UK NEWS

CGTech grows sales team

CGTech, the developer of VERICUT verification, simulation and optimisation software, has expanded its sales team. The internal promotion of Dave Woolams from technical support engineer to sales engineer, will ensure even better support for customers in the UK.In 2022, CGTech succeeded in growing its UK customer base, deeming it necessary to create an extra sales engineer position and take the team from five to six. The company has also recruited two new technical support engineers.

Woolams, who will cover Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Devon,Cornwall,Wales and Northern Ireland, says: “My responsibilities include sales and account management; looking at ways to help customers grow their business, as well as our own. Double-digit growth is always where CGTech wants to be in the UK. We achieved it in 2022, so it would be nice to do the same again this year.”
For further information www.cgtech.co.uk

Transforming five-axis machine tool calibration

Renishaw has incorporated its new off-axis rotary measurement mode into the CARTO software suite, providing a single source for testing off-axis measurement using the XR20 rotary axis calibrator and XL-80 laser system. The latest release of CARTO, version 4.7, streamlines the measurement of rotary positioning accuracy for five-axis machine tools, where the XR20 rotary axis calibrator cannot always mount on the centre of rotation.

CARTO is a single software solution for Renishaw’s range of calibration products. Data collection takes place using the CARTO Capture application, while the CARTO Explore application is for data analysis. The new off-axis rotary measurement mode in CARTO Capture is a licensed option and allows the XR20 rotary axis calibrator, combined with the XL-80 laser system, to capture off-axis measurements in one session.

Dan Throup, product owner – calibration software, says: “A single test record is created in the CARTO database, significantly reducing the number of steps in the measurement process. This improved method gives greater data integrity and traceability from the Explore application to analyse the results. In addition, the Capture application now uses a new automatic sign detection move when capturing the angular errors associated with an off-axis test. This simplifies the process and reduces the chance of user error.”

First launched in 2012, the Renishaw XR20 rotary axis calibrator aids the direct measurement of rotary errors for stages, jigs and machine tools. The off-axis rotary measurement mode in the CARTO software suite provides a simple, accurate check for the alignment and positioning performance of rotary axes of any configuration.
For further information www.renishaw.com/carto-add-ons

MBO at Alloy Wire signals investment drive

A UK manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire has completed a management buy-out (MBO) as it looks to target £15m annual sales for the first time in its 77-year history.Alloy Wire International (AWI)’s senior management team, comprising managing director Tom Mander, technical director Andrew Du Plessis and finance director Adam Shaw, has purchased the business from the current owners. The trio have also pressed the button on a near £1m investment drive that will see new wet-drawing and single-hole dry-drawing machines arrive during the course of the year, along with an annealing line spooler.
For further information www.alloywire.com

Sheffield Forgemasters partners WaldrichSiegen

Sheffield Forgemasters has signed a long-term partnership with machine tool supplier WaldrichSiegen for the lifetime support of its proposed new machining facility. WaldrichSiegen will deliver a 10-year, through-life and production-support contract, plus the design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of 17 new machine tools to create highly accurate, complex machined shapes from ultra-large steel castings and forgings. McDowell Machine Tools represents WaldrichSiegen in the UK.

The machining line will sit in a proposed new building at the company’s Brightside Lane site, and includes a series of large-scale, five-axis vertical turning lathes that form part of a recapitalisation investment of up to £400m over 10 years. Scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2028, the machine line-up comprises: seven heavy-duty VTLs with 5-8 m tables; three gantry mills with 6-16 m turning capability; three RAM hydrostatic boring mills; three heavy-duty horizontal lathes with 24-27 m beds; and one gantry bandsaw.
For further information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

PSL Datatrack releases contract review module

PSL Datatrack has unveiled the new Contract Review module for its production control system, which is specifically for subcontract precision engineering businesses. The purpose of this new development is to ensure that all required contract review elements, in line with the user’s quality manual, have been checked and approved for a specific job or project.
Whether a subcontract company is AS9100-accredited or granted Fit for Nuclear (F4N) and requires a more formal contract review, or accredited to ISO 9001 or other standards and requires a less strict contract review, the review is nevertheless a key aspect of its operation.

The Contract Review module ensures that only authorised users perform relevant steps at quotation and/or works order stage, ultimately adhering to formal customer agreements and schedules. Integrating these procedures within PSL Datatrack clearly shows what actions are outstanding for each relevant quote or works order and who needs to perform the activity in question.

In line with PSL Datatrack’s overall approach to supplying production control software to subcontractors, this is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution and benefits from the input of established system users.The new module caters for variable checks depending on the customer and component in question, and there is security built in to ensure that only authorised users can sign off specific elements of a contract review.

Each user has a risk level, which specifies the highest risk level of review items that user is authorised to approve within Works Orders. Comments can be left against all items with details of who approved them and when. Furthermore, management can revoke items if dissatisfied or approval was made in error.
For further information www.psldatatrack.com