3D-printed gas turbine blade success

Siemens has received an award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for its technological achievement with the first successfully 3D-printed and tested gas turbine blades.

Siemens kann mit seinem umfassenden Wissen in den wesentlichen Bereichen wie der Werkstoffkunde, der Automatisierung, dem Fertigungsprozess und der Verfahrenstechnik die Hochleistungskomponenten mittels Additive Manufacturing herstellen.
Siemens is able to produce the high performance components using Additive Manufacturing due to his broad knowledge in materials sciences, automation, manufacturing and process know how.

The components were tested at 13,000 rpm and temperatures beyond 1250°C, and featured completely revised and improved internal cooling geometry manufactured using AM technology. Siemens’ project team worked with blades manufactured at the company’s 3D printing facility in Finspong, Sweden, and at Materials Solutions, the recently acquired company in Worcester, UK.
For further information www.siemens.com

Aston Martin production returns to Newport Pagnell

Another landmark in Aston Martin’s ‘Second Century Plan’ was achieved last month with production officially returning to the company’s historic Newport Pagnell site. It marks a significant moment in which history has come full circle, with a special run of 25 DB4 GT Continuation cars being built at same site as the original DB4 GTs were made almost 60 years ago. Each car will take approximately 4500 man hours to build.

Since moving to its purpose-built headquarters and production facility at Gaydon in 2003, Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell premises has been home to Aston Martin Works – heart of the marque’s heritage sales, service, spares and restoration operation. Production of the Mk1 Vanquish ceased in 2007, but since that time countless classic Aston Martins have been restored to their former glory by the Works team.
For further information www.astonmartinworks.com

ITC invests in latest grinding technology

Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) has invested well over £1m in the latest tool grinding equipment to extend its product ranges and enhance manufacturing capacity, productivity and quality standards. The investment includes two Rollomatic grinding centres, a centralised Vomat micro-filtration coolant system, a Haimer balancing machine and a wheel dressing machine from Action Super Abrasives (ASA).

The Rollomatic models include the new ShapeSmart NP5 blanking machine, ITC’s third Rollomatic cylindrical grinder. Suitable for preparing tool blanks, the NP5 has an integrated three-axis robot loader for the automated and lights-out blanking of rotary tool shanks from 0.025 to 25 mm. Alongside the ShapeSmart NP5 is the new Rollomatic GrindSmart Nano 6, the UK’s first Nano 6 installation. This six-axis grinding centre has been designed for producing micro-tools in the diameter range between 0.03 and 2.0 mm.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

New MD at Precision Products

Sally Thorley, who has been employed by Precision Products for nearly 30 years, has taken over the position of managing director from Brian Owen, who remains on the board of directors as chairman. Located in Rustington, West Sussex, Precision Products is a subcontract manufacturer of turned parts.

Further senior appointments are Ian Jenkins, who has moved across from production to become commercial manager, and Jason Bullen, who joined the company at the start of 2018 as production manager. In other news, the firm has become accredited to the AS9100 Rev D quality standard.
For further information www.precisionproducts.co.uk

Industry awaits SteelFab 2018

SteelFab 2018 gets underway next week (15-18 January) at the Expo Centre in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. As the region’s most prominent business event specialising in steel fabrication, SteelFab 2018 will boast a large number of steel industry professionals and decision-makers among its exhibitors and visitors, as well as an interesting seminar programme.

The 14th edition of the show will present modern technologies in steel forming, metal-cutting, finishing, milling and heavy machinery, as well as other related engineering applications. SteelFab attracts worldwide attendance and participation both from national companies and hundreds of foreign firms and leading international brands in the field. XYZ Machine Tools and Chester Machine Tools will be among the 54 UK exhibitors at this year’s event. Around 8000 visitors attended the 2017 show from 83 different countries.
For further information www.steelfabme.com