INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Stark plant

The Roemheld Group has opened a new Stark manufacturing centre in Rankweil, Austria. The 6000 sq m building houses the latest manufacturing equipment and systems, including new turn-mill centres, CNC grinding machines and a 3D measuring machine for use with large parts. From this factory, Roemheld will continue to develop its Stark zero point mounting range.

Terry O’Neill, managing director of Roemheld, says: “As manufacturers ourselves, we use our own zero point elements within our production plants, so we are well placed to understand the changing demands of the marketplace.”
For further information www.roemheld.com

Siemens partners FFG on machine tools

Siemens and Fair Friend Enterprise Co Ltd of Taiwan (FFG) intend to strengthen their long-standing business relationship. The aim of the extended partnership is to consolidate the integration of the Siemens Digital Enterprise Suite across FFG’s business and integrate Siemens digitalisation and automation technologies into FFG’s machine tools and associated products.

Siemens und Fair Friend Enterprise Co., Ltd. Taiwan (FFG) wollen ihre langjährige Geschäftsbeziehung vertiefen. Hierzu unterzeichneten Dr. Jimmy Chu, Chairman der Fair Friend Group (rechts), und Dr. Wolfgang Heuring, CEO der Business Unit Motion Control der Siemens AG (links), eine gemeinsame Absichtserklärung (Memorandum of Understanding) auf der Messe EMO.
Siemens and Fair Friend Enterprise Co., Ltd. Taiwan (FFG) now intend to strengthen their long-standing business relationship. To this end, Dr. Jimmy Chu, Chairman of the Fair Friend Group and Dr. Wolfgang Heuring, CEO of the Motion Control Business Unit at Siemens AG signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding at EMO.

The two businesses agreed at EMO 2017 (Hanover, September 2017) to work closely together at FFG on the consolidation of the Siemens Digital Enterprise Suite and the open, cloud-based IoT operating system MindSphere.
For further information www.siemens.com

AP&T wins Enlighten Award 2017

AP&T has been awarded first prize in the 2017 Altair Enlighten Award competition in the Enabling Technology category. AP&T was recognised for its innovative hot-forming production method involving high-strength aluminium. The results of the competition were presented at the CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, Michigan, USA.

AP&T’s technology enables flexibility in the forming of high-strength car body components with complex shapes, and enables weight savings of between 30% and 50%. “The multi-purpose production line we have developed enables outstanding flexibility in the forming of high-strength aluminium components, as well as additional freedom of design, making function and part integration possible in new ways,” says AP&T CTO, technology development, Christian Koroschetz.
For further information www.aptgroup.com

Measurement is Renishaw’s focus

Intelligent machining processes are critical to companies that want to exploit the full benefits of Industry 4.0, and throughout its main stand at EMO in Hanover last week, Renishaw demonstrated the integration of its latest measurement technologies within a manufacturing process.

Products highlighted included a new contact-scanning system for CNC machine tools, new software for the Equator flexible gauge which allows users to integrate the system with CNC machines, new on-machine and mobile apps that simplify the use of machine tool probing, an enhanced non-contact tool setter for machining centres, a new multi-probe optical interface system, a new surface finish probe for CMMs, and new software that enhances the functionality of Renishaw’s XM-60 multi-axis calibration system.
A new machining cell concept with integrated process control was also shown, demonstrating how complementary technologies can contribute to high levels of productivity and manufacturing capability.
The new on-machine scanning Sprint system with SupaScan is designed for simple integration into machine tool applications requiring fast workpiece set-up, and where overall cycle time is critical. Renishaw’s system also provides the ability to perform advanced scanning functionality, such as monitoring the final condition of a component surface. Testing on typical industrial components has seen cycle time reductions of over 70% when compared with standard high-speed touch-trigger cycles, says Renishaw.
Renishaw also demonstrated its developing range of smartphone apps for machine tool probes and tool setters. GoProbe (pictured) is an enabling technology embedded within the latest Renishaw macro-based software packages. Together with associated training materials and user reference tools, this technology is designed to simplify the use of the company’s machine tool probes and tool setters.
For further information www.renishaw.com/emo

Try-out press

Poland-based CAD/CAM Solution has ordered a new try-out press from Bliss-Bret, a Haco Kingsland group company. CAD/CAM Solution, which has international customers that include Audi (Hungary), Gestamp (Spain) and Electrolux (Poland), specialises in the design and manufacturing of press tools, namely transfer dies, single dies and progressive dies. The try-out press must simulate subsequent production systems, which is why the company selected the Bliss-Bret hydraulic press with a main capacity of 15,000 kN and table dimensions of 2500 x 5000 mm. Furthermore, the press is fitted with several advanced technology options.

For further information www.kingsland.com