A cutting-tool and lubricant solutions provider from the north has joined forces with a tech spin-out from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to provide SME engineering firms across northern England with productivity-boosting data analytics that are affordable and easy-to-use. ACT Group, headquartered in Tyne and Wear, has announced its strategic partnership with Sheffield-based FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics, whose cloud-based app and clip-and-play MachineLink hardware provides immediate real-time access to machine utilisation data from across the shop floor.

For further information www.fourjaw.com

Both the new and used machine tool divisions of the Vigilance Group (MACH Machine Tools and Machine Tool Sales Online) will be attending Southern Manufacturing. The companies will be showcasing individual products from their respective ranges on adjacent stands (H310/MACH Machine Tools and J270/MTSO), which are divided by a walkway. Explains Vigilance Group managing director David Andrew: “At Southern Manufacturing we are demonstrating that we can meet manufacturers’ needs by providing them with either new or pre-owned machine tools ready for immediate delivery and installation.”

For further information
www.machmt.co.uk
www.machinetoolsalesonline.com

On stand H250, Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) will demonstrate its latest cutting tool innovations alongside new technologies available from Widia and Big Kaiser. Among the new ITC products will be the latest 6054 series end mill, which has a centre cutting geometry with harmonic fluting to maximise material removal rates and swarf evacuation while minimising vibration to enhance surface finish in steel and exotic materials. From the Big Kaiser stable, ITC will introduce the expanded line-up of smart damper-equipped, arbour-style face mill holders that support face mills with diameters of 80 or 100 mm.

For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Programming simplicity will be Hurco’s theme on Stand G200, where the company will be showcasing the latest software available on its proprietary Max5 control. Hurco says that the 19-inch colour touchscreen control is popular due to the ease of programming first-off parts. Among the demonstrations will be the latest ‘Solid Model Import’ option, which is capable of further reducing programming times. Whereas previously only 2D DXF files could be loaded directly into the control to create conversational data blocks, it is now possible to import 3D STEP files, including surfaces.

For further information www.hurco.co.uk

The latest Contract Manufacturing Index shows that 2021 was a volatile year for the subcontract market with large dips in May and September but strong peaks in August and November. Overall though, the result was good, with the market 10% higher on average than the previous year. The final quarter showed the traditional year-end slump, compounded by supply chain issues, but nevertheless, with a CMI of 110 it was only down 6% on the previous quarter and 64% up on the same period in the previous year. Across 2021, the strongest market sector was industrial machinery.

For further information
www.qimtek.co.uk