The MACH 2018 seminar programme is now live on the exhibition’s website, where browsers can find full listings and book space.

Throughout the week (9-13 April), topics such as Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing, workforce development and modern production processes will be discussed, as well as looking at key sectors of importance in the UK, like aerospace and motorsport. Speakers will include Andy Green OBE, pilot of Bloodhound SSC, talking about progress on the high-technology project to design and build a car that will break the 1000 mph barrier and set a new world land-speed record.
For further information www.machexhibition.com/seminars

The success of the Apprenticeship Levy is splitting manufacturing opinion according to a new survey. The In-Comm Training Barometer revealed that just 55% of manufacturers believe it is working. Of the 71 respondents, just over a fifth said they had taken on apprentices as a result of the Levy – a small number, but still an increase in the face of an annual decline in the number of apprenticeships commencing over the past 12 months. The results are due to be presented to Anne Milton, Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships, during a special delegation to Westminster involving 50 employers and apprentices.
For further information www.in-comm.co.uk

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence has announced plans to take its annual PC-DMIS metrology software seminars to a wider range of locations this year.

The company will host the events at six venues in England and Ireland, beginning in Bristol on 24 April. The free training sessions for holders of Hexagon’s PC-DMIS software maintenance agreements (SMAs) will include presentations by application engineers on topics such as understanding constructions. Seminars will also be held in Towcester on 23 May and Telford on 12 September. Additional sessions will take place in northeast England on 10 October and at two locations in Ireland (TBC).
For further information www.hexagonmi.com

XYZ Machine Tools has created a separate page on its website dedicated to HP Muliti Jet Fusion 3D printers, for which the company is an official reseller.

Visitors to the page can see a range of videos that highlight the potential created by the technology. In addition, there is information on the materials that can be used in developing parts using HP’s Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing system and SmartStream 3D build manager and command centre software. With build speeds up to 4500 cm3 per hour, HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D printers are capable of delivering 30 million drops per second across each inch of working area.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com/3d-printing

Master Abrasives has sold and installed its first Micromatic grinding machine in the UK, the ECO-200 universal model, at Coventry-based Earlsdon Technology, a builder of special-purpose machine tools for industries such as aerospace and automotive.

Brian Little, toolroom supervisor at Earlsdon, recognised the importance of choosing a cost-effective machine, with the necessary precision and versatility to meet the company’s wide-ranging requirements. “The machine was purchased on the basis that it will, in the long term, provide cost savings in producing customised tooling for the bespoke requirements of our customers and reduce the risk of causing delays in machine manufacture and approval.
“Currently we send this work out to subcontract and cannot rely on a speedy reaction time or the geometrical accuracy required,” he continues. “The ECO-200 will provide an in-house service which can be easily controlled to suit the demands and timeframe of our own machine production, meeting the accuracies required.”
Earlsdon’s new machine has a 400 mm grinding capacity between centres and an additional internal grinding spindle. The nitride-hardened steel spindle on the wheel head runs in multi-point hydrodynamic bearings, which Master Abrasives says gives high rigidity and excellent damping.
Martin Stevens, applications engineer at Master Abrasives, adds: “We encourage those who are interested to get in touch and arrange a visit to our grinding and finishing showroom. We can show Micromatic grinding machines in action, as well as other products, such as our demonstration tape finisher, measuring equipment and abrasives.”
For further information www.master-abrasives.co.uk