As part of its ongoing growth strategy, machine tool supplier Dugard has employed two new area sales managers to support customers along the M4 corridor, London, the southeast and Norfolk. Mark Tipper (pictured) has joined Dugard as the new area sales manager for north London, Hertfordshire, Oxford and Norfolk, while Mark Drummond will support customers in south London, Berkshire, Kent and Sussex.

Managing director Eric Dugard says: “Employing area sales managers with the wealth of experience that both Mark Tipper and Mark Drummond have, will be a huge asset for our business. The Dugard brand is well-positioned in the south of the UK, where the presence of two highly experienced sales engineers will certainly help to drive sales and growth even further.”

For further information www.dugard.com

Halter CNC Automation, a manufacturer of robotic machine tending systems headquartered in Hoevelaken, Netherlands, has appointed 1st Machine Tool Accessories as its sales agent for England, Wales and Scotland. Until now, the couple of dozen Halter installations currently operating in these markets were supplied either directly from mainland Europe or via various CNC machine tool dealers in the UK.

Halter’s business development manager Rik Peer says: “1st MTA is the first formal sales agent we have appointed in Britain and we expect a majority if not all future sales to be through them. We were keen to find an independent agent that had in-depth knowledge of the industry. We believe we’ve found that company in 1st MTA, which has long experience of supplying bar feed automation for lathes and a wide variety of work-holding equipment and other accessories for both turning and milling.”

For further information www.1mta.com

Steel stockholder Weser Stahl, based in Stuhr-Brinkum, Germany, has automated its operation to meet increasing competition from international suppliers. The key element of its in-house logistics is a recently installed storage, sawing and robotic handling system supplied by Kasto. Weser Stahl’s new system provides unattended material flow through the facility, from storage of the raw stock to provision of the sawn sections for shipment. The system has proved so successful that plans are in place to install another at Weser Stahl’s site in Plettenberg.

Weser Stahl relies on modern machinery and equipment, and has a number of bandsaws and circular saws supplied by kasto over many years.

The new KASTOcenter varioplus 4 measures almost 8 m in height, providing 1398 storage spaces for material up to 7 m in length. Each compartment has a usable loading height of 50 to 430 mm and can take a maximum material weight of 4 tonnes. A storage and retrieval machine (SRM) moving at speeds of up to 60 m/min handles the bar. Two KASTOvariospeed circular saws (150 mm diameter capacity) and one KASTOtec FC 4 bandsaw (430 mm capacity) are connected to the storage facility.

Weser Stahl relies on automation for material removal. The KASTOtec saw is equipped with a turning and stacking system, while the two KASTOvariospeed saws each have an industrial robot that automatically removes sawn sections and stacks them on to pallets, as required for each order.

“In this way, we have created a continuous material flow that can function fully unattended if necessary – and around the clock,” says sales manager Stieven Harder. “The result is an enormous increase in efficiency and performance, as well as more ergonomic working conditions for our employees.”

For further information
www.kasto.com

World Machinery, the UK representative for Bodor laser cutting machines, is reporting exceptional sales of the Bodor i7 fibre laser. During September and October, the company delivered and installed six Bodor i7 machines, a highly affordable model that offers large capacity (3000 x 1500 mm sheet, up to 20 mm thick mild steel) within a compact footprint (6000 x 2300 mm).

The six latest recipients of the machine are: Advent Ductwork Systems (Addlestone), BT Lerson (Stansted), D&A Engineering (Hemel Hempstead), J&M Engineering (Melton Mowbray), Profab (Coventry) and Langley Projects (Manchester). All machines feature an automatic focus cutting head, edge sheet detection and 21.5” touchscreen fitted with Bodor Pro 2.5 software that World Machinery says makes operation very easy, even to new users.

“Each installation is completed by our team of engineers, which is followed by operator training,” explains World Machinery’s managing director Wayne Hipkiss. “All Bodor lasers are supplied with a 3-year manufacturer warranty that is comprehensively supported by our in-house engineers and Bodor UK resident engineers. Unlimited spares and consumables are offered ex-stock to ensure 24/7 production for all Bodor users.”

The company is also reporting big demand for high-power Bodor fibre lasers (12 kW and beyond). Willenhall-based Fastline Steel Services, for example, has taken delivery of its second Bodor laser – a P4020-12 (4000 x 2000 mm, 12 kW) – to increase its capacity in the production of steel fencing.

Another P4020-12 is due for installation this month at SM Thompson in Middlesbrough, where it will replace a fibre laser by another manufacturer. Furthermore, a P3015-12 (3000 x 1500 mm, 12 kW) is going to Cube Metals Ltd in Uxbridge. This machine, which replaces a plasma cutter, will feature an iTrans automatic loading and unloading system.

For further information
www.worldmc.co.uk

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics will make a welcome return to Farnborough on 8-10 February 2022. The show’s organisers report a healthy uptake in stand bookings from firms eager to recommence face-to-face business. Many of the show’s regular participants have already confirmed for 2022, bringing with them a wide range of products and services, extending from machine tools and automation, through electronic components and production equipment, to additive manufacturing and subcontract services.

Nearly 9000 visitors attended the pre-pandemic event, making it one of the biggest annual engineering shows in the UK. Together with the exhibition and demonstration areas, the free seminar programme will also return for 2022 in a socially-distanced format. Subjects discussed include energy reduction, new technology, innovation, supply chains and business strategy, and an overview of current industrial law and post-Brexit regulations.

For further information www.industrysouth.co.uk