Machine Building

Volume production of turbocharger ball bearings starts in Wales

The Schaeffler UK automotive plant in Llanelli, South Wales has commenced volume production of turbocharger ball bearings. Due to changing market conditions, a shift in customer requirements and an expected increase in worldwide demand for turbocharger ball bearings, production was transferred in early 2017 to Llanelli - a plant that is deemed highly suitable for these high precision components. Over the last 18 months, Llanelli has invested much time and resources in training its workforce and preparing the new turbocharger bearing production line.

7th December 2017

Webinar: how low-cost automation can benefit your business

Automation is becoming ever more relevant for increased productivity, lean operation and reliability in a wide and varied range of applications. In a recorded webinar, Robert Dumayne, dry-tech director at igus, shows how modular components from the drylin E and robolink ranges can be combined to create low-cost automation systems.

7th December 2017

Abssac to distribute Helix Linear Technologies' products in UK

Abssac has secured an agreement to distribute the innovative products of Helix Linear Technologies of the USA. Helix Linear focuses on engineering and manufacturing lead screws and linear actuators. With innovative design, engineering and manufacturing of precision linear motion and power transmission systems, the agreement between Abssac and Helix Linear is described as a winning combination for the future. With nearly 50 years of application experience, Helix Linear focuses on engineering success, through its customers, for a wide range of markets.

7th December 2017

Cobots - a catalyst for reshoring: new White Paper published

The longstanding industrial practice of outsourcing manufacturing operations to low-cost parts of the world to keep manufacturing costs down has recently taken a dramatic turn. With rapidly rising labour costs in countries such as China, the financial advantages of manufacturing overseas are being seriously eroded.

6th December 2017

Renishaw celebrates educational programme's success

Renishaw is celebrating the success of 12 graduates of the SS Great Britain Trust's flagship educational programme, Future Brunels. The scheme encourages young people to engage in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects and visit leading engineering firms, motivating them to pursue a STEM career. The third group of students to finish the programme graduated on September 28th, 2017.

6th December 2017

Seminar programme for Southern Manufacturing 2018 announced

The free seminar programme for Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2018 has been announced. Running in two lecture theatres on all three days of the show, February 6th to 8th, the 2018 programme features an impressive line-up of presenters and topics, and is guaranteed to be of interest to anyone involved in any form of industrial or manufacturing enterprise.

6th December 2017

TRUMPF claims fastest 3D printer in the world

TRUMPF presented the "˜world's fastest and most productive medium-format 3D printing system' at the formnext trade fair in Frankfurt. TruPrint 5000 works according to a so-called multi-laser principle with three beam sources and is equipped with optics specially designed by TRUMPF. In combination with the exposure strategies developed by TRUMPF and the optimally adjusted process parameters, the TruPrint 5000 cuts exposure time per job by a factor of three. Based on Laser Metal Fusion (LMF) manufacturing technology, the system uses laser power to generate complex metallic components layer by layer in the powder bed.

5th December 2017

Ground-breaking ceremony for Schaeffler's 'Factory for tomorrow'

At the new production location in Xiangtan in the Chinese province of Hunan, Schaeffler is building its first ever "Factory for tomorrow". With this 75th production location, the company is expanding its global network of plants and is responding to future development trends. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the end of November with guests including Oliver Jung, Chief Operating Officer. In 2018, the construction of the production plant will begin and is expected to start operating in 2019. The building will be constructed on a total area of approx. 315,000 square metres.

5th December 2017

Spelsberg UK turns 20: learning from the past, moving forward

This October, Spelsberg UK celebrated its 20th anniversary. The business has grown a great deal over the last 20 years. Chris Lloyd, Managing Director, explains how looking back over the years helps him to prepare for success over the next 20.

5th December 2017

Rockwell Automation acquires Odos Imaging

Rockwell Automation Inc. has acquired Odos Imaging, a Scottish technology company that provides three-dimensional, time-of-flight sensing systems for industrial imaging applications. This acquisition enables Rockwell to build on a portfolio of smart sensing and safety products for The Connected Enterprise.

4th December 2017