INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Implant milestone

Amnovis, a specialist in the manufacture of 3D-printed titanium implants, has reached a significant milestone, delivering over 50,000 such implants since 2021 using its heat treatment-free 3D printing process. This innovative technology is transforming the production of spinal, orthopaedic and cranio-maxillofacial (CMF) implants, allowing customers to benefit from fast speed, cost efficiency and reduced time to market. Amnovis also offers a full range of traditional titanium 3D printing services, including Ti-6Al-4V grade 23 material with classic heat treatments such as HIP (hot isostatic pressing).

More information www.amnovis.com

Thame and Flaig join forces

UK-based Thame Workholding is now partnering with Flaig Magnetsysteme, a German specialist in advanced magnetic work holding and lifting solutions. Flaig’s magnetic work-holding chucks streamline machining processes, while their lifting magnets ensure efficient and secure handling of heavy materials. Available in the UK through Thame Workholding, Flaig’s magnetic chucks, for example, support fast, secure set-up without traditional mechanical clamps. With magnetic chucks, users can securely hold workpieces in place, even on uneven or rough surfaces, ensuring minimal vibration during grinding and milling.

More information www.thameworkholding.com

Kuka Digital: new business segment

Automation group Kuka has founded a new business segment. With Kuka Digital, the long-established German-based company known for its orange industrial robots is expanding its software and digital business. The goal: end-to-end digitalisation of production machines, from first 3D simulation, through connectivity and data analysis, to the use of AI. 

Specifically, Kuka’s digital segment is focusing on a software and digital portfolio that is not limited to the company’s robots. Regardless of machine type and manufacturer, customers should be able to use software solutions for their production machines and thus digitalise their production halls from end to end.

More information www.kuka.com

FANUC Hails UK Robot Stars

A team representing the UK’s finest young robotics talent, and supported by factory
automation specialist FANUC UK, has been honoured at WorldSkills Lyon 2024. Jason Scott
and Charlie Carson, both from Northern Ireland, were awarded the Medallion for Excellence
in the category of Robot Systems Integration, where they competed against teams from 18
different countries.
The duo attended Northern Regional College and Scott now works at AES Global while
Carson attends the University of Ulster. Over 1500 young people from 69 countries
competed over four days of competition in 62 different skills at WorldSkills Lyon, which was
watched by over 250,000 spectators.
More information www.fanuc.eu

Laser processes with AI intelligence

Machine tool manufacturer Trumpf and machine learning (ML) specialist SiMa.ai have
entered a strategic partnership for lasers with AI. Together, the companies are developing
AI chips and software to improve welding, cutting, marking and 3D printing processes. The
technology will drive more efficient laser applications that accelerate the production of
electric cars, for example.
Edge ML applications that run completely on SiMa.ai’s machine learning SoC (system on
chip) are said to see a tenfold increase in performance and energy efficiency, bringing higher
fidelity intelligence to ML use cases extending from computer vision to generative AI. At
Trumpf, approximately 90 worldwide are working on AI, primarily in product development.
More information www.trumpf.com