INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Tornos boosts machinability and chip management

Eural Gnutti, a global specialist in drawn aluminium alloy bars for machining, is working with Tornos France to demonstrate the machining and performance advantages of its lead-free 2033 aluminium alloy for high-precision applications.

Tornos France, part of the Swiss-based Tornos Group, is a major manufacturer of sliding-head and precision turning machines, serving sectors such as automotive, medical and luxury goods. The collaboration reflects growing industry demand for sustainable, lead-free materials capable of delivering high machining performance without compromising process reliability or surface quality.

At the centre of the project is Eural’s 2033 alloy, developed specifically to provide high machinability, chip control and operational consistency during high-speed machining. The material has proven particularly effective in supporting precision turning operations involving tight tolerances and demanding production cycles.

The alloy is attracting strong interest from luxury goods and watchmaking manufacturers seeking alternatives to traditional leaded brass materials. In addition to meeting increasing environmental and regulatory requirements, the alloy delivers bright, uniform surface finishes suitable for decorative treatments and coatings, including gold, silver and palladium.

To demonstrate the alloy’s capabilities, Tornos showcased a live machining application at the recent Simodec exhibition in France using its Swiss XT lathe. The machine produced a metal pocketknife featuring a handle machined entirely from Eural 2033 alloy, alongside stainless steel and titanium components. The demonstration highlighted the material’s high chip fragmentation, machining stability and surface finish.

“This application showed the efficiency of Tornos machines when machining a high-performance material such as Eural Gnutti’s 2033 alloy,” states Patrice Armeni, director of Tornos France.

Sébastien Vadillo, sales Manager France at Eural Gnutti, adds: “The collaboration enabled us to identify the optimal machining parameters and confirm the value of 2033 in new application areas.”

More information www.eural.com

Mastercam buys Cadline

Mastercam Italia, an affiliate of Mastercam, has completed its strategic acquisition of Cadline, a long-standing Mastercam channel partner. With the transaction signed and sealed, Cadline is now operating as Mastercam Italia, expanding Mastercam’s direct presence across the Italian manufacturing market. “This marks an important milestone for Mastercam and our customers in Italy,” states Russ Bukowski, president of Mastercam. “Customers will benefit from closer collaboration, faster technical support and solutions tailored to their regional manufacturing needs.” 

More information www.mastercam.com

AMTS 2026

The Shanghai International Automotive Manufacturing Technology & Materials Exhibition (AMTS) will return to the Shanghai New International Expo Centre on 8-10 July, bringing together global automotive engineering and manufacturing professionals for its 2026 edition. Organised by RX, AMTS 2026 is expected to feature more than 850 exhibitors and attract 70,000 professionals. The event will present technologies and solutions for processes that include car body stamping, welding, machining and plenty more. Pre-registration is now open. Visitors who register in advance will receive free admission.

More information www.shanghaiamts.com.cn/en

Software maximises tube and wire inspection productivity

Hexagon has released a major update to its BendingStudio XT, introducing new capabilities designed to cut cycle times in series production and support the manufacture of electric vehicle components. The latest version also adds integrated support for handheld 3D scanners, extending tube and wire inspection capabilities to a wider range of metalworking operations.

At the heart of the enhanced offering is Hexagon’s TubeInspect system, a purpose-built inspection cell delivering near-instant, non-contact measurement directly on the shopfloor. High-speed optical inspection provides precise results within seconds, enabling manufacturers to maintain tight tolerances in demanding production environments. The system is designed to deliver repeatable accuracy even in oily, dusty or high-temperature conditions through advanced temperature compensation and ISO 17025-certified calibration.

The updated BendingStudio XT introduces simultaneous multi-part measurement, allowing operators to inspect several identical components at once for faster batch processing and improved quality assurance. Immediate pass/fail feedback simplifies quality control, while direct integration with production systems enables real-time correction data to be fed back to bending machines, helping reduce waste and improve consistency.

To support growing demand in the electric vehicle sector, Hexagon has also added dedicated correction reports for electric motor hairpins, enabling manufacturers to achieve higher precision when producing complex EV components.

The software now supports Hexagon’s ATLASCAN Pro and HYPERSCAN handheld 3D scanners, providing flexible inspection options for manufacturers measuring large pipework, exhaust systems and installed tube assemblies.

Christoph Dold, senior product manager at Hexagon, says the update helps manufacturers address skills shortages while improving productivity, adding that the company remains focused on turning “bits and bytes” into practical value on the shopfloor.

More information www.bit.ly/4wcBAXk

Steelwork rises for enormous forging line

Sheffield Forgemasters has begun steelwork assembly on the UK’s largest open die forging line.The company is building a new 13,000-tonne forging line at Brightside Lane, with steelwork for the building projecting to 45 m high, more than 10 m taller than surrounding structures.With steelwork for its new 30,000 m²machine shop on nearby Weedon Street at an advanced stage, the construction is transforming the traditional manufacturing heartland of the city, dwarfing the adjacent Meadowhall shopping centre and Ikea superstore. The company expects to see framework for both buildings completed by the end of 2026.

More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com