November 2024
Be Quick in turning operations
Many people regard the lathe as the forerunner of modern machine tools. Its introduction that made turning operations possible, marked the dawn of machining. Today, turning is still one of the most commonly used machining processes, and lathes remain a substantial part of the global machine tool inventory.
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Optimising industrial cleaning to boost manufacturing productivity
Manufacturing leaders know every day brings opportunities, challenges and risks. Not only are they focused on keeping workers safe against predictable and unpredictable threats, they also must provide consistent productivity that is constantly subject to external pressures.
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The United Grinding Group uses umati to connect various machines easily, including older ones, in their production environment
The United Grinding Group’s customers are as diverse as the group itself. They range from small businesses to large corporations, from single to mass production, and from the automotive industry to aerospace, tool and die, and precision mechanics.
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Tesla given go-ahead for Berlin factory expansion
German authorities have granted Elon Musk’s Tesla permission to expand its gigafactory just outside Berlin. The original plans sparked resistance from locals worried about the environmental impacts. The US electric car manufacturer Tesla has received the go-ahead from the state of Brandenburg for a first step towards expanding the plant in Grünheide near Berlin.
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Wilson Tool acquires German press tool manufacturer PASS Stanztechnik AG
US-based Wilson Tool International Ltd, the largest independent manufacturer of tooling systems for punch presses, press brakes, and punch and die components for the stamping industry, has announced the acquisition of PASS Stanztechnik AG, a manufacturer of precision punch press tooling located in Creuβen, Germany.
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Marposs goes into space with its laser micrometer
Marposs, a global leader in quality control and precision measurement solutions, marks a new milestone with the integration of a laser micrometer from Aeroel, a Group company specialising in high-precision laser measurement instrumentation, into an automated fibre optic production line on the International Space Station (ISS).
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New CAD/CAM brand ENCY launched to the market
Cyprus-based Ency Software has launched ENCY a new CAD/CAM/OLP system that it says is designed to transform manufacturing processes. The company said that the new CAD/CAM brand is more than just innovative software products for automating CNC machine and industrial robot programming.
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CGTech rebrands to Vericut
Since 1988, CGTech has been dedicated to transforming outdated machining methods with superior software and service. The company’s success has made its software renowned in the industry. To reflect this achievement and its strategy for the future, the company is unifying its identity under the name that best represents its legacy – Vericut.
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McLaren W1 supercar features additively manufactured titanium suspension components
McLaren Automotive, headquartered in Woking, UK, has launched the new McLaren W1, its latest supercar and successor to the legendary McLaren F1 and P1. The W1 features Formula 1-inspired front suspension, mounted directly into the carbon fibre monocoque, with externally visible front arms and key components.
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Aston Martin unveils James Bond-inspired DB12 Goldfinger
Aston Martin’s partnership with the James Bond film franchise stretches as far back as 60 years, when the iconic DB5 made its silver-screen debut in Goldfinger in 1964. Now, to celebrate this milestone, Aston Martin has whipped the wraps off a new special edition, with the British luxury marque handing the DB12 the “007” treatment.
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Altair names Cimatron, part of Sandvik Group, as Global Channel Partner
Altair, a global leader in computational intelligence, has appointed Cimatron Ltd, part of Sandvik Group, as a new global channel partner. Cimatron will amplify the reach of Altair’s unique design and simulation solutions within the Altair HyperWorks platform. These solutions – particularly Altair’s injection moulding and metal forming solutions – are designed to revolutionise the manufacturing industry.
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Additive manufacturing in the throes of technological change
Additive manufacturing, particularly metal 3D printing, has evolved from a promising technology to a serious constituent of industrial production. Industries such as plant engineering, aerospace, automotive and metalworking are facing a technological transformation that could have far-reaching implications for design, production and sustainability.
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September 2024
Enhance efficiency in roll grinding applications with Grinding Techniques
Within the steel, pulp and paper industry, ensuring optimal performance and longevity of rolls used in hot and cold mill applications is paramount. Over time, these rolls endure significant mechanical and thermal stresses, leading to wear and imperfections, necessitating precision grinding applications to restore their functionality.
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New development benchmarks in milling: Iscar
Modern milling, as a metal cutting method, originated in the late 18th century and quickly became one of the primary machining technologies. Today, it is hard to imagine any machine shop without milling machines on the shop floor. Milling is an essential process in manufacturing.
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Demand for machine tools in German machine tool industry continues to decline
Situation expected to stabilise by end of year. Orders received by the German machine tool industry in the second quarter of 2024 were 28 per cent down on the same period last year. Orders from Germany fell by 13 per cent whereas those from abroad dropped by 33 per cent. Orders received in the first half of 2024 were 26 per cent down on the same period last year.
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Brady Corporation acquires Gravotech
Gravotech, an international leader in the marking and engraving markets for over 80 years, has announced its acquisition by Brady Corporation, an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect people, products and places.
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China’s ongoing construction crisis drives global steel prices down
China’s steel market – by far the world’s largest – is flashing multiple warning signs as the property downturn and weaker factory activity have ravaged domestic demand this year, with prices plunging to multiyear lows and mills racking up losses. The decline in global steel prices is driven by the ongoing real estate crisis in China and, to a lesser extent, by the weak manufacturing activity worldwide.
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YouTube Channel JIMTOF INSIGHTS launched for JIMTOF 2024 exhibition
JIMTOF has launched a YouTube channel “JIMTOF INSIGHTS”, which covers a wide range of topics related to the machine tool industry and other manufacturing-related topics. In addition to attracting visitors to JIMTOF, JIMTOF INSIGHTS aims to raise awareness of JIMTOF among students, who will lead the next generation of the manufacturing industry.
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Cutting into the medical industry with Sandvik and Sphinx Tools
Sphinx Tools makes drills that are smaller than human hairs. Acquired by Sandvik for its precision tool expertise, the Swiss company is also strengthening the Group’s position in the medical sector.
Sphinx Tools was established in Switzerland in 1994 as the result of a management buy-out from Sphinxwerke Müller AG, that traces its origins back to 1876.
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Countdown begins to EMO Hannover 2025: Online registration now open
The world’s leading trade fair for production technology is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary at the next event, scheduled for 22 to 26 September 2025 in Hanover, Germany. “EMO has been bringing the right people together in the right place at the right time for half a century now. It will be the number one event in 2025 for the international metalworking community,” said EMO General Commissioner Carl Martin Welcker.
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Hardinge files for bankruptcy, blaming Chinese regulators
New York-based metal-cutting machine toolmaker Hardinge Inc has filed for Chapter 11 protection in the Delaware bankruptcy court, citing over $100 million in debt and intentions to pursue a bankruptcy sale. Hardinge entered Chapter 11 after defaulting on its prepetition credit agreement. Chief Restructuring Officer Adrian Frankum stated in a first-day declaration that the prepetition lender was unwilling to provide additional funding.
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50 years of Golf production: Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg celebrates its bestseller
Wolfsburg and the Golf – a perfect combination for 50 years. Mass production of the first model generation began at Volkswagen’s main plant in spring 1974. This Monday, the company celebrated the anniversary with a ceremony under the motto “50 years of Golf production”.
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Leading titanium bike manufacturer looks to produce 50 000 metal AM parts annually
Following the introduction of China’s first titanium alloy bike under the Hi-Light brand in 1992, Hanglun Technology is now reported to be the world’s largest manufacturer of titanium alloy bikes. With an annual production capacity of nearly 20 000 titanium alloy frames, Hanglun supplies a number of leading global brands.
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One Equity Partners invests in Comau
Stellantis N.V., one of the world’s largest automakers and mobility providers, and One Equity Partners (OEP), a middle market private equity firm, announced that OEP has signed a binding agreement to make a majority investment in Comau S.p.A. (Comau), a global technology company specialising in industrial automation and advanced robotics.
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Renishaw brings AM innovation to Olympic track bike components
As Team GB celebrated its success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, global engineering technologies company, Renishaw, is celebrating its role in providing additive manufacturing (AM) expertise for the manufacture of a highly successful track bike for British Cycling.
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BMW Group and robotics company Figure test the use of humanoid robots in production [VIDEO]
During a trial run lasting several weeks at BMW Group Plant Spartanburg, the latest humanoid robot Figure 02 from California company Figure successfully inserted sheet metal parts into specific fixtures, which were then assembled as part of the chassis. The robot must be particularly dexterous to complete this production step.
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End of an era as final Bentley W12 engine hand-built in Crewe
Bentley Motors is celebrating production of the last hand-built, high performance 12-cylinder engine at the company’s UK headquarters in Crewe. It concludes a pivotal chapter in Bentley’s history, as the last W12-powered Bentayga, Continental GT and Flying Spur cars roll off the production line at the company’s Dream Factory.
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Taiwan expands list of export control items to Russia and Belarus
Taiwan has added 77 items to the list of machine tools restricted from being exported to Russia and Belarus that is set to take effect on March 8 in a bid to prevent the Russian military from using Taiwan’s high-tech products in its war in Ukraine, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said yesterday.
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Turkey’s Tosyalı signs joint steel investment with Sonangol in Angola
Tosyalı’s affiliate in Angola, Tosyalı Iron & Steel Angola S.A. (TISA), will continue its journey to invest in Africa by adding Sonangol, the oil and gas company of the Republic of Angola, to its partnership structure within the scope of its ongoing investments in Angola.
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EuroBLECH 2024 sets out new ways to enhance productivity
Visitor registration has opened for the 27th international sheet metal working technology exhibition, EuroBLECH 2024, taking place from 22 to 25 October 2024 at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds in Germany. It is the world’s largest exhibition for sheet metal processing, covering the entire supply chain in 15 different technology sectors across nine exhibition halls.
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July 2024
The LogiQuick of the Matter
The latest Iscar LogiQuick campaign has unveiled a diverse range of new cutting tools, effectively replenishing the company’s portfolio. Iscar is known for prioritising innovation, so it comes as no surprise that these new products have piqued the interest of the metalworking community, including machine shops and other cutting tool manufacturers.
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Dressing Tools explained by Grinding Techniques
In this article we aim to emphasise the advantages of choosing the correct dressing tool for specific applications. Dressing and truing are common terms used in precision grinding applications. Although using the same tool in both instances, each application poses its own unique characteristics.
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KSB Pumps and Valves intends to acquire Davron Entities
The KSB Group is active in the fire control and protection system industry. It manufactures and sells pumps, valves and associated components. In South Africa, through KSB Pumps & Valves, KSB Group supplies products to the fire control and protection market. The products are used in the building, energy, mining, petrochemicals and water industries.
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Ford South Africa celebrates millionth ranger produced at Silverton manufacturing plant
A million of anything is a huge number. Now imagine one million Ford Rangers being lined up bumper-to-bumper, starting at Ford South Africa’s Silverton Manufacturing Plant in Pretoria and heading due north through Africa. Ford’s segment-defining pick-ups, or bakkies in South African vernacular, would reach all the way to Egypt’s southern border – some 5 300km away.
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Sandvik Coromant enhances sustainability insights with Productivity Analyzer
Tooling solutions provider Sandvik Coromant introduces advanced sustainability features in its Productivity Analyzer tool, enabling precise measurement of energy consumption and carbon footprint for customers in the manufacturing industry.
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Mazak celebrates 50 years of manufacturing in the US
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Mazak North American manufacturing operations in Florence, Kentucky. Through its focus in manufacturing innovation and technology, engineering and customer support, the company has positioned itself as a leader of the North American manufacturing industry.
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German robotics industry faces stiff competition from China, VDMA says
Growing competition from China is weighing on the outlook for Germany’s robotic industry, which is already struggling with falling orders in a weak domestic economy, a representative of the VDMA engineering association told Reuters. “Competition is fierce,” Frank Konrad, head of VDMA’s robotics and automation department, said in comments published recently.
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Zeiss software to be bundled with Artec 3D scanning in new metrology partnership
World-renowned professional 3D scanning hardware and software developer Artec 3D has launched a far-reaching partnership with optics and optoelectronics leader Zeiss. Together, the preeminent leaders in 3D data capture are bringing a suite of new metrology tools to the most advanced 3D scanning users.
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BMW Group expands use of 3D printed customised robot grippers for production
The BMW Group is significantly expanding its use of 3D printed, customised robot grippers across its production network as these innovations are fast, economical, and versatile, enhancing manufacturing processes and efficiency. At BMW Group Plant Landshut a new bionic gripper has been introduced providing substantial weight savings.
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GF Machining Solutions celebrates 70 years of EDM technology
70 years ago, the invention of electrical discharge machining (EDM) revolutionised manufacturing worldwide. AGIE and Charmilles pioneered this technology and exist today under the umbrella of GF Machining Solutions. EDM has evolved to offer precision in the production of moulds, dies and complex geometric parts.
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May 2024
Interesting space news from Thomasnet.com
SpaceX entered the satellite business nearly a decade ago with the debut of Starlink. But over the last several years, SpaceX also has been developing hundreds of spy satellites for the US government. The company aims to develop a constellation capable of moving in swarms in low Earth orbit to spot and track targets almost anywhere on the planet.
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Sodick acquires minority share in Prima Additive
Sodick and Prima Industrie have signed an investment agreement in which Sodick will acquire a minority share of 9.5% in Prima Additive. The reserved capital increase means Sodick will purchase new shares issued by Prima Additive specifically for this purpose. Prima Additive specialises in the production of industrial systems for metal additive manufacturing and other advanced laser technologies.
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Trumpf invests €5 million to establish manufacturing facility in India
“India is developing strong and still has growth potential. The proximity to this emerging market allows us to produce more efficiently and respond more quickly to the needs of our customers. Furthermore, the local presence gives us the opportunity to develop tailored solutions for the Indian market while leveraging global synergies,” said Till Kueppers, Chief Operating Officer at Trumpf Machine Tools, Germany.
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Tyrolit Group expands facility with new production line
The Tyrolit Group is expanding its production site in Stans, Austria with an investment in a new production line that adds 1 700 square meters to the facility. The high-tech, new production facility ensures less material wear and efficient processes when machining, pressing or loading and unloading the production units.
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GrindingHub 2024 trade fair set to invigorate the grinding machinery business
14 to 17 May 2024 Stuttgart, Germany. It is not only the pronounced changes in the automotive sector that are currently forcing many companies in the grinding industry to realign their strategy. Precise surface treatment comes at the end of nearly every metalworking process and has decisive effects on the quality and functionality of products.
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Laser technology and AI boost the circular economy
The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT playing a leading role. The recycling industry is increasingly relying on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) to identify reusable raw materials in waste streams. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen, Germany is playing a leading role in developing this highly precise technology for element analysis and is continuously expanding its range of applications.
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March 2024
Helical Motion: Iscar
The introduction of the Iscar Helimill in the 1990s marked a significant milestone in milling tools. It revolutionised the design of milling tools with indexable inserts, establishing a new approach that would shape the industry for years to come. This breakthrough was achieved using a parallelogram-shaped carbide insert, featuring a helical cutting edge formed by the intersection of the insert’s helical side and shaped top surfaces.
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German machine tool industry expecting a decline in production in 2024
In 2024, the German machine tool industry is expecting production to decline by almost 3 per cent to EUR 14.8 billion in nominal terms. “A nominal record volume of 17 billion euros was posted in 2018/2019, and five years later, there is still no sign of this figure being matched,” said Franz-Xaver Bernhard, Chairman of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association), at the association’s annual press conference.
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Steel industry giants lead ‘green steel’ shift towards sustainable manufacturing
Major steel companies are currently introducing ‘green steel’ materials. Even though each company has secured several contracts, challenges remain, including dissemination in the public sector and the establishment of global rules. ‘Green Steel’ is recognised for emitting less carbon dioxide (CO2) during production. Following Kobe Steel, which pioneered this system, JFE Steel announced its first order in June 2023, and Nippon Steel followed suit in September 2023.
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GrindingHub 2024 exhibition expands
GrindingHub exhibitors demonstrate: Human-robot collaboration could soon be setting the pace in factories. Gradual shift to automated grinding. GrindingHub 2024 is set to open its doors for the second time to grinding experts from all over the world from 14 to 17 May 2024. Over 460 exhibitors from 31 countries will be presenting their latest grinding technology solutions in Stuttgart – now in four exhibition halls for the first time.
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Italian machine tool market looks toward 2024
In the fourth quarter 2023, the index of machine tool orders compiled by the Economic Studies Department & Business Culture Centre of UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE showed a 31.1% fall compared to the period October-December 2022. The absolute value of the index stood at 92.1 (base year 2015=100).
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Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association reports rise in sales
The Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMBTA) has reported that in November, the total value of machine tool orders in November was 115.90 billion yen. This was an increase of 3.4% compared to October 2023 and marked the first month of month-on-month increase in two months.
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BAE Systems shows off mystery drone at defence show
In a teaser of things to come, BAE Systems has displayed a model of its future drone at the World Defence Show in Riyadh. Steeped in more mystery than a Raymond Chandler novel, it gives us a hint of what future military drones might look like. International defence shows can often be more like bird watching events than showcases for the latest military hardware. Defence contractors don’t just like to show off their wares for sale.
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Trumpf and The Exploration Company cooperate with 3D printing
The Exploration Company wants to offer commercial space missions in the future. Trumpf is contributing production technology as well as manufacturing and application expertise to the cooperation. The German technology company Trumpf and the European space-travel start-up The Exploration Company are cooperating on the construction of core components for spacecraft for missions in the earth’s orbit and to the moon.
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Umati reveals new members
In January 2024 umati announced that they had approved a number of new members. umati (universal machine technology interface) is a community of the machine building industries and their customers for the promotion and adoption of open, standardised interfaces based on OPC UA. The aim of umati is to reduce communication costs between equipment manufacturers and users.
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Machine tool manufacturer Heller celebrates 130th anniversary
130 years ago Hermann Heller opened a trading and manufacturing company for patented products and watchmaking tools in Nürtingen. With the business selling tools of all kinds, the engineer laid the foundations for the long-term success of the company, which entered the mechanical engineering sector in 1898 with the production of cold circular saws for metal cutting and the manufacture of blade skiving and thread cutting machines.
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DMG MORI Open House 2024 in Pfronten focused on process integration, automation, digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX)
DMG MORI’s Open House, that is held annually in Pfronten, Germany, was this year dedicated to the latest technologies for future-oriented production. The Open House, held for the 29th time, demonstrated solutions in the field of machine tool construction, with more than 45 high-tech machines and over 15 automation and technological solutions on display.
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Sandvik Coromant’s net-zero target
Through Sandvik Group, science-based backing forms the next leap for metal-cutting expert’s climate goals. Through the wider Sandvik Group, metal-cutting expert Sandvik Coromant has committed to near-term, companywide emission reductions in line with climate science with the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi).
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ModuleWorks partners with DN Solutions to develop machine tool software
ModuleWorks has announced a partnership with DN Solutions to focus on the joint development of machine tools software and the creation of integrated solutions to drive the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. DN Solutions uses ModuleWorks’ software development resources to advance its intelligent, automated machining cycles and user-assisted solutions within its range of machining applications.
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Taiwan tightens export controls after report of Russian arms use
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) said yesterday that it has tightened controls on machine tool exports to prevent their use by Russia in its war against Ukraine, after the Washington Post reported a few Taiwanese companies had sold US$20 million of equipment which ended up in the hands of Russian arms makers.
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January 2024
Tools for sustainable machining
Cutting tools and sustainable manufacturing: The term “sustainability” has become increasingly popular in recent years. It is frequently seen in headlines, featured in forms of news media, scientific research, and practical seminars. Is the word sustainability merely a trending word or the question of the hour?
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M&C Zambia performs rapid overhaul of compressor motors for Copperbelt smelter
In August 2022 Marthinusen & Coutts Zambia was requested by a smelter based in the Copperbelt to provide an in-country repair solution on their two critical 4.5MW compressor motors. It was given only three weeks in which to overhaul and commission the motors.
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Sandvik’s acquisition of pro-micron to strengthen position in sensorised tools market
Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire pro-micron GmbH, a German-based supplier of sensorised tools and automation software. Sensorised tools is a high-growth market, with strong underlying drivers such as the accelerated shift to automated production, increasing demand of production data from customers and closed loop manufacturing driving the need for digitalisation.
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François Duval appointed as the new President of CECIMO
During its General Assembly, the European Association of Manufacturing Technologies (CECIMO) announced the appointment of Mr. François Duval as its new President for a two-year term, succeeding Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Prokop. This leadership transition also sees Mr. Riccardo Rosa take on the role of Chairman of the Technical Committee.
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Walter and Heller sign partnership agreement
Walter AG and Gebr. Heller Maschinenfabrik GmbH recently entered into a technology and development partnership. The collaboration focuses on integrated customer solutions for the machining industry. The companies aim to test, optimise and market their products through the joint development of sustainable machining processes.
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Innovation meets tradition – OPEN MIND cracks the nut with a CNC milled nutcracker
In keeping with the Christmas season and its traditions, OPEN MIND showed how an exact replica of a famous nutcracker from the Erzgebirge, a region in East Germany, is milled from aluminium. The example demonstrates an end-to-end digital process chain and efficient 5-axis machining with hyperMILL.
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How 2 000 torches are being crafted for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
It takes only four cars from the scrapyard – or the steel from about 50 washing machines – to make the 2 000 torches needed for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but the process requires a specific savoir faire. Six tons of steel were melted by manufacturing corporation ArcelorMittal (MT.LU), a Paris 2024 official partner, before being shaped into 0.7mm plates that were shipped to the Normandy factory of French silverware and cutlery company Guy Degrenne.
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The UNITED GRINDING Group has intensified its Southeast Asian business and established its own subsidiary in Singapore
The UNITED GRINDING Group has been present in the Southeast Asian region for many years through representatives and the Walter Ewag Asia Pacific subsidiary. Now the specialist for grinding, eroding, laser, and measuring machines bundles and intensifies its activities in this region by founding a group subsidiary in Singapore, United Grinding Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.
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Russia is importing more CNC machine tools and China is now its main source
Chinese shipments to Russia of an important class of advanced machine tools have increased tenfold since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the country’s producers now dominating trade in high-precision computer numerical control devices vital to Moscow’s military industries, according to a Financial Times article.
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Big machines will feature at the 32nd edition of BIEMH
Spain’s machine tool exhibition to take place 3 to 7 June 2024 at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre. The 32nd edition of the BIEMH is shaping up to be a real industrial and technological spectacle, where large machines in operation will be the undisputed protagonists. As the leading trade fair in advanced manufacturing, BIEMH 2024 has already confirmed the participation of leading companies in the sector.
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TMTS 2024 – 27 to 31 March 2024
TMTS 2024 will take place at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, in Taiwan. TMTS 2024, known as the Taiwan International Machine Tool Show 2024, is a biennial trade fair for the machine tool industry that will be held in Taipei, Taiwan. The event is organised by the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders’ Association.
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Exhibition and event listings updated on Metalworking News website
The Metalworking News exhibition and event listings have been updated to display the most significant physical exhibitions and conferences scheduled for 2024 and 2025. Metalworking News has selected the premium local and global events to feature in our monthly calendar providing an ‘at-glance’ overview of all of the most important upcoming events.
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Hexagon agrees to sale of non-core Tesa PMI business
Hexagon AB has entered into an agreement to sell its Tesa PMI (Precision Measurement Instruments) business to Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Company Ltd. This divestment reflects Hexagon’s commitment to focus on core business activities directly accretive to its mid-term growth, margin and cash generation targets.
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Kitamura Machinery marks 90th anniversary milestone with grand celebration and commitment to future success
Kitamura Machinery, a pioneer in machining center manufacture is proud to announce the celebration of its 90th anniversary. This remarkable milestone underscores the company’s enduring commitment to delivering an exceptional sales and service experience and its continued dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction.
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Tyrolit acquires Acme Abrasives
Tyrolit plans to integrate Acme wheels into its portfolio of grinding and specialty abrasive solutions for industrial clients. The Tyrolit Group has acquired all of the stock of Acme Abrasives, a specialized abrasives manufacturer and provider based in Michigan, which is now Tyrolit’s seventh manufacturing plant in the U.S.
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November 2023
Pay special attention to tool selection: Iscar
When deciding on the appropriate cutting tool for a particular application, it is difficult to determine whether a standard tool or a special tool is preferable. The ideal tool selection is contingent on various factors, such as the nature of the business situation, the manufacturing programme, the production type, and sometimes personal preferences.
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Airbus Helicopters to use Trumpf 3D printers
The aerospace company Airbus Helicopters will use 3D printers from Trumpf to manufacture components for its helicopters and for aircraft from the parent company Airbus. Airbus Helicopters is expanding its additive manufacturing capabilities with a new 3D printing centre in Donauwörth, Germany.
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DN Solutions continues to expand its presence in Europe
First R&D centre for Germany announced. DN Solutions has used EMO 2023 in Hanover to announce several important steps for the company and the European market. The machine tool manufacturer wants to reduce its carbon footprint with the help of a new “Net Zero” plan. The group also presented plans for its first R&D Centre in Europe.
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JIMTOF 2024
5 to 10 November: Tokyo, Japan. The Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA) and Tokyo Big Sight Inc. will hold JIMTOF 2024, the 32nd Japan International Machine Tool Fair at Tokyo Big Sight for six days from Tuesday, November 5 to Sunday November 10, 2024. JIMTOF, one of the world’s largest international technology shows, brings together cutting-edge technologies and products.
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Gühring celebrates 125 years
Established in 1898 Gühring, a company steeped in tradition and today one of the leading manufacturers of precision tools on the world market, celebrated its 125 year anniversary in September 2023. Gühring was founded at its current site in Albstadt-Ebingen, Germany – and has since grown from a small twist drill factory into a global player.
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EuroBLECH 2024 experiencing a surge in bookings
Stand allocation is in full swing for next year’s global flagship event on sheetmetal working. Pre-bookings have substantially increased for EuroBLECH, and the show is now open to new exhibitor enquiries. The 2022 edition marked a significant milestone in the recovery of the sheetmetal industry, featuring 1 300 exhibitors from 39 countries on a net exhibition space of 86 136m2.
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The Amada Global Innovation Centre: Unlimited opportunities to shape the future of fabrication
Imagine metal fabricators gathering in one inspiring facility, collaborating with engineers to co-create the future of the metalworking industry. Picture a venue that encourages fabricators to explore new shapes, experience the promise of emerging sectors such as electric vehicles and new processes in aluminium, as well as utilizing materials yet to be developed – the possibilities are infinite.
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Nidec in the process of acquiring Takisawa Machine Tools
Japanese machine tool manufacturer Nidec and Takisawa Machine Tools have announced that the two companies have reached an agreement for Nidec to acquire Takisawa. Nidec proposed the buyout in July, without obtaining prior consent from Takisawa’s management. That management, which had not previously commented publicly on the proposal, decided to accept the move on Wednesday, averting a hostile takeover.
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Hurco happy with EMO 2023 results
EMO 2023 at the end of September has been hailed as a huge success by Hurco. Hurco said its sales staff, agents and distributors reported excellent footfall throughout the week. In total 31 new machine orders were booked on the stand in addition to some high-quality enquiries from new customers.
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IMTEX Forming 2024
The Indian Machine Tools Manufacturers Association (IMTMA) will organise its flagship IMTEX Forming 2024 from 19 to 23 January, 2024 in Bengaluru. IMTEX Forming, the International Machine Tool and Manufacturing Technology Exhibition, is now a more comprehensive and extrapolated show covering an exciting assemblage of new-age technologies under one roof.
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FEIMEC 2024
FEIMEC – International Fair of Machine Tools and Equipment, consolidated as one of the largest events in Latin America in the industry. The fourth edition of the event will be held from May 7 to 11, 2024 at the São Paulo Expo, in São Paulo, and will gather more than 65 000 visitors from small, medium and large industries. There will be more than 1 100 national and international exhibitors, who will present their new and main products in an area of more than 80 000m².
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September 2023
Unlocking the full potential of robotic applications with high-performance abrasives:PFERD
The use of robotics in manufacturing continues to grow at a rapid rate as businesses invest in automation to remain competitive. A shortage of skilled labour and a shift towards low-margin, high-volume models are fuelling this need to automate. However, while more and more manufacturers are investing in robotic applications, many are not realising the full benefits of the technology.
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Air Products grows its gas and welding portfolio, acquires EWN&S
Air Products South Africa, and its subsidiary Weldamax, have strengthened their gas and welding portfolio by the acquisition of a controlling interest in EWN&S. EWN&S and Weldamax were formerly independent distributors of Air Products’ industrial gases as well as supplying a comprehensive range of welding equipment and consumables.
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Lack of maintenance contract grounds SAAF C-208 Caravans
The SA Air Force (SAAF) has had to ground its Cessna 208 Caravan light transport aircraft with age and funding cited as guilty partners. The high-wing, single-engined aircraft have been in service at Air Force Base (AFB) Waterkloof-based 41 Squadron since 1988 when they were bought new and put onto the South African register ahead of being taken into the air force inventory.
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Overcoming manufacturing downtime with the use of rooftop solar
In response to South Africa’s national power utility Eskom’s challenge to meet the nation’s energy demand, alternative energy sources are being thoroughly explored and it appears that an answer to South Africa’s short, medium and long-term energy supplies lies in renewables.
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Renishaw collaborates on new Olympic track bike
As part of its continuing partnership with the Great Britain Cycling Team, global engineering technologies company Renishaw has collaborated with British Cycling and other partners to develop the new Hope-Lotus track bike. The new cutting-edge bike will be ridden by Great Britain’s track cyclists at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow before competing at the 2024 Olympic Games.
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World’s largest wind turbine is now fully operational
Since the early 2000s, wind turbines have been growing in size and efficiency. The tallest turbines can reach over 198m and cost more than $12 million to manufacture and install. But that’s not all, these offshore giants can produce almost four times more energy than their onshore counterparts!
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NASA exploring passenger jet that could fly at four times the speed of sound
New York to London in 90 minutes? Commercial passenger aeroplanes can complete the transatlantic flight between New York and London in around 7 hours. When the Concorde was around, it could complete the journey in as little as 3 hours. But now, NASA is exploring a case that could cut down that time to nearly 90 minutes.
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Eight industry leaders including Blaser Swisslube forge social media partnership
In a groundbreaking collaboration, eight distinguished players in the metalworking industry have united to launch a global social media partnership. Blaser Swisslube, Big Kaiser, DIXI Polytool, GF Machining Solutions, GRESSEL AG, OPEN MIND, REGO-FIX, and Rotoclear have joined forces to combine their expertise, creativity, and marketing prowess.
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Italian machine tool industry sets records in 2022, forecasts positive growth in 2023
The Italian manufacturing industry of machine tools, robots, and automation systems experienced a highly successful year in 2022, achieving double-digit growth and setting new records for production and consumption. Despite a marked slowdown in order intake due to prevailing uncertainty, the industry remains optimistic about closing 2023 on a positive note.
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IMTS 2024 reflects strength of manufacturing
IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show has announced the floor plan for IMTS 2024, which runs September 9-14, 2024, at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. IMTS exhibition space rebooking rate is as high as it has ever been, outpacing even IMTS 2018 or the dot-com boom years.
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Using cobots to automate industrial production
Automation is a topic of great interest to industry right now – and also a focus topic at EMO Hannover 2023. Automation is now also attracting renewed attention as a result of the shortage of skilled workers, the uncertainties in the supply chain and also the increasing demands with regard to sustainable growth.
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32nd BIEMH – Spain’s machine tool exhibition to take place 3 to 7 June 2024 at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre
BIEMH, Spain’s leading industrial trade fair and an international leader in advanced manufacturing, will return to Bilbao Exhibition Centre from 3 to 7 June 2024. Backed by 31 successful editions and enjoying solid global prestige, International Machine Tool Biennial will once again bring together innovation, technology, knowledge and business at the highest level.
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July 2023
Choose efficiency by partnering with the right abrasive manufacturer: Grinding Techniques
Continuous load shedding is having a massive impact on normal day to day business operations within the country, where production costs are increasing rapidly, forcing down profits. As a business owner there is a tough trade off to be made, where it comes down to either persisting in efforts to increase efficiency within the manufacturing process in order to increase profits in the long run, or eventually close up shop.
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OTT Technologies has received another order for Puma M36 armoured personnel carriers
OTT Technologies has received another order for Puma M36 armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Guinea, which will use them with the United Nations mission in Mali, according to Defenceweb. Guinea recently ordered 25 new Puma M36 vehicles after operating previous batches for a number of years. The country received 32 Puma M26s in 2014 from OTT under a R78 million deal, followed by 32 Puma M36s in 2018.
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Rheinmetall begins solar construction of new power farm in Somerset West
In the hope of achieving its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035, Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) was joined by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde for the ground-breaking ceremony of RDM’s new R72 million solar power farm in Reeb Road, Macassar in Somerset West. Construction of the 5MW solar power plant is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year and according to RDM.
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Welfit Oddy implements modern, agile ERP with Infor
With a new management team in place in 2017, combined with escalating competition and increasing custom requirements from customers, Welfit Oddy decided a more modern and agile ERP system was needed that would encompass all the business requirements into a single system environment and data source.
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Ford SA makes multi-million rand investments in robotic skid cleaning cell and auto scan shipping tunnel at Silverton plant
Follows R15.8 billion expansion and upgrade for Next-Gen Ranger production. Ford South Africa has made further multi-million rand investments in its manufacturing plant in Silverton, Pretoria, after its initial R15.8 billion investment to expand and upgrade the plant for production of the Next-Gen Ranger.
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Transnet Engineering awarded contract to supply 80 wagons
Transnet Engineering (TE) has announced that it has been awarded a contract to supply a total of 80 wagons to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This prestigious contract comes as a result of a site visit by SWALA International Logistics to Transnet Engineering’s Koedoespoort plant, where they witnessed TE’s exceptional capabilities in manufacturing rolling stock products.
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DMG MORI to install solar power system for self-use in Japan
Covering a roof area of 130 000 m2 for a capacity of 13 400kW, it will be the largest solar power generation system for self-use ever built in Japan. The construction of the first batch of solar panels began in August 2022 and was completed as planned. The first batch has started generating 5 400kW of power on February 1, 2023. The current panel size will generate six million kWh per year, which will cover approximately 13 per cent of the annual power demand at Iga Campus.
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Hexagon acquires CADS Additive
Hexagon AB, a leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies, has completed the acquisition of CADS Additive GmbH, a fast-growing provider of specialised software that helps companies prepare designs for metal additive manufacturing (AM).
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Bicyclists brake better with brakes from 3D printers by Trumpf
High-tech company Trumpf and bicycle brake manufacturer Trickstuff will present titanium brake levers for bicycles made by 3D printers for the first time at the Eurobike bicycle trade show in Frankfurt. 3D printing is what makes the cost-effective processing of titanium possible in the first place.
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Volkswagen Group expands additive manufacturing capabilities
The Volkswagen Group has strengthened its 3D printing capabilities with the acquisition of a second MetalFAB system from Additive Industries. The Volkswagen Group, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany is renowned as Europe’s largest carmaker and operates twelve prestigious brands, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, and Lamborghini.
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Second umati hackathon held at United Grinding Group
Experts from the machinery and plant engineering sectors recently met for the second time for a umati hackathon. The aim of the umati initiative is to further advance connectivity and digitalisation in machine tools. The focus of this year’s hackathon was on expanding the connectivity of older generations of existing machines using umati.
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Okuma Corporation celebrates 125-Year anniversary
The company was founded by Eiichi Okuma in 1898 in Nagoya, Japan with the initial purposes of manufacturing and selling noodle-making machines. Since that time, the company has grown into a global enterprise company of nearly 4 000 employees and has reached several innovative milestones that have pushed the evolution of the manufacturing industry forward.
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LK Metrology celebrates 60th anniversary
Founded by former Rolls Royce engineer and CMM pioneer Norman Key and his father-in-law Jim Lowther, the company is credited with many innovations in the CMM industry. In 1972, in partnership with Rolls-Royce, Key worked alongside the person who would co-found Renishaw a year later, Sir David McMurtry, who now is its executive chairman, to develop the now industry standard Renishaw touch-trigger probe.
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May 2023
G-Code and conversational – Mazatrol does it all
Industrial machining computer numerical control (CNC) programming language has evolved through many iterations since its inception in the 1950s. Standardised in the early 1960s by the Electronic Industries Alliance as RS-247-D and now known as EIA/ISO machine programming – or G-code – it has become the foundational and most widely used protocol for precision control.
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Get the job done with ceramic abrasives from Grinding Techniques
Ceramic abrasives are one of the latest innovations in grain technology. This high-performing grain features very small fracture planes which allow each grain to constantly re-sharpen as is wears away, providing fast cutting action throughout its usable life. They provide the best longevity and highest cut rate of all abrasives.
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Aerospace in focus: Iscar
The aerospace industry is not only one of the largest consumers of cutting tools but also one of the most important driving factors for cutting tool development. The aerospace industry features continuous efforts aimed at improving aircraft component manufacturing efficiency, increasing flight safety, and reducing potential environmental damage.
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Renishaw celebrates 50 years
This year, global engineering technologies business, Renishaw, is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The company, which was founded on 4 April 1973, will mark this significant milestone with a year of global activities including open house events at its largest sites, family days for employees and a ‘50 at 50′ charity initiative which will see £150 000 donated to 50 not-for-profit organisations in the 36 countries where it has offices.
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From scrap to raw material: State-supported Car2Car project develops technologies to improve recycling of end-of-life vehicles
Consortium of science and industry led by the BMW Group is laying the foundations for a circular economy in automotive manufacturing. Wanted: Innovative dismantling and intelligent sorting methods to boost the recovery rate for aluminium, steel, glass, copper and plastic.
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One million robots work in car industry worldwide – new record
Automotive industry is a front runner in automation. The automotive industry has the largest number of robots working in factories around the world: Operational stock hit a new record of about one million units. This represents about one third of the total number installed across all industries.
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E-cars: Particle accelerator proves that manufacturing is more sustainable with lasers with green wavelength
Fraunhofer expert Marc Hummel: “We have now been able to clearly prove for the first time that raw materials can be saved in the welding of high-performance electronics by using lasers with green wavelength.”
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Hoffmann Group to offer Iscar products throughout Europe
From 1 October 2023, the Hoffmann Group will offer the complete tool range of Iscar throughout Europe and supply it from its central warehouse LogisticCity in Nuremberg. The underlying agreement was signed by the Hoffmann SE representing the Hoffmann Group, and Iscar Ltd. in March 2023.
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Flexxbotics adds compatibility for Hurco, Siemens, Heidenhain
FlexxCNC enables machine shops to integrate Universal Robot cobots onto any machine in its shop. Flexxbotics has announced that it has expanded the functionality of its FlexxCNC cobot-to-CNC communications interface to include compatibility with Hurco, Siemens and Heidenhain controllers.
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Okuma to focus on innovation and sustainability in its 125th year
Japanese machine tool manufacturer Okuma is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year and will mark the achievement in 2023 with a series of milestones and a focus on innovation and sustainability. The company said it will “continue to use its wealth of experience in the industry to exceed customer expectations” with even more sustainable and efficient solutions at the top of the agenda.
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Tesla is suing a large gas station operator for right to install charging stations
Tesla is suing Tank & Rast, a large gas station operator in Germany, for the right to install charging stations along the Autobahn. Tank & Rast is in a near monopoly position as it holds the concession for almost all Autobahn rest stops in Germany and their filling stations.
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March 2023
Additive Manufacturing: State-of-the-industry rundown
Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, has continued to mature over the nearly 35 years since being introduced commercially. The aerospace, automotive, defence, energy, transportation, medical, dental and consumer products industries are adopting AM for an impressively wide range of applications.
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Sandvik acquires PMT Premier Machine Tools Limited
Sandvik has acquired 95% of the shares in the Irish based company PMT Premier Machine Tools Limited (“PMT”), a well-established solutions provider to medical customers in Ireland, with full coverage of machines, tools and services. The company will be reported within Seco, a division within Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions.
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Rolls-Royce is making combustion engines green with hydrogen
Rolls-Royce has conducted successful tests of a 12-cylinder gas variant of the mtu Series 4000 L64 engine running on 100% hydrogen fuel. The tests, carried out by the Power Systems business unit, showed very good characteristics in terms of efficiency, performance, emissions and combustion.
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Ford announce plans to return to F1 from the 2026 season
Ford’s involvement in F1 stretches all the way back to the 1960s and the DFV (Double Four Valve) engine, built in partnership with British engineering firm Cosworth, which took 155 wins from 262 races between 1967 and 1985 (including several variant designs).
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The world of laser technology plays a starring role at Lamiera 2023: Over 40 companies will exhibit
Exhibition space likely to be sold out with 300 exhibitors. A little more than two months are left before the opening of Lamiera, the international trade show centred on sheet metal forming and sheet metal cutting machines and related technologies, scheduled to take place at fieramilano Rho from 10 to 13 May 2023.
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German machine tool industry expecting growth in production in 2023
Manufacturers cautiously optimistic, noting increased effort required in training and development. The VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) is expecting production in the machine tool industry to grow by 9% this year to a volume of EUR 15.5 billion. In nominal terms, this is only 10% below the record result of 2018.
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Nidec completes the acquisition of the shares of Italian machine tool manufacturer Pama and its affiliates
Japanese machine tool manufacturer Nidec Corporation has announced today that it has completed the acquisition of all the shares of Pama S.p.A on February 1, 2023. Accordingly, Pama will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.
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World first, multi-million manufacturing facility opens at the University of Nottingham
The state-of-the-art Omnifactory, a concept factory where different digital technologies are implemented to improve traditional manufacturing practices, was officially opened on Wednesday 1 March 2023 by Brian Holliday, managing director at Siemens Digital Industries and co-Chair of the Made Smarter Commission, with a keynote contribution from George Freeman MP, Minister of State for Science, Technology and Innovation.
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Studer hosts Motion Meeting Expedition 2023
In his welcoming address at the event’s press conference, CEO Jens Bleher spoke about the company’s roots. “Since then, the pioneer in cylindrical grinding has presented countless technological innovations, a long tradition that is our obligation for the future. After a remarkable final spurt at the end of the year, Studer started 2023 in full momentum, with a large order backlog.”
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China overtakes the United States in robot density
China’s massive investment in industrial robotics has put the country in the top ranking of robot density, surpassing the United States for the first time. The number of operational industrial robots relative to the number of workers hit 322 units per 10 000 employees in the manufacturing industry.
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Unconnected factories face risk as new strategies take hold
Check out this report on how manufacturers in the metals, automotive, rubber and plastics industries can use these smart technologies to gain a market advantage before their competition does. The fourth industrial revolution has begun and businesses need to be ready.
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January 2023
At the parting of the ways: Iscar
Back in the seventies, Iscar introduced Self-Grip, the brand name of the original blockbuster parting tool design concept. According to the design concept of the Self-Grip tool (Fig. 1), a pressed carbide insert was clamped into a tool blade using the blade’s elastic forces without the need for mechanical securing elements. At that time, other manufacturers also attempted to clamp inserts into a parting tool using the same principle.
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The clock is running out on JIT
Supply chain issues have become fixtures in our daily lives. As the pandemic shut down factories, closed ports, and re-routed shipments across the globe, businesses have struggled to meet expectations for rapid product delivery. In response, companies have increased their focus on building more flexible and resilient supply chains. This is true for companies that have relied on just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing.
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Trumpf expands opportunities in medical, aerospace and automated engineering
Trumpf has announced a number of developments to its metal Additive Manufacturing machines intended to create further opportunities in the medical, aerospace and automated engineering sectors. Key changes include the addition of a multi-plate function on the TruPrint 1000, enabling the machine to be used for series production and the expansion of its powder alloys selection.
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Bentley Motors is 3D printing solid gold components for its Mulliner Batur
The 18ct yellow gold parts, including a number of touch points across the dashboard, controls and steering wheel, will feature on just 18 exclusive examples of the car, which has been described as the fastest Bentley to date. All 18 vehicles have already sold to customers for 1.65 million GBP (excluding taxes and options).
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Hexagon invests $100 million in Divergent’s autonomous and sustainable manufacturing
Sweden’s Hexagon AB, a global provider of digital reality solutions combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies, has announced a US$100 million investment in Divergent Technologies Inc., Torrance, California, USA, a developer of Additive Manufacturing technology for the automotive industry.
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November 2022
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Looking for the optimum tool: Iscar
How can we define the manufacturer’s expectations from cutting tool producers? Cutting tool producers are expected to provide optimal cutting tool solutions for a given application. So, how is an optimal cutting tool defined for a specific application? It is obvious that standards must be set to achieve a formidable solution.
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Pferd Abrasives – Innovative solutions for process optimisation
Pferd is an industry leader in the development, production, support and distribution of premium tool solutions for work on surfaces including cutting, grinding, milling, polishing, cleaning and finishing. As a major player in the abrasive industry within South Africa and on the African continent, Pferd is committed to continuous research and development to improve the quality, safety and ergonomics of its high-performance abrasives.
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Babcock awarded a five-year contract to supply high-pressure boiler tubing to a power station
Babcock has been awarded a five-year contract to supply high-pressure boiler tubing to a power station as part of future planned maintenance that will be undertaken at the station. To the layperson, tubing may not be the first thing that comes to mind as an essential part of the thermal power generation process. However, it is the critical component of steam generation plants that rely on steam boilers made up of hundreds of kilometres of tubing to ultimately create power.
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Gibela gearing up to become the world’s fastest train-maker
Gibela produced a staggering six train sets in August and another six in September, the most it has produced since the start of its production in 2018, crowning it one of the fastest locomotive manufacturers in the world. In the past three years, the company has ramped up production, from one train set every two months to producing six train sets in a month, each with unprecedented levels of quality, safety, comfort, speed and reliability.
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Damen Shipyards Cape Town celebrates blessing ceremony for second MMIPV
Blessing ceremony held at Damen Shipyards Cape Town for the second of three Multi Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels. During the event, the vessel was blessed and a bottle of champagne was broken over the bow as is the custom. The South African flag was raised on the vessel and she was cheered by her crew.
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World Robotics Report: All-time high with half a million robots installed in one year
The new World Robotics report published by the International Federation of Robotics, shows an all-time high of 517 385 new industrial robots installed in 2021 in factories around the world. This represents a growth rate of 31% year-on-year and exceeds the pre-pandemic record of robot installation in 2018 by 22%. Today, the stock of operational robots around the globe hits a new record of about 3.5 million units.
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Nikon to acquire SLM Solutions
SLM Solutions Group AG and Nikon Corporation have entered into an Investment Agreement in relation to a voluntary public takeover offer that Nikon intends to launch for all outstanding shares of SLM at a cash consideration of EUR20 per share in a deal worth EUR622 million. SLM Solutions is an integrated solutions provider and metal additive manufacturing partner.
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Taiwan machine tool manufacturers fear pessimistic market
TIMTOS 2023 will take place from 6 to 11 March 2023. At the recent Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders’ Association general member meeting held in October 2022 leading machine tool supplier Hiwin Group’s President Cho Yung-tsai pointed out that although the market demand in mainland China has slowed down recently, the orders received in Europe, America, Japan and other regions all showed considerable growth.
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IMS Software, ModuleWorks, Mastercam collaborate on G-Code simulation
IMS Software, ModuleWorks and Mastercam have collaborated on the development of IMSce for Mastercam. The software solution extends the Mastercam machine simulation with G-code parsing and verification for diverse machine tools and controllers. IMSce for Mastercam combines IMS G-code emulation with the ModuleWorks simulation and post processing technology to provide a G-code parsing solution.
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Fraunhofer IWS develops laser-based surface cleaning process
The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (IWS) in Dresden, Germany, has developed LIGHTblast technology, a laser-based surface cleaning process that serves as an alternative to sand blasting. This technology now is being transferred to the semiconductor manufacturing and automotive supply industries.
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September 2022
Grinding Techniques delivers on wheel shape grinding media since 1981
The precision grinding industry is a vast and complex environment, that demands premium grinding media to deliver optimum performance and results. With a range of different applications that require unique and specific results, several wheel shape derivatives are available.
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Mastered holemaking: Iscar
Iscar’s invention of the Multi-Master tool line has had a significant impact on the world of cutting tools at the turn of the last century. The three-pronged principle of the Multi-Master family was based on the face contact between a carbide head and tool, centring the head by use of a short taper, and securing the head in the tool body by use of a threaded connection.
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Paramount Group launches Marauder Mark 2 armoured vehicle
Latest advancements to one of the world’s most unstoppable vehicle’s include updated driver ergonomics systems, universal hull adaptability and increased speed of production. In a move that will set a new benchmark in the global armoured vehicle market, Paramount Group, the global aerospace and technology business, has launched its Marauder Mark 2.
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Toyota resumes production at its Durban plant
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has announced that its Prospecton Plant in Durban has resumed operations after production was halted due to damages caused by floods in the facility. The announcement was made at a “reopening ceremony” attended by members of the media, TSAM top brass as well as the newly elected Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
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Cobot increases efficiency in tool wear measurement
At the Institute for Machine Tools (IfW) at the University of Stuttgart, a Compact Cobot relieves employees of the task of measuring tool wear. The system consists of a UR10e from Universal Robots and an optical 3D measuring sensor from Bruker Alicona. It enables measurements directly in the machine tool, eliminating the need to clamp and unclamp the tool.
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Ford’s high-resolution headlights provide a new kind of augmented reality
Ford’s new augmented reality high-resolution headlight technology is demonstrating its ability to project information for drivers directly onto the road ahead. The lights can show symbols for highway signs and driving conditions without drawing the driver’s eyes from the road.
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German machine tool builders’ orders rise
Year-over-year demand has improved during the first half of 2022, but sales and deliveries confirm that one of the world’s largest sources of machine tools is caught in the uncertainty of supply-chain gaps, inflation, and global tension. German manufacturers reported that new orders for machine tools increased 24% year-over-year during the second quarter of 2022, and 34% year-over-year for the first six months of 2022.
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Titanium 3D printing from Trumpf improves bicycle manufacturing
Manufacturer Trumpf has produced lightweight and stable components for mountain bikes that can be manufactured cost-effectively using its metal 3D printing technology. The 3D printed parts include high-performance brake callipers with an integrated cooling structure, as well as brake levers and pedals.
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BMW and Toyota partner on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
BMW and Toyota’s long-term partnership will soon result in the pair’s first jointly-produced hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The plan is to launch them as soon as 2025. BMW already has a hydrogen-powered X5 concept in the pipeline with plans to start small-scale production this year. This isn’t the first time the pair have teamed up. You might’ve heard of the BMW Z4 or the Toyota Supra.
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Stratasys’ acquisition of Covestro Additive Manufacturing shakes up the 3D printing materials market
The 3D printing materials market, forecast by IDTechEx to hit US$29.5 billion by 2033, was once dominated by printer manufacturers. These printer manufacturers, utilising proprietary materials on their printers, were the main source of 3D printing materials for end-users.
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Divergent Technologies additively manufactures rear subframe for Aston Martin DBR22 design concept vehicle
Aston Martin has unveiled its spectacular DBR22: A V12-engined two-seater coach-built design concept, celebrating the marque’s extraordinary bloodline of open-cockpit sports racers. The creation of the DBR22 design concept is the latest in a long line of projects expertly handled by in-house bespoke division, Q by Aston Martin.
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Renishaw additive manufacturing used for British Cycling Team at Commonwealth Games
Renishaw has used its expertise in additive manufacturing to contribute metal parts to the new track bike for the Great British Cycling Team (GBCT). The team raced in Birmingham at the Commonwealth Games, where a total of 30 medals were won by the home nations.
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Hexagon and Esab to help manufacturers optimise robotic welding processes
Renishaw has used its expertise in additive manufacturing to contribute metal parts to the new track bike for the Great British Cycling Team (GBCT). The team raced in Birmingham at the Commonwealth Games, where a total of 30 medals were won by the home nations.
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July 2022
Tool craft for aircraft
In machining aerospace components, the main challenges relate to component materials. Titanium, high-temperature superalloys (HTSA), and creep-resisting steel are difficult to cut and machining is a real bottleneck in the whole aircraft supply chain. Poor machinability of these materials results in low cutting speeds, which significantly reduces productivity and shortens tool life. Both these factors are directly connected with cutting tools.
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MSG Systems appointed as ABB value provider
South African machine builder and systems integrator MSG Systems has officially been appointed as a value provider for ABB Robotic Systems. The ABB value provider programme is a global channel partner programme for system integrators. Authorised members of the programme are called ABB value providers.
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Prasa awards General-Overhaul contract to maintain train-sets to five contractors
The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) has announced the awarding of the five-year General-Overhaul contract that will now allow for the heavy maintenance and repairs of train-sets which will help clear the backlog. “Under the General Overhaul programme, about 380 to 400 coaches will undergo heavy maintenance and rehabilitation work every year for the next five years,” the Prasa statement said recently.
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UK High Commission announces electric vehicle skills investment in South Africa
The UK has announced R3.7 million (£190 000) in funding for new skills development across South Africa for jobs in the fast-growing electric vehicle sector. The UK High Commission said the new support will fund research to ensure South African students are developing the highly sought-after skills in the electric vehicle sector, as well as new online training content and support for lecturers.
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Renishaw announces investment of over £50 million for UK manufacturing site
Global engineering company, Renishaw, is to invest over £50 million at its Miskin site in South Wales to increase manufacturing capacity and to help meet its net zero emissions targets. This will see 37 000m² of additional low carbon buildings created at the 193-acre site to the west of Cardiff, consisting of two new production halls and an employee welfare facility.
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Manufacturers urged to bolster inventories as supply chain disruption mounts
Manufacturers across a variety of sectors are being urged to consider fattening their inventories as quickly as possible in order to mitigate a prolonged disruption to global supply chains. The advice comes from supply chain risk and performance management specialist, Achilles, whose latest report on the resilience of global supply chains, indicates high risks are evident across almost all sectors and geographies.
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BMW reports success in metal 3D printing in standard production of cars
A project consortium funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and led by the BMW Group was launched three years ago, with small and mid-sized enterprises, large companies and research institutes. The common goal was to revolutionise metal 3D printing in standard production of cars.
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Grob and United Grinding Group enter the AM market
German machine tool manufacturer Grob has entered the additive manufacturing (AM) market after launching the GMP300, which it says provides its customers with a production system for the manufacturing of near-net-shape components. The new Liquid Metal Printing (LMP) system premiered with its first-time presentation at the Grob in-house exhibition in April 2022, where it was announced the move into the fast-growing sector.
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May 2022
Distributed artificial intelligence in metalworking
From homicidal supercomputer Hal in 2001: A Space Odyssey to The Terminator’s Skynet, artificial intelligence (AI) hasn’t always had the best representation in popular culture. In industry, however, AI and machine learning technologies have become widely adopted as a way to optimise processes. Here, Nevzat Ertan, Global Manager for Digital Machining Architecture at Sandvik Coromant examines the future of AI and distributed artificial intelligence (DAI) in metalworking.
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Grinding Techniques offers surface grinding expertise
Surface grinding is an abrasive grinding process that makes use of various grinding media to grind either metallic or non-metallic workpieces to achieve a perfectly flat or parallel surface with a specific surface finish. Types of grinding media used for this application, include grinding wheels, cup stones, and segments.
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The philosophy of technology: Substitutive or Additive?
With the advancement in 3D printing technologies and the considerable progress in 3D printing materials, additive manufacturing has become a complete hi-tech method for producing various parts. The introduction of 3D printing in prototype production has substantially improved product development.
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Mazak to open a brand-new European Technology Centre in Milan, Italy
Established more than a century ago in Japan, Mazak is a gold standard in the industry when it comes to cutting equipment. Buying a machine from the Japanese manufacturer means relying on the most innovative and advanced technology delivered by customer-oriented experts.
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Chiron enhance automation offering with acquisition of Greidenweis Maschinenbau
The Chiron Group SE has acquired Greidenweis Maschinenbau, a specialist in automation systems for the automotive industry. As a result, the Chiron Group portfolio will now be offered with more automotive assembly and automation systems than ever before.
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LK Metrology and Wenzel Technologies enter into a strategic partnership
LK Metrology and Wenzel Technologies have entered into a strategic partnership with immediate effect. In addition to a joint technological cooperation, Wenzel Technologies will sell LK’s innovative, high-performance coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and other metrological products in southern Germany.
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DMG MORI achieves record figures in 1st quarter
Chairman of the Executive Board Christian Thönes: “We had an excellent start to the year and even achieved new record figures for order intake, EBIT, EBIT margin and free cash flow in the first quarter. The current financial year again presents us with major challenges. The war in Ukraine, the lockdown in parts of China, global supply and material shortages, high raw material and energy costs.”
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Hoffmann Group and Haimer partner for end mills and tool presetters
Hoffmann will distribute selected product lines such as the Haimer Mill as a manufacturer’s brand and will count on Haimer’s Safe-Lock pull-out protection and the modular milling head system Duo-Lock. Recently, both companies signed a corresponding license agreement.
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Wind meets wall
The Norwegian company Wind Catching Systems is literally putting up a wall against the trend of ever-larger rotors on wind turbines, a “wall” as tall as the Eiffel Tower with 126 small 1-MW turbines intended to supply enough offshore electric power for 80 000 households.
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Hexagon acquires Innovatia Accelerator
For an industrial organisation to truly automate the full scope of its operations, from processes and equipment to worker performance, the operational content and procedures of its assets must be digital and connected. Innovatia Accelerator’s flagship solution, AcceleratorKMS, is an AI-based infield knowledge management platform that expedites the digital transformation of paper-based, high-risk operational procedures and work processes.
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BMW Group acquires stake in process automation and digital twin enabler
The BMW Group has acquired a stake in its partner Kinexon. The two companies have been working together for several years in order to advance the comprehensive digitalisation of the BMW Group production network. The premium carmaker announced that it has now acquired a minority stake in the innovative, Munich-based software company.
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Germany and China dominate global machinery exports
At least one in three machines from China is likely to come from companies with foreign participation. The strong economic recovery in key sales markets gave a major boost to machinery exports from Germany in 2021. However, it was not enough to recapture the title of world export champion, with Chinese competitors further extending their lead.
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Wire & Tube 2022 preparations in full swing
Düsseldorf, Germany 20 To 24 June 2022. As the No.1 international trade fairs for their industries, Wire & Tube have global appeal and require particularly long lead times. Traditionally, two thirds of all exhibiting companies travel to Düsseldorf from abroad every two years. Trade visitors from over 80 countries meet at the Düsseldorf Fairgrounds at peak times.
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March 2022
Ford releases open-source CAD files for 3D printing truck accessories
Car manufacturer Ford has officially released a set of CAD files enabling customers to 3D print their own accessories for their Maverick pickup truck. The files are for the pickup’s Ford Integrated Tether System (FITS) which is a series of slots at the rear of the centre console and the under-seat storage bins that can be customised with a wide variety of accessories, such as cup holders and phone mounts.
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Why a Chinese city’s lockdown triggered a surge in aluminium prices
Why did the outbreak in Baise spark fears around the world about the key metal? Located near the border with Vietnam, Baise is nicknamed the ‘aluminium capital of southern China’. Home to around 3.5 million people, Baise is a hub for aluminium mining and production. It produces about 2.2 million tons of the commodity per year – more than 80 per cent of the output in the resource-rich Guangxi region.
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Hexagon acquires ETQ quality management system software platform
Hexagon AB, a global leader in digital reality solutions combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies, has announced the acquisition of ETQ, a leading provider of SaaS-based QMS (quality management system), EHS (environment, health and safety) and compliance management software. Customers have long relied on ETQ’s future-ready, truly multi-tenant QMS solution, ETQ Reliance.
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How big data makes production precise and sustainable at Audi
What is the recipe for an efficient production, from all points of view? Measuring every single vehicle body and a careful analysis of enormous amounts of data. This is the strategy developed by the Audi Production Lab for the body shop in Ingolstadt. For every Audi that leaves the production line, the vehicle body gap dimensions are perfectly uniform. This can largely be attributed to the work of engineer Ralf Hofmeister and his colleagues Dirk Zitterell and Rudolf Reinhard from the Audi Production Lab.
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German machine tool industry recovers and surges ahead for 2022
Orders received by the German machine tool industry in the fourth quarter of 2021 were 51 per cent up on the previous year’s figure. Orders from Germany rose by 62 per cent. Foreign orders were 46 per cent higher than in the previous year. In 2021 as a whole, the level of orders received by German manufacturers rose by 58 per cent. Domestic orders were 51 per cent higher than in the previous year, foreign orders 62 per cent.
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Top five robot trends in 2022. The International Federation Of Robotics reports
The operational stock of industrial robots hit a new record of about 3 million units worldwide – increasing by 13% on average each year (2015-2020). The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) analyses the top five trends shaping robotics and automation around the globe. “Transformation for robotic automation is picking up speed across traditional and new industries,” said Milton Guerry, president of the IFR.
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Trumpf GmbH + Co. KG changes name to Trumpf SE + Co. KG
Celebrates 50th anniversary of being in the laser industry. Trumpf has announced that it is changing the legal form of the holding managing company. From now on Trumpf GmbH + Co. KG will operate under the name Trumpf SE + Co. KG. The previous shareholder structure will remain in place even after the change in legal form. Trumpf continues to be a company owned by the Leibinger family.
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Open Mind acquires majority stake in MES manufacturer Hummingbird
Open Mind Technologies AG and Hummingbird Systems GmbH have been cooperating since 2020. Now, the hyperMILL® CAD/CAM suite manufacturer has acquired 51 per cent of the MES manufacturer. With this move, Open Mind expands its portfolio of networked, digitised manufacturing solutions. Even before acquiring Hummingbird, the CAD/CAM system had already been seamlessly integrated into the manufacturing execution system.
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January 2022
To hold effectively
Toolholders were designed for mounting cutting tools reliably. They also facilitate the torque transmission from a machine spindle to a rotating tool. It has been a long time since we have heard of any significant changes in toolholding, which may suggest we are behind in innovation. Indeed, well-established tool clamping principles, the need for wide interchangeability and unification, and normalised designs of machine tool adaptations have resulted in well-defined standards.
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3D printing eyes the future of prosthetics
Researchers at Fraunhofer Technology have made breakthroughs in 3D printing prosthetic eyes and have supplied their 3D printed eye to the first patient. Fraunhofer researchers have developed several new technologies that improve the current manual production of individual prosthetic devices. The technology utilises software called Cuttlefish:Eye that can create a 3D scan of the eye socket along with a colour-calibrated photo of the healthy eye to create a 3D replica.
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Sandvik Coromant acquires ICAM and Dimensional Control Systems
Sandvik Coromant has signed an agreement to acquire Canada-based ICAM Technologies Corporation, a provider of solutions that translate CAM data into optimised coding for CNC machining operations. ICAM reportedly sells to globally renowned companies in the aerospace, defence, general engineering and automotive industries. The company will report to Sandvik Coromant, a division within Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions.
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Robot density nearly doubles globally in five years
Japan is the world’s predominant industrial robot manufacturer. The use of industrial robots in factories around the world is accelerating at a high rate: 126 robots per 10 000 employees is the new average of global robot density in the manufacturing industries – nearly double the number five years ago (2015: 66 units). This is according to the 2021 World Robot Statistics, issued by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).
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VDM appoints new Chairman
Franz-Xaver Bernhard has been unanimously elected the new chairman by the executive board of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association) and the Machine Tool and Manufacturing Systems Association within the VDMA, Frankfurt am Main, at its autumn meeting. In accordance with the VDW bylaws, he will succeed Dr. Heinz-Jürgen Prokop from 1 January 2022, who will step down from his position at the end of his second term of office after six years.
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