THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

AZL orders large injection moulder

The Aachen Centre for Integrative Lightweight Production (AZL) at RWTH Aachen University is installing a new Engel injection moulding system.

Engel Deutschland GmbH – in co-operation with the Engel Centre for Lightweight Composite Technologies in Austria – will install the two-component injection moulding system with turning plate and 17,000 kN clamping force in 2019. This machine set-up is the basis for further developments in efficient inline combination technologies using different kinds of polymer performance materials.
AZL’s new Engel injection moulding system will enable innovative combinations of already established fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) processes and the development of new individual processes. The focus is on increasing resource efficiency in lightweight production, with research addressing multi-material systems, continuous processes, process chains and self-optimising processes.
For further information www.azl-aachen-gmbh.de

€1bn BMW plant

BMW continues to expand its production network in Europe, with a new facility to be built in Hungary, close to the town of Debrecen.

The plant will come at an investment of approximately €1bn, and offer capacity of up to 150,000 units a year and create over 1000 new jobs.
“The BMW Group’s decision to build this new plant reaffirms our perspective for global growth,” says Harald Krüger, chairman of the BMW AG Board of Management. “After significant investments in China, Mexico and the US, we are now strengthening our activities in Europe to maintain a worldwide balance of production between Asia, America and our home continent. Europe is the BMW Group’s largest production location. In 2018 alone we are investing more than €1bn in our German sites to upgrade and prepare them for electric mobility.”
For further information www.bmwgroup.com

BI-MU 2018 fast approaching

The 31st edition of BI-MU, Italy’s most important trade show for machine tools, automation and digital manufacturing technologies is set to take place on 9-13 October in Milan.

This year will see a heavy focus on the world of connectivity, presenting special areas on the IoT, big data, cyber security, cloud computing and augmented reality.
As a natural stage to show the influences between the world of manufacturing systems and digital technologies, through an in-depth overview of the main market trends and productive models generated over the first years of the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, BI-MU 31 will present a renewed technological product range covering all solutions related to the factory of the future. There will be lots of new areas created to transform the trade show into a balanced mix of technological displays, thematic areas, infotainment zones and convention areas.
For further information www.bimu.it

Haas partners with Ineos team

Britain’s bid for the America’s Cup has led to Haas Automation being selected as the official machine tool supplier to Ineos Team UK, which is making an effort to bring the trophy back to Britain for the first time since the competition was established in 1851.

The Portsmouth-based team includes Sir Ben Ainslie as principal and skipper. Sir Ben will be hoping to achieve glory at the next edition of the America’s Cup in 2021, which will be contested in New Zealand.
Ineos says its decision to choose Haas was based on pedigree, performance and the ability to support the machines with its worldwide network. The team has invested in a Haas TM-1P tool-room mill and a Haas TL-1 tool-room lathe. Once the yacht’s development work has been completed in Portsmouth, the Haas machines will be put in a container and shipped to the other side of the world. James Leet, Haas director, says: “Haas has a tremendous track record within the marine industry on the south coast, and this association has become the jewel in the crown.”
For further information www.haas.co.uk

Engineering club launched by MCMT

Children as young as nine got to grips with a number of technology-led activities last week when a special engineering club took place in Bridgnorth.

The Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT) teamed up with Black Country Atelier (BCA) to offer an action-packed menu of activities spanning the entire five days. This included designing and making a programmable Tamagotchi-style pet, constructing wide bridges and tall skyscrapers, and the challenge of creating the best rocket car.
A total of 15 young people – aged between nine and 13 years old – were supported by MCMT staff/apprentices (and instructors from BCA) to come up with ideas, work with hand tools and access some of the best technology installed at the 36,000 sq ft facility. MCMT is equipped with over £3m of equipment across its dedicated fabrication, foundry, lathe, metrology, milling, robotics and vehicle trimming sections. There is also a CNC zone that houses three-axis and five-axis machining centres donated by the Engineering Technology Group.
For further information www.mcmt.co.uk