THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

BAE cuts first steel for HMS Sheffield

The first steel has been cut for the UK’s newest warship, HMS Sheffield, at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard in Glasgow. 27-year-old apprentice fabricator burner, Michael Miller, carried out the ceremonial act. It marked the official start of construction on the fifth of eight ‘city class’ vessels and is a significant milestone for the programme and British shipbuilding as a whole.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, attended the ceremony alongside a range of senior dignitaries from the UK Government, armed forces and industrial partners. All eight Type 26 frigates will be built on the Clyde, with the work sustaining nearly 2000 jobs in Scotland and 4000 jobs across the wider UK maritime supply chain for decades to come.

More information www.baesystems.com

First digital-specific event for Kuka

Following the recent establishment of its digital division, Kuka presented its portfolio at the company’s first software and digital event under the motto ‘Kuka digital: powering your business’ at its headquarters in Augsburg. The company, known for its industrial robots, is focusing increasingly on the consistent and seamless digitalisation of industrial landscapes.

At the event, Kuka’s development and technology centre was transformed into a discussion platform for software, digitalisation and AI. In workshops, panel discussions and keynote speeches, customers and partners discussed current challenges in the economy and solutions for driving end-to-end digitalisation. An expo area provided insights into Kuka’s software and digital offer for the entire production lifecycle.

More information www.kuka.com/en-gb/kuka-digital

FCR end mills offer vibration-free machining

Now available in the UK from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), Fullcut Mill FCR indexable end mills from Big Kaiser are said to deliver vibration-free machining. The new Big Kaiser system integrates its indexable inserts with the machine spindle via the BBT (Big-Plus BT taper) interface. FCR end mills are also available in HSK A-63 and BDV interfaces. Notably, the monoblock design helps to reduce vibration and chatter while improving system rigidity. As a result, manufacturers can achieve improved process reliability and consistency.

The Fullcut Mill FCR is an indexable insert tool that come in two variants: standard and long nose (both supplied with a BBT interface). Big Kaiser’s FCR is available in four diameters spanning 16 to 32 mm, with two or three insert seats. The long nose version is more cylindrical and thinner, resulting in a smaller interference contour for difficult-to-access work surfaces.

Compared with solid-carbide end mills, the Fullcut Mill offers enhanced performance through its increased stability and lower running costs. This is credit to users only needing to swap out inserts and not an entire solid-carbide end mill. The advantage of the Fullcut Mill is its insert geometry, which consists of a dedicated single-diameter geometry with a sharp cutting edge for both high radial and axial rake angles. The result? A smooth cut that requires less cutting effort and therefore less spindle power, leaving the surface smooth and burr-free, even when performing a strong interrupted cut.

“The Fullcut Mill FCR is a versatile tool that’s able to handle multi-functional operations such as helical milling, peck-milling, grooving and shoulder milling,” says Giampaolo Roccatello, chief sales and marketing officer for Big Kaiser Europe.

More information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

AMRC Cymru celebrates five years

AMRC Cymru says it has become a ‘national asset’ since opening five years ago with a mission to supercharge Welsh manufacturing through advanced technologies and world-leading research. Based in a £20m applied research centre in Broughton, funded by the Welsh Government, AMRC Cymru is managed by the University of Sheffield and is part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult.

Since opening on 28 November 2019, the research centre has made a significant impact on industry, having worked with more than 100 businesses to help make things faster, cheaper and greener. Notably, it has delivered in excess of 20 programmes teaching companies how to measure their energy use digitally.

More information www.amrc.co.uk/cymru

RK and DCM Tech in special relationship

RK International Machine Tools is entering a special relationship with US-based machine tool manufacturer DCM Tech that will bring the latter’s surface grinding machines to the UK and Irish markets.

DCM Tech is renowned for its IG series surface grinders, which offer features such as a user-friendly interface, variable speed spindle and table control, automatic down feed, automatic part detection, and a closed-loop coolant filtration system. Built across two control platforms, the IG 80 series provides the basics for rotary table surface grinding. Enhancements on the IG 82 series include additional grinding options such as regrind and continuous grind, along with servo precision-controlled X and Z axes with home positioning.


IG 82 series machines are available with auto-dressing capability featuring selectable dress frequency. These grinders also come ‘robot ready’, offering integration with third-party robotic arms for a fully automated loading and unloading processes. The IG range provides capacities to 1220 mm diameter rotary table with a maximum swing of 1320 mm diameter.

Jennifer Rutz, president of DCM Tech Inc, says: “We’re excited to collaborate with RK International Machine Tools and expand our surface grinding technology presence in the UK and Ireland. RK International’s experience and commitment to customer satisfaction align perfectly with our values. We believe this alliance will benefit UK customers significantly, offering cutting-edge solutions for their grinding needs.”

RK International’s team of factory-trained technical specialists will provide support services, including installation, maintenance and training, ensuring that customers can maximise the performance and longevity of their DCM Tech machines.

More information www.rk-int.com