov.uk

XYZ MACHINE TOOLS AND CERATIZIT WORK IN UNISON TO ENSURE AWINNING COMBINATION

For over 15 years, XYZ Machine Tools and Ceratizit have engaged in a partnership where
they support each other’s activities with shared values, vision and thinking. The
collaboration, which began with a chance meeting at Edinburgh Airport between Glenn
Stanton, sales manager at Ceratizit UK and Ireland, and Nigel Atherton and Mike Corbett of
XYZ Machine Tools, continues to help customers of both businesses.
Says Stanton: “Chatting with the guys from XYZ at the airport, we spotted a synergy
between the companies in several areas, one of which was the typical customers that
purchased from both businesses. Another common theme was the focus and drive we had
to help customers become more efficient at a great price point. Over the past 15 years it has
proved to be the perfect partnership.”
A machine tool is never going to perform without cutting tools or work holding and, during
its formative years, XYZ had never really aligned with a dedicated tooling supplier. At the
start of the relationship, Ceratizit, which was branded as WNT at that point, provided XYZ
with tooling that allowed the company to demonstrate its machines to their full capability
and show production gains to customers at the XYZ showrooms around the country.
“High-feed milling and the development of variable helix/variable pitch solid-carbide milling
cutters were really starting to make an impression in machine shops around the country
when the partnership began,” explains Corbett. “It was ideal that XYZ had access to this
latest generation of tools. We were able to show customers how to reduce cycle times and
improve machine efficiency with the technical back-up of a company that was at the leading
edge of cutting tool performance.”
The partnership took a giant leap forward following the opening of the Ceratizit Sheffield
Technical Centre. With Ceratizit’s business model evolving, space that was once used for
holding tooling stock in the Sheffield Airport Business Park facility, became available for XYZ
to install a range of its machines. This in turn created a demonstration/training facility in the
north of England.
A by-product of having these machines in Sheffield was it allowed the showroom to become
the training hub for Ceratizit technical and sales staff – not only the UK but also from other
countries around Europe. It allowed customer-facing employees to see how they could get
the best from their products.
Ceratizit has subsequently moved its Technical Centre to a dedicated building on the AMRC
complex just down the road from the company’s main offices. However, the facility still

houses XYZ machines, including ProtoTRAK-controlled mills and lathes, an 800 HD vertical
machining centre, and a UMC5X simultaneous five-axis machining centre. The tooling
specialist continues to use the XYZ machines to deliver technical training to both staff and
customers, while another application is the manufacturing of bespoke work holding and
fixtures marketed under the ‘Made In Sheffield’ brand.
Both businesses are seeing a change in the landscape of machine shops around the country,
where gaining access to tooling as quickly as possible is becoming increasingly important.
XYZ is also witnessing this trend, and one of the advantages of its association with Ceratizit
is continuous access to the latest TOM 80 vending machine.
“As customers adapt to the changes that Brexit has brought, many are now taking
advantage of having a vending machine installed on their shop floors if they meet certain
criteria we set,” explains Stanton.
To highlight the benefits the vending machine brings to the XYZ showroom near Tiverton,
Devon, Corbett adds: “Both our production team and applications department use this
machine to dispense Ceratizit tooling. We have full traceability of who vends the tools and
re-stocking takes place without any intervention from XYZ. This facility ensures tooling is
always available to our staff without needing to call upon Ceratizit’s next-day delivery
service, adding to our efficiency.”
When asked about the future of the partnership, Stanton says: ”As we develop new tools,
grades of carbide, and add to our existing five-axis vices and zero-point work-holding
systems, XYZ will always be involved in the development of these products. It allows
customers to see first-hand in any of the XYZ showrooms around the country the latest
technologies we offer.
Corbett closes by adding: “Both Ceratizit and XYZ feel that everybody is a winner with this
arrangement. XYZ get tooling and work holding provided to show the power and robustness
of the products. Ceratizit wins because they can show their cutting tools and work holding in
action to prove the performance gains available from investing in their equipment.
However, as far as both companies are concerned, the main winner has to be the customer,
who can produce parts as efficiently as possible and reduce the cost per part by tapping into
this long-established partnership.
More information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Transforming Wind Turbine Repairs

A research collaboration between Renewable Parts Ltd (RPL), SSE Renewables and the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) has demonstrated the potential to remanufacture critical onshore wind turbine components – restoring worn or damaged parts to their original specification or better. The outcomes could drastically cut waste, reduce carbon emissions and extend part life.

Using additive manufacturing, analysis and inspection techniques, the team successfully restored damaged pinion shafts from a wind turbine yaw gearbox, a key component that keeps turbines facing into the wind to maximise energy capture. Early trials showed that remanufactured parts could perform to original specifications following machining and NDT, saving up to 84 kg of CO2e per remanufactured component.

More information www.nmis.scot