Machining specialist Wilson Manufacturing has purchased a Quaser MF400UH five-axis machining centre from the Engineering Technology Group (ETG) to complete a £310,000 investment drive. The acquisition, which complements the earlier addition of a mill-turn centre, will help the company improve lead times and drive efficiencies.

Based in Hampshire, Wilson Manufacturing, which supplies precision parts into the aerospace, marine, medial and oil and gas sectors, will use its Quaser MF400UH to increase capacity, boost quality and reduce set-up times. The move marks a successful year for the Ringwood-based company, which has seen it create two new jobs and increase sales by 25%, putting the business on course for a turnover of £1.35m.
“Customers are spread across a number of demanding sectors and there is an increasing need for more complex components, a trend that we’ve met head-on with the purchase of the five-axis CNC machine,” explains director Andy Wilson. “We discussed our requirements with ETG and they spent a lot of time getting to understand our processes and the parts we make. This was crucial in providing a complete picture of where we wanted to go, and led to them suggesting the Quaser MF400UH.
“Although it has only been up and running for a few months, we have already been really impressed with the performance,” he continues. “The control, spindle speed and ability to machine multiple faces of complex parts have been game changers – in some instances we have improved cycle time by 30%. This makes us a lot more competitive and, at a time when speed-to-market is crucial, gives us another USP when exploring new business opportunities. We could well make a return on our investment within the first two years.”
For further information www.engtechgroup.com

Pryor has become a member of the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

As part of being a Tier 2 Member, Pryor has installed an advanced laser marking system at the AMRC’s Factory 2050, the first of its type at the facility. Pryor’s laser will be integrated into a fully automated robotic cell for marking components, to demonstrate part traceability and data capture in production assemblies. The demonstration will involve two robots that will load pen components into the laser cabinet for marking before assembling the parts into a working pen.
For further information www.pryormarking.com

Guhring UK has confirmed that it is ready for the looming ‘deadline day’ of Brexit and, regardless of the outcome, the company is in position to ensure there is no impact on the UK customer base.

Guhring UK’s managing director Chris Weston says: “If we get a deal or remain in Europe, there will be no change to business and we can all continue as before. If there is no deal, Guhring is still in a fantastic position. We have large stock levels on the shelves in the UK, which are full of standard product lines. Also, as we manufacture and service here in the UK, this strengthens our position even more.”
For further information www.guhring.co.uk

Protolabs has launched secondary services that include detailed measurement and inspection reporting.

Surface treatment and assembly will follow later in the year as Protolabs invests further in secondary services to meet increased customer demand. As part the launch, the company will be conducting a webinar on 28 February. The webinar is for engineers and designers looking to further understand the process variations that occur when designing for injection moulding.
For further information www.protolabs.co.uk/secondary-services

Growth at Open Mind Technologies has seen the CAM expert employ a new area sales manager.

Justin Talboys-Cotton has over 20 years’ experience in the manufacturing sector, starting his career as an automotive project manager overseeing all aspects of a cell, from SPC, ERP and quality management, to CAM implementation. Following success in this role, Talboys-Cotton joined a well-known CAM vendor
in a technical sales and business development position; demonstrating excellent sales results, account management and engineering expertise.
At Open Mind he will be responsible for servicing existing customers and developing new business across the Midlands region.
For further information www.openmind-tech.com