Automatic loading and blasting without ‘teaching’

When Ottostahl GmbH had to replace an old rotary table shot-blast machine, the company insisted on short cycle times, high energy efficiency and relieving its personnel from strenuous and monotonous physical activities. Rösler and automation specialist Teqram met these challenging demands with the universally deployable Easy Shotblaster RDT 150 rotary table, equipped with a stationary ‘intelligent’ robot. This robot places workpieces on the rotary table in a manner that optimally utilises the entire table area without requiring any ‘teaching’ operations.


Ottostahl in Magdeburg produces up to 30 mm thick, highly precise plasma-cut and up to 300 mm thick flame-cut components. In its shot-blasting department the company is
utilising three machines (two continuous flow roller conveyor machines with an operating width of 3800 mm and a rotary table blast machine). After more than 60 years of use, the company is replacing its old rotary table blast machine with an RDT 150 system from Rösler.

The entire blast system integrates within a manufacturing cell measuring 8 x 8 m, consisting of an intelligent stationary robot and the RDT 150 shot-blast machine.

With its image processing technology, the vision-controlled robot automatically recognises components placed into its working section, completely independent from their position on the pallet. This capability eliminates the normally required time-consuming teaching or programming of the robot. Moreover, with the intuitive interface, no special knowledge is necessary.
After the automatic selection of a suitable gripper from the magazine, the robot picks up components and places them on the rotary table in the optimal position. It provides component data to the machine controls for selecting a suitable processing program. Halfway through the cycle, the robot automatically turns the components to blast the other side. The robot then returns finished workpieces to the pallet.

For further information www.rosler.com

Recol to invest in automated fibre welder

Recol Ltd, a provider of sheet metal fabrication, precision machined components and mechanical assemblies, has placed an order for a new Amada FLW ENSISe 6 kW automated fibre laser welding machine. The first model of its type in Europe, the FLW ENSISe will enhance the quality and repeatability of the company’s welding operations while in many instances eliminating a number of on-processes, including straightening, grinding and polishing.

“We currently rely on manual TIG welding, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to source the skills,” reports Recol’s managing director Ben Guntrip. “We were waiting for the right time to invest in an automated solution: that time is now. Recol likes to be first out the gate as it gives us something in the initial 6-12 months that is unavailable elsewhere, potentially providing a pathway into new customers and markets.”

For further information www.amada.eu

A&M EDM secures over £600,000 in grants

Between 2014 and 2022, Smethwick-based A&M EDM, a supplier of precision engineering services, has revealed that it received grants totalling £607,000 from a variety of providers. This funding helped support activities such as investment in machinery, innovation projects and digital marketing, as well as invaluable tailored support from the region’s accredited business advisers.

“My ambition from the outset was to become a sustainable subcontractor offering EDM manufacturing,” says founder Mark Wingfield. “The reduction of the Midlands toolmaking and automotive industries created opportunities to grow the business in other sectors such as aerospace. The advice I’d give to anyone starting today is to add value to every customer and continuously reinvest in equipment and employee training.”

From humble beginnings in 2002 with two employees and one machine, fast-forward to 2024 and A&M EDM has 84 employees, 80 machines and an annual turnover over £8m. The company is an award-winning business and the current Make UK Midlands and East region SME of the year.

By being open-minded to the support on offer from external organisations such as Business Growth West Midlands, Wingfield ensures the business accesses opportunities which serve the values of the company. Among those values is training the next generation of engineers. A&M EDM currently has five apprentices, and nine other employees who have advanced from apprentice level, including two section managers.


Working with Dudley College, the company has delivered an Advanced Engineering Apprenticeship since 2014, focusing on both the technical aspects of the job and soft skills. Apprentices continue to be an integral part of the team and future planning of the company, with a focus on retaining these skilled workers through their careers.

For further information www.amedm.co.uk

Making tools and fixtures on an ad hoc basis

Before vehicles are produced in large series, automotive manufacturers test and check the
properties and functions of all components under different conditions. All-Forming GmbH in
Kappel-Grafenhausen specialises in the production of the required prototypes and pilot
series. With innovative ideas and in-depth expertise, the team develops and fabricates the
necessary tools and fixtures. This is where the company appreciates the huge potential of
wire EDM technology.

To produce its punching and forming tools, the specialists at All-Forming have been using
the wire erosion process for many years. The company invested in a Mitsubishi MV2400R
Connect wire EDM machine in the middle of 2022 because the previous machine was
outdated in terms of programming and operation.
Production manager Sebastian Singler says All-Forming decided in favour of the wire EDM
machine from Mitsubishi Electric for several reasons. “First of all, the MV2400R Connect
comes with a cutting-edge and future-proof programming and operating approach. We
benefit from state-of-the-art touchscreen operation. In addition, interfaces to current CAM
systems are readily available. We also the like very large workspace which provides easy
access to the machine operator. This is particularly important for us as we frequently
machine one-off parts.”
All-Forming programs the components to be cut at a CADCAM workstation using the 3D CAD
workpiece data. The data for the NC program for wire EDM gets sent to the MV2400R
Connect via a direct data line. There, the company retrieves the current production orders
and NC programs and loads the machine with sheet metal accordingly.
The advantage is that the company can position several different pieces of sheet in the large
workspace. All-Forming’s MV2400R Connect can therefore cut several workpieces
overnight, unsupervised. This goes a long way towards producing stamping and forming
tools at short notice.
For further information www.mitsubishielectric-edm.eu

FAST TURNAROUND PROJECTS AT CUTLASERCUT REQUIRE RAPID CUTTING TOOL SOLUTIONS FROM ITC

CutLaserCut is a design and manufacturing company that specialises in fast turnaround production services in a number of sectors, including creative (art, fashion, jewellery, architecture), engineering, retail and sign making to name but a few. Initially set up as a laser cutting business in 2010, CutLaserCut invested in a CNC routing machine in 2017 to expand its service offering. It is here that Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) stepped in to support the company widen its diversification strategy.

Operating out of two facilities, CutLaserCut has a single Trotec Speedy 400 laser at its Camberwell site and a larger production studio with six CO2 lasers and a host of additional equipment at its south coast facility. The largest laser machine offers a working area of 3 x 2 m, while the Biesse Rover Plast J FT 1530 CNC routing machine that arrived in 2017 offers a work envelope of 3 x 1.6 m. It is this machine that led CutLaserCut to ITC.

Combining laser technology with the router, CutLaserCut can process everything from cast acrylic sheets to plywood, ‘organic’ materials, plastics, wood and wooden boards, card, paper, leather, foam, and much more. The arrival of the router opened opportunities to machine new materials with a technology that CutLaserCut had no experienced previously. A visit to the Sign UK exhibition led to a timely meeting with Sally Hunt from ITC.

Russ Mellor from CutLaserCut recalls: “We were originally a laser cutting business, but we purchased the Biesse CNC router to expand the range of materials with which we could work. Biesse is not a specialist in cutting tools, so we visited the Sign UK exhibition where we met Sally Hunt from ITC. We were immediately impressed with her depth of knowledge and helpful attitude. Since 2017, Sally and the ITC team have been a fabulous resource that we’ve been happy to rely on. A trusted partner in all aspects of CNC tooling.”

As a company that specialises in delivering a fast response to demanding sectors, CutLaserCut can rapidly turn around anything from simple B2C parts, one-offs and specialist projects to more involved B2B product development and production runs. To satisfy client demands with rapid lead times, CutLaserCut relies on high-quality cutting tools from ITC for machining a vast array of materials.

In a fast-paced environment, CutLaserCut needs maximum machine uptime and optimal productivity levels. To enable this outcome, ITC supports CutLaserCut with a diverse range of standard and bespoke tooling solutions that provide quality, performance, reliability and longevity. The performance and tool life are optimised by expert advice from ITC, a service that includes identifying the correct tool, geometry and coating for any given material.

“ITC has provided us with too many tools to remember over the past six years,” admits Mellor. “The lengthy list of standard products is also complemented by an entire range of specials that we have requested going back to the start of our working relationship. We tend to specify ITC’s 6 mm straight and compression cutters for general work, but we’ve had many larger, smaller and specialist tools over the years. Whenever a new project arrives, or if there’s a particular machining technique required, we can call or email ITC and ask for the best advice about tooling. This includes feed rates, number of passes and other technical details.”

Most recently, ITC provided CutLaserCut with a 12 mm radius point round cutter for a new technique that an established client wanted to try. Sally Hunt from ITC was able to propose the tool based on a photo of the effect the client was trying to achieve.

“She got it spot on and the tool did exactly what was needed,” reports Mellor. “The total time from client enquiry to delivery of the final parts was just seven days, including the selection, manufacture and delivery of the ITC point round cutter. Standard tooling is available on a next-day basis, even if ordered late in the day.”

He continues: “I’ve not found anything like this level of service from any other tool manufacturer, and we tried a few before finding ITC. Expert advice on tool selection, backed by expert engineers that can design, manufacture and deliver custom tooling if necessary, is a really good fit for us. I get the impression they value our business and we value their support.”

Alluding to the importance and value of ITC’s rapid and bespoke tooling service, Mellor concludes: “As we are a subcontract manufacturer, we rarely make the same thing twice, unless it’s a production run. Therefore, it’s of critical importance that our tooling works right the first time and keeps working with high levels of productivity and reliability until completion of the job. We’re always working on tight turnaround projects, so we can’t be dealing with tooling that do not perform as we expect and time being lost in re-specifying and replacing tooling. An issue like that could delay an entire project.

“This is where the high quality of ITC comes in. I can’t recall any instances where their tooling has let us down. Considering we have now worked with ITC for more than six years, that’s saying something.”

For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk