As a manufacturer of small workpieces, St Petersburg based Laguna has more than 100 machine tools, including 25 Tornos Swiss-type lathes. Part of the company’s ongoing investment strategy has now seen the arrival of a Tornos Swiss GT 13.

The machine incorporates six-axis kinematics that make it suitable for complex parts. Laguna manufactures everything from connectors through to bolts, screws and much more for the electronics, instrumentation and control, automotive, aerospace, medical, transport, and telecommunications sectors. The installation was undertaken by Politek Co Ltd, the Tornos dealer in Russia.
For further information www.tornos.com

Ward Hi-Tech has supplied and installed a large Kiheung KNC-U1200N universal bed mill from stock to a major multinational company in Ireland.

The machine, which has a fully automatic universal head, Heidenhain control, 4100 mm X axis, 1250 mm Y axis and 1350 mm Z axis, also has a 24-station ATC (automatic tool changer) and through-spindle coolant.
With its ability to accommodate parts weighing up to 10 tonnes on the table, the Kiheung KNC-U1200N is purposely designed for heavy-machining operations. Ward Hi-Tech reports that the machine is now up and running and exceeding the customer’s performance expectations.
For further information www.wardhitech.co.uk

Markaryd-based Nibe, which manufactures Contura fireplaces and Premodul chimneys, has recently invested in two press brakes from SafanDarley, an E-brake Ultra E130-3100 and an E-brake Econic E40-1600, supplied by local agent Din Maskin.

“When we decided to invest in new press brakes, we wanted machines that would provide stability in the manufacturing process, give consistent results and allow us to use the same tools as before,” says Patrik Ahlin, production group manager at Nibe. “ The machines also needed to be ergonomically designed, where the operator wouldn’t need to handle heavy tools. This is exactly what SafanDarley’s press brakes offered.”
Stefan Kovac, the press brake operator who was involved in test-running SafanDarley’s machines ahead of the investment, adds: “I’m delighted with the machines as they run quietly and smoothly. The tool set-up has worked well for the majority of our parts.”
According to Fredrik Carlsson, product manager for SafanDarley at Din Maskin, the servo electric press brake has low maintenance and running costs, and is quiet in operation. Since the machine does not use hydraulic oil, servicing is also minimal, and the lack of a hydraulic system means even higher precision and more consistent bending results.
Ahlin also emphasises the ‘green’ aspect, since Nibe is very active in its environmental work. The company is always trying out new ways to reduce its energy consumption and it is therefore important that its manufacturing is modern, resource-saving and efficient.
Herman Nordqvist, production engineer for welding and brake pressing, says that another important aspect was ease of set-up, since newly developed fireplace models are launched regularly and therefore new parts need to be produced.
“Here at Nibe, we work together closely in the development process to ensure we only get better,” concludes Ahlin.
For further information www.safandarley.com

With the newly developed, fully electric CNC 25 E TB MR, SchwarzeRobitec says it has created and supplied a compact tube-bending machine sporting the ‘made in Germany’ seal, to China. For the first time, Changzhou Liangxu Vehicle Accessories Co Ltd is now able to bend smaller tube diameters quickly, and as part of a fully electric process, thanks to the NxG control system.

Changzhou Liangxu Vehicle Accessories manufactures injection tubes and radiator outlet pipes for cars and trucks, and is the main supplier of tube systems for China’s third-biggest truck manufacturer. At the company’s headquarters in Changzhou, Schwarze-Robitec recently put a new CNC 25 E TB MR into operation. The delivered machine is capable of bending steel tubes with a diameter of up to 1” and a wall thickness of 0.08”, as well as stainless-steel tubes with a diameter of up to 0.8” and a wall thickness of 0.06”.
This capability means that, for smaller tube diameters, Changzhou Liangxu Vehicle Accessories is using a fully electric machine with NxG control for the first time, which offers major benefits. For example, depending on the tube system, the NxG control system enables up to 50% more output thanks to simultaneous operation of the axes. The company is thus ideally preparing itself for the rise in demand brought on by the prolonged boom in China’s automotive industry.
With the CNC 25 E TB MR, Schwarze-Robitec has developed a machine for small tubes that is available in both left/right bending versions, as well as
in a rotary variant, with the bending head capable of rotating 180°. Tubes with complex geometries can thus be bent in one process step.
For further information www.schwarze-robitec.com

NSK ball screws from the HTF (High Tough) series are helping press brake manufacturers switch from conventional hydraulic drives, to electric drive systems, which offer a number of notable benefits. The ball screws are being delivered to NSK customer Sangalli Servomotori, which is using the units in combination with its brushless servomotors to supply a complete system solution to a global manufacturer of electric press brakes.

When Sangalli Servomotori, located in Italy, was first approached by the press brake manufacturer for its latest range of electric-driven machines, the company knew it had the motor technology, but had to source a suitable supplier of ball screws.
For many years the company had been using NSK bearings in its motor production operations and, impressed with their performance and quality, made an enquiry to NSK about the ball screws in its linear product range.
NSK´s team of experts assessed the application and recommended the company´s HTF series of high-load ball screws. The size of the balls and their special design configuration, along with the material used, are among the principal differentiators in favour of HTF ball screws.
A 63 mm diameter HTF unit was selected to offer a press force of 20 tonnes. Together with a Sangalli servomotor, the ball screw formed the basis for a prototype that was successfully trialled on a customer press brake. In fact, for applications demanding 60 tonnes of press force, an electric system featuring two HFT ball screws has also been developed.
Such has proved the success of the project that NSK has already received its first production orders and Sangalli has started volume production. Importantly, the single-source solution from Sangalli can be applied to the press brakes of any manufacturer, as well as to presses.
For further information www.nskeurope.com