Kasto Maschinenbau, which has its UK subsidiary in Milton Keynes, is this year celebrating 175 years of trading.

With headquarters in Achern, Baden-Württemberg, the firm has evolved from a one-man business into a globally successful company that remains in the hands of the founding family. With the assistance of numerous subsidiaries around the globe, Kasto has sold more than 140,000 bandsaws, circular saws and hacksaws, as well as 2200 storage systems for long stock such as bar and tube, and for sheet metal.
Among the oldest family owned and run companies in Europe, Kasto is using this anniversary year as an opportunity to offer an in-depth look into its history. Marking the occasion, the company is launching a contest to find the oldest Kasto saw still in use. Machines built in or before 1980 may be entered, and customers are invited to e-mail details, including a photo of the saw and of the nameplate, to 175@kasto.com. Every entry will be rewarded and the winner
will be announced later in the year.
For further information www.kasto.com

SME manufacturers across England have been awarded an £11.8m business support boost.

The Manufacturing Growth Programme, which is funded by ERDF and delivered by Economic Growth Solutions, has been extended until September 2021 and will help a further 2400 companies to tackle growth barriers, with the potential of creating 2500 new jobs. Going forward, support can be used for an array of projects, such as continuous improvement, change, environment and sustainability, leadership and management, marketing, people and skills, productivity and capacity, quality and strategy.
For further information www.manufacturingrowthprogramme.co.uk

Industrial air filtration and extraction specialist Filtermist has launched a £100,000 investment in upskilling all of its staff across the group.

Filtermist, along with sister companies Multi-Fan Systems, Dustcheck and DCS Group, has committed to giving every employee a minimum of 50 hours’ training every year, which could amount to 12,000 hours per annum in total.
Filtermist’s initiative will include job-specific courses, personal development opportunities and access to the recently launched competency workshops that cover continuous improvement, positive approach and teamwork, time management, protecting people and the environment, professionalism and quality, and customer experience. Staff will also be able to tap into masterclass sessions that will be delivered by senior management and external experts/trainers.
For further information www.filtermist.co.uk

At a cost of more than £1m, Assembly Techniques Ltd (ATL) in Dukinfield, Greater Manchester, is opening a two-story facility featuring a Class ISO8 cleanroom for component washing and drying.

At the heart of the new operation is a Pro 550 six-stage, ultrasonic, aqueous cleaning line from Turbex, which has taken over from an older aqueous washing system and will assist ATL in attaining ISO 13485 medical accreditation by the end of October 2019. Ultimately, the move will enable ATL to supply parts to the medical sector.
ATL director Nigel Downing says: “All of our metallic and high-end plastic components are supplied by external contract machinists, and a large percentage of those require degreasing and the removal of cutting fluid residue before assembly. The Turbex line is so efficient that nearly all components, including non-critical parts, can be processed using a range of semi-automatic washing cycles.”
For further information www.turbex.co.uk

Linked to intuitive software, a bank of 3D printers has been built by AMRC engineers to show that the batch printing of bespoke polymer components is an affordable option, even for smaller manufacturers.

Using a fleet of 12 Formlabs Form 2 desktop 3D printers for the stereolithography (SLA) of polymer components, four Form Cure post-curing stations, four Form Wash cleaning stations, and buffing capabilities, the AMRC believes the new capability will spur the adoption of this technology across a range of sectors. The bank is installed on custom racking that connects each printer to Formlabs’ Dashboard software.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk