As industry in the UK and Ireland emerges from the grips of the pandemic, improvements in production efficiency will be essential to maintain competitiveness in a global marketplace.

However, according to 1st Machine Tool Accessories (1st MTA), the situation is more an opportunity than a challenge. Machine shops currently have time to carry out in-depth analyses of their processes and see where cost reductions are possible without compromising quality.

Unit production cost is everything and there are many ways of reducing it. For instance, one of the most recent agency lines taken on by 1st MTA is the range of electro-permanent magnetic work-holding and handling equipment from Walmag. The manufacturer asserts that swapping from the use of conventional vices to a magnetic solution allows five sides of a components to be machined in one hit, typically raising output by a quarter for no increase in production cost.

Walmag has gone so far as to calculate the comparative cost benefit of producing a part in one operation using magnetic work holding rather than in two operations using compressive clamping. The analysis is based on milling a 400 x 600 x 20 mm component on a VMC in a 30-minute cycle. The saving derives solely from being able to fixture the billet once in one minute instead of twice in eight minutes.

Based on £16.20 per hour to employ an operator and £43.20 per hour for use of the machine tool, the £5079.24 capital cost of the Walmag clamp and control unit is amortised in 49 days in single-shift operation, or in half that time for a double-shift pattern. After that, there is a net saving for the manufacturer of £103.95 per shift, assuming the machining of 15 workpieces.

For further information www.1mta.com

April saw a further acceleration in the UK manufacturing sector’s rate of expansion. Growth of output and new orders were both among the best seen over the past seven years, leading to a solid increase in employment. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 60.9 in April, up from 58.9 in March and above the earlier flash estimate of 60.7. The latest reading is the highest since July 1994’s record high (61.0).
Manufacturing production increased for the 11th successive month in April. Underpinning the latest robust expansion of production was a similarly marked improvement in new business intake, while two-thirds (66%) of companies predict that output will be even higher in a year’s time. In fact, the overall degree of confidence currently stands at its highest level in seven years.

For further information www.markiteconomics.com

Soraluce will to showcase its portal and gantry milling machines live from the company’s factory in Spain at 09:00 UK time on 18 May. This 30-minute virtual event, delivered in English by David Gonzalez, commercial director at Soraluce, and Iñaki Iglesias, senior applications technician, is open to all who register. TW Ward CNC Machinery is the partner and exclusive supplier of Soraluce machine tools in the UK and Ireland.

The event will include practical examples showing the multi-tasking functionality of the machines, which are suitable for milling, turning and grinding. More specifically, attendees will have the opportunity to witness a comprehensive tour of a machine for a major customer from the rail sector. Delegates will be able to ask questions by participating in a live chat.

Register at
https://is.gd/rinusu

In 2015, Wesbart decided to carry out a full review of all products and manufacturing processes, which involved looking at every aspect of manufacturing to help improve productivity and reduce costs.

One of the main processes which required investment was folding. All aluminium and stainless steel parts were folded at Wesbart using a manual system with an operator. Due to an increase in orders it was necessary to use subcontractors to meet demand.

“Our production runs can range from 150 parts to more than 5000,” says sales executive David Patey. “We carried out some testing of various automation options and found the parts would need to be fed into the cell on a conveyor system. As a result, we contacted a locally based robot integration company [ICS Robotics and Automation] to work with Bystronic and develop a suitable system. We chose to use Kuka robots and the Bystronic Xpert 40 press brake due to their small footprint.”
ICS designed a bespoke space-saving set up using three Kuka robots, one operating each press brake with another feeding components from the conveyors. A camera system was included to identify the parts and confirm their correct placement on the conveyor.

The system arrived in January 2021 and has already shown a great deal of potential. According to Wesbart, the Bystronic press brakes are incredibly quick and reliable, while the user interface is very easy to operate, which helps expedite robot programming for the company’s components.

“With the investment made in the bending cell we hope to remain a market leader based on the quality, price and lead time of our products,” concludes Patey. “We also hope it will allow us to enter new markets.”

For further information
www.bystronic.co.uk

Blazehill Capital has launched as a new alternative lender that provides credit and working capital funding to mid-market manufacturers requiring additional financial support which they cannot get from traditional providers. The company typically provides secured lending ranging from £5m to £30m per transaction, delivering fast and flexible credit solutions to companies with non-standard lending requirements that are often complex and time critical. Blazehill’s ambition is to build a lending book of over £1bn in five years.

The team focuses on supporting management teams through tough trading periods, providing them with the necessary capital and financial breathing space to deliver on a turnaround plan. Blazehill Capital has the backing of a number of high-profile investors, including major financial institution WAFRA Capital Partners, the global credit investment firm with $5.1bn in assets under management and specialisms in asset-based finance.

For further information www.blazehill.com