INTERNATIONAL NEWS

AZL orders large injection moulder

The Aachen Centre for Integrative Lightweight Production (AZL) at RWTH Aachen University is installing a new Engel injection moulding system.

Engel Deutschland GmbH – in co-operation with the Engel Centre for Lightweight Composite Technologies in Austria – will install the two-component injection moulding system with turning plate and 17,000 kN clamping force in 2019. This machine set-up is the basis for further developments in efficient inline combination technologies using different kinds of polymer performance materials.
AZL’s new Engel injection moulding system will enable innovative combinations of already established fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) processes and the development of new individual processes. The focus is on increasing resource efficiency in lightweight production, with research addressing multi-material systems, continuous processes, process chains and self-optimising processes.
For further information www.azl-aachen-gmbh.de

Manufacturers gear up for Iran exhibition

The 18th edition of IInEX (International Industry Exhibition – formerly TIIE) is set to take place at the Tehran Permanent International Fair Ground in Iran on 13-16 October.

This showpiece annual exhibition will this year cover some 26,000 sq m of show space, as organised by Idro International Trading Co.
With a host of international exhibitors expected from across the world, visitors from Iranian industry will be able to enjoy the latest innovations offered up by sectors such as machine tools, workshop equipment, industrial automation, cutting and forming tools, and technical services. As always, MTI will have a strong presence at the show, where the team will be busy engaging with visitors by helping them use MTI’s combination of magazine and website (www.machinespotter.com) to find the optimum machine for their application.
For further information www.idro-fairs.com

Baileigh unveils latest press brake

Baileigh Industrial is launching its BP-3305CNC press brake that is said to be sufficiently compact to fit in a garage, but powerful enough for use on the shop floor.

A factory-installed, two-axis, programmable CNC controller makes it both versatile and simple to use, providing the ability to hold up to 40 programs.
The BP-3305CNC press brake is reportedly quiet and extremely safe, with an automated light curtain that instantly stops and reverses direction when fingers get too close to the bending operation.
The frame of this CNC hydraulic press brake is made from fully welded steel plate, designed to give minimum amounts of deflection, as well as offering maximum rigidity when using all 33 tons over its full length of 1.6 m. Baileigh’s BP-3305CNC also features a heavy-duty torque tube that connects a pair of hydraulic cylinders, ensuring accuracy to 0.04 mm. The machine runs on 220 V three-phase power and uses only quality components from manufacturers such as NOK, Siemens and Omron. All bending functions are controlled by a foot pedal.
Baileigh Industrial is a manufacturer of a complete line of metalworking equipment. For over 16 years, the company’s machines have been designed to increase productivity in the workshop and handle maximum capacity with ease. Customers range from large-scale commercial fabrication shops, to passionate hobbyists. Baileigh’s machines have been used by teams such as Gas Monkey Garage and Diesel Sellerz of the ‘Fast N’ Loud’ and ‘Diesel Brothers’ shows on the Discovery Channel.
For further information www.baileighindustrial.co.uk

Productivity leap for cam lobe manufacturers

Hatebur has developed and tailored its HOTmatic AMP 20N, a machine that is specifically designed for the manufacturing of forged cam lobes.

With this machine, the company aims to improve the efficiency and productivity of suppliers in the automotive industry.
“Almost all of the world’s forged cam lobes are produced on Hatebur machines,” states Thomas Christoffel, CEO of Hatebur. “With the development of the HOTmatic AMP 20N, we are reacting to new trends in the industry. We want to make our customers even more productive and strengthen our market leadership.
“The trend is heading towards thinner cam lobes in order to support the lightweight construction of engines,” he continues. “That is why the R&D division of Hatebur has started early with fundamental research on cam lobes featuring a thickness of 8 mm instead of 12 mm. The thinner cam lobes impose higher demands on the forming machine – in particular with regard to the shearing quality, pressing force and part transfer.
The HOTmatic AMP 20N offers a total press load of 1500 kN; the machine body has been reinforced to guarantee the necessary stability.
In three forming stations – and with a maximum of 200 strokes per minute – the AMP 20N produces cam lobes with an outer diameter of up to 48 mm out of raw parts with 24 to 217 g.
The up to 6 m long, almost 1200°C hot bars are brought exactly into position via four feeder rollers, powered by servo drives.
For further information www.hatebur.com

Boosting output with electric tube benders

Two all-electric tube-bending machines from Unison are helping Ultibend Industries to increase the manufacturing productivity of stainless steel tube fittings for food and beverage processing systems at its manufacturing facility in Wellington, New Zealand.

Ultibend purchased two customised tube-bending machines to suit its proprietary manufacturing process; the machines from Unison automate the bending of tube-fitting shapes such as elbows and U-bends, in sizes from 25 to 100 mm in diameter. Manufacturing operations have demonstrated that the Unison tube-bending machines have significantly boosted Ultibend’s manufacturing speed compared with its previous hydraulic bending machines.
“We knew of Unison as we have had dealings with them in the past,” says Ultibend director Linc Turley. “We like that being software engineers, Unison can take our ideas and issues, and come up with a tailored solution in the form of a customer-specific machine. They’re also an ethical company whose values align with our own. This has been proved in our dealings with them, and the excellent support and prompt response to any issues we have.”
Describing some of the key advantages of Unison’s machines, he adds: “The Unison solution has been invaluable as opposed to our old hydraulic system; the all-electric servo-driven machines give us greater control over bend parameters and increased accuracy. All the data is captured and automatically adjusted to the correct position during set up as opposed to manual adjustments. This gives us the ability to put lower skilled operators on these machines, as doing set ups and making adjustments is more straightforward.”
For further information www.unisonltd.com