The smallest model in the range of eight KASTOwin automatic bandsaws was exhibited on the Kasto stand at last month’s Southern Manufacturing 2019 exhibition. The saws are suitable for processing a variety of materials in stockholding and manufacturing across diverse industry sectors such as automotive, aerospace and general engineering.

Incorporating many features that are said to boost productivity, the KASTOwin 3.3 on show had a maximum cutting capacity of 330 mm, which rises to over 1 m for the largest model. The machines are suitable for the mass production sawing of solid material, tube and profile. In addition to five standard models, there are three further variants: one specifically for processing additively manufactured parts; an up-stroking machine intended for tube cutting; and a saw designed for use with carbide blades.
The bandsaws feature a frequency-controlled drive that enables cutting speeds of 12 to 150 m/min. Importantly, the saw band is hydraulically tightened and looped around band guides that have interchangeable carbide inserts, saving the cost of replacing an entire carbide guide. A touch-screen SmartControl monitors and controls all relevant order requirements and sawing parameters using an in-built material library.
Also worthy of note, ball-screw drives have replaced hydraulics to ensure tight control over material feed movements. KASTOrespond measures the force on the band and continuously optimises down-feed pressure to keep the chip load constant. This function allows the machine to adapt to material quality, shape and heterogeneity, maximising productivity and blade life,
and virtually eliminating scrap, says Kasto.
For further information www.kasto.com

Subcon returns on the 4-6 June 2019 at the NEC, Birmingham. Now in its 43rd year, Subcon remains the UK’s only dedicated event that enables subcontract manufacturing buyers to source suppliers, benchmark capabilities and form new partnerships.

Against a backdrop of profound uncertainty and change within the engineering and manufacturing industries, Subcon 2019 will show how the sector continues to innovate and deliver maximum value, with three events at one venue.
For 2019, the Subcon Launchpad and Launchpad Awards have been unveiled to showcase cutting-edge innovations from across industry. Launchpad aims to boost manufacturing and engineering-based start-ups by giving them an opportunity to share their innovations with thousands of professionals. The exhibition organiser says that the showcase and awards will deliver an unrivalled platform for eight engineering start-ups, along with a £10,000 prize package for the winner.
For further information https://is.gd/wuquba

Dugard Ltd has become the sole UK and Ireland sales and distribution outlet for the Kitamura brand of machine tools.

The arrival of the Kitamura brand is a huge coup, especially as it was the Japanese manufacturer that sought out the sales, service and distribution expertise of Dugard to enhance its footprint in the UK market. Dugard has certainly jumped on the quality of the brand, selling two machines in the first two weeks of the agency agreement, with dozens more enquiries flooding in.
The Kitamura range includes horizontal and vertical machining centres, including five-axis models, as well as the double-column Bridgecenter series of machining centres for large components. Product sales manager Colin Thomson says: “Kitamura will outperform the majority of high-end brands in the market, whether for precision, productivity, capability or flexibility. By choosing to work in partnership with Dugard, Kitamura now has access to our service support network, which delivers unparalleled levels of expertise and response times. This is already seeing existing Kitamura users in the UK approaching Dugard to find out more.”
For further information www.dugard.com

Students studying courses at South and City College Birmingham – from BTEC through to City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 (including apprentices) – are benefiting from investment in machines from XYZ Machine Tools.

In fact, the college’s Bordesley Green campus now has 12 XYZ machines, a combination of manual trainer lathes, turret mills with DROs, a surface grinder, ProtoTrak-equipped SMX 2500 bed mills, and an SLX 1630 ProTurn lathe. A similar range of machines has been installed at the Bournville campus.
“The mix of manual, DRO and ProtoTrak-controlled machines is ideal for our needs,” says Ian Partington (pictured), Advanced Technician – Engineering. “The ProtoTrak system was a big influence in our final decision to go with XYZ Machine Tools as it provides the perfect middle ground between manual and CNC, and is not too big a step up for students as they progress.” The ease of use of the ProtoTrak control system is combined with its ability to handle complex parts for either one-off or small-to-medium production volumes.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

As specialists in the supply of machines to the education market, Chester Machine Tools (via Irish partner Central Technology Supplies) recently provided CNC and conventional machines to the Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) in Ireland.

The machines supplied were a Chester EDU360 CNC lathe and a Chester V6L Delta three-axis CNC machining centre, both of which were installed in the education workshop facilities to help young engineers complete their prototyping and design projects utilising the latest technology.
Chester’s engineers undertook the final commissioning and training on site at the WWETB facilities as part of the company’s ongoing support package to education customers. The installation of these machines follows recent Chester machine installations in Ireland of a CNC mini machining centre at the Institute of Technology in Tallaght, Dublin, and 16 conventional lathes and turret
milling machines at the Regional Skills and
Training Centre in Dundalk.
For further information www.chestermachinetools.com