UK NEWS

Moore & Wright supportsuniversity racing team

The University of Wolverhampton Racing Team (UWR), which competes in the annual Formula Student competition,is using Moore & Wright metrology tools from Bowers Group.
Formula Student places rigorous demands on participating teams, requiring them to design, constructand race a single-seat race car. The process is one in which precision engineering plays a vital role in ensuring both optimal performance and vehicle safety.

As part of the annual event, the UWR team faces the challenge of creating a car from scratch that not only meets rigorous performance standards, but also adheres to strict design and manufacturing tolerances. Bowers Group has been a valued sponsor of the University of Wolverhampton Racing Team for many years.Through its sponsorship, Bowers Group supplies both the UWR team and the School of Engineering with the tools needed to maximiseracing performance and enhance practical learning.

Paul Bates, technical andbusiness resource manager at the University of Wolverhampton, says: “The Moore & Wright tools available in our metrology suite offer hands-on experience for our students, including those in the Formula Student project. It helps them understand precision measurement and the importance of accuracy.”

He adds: “These tools play a significant role in our Formula Student team’s daily work. They rely on them for accurate measurements, and it’s notable that many team members have even purchased their own sets. That speaks volumes for the quality and reliability of the tools.”

The team uses a Moore & Wright caliper, for example, to measure components, check brake discs, assess wheel alignment, verify engine machining and ensure safety cage integrity. It is also gauges wheel hub dimensions and ensures the accurate fit and finish of multiple components.
For further information www.bowersgroup.co.uk

SteelBuy hits £1m sales

SteelBuy, an easy-to-use online marketplace where businesses can buy and sell metals quickly and securely, has recorded over 300 transactions and £1m+ sales in revenue since it launched at the start of the year.Users from across the UK are leveraging the technology to achieve faster and more efficient deals for their mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium, with all the logistics and invoicing managed through the encrypted platform.Within seconds,sellers can post their material with product specifications, test certificates and price per tonne ready for consideration by potential buyers. All transactions are anonymous.
For further information www.steel-buy.com

Subcontractor reaches new standard with Mitutoyo

Cwm Engineering has been on an acquisition trail over the past few years to target growth in high-technology sectors. As part of its journey, the Welsh company has moved to a new purpose-built 10,000sqft factory to make space for its investment in new machine tools. With more than five machines purchased in the past three years, the company recognised a requirement for a dedicated inspection department with high-end metrology equipment, which is why CWM Engineering installed a Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex V 7106 CNC CMM and a Mitutoyo surface roughness machine.

Cwm Engineering’s managing director Malcolm Walters says: “We’re fully aware that when potential customers visit a subcontract manufacturer, they want to see a dedicated metrology department to instil confidence in their supply chain choices. When it came to selecting equipment, Mitutoyo was the stand-out brand for our business. Mitutoyo is a name that everyone knows and respects as an industry leader and our previous experience with them was exceptional.”

Alluding to why the company invested in the Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex V 7106, Walters adds: “It has a measurement range of 700 x 1000 x 600mm packed into a small footprint. Furthermore, the level of information that can be obtained from the reporting system far exceeds anything we hadpreviously.”

Cwm Engineering also purchased a Mitutoyo surface roughness measuring machine, opting for a handheld solution to aid portability around the machine shop, if necessary.

Walters concludes: “Our investment in new Mitutoyo technology will put us in a strong position for the future. Furthermore, the Mitutoyo MCOSMOS software enables us to fully network our quality activities and reporting.”
For further information www.mitutoyo.co.uk

One version of the truth for CNC 2010

Investment in a PSL Datatrack production control software system has brought a number of organisational benefits to CNC 2010 Ltd of Buntingford. These include enhanced traceability, improved management and the establishment of “one version of the truth”, reports Emily Coleman, director of the subcontract precision engineering company.

Before implementing PSL Datatrack, CNC 2010 relied on manual methods for quoting and managing its business operations. However, the company now feels more confident in its processes due to PSL Datatrack’s standardised approach.

CNC 2010 learnt of PSL Datatrack through a fellow precision engineering subcontractor, a long-term supporter of the system in its 20th year of use. Coleman says that the sales process for the software was “smooth, with no pressure and comprehensive explanations of the software’s features and benefits”.

She adds: “We ultimately chose PSL Datatrack because it is specifically for the subcontract precision engineering industry and offered bespoke functionality tailored to our requirements.”

Utilisation of PSL Datatrack aligned with CNC 2010’s aims for the business. By streamlining the entire production process, it provided an opportunity for growth.

“We had reached maximum capacity in terms of administrative processing with our existing workload and PSL Datatrack helped us to overcome this limitation,” says Emily.

Since implementing PSL Datatrack, CNC 2010 has been able to process more orders and increase sales. Moving forward, the company’s focus is to leverage the software to optimise stock control and material handling. CNC 2010 also aims to obtain ISO 9001 accreditation, further enhancing its credibility and market position.

“We now have one version of the truth,” she concludes.“Processing times have reduced and there is no lost information as there was with our previous paper-based system.”
For further information www.psldatatrack.com

PTC software aids new compressor development

The first reinvention of air compressor technology in more than 85 years is rolling off the production line of a new£17m smart factory in Doncaster. Lontra, an engineering technology company led by innovator Steve Lindsey, is committed to answering increasing demand by quadrupling the production of its LP2 blade blower year-on-year until 2025.

Backed by the design and PLM capability of PTC’s Creo and Windchill platforms, Lontra integrated its proprietary and patented blade compressor positive displacement technology within the custom-engineered LP2 blade blowers. According to the company, the upshot is world-class performance, reduced noise and, importantly, electricity savings of up to 34% compared with traditional products.

Inneo Solutions introduced Lontra to PTC’s cloud-based 3D CAD software Creo and this platform proved critical in achieving the complex geometry that makes the LP2 different to its predecessors.This includes add-ons covering FEA and behaviour modelling, which were used by up to 10 designers to achieve the necessary stillness and distortion requirements that deliver the environmentally sustainable performance.

Another key element of the portfolio is Windchill, PTC’s PLM suite, which makes a big difference in Lontra’s efficiency and sustainability by saving not only time but also waste.
Windchill ensures that the record of materials and components used in its products remain up to date, helping it capture learning from the design and development process, as well as reducing errors, scrap and waste on the factory floor.

Elliot Clarke, UK and Irelanddirector at PTC, says: “Both of Lontra’s sites have access to Windchill, as does the firm’s teams who work remotely.The power of the software ensures that everybody is working off the most up-to-date data.”
For further information www.ptc.com