When one of the UK’s largest laser-profiling and fabrication subcontractors wanted to enhance its CADCAM capabilities for press-braking operations, the company turned to Amada UK. Duly acquiring Amada’s Production Designer CAD and VPSS 3i BEND software suites, the company has reduced its press braking cycle times by up to 50%.

Since its foundation in 2000, SSC Laser Cutting has grown to become a major UK force in precision laser profiling and fabrication, today operating across three manufacturing sites in Stafford, Derby and Bristol, with plans to expand in the northeast and northwest. Although using an array of Amada press brakes, including two HFE-130 M2 machines, a HFE-8025 model, and a HD-1703 long-stroke machine, until recently SSC had been restricted by the use of basic CADCAM software.
“To be honest, the software capability for our press brakes was a little old school,” admits SSC’s group production manager Julian Till. “It was slow and not enough information would reach the press brake operator, which in turn would lead to occasional incorrect developments.”
SSC reviewed the market for CADCAM software that would be able to streamline the press-braking process.
“We’ve had Amada press brakes for many years, and although we looked at other options, it was apparent that using Amada software was the way to go,” says Till. “The amount of time saved varies as no two projects are the same, however, with the use of Production Designer CAD and VPSS 3i BEND software, production time can be reduced by up to 50%. We simply bring in the parts, pop in the tool and away we go.”
SSC Laser Cutting now has three seats of Production Designer and VPSS 3i BEND, one for each production site.
For further information www.amada.co.uk

Hexagon is offering a rare opportunity to learn more about high performance metrology solutions at a special event hosted by Coventry’s Manufacturing Technology Catapult Centre on 23 May.

Billed as ‘The Power of Smart Change’, the seminar will not only include a series of presentations by guest speakers, but demonstrations of Hexagon equipment and tours of the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre. Speakers from KW Special Projects, Red Bull Technology and Jaguar Land Rover will deliver presentations. The event, which runs from 09:00-15:30, will also include Q&A and networking sessions.
For further information www.hexagonmi.com

Guhring announced that MACH 2018 was the swansong exhibition for long-standing managing director Mike Dinsdale, who has spent the past 39 years serving the company.

On the penultimate day of the show, the MTA recognised this achievement by presenting Dinsdale with a cake on the Guhring stand that said “with congratulations and thanks from the industry”. Presented by MTA president Geoff Bryant, who has also recently retired from Citizen Machinery, the presentation was an emotional occasion filled with tales of days gone by. Dinsdale will be retiring later in the year.
For further information www.guhring.co.uk

Following the announcement that XYZ Machine Tools has entered the 3D printing sector as an official reseller of the HP Jet Fusion, the company has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of Jim Ashby, who will be co-ordinating sales of the system across the south of England.

Ashby has extensive experience in metal cutting, having served his apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce where he learnt the skill of looking at solid engineering reasons to do things. Most recently, he has spent eight years working across the 3D printing sector with various companies.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com