Sheffield Forgemasters has adopted collaborative robotic (cobot) assistance for foundry operatives, reducing exposure to vibration, improving safety and increasing productivity within its fettling operations. The company is one of the first foundries in the world to employ the 6A10 grinding cobot from French firm RB3D, which works with operators of heavy grinders to stabilise and take the weight of the grinder. The 6A10 is a robotic, electric-motor driven arm which is guided by the operator and does not require any programming.

For further information
www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Yamazaki Mazak has continued its commitment to high-quality, home-grown machine tool manufacturing by making another substantial investment in production equipment at its UK-based European manufacturing plant. The latest multi-million-pound investment includes the installation of a twin-pallet Versatech V-140N/280 and a FJV-60/80 double-column vertical machining centre. These two models will manufacture large component parts for new Mazak machines built in Worcester, demonstrating the company’s trust in its own technologies.

“When it comes to selecting the best tools to manufacture our machining solutions, Mazak stands out as one of the few machine builders able to practice what it preaches,” states Stuart Astley, production director at Yamazaki Mazak UK. “We don’t just present our machine tools as market leaders to customers, we know their quality well. As such, they are always first-choice when we’re looking to expand the plant’s production capacity.”

For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Williams Racing and Zeiss have struck a new multi-year partnership that sees the latter become an ‘Official Supplier’ of the Formula One team. The partnership will see Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions provide a range of equipment benefiting departments across Williams Racing, including Wind Tunnel, Quality & Inspection and Prototype & Test.

For instance, installing a new, class-leading Metrotom 1500 industrial computed tomography (CT) system at the factory in Grove will expand the team’s in-house capabilities and deliver greater insights into the quality and integrity of components. With Williams Racing’s continued commitment towards greater business efficiencies, Zeiss will play an integral part in this evolution.

For further information www.zeiss.com/metrology

Cornwall-based Flann Microwave, a manufacturer of precision components for satellite and Earth-based communication systems, has been helped to de-risk and explore options for a new machine tool thanks to support from engineers at the University of Sheffield’s AMRC. A machine tool trade study and zero-point fixturing recommendations were supplied to Flann Microwave at the end of the project, with recommendations for desirable machines and appropriate fixtures. Feasibility studies are now taking place between Flann Microwave and some of the machine tool OEMs suggested by the AMRC.

For further information www.amrc.co.uk

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has appointed Dr Alice Bunn as its new chief executive. She will take up the role in July following the retirement of Dr Colin Brown.

Since 2018, Bunn has been international director at the UK Space Agency, responsible for increasing the UK’s global influence in science, security and trade through space. She is also head of the UK delegation to the European Space Agency, and sits on the board of directors at the US Space Foundation and on the World Economic Forum’s future council on space technology.

For further information
www.imeche.org