The UK’s forging and forming community is set to benefit from a new pathway to cutting-edge equipment and world-class academic expertise located both north and south of the border, thanks to a new partnership between two world-leading research organisations.

The Henry Royce Institute, the national institute for advanced materials research and innovation, has welcomed the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) – a centre within the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland Group – as an associate partner.

For further information
www.nmis.scot

Robotics and automation expert FANUC UK has supported deep-hole drilling technology specialist Mollart Engineering in developing an automated three-machine production cell for an automotive customer in China. Designed to manufacture parts for pre-machined transmission shafts used in hydraulic gearboxes, the solution by FANUC and Mollart drills deep holes into shafts to a depth of 384 mm. Operating to a precision level of 0.2 mm at the start of the hole and within 0.3 mm of the deviation at the end of the hole, the production scale has an uptime efficiency of over 90%.

For further information
www.fanuc.eu

Somers Forge has acquired A&B Richardson Engineering, which will continue to operate under the A&B Richardson Engineering name. The deal will allow Halesowen-based Somers Forge to build upon current machining capabilities, with it tripling the company’s CNC capacity. A&B Richardson Engineering, based in Oldbury, is a specialist in tool and die manufacture. The firm has continually invested in a variety of CNC machine tools, CAD design capabilities and welding technologies.

Somers Forge production director Alex Cross says: “Last year we made a £1m investment in a new CNC vertical boring machine that is helping us to manage capacity for a specific product range. However, we also recognised the need for greater capacity in CNC milling, so the acquisition of A&B Richardson was the perfect solution. The purchase has tripled our CNC machining capacity and further enhanced our capabilities, allowing us to continue offering competitive lead times and products of the highest quality.”

For further information www.somersforge.com

Renishaw has appointed Measurement Solutions Ltd (MSL) – the Peterborough-based scanning and metrology provider – to its channel partner programme. The agreement between the two companies sees MSL become a ‘premium partner’, providing access to the portfolio of Renishaw CMM, styli, gauging and fixturing products. MSL serves manufacturing customers throughout England in market sectors that include automotive, aerospace, general engineering and education.
The channel partner programme at Renishaw aims to enhance levels of local customer service and product support throughout the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) sales region. Partner company selection is on the basis of sector-specific experience and expertise in a range of cutting-edge metrology and manufacturing disciplines.

For further information
www.renishaw.com

Technoset, a subcontract precision engineering company based in Rugby, has entered a new phase following the expansion of its customer base into new markets with the modernisation and digitisation of its business. The company has centred its manufacturing operations around PSL Datatrack production control software since 1999 and invested in additional modules over the years as the business has grown or requirements changed. The most recent addition is dynamic status boards that deliver instructions to the shop floor and provide key management information.

For further information
www.psldatatrack.com