Rotary Power, part of the British Engines Group, has invested over £3m in an automated DMG Mori machining cell now in situ at the company’s manufacturing facility in South Shields. The automated capability of the new cell has improved Rotary Power’s manufacturing efficiency due to a reduction in set-up time of 87.5%, while the average cycle time is 33% shorter thanks to the machine’s cutting technology.

Measuring 19 x 10 m, the customised cell installed at Rotary Power consists of one automated robot travelling between two machines via a 13 m track. The robot automatically loads and unloads parts, sets the machines and collects completed products. Primarily, the cell manufactures components for the company’s range of motors and pumps.

The new machine standardises the length of time each tool is used by assigning a tool life span. Removing set-up variations in this way improves consistency, while reducing wastage of consumable items.

Ian McGeorge, manufacturing manager at Rotary Power, who has been leading the project says: “The addition of the new cell represents an exciting time for the company as it has allowed us to position ourselves more competitively within the market by improving our quality and reducing costs.”

A huge effort has been made by the team at Rotary Power to prepare for the implementation of the new cell and the business looks forward to seeing the positive impact that this investment will have in the future.”

Part of the British Engines Group, Rotary Power is a manufacturing company that specialises in the design, development and manufacture of hydraulic pumps and motors.

For further information
https://rotarypower.com/

Belman Engineering has grown from a subcontract machining service provider to the Formula One industry into a multi-service business. The company offers fast turnaround five-axis CNC machining for metallic and composite components from its sites in Milton Keynes and Birmingham.

To squeeze every ounce of productivity out of the machines while reducing its costs, Belman has invested in cutting tools from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC). The relationship started when the company, which operates 24/7, employed Craig Smith as its new head of production. Smith had worked with ITC in several previous roles and his experience of the service, support and, of course, the product quality opened the door for local ITC representative Gary Bambrick to visit and assess the situation.

Smith says: “When Gary visited, his initial assessment was that ITC could reduce our annual tooling costs from £100,000 per year to £60,000. This ambitious aim would be achieved through a number of different strategies.”

Over a period of time, Bambrick applied a variety of cutting tools, such as the ITC series of 4081 four-flute coated end mills, the 3081 three-flute series, and the 4032, 2172, 2071, 4121 and 2302 ranges that encompass square, ball nose and radius tools in a variety of diameters. A number of these ranges have also been supplied as uncoated, coated and diamond coated in the case of the 4121 and 2302 series. Yielding productivity gains, as well as an ability to reduce tooling inventory for Belman Engineering, the cost reductions soon became apparent. Indeed, despite the ambitious aim to reduce tooling costs from £100,000 to £60,000, ITC has surpassed this saving and is continually striving to create additional cost reductions and productivity improvements for Belman Engineering.

For further information
www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Sandvik Coromant has launched two micro-drill families for precision machining. CoroDrill 462 with -XM geometry and CoroDrill 862 with -GM geometry support industries that demand small parts, such as medical, automotive, electronics and aerospace. Designed to cover a variety of workpiece materials, CoroDrill 462 and 862 are available in new geometries to offer a wide range of cutting diameters and lengths.

The drills have been specially adapted to overcome the challenges of micro drilling. For instance, it is critical to have quality coolant to effectively evacuate chips when performing deep-hole drilling with micro tools. Both CoroDrill 462 and 862 can easily drill hole depths of up to 9xD when using external coolant. A through-coolant option is also available for drilling diameters of 1 mm and above, and hole depths of up to 16xD. Not only does the effective use of coolant help the tools to drill deeper holes, but it also extends tool life and reduces the risk of chip jamming.

Suitable for drilling both blind and through holes, the drill is capable of machining a variety of materials, including ISO P, M, K, N, S, O and H. Drill depths up to 6xD are available.

CoroDrill 862 is for making holes from 1 to 3 mm in diameter in all materials when used with internal coolant. In addition to conventional drilling, CoroDrill 862 supports a variety of other drilling activities, including cross holes, stack drilling and drilling convex and concave surfaces.

Although available as off-the-shelf solid carbide tools, both the CoroDrill 462 and 862 are available for customisation. Furthermore, customers have the option of purchasing CoroDrill 862 with a PCD vein cutting edge.

For further information
www.sandvik.coromant.com

As the sole UK and Ireland agent for the Victor range of CNC machine tools, the GM Group is currently extending its warehousing facilities in Oldham to support business growth. Set for completion in spring 2022, the new facility will expand the warehousing space from its existing 16,000 to over 30,000 sq ft. The extra space will house more machine tools, as well as pre-owned machinery, a training area, new open-plan office facilities, a new reception area and meeting rooms. This expansion adds to existing facilities in Bolton.

GM director Nicola Howard says: “From a customer service perspective, the extension will enable us to further reduce lead times, with the ability to hold more new and used stock machines. Additionally, customers will be able to visit the new showroom to witness demonstrations of the very latest machine tool technology. The extension will be serviced by a new 21.5 m span, 20-tonne Street overhead crane with a distance of over 9.8 m under the hook.”

For further information www.gm-cnc.com

Mills CNC Automation has supplied Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), an independent and not-for-profit research and training organisation, with a SYNERGi automation system. The new, large-capacity SYNERGi Premier is now in situ at IMR’s Technology Centre in Mullinger, Country Westmeath, where it partners with a Doosan Puma 2600 II multi-tasking lathe, acquired by IMR from Mills in August 2020, to create a flexible automated manufacturing cell.

IMR’s new SYNERGi will help the organisation de-mystify, de-risk and deliver new and emerging technologies that enable industry (across Ireland) to compete and succeed at the cutting edge of advanced manufacturing. The SYNERGi Premier system is a rigid, robust and large-capacity automation system comprising a Fanuc six-axis Industrial robot (25 kg payload) with Schunk three-jaw grippers, a five-drawer part-loading and unloading station, and laser floor scanner technology.

For further information www.millscnc.co.uk