Westley Group, one of Europe’s largest privately-owned foundry and engineering groups, is set to further invest in new CNC machinery following an eight-figure funding package from HSBC UK. The funding will support the group’s UK business plans to add further value to its foundry activities through machining more of the castings it produces for its worldwide customer base.
Notably, the financing will also allow Westley Group to grow further into existing and emerging markets for its complex products; most of which are safety-critical in application. As a result, the company will create a number of new jobs in skilled machining operations across its four manufacturing sites. Westley Group was recognised as one of the UK’s top 200 private companies with fastest-growing international sales in the 2021 Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200.

For further information www.bit.ly/3I8l0h2

MACH 2022, the UK’s largest machine tool exhibition, will take place on 4-8 April at the Birmingham NEC. Alongside a plethora of machine tools and associated technologies, the show will focus on a number of key industry areas and feature a dedicated Education & Development Zone. Sponsored by Sandvik Coromant, the E&D Zone will feature special displays from Airbus Defence & Space, the University of Wolverhampton Formula 3 Race Team, Vex Robotics, the Bowers Group Mobile Metrology Centre, F1 in Schools, and the Engineering Development Trust (EDT).

Airbus Defence & Space, for instance, will be displaying its ExoMars Rover ground demonstration model, ‘Bruno’. Bruno is the Earth-based testing model of its counterpart, the ‘Rosalind Franklin’ Rover, which will search for life on Mars. The ExoMars will be demonstrating how it can navigate the surface of Mars, while representatives from Airbus will show how they communicate remotely with the rover. The team will also answer questions from young people keen to learn more about engineering in the air and space sectors.

For further information www.machexhibition.com

The latest addition to XYZ Machine Tools’ nationwide chain of showrooms and technical centres was greeted with enthusiasm when the doors of its new facility in Scotland were officially opened on 23 February. Located in Livingston, the new showroom attracted customers from far and wide, with numbers exceeding the most optimistic forecast. With almost 50 visitors from 18 companies coming through the doors before lunchtime the signs were excellent and, after lunch, the positivity continued with another seven businesses sending representatives to see the wide range of XYZ machines on display.

“The most positive thing about the day was that these visitors weren’t just looking, they were here with serious intentions to buy,” said managing director Nigel Atherton. “We took three confirmed orders, with another six due to be confirmed in the coming days when finance has been approved. We are also confident that more will follow.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has introduced a high-speed vertical machining centre. The SVM 4100 helps manufacturers reduce part processing times, especially when machining aluminium alloys and for the light-duty machining of steel components.

With fast acceleration/deceleration rates (0.72/0.6/0.6 G in the machine’s X, Y and Z axes), tool-to-tool change times (1.3 seconds) and 36 m/min rapids on all three axes, the SVM 4100 can reduce non-cutting times and, as a result, component cycle times. Further exemplifying the machine’s speed and power is its 18.5 kW/12,000 rpm/95.5 Nm directly-connected BT40 spindle, which also features the Big Plus face and taper dual contact system, and an integrated thermal displacement correction system to maintain high accuracies even during long machining runs.

The SVM 4100 is equipped with a 920 x 410 mm work table (600 kg maximum load) that Mills CNC says is the largest machining envelope in its class. Also featured is a 30-tool position ATC, a grease lubrication system that eliminates the need for oil skimmers and reduces lubrication costs by up to 60%, a Doosan Fanuc i Plus control with 15” touchscreen, and Doosan’s conversational and menu-driven Easy Operation Package (EOP) for improved process reliability and functionality.

Doosan’s SVM 4100 is available with a range of options that include: an ATC Shutter that provides greater protection from chip ingress into the ATC area than the standard barrier brush system; TSC (Through-Spindle-Coolant) from 20 to 70 bar; tool and workpiece measurement systems; and different hinged or scraper-type chip conveyor systems.

The new SVM 4100 will make its UK debut at MACH 2022 (4 -8 April, Birmingham NEC) on the stand of Mills CNC (hall 19, stand 100).

For further information
www.millscnc.co.uk

Leading aerospace companies including Airbus and Safran Landing Systems are working with a consortium led by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) on a new project aiming to offer a major sustainability boost, as well as cost and lead time savings, through a combination of forging, forming and additive manufacturing. The ‘Hybrid Direct Energy Deposition (DED) Sprint’ project partners include NMIS Digital Factory, Cranfield University and the Northern Ireland Technology Centre, along with an industry steering group of 13 companies.

The group is working to devise a new hybrid DED process that will help overcome current challenges that manufacturers face regarding the expensive and time-consuming process of manufacturing critical components required to operate under harsh environments. Although currently focused on the aerospace sector, the method will be applicable to a wide variety of industries including oil and gas, defence, space and automotive.

For further information www.nmis.scot