Ford’s Dagenham engine plant will manufacture the latest advanced-technology diesel engines for the next-generation Ford Transit Custom range. Ford Otosan – Ford’s joint venture in Kocaeli, Turkey – will assemble the latest Ford Transit Custom range, beginning in early 2023. The announcement, with its anticipated incremental engine volumes, helps to safeguard jobs at Dagenham.

While Ford expects around two-thirds of its commercial vehicle sales in Europe to be electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030, diesel will continue play an important role in commercial vehicle applications in the years ahead – especially as the total volumes of Ford Transit and Transit Custom sales continue to grow.

For further information www.ford.co.uk

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) is further expanding its partnership with Renishaw through the addition of connected metrology solutions. This new agreement is critical to the DMC’s on-site machining and inspection capabilities, delivered via precision engineering specialist Produmax. The partnership will see Produmax’s machining and inspection services linked into the DMC’s intelligent, connected process chain, making for a key element in the realisation of a true digital twin and the real-world application of Industry 4.0.

Equipped with a new DMG Mori DMU 60 eVo Linear five-axis machining centre, Produmax will utilise a Renishaw OMP600 optical probe in conjunction with NC-Checker and NC-PerfectPart software from Renishaw associate company MSP, to ensure machine capability and enable complex part alignment prior to machining. A Siemens controller will proactively adapt machining processes to the subtle variations in net-shape components made through additive manufacturing.

During machining, a Renishaw NC4+ Blue laser tool setter will help the DMC achieve the high levels of precision required to deliver the necessary tolerances and surface finishes. Produmax will then analyse the parts using a Renishaw Revo five-axis measurement system to certify quality.

Revo’s multi-sensor capability and high-performance scanning provide Produmax with non-contact and surface finish analysis in a single CMM. The CMM will come equipped with Renishaw’s five-axis tactile scanning and touch-trigger probe, surface-finish measurement tools (SFP2) and non-contact optical fringe probe (RFP). This suite of technology will give the DMC and Produmax the ability to carry out a variety of measurement tasks in a single datum system and in one operation.

Headquartered at Silverstone Park, the DMC aims to realise the disruptive potential of additive and connected manufacturing.

For further information
www.digitalmanufacturingcentre.com\

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of Doosan machine tools in the UK and Ireland, is implementing a new digital marketing campaign to promote its recently-launched SYNERGi automated manufacturing cells. The campaign, which starts this month, kicks-off with a series of teaser/promotional ads for each of the company’s three standard SYNERGi systems: SYNERGi Premier, SYNERGi Classic and SYNERGi Sprint. Promotion will be via the company’s YouTube channel, as well as its e-marketing and social media programmes.

Says Mills CNC’s technical director Tony Dale: “We’ve invested significant time and resources in creating our SYNERGi automated manufacturing cells. As we emerge from the pandemic we know that automation – and the dramatic ways it can improve productivity, flexibility and operational efficiencies – is going to be an issue high on every component manufacturer’s agenda.”

For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Around 1400 jobs across the UK will be secured thanks to nearly £90m of investment in aerospace manufacturing. The government/industry funding for five major projects through the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme aims to improve manufacturing within the aerospace sector, developing technology to make production lines quicker, more efficient and more cost-effective.

Minister for Business Paul Scully said: “This multi-million-pound cash injection will safeguard vital jobs and support the aerospace sector as it builds back stronger after the pandemic. Manufacturing is at the very heart of UK industry, and innovative processes will ensure that the country is at the forefront of global efforts as we develop technology that can power a green aviation revolution.”

For further information
www.gov.uk

Rotherham-based Go Tools Ltd has recently invested in two Okamoto ACC450AV precision surface and profile grinding machines from DF Precision Machinery, Okamoto’s UK distributor.

Technical director Steven Barrowcliff says: “To help prove the ACC450AV’s capabilities, I witnessed a demonstration of the machine performing a range of demanding grinding tasks. The grinder confirmed its suitability for our needs, and we were happy to place an order for two machines.

“After installation and operator training, the new Okamoto machines soon began to make a significant contribution to our surface and profile grinding work,” continues Barrowcliff. “In addition to high precision and surface finish, their ease of use and speed has resulted in the machines becoming popular with our grinding staff.

“High-standards of surface and profile grinding are critical to the quality of the tools that we manufacture, and these attributes are exactly what our Okamoto machines deliver. As we’ve been so impressed with our new Okamoto grinders, to help satisfy ever growing demand for our tools, we’re now planning to install two additional ACC450AV machines.”

The Okamoto ACC450AV precision surface and profile grinding machine, as purchased by Go Tools, provides a length capacity of 450 mm across travel of 170 mm, while the maximum grinding height between the machine’s table and grinding wheel is 357.5 mm. Standard equipment includes a micro cross-feeder that allows fast and simple change over from 0.02 to 0.001 mm graduations. A high-visibility cross-feed digital readout enables easy monitoring of all manual adjustments.

Okamoto’s variable speed wheel provides simple variable speed control of the grinding wheel, enabling it to match the material and surface-finish requirements of each workpiece.

For further information
www.dfpmach.com