UK NEWS

Mapal invests in another Helitronic

Cutting tool specialist Mapal has expanded its worldwide portfolio of Walter multi-axis tool grinders with the installation of a Helitronic Power Diamond two-in-one (grinding and erosion) machine at its UK site in Rugby. Supplied by Walter Ewag UK, the newest machine brings to seven the number of Walter machines that Mapal operates in the UK.

The latest investment joins another Power Diamond and a Helitronic Power at the company’s Rugby site, plus four Walter Helitronics at Rainey, Mapal’s daughter operation in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.
Wayne Whitehouse, managing director of Mapal UK, says the latest Power Diamond was installed to meet a continually rising order book for both new tools and regrinds, especially PCD-tipped carbide tooling up to 350 mm long for which the machine is well suited with its ‘two-in-one’ tool erosion and grinding capability in a single set-up.
“Our continued investment in Helitronic tool grinding/re-grinding technology is not only based on a corporate worldwide relationship of utilising the quality and performance of Walter machines, but also, especially in terms of our UK operations, the fact that the machines have superb ‘local’ back-up and support through Walter Ewag UK,” says Whitehouse. “Service and support are critically important if we are to consistently meet customer demands.”
Established in 1993, Mapal UK specialises in technical solutions, offering a range of both standard and bespoke tooling, ranging from solid-carbide tools to customer-specific solutions.
For further information www.walter-machines.com

WIN event set for AMRC in January

The launch event for the new Northern branch of the Women’s Infrastructure Network (WIN) is being held at the University of Sheffield’s AMRC. Founded by women at key regional businesses, the Northern WIN brings together women working in infrastructure sectors across the north of England.

The event, which is being hosted by the Nuclear AMRC, aims to link together like-minded women who want to expand their professional networks across industries and share best practice.
There will be presentations from women working in senior roles in the UK’s nuclear power sector. The half-day event on 24 January is free to attend.
For further information https://is.gd/wujafo

WIN event set for AMRC in January

The launch event for the new Northern branch of the Women’s Infrastructure Network (WIN) is being held at the University of Sheffield’s AMRC.

Founded by women at key regional businesses, the Northern WIN brings together women working in infrastructure sectors across the north of England. The event, which is being hosted by the Nuclear AMRC, aims to link together like-minded women who want to expand their professional networks across industries and share best practice.
There will be presentations from women working in senior roles in the UK’s nuclear power sector. The half-day event on 24 January is free to attend.

£500k investment at NDB ups productivity

Willenhall-based NDB Engineering, a specialist subcontract fastener machining business, has spent £500,000 in the past 12 months on the latest turn-milling technology from Citizen Machinery UK.

This budgeted spend, funded through Citizen’s tailored finance package, covered two Citizen Cincom L20-VIIILFV sliding-head turn-mill centres and a Miyano BNE-51MSY fixed-head turn-mill centre (pictured), plus Citizen’s Alkart CNC Wizard programming aid, all of which now form a critical part of the future business strategy. As a result, opportunities are being created to gain higher productivity and spindle utilisation, with ever greater confidence in quality being maintained.
Managing director Andy Williams says: “These machine installations have also saved us having to seek outside help to satisfy our growing order book, as we were very concerned about loss of direct control, especially over quality if we used outside subcontractors.”
Joint director Rebecca Dainter adds that over the previous 15 years the company had installed sliding-head machines but swarf control was a constant attention-seeking headache. “It restricted output and, without care, could easily degrade quality and decimate our productivity targets,” she says.
She follows on to reveal that when Low Frequency Vibration (LFV) technology became available from Citizen, the company immediately saw the potential to achieve greater security and control during the machining of difficult materials. “Swarf nesting problems have disappeared. In addition, we have improved our productivity by having the confidence to run unmanned, and on many parts can go through the night, giving us a massive leap in capacity with the added bonus of one setter/operator tending three machines.”
For further information www.citizenmachinery.co.uk

Towering success for UK manufacturer

Hackbridge-based Monument Tools specialises in supplying the plumbing and roofing industries with the tools its needs to complete the job.

As all of its products are developed in-house, the company’s toolroom plays an important role in business success. Here, Monument requires the ability to efficiently create small batch quantities and be able to change designs quickly, hence the company’s willingness to invest in machine tools.
Monument’s most recent toolroom investment is an XYZ CT65LTY turning centre. The Siemens 828D ShopTurn conversational control, 70 mm of Y-axis travel and 400 mm swing, make for a highly versatile machine. Other standard equipment includes a 200 mm hydraulic chuck, 12-station VDI turret with live tooling capability, Renishaw tool setting/probing, swarf conveyor and fully programmable tailstock.
“We needed a machine that could produce parts in a single hit to reduce development time and labour costs,” says chairman John Collier. “The simplicity of the control on the XYZ, and our use of offline programming, means we can quickly produce batches of 10-off prototypes and confirm the design is suitable for our customers’ needs, as well as ensuring it is production ready for batches that are sometimes in excess of 1000-off. The one-hit capability of the XYZ CT65LTY generates much greater efficiency within the toolroom.”
Having installed the XYZ CT65LTY, an additional bonus arrived when a company local to Monument Tools heard about the investment. “We only took delivery of the machine in June, but word soon spread and we were approached to see if we would be interested in taking on some subcontract work for complex parts with tapers on the external and internal surfaces,” explains a pleased Jon Norton, engineering manager at Monument Tools.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com