A grinding machine rebuilding and upgrading service is now being offered by Jones & Shipman Hardinge, including machines produced by sister companies in the Hardinge Group – Kellenberger, Hauser, Voumard, Tschudin and Usach.

“The service is designed to maximise the lifespan of a machine which, while perfectly sound in structure and capability, could benefit from upgrading,” explains Jones & Shipman Hardinge UK managing director Mike Duignan. “If you take a universal Kellenberger Varia for example, a refurbishment and upgrade to include the latest Fanuc 0i control with the new Kellenberger menu-based programming software, could be as much as 25% cheaper than buying a new machine.”
Furthermore, through the company’s UK and European headquarters, Jones & Shipman Hardinge has the facility to supply a loan machine for some Kellenberger products, so that production is not interrupted.
For further information www.jonesshipman.com

Schunk, a specialist in gripping, work-holding and automation solutions, will be a technology partner at no fewer than four open house events this October.

On 8-10 October, the company will attend the Star GB open house, which will be followed by Seco Tools’ ‘Inspiration Through Innovation‘ event on 9-10 October and the DMG Mori open house on 15-18 October. At these events, Schunk will be discussing innovations such as the Vero-S quick-change pallet system, Tendo hydraulic tool holder, PGN-plus gripper, Magnos magnetic clamping technology and Rota-S manual lathe chuck. Schunk will also attend the open house of automation specialist FANUC on 29-31 October.
For further information https://schunk.com/gb_en

JJ Churchill has increased six-fold the space for its Tool Room Division. The company can now design and produce – from first principles – some of the aerospace industry’s most complex fixtures in a new, purpose-built facility.

Fixtures are a major bottleneck in the production of many aerospace components. Unlike most other companies in the sector, JJ Churchill has invested heavily in this capability to gain more control and guarantee quality. Company designers and machinists produce fixtures to within 20 µm.
For further information www.jjchurchill.com

Rockwood Composites has increased its workforce by 50% in the past six months. The company is also building two new 100 tonne presses, which will be on stream in October.

Presses are used by the firm to apply the heat and pressure needed to cure raw composites materials into components and structures for sectors such as aerospace, defence, nuclear and medical. In addition, the company has invested in a Hurco CNC machining centre, which is aimed at complementing the increase in capacity for pressing, moulding and laminating.
For further information www.rockwoodcomposites.com

Midland Power Press Services (MPPS), a specialist in mechanical power presses, has doubled its capacity after investing in a new building in Tipton.

MPPS, which provides repairs, spares, inspection and upgrades on over 100 different machines, now has over 10,000 sq ft of space split across dedicated machining and fitting shops. The £300,000 investment in the expansion and new machinery comes on the back of a sustained period of growth, with new contracts from the metalworking, automotive and white-goods sectors helping MPPS push towards a turnover of £3 million – the best 12 months
in its near 30-year history.
For further information www.mpps.co.uk