UK NEWS

New research on exporting and subcontracting

Subcon (5-7 June, Birmingham NEC) has unveiled research showing the subcontracting impact of a 48% increase in UK engineering and manufacturing exports over the past 12 months.

The research also revealed: a further 35% of businesses had seen export levels remain the same; of those increasing exports, the most common increase is a healthy 5-10%; and for an elite 20% of businesses, exports grew by more than 20%.

The research also shows that two thirds of manufacturing and engineering businesses used subcontractors in the past year, with 38% planning to increase work with them in the next 12 months. This rise is driven by a lack of in-house capacity and a desire among manufacturers and engineering businesses to focus on core competencies. Of those businesses that do use subcontractors, over half (53%) outsource up to 20% of their requirements, while more than a third (36%) outsource £10,000-£100,000. A further quarter outsource £100,000 to £1m annually.
For further information www.subconshow.co.uk

Affordable technology from YMT

Among the technology on show by YMT at last month’s MACH exhibition were a number of products making their show debut, including the Detron GFA210-S CNC rotary table.

Part of the large Detron range, the robust device features a pneumatic clamp, a worktable diameter of 210 mm and a centre bore diameter of 65H7.
Also new at MACH was the 5th Axis RockLock zero-point fixtures (pictured). This robust manual system has a quick-change action and is said to provide high levels of accuracy.
YMT exhibition staff also demonstrated the abilities of a Hedelius five-axis machine, two YCM machining centres (one a three-axis, the other a full five-axis model), a Goodway CNC turning centre and an Erowa automation system. Each of the machine tools was fitted with a range of YMT accessories to help illustrate the advantages they provide.
Another YMT production aid making a bow at MACH was the Alfa-Set 33 Swift bench-top tool-presetting machine. The Alfa-Set 33 Swift has an X axis of 250 mm and a 380 mm Z axis. YMT’s Alfa-Set range of presetting systems allow accurate tooling offset data to be supplied to CNC machines, enabling programs to be run at optimal levels and components to be produced within tolerance.
For further information www.ymtltd.co.uk

Engineering cornucopia of new products

Leader Chuck’s stand at last month’s MACH exhibition featured an engineering cornucopia of new and enhanced products developed to improve the efficiency, productivity and accuracy of just about any machine shop.

“For example, freeze clamping plates from AMCC have proven to be an excellent alternative to magnetic fixtures when securing non-metallic and non-magnetic components,” explains managing director Mark Jones. “Visitors were able to see the plates in action as it is the only way to fully appreciate the holding strength available with ice.”
Autogrip’s range of through-bore and closed-centre standard and long stroke one-, two-, three-, four- and six-jaw power chucks are designed to operate at up to 8000 rpm, while the Lexair Tri-Grip collet closer is designed for use on either vertical or horizontal machining centres, to maximise the raw material loading capacity. Extending the capability of any machining centre was Exact Machinery’s range of CNC rotary tables and indexing units.
New products in the Leader portfolio included a line-up of small self-contained pneumatic jaw and collet chucks from Jato, and an extensive range of dynamic balancing and monitoring solutions from Italian specialist Balance Systems.
Also on show was the Hewa range of two-jaw self-centring indexing chucks, Maprox collet chucks and miniature multi-jaw chucks for watchmakers and metrology applications, and MicroCentric air and diaphragm chucks (pictured). Details of tailor-made workholding and component manipulation solutions from Rotomors were also highlighted, as Leader exclusively offers these solutions to manufacturing and precision engineering companies in the
UK and Ireland.
For further information www.leaderchuck.com

Zero-point clamping system unveiled

Introduced at last month’s MACH 2018 by 1st MTA was a new zero-point clamping system from V-Tech (pictured). For clamping workpieces on CNC machining centres, this pneumatic quick-change system features 24 kN retraction of the clamping pin in each receiver, and a positioning accuracy of better than 5 µm.

Mechanical vices, clamping chucks and bars, and special workholding fixtures, can be accommodated in the receivers, while positioning slots allow precise 90° indexing. The self-clamping mechanism, which uses high-power springs to secure the workpiece and fixture, ensures that the force is still applied after the air has been disconnected. Pneumatic power is only required again for release. Clamping bases are available to hold one, two, four or six receivers, which are 135 mm in diameter but only 41 mm high, so little Z-axis travel is lost.
With regard to rotary tables, on show was Kitagawa’s latest TT150 tilting-type compound table with 150 mm faceplate. The TT150 is designed to be interfaced directly with a machining centre control or operated via a MAC mini controller. Also featured was the heavy-duty GT series models that deliver clamping torques up to 2800 Nm.
Elsewhere on the stand, 1st MTA demonstrated a Chick Indexer SubSystem (ISS), showing how more components could be presented to a machining centre spindle by adding a fourth axis. Another Chick product on show was the latest lightweight version of its One-Lok clamping system, which is pitched as a superior alternative to the conventional wind-up vice.
To further support its workholding offer, 1st MTA presented permanent electromagnetic clamping systems and materials handling products from Tecnomagnete, while MillTec Grip magnetic workholding systems were displayed for five-axis and five-sided metal-cutting applications.
For further information www.1mta.com

Workholding in the spotlight

Giving manufacturers complete control and increased speed over their machining operations was high on the agenda when Hyfore headed to MACH 2018. The workholding specialist displayed the latest technology from eight global principals, including advancements in vices, clamp jaws, high-speed tool holders and roller drive rotary tables.

Hyfore also strengthened its relationship as the sole UK distributor of Midaco by showcasing a small pallet receiver, which demonstrated what the pallet changers could look like on a machining table.
“Industrial companies today – at all levels of the supply chain – are looking to get the most out of their machines, whether that is speed, accuracy or capacity,” explains Gary Dickenson, managing director of Hyfore. “One of the ways they can do that is improving the workholding and making sure the part is held in a way that offers the optimum manufacturing efficiency and improves the life of the machine tool.
“This is why MACH was such an important show for us and one where we demonstrated possible solutions and had experts on hand who could talk though bespoke fixtures and some of the other technologies that may help,” he adds. “We are the only UK supplier of products from major brands such as Spreitzer, Matrix, Acrow, Hardinge, Buck, Midaco, Sankyo, UCAM and Kosmek. There was plenty to talk about at the show.”
For further information www.hyfore.com