The arrival of a front-loading, aqueous washing and rinsing system from Turbex at the Hampshire production facility of UK pump manufacturer Selwood has improved the efficiency with which machined castings are washed in preparation for assembly.

Two rotating-drum machines, also aqueous and supplied by Turbex 20 years ago to supplant a trichloroethylene cleaning process, have been replaced by a new AC-1.7-2 twin-stage machine.
Selwood’s old equipment had served well, but its effectiveness was diminishing through age and an inability to maintain water temperature and activate the detergent adequately. A batch of 12 to 15 castings for the assembly of one pump used to take 40 minutes to clean and, sometimes, they would have to go back into the machine if still soiled. The new Turbex industrial washing machine can process five such loads – placed in four rectangular stainless steel stillages – in 45 minutes.
For further information www.turbex.co.uk

Air extraction and filtration specialist Filtermist International has completed a deal to acquire industrial vacuum cleaner manufacturer Kerstar.

Established in 1960, Kerstar produces a range of cleaners from its facility in Northampton, exporting to more than 19 countries worldwide through a network of approved distributors. UK customers consist of resellers and end users involved in engineering, aerospace and power generation. Kerstar also provides a comprehensive aftersales service throughout the country. This is the third acquisition Filtermist has completed so far this year.
For further information www.filtermist.co.uk

A manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire has recently completed a £250,000 investment drive to help it build on a record year.

Alloy Wire International, which employs 31 people across manufacturing sites in the Black Country and Yorkshire, broke through the £11m barrier in 2018 and immediately pushed the button on the acquisition of 560 mm single block and 200 mm multi-block drawing machines. These arrivals will help increase capacity and ensure AWI continues to deliver its three-week lead times; so crucial for customers in the automotive, aerospace, nuclear, and oil and gas sectors.
For further information www.alloywire.com

This year’s Inspiration through Innovation brand identity has been machined from solid on a Hermle C32 five-axis machine by technician apprentice, Emma Roberts.

The part was machined from a solid aluminium billet (200 x 200 x 30 mm) in a total cycle time of two hours. Seco’s Inspiration through Innovation manufacturing best-practice event is taking place at the company’s Innovation Hub facility in Alcester on 9-10 October. As this year’s event is focused exclusively on the aerospace segment, the long-standing brand logo has been slightly modified and redesigned accordingly.
For further information www.secotools.com

A trio of strategic appointments is helping a Telford precision manufacturing specialist deliver a 40% boost in sales.

Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE) has strengthened its management team by recruiting Carwyn Howells and Peter Kirwan as production manager and head of plant and facilities respectively, with the duo key to managing volume increases and capitalising on a £500,000 investment drive in new inspection equipment and pre and post-cleaning machines. They will be joined at the Hortonwood firm by Ian Radford, who brings years of experience in the aerospace sector to his role as quality manager.
For further information www.ace-uk.net