Producing batches from 30 to 20,000, Hertfordshire-based Plastic Turned Parts (PTP) has invested more than £750,000 in four years to the end of 2019 in six new CNC turning centres, helping it double turnover. Five of the machines were delivered by Citizen Machinery, four Cincom sliding-head lathes and, most recently, a Miyano fixed-head model, bringing the total number of lathes on-site from this supplier to nine.

All except two of the Citizen lathes are fitted with the company’s default option bar magazines from Italian manufacturer Iemca, represented in the UK by 1st Machine Tool Accessories.
Managing director and owner Jonathan Newis says: “We particularly like the Elite model fitted to our smallest capacity, 12 mm sliding-head lathe, which has a big-bore kit to take 16 mm diameter bar. The magazine can be swapped over in a matter of seconds from gravity bar feed to walking-beam operation for advancing smaller stock below 6 mm diameter.”
Newis also singles out for praise an Iemca Boss 338-HD Superfast feeding a 20 mm capacity slider. Turning flexible plastic bar is an esoteric art, one of the problems being that, unlike metal bars, thinner stock sags under its own weight both within the magazine and in the space between it and the lathe. Through 1st MTA, the Italian manufacturer modified the barfeed to include solid panels, rather than standard cross struts, for supporting the plastic bars along the length of the magazine. Also produced were bespoke clamping blocks to ensure that small diameter bar remains horizontal in the gap between where it leaves the barfeed and enters the turning centre.
For further information www.1mta.com

Pemamek has delivered two PEMA automated welding lines, designed for foundation pin pile production, to CSBC Corp in Taiwan.

The investment is a part of CSBC’s business development initiative to become an offshore wind energy turnkey provider and expand its operations in national offshore wind energy markets. The automated solutions will enable CSBC to significantly increase its competitiveness, and boost manufacturing capacity and quality.
CSBC’s new lines are designed to manufacture pin piles for offshore jacket foundations, and have the capacity of processing pin piles up to 350 tons and 90 m. Included are three longitudinal seam welding stations, two assembly stations capable of welding internal circular seams, two welding platforms that operate simultaneously with two welding heads, integrated heavy-duty roller beds with polyurethane rollers, and a PEMA WeldControl 500 control system with laser-tracking.
For further information https://pemamek.com/

BAE Systems will take on 800 apprentices in the UK in 2020, the highest number ever recruited.

The recruits will join one of more than 25 apprenticeship programmes across the company’s air, maritime, land and cyber divisions, benefitting from tailored schemes that combine recognised qualifications with on-the-job training. BAE’s latest apprentices will work on programmes that include developing future combat air technologies for the Royal Air Force, and Dreadnought – a new generation of submarine for the Royal Navy that will replace the current Vanguard class.
For further information www.baesystems.com

Aston Martin Lagonda last month opened its new manufacturing facility in St Athan, Wales. First Minister of Wales, Rt Hon Mark Drakeford joined Aston Martin Lagonda president and group CEO, Dr Andy Palmer, at a ceremony to officially open the plant.

While Gaydon continues to be the home of the company’s sports car production, St Athan is the home of Aston Martin’s first SUV, the DBX. Upon the commencement of full production at St Athan in the second quarter of 2020, the company will have created up to 600 skilled jobs, rising to 750 at peak production.
In 2016, Aston Martin Lagonda chose the 90-acre St Athan site to be its newest centre of manufacturing excellence in the UK. Phase I of construction saw the creation of the customer and staff reception areas, administration and management offices, and the employee restaurant. Phase II got underway in spring 2017 after the ceremonial handover of the three super-hangars that now house the new manufacturing facility.
The final phase to fit out the now-converted super-hangars got underway in late 2018, ready for pre-production to commence in 2019.
For further information www.astonmartinlagonda.com

Martin Barber has been appointed to the role of premium product sales manager at XYZ Machine Tools, where he will have responsibility for sales of the company’s five-axis machining centres and the Robo-Tend machine-tending system.

Barber brings to the role over 30 years’ experience working in production environments and machine-tool sales.
“Martin’s experience in selling high-value multi-axis machine tools will be a terrific addition to our team,” says Nigel Atherton, managing director. “To win over potential customers who may not be traditional XYZ buyers, we need a dedicated resource in this area.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com