UK NEWS

Composites technology centre inaugurated

A key milestone was marked recently at a Yorkshire manufacturing centre, which from 2019 will start producing carbon-fibre tubs for McLaren Automotive, the British creator of luxury sports cars and supercars. The £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre (MCTC) is nearing completion at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham and is the result of an ongoing partnership between McLaren Autotmotive and the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).

After a launch at the AMRC’s Factory 2050, McLaren Automotive chief executive Mike Flewitt was on-hand to illuminate the famous marque’s sign in the new manufacturing centre. The recently unveiled McLaren Senna road car then performed a series of expertly choreographed ‘doughnuts’ to leave a trail of fresh Pirelli tyre rubber on the new centre’s floor to ‘christen’ it – McLaren style.
For further information www.cars.mclaren.com

Foundry divisions merge

Thomas Dudley Ltd has merged both of its West Midlands foundries into one seamlessly integrated business.

Named Thomas Dudley Foundry Ltd, the new business encompasses the company’s existing facilities in and around Dudley. Mick Cramphorn, foundry director, said: “We celebrate two new milestones today as we formally join the Duport foundry and Thomas Dudley castings foundry. The integration can provide a complete solution to produce complex cast iron components up to 120 kg in weight. We now have unrivalled expertise in design and development, combining a team of engineering specialists who hold a vast amount of experience across a broad range of sectors.”
Following the merger, the company says that all processes are now aligned to streamline the manufacture of castings and further enhance quality, offering a reliable and extremely cost-effective source of supply, for any given requirement.
For further information www.thomasdudleyfoundry.co.uk

600 UK names northern sales manager

600 UK has appointed Chris Smith as its new area sales manager for the north of England, selling both Colchester and Harrison lathes, as well as Clausing mills, drills, saws and grinders.

Smith was apprentice trained in mechanical engineering at TS Harrison & Sons before moving into a wide variety of machine-tool sales roles over the past 30 years. Paul Rushworth, 600 UK sales director says: “Chris’ wealth of experience in the machine-tool industry and vast knowledge of Colchester and Harrison lathes further enhances our continued commitment to expanding our UK sales, applications and service network of direct and distribution selling.”
For further information www.600uk.com

Metrology specialist announces restructuring

Measurement Solutions, the UK partner for Creaform 3D portable metrology and Metrologic inspection software, has announced plans to restructure its business activities in response to the changing demands of customers and the 3D measurement and scanning market in the UK.

The changes have been made in light of the manufacturing industry progressively moving away from traditional fixed CMM solutions towards portable metrology systems, in particular hand-held scanning technologies, and the implementation of automated inspection using industrial robots. Measurement Solutions says the changes will provide customers with a more responsive and technically capable sales and support experience.
The new business structure will see the formation of two separate technology teams, each dedicated to different market application and product requirements. The Portable Metrology Division, headed by Jason Bridge, who has over 20 years’ sales experience within the metrology and 3D measurement sector, will focus primarily on portable measurement solutions. Activities will centre exclusively on the sales and support of portable measuring systems for industrial applications, such as the HandyScan 3D and MetraScan 3D solutions from Creaform.
To complement these activities, David Harper will head the Metrology Integration Division to focus on providing software solutions so that customers can make full use of their 3D measuring systems. This will include not only traditional CMM applications and services, but also be dedicated to providing quality control solutions through the integration of proven metrology software within the emerging automated measurement market using industrial robots. Harper has over 30 years’ experience in CNC CMM applications.
For further information www.measurement-solutions.co.uk

Students benefit from measuring arm

Barrow-in-Furness based Furness College, south Cumbria’s largest training provider with more than 4300 students, has purchased a Faro Edge ScanArm HD with CAM2 Measure10 software. The measuring arm combines the advantages of a measuring arm with the advanced attributes of a hand-held laser scanner. Among other tasks, the college’s Faro system is now used by students to inspect and reverse engineer complex parts and surfaces into 3D models.

Gordon Higgins, curriculum leader, says: “The AMTC is helping to meet growing local demand for highly skilled workers by enabling students to develop skills on real-life projects. As we work with more than 700 employers across a range of businesses, in order to meet their diverse needs it is important that we provide students with access to the latest high-tech equipment and machinery. An example of our students’ exposure to, and training on, the kind of cutting-edge equipment that they will encounter in the ‘real world’ is our Faro Edge ScanArm HD with CAM2 Measure10 software.
“In addition to witnessing an impressive Faro demonstration, it helped our purchasing decision that industries such as shipbuilding, metal fabrication and tool and die use the Faro Edge ScanArm HD for inspection and quality control routines,” he adds. “Also, several of the major employers that we work closely with, including BAE Systems, use Faro systems.
“Now in regular use, the logical nature of Faro’s CAM2 Measure10 software and the simplicity of our Faro Edge ScanArm HD, enable students to quickly master the system’s operation and fully understand the results they achieve.”
For further information www.faro.com