ITC has fresh apprentice intake

Committed to training the next generation of engineers, cutting-tool manufacturer Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has employed yet another new apprentice.

Tyler Green has joined ITC as the sixth apprentice in the past three years. During a recent work experience programme, Green demonstrated an excellent aptitude for mechanical engineering and has now been rewarded with an opportunity to transfer this aptitude into workplace experience over the next four years.
Upon completion of his four-year apprenticeship, Green will combine shop-floor training with day-release academic qualifications to become a fully trained CNC machinist. ITC says that combining on-the-job training using the latest production technology with academic qualifications will put Green on the path to a promising career in manufacturing.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Automated finishing cuts costs

Immediately inside the visitor entrance to Surface World Live 2018 (19-20 September, Birmingham NEC), vibratory finishing specialist PDJ Vibro will promote its range of new and refurbished bowls, barrels and high-energy centrifugal equipment, as well as the large range of consumables on offer.

The company will also stress its comprehensive service offer, from technical consultancy and applications engineering, through machine upgrade, repair and part-exchange, to 24/7 subcontract vibratory finishing and polishing.
Vibratory machines ensure that deburring, descaling, edge breaking, surface finishing and superfinishing of components is carried out automatically, consistently and to a high degree of repeatability that is unattainable when processing by hand. The process also reduces labour costs, reworking and scrap. At the same time, parts can be degreased, rinsed, dried and pre-treated for anodising, chemical blacking or painting.
Another area of focus will be the vast range of components that can be efficiently and safely processed using the vibratory technique. Anything from rusty old chains to parts machined to tolerances measured in single-figure microns are suitable candidates for vibratory finishing, as are delicate components produced by additive manufacturing.
PDJ Vibro’s main vibratory bowl range has process chamber sizes from 7.5 to 6000 litres, while three entry-level models have capacities of 300, 150 and 75 litres. Rectangular troughs in 13 sizes, with capacities from 22 to 2200 litres, are the preferred choice for finishing longer items and those made from sheet metal.
For further information www.pdjvibro.co.uk

Grinding machine installed at Border Ballistics

Master Abrasives has installed a Micromatic Eco 200 grinding machine at the facility of Border Ballistics Technologies (BBT) in Scotland.

Geoffrey Kolbe, managing director of BBT, has been in the non-military gun trade for over 25 years, establishing the company in 2015 to fill a gap in the UK market. The company is a manufacturer of gunsmith tooling such as chamber reamers and headspace gauges, all of which are produced with high-quality finishes and precision.
“In line with market demand we needed to increase our production output,” says Kolbe. “We identified that by taking the basic blank preparation operations off our tool and cutter grinder, productivity would increase with the introduction of a manual/semi-automatic cylindrical grinding machine. The Micromatic Eco 200 supplied by Master Abrasives proved to be the ideal machine for this purpose, and the price was very reasonable too.
“The production of special purpose bespoke stepped reamers and headspace gauges in tool steel demands very tight tolerances on specific dimensional features such as outer diameters, angles and faces,” he continues. “The Eco 200 manual/semi-automatic hydraulic machine fulfilled our requirements perfectly. Its introduction into production will improve our manufacturing lead-times and contribute to lower production costs.”
The new machine at BBT has a 400 mm grinding capacity between centres and an additional internal grinding spindle. The wheel-head’s nitride hardened steel spindle runs in precision multi-point hydrodynamic bearings, a configuration that gives very
high rigidity and damping.
“Master Abrasives provided a very professional service from start to finish,” says Kolbe. “The machine was delivered on time and was up and running within a couple of days.”
For further information www.master-abrasives.co.uk

Cleaning up

When Carrickfergus-based die-casting manufacturer Ryobi Aluminium Castings required the highest levels of cleanliness in the production of a vehicle oil pan for an international luxury vehicle manufacturer, it turned to MecWash for help.

MecWash provided two Solo machines and a stand-alone vacuum chamber to clean and dry the oil pan product. Working with MecWash’s in-house chemist and laboratory, the company also ensured the detergents used in the process matched requirements. The success of the solution meant Ryobi has since invested in two further systems.
For further information www.mecwash.co.uk

£16.5m hot-forging facility announced

The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) has secured £16.5m of funding to establish an advanced hot-forging facility.

FutureForge, as it will be named, will adjoin the existing Renfrewshire-based centre and help generate around £40m of new collaborative R&D projects over 10 years, creating up to 34 new jobs. Set to begin operating in 2020, FutureForge will be the world’s most advanced hot-forging research platform and include a one-of-a-kind, industry 4.0-ready demonstrator. The facility will enable the AFRC to work with companies to increase their global competitiveness.
For further information www.strath.ac.uk/research