Digital manufacturer Protolabs has won a Queen’s Award for International Trade – the third time the company has been honoured by Her Majesty.

Protolabs was one of just 201 companies across the country to be recognised by the Queen to celebrate her 93rd birthday. As a digital manufacturer, Protolabs uses 3D printing, CNC machining and injection moulding technologies to produce custom-designed parts and prototypes in a matter of days.
Bjoern Klaas, vice president and managing director of Protolabs Europe, says the award is a huge honour for the company, which has its European head office in Telford, and has seen overseas sales grow from £13m in 2015 to £27.7m in 2017. “It is a great privilege for us to be recognised by Her Majesty for our excellence in international trade and a real testament to the magnificent work of every one of our team at Protolabs.”
For further information www.protolabs.co.uk

Soraluce has opened a new factory dedicated to the assembly of portal-type machining centres.

The factory, a short walk from the company’s existing plants in Spain’s Bergara region, has cost €9m and accommodates an assembly shop floor of 4900 sq m served by overhead cranes with capacities rated at up to 80 tonnes. These cranes are fed by the constituent machine parts manufactured by a range of suppliers and, crucially, by Soraluce factories that produce all critical machine components – including beds, bed ways and machining heads. The UK agent for Soraluce machines is Ward CNC.
For further information www.wardcnc.com

Bystronic UK welcomed a record number of visitors (158) to its open house in Coventry last month. The theme of the event was ‘The Smart Factory, a Vision for your Future’.

Visitors learnt how greater efficiency of production in sheet-metal laser cutting and bending can be delivered through the adoption of integrated automation and new software solutions. In this way, manufacturers can achieve a high degree of flexibility and transparency for making more cost-effective products in less time.
Andrew Richert, Bystronic UK’s sales manager, says: “Due to the open house, we received two orders immediately afterwards, one for a press brake and the other for a fibre laser cutting machine with automation. We also progressed many other projects for stand-alone lasers and press brakes, as well as an automation solution. In addition, we received nine brand new enquiries.”
For further information www.bystronic.co.uk

Subcon, the subcontract manufacturing supply chain show, has revealed the first wave of speakers as part of its co-located conference programme for 2019. On 4-6 June, Subcon will feature content from industry pioneers such as Siemens and Rolls-Royce, as well as thought leadership from organisations including MakeUK, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and WMG (formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group). A full list of speakers can be found on the Subcon website.

The conference programme will deliver insight on industry issues, with presentations from leaders responsible for some of the UK’s most inspiring and ground-breaking engineering and manufacturing projects. Subcon event director Gordon Kirk says: “We are determined to maintain the standard we set last year. From industry keynotes and influential thought leaders to sharp commercial insight, the 2019 conference programme will cover a lot of bases, but all aimed at realising business success.”
For further information www.subconshow.co.uk

The well documented downturn in the oil and gas market hit a number of subcontract companies hard, and while many chose to make cutbacks, Craigellachie-based Standfast Precision Engineering decided to stand firm and resist the temptation to downsize. As a result, when the work started to return, the company was fully manned with all the skills it needed to meet demand.

Prior to the market cooling-off, Standfast had looked at further machine investment, but delayed until this year, replacing its existing XYZ TC 250 turning centres with the latest TC 400 models.
“Working with materials such as Super Duplex and Inconel meant we needed a substantial machine, and while the TC 250 machines coped well, the TC 400 has improved things considerably,” says Standfast Precision Engineering director Malcolm Fraser. “The machines may look similar, but the construction of the TC 400 models is more substantial and their added rigidity means they can handle bigger cuts in these materials, while holding tolerances for longer. Our tooling consumption has also reduced.”
When Standfast Precision initially looked at turning centres from XYZ, it only ordered one TC 250. However, within three months a second machine was being installed.
“We work to some tight deadlines with extremely short lead-times, and having a second machine was important so we could have capacity available at short notice,” says Fraser. “Therefore, when it came time to upgrade to the TC 400 machines it made perfect sense to bring two in at the same time, with XYZ taking the old machines away in part-exchange. All of the XYZ machines we’ve bought have played a role in moving the company forward and enhanced our ability to continue investing.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com