LK Metrology, a UK CMM manufacturer is reporting strong ongoing business performance three years after becoming a fully independent company again following its change of ownership in 2018. In 2021, LK Metrology, which has its headquarters in Derbyshire will celebrate its 58th year of trading.

The new proprietor, Angelo Muscarella, who also runs Italian firm ASF Metrology, is keen to share the progress that LK has made: “We’re delighted to find ourselves entering our fourth year of operation in April 2021 with a healthy order book. Revenue met budget in the last financial year and we even made a profit, despite incredibly difficult trading conditions due to the pandemic. Machine service and upgrade activities actually performed ahead of budget every month since July 2020.”

For further information www.lkmetrology.com

Barton Cold-Form, an expert in cold-forging technology since the 1932 and part of the UK manufacturing division of Optimas Solutions – has completed machinery and technology upgrades totalling over $3.6m. Operating from a 55,000 sq ft facility in Droitwich, the investment is allowing the manufacturer to substantially increase capability, capacity and solidify its market position in the production of highly engineered, bespoke fastening solutions.

The company’s capacity list has been bolstered with the addition of Nedschroef NH518L and NH515 five-die cold formers, a Smart NG W40 SEMS thread roller and a Smart NP 24-DD pointing machine. Notably, the Nedschroef cold-heading machines enable Barton to produce fasteners with an increased range of dimensions (6-175 mm length, 2-18 mm diameter) and in even greater volumes, yielding upwards of 7000 fasteners per hour.

For further information www.optimas.com

The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) has selected Comau UK to develop and deploy a semi-automated battery module and battery pack assembly line for the publicly-funded ‘open-access’ battery production development facility in Coventry. One of the unique elements of the project was the requirement for agile flexibility, which will allow UKBIC to manufacture a wide range of modules and packs, and support various customer requirements without the need for major process changes.

Comau UK provided all of the necessary technology and know-how to manage the entire battery module and pack manufacturing process, from cylindrical cell preparation and pouch cell stacking, to battery pack assembly. In addition to helping ensure the safety and reliability of the manufactured batteries through the use of smart cameras, thermal imaging and end-of-line leak test technologies, the solution offers built-in scalability.

For further information
www.comau.com

The Manufacturing Technology Centre, based in Coventry, is leading a Europe-wide project to increase the use of laser texturing in manufacturing processes. A group of 11 research organisations and companies will participate in Project Shark.

Laser texturing can change the texture or topography of a component to achieve specific functionality, such as low friction or low adhesion. According to the MTC, the process can result in lower production costs, faster product development and up to a 50% improvement in product performance, depending on the design of the surface texture. The EU’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for research and innovation is supporting the initiative.

For further information www.sharkproject.eu

As part of the Bromford Group, Bromford Industries Ltd in Leicester is a tier one manufacturer that specialises in the IGT, power generation and aerospace sectors. As such, the company has to balance the delicacies of continuous improvement, innovation and, of course, the scrutiny of year-on-year ‘cost-down’ pressure. For this reason, the company has a long-term contract in place with MSC Industrial Supply Co.

The most recent project centred on the manufacture of an initial batch of four Inconel 718 aero-engine components for a prestigious customer using a Doosan Puma 12L turning centre. With the initial batch completed successfully against a tight deadline, MSC knew that even better results were achievable on a second batch of eight. The team recommended a switch to ceramic cutting tools for the rough turning and grooving operations.

At the start of 2020, MSC formed a relationship with ceramic tooling brand NTK, and knew that the different physical properties of ceramic tooling would yield impressive results on heat-resistant aerospace grade alloys.

“We chose to partner with MSC six years ago, and ever since they’ve been an extension to our business,” says Andrew Moore, engineering and product quality manager at Bromford Industries. “This project is one of the many ways MSC has worked with us to seek innovative opportunities for improvement; they are a supply partner who wants us to succeed as much as we do.”

After increasing the surface speed from 43 to 250 m/min and raising the feed rate from 18 to 106 mm/min, good results soon followed. Rough turning the face and diameter of the 150 mm diameter workpiece, an NTK SX9 RNGN insert not only replaced two previous carbide tools and eliminated the respective tool changeover, it also slashed cycle times from 180 minutes to 27 minutes for the roughing operation.

For further information
www.mscdirect.co.uk