The 33rd edition of IMTS, North America’s premier manufacturing technology show, will take place next week at McCormick Place, Chicago. The last show, in 2018, hosted the highest number of exhibiting companies ever (2563) and was the largest in both number of registrations (129,415) and square feet of exhibition space (1,424, 232). IMTS is held every even-numbered year and attracts buyers and sellers from 117 countries. This year, visitors can experience more than 15,000 new machining technologies, and find processes that will help solve manufacturing challenges and improve efficiency.
For further information www.moduleworks.com

The metalworking industry will meet in Stuttgart from 13 to 17 September 2022 at AMB 2022, where business partners from all over Europe will gather once again. Running since 1982, the last AMB in 2018 attracted over 90,000 trade visitors and more than 1400 exhibitors. On an exhibition area of 120,000 sq m, the exhibitors showcased innovations and further developments for machine tools, cutting tools, measuring systems, robots, work-holding solutions and industrial software. AMB 2022 is backed by supporters that include the VDW German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW).
For further information www.messe-stuttgart.de/amb

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of DN Solutions’ machine tools in the UK and Ireland, has introduced a next-generation, high-productivity horizontal machining centre. The new twin-pallet NHP 5500 represents a significant upgrade on its predecessor, and boasts faster acceleration/deceleration rates, improved tool change times, enhanced thermal compensation and faster B-axis table rotation.

DN Solutions’ NHP 5500 features acceleration/deceleration rates in X, Y and Z of 0.91G, 1.07G and 1.02 G respectively which, combined with its 60 m/min rapid rates, delivers faster processing speeds and a reduction in non-cutting times: all essential in ensuring higher productivity and process efficiency.

The focus on improving productivity is also evident with the machine’s faster tool change times. Equipped with a generous sized servo-driven ATC (from 40 up to 376 tools depending on the tool magazine selected), tool change times are 1.7 seconds (T-T-T) and 4. 7 seconds (C-T-C).

Notably, the NHP 5500 is equipped with a built-in 37 kW/10,000 rpm BT50 spindle with integrated smart thermal compensation sensor technology, This, combined with the machine’s spindle (oil-cooled) cooling system, reduces thermal displacement and ensures high part accuracy and repeatability, even during heavy-duty machining and long periods of operation.

The NHP 5500 has a rotary shuttle-type, twin-pallet configuration with a pallet-change time of 12 seconds. In addition to fast B-axis indexing (1.1 seconds for 90°, and 1.5 seconds for 180°), this capability enables customers to achieve higher productivity. The integration of a cone air blower that injects high pressure air into the location cones which connect the pallet to the table, removes chips from surfaces, resulting in accurate pallet positioning and improved process reliability.
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Schwäbische Werkzeugmaschinen (SW), a manufacturer of multi-spindle machining centres for the large-scale production of metal components, will give a world premiere of its new BA 711 Space will take place at the AMB 2022 trade fair in Stuttgart later this month. The new system is of interest for the production of battery housings, vehicles for rail transport or commercial vehicles, as well as for mechanical engineering or the aerospace industry.

With the BA 711 Space, SW has expanded its machine series to include single-station machines without a double swivel beam. Instead of the company’s typical double pivoting support, these systems only have a rotary axis with a clamping bridge. The elimination of the partition wall expands the available space enormously, allowing users to machine significantly larger parts with the same machine footprint.

SW has also broken new ground with regard to changeover flexibility and automation, among other things, by optionally equipping the workpiece carriers with integrated zero-point clamping systems. Three series of these new machining centres are currently available with different equipment variants.

Like the company’s previous machining centres of the BA 7 series, these systems are characterised by their monoblock design, high axis speeds and the high performance of the spindles. Robust ballscrews drive all three main axes. All of this means that the new systems are suitable for the medium and large series production of large-format, complex components.

The BA 711 Space, with a spindle and a workpiece carrier on the swivel bridge, and a working area of 1350 x 1175 x 650 mm, is available without the system taking up more floor space. SW’s sister model, the BA 721 Space, has the same significantly larger Y stroke of 1175 mm and can therefore also process longer components.
For further information www.sw-machines.com

Schuler has acquired Italian mechanical engineering firm Sovema Group as part of its ambition to become a leading systems supplier of battery cell manufacturing solutions for the automotive industry and other sectors. Together with Sovema, Schuler will develop the capabilities needed to equip gigafactories for the mass production of lithium-ion batteries.

Based in Villafranca di Verona, Italy, with further sites in the USA and China, Sovema has made a name for itself in the automotive sector as well as other industries by building appropriate machines for pilot and laboratory projects, accounting for some of the world’s most prominent battery manufacturers in its customer portfolio. Furthermore, Sovema is the globe’s only supplier of automated turnkey plants for the mass production of lead-acid batteries. The Sovema Group employs just over 170 people and most recently reported sales of around €50m.
For further information www.schulergroup.com