THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

Horn secures Industry 4.0 award

Cutting tool manufacturer Paul Horn GmbH has received a second Allianz Industrie 4.0 Award Baden-Württemberg, underlining the company’s continuous pursuit of innovation and its pioneering role in digitalisation. Horn’s innovation has been to map the lifecycle of tools digitally, principally to enable the recording of quality-critical data using a web-based solution customised for specific groups of tooling products. The Horn Service Platform (HSP) prevents errors and reduces lead times by digitally automating and accelerating administrative tasks.

More information www.horn-group.com

New era for Floyd Automatic Tooling

UK cutting tool distributor Helix Tool has acquired Floyd Automatic Tooling following the decision of Richard and Chantal Floyd to retire from the business after 35 years. “Over the decades, our offering has expanded exponentially in line with both the technology and the requirements of the marketplace,” says Richard Floyd. “We’ve built partnerships with suppliers and clients that have spanned decades. The staff and management team at Floyd Automatic will undoubtedly take the Floyd brand, relationships, service and product portfolio forward with new vigour – and I wish our new owners every success in the future.”

More information www.floydautomatic.co.uk

Milestone Test For New VTLs

The first of 11 large, bespoke vertical turning lathes (VTLs) in construction for the proposed
new machining facility of Sheffield Forgemasters, has passed a milestone test ahead of
shipping it to the UK. German machine specialist, Waldrich Siegen, which is designing and
building the machines, has completed assembly and Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) for
the first machine. 
Fully configured for Industry 4.0, the VTL offers digital connectivity, advanced analytics,
automation and advanced manufacturing technologies for complete integration into a
network. Sheffield Forgemasters’ new machine shop will cover 35,000 m² and, with 21 new
heavy-duty machine tools from Waldrich Siegen, the company says it will become the most
advanced facility of its kind in Europe.
More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

NCMT Launches Five-Year Warranty

Machine tool sales and service agent NCMT has introduced an extended service warranty to
cover the Japanese-built Makino and Okuma machines it sells into the UK and Ireland.
Covered by the warranty are the supply of the manufacturer’s mechanical, electrical and
electronic components, which are replaced according to the machine’s original specification,
and NCMT’s travel and labour costs for carrying out repairs. The maximum amount that can
be claimed is up to the invoice price of the CNC machine, excluding VAT. Customers with an
existing NCMT service contract can also opt to purchase the extended warranty.
More information www.ncmt.co.uk

£0.5m Investment Drives Expansion

Hartlepool-based ExMesh Engineering is set for significant expansion this year following
investment totalling around £500,000. A specialist in metal fabrication, ExMesh Engineering
will also embark on a recruitment drive later in 2025 as it introduces a range of new services
to meet growing  customer demand. 
Investments include a new laser cutter that can process carbon steel, mild steel, stainless
steel and aluminium, while a new press brake allows ExMesh to handle intricate metal
bending and folding tasks. The company also has a cobot welding system to help support
the company’s clients, which come from sectors such as construction, architecture,
industrial and retail.
More information www.exmeshengineering.com