XYZ Machine Tools has recruited Graham Cherry to the newly created role of premium product sales manager, where the prime focus for his machine tool sales experience will be on the recently introduced XYZ UMC-5X gantry-style five-axis machining centre and other premium products as they are added to the XYZ range. Cherry’s background includes 10 years of shop-floor experience, including an apprenticeship, backed up by 29 years in sales,
25 of which were in the machine-tool industry, working for leading industry names.

“My time on the shop floor, followed by four years in cutting-tool sales gave me the knowledge to make the progression to machine-tool sales, where I developed into a specialist in the sales of premium, multi-axis, precision machine tools,” says Cherry. “The opportunity to join XYZ as it moves further into the premium sector with the UMC-5X is one that I’m relishing, and one that I see being very successful.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Dugard is the new exclusive agent throughout the UK and Ireland for Kiwa Machinery. Based in Nabari, Japan, Kiwa manufactures horizontal machining centres which feature a tool changer and multi-pallet system that is upgradable from a two-pallet, 120-tool machine to a six- or eight-pallet machine with 220 tools. This gives customers the necessary flexibility to meet any future expansion needs without having to buy a completely new machine.

Featuring rapid traverse speeds (up to 80 m/min on the KH-400 model) as well as direct drive (up to 15,000 rpm) and built-in (up to 20,000 rpm) spindle options, Kiwa machines feature a patented hybrid slideway design that combines roller and boxways. A compact footprint is another attribute, at just 1.6m wide for a HMC with 500 x 500 x 500 mm travels (Kiwa KH-4100) in the X, Y and Z axes.
For further information www.dugard.com

SME manufacturers are looking for productivity gains from their workforce and existing equipment ahead of investment in automation, according to the latest National Manufacturing Barometer. The quarterly survey, which is conducted by SWMAS in partnership with Economic Growth Solutions, asked over 280 manufacturing industry leaders how they plan to increase productivity at their business.

Just 43% of respondents said they are planning to invest in new equipment and only 40% are planning to recruit to meet future increases in sales – the lowest recruitment figure the Manufacturing Barometer has reported since 2013. Despite this, an overwhelming majority of firms (61%) reported an increase in sales over the past six months, while 59% are confident this trend will continue.
For further information www.swmas.co.uk/knowledge

Within a couple of hours of Citizen Machinery UK opening the doors for its ‘Technology Days’ open house, the directors of Ilkeston-based subcontractor Adams Engineering (pictured) ordered a Citizen Cincom L32 VIII sliding-head turn-mill centre to increase its installed base of Citizen machines to five. Adams Engineering employs seven people and supplies sectors that include medical, mining, automotive, rail and HVAC. “We have grown on the back of our Citizen installations, which give us reliability, consistency of production, and support and service when we need it,” says director Scott Burrows.

Over the three days of the event more than 300 people attended Citizen’s UK headquarters near Watford, with 18 orders placed worth in excess of £3.4m. Seven of the machines sold feature the company’s patented Low Frequency Vibration
(LFV) technology.
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

A number of companies from across the UK sheet-metal industry are set to host an event dedicated to technology that can facilitate the implementation of Industry 4.0. Taking place on 29-30 November at Yamazaki Mazak’s European Technology Centre in Worcester, the ‘Sheet Metal 4.0’ event will see a selection of companies and industry experts come together to showcase technology which can unlock the next generation of sheet-metal production as part of a connected factory infrastructure.

Participants include: tooling specialist Mate Tooling Solutions; CADCAM software expert Radan; sheet metal supplier and service provider Press-Form; as well as used machine suppliers JTES and MSS Lasers. Thanks to the collaboration between these suppliers, there will be a number of sheet-metal cutting and peripheral machines on display, along with technical presentations, machine demonstrations and factory tours running throughout the day.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk/sheetmetal