Despite a high degree of volatility from month to month and process to process, the overall value of the UK contract manufacturing market held steady in the third quarter of 2018.

Qimtek’s Contract Manufacturing Index (CMI) for the quarter was 223, just 1.3% down on the previous quarter and 3.7% up on the equivalent period in 2017. The baseline figure of 100 represents the value of the subcontract market in 2014 when the CMI was launched.
Behind the headline figure there were major movements in the make-up of the market. Fabrication, which had been in the ascendancy and represented 56% of the market in the previous quarter, had dropped by 27% and now represents 43% of the market. Machining on the other hand, which had dropped to 35% of the total, rose by 23.4% and currently represents 44% of the market. This appears to signal a reversal of the trend in the previous quarter of companies bringing more machining back in-house.
For further information www.qimtek.co.uk

Open Mind Technologies has become a tier one partner at the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), less than one year after securing tier two membership.

The CAM developer joined the AFRC in August 2017, at the same time installing one licence of its hyperMILL software, backed by technical expertise from Open Mind engineers. Upgraded membership will see the firm play a stronger strategic role at the AFRC, joining other tier one partners such as DMG Mori and Virtalis.
For further information www.openmind-tech.com

Some 120 people attended the recent three-day open house held at the Coventry headquarters of Bystronic UK.

The use of 10 kW fibre laser technology was among the main themes of the event, particularly the associated automation required to provide sufficiently fast material feed.
To give an indication of the importance of material replenishment, a 10 kW BySprint or ByStar fibre laser machine can position its head at 140 m/min and cut 1 mm mild steel at 60 m/min. Depending on the complexity of the component nest, the cycle can be completed in a few minutes and, the smaller the sheet dimensions, the quicker the cycle is finished.
As visitors learnt from sales manager Andrew Richert, the main presenter, this is where the associated ByTrans material storage and handling systems come into play.
For further information www.bystronic.co.uk

The Vigilance Group has announced a significant expansion of its operations in Bristol and the opening of a new showroom facility in the East Midlands.

Vigilance, the engineering specialist holding company that incorporates under its corporate banner – Machine Tool Sales Online (MTSO); MACH Machine Tools; and Vigilance Engineering Safety Products – says the move will ensure the group’s long-term growth and future prosperity by providing customers with more choice and improved access to its technologies and solutions.
With regard to the Bristol facility, premises adjacent to the site recently became available and so Vigilance grabbed the opportunity to virtually double its floor space to 21,000 sq ft. The move will see the company create a new and larger customer showroom and demonstration facility, and enable more new and used machine tools to be held in stock. The group has also acquired 5000 sq ft premises previously leased by DRMT Solutions Ltd in Leicester, which has closed following the retirement of one of its directors.
For further information www.machmt.co.uk