SUBCONTRACTING NEWS

Armadillo Additive Expands with AddUp Machines

Armadillo Additive, an ISO 13485-certified contract manufacturer serving the medical industry, is expanding its metal 3D printing capacity with two additional AddUp FormUp 350 laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) machines. The investment brings Armadillo Additive’s FormUp 350 total to three. Now, the company is adding 17-4 stainless steel and Grade 1 titanium to complement its existing offering of Grade 23 titanium.

“By adding two more FormUp 350 machines, our team is uniquely positioned to offer unmatched throughput and material versatility to customers,” says Noah Smith, director of operations at Armadillo Additive. “Our first FormUp 350 has proven its reliability, surface finish quality and overall throughput. We’re excited to continue our growth alongside AddUp and remain a trusted partner for our customers.”

Armadillo Additive says it selected AddUp’s FormUp 350 machines based on their reliability, production efficiency and strong safety features. The autonomous powder module and advanced filtration system contribute to a safer working environment. FormUp 350 machines also deliver high-quality surface finish straight from the printer, reducing the need for extensive post-processing.

The machine’s large build volume and quad-laser configuration allow for increased productivity and flexibility in manufacturing. These features combined with AddUp’s robust software suite ensures consistency and confidence in production that Armadillo Additive expects from their machines.

This expansion allows Armadillo to support a broader range of applications, including R&D, implants, and intricate lattice structures that optimise strength and material efficiency.

Says Smith: “Our expertise in orthopaedic applications – along with our in-house services like laser marking, heat treatment and bead blasting – ensures we deliver complete solutions that meet the rigorous demands of medical engineering.”

More information https://addupsolutions.com/

JOSCAR approval granted to Pre-Met

A Redditch-based metal pressing and stamping specialist is targeting a multi-million-pound opportunity in aerospace, automotive and defence after it was approved by a major industry buying portal. Pre-Met, which recently acquired Quality Springs & Pressings, has passed all the criteria and compliance checks required to be listed on JOSCAR, a global best-practice supplier portal used by thousands of major OEMs, tier 1s and supply chain companies across the UK and Europe. The company’s 100% OTIF delivery performance, quality scores and commitment to EH&S best practice saw it pass all checks

More information www.metalpressingsandstampings.co.uk

Modular drill reduces set-up times and scrap

From individual parts and small series production to the finishing and reworking of metal parts, Remscheid-based Kurt Metallverarbeitung manufactures various components for large-scale industry, such as spare parts for presses, cranes and excavators. Reliable tools that deliver the best machining results and maximum efficiency are essential. This is why the company focusses on modular drilling systems that impress with their flexibility and savings potential.

“Before we adopted the BT 800 interchangeable-head drilling system from Gühring, we were using a competitor’s modular drilling system, which allowed drill heads to be changed directly in the machine without a screw,” says director Samet Kurt

In this system, the drill head and carrier were connected using assembly keys with slotted engagement points. However, practical experience revealed shortcomings.

“The drill head often got stuck in the tapered interface,” says Kurt. “It then had to be removed with a lot of force, making it easy to slip and damage the sheath.”

The centrepiece of the BT 800 is the wear-resistant bayonet interface. Compared with Kurt Metallverarbeitung’s previous system, the mounting key now engages in the flute, enabling the drill head to be changed quickly, precisely and safely without damaging the cutting head.

Kurt tested the modular solution while drilling a cog made from C45 quenched and tempered steel (1.0503). The through-holes with a depth of 10 mm were milled on a Haas VF-1 vertical machining – ideal for use with the BT 800 interchangeable head drill. The result was convincing across the board.

“The quick-change system from Gühring is simply better,” says Kurt. “There are no problems when changing the drill heads – handling is simple and safe.”

More information www.geuhring.com

STL Targets 20% EU Growth

A UK specialist in precision stamping and bi-metal bonding for the electrical contact market – Samuel Taylor Limited (STL) – is targeting a 20% increase in European-wide sales by capitalising on its’ global trading heritage. Over the course of the next few months, STL representatives will embark on multiple visits throughout the Eurozone encompassing countries such as France and Germany. The company will have a presence at major exhibitions and visit customers new and old within sectors such as rail, automotive, defence, and mobile/ off-grid power solutions.

More information www.samueltaylor.co.uk

Vericut cuts granite machining risks at Reitz

Reitz Natursteintechnik KG is an expert in the planning, design and manufacturing of highly precise machine components made from granite. To ensure efficient and above all safe processing, the company takes advantage of Vericut simulation software to deliver process-reliable production and reduced workload for employees.

Christopher Reitz is the company’s fourth generation managing director. His mission? To place customer needs even more at the centre of the 140-employeee company, which serves sectors such as semiconductor, optics, general mechanical engineering, automation, metrology, printing and medical technology.

The granite workpieces vary in size up to 13 m, weighing up to 65 tonnes. Processing such blocks precisely means Reitz relies almost exclusively on machines developed and built in-house: four gantry-type milling machines and two five-axis gantry machines, all controlled by Siemens 840D. To ensure safe, fast and precise machining, the company uses Vericut simulation software.

“Granite is a natural product, so the surface is never perfectly flat,” says Reitz. “To prevent tool collisions during processing, we developed a process with Vericut that virtually eliminates this risk.”

Adds René Maschlanka, responsible for sales and project management at Reitz: “Vericut eliminates the need for manual set up, saves valuable operator time and protects our machines. Now our programmers and operators are far more relaxed – they know their programs will run safely, with no crashes.”

Some machining processes at Reitz can take over 40 hours. Previously, the operator had to stand by the entire time. Now, they run the simulation on a PC, press start and only check in occasionally.

More information www.vericut.com