Starrag UK is offering potential customers of gantry mills a new range of machines by complementing its Starrag Group Droop+Rein brand with the machine portfolio built in Australia by H&H Machine Tools. The collaborative agreement provides UK customers with access to a range of five- and six-axis machines offering capacities to meet every need and price tags to suit all budgets, says Starrag. Importantly, too, the scope of optional extras available across both ranges makes available a wide choice of machining technologies for single set-up, multi-task machining of all material types.

H&H Machine Tools’ managing director Thomas Hegmann says that “H&H five-axis gantry machines can utilise a choice of spindles, milling heads and work envelopes to suit individual requirements”.
Starrag UK’s director for sales and applications, Lee Scott, adds: “Previously, we only focused on very complex applications – usually requiring automated head changing – but now we can discuss any gantry application. In addition, Starrag UK is well-versed in H&H build techniques and technologies, so machine installation, commissioning, service and maintenance are all catered for professionally.”
The agreement between Starrag and H&H follows the success of the companies working closely to deliver – and subsequently commission and maintain – the largest ever machine to enter operation in Australia: a Droop+Rein gantry mill with X, Y and Z-axis traverses of 14,000 x 13,000 x 3500 mm, and an 11 m rotary table.

Now, with H&H gantry mills being available in the UK for the first time, potential customers have access to four main five-axis machine ranges from the Australian manufacturer.

For further information
www.starrag.com

Surface finishing specialist Fintek has become the exclusive UK agent for the H-series of machines from Rena Technologies Austria GmbH. The machines use the patented Hirtisation process, which removes support structures and powder cake, but goes further by reducing the surface roughness of metal parts manufactured by 3D printing. Hirtisation is suitable for all common metals and alloys, and all types of metal 3D printing technology.

Fintek managing director, Jonathan Dean, says: “The Rena H-series complements our existing disc, drag and stream finishing ranges from OTEC. They expand considerably our subcontract capability and machine offering for the surface finishing of additively manufactured metal parts.”

For further information www.fintek.co.uk

BMW Group’s Hams Hall engine manufacturing plant, located in Warwickshire, has reached a major milestone. Officially opening and starting production in 2001, the plant is marking 20 successful years of manufacturing three and four-cylinder petrol engines. A committed workforce of more than 1000 people support day-to-day operations at the site, around a third of whom are also celebrating their own 20-year or more contribution to the plant.

As well as engine assembly, a high-tech machining hall is a core part of the Hams Hall site, producing key engine components such as crankshafts, cylinder blocks and cylinder heads. Large investment over the past decade has meant the plant is also able to produce these parts for other BMW Group engine plants, with annual production exceeding more than 1 million components.

For further information www.bmwgroup.com

UK private equity fund Elaghmore has acquired Formaplex, an integrated manufacturer and supplier of lightweight component solutions to the global automotive, motorsport, aerospace, medical and defence markets. Established nearly 20 years ago, and with revenues in excess of £60m, Formaplex operates from four manufacturing sites based along the south coast of England. The company employs over 500 employees and, following the acquisition, CEO Mike Bryant will continue to head-up the operation.

Andy Ducker, co-founder at Elaghmore, says: “We believe that Formaplex has significant potential for continued growth in all of the sectors it serves. More and more businesses are looking to replace traditional component materials with lightweight solutions that increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact. We look forward to being part of this growth by providing Mike and the team with financial and operational support.”

For further information
www.formaplex.com

A recent rise in the volume of parts produced by Smethwick-based A&M EDM – one of the country’s largest specialist EDM companies – began to place a strain on the firm’s CMM provision. However, after evaluating solutions from three global metrology companies, the company has resolved its capacity issue by purchasing a Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex V CMM with an XYZ capacity of 900 x 1000 x 800 mm.

A&M quality inspector Steve Foster says: “The Crysta-Apex V was launched only a short time ago, therefore it was the most up to date and advanced CNC CMM of the machines that we considered, and the most suitable for our needs. As A&M’s machining facility continues to develop, the fact that this new CMM can integrate with advanced factory arrangements and interact with other systems makes it future proof.”

In addition to being suitable for today’s demanding inspection tasks, Mitutoyo’s new-generation CMMs are designed for the smart factory of the future and the connected production environment.

It helped A&M’s decision to invest that one of its major aerospace customers has multiple Mitutoyo CMMs. The company’s staff reported that its CMMs were efficient and reliable, and that it had received excellent service from Mitutoyo.

“The Crysta-Apex V’s intuitive operating system and the training we received from Mitutoyo UK has enabled our staff to quickly get up to speed,” says Foster. “In fact, the speed and accuracy specification of our new CMM has removed the potential for delays in our inspection department and is now helping to ensure the quality of our output.”

For further information
www.mitutoyo.co.uk