UK NEWS

Small machine shops see growth

From robotic machining, digital machine shop planning, IoT and process optimisations, engineers at Scotland’s world-leading R&D manufacturing hub have helped growing businesses harness their competitive edge after completing a major European project.The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) – part of the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) Group – was the UK partner in a four-year initiative designed to transform the machining sector by encouraging the uptake of innovative digital technologies.Overall, it helped more than 500 SMEs in the region’s machining sector.
For further information www.machining4.eu

Stockholder invests in Ficep Valiant CNC line

Northwest-based steel stockholder CSM Steelstock has invested in a Ficep Valiant CNC line to extend its capabilities and further meet customer requirements.Supplying into the automotive, gas, oil and petrochemical industries, CSM Steelstock predicts that the Valiant CNC line from Ficep UK will add £4.5m to annual turnover at the Accrington business.

Says CSM Steelstock’s managing director Grant Moore: “Our investment in the Ficep Valiant CNC line will be a game changer for our business. We’ll be able to offer our existing customers more capabilities and help us further develop lasting partnerships. It will be running 80 hours a week and we already have a strong forward order book using the new line. We’vegrown year on year for the past 13 years and recently invested in new premises which, when redeveloped, will house our 21 employees and machinery in the 32,000 sq ft facility.”

The Ficep Valiant is a high-performance automated three-spindle drilling system for processing structural steel profiles. Offering six tool-change positions on each of the machine’s three spindles, the Valiant’s total tool capacity is 18. Its spindles are all direct drive with speeds up to 5000 rpm, while utilising HSK 80 tool holders enables heavy milling functionality.Notably, the 300mm auxiliary axis, which is available on all three spindles, allows for a wider range of control for each spindle. Its sub-axis spindle positioning enables simultaneous drilling on all three surfaces. The optional underside scribing device, also with sub-axis positioning, permits up to four-side simultaneous scribing operations.

Says Chris Berriman, Ficep UK sales director: “The Valiant is an ideal choice for CSM Steelstock as it will allow them to process to the high quality that its customers expect.”
For further information www.ficep.co.uk

Open house success for Trumpf

Another successful open house took place at Trumpf’s UK headquarters in Luton last month, where the company opened the doors to customers so they could see the latest machine tool and laser technology solutions.As in previous years, the 2023open house was proof of the need to meet with customers personally and, once again, Trumpf was delighted with the number of visitors who walked through the door.

Trumpf welcomed 170 visitors over the two days, with the company taking several orders. During the day, visitors had the opportunity to choose from various technology presentations, including EdgeLine Bevel for automatic chamfer creation, laser cutting, automated welding, and the latest sheetmetal software developments with TrumpfOseon.There was also prime opportunity to see the latest laser cutting, punching, welding, bending and laser marking technology in live action.
For further information www.trumpf.com

Mills CNC confirms SPE attendance

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of DN Solutions and Zayer machine tools in the UK and Ireland, will exhibit at SPE Offshore Europe 2023, the offshore industry’s leading conference and exhibition taking place in Aberdeen on 5-8 September.The company, through its CNC machine tool technologies, automation systems, and turnkey and process improvement solutions, aims to strengthen its already-strong presence in the oil and gas, subsea, and renewables sectors through its attendance at the show (stand 2K64).

“SPE Offshore Europe is an important event for Mills CNC,” states John Morning, Mills CNC’s business manager for Scotland.“It gives us an opportunity to meet customers and prospects, understand their immediate and future machining requirements, and discuss ways in which our technologies can help them achieve their objectives.”
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

New degree awarding powers for NMITE

NMITE, New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering, has received its new degree awarding powers from the Office for Students, having successfully completed the assessment process. James Newby, president and CEO of NMITE, says: “The important element for us, and our students, is that we have proved ourselves in terms of academic quality and are delighted that our practices have been considered academically robust. We see this as an endorsement of our new model and our academic pedagogy. Students choose us because of our size and innovative approach, not despite it.”
For further information www.nmite.ac.uk