Qimtek

This year has highlighted some vulnerabilities in the global supply chain, from transportation delays and price increases, to increases in manufacturing costs and challenges forecasting customer demand.  

SIFCO ASC, which specialises in selective electroplating, has achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification for its environmental management systems.

SIFCO ASC surface enhancement technologies and brush plating services have been used for over 50 years on both OEM components and on parts requiring refurbishment in the aerospace, oil and gas, general industry and power generation sectors.

Polyurethane moulding specialist, Midas Pattern Company, has taken delivery of a very large Haas CNC machining centre. 

The new machine can machine parts up to 3m by 1m by 0.7m.

Midas MD Alan Rance said: “This latest investment will add valuable capacity to our company, helping us react faster and push boundaries on scale and complexity within our niche manufacturing process. We feel proud to be one of only a handful of companies in the South of England able to invest in such an enormous machine, especially in current times.

FDB Panel Fittings and sales partner DIRAK became aware of customer feedback which indicated that customers in the areas of furniture, lighting, electrical housings, electronics, building fixtures and fittings, were tired of wasting time dealing with screws, washers, back-nuts and other loose parts. It seemed that assemblers and installers would welcome a simple click fit and comprehensive program of enclosure/cabinet hardware without all the fiddling about. A clear case of responding to the market by bringing innovation to panel assembly.

Digital manufacturing specialist Protolabs is to acquire 3D Hubs, creating what it says will be the world’s broadest digital manufacturing offering for custom parts.

Operating from manufacturing facilities across three continents, Protolabs helps customers to accelerate product development in a number of industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical, heavy industry and electronics.

UK manufacturer Fine Tubes says that it has seen demand for safety-critical tubes increase across the international nuclear sector.

Following a period of investment in new machinery and as part of its growth plans, Birmingham based Tooling 2000 have appointed three new Apprentice Engineering Technicians.

Following a competitive process, Jade Edmead, Luqmaan Iqbal and Owen Smith were successful in gaining the roles.

Tooling 2000 specialises in prototype and production tooling manufacture, 3- and 5-axis machining, 5-axis laser cutting and jig & fixture manufacture.

QFS Technologies, a specialist supplier of body-in-white (BIW) parts to the automotive industry has invested in a new TRUMPF TruLaser Cell 5030 five-axis (3D) laser cutter. Although the company has an older TRUMPF five-axis machine that has given many years of reliable service, QFS knew that investing in the higher performance and richer feature set of the TruLaser Cell 5030 would provide a number of competitive advantages, particularly in relation to new project work for a major customer.

Elesa announce for this year a partnership with the well-known name of Misati, whose high-performance pneumatic clamps offer exceptional clamping action in work holding, or transport of assemblies in manufacturing operations. They are designed for robotic use, being easy to install, robust and well proven, with fast and reliable operation supported by simple power and control connections which enable rapid installation and setup.

Heat management specialist Zircotec is working with Dolphin N2 and Brighton University to develop a near-zero emission internal combustion engine that has the potential to transform the commercial powertrain market.

Zircotec provides the advanced thermal coatings and precision, ceramically coated components, along with its patented encapsulated heatshields that meet the very high demands of this recuperated split-cycle, next generation engine.

Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMC) manufacturer Alvant is working towards step change in achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

It is showing the aerospace industry what is possible through investing in sustainable materials for new, more fuel-efficient aircraft.

The Basingstoke-based company and global-leading Safran Landing Systems have partnered on a two-year, £28 million, aerospace project titled ‘Large Landing Gear of the Future’.

A new laser machine tool is opening up application opportunities for Fimark, a specialist subcontractor focused on laser etching, engraving, cutting and texturing.

The AgieCharmilles LASER P 400U has strengthened the company’s existing capabilities and enabled it to develop new application opportunities in the laser 3D market.

Charles Dean, Fimark’s managing director, says: “Laser texturing is a fully-digitalised surface engineering process that has huge potential.