Advanced Grinding Solutions of Coventry has struck a partnership with the Italian filtration system manufacturer Comat.

Chris Boraston, MD at AGS, explains the rationale behind the new joint venture: “We’ve been importing a wide range of grinding and finishing machinery into the UK for decades, and have previously relied upon the choice of the machine builders that specify filtration units for their machines. This has worked reasonably well, but has proven to be problematic in recent years because either UK-based support for the filter units was non-existent or, if it was, we found it increasingly difficult to get good and fast support. This is because most UK-based distributors of filter systems are usually excluded from the purchasing process as filters are mostly bought turnkey directly from machine makers.”
It transpired that Rollomatic, which is AGS’ biggest agency and supplies many tool grinding machines into the UK every year, was working closely with Comat. AGS was therefore given excellent references for its systems and subsequently arranged to visit the company, which is based near Milan.
Comat manufactures super-filtration systems that deliver ≤2-3 μm filtration quality, making oil cleaner than new, unused oil. Importantly, this occurs throughout the entire working cycle, while minimising lifetime running costs and maintaining maximum coolant consistency.
Importantly for AGS and its UK end users, Comat filter systems use the company’s ‘Intelligent Performance Technology’, which allows remote monitoring in real-time during the manufacturing processes to ensure that optimum filtration quality is obtained at all times. Of course, remote diagnostics is part of this offer and overcomes most of the issues AGS had with other filter units. Furthermore, depending upon the model, the Comat filter units can be monitored, controlled and optimised by integrated controls, or externally by PCs, tablets or smartphones.
For further information www.advancedgrindingsolutions.co.uk

Sandvik Coromant is partnering with WorldSkills for the prestigious ‘Skills Olympics’ that are currently taking place in Kazan, Russia (22-27 August).

As a silver partner, the company is supporting the ‘Production and engineering technologies’ competition, and leading the ‘Manufacturing team challenge’ skills contest. WorldSkills is the global hub of skills that brings together influencers, educators, industry, national governments and international organisations to facilitate salient research and provide the best global benchmark for vocational systems.
For further information www.sandvik.coromant.com

Vollmer has introduced a host of automation solutions for its Vgrind 360 tool grinder.

As the successor to the Vgrind 160, the Vgrind 360 tool-grinding machine is equipped with enhanced travel distances to manufacture carbide tools up to a diameter of 100 mm. Thanks to its two vertical spindles, the Vgrind 360 also allows tried-and-tested multi-level machining.
This capability enables tool manufacturers to produce large numbers of milling cutters and drills quickly and precisely. However, manufacturers are increasingly demanding automated tool production and this is where Vollmer says it really excels.
Automated solutions, such as pallet magazines, wheel changing packages and free-arm robots allow machining to continue unsupervised around the clock – but the opportunities go much further. The optional wheel changing facility on the Vgrind 360 provides the potential for manufacturers to load up to eight grinding wheel packages.
Accommodating grinding wheels up to 150 mm diameter, the wheel changer is located outside the work envelope in a clean environment to prevent contamination. This fully automated process can change a wheel and the respective coolant nozzles in just 9 seconds on either spindle.
Committed to providing its customers with a complete automation solution, Vollmer has also developed its HP160, HC4 and HPR250 automation packages to demonstrate the complete range of opportunities for end users.
The HP160 pallet magazine and HC4 chain magazine are compact and ergonomic solutions that provide external loading and unloading with a single or double gripper configuration
for clamping tool shanks up to 25.4 mm diameter. Loading can be by either the HC4 chain magazine system for tools up to HSK-A63 or the HPR 250 free-arm robot system.
For further information www.vollmer-group.com

Dreambird says that three new Hexagon Production Software resellers were acquired to represent the solutions in Russia and Central Asia. During the current quarter of 2019, reseller agreements were signed with Finval, Glanol and Alcor.

Dreambird is constantly working towards expanding its reseller network, looking to increase Hexagon Production Software’s presence in CIS markets and inform users about the benefits and possibilities of the products for manufacturing.
For further information www.dreambird.eu

Machine builders everywhere can now access a handy online tool from NSK to create customised linear guides in a fast and easy-to-use format.

The NSK linear guide design tool, named ‘Click!Speedy’ is capable of producing bespoke items based on specifications such as type, size, length, seals, lubricant and lubrication unit. In each case, the part number, data sheet, PDF drawing and CAD data of the customised linear guide are provided by download link or e-mail. Click!Speedy facilitates the custom design of all the company´s random-matching linear guide series (normal and precision grade NH/NS/LW/RA/PU/PE).
For further information https://is.gd/ucawaq