THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Cutting tool specialist joins AFRC

The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) has welcomed cutting-tool manufacturer Quickgrind as its latest tier-two member. This new partnership will enable Quickgrind to promote its products and services to the AFRC’s tier-one members and partners, as well as tier-two members. In return, the company will provide the AFRC with its technology and consultancy support for the centre’s machining-related research.

Crawford Cullen, manufacturing engineer at the AFRC, says: “Quickgrind is ideally suited to the growth and developments of the AFRC’s machining team.”
For further information www.quickgrind.com

Gantry robots installed at axle plant

The Kingswinford facility of axle manufacturing specialist MTI Welding Technologies has installed gantry robots from Güdel to help boost production.

MTI’s new gantry robots can be found at the heart of an automated cell used to friction-weld axle sub-assemblies destined for articulated trailers. The production cell integrates MTI’s double-head friction-welding technology with two Güdel gantry robots (ZP5 and FP3 models), a machine vision system and a series of product conveying/handling systems. Güdel UK also integrated the Siemens control with the robots.
For further information www.gudel.com

Blum hails change in measurement attitudes

A global measurement specialist is celebrating after enjoying its best ever appearance at last month’s Southern Manufacturing exhibition in Farnborough. Blum-Novotest says it took 12 strong enquiries on its stand after displaying the company’s new Digilog touch-probe systems. Managing director David Mold says that the firm witnessed a big turning point at the show, with potential customers exploring how they could validate parts while still on the machine: “This is exactly what our technology gives them, ensuring that every part they machine is a good part. In the past, we’ve had to convince visitors of the benefits of on-machine verification. This is no longer the case, which is helping us plan for our record year. In fact, with what we’ve got in the pipeline, I’m pretty certain we’ll secure 20% growth in 2018.

“The 12 leads we took at the show were all enquiries from companies with a real application and interest in how our technology can improve the way they manufacture,” he adds. “It summed up what was an excellent show and one that captured the current positivity surrounding UK industry.”
Blum-Novotest employs 534 people and turns over £77m across its 16 subsidiaries. The company says that it delivers solutions to some of the world’s largest aerospace primes, car manufacturers and a host of CNC machine tool suppliers, including the Engineering Technology Group, Whitehouse Machine Tools and YMT.
For further information www.blum-novotest.com

Rod mill equipment contract

Jianlong Beiman Special Steel Co Ltd, based in Qiqihar, China, has awarded SMS Group a contract to supply core equipment for a high-speed wire-rod mill. The centrepiece of the mill, which has an annual capacity of 500,000 tons, is a 10-stand wire rod finishing block. To comply with the metallurgical requirements of the finished products, the wire-rod mill has been designed for low-temperature rolling.

Saarstahl AG

In addition to the wire-rod finishing block, the scope of supply includes two cantilevered roughing stands, a group of shears upstream of the block, and a loop-laying head including pinch-roll unit. What’s more, SMS group is supplying the design for the LCC (loop cooling conveyor) with three-fan technology, as well as the coil-handling system. Commissioning will take place in spring 2019.
For further information www.sms-group.com

Portable metrology and AQC on show

MACH will provide the launch-pad for two new business divisions from Measurement Solutions, each dedicated to applications within the quality control sector (hall 19, stand 22). The Portable Metrology Division, which focuses on portable hand-held measuring systems, will be showing the latest Creaform measurement and scanning systems. In particular, the MetraScan 3D, which is able to scan parts from 300 mm up to 10 m in size, can deal with any material or surface, including castings, sheet metal, composites, machined surfaces and plastics.

MSL’s new Metrology Integration Division is dedicated to providing metrology solutions based on AQC applications, irrespective of whether the requirement is for a traditional CNC CMM or an in-process industrial robot. As part of the launch at the exhibition, MSL will be showing an automated robot cell with a 3D scanner, fully programmed and directly operated through a Metrolog X4 i-Robot.
For further information www.measurement-solutions.co.uk