INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Tool manufacturing around the clock

Based in Lower Bavaria, Huber GmbH CNC-Präzisions-Werkzeugschleiferei is a user of sharpening machines from Vollmer, with a VGrind 360S grinding machine the most recent arrival. Huber is using the Vollmer machine and its 24/7 automation capability to boost the production of semi-standard milling tools for the machining industry.

Manufacturing standard and special tools, resharpening circular/bandsaw blades and supporting customers with reliable services – this is how Huber generates a profit of around €2.7m a year.

“Our latest VGrind 360S grinding machine with chain loader enables production around the clock, seven days a week, allowing us to fulfil our high order volume quickly and with high precision,” says Christoph Ziegler, production manager at Huber GmbH. “As such, the Vollmer machine is a perfect match for our guiding principle and self-imposed goal to deliver the best possible quality and precision ‘despite’ the high speed of our processes.”

Alongside automation, the decisive factor for Huber was that the VGrind 360S is suitable for ensuring consistently high-quality machining thanks to the wear-free linear induction motors in the X, Y and Z axes, as well as reducing maintenance costs. With two grinding spindles situated one above the other and the grinding wheel set positioned at the C-axis pivot point, the VGrind 360 tool grinding machine enables efficient multi-level machining. The company can reduce machining times thanks to the shorter travel distances of the linear axes, which is also beneficial in terms of the speed promised by Huber.

As a final point, a plate heat exchanger cools both the machine’s spindles and motors to increase thermal stability and improve both the precision and performance of the grinding process.

More information www.vollmer-group.com

Gravotech joins Brady Corp

US-headquartered manufacturer Brady Corporation has acquired Gravotech, an international specialist in the marking and engraving market for over 80 years. Arnaud Linquette, president and CEO of Gravotech, says: “The sale of Gravotech to a market leader in printing and high-performance adhesive material provides us with an excellent opportunity to expand into new markets and generate long-term profitable growth. In recent years, we’ve enhanced our new product development and manufacturing capabilities, and broadened our portfolio of direct-part marking and engraving solutions.”

More information www.gravotech.co.uk

Date set for next NORTEC exhibition

After intensive evaluations, enquiries and discussions involving a large number of exhibitors, the date of the next NORTEC trade fair has been set. NORTEC will be held at the Hamburg Trade Fair Centre on 3-5 February 2026. The new date was carefully selected in order to take account of the requirements of exhibitors and trade visitors. In addition, the duration of NORTEC has been reduced from four to three days with the clear objective of increasing trade fair efficiency. The previous edition of the biennial show, NORTEC 2024, made a positive restart under the new management of Messe Stuttgart and the VDW.

More information www.nortec-hamburg.com

AGS strikes up Danobat partnership

Coventry, UK-based Advanced Grinding Solutions (AGS) in entering a new partnership with Danobat, the Spanish manufacturer of internal, external and combined multi-tasking grinding machines. Chris Boraston, managing director at AGS, says that Danobat approached AGS at this year’s MACH 2024 show in Birmingham about the possibility of working together in the UK. That conversation led to a further meeting at the recent BIEMH exhibition in Bilbao, where AGS agreed a collaboration to promote Danobat’s range of grinding machines in the UK marketplace.

More information www.advancedgrindingsolutions.co.uk

Boring inserts feature sintered chip breakers

Over the past 35 years, the Supermini universal boring system from Horn has undergone numerous development stages to solve problems in a variety of turning applications. The latest enhancement for the Supermini type 105 is a lower cost version of the solid-carbide inserts with chip-breaking geometry included at the sintering stage, rather than laser cutting or grinding them afterwards. Indeed, the price of the new Supermini is similar to that of the standard insert without geometry.

As with these previous machined chip breakers, the new sintered geometry avoids the drawback of long, stringy swarf coiling around the tool or workpiece and potentially causing damage to both. It assists with the internal machining of small diameter holes, whether boring, profile turning, internal grooving, threading, chamfering, face grooving or slot broaching.

Horn developed teardrop shaped carbide blanks for the tool, enabling large, precise contact surfaces in the tool holder and resulting in greater rigidity of the overall system. The teardrop profile also prevents the insert from twisting, which leads to consistent, precise positioning of the centre height of the tool. When using long tool overhangs, it reduces deflection and minimises vibration during turning.

Horn offers the inserts as standard in three lengths (15.0, 20.0 and 25.0 mm) and in carbide grades TH35 and IG35. The tool is suitable for use from a bore diameter of 6 mm, while the edge geometry extends far into the 0.2 mm corner radius of the insert, ensuring good chip control even with small infeed settings. It is possible to process different material groups and the geometry is suitable for internal, face, copy and back turning.More information www.phorn.co.uk