Another landmark in Aston Martin’s ‘Second Century Plan’ was achieved last month with production officially returning to the company’s historic Newport Pagnell site. It marks a significant moment in which history has come full circle, with a special run of 25 DB4 GT Continuation cars being built at same site as the original DB4 GTs were made almost 60 years ago. Each car will take approximately 4500 man hours to build.

Since moving to its purpose-built headquarters and production facility at Gaydon in 2003, Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell premises has been home to Aston Martin Works – heart of the marque’s heritage sales, service, spares and restoration operation. Production of the Mk1 Vanquish ceased in 2007, but since that time countless classic Aston Martins have been restored to their former glory by the Works team.
For further information www.astonmartinworks.com

Broadbent Stanley has announced a strategic agency agreement with Radar Industrial, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of CNC VTLs. The agreement will see Broadbent Stanley actively marketing and selling the Radar range in many markets, including the UK, Ireland, Egypt, Africa and the Middle East.

Radar VTLs are available in three model designations: the RAL-12, RAL-16 and RAL-20. The machines offer maximum turning diameters ranging from 1500 to 2400 mm, and turning heights up to 1600 mm – with a maximum workpiece weight of 13,000 kg on the largest machine. All three models come with the Fanuc 0i-TF CNC. As standard, Radar VTLs are equipped with a 12-position tool changer, which can be increased to 18 on the optional M-specification machines, with nine of those positions being capable of handling driven tooling powered by a 15 kW motor (with up to 2400 rpm available for the live tooling).
For further information www.broadbentstanley.co.uk

Sheffield-based Special Quality Alloys is a specialist in forged products, bar and machined components made from nickel-based alloys, duplex, super duplex, stainless steels and carbon and alloy grades principally for the oil and gas, power generation, aerospace and general engineering industries around the world. The company holds approvals that include IS0 9001 and ISO 14001, as well as numerous end-user accreditations.

Part of the Special Steel Group, Special Quality Alloys was requested to produce a total of 35,000 bars that needed cutting to size from billets, forming part of a single individual project. The company had previously purchased a number of sawing machines from Prosaw, but this special rapid-sawing application was so intensive that three new saws were required in order to meet demand.
Firstly, Prosaw supplied a Mega BS330HAS heavy-duty automatic bandsaw, which has been fully employed cutting the billets seven days a week since installation. This machine has been followed by two further bandsaws from Prosaw, a Mega H-460A heavy-duty, automatic twin-column bandsaw and a second Mega 330HAS. All three saws are said to make fast work of cutting the high Rockwell hardness nickel steel billets.
Dean Matthews, operations director at Special Quality Alloys expressed his satisfaction with the service given to this project by Prosaw, as well as the performance of the bandsaws, stating: “These saws have proved themselves to be very reliable and capable in efficiently and accurately handling a very challenging material. Reliability reduces the frequency of any servicing that might be required, which in turn reduces both downtime and costs.” Editor’s note: MTI is printing this story to replace the Prosaw press release that appeared in the 20 November issue in error, which was a historical article not reflecting the current extensive in-house sawing capabilities of Special Quality Alloys.
For further information www.prosaw.co.uk

University of Huddersfield experts are helping Otley-based Craftsman Tools introduce advanced technology and manufacturing systems that will enable the company to break into new global markets and quadruple its turnover.

Now, Craftsman Tools aims to diversify from subcontract machining and increase its focus on designing and manufacturing its own products, particularly toolholders.
The company’s goal is to boost turnover in this sector from £1.2m to £4m within five years. Increased productivity, flexibility and efficiencies need to be achieved, which will demand a systems engineering approach and automated manufacture. Key issues raised by the new strategy are to be addressed by a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) – financially backed by Government body Innovate UK – formed between Craftsman and the University of Huddersfield.
For further information www.hud.ac.uk