Okuma stages EMO retrospective

Earlier this month, Okuma Europe (which is represented in the UK by NCMT) welcomed over 200 visitors to its recently established Aerospace Centre of Excellence in Krefeld, Germany.

In keeping with the location, the manufacturer presented innovations introduced at EMO (Hanover, September 2017) with a particular focus on aerospace machining. Highlights included Okuma’s award-winning Laser EX series of super multi-tasking machines, the smart factory solution Connect Plan, as well as the manufacturer’s latest automation technologies.
In addition, Okuma demonstrated the cryogenic machining of a titanium disc on an MA-600 HII horizontal machining centre.
For further information www.okuma.eu

Machine tool orders soar in Germany

In the third quarter of 2017, order bookings in the German machine tool industry rose by 13% compared with the previous year’s equivalent period. Domestic orders were up by 31% and exports by 5%, while in the first three quarters of 2017, total order bookings increased by 3%.

“The gratifying upturn in our orders is even more marked in the most recent figures,” says Dr Wilfried Schäfer, executive director of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association). In September, orders in all three categories showed a double-figure rise, thus recording the steepest growth of the year to date. Domestic orders, in particular, witnessed a dramatic climb, soaring by 46%.
For further information www.vdw.de

GPC invests in key SMS Group equipment

Global Pipe Company (GPC), based in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, has placed an order with the SMS Group for the supply of a mechanical expander and a hydrostatic pipe tester for its new manufacturing line that will double the company’s annual production capacity from 200,000 tons to 400,000 tons. “With a total of 17 expander machines installed since 2002 and 19 hydrotesters supplied since 1971, SMS Group presented us with strong references in pipe mills offering a similar scope of business as ours,” says Ahmed Hamed AL Khonaini, shareholder and managing director of GPC.

Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd.

The new 10 MN mechanical expander will be installed in the finishing area of the new line. In addition to stress relieving the welded pipes, the expander will give GPC’s products their final shape, ensuring that the dimensions are within the required range according to the applicable specifications. “By doubling our nominal capacity to 400,000 tons, we will be in a position to allocate production slots for neighbouring markets within the GCC and MENA regions without neglecting our home market,” says Khonaini.
For further information www.sms-group.com

Successful EMO for Noritake

Noritake launched two new sawing machines at September’s EMO exhibition in Hanover, Germany. This machine offers an ultra-high speed cutting mechanism that reduces the cycle times by a factor of three against conventional machines, says Japan-headquartered Noritake, which is represented in the UK by Sawcraft. Specifically designed to house an ultra-thin 1 mm blade, the thinner kerf increases material yield. Special attention has also been given to the design of a new guidance system to ensure cutting accuracy.

The second model to be showcased was the NCS-7/80. This machine offers an ultra-high speed cutting mechanism that reduces the cycle times by a factor of three against conventional machines, says Japan-headquartered Noritake, which is represented in the UK by Sawcraft. For example, when sawing 45 mm diameter S45C mild steel, a conventional machine would take 5.4 seconds. However, using the NCS-7/80, this cycle time can be reduced to 1.8 seconds. Despite this high speed, the machine still maintains a precision cutting accuracy of ±0.1mm.
Overall, the complete range has attracted enquiries from across Europe, from the smallest capacity model in the range to the very largest 250 mm diameter capacity machine. Sawcraft’s managing director Alan Hicks reports an overwhelming success from the show: “We were inundated with enquiries from all over Europe, with a particular degree of interest from manufacturers in Germany and France. EMO provides a pivotal platform to launch new products into the market and we look forward to doing the show again in the future.”
For further information www.sawcraft.co.uk

Automated sawing, sorting and stacking

An automatic KASTOtec FC4 bandsaw has led to a three- to four-fold increase in productivity at a family-owned firm in Austria that develops and manufactures solutions for managing torsional vibration in large diesel and gas engines. The company’s product range includes flexible couplings and vibration dampers made from steel and composite, which are typically used in ship propulsion systems, power generation, bulldozers and locomotives.

The saw has been equipped with a robotic system for sorting cut lengths. By connecting the cell to the company’s manufacturing management system, the user is able to keep track of all production data, ensuring reliable, safe, minimally attended operation. Since December 2016, round and flat bar of mainly tempered steel has been sawn to precise lengths on the Kasto machine, as the previous saws struggled to process the difficult-to-cut materials.
Before opting for this solution, the Austrian company’s managers visited Kasto’s headquarters in Achern-Gamshurst, Germany, and were impressed by the technology on offer. They also appreciated the fact that Kasto was able to offer everything from a single source, including an ABB robot with interchangeable magnetic grippers to automate the monotonous and time-consuming task of removing and sorting cut parts and stacking them at four pallet locations.
The saw was also supplied with a magazine that can hold four bars up to 3500 mm long, allowing production to run unattended for extended periods. The KASTOtec receives order data including material type, dimensions and number of cut pieces from the manufacturing execution system (MES), which is linked to the saw via a custom interface.
For further information www.kasto.com