At a cost of more than £1m, Assembly Techniques Ltd (ATL) in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, is opening a two-story facility featuring a Class ISO8 cleanroom for component washing and drying.

At the heart of the new operation is a Pro 550 six-stage, ultrasonic, aqueous cleaning line from Turbex, which has taken over from an older aqueous washing system and will assist ATL in attaining ISO 13485 medical accreditation by the end of October 2019. Ultimately, the move will enable ATL to supply parts to the medical sector.
ATL director Nigel Downing says: “All of our metallic and high-end plastic components are supplied by external contract machinists, and a large percentage of those require degreasing and the removal of cutting fluid residue before assembly. The Turbex line is so efficient that nearly all components, including non-critical parts, can be processed using a range of semi-automatic washing cycles.”
For further information www.turbex.co.uk

Linked to intuitive software, a bank of 3D printers has been built by AMRC engineers to show that the batch printing of bespoke polymer components is an affordable option, even for smaller manufacturers.

Using a fleet of 12 Formlabs Form 2 desktop 3D printers for the stereolithography (SLA) of polymer components, four Form Cure post-curing stations, four Form Wash cleaning stations, and buffing capabilities, the AMRC believes the new capability will spur the adoption of this technology across a range of sectors. The bank is installed on custom racking that connects each printer to Formlabs’ Dashboard software.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

The 25th edition of Metaltech Malaysia, an international machine tools and metalworking technology exhibition, will take place on 15-18 May at the new high-tech MITEC venue in Kuala Lumpur.

Metaltech Malaysia is being held alongside the 12th edition of automation exhibition Automex, which together will feature over 1500 companies covering over 20,902 sq m of floor place. Familiar exhibitor names will include Bystronic, Amada, Makino, Hexagon and Mitsubishi Electric among many others. The event is expected to attract 20,000 trade professionals.
“Our move to the new MITEC venue for the 25th anniversary reflects our reputation as first-in-class organiser, and dedication to better enhancing the visitor experience and providing them with the right platform to meet and network with key industry players,” says Gerard Willem Leeuwenburgh, country general manager of UBM Malaysia. “Since its launch the event has continued to grow, and is regarded as the right place to engage with quality trade buyers.”
For further information www.metaltech.com.my

Midlands-based Amco Group has been working hard throughout 2018 to strengthen its end-to-end plastic injection tooling proposition, due to customer demand.

The new offering has resulted in Amco’s recent contract to provide plastic injection mould tooling, tooling movement logistics and finished parts supply to the Morgan Motor Company. Amco is producing a tool for a plastic injection mould that will shape a three-piece plastic steering column shroud for the Plus Six model. The company will consolidate the tooling, production, transport and logistics into a single-source agreement.
For further information www.amcogroupservices.com

Machine tool manufacturer Okuma, which is represented in the UK by NCMT, has become a tier-one member of the AMRC (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre) at the University of Sheffield.

The five-year co-operation offers several benefits for researchers, the aerospace industry and Okuma. As a member of the AMRC, Okuma is providing know-how and support for the latest research in the form of a MU-8000V-L multi-tasking machine, including all options. The machine combines turning and five-axis machining, making it suitable for complex aerospace components.
For further information www.okuma.eu