Sawing equipment and industrial warehouse manufacturer Kasto has added a new solution to its range of equipment for stockholders and processors of sheet metal. The new plate handler allows safe unpacking and storage of sheet stacks, reducing the amount of manual handling required, which is especially beneficial for heavy plates. Kasto’s new system not only saves time, but helps to prevent accidents and injuries.

The Kasto plate handler consists of a drum-shaped turning device and a support table that raises and lowers. A stack of sheet metal to be stored is placed for stability in the centre of the table by a forklift before it is unpacked. The user first removes the straps, packaging and edge protectors from the top, then advances the stack into the drum, which rotates through 180°.

Then, the table rises to its upper position, retrieving the stack in its inverted orientation and lowering to allow easy removal of the remaining packaging and the wooden pallet.

After removing all the packaging, vertical and horizontal guides align the plates exactly on the table according to the user’s requirements, either centred or at one corner. Telescopic forks convey the plates to a waiting cart and then on to a storage pallet. In this way, automated handling is achieved without any heavy lifting or carrying. The result is greater efficiency and better workplace ergonomics, while avoiding accidents and injuries.

Kasto reports that the device is suitable for sheet-metal stacks weighing up to 5 tonne in small, medium and large formats up to 2000 x 4000 mm. The system can handle corrugated sheets and set them down on either side as needed, while it can also connect to all Kasto sheet-metal storage systems.

For further information
www.kasto.com

Chris Hellier, who has spent his career specialising in manufacturing has joined XYZ Machine Tools as commercial manager. He brings with him extensive experience across a range of industries, as operations manager at a leading automotive component manufacturer, and managing director at both a vehicle adaptation specialist and an industrial fan company. A common thread during all of these previous roles was his purchase of XYZ machines within their production environments.

“It’s fair to say that I had a good knowledge of XYZ Machine Tools prior to this opportunity,” he says. “That knowledge, combined with the chance to put my skills to use in what will be an all-round role of overseeing the ongoing growth and development of XYZ Machine Tools, made it a straightforward decision to take on this position.”

For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

The Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) facility in Rathcoole has recently installed a new Doosan Puma 2600SY II turning centre with work-holding technology from Hainbuch at the heart of the installation.

Working in collaboration with machine supplier Mills CNC, Hainbuch installed its SpannTop mini quick-change dead-length chucks on both spindles of the Doosan Puma, with an 80 mm chuck on the main spindle and a 52 mm system on the sub-spindle. The SpannTop mini incorporates a chuck with a dismountable end-stop plate that ensures precision workpiece clamping without the pull-back effect. SpannTop mini permits quick changeover from outside to inside diameter clamping, or three-jaw clamping, thanks to the flexibility of the modular system.

IMR’s machining applications specialist Chris Judge says: “To demonstrate the full technical capability of the Doosan Puma you need to be using the best work-holding and tooling systems available, so we were delighted to see the Hainbuch system selected.”

The design of the SpannTop mini significantly reduces interference contours and improves tool accessibility, making it suitable for limited space work envelopes. According to Hainbuch, with its compact design and lower mass than alternate systems, the SpannTop mini minimises inertia loss when compared with three-jaw chucks. The dead-length variant installed on the Puma machine converts to a fully functional ‘bar chuck’ when the end-stop plate is removed. Providing workpiece clamping without axial movement of the clamping head, the SpannTop mini clamps workpieces with a short collar or shoulder, even providing part pick-off without the pull-back effect.

Hainbuch UK supplied the SpannTop mini complete with machine adaptions, changing guns and a complement of 10 clamping heads on each spindle for holding a complete variety of components.

For further information
www.hainbuch.com

The VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) expects production in the German machine-tool industry to grow by 6% to around €12.6bn in 2021. At the association’s annual press conference, chairman Dr Heinz-Jürgen Prokop (pictured) stated that the improved mood in the economy is raising the willingness to invest. “After two years of great restraint, there is now a strong need to make up ground,” he said.

China is proving to be the principal driving force behind the economic green shoots, particularly for the automotive industry. In Europe, too, the expectations are that investment will rise again by 10% after the major slump. Oxford Economics, the VDW’s forecasting partner, is predicting strong growth of 35% for orders in 2021. According to the VDW, there were already indications of this improvement in November and December.

For further information www.vdw.de

Victor has extended its line of machine tools with the Vcenter AX630 vertical machining centre. Available in the UK from GM CNC, the machine incorporates a B+C-axis rotary table to facilitate the five-axis machining of large parts.

The Vcenter AX630 has rigidity and precision incorporated into every aspect of the machine, something characterised by the trunnion-type B+C-axis table with its built-in, backlash-free roller cam mechanism seated on the base. In terms of speed, the B axis can rotate at up to 17 rpm with 6880 Nm of torque, whereas the C-axis rotation is capable of 33 rpm at 1960 Nm.

Notably, the Vcenter AX630 further optimises structure stiffness with the moving column and spindle, retaining an optimised centre of gravity. Front slideways fully support the spindle when the Y-axis travel is shorter than 300 mm.

The 9000 kg workhorse comes as standard with the FANUC 0i-MF CNC to drive tools around the 700 x 500 x 500 mm work envelope, while the 12,000 rpm spindle features a Big Plus BBT-40 interface. Powering the spindle is a continuous 11/15/18.5 kW motor.

Supplied with up to 30 tools via a twin-arm type fast-change tool barrel, customers can also select the machine with the option of 40, 48 or 60 tool positions. Offered as standard are a spindle oil cooler, fully enclosed splash guard, rigid tapping, remote MPG hand wheel, hand tools and toolbox, built-in work light, automatic power-off system, levelling pads and a screw-type chip-removal system.

For further information
www.gm-cnc.com