Doncasters investing $52m in German plant

Doncasters, an international manufacturer of high-precision alloy components made for the most demanding conditions, will invest $52m in its Bochum, Germany site, representing one of the most significant capital programmes in the company’s history. Doncasters says the three-year initiative will establish Bochum as one of the world’s most advanced facilities with the capability of producing the most complex large industrial gas turbine castings in production today, while also supporting capacity growth and long-term development. Work has already commenced inside the factory to prepare for new state-of-the-art equipment.

More information www.doncasters.com

EMO show to remain in Hanover

EMO, the world’s leading trade fair for production technology, is set to remain in Hanover following rumours about a potential move elsewhere in Germany. Says EMO general commissioner Carl Martin Welcker: “We were convinced by the commitment of the Lower Saxon policymakers to develop the structural and technical infrastructure of the exhibition centre on an ongoing basis over the coming years.”

In consultation with European association Cecimo, owner of the EMO brand, and with Italian sister association Ucimu, organizer of the EMO in Milan, the VDW has agreed the locations of the EMO cycle until 2031. The trade fair will take place in Milan in 2027, Hanover in 2029 and Milan again in 2031. “After that, we’ll return to the tried and tested cycle,” confirms Welcker. 

More information https://emo-hannover.de/en

Redefining sustainability in powder coating applications

Interpon, AkzoNobel’s powder coatings brand, says it is redefining the role of sustainability in powder coatings applications and inviting manufacturers and designers to ‘Own Your Impact’ – a new, holistic approach that turns sustainability into a catalyst for performance, innovation and measurable results. 

Through ‘Own Your Impact’, Interpon helps businesses embed sustainability across their operations and translate environmental ambition into competitive and economical advantage, reflecting its value-driven sustainability belief that performance and purpose go hand in hand. 

It is a call to action, encouraging customers to take control of the areas where sustainability can make the greatest difference to their business. It moves beyond narrow sustainability claims to demonstrate how connected actions, from improving coatings and production lines to reducing waste and emissions, can deliver tangible results across an entire operation.

Working in close partnership with its customers, Interpon provides the products, tools and expertise to bring these improvements to life, helping businesses operate more efficiently, innovate faster and achieve stronger performance with lower environmental impact. 

Jorrit van Rijn, marketing director at AkzoNobel Powder Coatings, says that ‘Own Your Impact’ reflects a results-driven approach to sustainability that connects performance and purpose: “Our goal is to make sustainability work for our customers, not as a separate initiative, but as an integral part of how they run and grow their business. With ‘Own Your Impact’, we help them identify where sustainability creates the greatest value, whether that’s improving line efficiency, reducing energy use, extending product life, or validating progress through data and audits. 

“It’s a complete approach that connects innovation, performance and measurable results. By supporting customers at every stage, we help turn sustainability into better productivity, lower costs, and stronger competitive advantage.” 

More information www.interpon.com

DN Solutions launches DNC series for semiconductors

DN Solutions, the world’s third-largest and South Korea’s leading machine tool manufacturer, has launched its new DNC series (DNC 8050, DNC 8060) of high-precision grinding machines for semiconductor manufacturing.

The name ‘DNC’ stands for DN Solutions Ceramic, representing the company’s ceramic machining equipment. These machines are designed to manufacture consumable components such as focus rings used in the semiconductor wafer process. Since these parts operate inside chambers that endure high temperatures and exposure to chemicals, they are made from materials like quartz, ceramic and silicon carbide (SiC) — all of which are notoriously hard to machine. The DNC series enables precise grinding of these hard-to-cut materials.


Quartz is harder than carbon steel yet brittle and prone to fracture, making it challenging to machine with conventional tools. Even with costly diamond tools, micro-cracks and breakage often occur. Moreover, quartz is sensitive to impurities, demanding an exceptionally clean machining environment.

To address these challenges, DN Solutions developed a high-performance grinding spindle for the DNC series, capable of 10,000 rpm and 7.5 kW output. This spindle delivers both high productivity and precision, even when machining difficult materials such as quartz and ceramics.

Vibration- and heat-induced errors have also been minimised. The monolithic, high-rigidity bed and high-precision feed-axis guides suppress vibration and prevent thermal displacement during long continuous operations. While conventional machines tend to lose precision due to spindle drift, DN Solutions says its DNC Series ensures long-term accuracy and structural rigidity, extending equipment lifespan.

Fine quartz dust (sludge) produced during machining can cause serious equipment failure. To prevent this, DN Solutions adopted a fully enclosed sliding cover that shields the inclined bed surface, blocking coolant and dust from entering the machine interior.

More information www.dn-solutions.com

GrindingHub to send strong signal in difficult times

The preparations for GrindingHub 2026 from 5 to 8 May are picking up speed: the latest provisional list of exhibitors shows 360 companies.

“The participation of leading manufacturers from the grinding technology sector demonstrates the industry’s clear commitment to GrindingHub as a place for exchange, innovation and international networking,” says Dr Markus Heering, managing director of event organiser VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association). “It’s much more than just a trade fair – it’s the place to be for anyone who is interested in exchanging ideas and finding solutions for pressing production problems related to grinding technology. Keeping this dialog going is particularly important at the present time when the economy is challenging.”

While the economy remains weak, incoming orders for grinding technology have at least stabilised after two years of decline. They rose by 4% in the first nine months of 2025 – driven by customers outside of Germany with an increase of 17%. The eurozone in particular (up 32%) is the driving force behind this trend.

In 2026, other international trade fairs will be held at the Messe Stuttgart trade fair centre in parallel with GrindingHub. In particular, the Surface Technology Germany exhibition and the MedtecLIVE show will provide a great deal of relevant synergy.

This combination offers real added value for everyone involved, emphasises Sebastian Schmid, board member at key partner Messe Stuttgart: “The simultaneous trade fairs grant our trade visitors a unique opportunity: they can discover a wide range of relevant topics in one place – efficiently, connected and inspiring. For exhibitors, this means greater reach and access to key target industries. To make networking as easy as possible, one ticket provides access to all parallel trade fairs.”

More information www.grindinghub.de