UK NEWS

Mills CNC reports strong sales growth

Mills CNC, the exclusive distributor of DN Solutions’ and Zayer machine tools in the UK and Ireland, and a supplier of industrial and collaborative robot automation, has reported that 2022, from both a sales performance and market share perspective, was another great year for the company. In fact, with final figures pending, it looks increasingly likely that it could be the best in the company’s history.

Says Tony Dale, Mills CNC’s CEO:“We started 2022 strongly on the back of what was already a buoyant last quarter of 2021 – and maintained momentum throughout the year, especially with many component manufacturers taking advantage of the Government’s Super-Deduction tax scheme and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. This helped to generate significant new business for us at the start, and throughout 2022.”
For further information www.millscnc.co.uk

Advanced tube simulation software from Unison

New Opt2Sim Tube bending simulation software is now available from Unison Ltd, the inventor of all-electric tube manipulation.

“In developing Opt2Sim Tube, our goal was to offer a tube simulation product that would make it simpler and more straightforward than ever before to create virtual parts ready for uploading bending data to the machine,” says Unison’s joint managing director, Alan Pickering. “In Opt2Sim Tube, we give users the ability to drag and drop STEP files into the software program and extract tube data instantly. In addition, users can draw parts by simply entering XYZ or YBC co-ordinates, viewing them in 3D. Bend data is quickly converted into printable reports and users can also extractindividual tube data.”

Unison’s Opt2Sim Tube software sits within the company’s wider Opt2Sim suite of 3D simulation software programs. Developed for ‘design to manufacture’ production strategies, Opt2Sim tube-bending simulation software uses machine and component data to provide a precise, virtual insight into the tube-bending process before commencing production.

Products within the Opt2Sim software suite include a version where both CAD modelling capability and the control engine combine toprovide accurate simulation and enhanced collision detection. Believed to provide unique capabilities for enhanced batch processing, simulated bending takes place on an exact CAD representation of the Unison Breeze or Synergy machine.

Additional options include advanced AI that will always aim to find a solution to even the most complex tube geometry, or whenever detecting a potential collision between tube and machine. The AI feature is particularly useful with right/left machines and when assisting in the development of highly complex parts, such as those used in the oil and gas industry.
For further information www.unisonltd.com

Rapid growth underpinned by PSL Datatrack

Managers at subcontract specialist ADP Precision Engineering were on the lookout for a new production control system following accelerated growth of the business. The Newcastle-based company had been relying upon its Sage 50 accounting software to control production, supported by the manual input of manufacturing data into Excel spreadsheets and Word documents.

ADP recognised the need for software bespoke to the needs of the subcontract precision engineering industry and therefore selected PSL Datatrack, which would not only improve the administration of the company’s existing production processes, but also create a platform for the future.

Anthony Ingledew, ADP’s managing director, says: “We previously had to create a lot of manual documentation but, after the initial setup of PSL Datatrack, the result was a more centralised, efficient and streamlined system, which massively aids the flow of our the business.”

ADP acquired a number of PSL Datatrack modules covering sales, administration, purchasing, technical functions (including process layouts and work in progress), shop-floor data collection, finance and management. It is now possible to import invoicing data to Sage 50, which is now purely for accounting purposes.

One of the initial advantages for ADP was the time saved raising quotations, which became far more accurate and allowed quick adjustment for repeat business.

“We also found the training to be very clear and easy to implement, moving at a pace that suited us,” says Ingledew.“In addition, after-sales support has been excellent. There were a few things that we wanted to tweak, or add to certain reports, and these requests were dealt with in no time by PSL Datatrack.”
For further information www.psldatatrack.com

Demonstrating the value of data

Digital experts at AMRC Cymru are helping Welsh manufacturers become sustainable, efficient and ready for Industry 4.0 by demonstrating the immediate impact of the data they produce on the shop floor.The Factory+ framework, an open-access digital architecture that simplifies the handling of data across a manufacturing organisation, is now in place at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru. Developed by engineers at the AMRC’s Factory 2050 in Sheffield, Factory+ provides a synthesised way for machines to capture, analyse and exploit the data they generate.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

Yawei laser ideal for KelBie Engineering

KelBie Engineering specialises in designing and manufacturing stainless-steel commercial flue systems. The company recently opted to upgrade its plasma cutter to a fibre laser cutting machine. Press and Shear was on hand to help.

High-quality, high-specification flue products must meet the design parameters of various demanding environments.As such, KelBie Engineering needed a precision solution that could deliver high production standards.These standards cover a range of sheet-metal products and services, meaning any new machine needed to be diverse in its ability.
KelBie also offers a short lead-time service to the commercial market, so the machine needed to keep pace.

Having discussed these requirements in depth with experts at Press and Shear, it was decided that the best solution was to upgrade its plasma-cutting machine to a fibre laser cutterfrom Yawei.

The model selected was the Yawei HLB fibre laser 1530, which accommodates sheet sizes up to 1500 x 3000mm and features a 3 kW laser generator. Press and Shear recommended this laser profiling machine as it is cost-effective, with high productivity and low running costs.

Yawei is a brand already known for its quality. Features like the auto-focus cutting head of the HLB ensure a clean and quick cut every time, reports Press and Shear, helping maintain high levels of efficiency and flexibility.

By choosing to invest in the Yawei machine, KelBie also gained access to Press and Shear’s aftersales support. Most importantly, the company got a competitive price on the machine.
Having confidence in Press and Shear meant KelBie Engineering could be sure that the company made the right investment for its business.
For further information www.pressandshear.com