THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

CMZ UK Tech Centre Site to Span 4 Acres

Spain-headquartered lathe builder CMZ has taken a decisive step in its growth strategy with the recent acquisition of a site spanning over 4 acres (16,000 m²) on which it will build its new UK technology centre. Located in Coventry, the company’s future UK headquarters will open its doors within 1-2 years, marking a milestone in its international expansion.

The tech centre will feature sales offices, a showroom with CMZ lathes and an applications engineering area dedicated to providing direct support to UK customers. CMZ’s existing UK sales and aftersales team will expand and relocate to the Coventry facility, which will be located adjacent to the A45 and within the West Midlands Investment Zone. The development marks a turning point in the 15-year history of CMZ’s UK subsidiary.More information www.cmz.com

Renishaw and British Cycling prepare for Olympics

British Cycling and Renishaw have renewed their long-standing partnership for a third consecutive Olympic and Paralympic cycle. As preparations get underway for Los Angeles 2028, the two organisations will work closely on a new wave of technical developments with a focus on aerodynamics, mechanical optimisation and strength-to-weight engineering for elite track cycling. In preparation, the first year of this partnership will centre around R&D, with Renishaw’s engineers exploring how advanced manufacturing – including metal additive manufacturing – can deliver performance gains.

More information www.renishaw.com

Weather Forecasts aid Sustainable Manufacturing

In a significant step towards sustainable manufacturing, University of Sheffield AMRC engineers have found a way of using weather forecasts to reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing processes. Tace Morgan, sustainability theme lead at the AMRC, says: “While using renewable energy offers lower carbon intensity, its availability varies, making it an inconsistent source. Our research addresses this by leveraging the predictable link between carbon intensity and weather patterns. It allows us to schedule energy-intensive tasks for greener times, lowering environmental impact without hindering productivity.”

More information www.amrc.co.uk

25 years of Starrag Sprint Z3

Machine tool builder Starrag is looking back on a special engineering anniversary: 25 years of Sprint Z3. The inconspicuous machining head of the EcoSpeed series was officially presented for the first time in 2000. What began as a solution for a military aircraft soon became a key module in modern aircraft production.

The Sprint Z3 parallel kinematic machining head has proven to be a real drawcard and, despite its compact design, is always a talking point.Even after 25 years, Starrag says the technology behind it still amazes. The drive head contains a highly dynamic, three-axis kinematic system which, unlike conventional fork heads, swivels via articulated kinematics to enable rapid yet precise tool movements. More information www.starrag.com

Success for Hurco Demo Deals Day

Strong customer engagement and sales were reported at Hurco Europe’s annual Demo Deals Day, which took place last month at the company’s High Wycombe showroom and technical centre. In total, 39 visitors representing 22 companies attended the event,all looking to take advantage of ex-demonstration and used machines at discounts of up to 20% (on selected models).

Demand was strong in the lead-up to the event, with several machines sold or reserved with deposits before the doors even opened. Among the most sought-after models that sold quickly were the five-axis VMX42UDi and VMX30Ui, the latter fitted with a ProCobot Profeeder-X five-drawer system. The popular VM10i and VM30i machining centres also attracted significant attention and were swiftly reserved, reports Hurco.

More information www.hurco.com