Succession planning proves vital at Alloy Wire

A UK manufacturer of round, flat and profile wire is on course to celebrate a record year, less than 12 months on from a MBO designed to protect the ‘unique values’ of the business.
Alloy Wire International, which began trading in the Black Country more than 77 years ago, has seen sales rocket by £3m since completion of the deal in January, taking turnover to £18m with the prospect of breaking £20m in 2024.Demand from customers in more than 63 countries has been behind the initial boost, but the company is now adamant that its commitment to extending employee ownership will drive ongoing success.
For further informationwww.alloywire.com

SPF project

The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) and ITP Aero have co-developed a project to minimise energy use and material waste, and enhance productivity throughout the lifecycle of the aerospace superplastic forming (SPF) process. The three-year £750,000 project aims to develop a predictive tool that identifies the lowest temperature possible for successful SPF across ITP’s product range.This new tool will be capable of predicting microstructure evolution, damage initiation and alpha-case formation during SPF.
For further information www.bit.ly/44R55PL

PTG Holroyd chooses gearboxes from Apex Dynamics

PTG Holroyd is using the APC and ADseries of high-torque, low-backlash planetary gearboxes from Apex Dynamics as part of its ultra-precise CNC helical rotor and gear grinding machines.

Gearboxes are an integral part of PTG Holroyd’s technology as they drive the machine’s axes, making precision key. The company had very specific requirements for output torque, accuracy and product dimensions, and was seeking the optimal gearbox solution. PTG Holroyd approached planetary gearbox specialist Apex Dynamics with a set of tight specifications for its helical grinding machines, which Apex was able to meet with its APC and AD series.

Working alongside PTG Holroyd’s engineers and design teams, Apex Dynamics UK identified the optimalsolutions for the machine tool manufacturer’s helical grinding machines.

The specific Apex Dynamics’ high precision planetary gearboxes best-suited to PTG Holroyd’s helical grinders were from the APC series of rotary flange style gearboxes (with 55:1 ratio) and the Apex AD series of compact gearboxes (with 50:1 ratio). Both product ranges deliver high torque, low backlash of less than 1 arc-minute and high levels of accuracy.

The APC series comes with a patented curvic coupling output, giving a high-concentricity, low run-out, high-torque, zero-backlash connection. Its case-hardened and ground gearing offers high accuracy and high wear resistance for the gear train and, by adding a fourth planetary gear, boosts torque capacity by up to 25%.

The compact, helical, one-piece planetary cage design of the Apex AD series provides PTG Holroyd with a range of benefits. These includea stiff and accurate rotating flange design that supports accuracy of less than 1 arc-minute,and a flange to flange distance as short as 70mm, making it capable of fitting into the smallest spaces.
For further information https://apexdynauk.com/

Student success in robotics

The winners of the 2023 WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition, held in conjunction with FANUC UK, were announcedat an awards ceremony in Manchester last month. Representing the best of the UK’s rising robotics talent, Hannah Currie and Peter O’Neill from Northern Regional College in Northern Ireland beat over 50 talented young apprentices and students to take gold at the national finals, which were held over three days at FANUC’s UK headquarters in Coventry. The duo now have the chance to represent Team UK at the WorldSkills International Industrial Robotics competition in 2024.
For further information www.bit.ly/484XXBj

C&C Fabrications boosts deburring capabilities

C&C Fabrications, a Yorkshire-based steel fabrication specialist and recipient of the Business of the Year 2023 award, has invested in a Loewer SwingGrinder deburring andedge-rounding machine. The new machine is the latest addition in an ongoing series of investments as the company continues to adapt to ongoing growth. Speed, precision and efficiency will all receive a boost from the Loewer SwingGrinder.

The Loewer SwingGrinder represents a significant advancement in metalworking technology, enabling C&C Fabrications to deliver top-tier solutions across a wide array of sectors, including warehousing and logistics, retail, commercial, industrial, and general engineering at an even more impressive rate, reports the company.

This latest investment from C&C is yet more evidence of its commitment to excellence and innovation as the new SwingGrinder provides the business with an array of advantages. These include a user-friendly design, increased versatility, and a safer and cleaner workspace.

Chris Wallage, owner and managing director, says: “This new investment will play a vital role in enhancing our product quality and workforce efficiency, and enables the future expansion of C&C Fabrications. We’ve made a series of investments in cutting-edge machinery to ensure the delivery of first-rate products and services to our clients, and see C&C remain at the forefront of our industry for years to come. As we continues to redefine steel fabrication, this strategic investment showcases our ongoing dedication to innovation and excellence.”
For further information www.candcfabricationsltd.co.uk