Schuler has acquired Italian mechanical engineering firm Sovema Group as part of its ambition to become a leading systems supplier of battery cell manufacturing solutions for the automotive industry and other sectors. Together with Sovema, Schuler will develop the capabilities needed to equip gigafactories for the mass production of lithium-ion batteries.

Based in Villafranca di Verona, Italy, with further sites in the USA and China, Sovema has made a name for itself in the automotive sector as well as other industries by building appropriate machines for pilot and laboratory projects, accounting for some of the world’s most prominent battery manufacturers in its customer portfolio. Furthermore, Sovema is the globe’s only supplier of automated turnkey plants for the mass production of lead-acid batteries. The Sovema Group employs just over 170 people and most recently reported sales of around €50m.
For further information www.schulergroup.com

German storage and sawing equipment manufacturer Kasto has upgraded a pair of sawing cells at the Dornbirn centre of Austrian steel stockholder and distribution company EHG Stahlzentrum. The company has integrated and automated all parts of the systems, from raw material supply to the handling of containers and pallets of finished goods.

Efficiency in the processing of orders and in logistics is part of the success of EHG’s business model. The company handles about 620,000 orders every year, primarily in small batches of less than 10 items.

Christian Rüf, head of logistics systems and processes, says: “It poses quite a challenge. We’re often under enormous time pressure, as in some cases we only have one to two hours to complete an order.”

To alleviate the problem, EHG utilises advanced storage and processing technology. The Dornbirn site has eight automatic high-bay storage systems, 40 stand-alone automatic bandsaws and circular sawing machines, and two sawing centres integrated with high-bay storage so that they receive material automatically. It is these systems that have been upgraded with robotic handling and sorting.

“Our high-bay storage systems are all from Kasto,” says Rüf. “They include four UniCompact honeycomb systems for the storage of bars, tubes and profiles, as well as another for holding sheet metal. In addition, 27 Kasto automatic saws are in operation in Dornbirn, ranging from production circular saws to heavy-duty block and plate bandsaws.”

In the two automated Kasto sawing centres, all process steps now take place without any operator intervention, from feeding the raw material from the store to sorting and stacking the cut pieces. The ability to change over to a new material quickly allows the efficient processing of small batch sizes.
For further information www.kasto.com

In-Comm Training, which operates three technical academies in Aldridge, Telford and Shrewsbury, has seen a massive surge in the number of companies investing in vocational learning and currently has 201 vacancies available – the most at any time in its 40-year history. This means there are lots of ready-made career opportunities for students receiving their A-level and GCSE grades.

To help ease the pathway to an apprenticeship, In-Comm has introduced a dedicated hotline (01922 457686, option 3) to guide young pupils/students and their families through the different choices and how vocational learning can now lead all the way to a degree without the £100,000 debt associated with going to university. The various pathways include product design, mechatronics, toolmaking, machining, quality and production.
For further information www.in-comm.co.uk

The MTC is opening up its doors to showcase the latest laser technologies at the Laser Matters 2022 conference, which will take place at the organisation’s Coventry facility on 14 September. This free-to-attend event aims at encouraging businesses to explore the very latest laser technologies. Exhibits will include a new industrial-scale robotic cell equipped with a 10 kW fibre laser, a state-of-the-art waterjet-guided laser machine and a powerful 300 W picosecond laser.

MTC technology manager Tian Long See says: “Delegates to the conference will be able to see the latest laser technology advancements, understand how the technology can boost productivity and effectiveness, and meet laser industry leaders and early adopters to discuss the potential for their businesses. This is a great opportunity to explore the world of laser technologies and understand how it can help manufacturing businesses in many ways by speaking to one of our engineers at the event.”
For further information www.bit.ly/3Ab4Amk

Sunnen Products Company says it is advancing the state of honing technology with its new SV-3000 series vertical honing systems. The SV-3000 features a new Beckhoff-based industrial control with proprietary Sunnen2 software, designed to include EtherCAT industrial communication for fast response time and increased process control. Sunnen will introduce the new SV-3000 series at IMTS 2022 (Chicago, 12-17 September).

The control system includes a large touchscreen and the capacity to program custom part load/unload operations, eliminating the need for a second control for automation. Through the touchscreen, operators can make simple, intuitive adjustments of spindle speed, stroke rate and tool feed during the honing cycle. Tool selection, set-up mode, handling, expansion/retraction of tools and more are all adjustable via the touchscreen. Operators can also use a hand-wheel for stroke adjustment.

Sunnen’s SV-3000 series incorporates synchronised servo stroke and spindle motors that enable constant crosshatch finishes along the length of the bore. This concept eliminates the ‘flattening’ of the crosshatch angle at stroke-reversal points, which is important in many cylinder wall applications where optimal piston ring sealing and performance is required. The drive technology also includes a load-sensing feed system that helps to maximise productivity and produce 0.00025 mm tolerances on a range of small-diameter parts.

Sunnen solicited input from global customers during the two-year design and development of the SV-3000 series, completely rewriting the software for these next-generation hones using the latest programming languages and technologies. The intuitive nature of the control means new operators can train quickly to process complex or difficult-to-hone parts.

SV-3000 machines uses OPC, a widely accepted industrial communication standard that enables the exchange of data between multi-vendor devices and control applications without any proprietary restrictions.
For further information www.sunnen.com