£1.2m project extends life of parts

Additive manufacturing and machining engineers at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) have created a low-cost remanufacturing solution that can extend the life of components by 120%, helping UK manufacturers to embrace the circular economy, boost sustainability and save costs.

The two-year £1.2m DigiTool project was part-funded by Innovate UK and focused on the remanufacture of dies, which are commonly used across the hot forging, stamp and press, moulding, and oil and gas industries to shape metal during production, but are typically subject to high costs and long lead times. The framework incorporates a three-stage remanufacturing process using a hybrid platform that combines additive manufacturing and machining. It can also be retrofitted to a legacy machine tool to save entry costs.

For further information https://is.gd/zojutu

Nuclear AMRC to support SMRs

The Nuclear AMRC will work with Rolls-Royce on the next phase of its small modular reactor (SMR) development programme, and help prepare critical components for commercial production in the UK. In unison, the pair will develop the manufacturing capability for a variety of advanced processes, using the state-of-the-art machining, joining and testing facilities of the Nuclear AMRC’s research factory in Rotherham. The centre will also support the design of a new UK factory for large SMR components.

Following this development, the Nuclear AMRC will continue working with Rolls-Royce to create a fully integrated pre-production proving facility for SMR manufacturing. The proving facility will produce large-scale prototypes of the reactor pressure vessel and its closure head.

For further information www.namrc.co.uk

Suppliers return to Hurco open house

Hurco’s UK and Ireland subsidiary will stage its traditional Christmas open house at its High Wycombe headquarters on 7-8 December. Visitor numbers at these end-of-year events are always high because, in addition to having 12 machines cutting metal in the showroom, supply partners will exhibit for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year there will be 16 specialist stands covering tooling, work holding, CADCAM software, metrology, automation, mist extraction, rotary tables, angle heads and machine tool finance. As a result, visitors to the event will be able to discuss a wealth of auxiliary items to extract the best from their Hurco machine tools.

For further information www.hurco.co.uk

Multi-million aerospace contract

ÉireComposites, a design, manufacturing and testing company based in County Galway, has signed a new multi-million euro contract with Spirit AeroSystems to provide structural components for commercial airliners and business jets. The contract will enable the creation of 40 new jobs over the next three years, while securing 60 existing positions. The new jobs will be a combination of engineering, quality and high-tech manufacturing roles.
Awarding this contract highlights the continued commitment by Spirit AeroSystems to Irish suppliers following its recent acquisition of Bombardier’s Belfast operations. The scope of the contract involves complex composite component manufacturing, including assembly, part trimming and non-destructive testing services for a number of key business and commercial aircraft programmes.

For further information www.eirecomposites.com

SME manufacturers reveal investment plans

Small and medium-sized manufacturers are continuing to bounce back from the pandemic, despite experiencing significant supply chain and recruitment struggles. The latest Manufacturing Barometer, which surveyed more than 400 SMEs across the UK, shows that nearly two thirds (64%) of companies are expecting to grow over the next six months and 52% plan to invest in capital equipment and manufacturing.

For the first time in over a year, the report also revealed that more firms are trading at higher levels than before Covid-19, highlighting the resurgence in fortunes since lockdown eased. This encouraging data was set against a backdrop of disruption, with 60% of respondents stating that staff are having to spend additional time liaising with suppliers and, despite growing sales, just over half are having to increase product prices to recover some of their additional costs.

For further information https://is.gd/futevu