Green Light For Large Machining Plant

Sheffield Forgemasters has been granted planning permission to build a landmark 30,000 m²
machining facility on brownfield land in the City’s Meadowhall district. Located on a 16-acre
plot at Weedon Street, the company says the new facility will form one of the world’s most
advanced large machining facilities to support UK defence manufacturing programmes.
With work to prepare the site already underway, the building will cover a space equal to 12
Olympic-sized swimming pools and contain large WaldrichSiegen five-axis vertical turning
lathes installed and maintained by McDowell Machine Tools. Plans for the facility detail a
main building with a 272.5 x 110 m footprint, standing 32 m tall, located close to the River
Don and designed to complement the historic look of the company’s existing buildings.
More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

SafanDarley E-Brake 35T Mini Cell at Stetec

At Stetec in Maarheeze, innovation is key. Exemplifying this notion, the company recently invested in a SafanDarley E-Brake 35T Mini Cell with E-Bend Check, taking a major step forward in its production automation. The Mini Cell helps Stetec work more efficiently and accurately, while E-Bend Checkensures every bending angle is measured and automatically corrected.

“At Stetec, we specialise in precision sheet metal fabrication, meaning we produce sheet metal components for technically advanced companies,” explains manufacturing engineer Rick Zalm.“Within the company, we handle both small and medium series production parts, in a wide variety of types and sizes. We therefore need machines that can produce all kinds of products, utilising different tools and technologies.”

He continues: “We saw the latest robotics and technologies of SafanDarley at a trade show. The Mini Cell aligned perfectly with the production methods that we want to apply.”

Stetec already has five SafanDarley press brakes in operation on the company’s modern production lines, so the Mini Cell felt like a familiar and reliable choice.

“The Mini Cell is performing exceptionally well,” states planning co-ordinator Daan Zalm. “I’ve noticed that we can produce more products and work in a more optimised way. Also, we have significantly greater control compared with manual operations. This reduces the risk of human error, enabling us to deliver better and more consistent quality.”

He adds: “After the SafanDarley Mini Cell performs a bend, we can check it with E-Bend Check to verify the angles and make automatic compensation adjustments as necessary. The result? We always deliver high-quality products to our customers. Moreover, we can run the Mini Cell unmanned in the evenings, which leads to higher output.”

More information www.safandarley.com

Bigger voice for manufacturers

A trade body that represents 200 manufacturers has placed a Minister for Manufacturing, greater SME involvement in the Industrial Strategy and ongoing lobbying around the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) at the top of its action list for 2025. The Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) wants to give members an even greater voice on key issues impacting their ability to compete over the next 12 months.

Despite recent challenges, the CBM believes there are still plenty of opportunities for manufacturers if there is more stability in the automotive sector and if the ongoing resurgence in aerospace continues. It also believes that serious government backing and funding towards ‘Made in Britain’ could dispel some of the economic gloom and generate numerous possibilities.

More information www.thecbm.co.uk

Milestone Test For New VTLs

The first of 11 large, bespoke vertical turning lathes (VTLs) in construction for the proposed
new machining facility of Sheffield Forgemasters, has passed a milestone test ahead of
shipping it to the UK. German machine specialist, Waldrich Siegen, which is designing and
building the machines, has completed assembly and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) for
the first machine. 
Fully configured for Industry 4.0, the VTL offers digital connectivity, advanced analytics,
automation and advanced manufacturing technologies for complete integration into a
network. Sheffield Forgemasters’ new machine shop will cover 35,000 m² and, with 21 new
heavy-duty machine tools from Waldrich Siegen, the company says it will become the most
advanced facility of its kind in Europe.
More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

New approach shapes future of steel processing

Schwarzwald Eisen has successfully responded to the increasing demands of the steel market by installing a saw-drill combination machine, a shot-blasting system and an automated transport system. Working closely with machine provider Kaltenbach ensured quick and efficient project was implementation. Permanent support from the service helpdesk keeps the system up and running, and demonstrates the reliability of Kaltenbach solutions, which steel supplier Schwarzwald Eisen has been relying on for over 20 years.

The old system was dismantled and the new one installed in a very short time. To integrate the machines into the production hall in the optimal way, special attention was paid to a space-saving and effective arrangement of the saw-drill combination (KDP 736 and KBP 701), blasting (GIETART ECO Blaster 1504) and transport systems (roller conveyors with cross transports).

As a whole, the system saws, drills, mills, blasts and cleans a variety of different profiles required in steel processing. Processing quality is assured for both small and large dimensions. The Kaltenbach transport system connects the individual work steps with each other to achieve a continuous and efficient material flow. On top of this, Kaltenbach offers support from qualified service technicians at any time via the helpdesk. The remote diagnosis option in particular allows the company to react quickly in the event of a fault and ensure operational readiness.

“Since the commissioning of our first Kaltenbach sawing system over 20 years ago in Lahr, we’ve always trusted in the quality and reliability of the machines,” says Alexander Hatt
CEO of Schwarzwald Eisen. “Installing further systems in Freiburg and the consistently positive experience with the service and help desk have confirmed our decision to rely on Kaltenbach.”

More information www.kaltenbach.com