Open Mind Technologies AG is celebrating its 25th company anniversary and is today represented by its own sales and service subsidiaries in 15 countries.

Indeed, the CADCAM specialist had 305 employees at the end of 2018, and by the end of its anniversary year, this number is set to grow beyond 330 with new subsidiaries soon to open. “We began with just 20 employees, but our love for technology and our innovative spirit are things that have not changed over the years,” says Dr Josef Koch, CTO and one of the company’s founders.
For further information www.openmind-tech.com

The Manufacturing Intelligence division of Hexagon has opened an online shop which aims to streamline customer processes for purchasing inspection technologies.

Hexagon’s eCommerce website provides a one-stop shop for hundreds of company products, including a range of laser tracker and CMM accessories and spare parts, such as styli, probes, reflectors, racks, and clamps. The shop also enables customers to find relevant and conveniently-located training programmes, like interactive courses for PC-DMIS and Quindos software.
According to Hexagon, the online shop is optimised for fast searching with its filter engine, enabling quick and secure identification of the required spare part or accessory. The ordering process is also streamlined to reduce time, with features including a shopping cart to save purchases and a quick re-order process for previously purchased products and services. Payment via invoice or credit card is accepted.
“Our objective is to produce solutions that drive customer productivity, and this mission now extends to the user experience of our eCommerce,” says Marcel Brand, director of marketing and communications – EMEA. “From its sophisticated search capabilities, to its streamlined payment process, the online shop helps manufacturers’ procurement and accounts payable teams enhance their productivity, saving time and making buying less stressful.” The online shop is now live and ready for business.
For further information https://shop.hexagonmi.com/emea

The Equator gauging system from Renishaw is to be controlled with Wenzel’s WM Quartis metrology software for programming and evaluation purposes. The move comes as part of a co-operation deal between the two companies and will be incorporated into the Wenzel product portfolio.

“Many thousand Equator test units are already in use throughout the world, enabling high repeatability and thermally robust process monitoring on the shop floor,” says Rainer Lotz, vice president EMEA of Renishaw. “A direct connection to the Wenzel software is an import extension of our solutions for users within the shop-floor area.”
Bastian Luithardt, Renishaw product manager, adds: “Workpiece data recorded by Equator is used for automatically updating the tool offset of the respective machine tool. The Equator concept, which enables flexible and newly programmable measurements, is optimal for use in an automated environment. A stable manufacturing process and continuous documentation therefore results for every workpiece.”
At the same time, Wenzel is launching another compact portal measurement machine for direct production use. The SF55 CMM, like the bigger SF87, offers high travel speeds and acceleration, while its corrosion-free guideways are made of high-precision, hand-finished granite. Indeed, the guideways are completely covered and protected against contamination, while the controller and PC are integrated in the machine for a minimal footprint.
The SF55 CMM has passive vibration damping and can be equipped with active vibration isolation. Due to the good accessibility and ‘Wenzel automation interface’, the shop-floor measurement system is suitable for automation and integration into the production line.
“After the success of our SF87 CMM, the more compact SF55 is the logical response to the requirements of the shop floor,” says Dr Heike Wenzel, managing director of the Wenzel Group.
For further information www.wenzel-group.com

Under its sole agency agreement with Japanese manufacturer, Kitagawa, 1st Machine Tool Accessories is offering the new Swift Klamp to machinists in the UK and Ireland.

The rigid work-holding product uses proven HSK tool interface technology to provide a secure, low interference, quick-change clamping arrangement that resists bending forces generated during metal-cutting operations.
Designed for five-axis machining applications but equally suited to use on three- and four-axis machines, the system consists of three parts: clamping head, work holder and workpiece. The head is supplied either as a manually or automatically operated HSK clamp, while the work holder comprises an HSK interface at the base and multiple options at the top for holding the workpiece, including flange clamps and side clamps.
The most efficient clamping system, however, is the dovetail interface. Here, a small clamping surface area allows enhanced tool access, while its low profile maximises the machine tool’s Z-axis travel. Workpieces up to 200 mm square or diameter can be accommodated.
The final element is the workpiece to be machined, which in the case of the dovetail holder requires a slot to be pre-milled into the raw billet to match the holder profile. A solid-carbide cutter is available specifically for this purpose. Additionally, pre-machined dovetailed EN3B (070M20) steel and HE30 (6082) aluminium blanks can be supplied in various sizes for immediate use.
The manual clamping head has a versatile flange that suits multiple mounting options. Available in HSK-A40, HSK-A63 and HSK-A100 sizes, it may be set up off-line and the work holder can be exchanged within 10 seconds, minimising machine downtime.
For automated manufacturing processes, a hydraulically-actuated clamping head is available in the same HSK sizes, with seating detection and air-blow.
For further information www.1mta.com

There are now more than 22,000 companies using the licences and/or services of Lantek, spread over more than 100 different countries on five continents.

Lantek specialises in the development, sale and integration of control and management software solutions for sheet metal and fabrication plants, including CADCAM, MES and ERP. Of the existing 22,359 customers which rely on Lantek solutions, the majority come from the laser-cutting sector, followed by the oxy-cutting/plasma, punching and waterjet.
For further information www.lamteksms.com