Cutting-tool specialist Quickgrind is currently undergoing the training cycle for the WorldSkills 2021 competition in Shanghai. The two UK ‘CNC Milling Squad’ finalists are Abigail Stansfield from BAE Systems and Joel Keen, an apprentice at Roke. The pair will face-off at a competition, currently postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to decide selection for Shanghai. Quickgrind has provided its expertise and cutting tools to help the apprentices, including the Alligator and Caiman ranges of three-flute end mills for aluminium, and the Q-Cut and Mirage series of four-flute tools for steel machining.

For further information
www.quickgrind.com

Known for its involvement in the motorsport and automotive sectors, JRM Group has invested in the UK’s first DMG Mori Lasertec 30 SLM second-generation metal powder-bed additive manufacturing machine. The Lasertec will be the cornerstone of building closer relationships with existing customers and expanding into other sectors, including aerospace and medical. With a 300 mm cubic working volume, the machine uses powder-bed laser technology, where metal powder layers of between 20-100 µm thick are fused together with a 600 W laser source.

For further information
www.dmgmori.com

The UK’s ‘Faculty on the Factory Floor’ has recorded its fifth full cohort, proving that students are still determined to be industry-ready when they go in search of employment.

More than 30 young people have signed up to The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME)’s BEng and MEng courses, giving them access to the latest teaching expertise, and a host of shop-floor projects and technologies. The joint collaboration between Coventry University and Unipart Manufacturing has pivoted the learning content to ensure it can deliver the same depth of knowledge through a mixture of online classes and 5 hours per week of face-to-face study.

For further information
www.coventry.ac.uk/ame

TRB Lightweight Structures (TRB) has created a new production process to deliver continuous-fibre thermoset composite parts at high volume. TRB’s process combines proprietary snap-cure resins and in-house produced prepreg materials with state-of-the-art robotic manufacturing to generate high-specification, ready-to-ship thermoset parts in just minutes. This automated process is already being used to supply a global tier-one powertrain manufacturer with critical battery components destined for electric buses.

For further information www.trbls.com

Yamazaki Mazak UK has reaffirmed its commitment to the future of British manufacturing by welcoming 17 new apprentices. The class of 2020’s apprenticeship journey began at the Worcestershire Group Training Association’s (WGTA) training centre last month, where they started learning the skills crucial to their future CNC machining, electrical, mechanical and sheet-metalworking roles.

The 17 apprentices accepted on to the scheme are studying in socially distanced classrooms, in adherence with coronavirus-related restrictions. They will eventually move to work across multiple departments at Mazak’s European headquarters in Worcester, as part of the company’s commitment to providing a combination of hands-on training and college-based learning. All apprentices will complete an accredited apprenticeship pathway to Level 3, with the option for some students to complete a further top-up to HNC/D level.

For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk