UK NEWS

CNC machine improves toolroom productivity

Sustainable injection moulding specialist Great Central Plastics (GCP), which is committed to continuous improvement, has strengthened its in-house toolroom’s machining capabilities by investing in a new three-axis vertical machining centre from MACH Machine Tools. The machine’s arrival has had a direct and immediate impact on the company’s toolroom productivity, improving floor-to-floor times and optimising process efficiencies.

The machine, a DynaPath-controlled MACH MDV 855-S, was installed at GCP’s facility in Northamptonshire in December 2024, and is the first production-oriented CNC machine tool acquired by the company in its 27-year history.

Post installation, the machine has been put through its paces producing a range of high-precision mould tool components that include bolsters, plates, cavities, core inserts and supporting fixtures for GCP’s custom-designed and built mould tools. The machine was selected after conducting cutting trials at MACH’s Bristol facility.

Says Phil Brown, GCP’s toolroom manager: “We were impressed with the machine’s ability to deliver the accuracies, surface finishes and processing speeds we need.”

MACH Machine Tools’ MACH MDV 855-S features the DynaPath CNC control with a 15.6” LCD touchscreen. It can be used for conversational and ISO programming, and has 8 GB of memory and a 10,000 block look-ahead capability for fast and smooth contouring and profiling. The control also enables customers to access MACH’s 24/7 (Wi-Fi) remote service and support facility for real-time diagnostics, troubleshooting and applications advice.

“The remote assistance function is really useful, and I’ve had occasion to use it when I had an issue with the machine’s tool changer,” says Brown. “I’d made a programming error but, after logging into our company’s account was able, via the ‘What’s App’ link, to talk directly with MACH’s technical support staff to solve the problem quickly.”

More information www.machmt.co.uk

Subcontractor takes control with XYZ bed mill

Manufacturing parts used in everything from bakeries and canning lines to subsea submersibles, betting shops and poodle parlours, Leeds-based Industrial Plastics Supplies makes products that are used in the unlikeliest of places and is now aided in its production with the acquisition of a new XYZ RMX 4000 bed mill.

“The need to invest in a CNC milling machine came after we looked at our costings and lead times,” reveals managing director Chris Luty. “Although we had two routers, there was a limitation on thickness of cut, which often left us with no choice but to outsource. Having done the sums, we decided to purchase a machine that could do thicker work in-house.”

Following a recommendation, Industrial Plastics Supplies contacted XYZ.

“XYZ came in to see us straight away, taking the time to look at our work and even provide some cycle time estimations using XYZ bed mills,” says Luty. “After a subsequent visit to the XYZ showroom in Huddersfield we decided to go for the RMX 4000. Delivering 5.75 kW to the ISO40 spindle through a two-speed head ensures the cutting capability is vastly superior to our routing machines.”

He adds: “The machine, moving at 10 m/min rapid traverse, has reduced our non-cutting times tremendously, while the defaults feature in the ProtoTRAK control allows us to set up the machine exactly the way we want to work. It fills in some of the prompts automatically during conversational programming and helps minimise any mistakes as we go. But still one of the greatest things on the ProtoTRAK control is the TRAKing feature. The ability to wind the handles, which in turn run the program, is so confidence inspiring.”

More information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Rapid Fusion unveils ‘Medusa’ breakthrough

A breakthrough in large-format hybrid 3D printing has been successfully unveiled by Rapid Fusion. The Exeter-based company attracted more than 100 industry specialists, potential customers and funding partners for the launch and demo of Medusa at its R&D centre. Delegates saw the machine, which boasts a 1.2 m3 volume build and motion speeds of 1200 mm/sec, print a complex mould in under 5 hours. Bosses have already received significant interest from tier-one manufacturers and several primes for the £500,000 machine and are predicting a potential £5m revenue return in the first year.

More information www.rapidfusion.co.uk

Consolidation at IndySoft

IndySoft, a global specialist in calibration and asset management software, has acquired its UK distributor, IndySoft Europe Ltd, effective 1 April 2025. The acquisition marks a major milestone in the two-decade relationship between the companies and reflects IndySoft’s ongoing commitment to international expansion and deeper support for its global customer base. Existing customers will experience a seamless transition and continue to work with the same dedicated team, now operating as an integrated part of the IndySoft global organisation.

More information www.indysoft.com

Goodfellow Announces Two More Acquisitions

A UK supplier of advanced materials and metals has completed two landmark acquisitions in a matter of weeks, helping the company deliver a more “comprehensive material offer” for its growing customer base. Goodfellow has purchased UK-based Bureau of Analysed Samples (BAS) and Suisse Technology Partners (STP) in Switzerland in two deals that will give it access to state-of-the-art laboratories and testing facilities, as well as a certified reference materials capability. They follow the acquisition last year of Potomac Photonics in the US, supporting the firm’s target of achieving over £50m in revenue within two years.

More information www.goodfellow.com