Name change

TDT Technology Ltd has changed its name to TDT Machine Tools Ltd with effect from 1 May 2018.

The move reflects the increasing number of international machine tool manufacturers now represented by TDT in the UK. “With a growing portfolio of machine tool solutions to supply the UK market, the time was right to ensure the company name better matches our product offer,” says managing director Simon Hewson. “Today we have a very comprehensive range of machine tools that includes a number of familiar brands. We are currently on a strong growth trajectory and our name change will serve to support the company as it continues to capture market share.”
For further information www.tdt-technology.co.uk

AMRC signs MoU with GKN Aerospace

The University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and global aviation supplier GKN Aerospace have entered into a long-term partnership to work together on developing advanced technologies for the aerospace industry.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed to progress a series of research themes they are developing together at the AMRC’s Factory 2050. GKN Aerospace has been a member of the AMRC for a number of years and says the MoU not only reflects the strategic nature of the relationship between the two organisations, but the benefits it brings to both sides.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

High attendance at open house

A record number of visitors attended Bystronic UK’s latest open house, held at its Coventry showroom concurrently with the MACH 2018 exhibition at the NEC last month.

The theme of the open house was ‘Mach Speed’, which involved visitors being asked to estimate the time required to manufacture a component for an off-road vehicle. Managing director David Larcombe says: “We believe the theme was not only interesting to visitors but also an eye-opener in terms of the productivity benefits that can be achieved with modern machine tools. During the event we sold a number of machines, notably a 10 kW 4020 fibre laser and two Xpert press brakes.”
For further information www.bystronic.co.uk

Business is brisk at Chester

Chester Machine Tools is reporting brisk business across its portfolio of metal-cutting solutions.

Among notable recent sales, a Chester Hercules milling machine and a Kitchen & Walker radial drill have been loaded for their journey to Eritrea in Africa (pictured). They are the first machines of a large three-stage project shipment for the company.
In addition, following a highly successful MACH 2018 exhibition at the Birmingham NEC last month, Chester says that the first Style 510 CNC lathe is now on its way to a specialist hydraulic component manufacturing company in Kent. The Style 510 is suited to the manufacture of research and development project components, prototype parts and sample creations. Chester announced its UK representation of the Dutch-built Style range at the MACH show.
For further information www.chestermachinetools.com

Robots boost profitability

A specialist in multi-axis machining is leveraging the benefits of Universal Robots supplied by RARUK Automation to load and unload its machine tools.

A mix of seven UR5 and UR10 robots have helped Rousant Sherwood maximise the productivity of its workforce by automating repetitive tasks and bidding for contracts which would have otherwise been unprofitable. One of the UR10 robots is currently serving a Nakamura-Tome Super NTJX multi-tasking turn-mill centre. The robot loads square billets of aluminium into the machine, where they are turned into aerospace components as part of a 40-minute cycle. The machine and robot are running 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Just to be clear, we have not invested in robots to save on headcount, we’ve done it to win contracts,” says general manager Robin Salter. “We would never have been able to tender for jobs like this without automation. Using a robot makes us profitable on work where we wouldn’t normally be able to compete.”
For further information www.rarukautomation.co.uk