The EWA automatic fine-boring tool from Big Kaiser, which is represented in the UK by technology partner Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), has won the ‘production performance’ category at the Global Industry Awards 2020.

Entered for the award through Boulland DPM, Big Kaiser’s partner in France, the production performance category highlights innovations focusing on the significant improvement of key metrics or performance through productivity gains.
Jose Fenollosa, head of R&D at Big Kaiser, says: “The EWA is far ahead of the rest in its level of automation and sophistication. This gives our customers real benefits in terms of time and money saved, which makes it ideal for Industry 4.0 applications. We’re already talking to potential customers, including a number of leading machine-tool manufacturers.”
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

A £43m critical supplier to the aerospace sector has made its latest acquisition as it looks to target new opportunities in the defence and medical sectors.

Manchester-based Aero Services Global Group (AS.G), which manufactures airframe structural equipment and aero-engine components for more than 20 leading primes and tier-one suppliers, has welcomed AMF Precision Engineering to its portfolio of companies.
The Wirral-based subcontract technology specialist joins six other manufacturing businesses in the group and provides additional cleanroom and long-bed machining capabilities, not to mention direct access to customers in medical, defence and a host of research centres across Europe. AS.G’s announcement comes just a few weeks after it secured a £31m funding package from Magnetar Capital and Close Brothers Invoice Finance to support ambitious three-year growth plans.
For further information www.aeroservicesglobal.com

While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented concern for many in the manufacturing sector, there remains an air of positivity.

For example, machine orders continue to be taken by XYZ Machine Tools and, as a result, deliveries continue to take place on a daily basis to customers across the UK and further afield. A case in point is the recent despatch of an XYZ 3010, the largest vertical machining centre in the XYZ range, to Pendle Engineering in Nelson, Lancashire.
The XYZ 3010, which weighs in at 25 tonnes, is the fourth XYZ machine purchased by this fabrication and CNC machining specialist. Pendle’s decision to make the investment at this time was driven by the confidence it was seeing from customers, while at the same time delivering a significant increase in machining capacity with its axis travels of 3000 x 1000 x 800 mm, backed by an 8000 rpm spindle. Pendle Engineering now has the capability to machine pieces weighing up to 4000 kg.
“Our subcontract steel manufacturing services are supplied to a broad range of sectors, and the encouraging levels of customer demand gave us the confidence to invest,” says Chris Smith, managing director at Pendle Engineering. “This new machine not only bolsters our existing capacity, but allows us to bring the machining of larger (>1 m) workpieces in-house. These unprecedented circumstances have without doubt added an extra dimension to our investment decision-making, but we’re planning for the long term and are delighted to be working with XYZ once again.”
XYZ Machine Tools has continued to support its customers throughout the pandemic and this has been rewarded by a steady influx of new machine orders. The company currently has around 50 machines in build and under pre-delivery test.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Comau has introduced a global web-based networking platform designed to support SMEs by creating a win-win ecosystem between ‘verified’ system integrators and companies exploring automation opportunities.

To help different sectors reap the benefits of automation in an intelligent and cost-effective manner, the Comau Marketplace platform features case studies, targeted solutions and industry guidance on how automation can help increase productivity and lower overall costs. The platform also helps system integrators propose solutions and interact with potential customers.
For further information www.comau.com/marketplace

Raybould Machine Tools has agreed to act as the official UK distributor for the range of mechanical and hydraulic power presses manufactured by Pressix of Italy.

Pressix produces a range of open-fronted, gap-frame, adjustable-stroke mechanical presses with a capacity ranging from 25 to 250 tonnes, as well as straight-sided presses with a capacity ranging from 125 to 1000 tonnes.
Pressix also offers high-speed presses, hydraulic straightening presses and can provide specific solutions to meet customer needs. All machines are designed, machined, assembled and tested in-house. Pressix machines now add to the range of equipment already offered by Raybould Machine Tools, which includes both new and pre-owned mechanical power presses, hydraulic presses,
press feeders, coil handling equipment, and special purpose machines.
For further information www.raybould.com