UK NEWS

Sheffield Forgemasters in foundry collaboration

In the spirit of collaboration, Sheffield Forgemasters’ Foundry team has undertaken exchange visits with a foundry in the Midlands. Delegates from Newby Foundry in the West Midlands visited Sheffield Forgemasters’ Brightside Lane Foundry to look at casting processes for ultra-large castings, while the Sheffield Forgemasters foundry team visited Newby’s facilities to see manufacture of smaller-scale, bulk castings.

The reciprocal visits helped teams from both foundries compare vastly different techniques and see if there are any technologies or processes which could be transferred or learned from. Paul Ashcroft, Sheffield Forgemasters’ operation lead – foundry, says: “The initiative to host exchange visits with Newby Foundry was a great way to see the different processes that can be adopted for the manufacture of castings in vastly different sizes.”

More information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Boosting UK Offshore Wind Manufacturing

The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) has launched its 2025 Manufacturing Facility Support Programme (MFSP). Applications are now open for a new round of funding aimed at boosting the UK’s offshore wind manufacturing capacity. The MFSP is designed to support businesses seeking to build new or expand existing manufacturing facilities that serve the offshore wind sector

With a total funding pot of £2m available, the programme offers grants of up to £500,000 per project to support early-stage, pre-investment activities that pave the way for significant capital investment in UK manufacturing. Successful projects will be expected to generate at least £5m in capital investment within two years, £5m in annual revenue and 20 new UK jobs within five years. 

More information www.bit.ly/41rLxlU

Clearcut winner in ACM delamination challenges

Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has launched its Clearcut range of single-flute balanced routing tools, specifically engineered to eliminate delamination issues when machining aluminium composite material (ACM) panels.

ACM panels have become increasingly popular in signage, architectural cladding and display applications. To meet growing demand for faster turnaround times, more manufacturers are now printing directly on to ACM panels before cutting. This workflow significantly reduces lead times but introduces new machining challenges. ITC says it listened to the industry and developed a solution with its Clearcut range of cutting tools.

“The trend towards printing directly on to ACM substrate before cutting has created a perfect storm for delamination issues,” says Sally Hunt, technical sales manager at ITC. “Manufacturers gain significant time savings in production, but they’ve discovered that conventional cutting tools simply cannot handle the increased complexity of machining pre-printed panels without causing costly damage.”

Traditional cutting tools often leave jagged edges with visible print layer damage, forcing manufacturers to choose between speed and quality. However, with the slow helix Clearcut series of routing tools from ITC, manufacturers can maintain both of the key metrics.

ITC’s solid-carbide Clearcut range is VITREO coated, with the company reporting that the slow helix geometry ensures maximum productivity with unparalleled edge finishes. The single-flute routing tools are available in both coated and uncoated variants, with unbalanced or high-performance balanced tools offered.

The balanced tools are designed for modern digital cutting tables that incorporate high-frequency spindles operating at speeds exceeding 30,000 rpm. Notably, the single-flute balanced design on a 6 mm shank provides construction that eliminates vibration at high speeds, preventing print damage and substrate delamination.

More information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

GEWEFA UK Adds Tool-Holder Range for Turning Centres

Under a sole agency agreement, GEWEFA UK has been appointed to sell and service in Britain and Ireland the driven and static tool holders, both standard and special, manufactured in Germany by Wendel Tools.

It means that the UK subsidiary of GEWEFA, also a German manufacturer of tool-holding and allied products, now probably offers the most comprehensive range of such equipment. The company arrives at this understanding because it also sells the products of six other partner firms, all but one being German: EWS (driven and static turning tool holders); Fahrion (chucks and collets); Nann (standard and special collets); Ott-Jakob (tool clamping systems); Pibomulti (a Swiss manufacturer of angle heads, speeders and multi-spindle heads); and Rineck (heat-shrink tool holders and machines).

Nicole Lloyd-Foxe, managing director of GEWEFA UK, says: “We regularly receive enquiries from manufacturers seeking bespoke driven and static tooling for very specific production applications on turning centres. However, our parent company and other principals either do not include them in their portfolios, or are unable to supply them quickly enough and at reasonable cost.”

She continues: “This is exactly where Wendel scores highly. Following my visit to their stand at the AMB machine tool show in Stuttgart last September, where we discussed adding their products to our portfolio, we have now been appointed to represent them exclusively in the UK and Irish markets.”

Lloyd-Foxe adds that the manufacturer’s products are known to be of high quality and robust, while the ‘specials’ in particular benefit from a knowledgeable and experienced design team in Germany.

More information www.gewefa.co.uk

Maintenance tips that extend cold saw life

Cold saws are known for their precision, durability and ability to produce clean, burr-free cuts in a variety of metals. However, like all industrial equipment, they require consistent maintenance to stay in top condition. Whether running a small fabrication shop or a large production facility, proper maintenance of cold-cut saws will not only extend their lifespan but also ensure continued performance, safety, and cost efficiency. Dimakin offers the following guide to maintaining cold saws.

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to maintain a cold saw is regular cleaning. After every shift, remove chips and debris from the working area, base and blade guards, and clean the vice jaws and clamping surfaces to ensure accurate cuts. Dimakin says its cold-cut saws are designed with easy-to-access cleaning points and robust enclosures to help keep debris away from sensitive components.

Secondly: sharp tools equal smooth cuts. The blade is the heart of a cold saw. Using a dull or damaged blade can result in rough cuts, overheating and excess wear on the motor and bearings. Inspect the blade daily for signs of dullness, chipping or warping, and replace or sharpen blades before they cause undue stress on the machine. Dimakin’s range of cold saws supports a wide range of blade diameters and materials, while inverter-driven models allow for optimal blade speed settings, reducing wear and tear over time.

Naturally, proper lubrication is vital as it minimises friction and keeps machines running smoothly. Lubricate the gearbox, spindle and pivot points as per the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Further tips include the inspection of electrical components and safety features, the tightening of bolts and checking of alignments, and the scheduling of preventive maintenance.

More information www.dimakin.co.uk