UK NEWS

Rolls-Royce Submarines welcomes ministers

Rolls-Royce Submarines recently hosted Richard Marles, Australia’s Deputy Prime Ministerand Minister for Defence, and Grant Shapps, UK Secretary of State for Defence, at its site in Raynesway, Derby.The visit included a tour of the nuclear-licenced site and a chance to meet some of the team dedicated to providing the reactors that will power both UK and Australian future attack submarines under the AUKUS agreement.The Ministers watched the fabrication of the first nuclear propulsion plant components for the UK’s SSN-AUKUS programme, one of the first stages in building the submarines.
For further information www.bit.ly/3CCG2UG

Produmax joins forces with ASG Group

Produmax, an aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Bradford, is integrating with the rapidly expanding ASG Group, based in Manchester. Produmax employs around 90 people and has worked at the forefront of aerospace manufacturing for the past 25 years, led by Jeremy and Mandy Ridyard.

Jeremy Ridyard says: “We have been on a remarkable journey for over two decades and this partnership will allow us to expand our reach and impact in the aerospace industry even further. ASG Group’s value of engineering excellence aligns perfectly with ours, and together we’re well-equipped to take on new opportunities. Our joint goal is to drive this business to in excess of £20m over the next five years.”
For further information www.asg-group.co

AMRC to develop sustainable composites

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has secured funding for a new capability, the first-of-its-kind in the UK, to research and develop novel fibre-reinforced thermoplastic tapes. These recyclable materials have the potential to transform sustainability in composite manufacturing.The Multipurpose Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Tape (FRTT) Development Cell will take shape courtesy of a £1.7m grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which is part of UK Research and Innovation.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

Tow-Trust raises the bar with Bystronic

Warwickshire-based tow-bar manufacturer Tow-Trust has invested heavily in the latest technology and automation, including a multitude of machines from Bystronic.

CEO of Tow-Trust Towbars Tom Miller says: “We manufacture over 3000 part numbers and ship hundreds of thousands of units every year. The manufacturing process starts at two different times: we have the hollow stock section and the sheet steel divisions. The sheet steel division runs the very latest in technology with laser cutting and automation. From here, we pass the products through press braking and welding sections to the work-in-progress holding area.”

The sheet steel division is home to a wealth of technology from Bystronic, with the area accommodating three Bystronic press brakes lined up next to a Bystronic ByStar Fiber laser cutting machine. Adjacent to the four machine line-up is another ByStar Fiber laser cutter.This machine is continually processing sheet steel credit to the Bystronic ByTrans 3015 Extended automated sheet metal loading facility.

The company also has a hollow section division. Discussing this area, Miller says: “Here, we have the automated Bystronic ByTube 130 for cutting round and square tube material stock.Alongside this is a custom-built AMOB CH120 semi-automated machine for tube bending. This gives us complete control over our products, which is essential as we work to very tight tolerances and require the ultimate in quality.

“When the hollow section and sheet steel divisions complete their parts, components are moved to the work-in-progress area,” he continues.“Here, we construct sub-assemblies and undertake our quality control process. This feeds into our welding shop where we have 10 manual welding bays for small intricate parts and low-volume production parts. We also have four robotic bays for high-volume production.”
For further information www.bystronic.co.uk

Charles Day Steelsturns to Water Jet Sweden

Established over four decades ago in the heart of Sheffield, Charles Day Steels has recently invested in a new Beveljet 60 five-axis waterjet cutting machine from Water Jet Sweden for both bevel and free-form cutting.

With typical waterjet pumps on average only producing 3000-4000 bar of cutting pressure from 50-60 hp, the new pump on the Beveljet 60 can produce 6200 bar of cutting pressure through two heads simultaneously using its sizeable 125hp of power. This capability provides customers with a time- and cost-efficient waterjet cutting process.

Charlie Day, grandson of the founder and sales and business development director at Charles Day, says: “We’re already experts in waterjet cutting and have been offering the service for over 20 years, but the addition of the Water Jet Sweden BevelJet 60 cutting head opens up a whole new market. Not only can we provide large 2D parts on a quick turnaround, we can also offer large 3D parts, again at a dramatically increased cut speed, at a competitive price.”

One of the stand-out features of the Bevel Waterjet is its cutting head, which can process parts at angles of up to 60°. This capability allows for the creation of intricate and precise 3D shapes. Furthermore, equipped with a 125hp pump operating at 6200 bar, the Waterjet Sweden BevelJet 60 cam slice through materials known for their formidable hardness, including the likes of wearplate and Hardox.

Another novel feature is its dual-head configuration (one 3D and one 2D) that facilitates simultaneous cutting at high pressure through each head. This approach reduces production times, offering expedited results without compromising the quality of the final product.
For further information www.waterjetsweden.co.uk