Editor’s Pick

FANUC lands global robot deal with Volvo

FANUC has signed a contract with Volvo Cars to supply industrial robots to the automotive manufacturer’s plants across the globe, including its new battery production facilities in Europe, Asia and America.The first phase of the deal will see FANUC supply more than 700 robots to a planned new manufacturing site in Kosice, Slovakia, where Volvo Cars expects the first vehicles to roll off the production line in 2026. During the same phase, FANUC will supply robots to sites in Ghent, Belgium, and Daqing, China.

Volvo Cars plans to produce only electric vehicles from 2030 and achieve CO2 neutrality by 2040. Its new carbon-neutral Slovakian manufacturing facility will be the company’s first site to exclusively manufacture electric vehicles. Ralf Völlinger, general manager of the Robot Business Division at FANUC Europe, says: “The fact that our robots consume little energy, are extremely durable and enjoy unlimited maintenance makes us an attractive partner for companies that want to operate sustainably.”
For further information www.fanuc.eu

XYZ helps PJ Innovations make lots of dough

Market Deeping based PJ Innovations makes dough divider-rounder machines (and theirassociated spare parts) for the bakery industry. When the company formed in 2014 it subcontracted all component manufacturing requirements. However, PJ Innovations started investing in XYZ Machine Tools in 2016 to bring some of the work in-house.

The company’s first purchase was an XYZ Proturn SLX 425 lathe with ProtoTRAK control, which it uses for turning large shafts 90mm diameter and 1m long in batches up to 100.The Proturn SLX 425 is a gap-bed lathe with a capacity of 2m and swing over the bed of 480mm. The extra length gives options for longer shafts. Notably, the operator has 20-30 tools ready set, so switching between programs stored in the control unit takes just 5-10 minutes.

For frame plates and the many parts which require lots of drilling, tapping and boring, the company takes advantage of an XYZ SMX 5000 with ProtoTRAK control and 1930 x 356mm table. Programming takes place at the control and fast changeover between jobs makes this machine suitable for 1-offs and low batch sizes.

The most recent acquisition is an XYZ 1000 TMC with ProtoTRAK RMX control. Manufacturing manager James Goode says: “The tool changer speeds machining up a lot and the enclosed cutting area is better from a safety and cleanliness perspective. We also like the handwheels on all XYZ machines, which allow us to move backwards and forwards through a program to prove it out. You can easily learn to program the ProtoTRAK in one day.”

PJ Innovation’s new XYZ 1000 TMC is for component batches of up to 50-off that need drilling, boring and tapping. Additionally, tool setting is easy using the touch probe, with offsets recorded in the control by pressing the ABS set button.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Celebrate innovation at Advanced Engineering

On 1 and 2 November,the Advanced Engineering exhibitionwill return to the NEC in Birmingham where it will showcase innovation from the manufacturing and engineering industries. In response to high demand, the 2023 event will feature an expanded floor plan. The organiser Easyfairs has removed the different show zones that have been present in previous years and expanded the show’s footprint over a wider area.

Advanced Engineering exists to celebrate innovation and facilitate the forming of relationships within various vertical UK sectors. Whether that is aerospace, automotive, advanced metals, connected manufacturing or even space and satellite, attendees will meet new, useful contacts. Last year, over 8800 people attended Advanced Engineering, including representatives from Aston Martin, BAE Systems, Boeing, McLaren, Microsoft and many more.
For further information www.advancedengineeringuk.com

FANUC produces 1 millionth robot

Factory automation expert FANUC is celebrating a milestone achievement with the production of its one millionth industrial robot. The company, which supplies customers worldwide with a range of CNC systems, robots and machine tools, deployed its first robot back in 1974. Today, thousands of robots build new robots at FANUC’s headquarters in Japan, one of the most automated factories on the planet.

“Demand for our robots is currently at an all-time high,” says Marco Ghirardello, president and CEO of FANUC Europe. “Applications are expanding and we expect demand to continue growing significantly in the future. In order to support the automation needs of our customers, we will strive to improve further our quality, performance and supply capabilities.”
For further information www.fanuc.eu

Around 30,000 expected at Maktek Konya

The second edition of Maktek Konya is taking place in Turkey’s Anatolian region week (11-14 October). Staged at the Tüyap Konya International Fair Centre, Maktek will focus on manufacturing technologies that include sheet metal processing machines (bending, folding, straightening and flattening), tooling, measurements systems and CADCAM software.

Maktek Konya takes place in co-operation with the Machine Tools Industrialists and Business Association (TIAD) and the Turkish Machine Manufacturers Association (MIB). The last edition of the trade fair, in 2019, achieved great success by hosting 29,753 professional visitors from 47 countries, as well as 276 exhibitors from 20 countries. Some 88% of visitors said that they intend to return.
For further information www.maktekkonya.com/en