The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry is to hold a free event aimed at helping business leaders make the right decisions when it comes to automating their factories.

The ‘Open Lab’ robotics and automation networking forum at the MTC on 18 September is designed for decision makers and end users who appreciate the need for robotics and automation, but are unsure of the best equipment to use, how to integrate it into their production lines, or how to measure the benefits.
End users, technology providers and suppliers are invited to the event, held under the auspices of the European-funded ROBOTT-NET project, of which the MTC is a partner. It is the fifth in a series of such events at the MTC. Anyone interested in registering for the event can do so via the web address below.
For further information www.the-mtc.org/openlab

In its 20th year of participation at the Formula Student (FS) competition, Brunel University London’s race team was supported by Renishaw.

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) expertise was contributed by Renishaw engineers to help Brunel Racing create a manifold part for the team’s BR-XX car, which was used to compete at FS-UK in Silverstone and FS-ATA in Italy, both in July.
Matthew Crouch, a mechanical engineering student and one of the managers of the Brunel Racing team, says: “Renishaw’s expertise and advice on how to design a part for the additive manufacturing process was invaluable. To design for AM, both overhangs could not be more than 55° from the vertical axis, and each part required smooth transitions of cross sectional thickness. AM proved itself to be a much more suitable manufacturing method than a traditional approach. The final part performs better in the car due to its increased strength, and we also had the benefit of reduced post processing.”
For further information www.renishaw.com

The 14th edition of UMEX, Asia’s largest expo for pre-owned machinery, is set to take place on 20-22 September at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai, India.

At last year’s event, some 468 exhibitors and 11,346 visitors (from 16 countries) attended, which set new standards in terms of footfall, as well as serious enquiries and business generation. The 2019 show is timely as India’s manufacturing sector recently recorded its strongest growth in three months, with PMI rising to 52.7.
UMEX has always been well connected to the European market through partnerships since its inception. For instance, the event is organised in co-operation with MTI, the leading magazine and website for used machinery and associated equipment. UMEX is thought to be the only event of its kind in Asia which focuses specifically on pre-owned industrial machinery, and this year will be co-located with five other exhibitions centring on different industry segments, helping to draw even more visitors to the venue.
For further information www.umexonline.com

Nissan’s Sunderland plant is celebrating another record-breaking milestone after the 10 millionth vehicle rolled of the production line.

It has taken the plant 33 years to reach the 10 million mark – making it the fastest car factory in the UK to attain the landmark figure. The milestone also means that, on average, a new Nissan has been built in Sunderland every two minutes since production started in 1986. A vivid blue Nissan Qashqai Tekna proved to be the 10 millionth vehicle.
Steve Marsh, vice president – manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland says: “Reaching this huge figure has called on all the ingenuity, commitment and spirit of our highly skilled workforce, many of whom hail from the northeast of England. Together we are determined to continue driving up the high quality standards that our customers have come to expect over the past three decades.”
For further information www.nissan.co.uk

Strutt Engineering, a family-owned business in the heart of the Peak District, specialises in the manufacture of hydraulic grabs used in the scrap handling, quarrying, waste recycling and excavation sectors.

The company recently switched away from manual machining with the introduction of an XYZ SLX 425 ProTurn CNC lathe, which has since been supplemented with the arrival of an XYZ 1000 LR CNC vertical machining centre.
“The combination of the two CNC machines has seen significant improvements in quality; we’ve been able to bring much of the work back in-house, thereby eliminating lead time and logistics issues,” explains managing director George Strutt. “One of the biggest benefits is the improvement in health and safety and housekeeping. With the machines totally enclosed, risk to operators is drastically reduced, while the environment is kept much cleaner as the swarf and coolant is fully contained. In switching from manual to CNC we’ve moved the company forward and introduced a degree of future-proofing.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com