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DIGITAL MANUFACTURING CAN DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH, FASTER INNOVATION AND MORE SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION, SAYS NEW REPORT


According to HP’s latest Digital Manufacturing Trend Report, 99% of respondents believe that digital manufacturing technologies can lead to economic growth. As a result, decision makers are looking to transform their business models, with 77% of those surveyed indicating that they will invest in digital manufacturing technologies – such as industrial 3D printing – within the next 12 months. In fact in the UK, 3D printing is increasingly


being seen as a more viable alternative to traditional manufacturing, with the most cited benefit being increased speed to market. 86% are expecting to benefit from economic growth after adopting this technology. Manufacturing decision makers also see


opportunities for accelerated innovation with additive manufacturing/3D printing. For example, 91% of respondents are looking to explore how mass customisation could be applicable to their


business if parts could be personalised through additive manufacturing/3D printing. The medical, industrial and automotive industries were also called out as those most ripe for innovation in additive manufacturing/3D printing over the next five years. In addition to this, 82% indicated


that their company has plans to collaborate with government entities on digital manufacturing products. Almost 89% agree that the recyclability of 3D printed powders and parts is a business imperative, whilst 88% of respondents were keen to see governments incentivise the investment in, and development of, socially and environmentally beneficial digital manufacturing technologies. “The global manufacturing sector is clearly


signalling a desire for greater supply chain resiliency, more manufacturing flexibility,


NEW SERVICE CAN DELIVER INDUSTRIAL GEAR UNITS IN JUST ONE WORKING DAY


SEW Eurodrive has launched a service that provides delivery of industrial gear units within five working days, or as fast as just one working day in the case of emergencies. The two new Assemble-To-Order services are


ATO5 for the five working day service and ATO1 for the premium one day service. The service currently includes the company’s range of standard Generation X.e helical and bevel helical industrial gear units, up to 45kNm, and the standard P Series of planetary gear units up to 360kNm with almost all options. From March 2021 this will be expanded to include Generation X.e gear units up to 175kNm. www.sew-eurodrive.co.uk


EXHIBITIONS POSTPONED UNTIL 2022


The Drives & Controls Exhibition and its co-located events (Fluid Power & Systems; Drives & Controls; Air-Tech; Plant & Asset Management; and Smart Industry


Expo) have been postponed and rescheduled for 5-7th April 2022. These will be taking place alongside the MACH Exhibition. www.drives-expo.com


I


think it’s fair to say that the development of the 3D printer has


been revolutionary for all manner of industries: from military and aerospace companies being able to 3D print obsolete components, and medical companies having the ability


to produce essential parts (3D printing has been vital during the coronavirus pandemic, with companies producing thousands of pieces of PPE and parts for machinery, for example), to designers being able to quickly and easily print their own prototypes. With prices coming down, 3D printers have become an essential


tool for many. The latest introduction, however, should open up even more possibilities: full-colour multi-material 3D printers. As we find out on page 20, these are providing the ability to create ultra-realistic design prototypes which are ‘pushing the boundaries of design realisation even further’!


Rachael Morling - Editor 4 OCTOBER 2020 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS


increased speed of innovation, and stronger environmental sustainability,” said George Brasher, MD UK & Ireland at HP. “And they are seeing industrial 3D printing as a way to not only lower costs and go to market faster, but as a unique competitive advantage that accelerates innovation for customers.” www.hp.com


ENSURING MACHINERY AND STAFF SAFETY


Euchner is advising that UK manufacturers ensure safety checks, as well as staff competency assessments, are carried out before restarting machinery that has been left idle due to lockdown restrictions or social distancing. Machines should be inspected to ensure they are still safe to use, a requirement of PUWER. One challenge is the possible effect


furlough and self-isolation is having, which means in some cases operators are running plant and equipment they may not have experience of. Employers also need to reassess the competence of their employees to run machinery they may not have operated for some time. Service and consultancy safety


professionals from Euchner can provide knowledge and best practice to help compensate for staff shortages and bridge the potential gap between an organisation’s Health & Safety (H&S) management and its engineering team by assessing machinery and operating procedures from an independent viewpoint. Euchner’s UK&I services manager,


Paul Simons, said: “We are here to help people negotiate a way through the plethora of safety regulations, standards and best practice, to ensure the safety of their employees and keep production flowing safely. Where there is an inherent danger for personnel operating machinery and potential hazards that need to be addressed, following the letter of the law can be quite complex for companies that don’t have the time, resources or expertise to keep pace with standards and regulations.” www.euchner.co.uk


The latest Contract Manufacturing Index for the third quarter of 2020 (Q3) shows that the subcontract market bounced back strongly in July and August after the Covid-19 shutdown. The CMI for Q3 2020 stood at 123, compared to 49 in the previous quarter, an increase of 151%. Fabrication was particularly strong,


344% higher than the previous quarter and representing 58% of the subcontract market. Machining showed an increase of 243%. www.qimtek.co.uk


Intelliconnect (Europe) has been awarded accreditation to ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, adding to its existing ISO 9001:2015 quality standard and SC21 silver performance standard for the Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space Industry Supply Chain Programme. ISO 14001 provides assurance


to company management and employees as well as external stakeholders that environmental impact is being measured and improved. www.intelliconnect.co.uk


Micro-Epsilon is investing more than ten million Euros in a production centre for micro-mechatronics at its headquarters in Germany. In the future, sensors developed for the semiconductor and aerospace industry will be manufactured at the production centre, enabling a significant increase in its production volumes for the semiconductor industry over the coming years. Completion of the new centre is planned for spring 2021. www.micro-epsilon.co.uk


/ DESIGNSOLUTIONS


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