THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Small but powerful machine tools

Yamazaki Mazak is ramping up the promotion of its Primos range of machines for UK machine users.

The new campaign, which has the strapline “You don’t have to be big to be powerful”, promotes the QT-Primos series, a range of compact turning centres, and the VC-Primos 400 SG, a compact vertical machining centre. Aimed at entry-level users, all machines in the Primos range can be characterised by small footprints, circa 20% less than equivalent machines in their class, says Mazak.
The QT-Primos 50 SG CNC turning centre is designed for mass production environments, but with minimum floor-space requirements, while the QT-Primos 150 SG is a similar compact machine equipped with a servomotor-driven drum turret that features high-speed, non-lift turret indexing. The new campaign also includes the VC-Primos 400 SG, a compact vertical machining centre equipped with a 12,000 rpm spindle and 30-taper interface.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

METALTECH promises even more growth

After a successful 24th edition of METALTECH in May, the show is set for yet another growth spurt in 2019 with the impending move to MITEC and new owners UBM promising a wave of enhancements.

METALTECH 2018 was the largest in the exhibition’s history, featuring over 35,000 sq m of floor space serving 2000 exhibiting companies and some 14,125 visitors. In addition, the show’s business matching service staged close to 200 meetings between buyers and suppliers.
The announcement of the exhibition’s move to MITEC, Malaysia’s largest and most modern exhibition centre, means exhibitors will be able to utilise larger-volume halls and advanced facilities, with visitors enjoying a more convenient, integrated and innovative experience. Relocating to an upgraded venue for 2019 coincides nicely with METALTECH’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Next year’s event is set to run from 22-25 May 2019, and 90% of 2018 participants have already rebooked their places.
For further information www.metaltech.com.my

Conference backs CBI agenda

Yamazaki Mazak has backed the CBI’s Innovation agenda with the hosting of a special Business Insights Conference.

The conference, held at Mazak’s European Technology Centre in Worcester, was attended by nearly 100 delegates from senior positions across business and industry in the West Midlands. Included at the one-day conference were talks from a host of speakers, including Aon Affinity, Innovation Birmingham, Freeths law firm, LEVC, Kimal PLC and Strategenic.
The conference agenda started with a presentation by Marcus Burton, non-executive director at Yamazaki Mazak, on innovation in manufacturing systems and the new opportunities available through digitalisation: “If UK business is to continue thriving it must harness the power of innovation and, specifically, digitalisation,” he said.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Awards recognise future engineers

Three schools from Wales and Warwickshire were the main winners at the first ever ‘Design and Make Challenge’ organised by the Manufacturing Assembly Network (MAN).

Alcester Grammar, Southam College and Ysgol Bro Dinefwr beat off competition from other rivals to take the Manufacturing, Innovation and Efficiency titles respectively, impressing judges with their teamwork, creativity and ability to meet the project brief.
In total, 28 students swapped their daily lessons for the chance to test out their engineering and design skills by using basic materials and tools to make a device capable of lifting a 13 kg block of stainless steel using friction grip alone. The event, which was hosted by WMG, is the first in a number of activities being created by MAN in order to help it bridge the skills gap and start developing a pipeline of future engineers.
For further information www.man-group.co.uk

No stone unturned in pursuit of excellence

As part of its quest for continued growth, excellence and product diversification, CMS Cepcor of Coalville has recently invested in the latest Creaform HandyScan3D from Measurement Solutions.

CMS Cepcor says it is Europe’s largest aftermarket manufacturer and supplier of stone crusher, screen and asphalt plant spare parts. The company provides its products and services globally to the mining, quarrying, demolition and recycling industries, exporting to over 100 countries.
To maintain its market status, operations director Chris Sydenham is constantly looking at new technologies and capabilities to drive efficiencies, customer satisfaction and product diversification.
This has been exemplified in recent years with around £7m invested in CNC, milling, turning, boring, slotting, grinding, drilling, welding, co-ordinate measuring and materials testing.
CMS Cepcor has made significant investments in three portable measuring and scanning arms during the last decade. However, the portability, and scanning capability in particular, resulted in the need to assess complementary technologies capable of increasing measurement efficiency
and usability.
“The Measurement Solutions team were able to visit our facility and demonstrate a device which is truly portable,” says Sydenham. “Although we design and manufacture in the UK, having the ability to take the HandyScan3D overseas is a major advantage, as the whole system is transported in a carrying case no larger than aircraft hand luggage. This gives us a whole new capability of scanning on-site, with the ability to send data back to the UK and begin the reverse engineering or inspection processes before our engineer has even boarded the plane home.”
Due to the scale of the components, the large field of view and scanning speeds generated by the HandyScan3D’s 14 laser lines far surpassed any other system considered, says the company.
For further information www.measurement-solutions.co.uk