NEWSSimple solutions


Running out of cutting fluid is frustrating, expensive and detrimental to your business. A simple, low cost, and effective solution to this problem from Jemtech (UK) is the Blaser Swisslube Drum Level Indicator. The Drum Level Indicator gives users an instant, visual, reading of the level of cutting fluid concentrate in the drum. The ability to visually check concentrate level on a regular basis means that consumption can be monitored efficiently, allowing new concentrate to be ordered in sufficient time. Taking less than a minute to install, the Blaser Swisslube Drum Level Indicator is


screwed to the top of the drum with a simple float mechanism transferring the level of fluid to


the easily readable dial gauge. Jemtech claims that having an instant indication of concentrate levels can save hundreds of pounds in lost production time and eliminate the risk of machine damage if coolant strength is weakened by low or zero concentrate levels. “Sometimes the simple solutions are the best and that is definitely the case for the Drum Level Indicator, which provides a simple, low cost solution to avoid the problems associated with running out of cutting fluid concentrate,” stated Alan Dalton, technical director, Jemtech (UK).


>JEMTECH www.jemtech.co.uk


Big deal


Precision machining solution provider, Mapal, has secured a contract to develop, manufacture and supply custom, high performance milling and scanning tools for a major new aircraft production line in the UK. The ultimate value of the contract, which initially runs for three years with an option of a further two years and beyond, depends on factors that can only be determined as the project progresses, but is confidently expected to be in the multi-million pound ballpark. For the contract, Mapal has developed specialised tools that will be used for machining composite materials as used in the manufacture of complex aircraft wing sections. The company will supply all of the


Perfect fit


Technology meets


the market


From general manufacturing techno- logy to special industrial requirements – AMB provides excellent opportunities! Over 1,000 exhibitors will present trends, innovations and highlights from in the fi elds of: metal cutting machine tools metal removing machine tools precision tools CAD/CAM/CAE, PLM as well as technical software measuring systems and quality assurance robots, workpiece and tool handling


AMB – the most important trade fair for the sector in Germany


5-MINUTE WALK FROM STUTTGART AIRPORT


Attractive travel and service packages at www.amb-expo.de


To help coordinate its CMM retrofit business in the Republic of Ireland, Renishaw has appointed Metrology Technology as its business partner. The County Limerick- based company will work with Renishaw to promote the CMM retrofit service which will offer users of all brands of CMMs, including Hexagon and Zeiss, the opportunity to transform their measurement performance with an upgrade to Renishaw’s innovative metrology systems. The two companies will provide a comprehensive CMM retrofit offering based around Renishaw’s UCC2 universal CMM controller and its new Modus CMM metrology software. Combined with a range of touch trigger, scanning and 5-axis sensors, and Metrology Technology’s strong local service and support, all the elements exist to develop a strong business relationship. Speaking about the appointment, Richard O’Keefe, director of Metrology Technology said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with a world leader in the field of metrology, which allows us to expand our existing metrology business and offer a great value for money performance upgrades. Our aim is to nurture


tools needed for these operations for the duration of the contract and will also provide tool repair and refurbishment services. In developing the new tools Mapal has successfully


addressed a range of challenges, including the need to achieve high cutting performance without delaminating the composite materials.


The contract was awarded at the end of a closely contested testing and tendering process, which included extensive end user trials with prototype tooling. Mapal attributes its success in winning the contract to the technical innovation that was demonstrated during these trials and to the company’s fast and effective response and commitment to the rapidly evolving requirements of its customer.


“Representatives from the customer also visited our facilities in the UK and our R&D facility in Germany,” explained John Claypole, managing director of Mapal’s UK operation, “and they were clearly very satisfied with what they saw. Finally, they carried out exhaustive checks on our financial position, just to be sure that they were dealing with a company that had the resources necessary to deliver on its promises.”


Mapal’s customer is already using sample tools supplied by the company for preliminary work on the prototype wing sections, and will shortly take delivery of the first production tools.


>MAPAL www.mapal.com


What a relief


long term relationships with all our customers, and the Renishaw retrofit solution satisfies this aim by allowing access to future innovations in measurement technology.” In response, Chris Davies, Renishaw’s UK and Ireland sales manager, added: “CMM retrofit customers have the right to expect the same level of professionalism and quality from a CMM upgrade as they get when they buy a new CMM. We have worked with Metrology Technology’s sister company Machine Tool Technologies for many years on probe retrofits for the Makino machines that they sell, and knowing their high levels of customer care had no hesitation in making this appointment.”


>RENISHAW www.renishaw.com


SAVE MONEY ON USED S


Lincoln West Ltd, Tel. +44 (0)1732 525950, enquiries@lincolnwest.co.uk For online discount on your day ticket, use promotion code: av-uk


6 August 2010 • Production Engineering Solutions


Honing machines available from stock with tooling installation and training.


Call: 01242 572500 www.ar thursanders.co.uk


Brown and Holmes’ Kevin Ward with Mark Evans of R&D Tax and Grants


R&D Tax and Grants has helped Tamworth-based precision engineering company, Brown and Holmes to successfully reclaim research and development tax from HMRC. R&D Tax and Grants was set up in April 2009 to assist companies investing in R&D by helping them claim back extra tax relief on every pound the business spends in developing new products or introducing new and improved processes. The company works with SMEs like Brown and Holmes –


manufacturing companies with up to 500 employees and a turnover of less than €100 million – to help them receive tax refunds quickly, as well as similar annual reductions on corporation tax bills in the future. Kevin Ward, joint director of Brown and Holmes commented: “I’d heard about R&D Tax and Grants but wasn’t sure that we would qualify due to the fact that I was unclear of where the R&D boundaries start and finish with our company. However after an initial consultation we subsequently discovered that around 35-45% of our work is in R&D so that was a real eye opener.


“Thanks to R&D Tax and Grants we were able to claim back a substantial amount on tax paid from HMRC. The refund took only six weeks to receive after our claim was agreed and


the company worked alongside our accountants in producing the supporting evidence, providing excellent support all the way. In future, the R&D reclaim will be an integral part of our annual accounting processes and the next claim will be much more straightforward.”


He added: “I believe that it’s crucial that the coalition government continue to support the scheme and the financial clawback has enabled us to put more research into more projects. Much of the work we have to complete to get to quotation stage is unpaid, and the tax we have reclaimed has helped us to support that process.”


“Brown and Holmes is typical example of a company who carry out R&D and don’t realise it,” concluded Mark Evans, managing director of R&D Tax and Grants. “There are fantastic engineering companies in this region who are not getting the help they deserve, but since we started the company, we have helped UK-based


manufacturers claim back £1.7 million from HMRC.”


>R&D TAX AND


GRANTS www.taxandgrants.co.uk


>BROWN AND


HOLMES www.brownandholmes.co.uk


To register for your free copy of Production Engineering Solutions, please go to www.pesmag.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28