INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Subi Performance opts for Big Kaiser tools

With meticulous attention to detail, the team at Subi Performance is technically ahead of the curve as it applies its creativity to set new standards in the tuning, assembly and repair of high-performance combustion engines. To support the company’s growth trajectory, it has invested in Big Kaiser spindle tools that are available in the UK from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC).

“I had to rebuild the end bearing on a Subaru boxer engine, which required a boring head,” says Andre Wojtkowski, founder and owner of Subi-Performance. “I came across the spindle tools from Big Kaiser, a company belonging to the Big Daishowa Group. In an e-mail, I described my problem to Jochen Renz, the technical manager at Big Daishowa and later we spoke on the phone. He applied his extensive know-how and suggested the Big Kaiser SW 53 tool might be the perfect fit for reverse machining.

“What can I say – the tool turned out super and the final result exceeded all my expectations,” he adds. “And since my business revolves around special tasks related to engines, I then made an appointment with Stefan Lenhart, a Big Kaiser application engineer to talk about future projects and possible uses of other tools in the range.”

Utilising fine-boring heads from Big Kaiser, Subi-Performance now covers the entire diameter range from 20 to 203 mm, starting with the EWN 20 and EWN 32 for machining camshaft lanes, as well as the EWN 41 for crankshaft bearing lanes and the EWN 68 for cylinder fits.

At Subi-Performance, the Smart Damper is used in combination with complete spindle tools. The special feature of the Smart Damper is its dynamic damping system that eliminates vibration when using long tools.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

More tool reconditioning

As one of the fastest growing end mill and drill areas in the Seco Tools portfolio, the company’s solid-round tool reconditioning service has witnessed an increase in use of over 30% this year. In addition to significant cost savings for customers, a Seco reconditioned tool regains 85% to 95% of its original performance compared with tools that are re-ground or re-sharpened. Without having to readjust parameters or sacrifice performance, the reconditioned tool performance delivers for advanced machining strategies, such as in dynamic milling where only a small portion of a tool’s diameter engages in-cut.
For further information www.secotools.com/reconditioning

More capacity for high-purity cleaning

Ecoclean GmbH’s new High-Purity Test Centre, officially inaugurated at its German production site in Dettingen unter Teck at the end of last month, complements the company’s 15 existing technology centres in the high-purity sector. The facilities and conditions can carry out cleaning trials on components demanding the highest cleanliness requirements. Such parts are needed, for example, by equipment manufacturers supplying the semiconductor industry, in precision optics, as well as in laser, measurement, analysis and high-vacuum applications.
For further information www.ecoclean-group.net

Turning convention on its head

GF Machining Solutions, Fraisa, and Blaser Swisslube have teamed up to develop the GR3 graphite machining system. Designed for wet-machining graphite operations, the system can also cut other materials on the same machine, even in the same set-up. According to GFMS, the result is an efficient process that is able to achieve 0.005 mm tolerances while providing a healthier work environment and lower tooling costs.

“It’s a perfect interplay between machine, metalworking fluid, filtration and tooling,” says Martin Spencer, managing director at GF Machining Solutions (UK). “With this most recent innovation from GFMS, we have not only solved the problem of dust build-up, but also now allow a single machine to be used for graphite, copper and steel machining.”
For further information www.gfms.com

ATA acquires cutting tool firm ITC

ATA, an Irish precision engineering multinational, has acquired UK-based cutting tool manufacturer and distributor Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), as well as Dutch manufacturer Van Hoorn Carbide. Along with ATA’s existing operations in Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, the UK and the US, the transactions bring the group’s pro-forma 2022 revenue to circa €100m and its global headcount to circa 500.

The transactions significantly enhance ATA’s reach and expertise in the carbide round tool market, the largest segment of the more than $20bn global cutting tool arena. Ralph
Van Hoorn, managing director of Van Hoorn Carbide, and Peter Graves, managing director of ITC, will continue in their current roles and join the ATA senior management team.
For further information www.atagroup.com