INTERNATIONAL NEWS

New six-edged grooving inserts available from Horn

With the new 66T grooving system, Horn is expanding its cutting tool portfolio in the area of six-edged indexable inserts, which are said to offer a competitive price per cutting edge. The maximum grooving depth is 9.5 mm, which is about 4 mm more than is possible with the sister system, 64T. The cutting width is either 2.5 or 3 mm, while the corner radius is 0.2 mm.

Depending on the application, Horn offers 66T grooving inserts with a choice of two chip-breaker geometries, 1A or DL, to ensure reliable chip management during machining, plus a further version without geometry for maximum edge strength. The IG65 carbide grade is used for machining stainless steels and difficult-to-cut materials. For general steels, Horn recommends the EG55 carbide grade.

The 1A geometry is suitable for groove turning operations only, while the DL geometry is suitable for longitudinal turning as well as grooving. For the former operation, the inserts are available with a corner radius of 0.4 mm. According to Horn, the variants with chip-breaking geometry ensure excellent surface quality on the groove flanks, while the straight main cutting edge produces a cleanly finished base. 

Designed as neutral grooving inserts, they can be clamped in square shanks, with internal coolant delivery to either the left or right-hand side. Shank cross section is 20 x 20 mm or 25 x 25 mm. A clamping screw fixes the grooving insert precisely and securely in the central insert seat. The inserts are also compatible with Horn’s modular type 220 clamping cassette holder system.

More information www.horn-group.com

Doncasters investing $52m in German plant

Doncasters, an international manufacturer of high-precision alloy components made for the most demanding conditions, will invest $52m in its Bochum, Germany site, representing one of the most significant capital programmes in the company’s history. Doncasters says the three-year initiative will establish Bochum as one of the world’s most advanced facilities with the capability of producing the most complex large industrial gas turbine castings in production today, while also supporting capacity growth and long-term development. Work has already commenced inside the factory to prepare for new state-of-the-art equipment.

More information www.doncasters.com

EMO show to remain in Hanover

EMO, the world’s leading trade fair for production technology, is set to remain in Hanover following rumours about a potential move elsewhere in Germany. Says EMO general commissioner Carl Martin Welcker: “We were convinced by the commitment of the Lower Saxon policymakers to develop the structural and technical infrastructure of the exhibition centre on an ongoing basis over the coming years.”

In consultation with European association Cecimo, owner of the EMO brand, and with Italian sister association Ucimu, organizer of the EMO in Milan, the VDW has agreed the locations of the EMO cycle until 2031. The trade fair will take place in Milan in 2027, Hanover in 2029 and Milan again in 2031. “After that, we’ll return to the tried and tested cycle,” confirms Welcker. 

More information https://emo-hannover.de/en

Redefining sustainability in powder coating applications

Interpon, AkzoNobel’s powder coatings brand, says it is redefining the role of sustainability in powder coatings applications and inviting manufacturers and designers to ‘Own Your Impact’ – a new, holistic approach that turns sustainability into a catalyst for performance, innovation and measurable results. 

Through ‘Own Your Impact’, Interpon helps businesses embed sustainability across their operations and translate environmental ambition into competitive and economical advantage, reflecting its value-driven sustainability belief that performance and purpose go hand in hand. 

It is a call to action, encouraging customers to take control of the areas where sustainability can make the greatest difference to their business. It moves beyond narrow sustainability claims to demonstrate how connected actions, from improving coatings and production lines to reducing waste and emissions, can deliver tangible results across an entire operation.

Working in close partnership with its customers, Interpon provides the products, tools and expertise to bring these improvements to life, helping businesses operate more efficiently, innovate faster and achieve stronger performance with lower environmental impact. 

Jorrit van Rijn, marketing director at AkzoNobel Powder Coatings, says that ‘Own Your Impact’ reflects a results-driven approach to sustainability that connects performance and purpose: “Our goal is to make sustainability work for our customers, not as a separate initiative, but as an integral part of how they run and grow their business. With ‘Own Your Impact’, we help them identify where sustainability creates the greatest value, whether that’s improving line efficiency, reducing energy use, extending product life, or validating progress through data and audits. 

“It’s a complete approach that connects innovation, performance and measurable results. By supporting customers at every stage, we help turn sustainability into better productivity, lower costs, and stronger competitive advantage.” 

More information www.interpon.com

DN Solutions launches DNC series for semiconductors

DN Solutions, the world’s third-largest and South Korea’s leading machine tool manufacturer, has launched its new DNC series (DNC 8050, DNC 8060) of high-precision grinding machines for semiconductor manufacturing.

The name ‘DNC’ stands for DN Solutions Ceramic, representing the company’s ceramic machining equipment. These machines are designed to manufacture consumable components such as focus rings used in the semiconductor wafer process. Since these parts operate inside chambers that endure high temperatures and exposure to chemicals, they are made from materials like quartz, ceramic and silicon carbide (SiC) — all of which are notoriously hard to machine. The DNC series enables precise grinding of these hard-to-cut materials.


Quartz is harder than carbon steel yet brittle and prone to fracture, making it challenging to machine with conventional tools. Even with costly diamond tools, micro-cracks and breakage often occur. Moreover, quartz is sensitive to impurities, demanding an exceptionally clean machining environment.

To address these challenges, DN Solutions developed a high-performance grinding spindle for the DNC series, capable of 10,000 rpm and 7.5 kW output. This spindle delivers both high productivity and precision, even when machining difficult materials such as quartz and ceramics.

Vibration- and heat-induced errors have also been minimised. The monolithic, high-rigidity bed and high-precision feed-axis guides suppress vibration and prevent thermal displacement during long continuous operations. While conventional machines tend to lose precision due to spindle drift, DN Solutions says its DNC Series ensures long-term accuracy and structural rigidity, extending equipment lifespan.

Fine quartz dust (sludge) produced during machining can cause serious equipment failure. To prevent this, DN Solutions adopted a fully enclosed sliding cover that shields the inclined bed surface, blocking coolant and dust from entering the machine interior.

More information www.dn-solutions.com