Robotic machine tool tending cells manufactured by Halter CNC Automation, which are sold in the UK by 1st Machine Tool Accessories, are now available with the integration of a co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM) from Mitutoyo. It follows the automation company’s philosophy of extending its robot cells with additional functionalities.

Mitutoyo CMMs are well suited to incorporation into Halter cells, although it is possible to supply almost any make of measuring machine to suit a customer’s preference. Alternatively, 1st MTA can network an existing CMM on the shop floor. All installations are configurable for 100% or sample inspection.

On the Halter stand at the recent AMB 2022 machine tool show in Stuttgart, a Halter Universal Premium 25 LoadAssistant was seen automatically loading billets into a CNC lathe and unloading turned components. Using the same FANUC M-20iD robot with double gripper, the parts were transported to a Mitutoyo MiStar 555 CMM for inspection. Measurement data was continuously fed back to the lathe control so that offsets could be applied if component dimensions started to drift out of tolerance.

Catherine Kelly, general manager at 1st MTA, says: “Halter’s compact robot cells can tend any make of lathe or machining centre, regardless of age or type of control. They are ideal for subcontractors producing a mix of small to medium-size batches, as a system can be changed over in less than five minutes. Most users worldwide, including a couple of dozen in the UK, report ROI of between five and 18 months. With the addition of integrated metrology, payback should be even quicker and we’re very pleased to be able to offer the new CMM option.”
For further information www.1mta.com

US-based saw blade manufacturer, Simonds Saw, has launched a new range of bi-metal bandsaw blades that is available in the UK from Addison Saws. This newly-configured range of bi-metal blades raises performance in all metal-cutting market segments, and is a notable overhaul to the company’s bi-metal product offering.

Multiple rounds of testing, prototyping and optimisation with professionals in the field led Simonds Saw to develop four new bandsaw blades. According to the company, this new range excels at general-purpose cutting, production cutting, cutting of structural steel, and the cutting of tough exotic alloys.

“We fully expect our new product line of bi-metal bandsaw blades to have a global impact on the metal-cutting industry,” says Simonds Saw’s president David Miles. “We’re excited for loyal bandsaw users all over the world to put these new products to good use. Whether they’re cutting structural steel in Gary, Indiana or sawing titanium in Shanghai, China, we now have the optimal blade to maximise uptime and materials, in any application.”

This highly-specialised range of bi-metal bandsaw blades has been developed to meet the demands of any metal-cutting application. According to Simonds Saw, the range boasts increased benefits for the next generation of bandsaw blade operators worldwide.

Addison Saws is the UK’s exclusive Simonds retailer, with the full range available directly or from the company’s network of nationwide dealers. All bandsaw blades are hand-welded on site and to order, with many available for next day delivery or collection from Addison Saws’ Stourbridge site.
For further information www.addisonsaws.co.uk

With the opening of its purpose-built showroom in Zabrze, Poland, XYZ Machine Tools is embarking on a programme of expansion. Visitors to the new showroom will get to see the potential of the ProtoTRAK control system, with eight machines on display from the ProtoTRAK range of bed mills and lathes, as well as the 2-OP portable VMC and TMC machining centre series.

In support of the new showroom, XYZ has appointed two sales managers: Piotr Madeja and Jan Wyremba. Madeja has a wealth of experience in cutting tool sales and applications, while Wyremba’s experience is in machine tool sales, working for leading manufacturers. Madeja and Wyremba started their employment on 1 October and have spent a month at XYZ Machine Tools headquarters and factory in Devon, UK, undergoing intensive product training.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Today, as industrialists are increasingly willing to leave the memory of Covid-19 behind, it is undeniable that the pandemic has forever changed many aspects of commercial life. More communication and business took place online as face-to-face meetings were not possible during Covid-related restrictions. This also affected exhibitions such as Metalex, the ASEAN region’s leading machine tool and metalworking exhibition.

“The last full-scale Metalex event was held in 2020, with Covid-19 preventing us from organising the show in 2021,” says Sirirat Sungvichai, exhibition management director of RX Tradex (formerly Reed Tradex). “However, when the government allowed large-scale events again, we created a special edition of the event called ‘Metalex March’ in March 2022, which was a huge success. It showed that everyone in the metalworking community wanted to meet their colleagues and experience new machinery and technologies with their own eyes.

“One factor that helps businesses grow and become successful is networking, whether it’s a network of customers, suppliers or business partners,” she continues. “Therefore, when the pandemic started to improve, we started aiming for Metalex (to be held on 16-19 November 2022 at BITEC, Bangkok) to make a grand comeback. We want to make this event a meeting place for everyone in the metalworking industry to come expand their networks in the ASEAN region.”

Sungvichai goes on to say that it will be an event where everyone gets to improve production efficiency together, add value to their products, and generate business opportunities that will foster growth. Over 85,000 participants from all over the region will get to experience over 2500 brands of metalworking technologies, and meet with representatives at international pavilions from Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and the Republic of China (Taiwan). What is even more exciting is that some technologies will appear for the first time in the ASEAN region at Metalex.

In addition to the machinery and technology exhibition, Metalex will host concurrent seminars on a variety of up-and-coming topics such as AI, smart materials and many more. Interested participants can pre-register online.
For further information www.metalex.co.th