INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Nano Dimension to buy Desktop Metal

Nano Dimension Ltdand Desktop Metal Inc have entered into an agreement under which the former will acquire all outstanding shares of the latter in an all-cash transaction. Ric Fulop, Desktop Metal’s co-founder and CEO, says: “We’re excited to bring together our pioneering, complementary product portfolios that will further enhance our ability to serve customers in high-growth industries with a more complete offering of digital manufacturing technologies. We look forward to working with Nano to join two great companies and their devoted teams that can serve our stakeholders to the maximum extent.”More information www.desktopmetal.com

Mazak declares BIEMH a major success

Strong levels of enquiries and a high visitor turnout have led Yamazaki Mazak and its Spanish representative Intermaher to declare the recent BIEMH trade show in Bilbao a major success.Mazak and Intermaher showcased five machines at the event, including the European-built CV5-500 five-axis machining centre and QTE-300 turning centre, both of which featured turnkey robot machine tending solutions at the exhibition.Stand visitors were particularly interested in the Integrex i-450H, one of the larger models from Mazak’s flagship multi-tasking range that combines turning and B-axis milling in one machine. 

More information www.mazakeu.co.uk

First 3D-printed defect-free tungsten parts

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee used electron-beam additive manufacturing to 3D-print the first defect-free tungsten parts with complex geometries. The accomplishment could have positive implications for clean-energy technologies such as fusion energy. 

In its pure form, tungsten is brittle at room temperature and shatterseasily. To counter this issue, ORNL researchers developed an electron-beam 3D-printer to deposit tungsten, layer by layer, into precise 3D shapes. The technology uses a magnetically directed stream of particles in a high-vacuum enclosure to melt and bind powder into a solidmetal object. The vacuum environment reduces foreign material contamination and residual stress formation.

More information www.ornl.gov

Midaco Offers Pallet Changers in Baltic States

Midaco is announcing a notable milestone in CNC productivity across Europe as it joins forces with Abplanalp in the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). According to US-based Midaco, the new partnership underscores the company’s dedication to delivering innovative solutions that elevate efficiency and performance in the CNC industry. Machine shops in the Baltic territory can now anticipate advancements tailored to meet their evolving needs.

Established in 1969, Midaco is renowned for both automatic and manualpallet changers. All models of the automatic pallet changer system are available with a light curtain package. With three-sided guarding via a light emitter, mirrors and sensors, a pallet change will not occur upon breaching the invisible light beams surrounding the shuttle system.

In recent years, Midaco has expanded its line of pallet changers to accommodate the need for large precision parts machined to tight tolerances for the aerospace, energy, automotive, military, power generation, oil and gas industries. These jobs cause significant spindle downtime due to the long and involved process of heavy, large part changeovers.

When combined with crane loading, first article inspection and job interruption tasks, a machining centre can be idle for anything from 30 minutes to two hours. As a result,a large vertical bridge mill or double-column machining centre can be idle up to 70% of the time. Midaco single/dual automatic pallet changers are alsosuitable for machining centres which do not move in Yaxis, ensuring for the long component changeover process takes place while the machine is cutting.

More information www.midaco-corp.com

Sandvik buys work-holding specialist PDQ

Sandvik has acquired PDQ Workholding LLC (PDQ), a US-based company specializing in custom work-holding fixtures and tooling for various industries, including aerospace, automotive and energy. PDQ will be reported in Walter, a division within Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions, thus supporting the strategy to grow in advanced machining solutions and lightweight materials.

The acquisition of PDQ will strengthen Sandvik’s offer to customers primarily in North America, enhance relationships with machine tool builders, and allow for earlier access to component projects in which both efficiency gains and the right selection of cutting tools are of importance. PDQ produces stationary, hydraulic and automated fixtures, alongside indexable tool bodies and carbide round tools.

“The addition of PDQ will enhance our customer offer within machining solutions and strengthen growth prospects in the US, very much in line with our strategy,” says Stefan Widing, president and CEO of Sandvik.“I’m pleased to see us complete another acquisition that further improves our ability to create value for our customers and stakeholders.”

Founded in 2010, PDQ operates from two manufacturing sites and has 107 employees. In 2023, the company reported a revenue of $36m. The impact on Sandvik’s EBITA (earning before interest, taxes and amortisation) margin and earnings per share will be limited.

More information www.sandvik.com