gtma news issue 1 2012

newstoolmaking l precision machining l metrology l tooling technologies l rpd

inside...

Manufacturing UK – thegreen shoots are here

MACH 2012 special

All set for Farnborough

Toolmakers Forum sets agenda

ISSUE 1 2012

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:48

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GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:48

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Contact GTMAIn order to receive a copy of this GTMA News please phone, fax or emailyour request to GTMA. We do not accept responsibility for omissions orerrors. Please note the views expressed in articles by contributors andadvertisements included in this edition do not necessarily represent thoseof the GTMA.

issue 1 2012

Published by: Gauge & Toolmakers AssociationThe National Metalforming Centre,47 Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B70 6PY

Tel: 0121 601 6350 Fax: 0121 601 6378Email: [email protected] Web: www.gtma.co.uk

This publication has been produced for the GTMA by Channel Publications Ltd,1 Cumberland Row, Bath BA1 2ASTel: 07800 962 473 Email: [email protected] Web: www.channelpublications.co.uk and was printed by Buxton Press.

CONTENTS

GTMA CEO Forward 3

News 4-5

New Members 6-8

News 9

FARNBOROUGH FOCUS 10-20

MANUFACTURING UK

The green shoots are here 21

Case Studies 22-31

MACH 2012 33-52

GTMA – out in force again 34

Case Studies 35-49

A-Z of members 50-52

News 53

Medical – the $43 billion sector 54-56

Press Releases 57

News 58-60

Events 61-62

Cover photo courtesy Proto Labs

Life is getting better...

Life got better for UK manufacturers at the start of 2012. Not onlydoes the outlook show output rising but also orders grew for the firsttime in seven months.

However, the widespread assumption that the final demise of manufacturingin the UK is only a matter of time is simply not so and the sooner the BBCstops talking down manufacturing the better!

We need to tell a different story. The UK is the seventh largest manufacturer;we lead with strong positions in certain key sectors such as Aerospace,Formula 1, Medical, Automotive, and Renewable Energy.

Manufacturing in the UK does face serious challenges, including the longterm threats posed by the emerging markets, but even this has seen ouropportunities changing over recent years with many companies returningwork to the UK from China.

We need to ask why is this? Have companies realised it is unrealistic to shipgoods half way around the world; do companies find it difficult to releaseskilled staff to run their operations in China; does the UK still have the edgeon emerging countries for design and prototyping to deliver the more complex tooling?

The rate of globalisation means the pace of specialisation needs to increase ifthe UK is to hold a meaningful position in the long term global market. Beinga leading player in all sectors is not realistic; but being a leading player in certain chosen sectors is.

For this edition we asked members to let us have examples of significantwork they are doing to underline the message of expertise in the UK. Theirresponse has been over-whelming – and it has helped make this the biggestNews we have ever published !

We will continue this theme of showcasing excellence in Manufacturing UK –and the next issue will highlight specific GTMA companies involved inPrecision Machining and Press Tools. Please let us have your achievementsfor inclusion.

Julia Moore Chief Executive

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:48

in the news... in the news... in the news... in the news...

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GTMA has launched anationwide initiative toexplore strategies to takethe UK tooling industry for-ward and strengthen itsposition in industry.

The initiative is industry-led withmeetings around the country toallow the people working intooling to shape the future.

Called the Toolmakers' Forum itis fronted by Peter Barnes,who has experience of toolmak-ers in Europe, America andAsia. He is a strong believerthat if you move with technolo-gy as an early adopter thenthere is opportunity to maximiseprofit.

Having travelled widely he has aglobal benchmark to stimulatethe understanding necessary toplan for the future and inevitablechanges that will come over thenext decade. “Without anydoubt investment needs to bemade in equipment and tech-nology,” he says.

Set to be held in geographicalregions across the UK, the firstevents have been held in theSouth West as informal meet-ings with toolmakers to find outwhat their issues are and toconduct feedback for theAssociation. The Forums helpattendees to explore possibili-ties and spark reactions to helpformulate successful strategies.

Each Forum is chaired by Peter, providing opportunity totalk frankly about what he hasseen globally. He believes theForums could be the foundationof a network of companies will-ing to use the resources within

their businesses and realisethere is strength in numbers bynetworking through the GTMA.

A few years ago he wasinvolved with a DTI, BritishPlastics Federation and GTMAjoint project. “We put togethera project team of toolmakerswith moulders and worked withthe end customer for early sup-plier involvement, which isanother important area that Iwant to cover in the Forums,”he said.

“The benefits were significant,reducing the time to validateproduction by 30 per cent, cut-ting the production commis-sioning time by 50 per cent,

>>>

Into the future withGTMA toolmaking initiativeToolmakers' Forum to discuss strategies for the future

GTMA member Zeekohas been awarded theQueen's Award forInnovation 2011. MD RichardFreeman received the awardfrom Lady Gretton, LordLieutenant of Leicestershire,at a ceremony attended bystaff and shareholders.

Zeeko won the award for itsOptic Fabrication Centre, a cor-rective polisher with integratedmeasuring capability. For thefirst time, it allows users toprogress precision componentsfrom start to finish withoutremoving them from themachine. It improves accuracyand minimises damage risk.

Zeeko plans to move its head-

quarters and factory toLeicester Science Park, next tothe National Space Centre, bythe end of 2012. The £2.2 mil-lion purpose-built, 20,000 sq ft

freehold building is double thesize of the company's existingpremises.

www.zeeko.co.uk

Queen's Award for Zeeko >>>

Paragon RapidTechnologies is the first UKcompany to offer a materialthat it believes will solve theage old problem of simulat-ing living hinges!

The material is a black nylonbase with a similar TensileModulus to the standard nylonPA650, but with a greatlyincreased Elongation at Breakvalue of 50.34%.

This gives the material excellentrepeatable flexibility and hasproven its suitability for givingan accurate representation ofcertain moulded hinges as wellas simulating a Polypropyleneor PP/ABS blend.

Peter Barnes - leading two-way discussions.

>>>

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:48


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halving the reject rate of plasticcomponents, as well as reducing the cost of sales andprocurement.”

Early involvement at the verybeginning of the project is theprime chance for cost savings,a main driver for most business-es. With toolmakers workingtogether where possible to supply the larger projects in ateam environment these savingscan be achieved.

“They will not be competingwith each other; they have tocomplement each other to meetthe volume of tools required.Working this way is much betterand toolmakers must put theiregos to one side, and realise ina team if one part fails, every-one fails.”

If there is the interest amongForum members GTMA willtake the lead role, but with themembers deciding who com-

pletes each element of the project within the timeframe.GTMA will look at the skill setsneeded and ensure the rightpeople are in the team.

“There are great opportunities;we are seeing a reversal ofglobalisation with many manu-facturers now appreciating localsupport.

‘The flow of information worksbetter, designs and productchanges can be addressedmore quickly and emphasis canbe applied to making the toolsas efficient as possible for thecustomer,” he said.

“The Forums will allow us togauge how much interest isgenerated. Of course, it will be atwo-way discussion and we willlisten to the points highlightedby everyone who comes along.”

www.gtma.co.uk

The GTMA's UKToolmaking IndustrySurvey 2011, announcedin September, is now wellunderway.

More than 700 companieshave so far responded, withmany hundreds more nowbeing contacted by phonewhere necessary to makethe survey – the first of itskind in the UK since 2001 –truly representative. The cen-sus report is expected inabout three months.

The Census is a first step inunderstanding the size andopportunity for the industry,says GTMA CEO JuliaMoore. “To achieve the bestresults for the industry theprofile of toolmakers withinthe UK has to be raised,”she said.

The Toolmakers Forum (seemain story) is also a part ofthis process.

“This important census willprovide a valuable overviewof the strength of the UKmarket to meet futuredemands.”

It will benchmark the resultsto the last census carried outby GTMA with the then DTI(Department of Trade andIndustry) more than ten yearsago.

Census form:https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DS28NP7General information:[email protected]

...

The SponsorsThe census is sponsored bythese companies:

Bauromat BK Tooling Bropel Technical Welding BWP (Erodex Group) Carrs Toolsteel Technologies

Che Coordinate Metrology Craftsman Tools Dayton Progress Delcam Heidenhain Thomas Keating Mouldtech Solutions Premier Mould ServicesSeco Tools Taylor Special Steels

Census reportin three months

Since the installation of itsHiQ2500 Sinterstation last year,Paragon has been investigatingsome of the latest SLS materi-als on the market, in order tooffer customers additional valuethrough improved mechanicalproperties etc.

It was following processing trialsand feedback from customersthat it added the PA850 Blackmaterial to its range – the firstUK company to do so.

It reports excellent durability forclipping features on rigidgeometries along with flexibilityin thin sections for panels andmoulded bottles, but some ofits customers, it says, just like

the fact that it's Black!

Positive feedback so far, partic-ularly from the packaging mar-kets, shows the applications arewide-ranging across many sec-tors including consumer prod-ucts, medical and automotive.If you would like to see a sam-ple of this material for yourself,then please contact Paragon'sprojects team on 01325 333141or email [email protected]

Other materials now being eval-uated include light weight glassfilled materials for the aero-space, defence and motorsportsectors. Watch this space...

www.paragon-rt.com

No black marks for Paragon’s new black material

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:48

new members spotlight... new members spotlight...

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Measurement specialists:Metrology Direct provides acomprehensive range ofmeasurement and inspectionsystems, instruments andrelated services to manufac-turing companies throughoutthe UK and Ireland.

The company brings together abroad spectrum of world classequipment manufacturers,enabling users, specifiers andbuyers to source the majority oftheir measurement and inspec-tion needs from one supplier.

Whether the requirement is fora flexible rule or a fully automat-ed CNC Controlled Measuring

System, Metrology Direct willhave a solution to offer.

In addition to standard equip-ment and systems, Metrology

Direct is able to design andsupply bespoke measurementand inspection solutions for awide range of applications usingboth tactile and high accuracy

air gauging technology.

To complement its productsales business Metrology Directhas its own UKAS AccreditedCalibration Laboratory (4568),providing dimensional, electricaland torque calibration services.It also offers a full range of aftersales support services.

www.metrology-direct.com

Metrology Direct

Skills resources: ResourceGroup is an internationalsupplier of scarce skills tothe Aerospace, Aviation andDefence sectors providingengineering, recruitment andtraining solutions.

It has established a leadingposition within the market work-ing with large aircraft manufac-turers and Tier 1 suppliers tosupport the programmesincluding: A380, A400M andA350XWB.

Engineering divisions provideoutsourced capabilities for realtime embedded safety criticalsoftware and DMU, CAD, CAM,PLM & PDM support formechanical engineering.

Manpower supply includes

aircrew, professional licensedengineers, production andmaintenance technicians andother specialist staff.

Today Resource Holding AGhas in excess of 1100 peopleon contracts across the globe.

Its technical training centre sup-ports its ‘Recruit, Train &Deploy’ concept. LRTT Ltd is aEASA Part 147 Approved Basictraining organisation providingmaintenance training for engineers.

Specialist divisions supportbusiness aviation, fixed pricework, international payroll solutions and aircraft ferryingand positioning services.

www.resourcegroup.co.uk

Tender Partner: TenderAssist Ltd is a GTMABusiness Partner which pro-vides personal assistance inhelping organisationsthrough public sector tendering.

The Tender Assist approach isto reduce the pressure of thishighly intensive and time con-suming bidding process byhelping its clients through eachof the various processes.

Its suite of modular servicesincludes:

• Free Analysis Questionnaire• Conducting a full Business

Ready Registration audit• Completion of Pre-

Qualification Questionnaires• Completion of Invitations To

Tender• Creation of Interview

Presentations• Support at Presentation

Interviews

Work already begun by GTMAand Tender Assist includes theregistering of morethan 100 CPV contract codesrelating to services provided byGTMA members.

The company is providing adaily monitoring service linkedto these contract codes andsuitable tenders are released tomembers. This means thatthere will always be contractopportunities available for mem-bers to study and bid for, usingthe services of Tender Assist.

www.tenderassist.co.uk

Resource Group Tender Assist

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:48


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Ultimate Flexibility and Pro-activity: Established in 2003,JSC Rotational Ltd providesrotational moulding andassembly services offeringcompetitive prices withoutcompromising quality.

With over 20 years experiencein the plastics industry, JSChave the technical ability toundertake complex projects,giving satisfaction every time.By working closely with tool-makers, material suppliers andother ancillary suppliers all

clients get the best service pos-sible. Being flexible and reactiveenables their clients to reactquickly in their own markets.

Using clam-shell mouldingmachines components up to3.1m in length and 2m widecan be moulded. Materials cur-rently processed include LDPE,MDPE, HDPE, PP, Nylons andcross-linked and recycled PE in.

It has extensive experience inmulti-layered moulding andmoulded-in graphics.

Whatever the requirement -from straight-forward mouldingservice through to technicaldesign and project manage-ment, JSC Rotational is able tooffer the optimum rotationalmoulding solution.

www.jscrotational.co.uk

JSC Rotational Ltd

Bauromat (UK) Blackburns MetalsCustomer focus: Bauromatis a recognised system inte-grator in the design andmanufacture of bespokeautomated robotic weldingand handling systems.

Its solutions are innovative andare competitively priced throughminimising production rateswith key manufacturing part-ners. Located at its purpose-built manufacturing facility inMalvern it has created partner-ships with world leaders servingits markets and customerneeds.

Product range includes:

Robot welding fixtures Standard Robotic WeldingSystemHandling End EffectorsDesign

Numerous standard or bespokesystems and robotic welding andhanding cells, have been sup-plied to major automotive, yellowand white goods companies.

It seeks to provide a long-termcommitment to its customersproviding extensive systemtraining prior to handover andgiving the customer base aservice support network ensur-ing system longevity.

www.bauromat.co.uk

Metal leaders: BlackburnsMetals is the UK's marketleading Aluminium Plate andCoil Service Centre, supply-ing aluminium, stainlesssteel and non-ferrous alloyproducts to industry.

Located centrally in the WestMidlands, it has a strategicallyplaced nationwide network ofsales and distribution centres,which offers a next day servicefrom stock anywhere in main-land Britain, and in Ireland with-in 2-3 days. Significant invest-ment in fabrication facilitiesallows it to supply material clos-er to final form.

Responsive to the constantfluctuations in demand faced bymanufacturers, Blackburns iscommitted to long term costsaving relationships with cus-tomers, and its name is synony-mous with high quality andservice levels. It has a reputa-tion for innovative products andsupply partnerships. Its products include Alumec

100 / 89 / 79, specifically engineered to maximise theoperational advantages of usingaluminium alloys for today’smoulding technologies, includ-ing injection moulding, RIM,structural foam moulding, vacu-um forming, blow moulding andrubber moulding.

Its website includes catalogueswith comprehensive listings ofits full range covering:

• Aluminium• Stainless Steel• Yellow Metals• Sign Products• Architectural• Marine• Fixtures & Fittings.

www.blackburnsmetals.com

New Members

Byrne Mech EngineeringÉireCompositesIndysoftTechni Modul EngineeringThormac EngineeringTotal Metal Products

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:48


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Spring Employment is arecruitment specialist dedi-cated to providing high qual-ity resources to GTMA andits members.

The company has built its suc-cess through the developmentof specialist account manage-ment teams dedicated to thefollowing national and interna-tional recruitment services:

• Contingent and RetainedPermanent Recruitment

• Provision of Contract andTemporary Resources

• Executive Search andSelection• Interim Management

As GTMA's recruitment partnerit will tailor its services to GTMA

with a strong focus on the manufacturing and technicalsectors.Spring can supply permanentand contract resource intomember companies plus arange of HR and recruitmentservices. It has an extensiveinternal and external databaseof pre-qualified candidates andalso uses all the mainstream jobboards ensuring maximumresults are achieved.

Spring works closely with itsclients to meet job and personspecifications; will interview andassess potential candidates;and send a full profile whensuitable,with CV, at no cost.

www.springemployment.co.uk/

Prototype specialists:Formation Prototypes is aspecialist in prototyping andoffers a service that helpsmanufacturers make theright choices in their productdevelopment programmes.

Choosing the right solution forspecific projects needs experi-ence and a wide understandingof the available processes,technologies and techniques –from formative and additivethrough to subtractive methods.

Based centrally in Leicester,and able to easily serve compa-nies throughout the UK,Formation Prototypes has thatexperience and knowledge.Services include:

• Prototype production• Prototype project

management• Prototype consultancy.

Formation understands that thebest possible prototype for anyparticular job can be widely dif-ferent. This is why it begins bydefining with the customer theprototype's application as wellas the numbers needed.

Selecting the most appropriateapproach will depend on issuessuch as material properties,dimensional accuracy and sur-face finish required. Only whenthese are defined will the proto-typing begin.

As well as prototyping,Formation also has 3D CADexpertise and provides both 3DCAD training and 3D CADmodelling where required. Itswebsite (www.formation-protypes.co.uk) was under construction when we went toPress.

Email: [email protected]

Special steels: SSAB is aworld leader in the specialistarea of abrasion resistantand high strength steelsmarketed under the well-known brand names ofDocol, Domex, Weldox,Hardox, Armox and Toolox.

These steels have a reputationfor high and consistent qualityand, in spite of their hardnessand strength, are easy to bend,weld and machine.

Its Toolox engineering and toolsteel is manufactured by SSABin a totally unique way com-pared to conventional tool andengineering steels and has

exceptional properties by usingthe metallurgical processes inproduction. Toolox correspondsto ESR quality material.

It shows very low residualstresses, even after heavymachining, and is dimensionallystable, normally requiring nostress relieving.

This is especially useful withlong thin sections such as gearracks etc.

As well as engineering applica-tions Toolox can be used for

SSAB

mould tooling, press tooling anddiecast tooling. It will withstandtemperatures up to 590°C with-out significant loss of roomtemperature toughness orstrength. It is easy to weld,

flame cut or water jet cut, andonly after flame cutting is astress relieving operation rec-ommended.

www.ssab.com

Spring Employment Formation Prototypes Ltd

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:48


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GTMA memberInterplex Select Moulds hasbeen made ‘Company of theMonth’ by Business andIndustry Today.

The highly prestigious andindustry renowned award is inrecognition of “exceptional serv-ice, impressive past achieve-ments and its current leadingposition in the plastic injectionmould industry.”

Interplex Select Moulds spe-cialises in the manufacture ofhigh quality technical plasticinjection mould tools for sectors

including automotive, medical,telecom and electrical markets.It is also known for producingtechnically demanding compo-nents, with short lead times.

Established in 1990, SelectMoulds merged in 2009 with thelarger Interplex company, anAmerican-owned group with over28 facilities worldwide. It hasgiven Select Moulds new oppor-tunities for growth and support.

The company recently movedto new facilities in HighWycombe and also investedheavily in a new mould testing

facility. Its product range covers(among others):

Automotive, Electrical(sswitchgear), Medical (devices,respiratory), Telecom (connec-tors, mobile phone), WhiteGoods, Aerospace (high accu-racy “one-off” machining), repairand refurbishment (All ranges ofmoulds, non select products,prototype moulds, rapid tooling,

>>>

Moulded to your satisfactionby 'Company of the Month' winner

High precision injec-tion toolmakers MouldtechSolutions has invested in thelatest CMM with 3D softwareto support its commitmentto continuous improvement.

The new machine is capable ofmeasuring parts 1M long. Thiscoincides well with its 1M travelVMC, and ensures any complex3D profiles can be easilyinspected and 2D shapes accu-rately checked. The machinealso has digitising features forreverse engineering parts.

Mouldtech’s customer base israpidly expanding and the com-pany is moving forward withthe ever changing requirementsof new and existing customers.

It can manufacture tooling up to750kg on site and project man-ages larger tooling with partners

after full customer liaison.

In these cases it guaranteesconfidentiality and with the samequality assurance and back upits on-site tooling receives.

Mouldtech prides itself on thediversity of its tooling andmachining which allows it to takeon new projects with confidence.It is a keen recruiter of youngenthusiastic engineers to keepup with emerging technologies

www.mouldtechsolutions.com

Alan Browne Gauges ispleased to be celebrating 50years since incorporation.

The company is situated in itsoriginal setting at BlackdownMill – but there is nothing oldfashioned about its modernservices.

Alan Browne started the com-pany calibrating gauge blocksback in the late 50s and nowenjoys UK and worldwiderecognition for its services.

It is UKAS accredited for com-parison and interferometry ofgauge blocks and manufacturesits own unique DuraGrade steelgauge blocks with two-yearwear warranty.

It also offers precision lappingcapabilities across the wholespectrum of manufacturing and

lap/measure to sub micron tol-erances.

It has strong links to its cus-tomer base in the defence,aerospace, automotive, metrol-ogy and precision engineeringindustry sectors. These links areglobal both as a manufacturerand calibration laboratory.

www.alanbrowne.co.uk

Investment keeps Mouldtech on target>>> >>>

soft tooling), Pre-ProductionTooling (fully hardened produc-tion simulated moulds), Multi-Cavity Moulds ,Gas Injection,Multi-Shot Moulds and FullTurn-Key Packages.

With 5 machines ranging from80 to 200 tonnes, includingtwin-shot and extended pat-terns, Select Moulds offers awide range of mould testingoptions. These cover toolingfrom single cavity pilot to highvolume production tooling up to2.5 tonnes.

www.selectmoulds.co.uk

Golden era as Alan Brownecelebrates 50 years

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:52

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:52

special report.... special report.... special report.... special report....

New Partnership ahead of Farnborough 12Hockley leads toolmakers 13Erodex showsaero determination 13

Bowers helps toring the changes 15Trescal embracesaerospace calibration 15

Delcam's softwareservices go on show 16-17EOS systems cansave time and money 19

Éire Composites is a leader 19High speed fromHigh Gain 20

In this Farnborough Focus…

Farnborough

ExpertiseFarnborough International

Airshow 2012 is another

opportunity for GTMA

members to showcase their

expertise in the sector.

World ClassA key industry for almost

100 of our members, this

focus report underlines

again the world class stand-

ing of many of our suppliers

into aerospace.

Global The event, billed as the

largest truly global event of

its kind, takes place on July

9-15, and last time was

attended by over 120,000

trade visitors. Orders of

US$47 billion were

announced during the

show.

11

Picture courtesy Airbus

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:52

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New partnershipahead of FarnboroughGTMA approaches the run in toFarnborough 2012 (July 9-15) with anew partnership in place in the aero-space sector.

Business Development Director RogerOnions has set up the link with the Westof England Aerospace Forum (WEAF) andthe Aerospace Wales Forum. It is a strate-gic move to help the large number ofmembers in the sector.

Farnborough, with some 1400 exhibitors, is still one of the mainworldwide airshows attracting nearly 1500 exhibitors and 120,000trade visitors.

A new initiative for 2012 is the Innovation Zone and Futures Day,which has secured headline sponsorship from Airbus and other majororganistions including Rolls Royce, the Department for BusinessInnovation & Skills (BIS), GKN, Tata, Safran and Selex Galileo. TheZone is dedicated to the Research and Technology sector and willshowcase latest advances in aviation, space and engineeringtechnology.

GTMA companies who were committed to exhibiting as we wentto Press included (with Hall and Stand numbers): 3T RPD H1/D9-11 & D14; Denroy Plastics H1/B15a: DeStaCo H4/H7; EOSElectro Optical Systems H4/A6; Hexagon Metrology H4/H9; SecoTools H4/E10; and Trescal H4/G2.

“Farnborough remains an important part of the aerospace calen-dar and our members' commitment to it mirrors the focus we puton the sector,” said GTMA CEO Julia Moore.

As part of the new partnership, GTMA was at Aerolink Wales &West 2012 being held at Chepstow Racecourse on April 18. Itwas representing members with purchasing and R&D representa-tives from companies such as Nordam, Rolls Royce and GEAircraft Engine Services.

A seminar programme included representatives from the Ministryof Defence Suppliers Service (covering ‘How to sell to the MOD'),the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (covering opportunities foraerospace suppliers in the nuclear industry) and the Centre forDefence Enterprise (on how the MOD can help take innovativedefence ideas to market).

Farnborough Airshow

+-

urmete r | pa r i s | 1791

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Mahr U.K. Plc - 19 Drakes Mews, Crownhill, Milton Keynes, MK8 0ER, GB

www.mahr.com

AerolinkWales & West 2012

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:52

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w Farnborough Airshow 2012.... Farnborough Airshow 2012....

GTMA member Hockley Pattern is oneof the UK's leading Aerospace tool-makers and a First Tier supplier tomost of the world’s leading prime aero-space companies.

It is a constant innovator as it continuallystrives to develop new manufacturing meth-ods so it can pass on cost reductions andshorter lead times to customers.

It is an approach which has helped it dou-ble turnover in the last four years to morethan £4 million this year, with plans to dou-ble it again in the next 5 years

Currently implementing AS9100 and a sig-natory to the aerospace supply chainSC21 initiative it is used to designing, proj-ect managing and manufacturing multi-mil-lion pound packages.

A key Hockley area of specialisation is in thedesign and manufacture of very large or hightolerance complicated fabricated mould toolsin Invar, Steel and Aluminum. The companyis a leader in cast Invar mould tools.

It also manufactures numerous fixturesfrom small table top fixtures to assemblyfixtures over 12m in length.

This is a company with global ambitionsand global success in Europe, USA andAsia. In Europe it has management teamsto support tooling packages it is manufac-turing for mainland Europe customers.

Its growth plans include increasing its facili-ty by over 50%, the purchase of more large5-Axis machines, extra Laser trackers andInspection arms and building a temperaturecontrolled building for high tolerance 5-Axis

machining & to house a new inspectiondepartment.

It will also be putting in place an increasedmanagement infrastructure to cope withthe massive growth and will continue toemploy young people to support itsapprentice scheme.

www.hockleypattern.co.uk

Hockley leads aerospacetoolmakers and doubles turnover

GTMA member Erodex, which is in theforefront of the EDM industry, has con-tinued to grow throughout the globalrecession.

The recent accreditation to SC21 (21stCentury supply chains) shows the Erodexdetermination to be part of the aerospaceindustry’s efforts to accelerate competitive-ness.

An ongoing programme of investment inmachinery is just a part of its policy of con-tinuous improvement.

The Erodex design arm, BWP, continues toexpand and fully complements the Erodexelectrode manufacture and supply busi-ness. BWP’s expertise and long experiencein electrode holder, jig and fixture designand manufacture, together with electrodemanufacturing by Erodex, results in aunique service.

The design team works with Autocad,Siemens N.X Unigraphics and Inventor sys-tems and offer a project management andconcurrent design service for all electrodes,holders and work holding solutions.

Finally, the Erodex range of carbons, graphites and metals allows for a full partic-ipation in all EDM applications as well aselectrical, metallurgical, semi-conductorand chemical industries and this isundoubtedly fundamental to the stabilityand success of the company.

www.erodex.com

Erodex shows aero determination

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:52

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T: 01803 846013 E: [email protected] www.moultechsolutions.com

We manufacture technical multi impression moulds up to 750kg

Our services include:

• Component Design• 3D Mould Design• Product Development• Onsite Mould Manufacture• Offshore Mould Sourcing and Support • Mould Tool Modification• Mould Tool Refurbishment• Mould Tool Repair• Jigs and Fixtures• Contract 4 Axis CNC Spark Erosion• Contract CNC Milling & Turning • Copper Electrode Machining• Tooling consultancy services

We manufacture technical multi impression moulds up to 750kg

HIGH PRECISION INJECTION TOOLMAKERS

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:52

15

World class provider of supply chainmanagement services, MB Aerospace,has brought in GTMA member BowersMetrology equipment to help it meetthe demanding levels of measuringaccuracy needed by its aerospace customers.

These demands range from average sizedcomponents featuring difficult to accesselements which can be extremely demand-ing, to completing similar complex measur-ing routines, and realising comparable lev-els of precision, on components up to 1.5meters diameter.

MBAe supports mature and late-life platforms for some of the leading names inaerospace from its three sites in Derby,Burnley and Motherwell. It has accredita-tion from several of the world’s largest civiland military aerospace companies, and hasan excellent reputation for supplying after-market components and for its specialistengineering design skills.

The company’s impressive FlexibleManufacturing Unit (FMU) has a global rep-utation for the production of complex, lowvolume, low frequency demand aero-engine components.

Bowers equipment is used in the dimen-sional inspection of safety critical, extremelyprecise components such as Aero Enginerings.

Eddie Gilhooley, MB Aerospace FMU,General Manager, explained: “Although ourmanufactured rings have extremelydemanding specifications, many of themare more than one meter in diameter. Asthey need to be accurately measured whilstbeing held in the chuck of a machine tool,our measuring routines previously involvedthe use of extremely cumbersome gaugesand consequently were highly-skilled, timeconsuming, although accurate operations.“

MBAe has a policy of continuous improve-ments, and recently identified its ring gaug-ing practices for improvement. It performeda series of demanding GR&R trials of avail-able large capacity, high specification equip-ment before deciding to purchase a rangeof advanced INTEX Beam Gauges and anextremely accurate Trimos HorizontalGauge Setting machine from Bowers.

“As our new Trimos instrument has a 1.5meter capacity we are now able to use it asa ‘universal’ master for setting our newINTEX gauges,” said Eddie. “Now in regu-

lar use, our INTEX gauges have provenboth easier and quicker to use, in additionto being more accurate than our previouslyused instruments.”

Now machine operators use the Trimosmachine to very accurately set an INTEXgauge to the nominal diameter that they arelooking for before performing an in-process, internal or external measuring rou-tine. Any deviation from a nominal conditionis accurately shown on the gauge’s display.

The new measuring machine has been agreat success with operators, he said. It iseasy to use, and as well as being used forsetting instruments, the Trimos Horizon isalso used to make occasional checks onthe continued accuracy of any gauges thatare being used.

www.bowers.co.uk

Farnborough Airshow 2012.... Farnborough Airshow 2012....

Bowers accuracy helps MB Aerospace ‘ring’ the changes

Trescal offers a wide range of calibra-tion services through an unequalledworldwide network that reaches over60 calibration laboratories.

The GTMA member serves sectorsincluding: aerospace, automotive,defence, marine, rail, power, medical,petro-chemical, electronics, electrical andprecision manufacturing.

In the UK, Trescal has the most extensive

UKAS accredited technical capability andemploys 360 people of which 250 are qual-ified engineers and technicians across awide range of instrumentation and meas-urement disciplines.

Its collection and delivery service has specially adapted vans at each laboratorysite, so it can offer national coverage. Highlevels of service are provided by its commit-ted Customer Services Team which ismatched with unrivalled technical expertise

and a broad range of capabilities for labo-ratory and on-site calibration,equipmentrepair, new instrument sales, managedinventories and consultancy.

Trescal is continually adding capabilities tomeet market needs and its strategy is tooffer a truly one-stop solution for clientcalibration and equipment support requirements.

www.trescal.co.uk

Trescal's worldwide network embraces aerospace calibration

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:52

16

Delcam will promote its wide range ofsoftware and services for the aero-space industry on the MidlandsAerospace Alliance stand atFarnborough Air Show.

Aerospace manufacturing demands thehighest levels of quality and consistency,plus cost-effective production and theshortest-possible delivery times. At theshow, Delcam will demonstrate how it canhelp companies both large and small meetthese requirements.

Delcam systems have been used, at somestage, on virtually every major aircraft pro-gramme in recent years. The company’s

customers have undertaken projects in allthe various areas that go towards produc-ing a successful aircraft, from developingmore fuel-efficient engines to manufacturingairframe components more effectively, and

Farnborough Airshow 2012.... Farnborough Airshow 2012

Delcam’s aerospace software and services on show at Farnborough

even in designing more comfortable andmore attractive interiors.

They have worked on all scales of project,from the manufacture of components forUAVs and helicopters up to the productionof engines and airframes for the largestpassenger and transport aircraft.

Delcam also supports a large number ofMRO operations. These companies useDelcam systems to enable the fast, efficientrepair or replacement of damaged compo-nents. By minimising design and manufac-turing times, while maintaining the highestlevels of quality, repairs can be completedas quickly as possible, so minimising lost

Delcam’s CAM software is used to machineall types of aerospace components.

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:52

17

012 Farnborough Airshow

e-Manufacturing™ means the fast,

flexible and cost-effective production

directly from electronic data for

product development and manufac-

turing. Laser-sintering is the key

technology for e-Manufacturing™.

With systems from EOS, the world-

wide leading manufacturer of laser-

sintering systems, you can achieve

weight and material savings, turn

your most complex design ideas into

reality and enable functional inte-

gration. Directly by solidifying metal

or plastic powders.

With e-Manufacturing™ you can

secure your competitive advantage

in a business environment that is

facing ever increasing and challen-

ging targets around emission reduc-

tion and conservation of natural

resources.

For further information:www.eos.info

Advanced Aerospace ApplicationsProduction of fully functional, highly

complex parts directly from electronic data.

Think the impossible. You can get it.

Image source: Morris Technologies

operating time of aircraft.

Delcam has been ranked by CIMdata as the world’s largest spe-cialist supplier of machining software for the past 11 years. It hasthe largest development team in the CAM industry working on acomprehensive range of systems for all types of machine tool,from simple lathes and 2D mills, up to the most sophisticated five-axis machining centres and multi-spindle, turn-mill equipment.

Delcam also produces a complete portfolio of supporting software,for component design, tooling design, reverse engineering andinspection. All of the programs are available as stand-alone solu-tions to enhance existing systems or as part of a complete turn-key solution.

In addition, Delcam Professional Services offers a range of servicesto help companies whose own engineering resource is needed tomaintain its existing operations. The support given can vary fromproviding extra design and programming resources when existingstaff are overloaded, through to developing completely new turn-key processes for the manufacture of novel designs.

www.delcam.com

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:28

18

THE ERODEX GROUPDesign and Technical Services

Since it’s foundation over thirty years ago BWP has been providing a fast,

first-class design service to industry and the aerospace sector. Now, as part

of the Erodex Group we can offer a full project management, procurement,

build and certificate service to make BWP a one-stop-shop for all of your

design, tooling and EDM electrode needs. All aspects of any project are

simultaneously designed by one team to provide a streamlined process, opti-

mum technical solutions and shorter project lead-times.

■ Jig and Tool Design and Build■ 2D - 3D Conversion■ Electrode Design■ 3D Printing■ Special Purpose Machinery and Automation

BWP Technical ServicesLion Works, 543 Wallisdown Road, Poole

Dorset, BH12 5ADTel: 01202 546732/546733

Fax: 01202 522526Email: [email protected]: www.bwptech.co.uk

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:28

19

Laser-sintering represents a complete-ly new concept for manufacturing com-ponents made of polymers and metals– and is saving costs and time for theaerospace sector.

The limitations that trouble normal produc-tion methods are no longer an issue for themost part. Here the design influences themanufacturing process, which is commonlyreferred to as "design driven manufacturing".

The aerospace industry is a major marketfor laser-sintering applications. The advan-tages for aerospace include speed of pro-duction and cost effectiveness with the aimof producing fully functional and highlycomplex parts. More functions can be inte-grated in a part using laser-sintering.

GTMA member EOS is a worldwide leadingmanufacturer of these systems and pointsout that parts can be equipped with sup-ports, fastening elements and other addi-tional functions, which are generated during

the construction process. Some compo-nents and subsequent installation becomeunnecessary.

In the case of gas turbines, it is possible tointegrate more parts in the combustionchamber, so reducing the number of indi-vidual components. Laser sintering alsoeliminates joints in areas subject to hightemperatures, giving greater longevity andimproved quality of the parts.

Laser-sintered parts are used for instancefor the interior design of cabins and ventila-tion ducts as well as air conditioning incommercial aircraft. The technology is alsoused to manufacture cooling and ventilationcomponents for high-performance electron-ics and associated attachments in helicopters.

The life cycle of a product in the aerospaceindustry is comparatively long, typically 25to 30 years for an aircraft. Tools must bestored and stocked for years. With the

laser-sintering technology, however, onlythe three dimensional data needs to bestored digitally in order to promptly manu-facture replacement parts on demand withjust a few clicks.

The investment for components and toolsis near-current to demand, thus eliminatingstorage and stocking costs.

www.eos.info

Farnborough Airshow 2012.... Farnborough Airshow 2012....

EOS systems can save aero manufacturers time and cost

ÉireComposites is an innovativedesign, manufacturing and testingcompany, involved in lightweight, highperformance fibre-reinforced compos-ite materials, with an international cus-tomer base in aerospace.

It also serves the wind energy, marinetransportation, excavation and generalmanufacturing sectors.

It is accredited to ISO 9001:2008 for gener-al composites design and manufacturingand to EN/AS 9100 for aerospace compos-ites manufacturing and design. Its testing

laboratory is accredited to ISO 17025.

ÉireComposites manufactures componentsand assemblies in both thermoplastic andthermoset composites, using autoclave andoven processes, liquid moulding and pressmoulding operations as well as its propri-etary MECH TOOL integrally-heated toolingsystem.

ÉireComposites also offers a fully accredit-ed composites testing service through itssubsidiary company Composites TestingLaboratory (www.ctlcomposites.com ). CTLTástáil Teo is a recognised leader in

accredited mechanical and physical testingof advanced composites for aerospace,wind energy and automotive applications.Support activities such as inspection, NDT,trimming and painting are all included withinits 6000 square metre facility in Galway,Ireland.

www.eirecomposites.com

Aerospace composites leaderis fully accredited

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:28

20

BOWERS METROLOGY: LEADING THE WAY IN QUALITY AND INSPECTION SOLUTIONS

Small Bore Measurement with theNEW Bowers MicroGauge

The Bowers Metrology Group of Companies

Unit 15, Bordon Trading Estate,

Bordon, Hampshire GU35 9HH

Telephone: 08708 50 90 50 Fax: 08708 50 90 60

www.bowers.co.uk [email protected] in Precision

Improved Accuracy with the Sylvac Hi-Cal Digital Motorised Height Gauge

Accurate Thread Measurement for the Oil & Gas Industry from Gagemaker

For more innovative products see Bowers’ all-inclusive 2012/13 product catalogue.

To order your copy [email protected]

Farnborough Airshow 2012.... Farnborough Airshow 2012

High Gain Technology is a leading sup-plier of high speed machining solutionsfor international metal cutting – and isa key supplier into aerospace.

Its focus is strongly on customer servicewith an approach which understands thatevery business is unique. More than 300companies have benefited from this innova-tive approach, cutting edge expertise andexemplary standards of service includingAirbus, Aircraft Research and Bombardier.

Its high speed robotic machining is particularlyrelevant to the sector. In a unique develop-ment, High Gain and QDesign of Italy offercomplete robotic machining solutions for awide range of three dimensional components.

Solutions can be offered for composite

machining, sculpturing from stone, and lightaluminium machining for aerospace parts.

It serves other sectors right across theindustry spectrum from automotive andplastics to toolmakers.

Founded in 1993, High Gain's success isbased on designing, installing, servicing andmaintaining a wide range of high frequencyspindles, minimal coolant systems andother related accessories.

CNC rotary tables, high speed CNCengraving machines, dust extraction, robot-ic machining, and a spindle reconditioningservice are just some of the other productsand services it offers.

Its CNC Rotary Tables embrace multi axis

machining and include Single and doubleaxis tables, Swivel axis milling units and CNCTilting Rotary Tables for 5 axis machines.

High Gain's service is unrivalled and it alwaystries to visit customers to know their preciseneeds.

www.highgaintechnology.co.uk

High speeds for aerospace from High Gain Technology

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:28

21

The green shoots are herefor UK manufacturing – withgrowing confidence aboutgrowth by CEOs and somemassive investment commit-ments announced in theweeks leading up to thispublication going to Press.

For GTMA members in particu-lar the signs are encouraging –not least because the sectorswe are targeting are among theleaders in the good news.

Aerospace: It was reported inearly March that about 130British companies will benefitfrom orders to be placed byLockheed Martin to supplycomponents for a fleet of F-35Joint Strike Fighter planes to beassembled in the US with deliv-eries from early 2015. The com-pany estimates some 25,000jobs will be created and sus-tained in the UK over 30 years.Among many others winning isBAE Systems in Lancs wherethe fuselage and other compo-nents will be made.

Automotive: Car productiongrew by 23.5% in January andboth Nissan and Jaguar LandRover announced big invest-ments for the future in March:JLR (1000 jobs at its Halewoodfactory) to meet strong demandfor its Range Rover Evoqueand Freelander 2; and Nissanthat it will build a new compactmodel called the Invitation inSunderland, a £125 millioninvestment

Energy: The budget includedtax changes to boost oil and

gas extraction in the North Seaand field allowances of £3 bil-lion to encourage investment indeep fields and reserves, partic-ularly west of Shetland; at thesame time the Chancellor waspositive about renewables,another GTMA target sector,which he said will play a “crucialpart” in the UK's energy mix.

Medical: Glaxo Smith Klineconfirmed a £350 million newfacility in Ulverston, Cumbria;£100 million of upgrades inother Scottish factories; and£80 million in Barnard Castleand Ware, Herts. This was part-ly spurred on by budget taxbreaks to companies for tech-nologies patented in the UK.

Rail: Confirmation for the go-ahead for Network Railupgrades to lines in the north ofEngland.

All of these developments willcascade into the supply chains– for example, while the Nissancompact car announcement willadd 400 jobs at the Nissanplant, it estimates another 1600jobs will be created in the sup-ply chain.

Perhaps even more importantthan these individual announce-ments is the result of a surveyby manufacturers' associationEFF in partnership withaccountants BDO. This wasreleased in March and showedorders and output up on theprevious three months and withconfidence growing.

“The shock from the eurozone

delivered at the end of last yearseems to be subsiding and UKdomestic demand has caughtup with exports – the main driv-er of growth last quarter – toprovide a more secure founda-

tion on which to establish asustained period of steady,albeit slow, growth,” saidBDO's Head of Manufacturing,Tom Lawton.

Many GTMA members havealso been reporting that thetrend of buyers sourcing workfrom China and other low-costeconomies has been turning, ashighlighted at the GTMA's suc-cessful Bringing it Back toBritain event last year.

Work is coming back to the UKas buyers find that lower pricesthey have been quoted are out-weighed by additional shippingcosts, problems with qualityand logistical issues.

GTMA CEO Julia Moore saysthe signs are very encouraging –but a lot of hard work is stillneeded. “The green shoots arehere for sure,” she says. “Butthe economy is still fragile, theglobal outlook is uncertain, andthe debt crisis particularly in theeurozone is a major concern.

“However as an association weare much better placed thanmost. This edition of the Newsshows just some of our mem-bers who are doing really inno-vative work – they are leaders intheir fields.

“Some parts of UKManufacturing are doing betterthan others – it is a patchy land-scape. We are fortunate thatmany of the most positive signsare in our key markets. Ourindustry sectors are where thegreen shoots seem strongest.”

The green shoots are here…GTMA key sectors reap the benefits

Manufacturing UK

Three Briefing publications fromGTMA – covering sectors showingsigns of recovery. Top, photoscourtesy Lockheed Martin andNissan – both are helping supplychain demand in the UK.

012

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:28

Manufacturing UK... Manufacturing UK... Manufacturing UK

One of the icons of theBattle of Britain has beendigitised in a reverse engi-neering project by GTMAmember Physical Digital.

The company was called in byAmalgam Fine Model Cars whoneeded the digital data tocreate a highly accurate scalemodel of the MkIIa Spitfire,which is based at the Battle ofBritain Memorial Flight (BBMF),RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire.

It is the last remaining exampleof an airworthy MkIIa that sawactive service in the Battle ofBritain. The digital data wasalso presented to the BBMF fordigital archiving, to be used asreference if the aircraft is everdamaged.

Physical Digital used a combi-nation of photogrammetry,Touch Probe and 3D opticalscanning, using equipment fromanother GTMA member GOM.

This is not the first time expert-ise from Physical Digital hasbeen used by Amalgam. Pastprojects include digitising manycars in their range including theBugatti 57SC, Ferrari 250California Spider, Lamborghini,Jaguar XK 120 and many others.

Its success in the highest qualitymodel cars and yachts has ledAmalgam to launch an aircraftrange to the same stunningdetail, starting with the MkIIaSpitfire. The aircraft used hasrepaired bullet holes that canstill be seen on her port wing.

As the plane is on show at the

visitor centre at RAF Coningsbythe digitising needed to bedone with minimum disruption –made possible due to theportability of the equipmentused. The process took justthree days.

Three systems were used tocapture the necessary data:GOM TRITOP, GOM ATOS andGOM Touch Probe.

TRITOP: The TRITOP systemtook high resolution 2D imagesof the aircraft and created anaccurate 3D coordinate frame-work based on digital pho-togrammetry techniques.Markers were applied (coded

and un-coded) to and aroundthe plane along with internation-ally certified scale bars, andthen multiple photographstaken from different angles.

The software precisely worksout the 3D coordinate of thecentre of the markers, andthese coordinates are used as areference framework for scan-ning. Using this method,Physical Digital could verify aglobal accuracy < 0.02mm/m3for this project.

Reverse engineered: a combatveteran of the Battle of BritainPhysical Digital and GOM: a winning GTMA team

ISO 10360-2 - 66%requirement, up to alongest diagonal of2300mm - probably thelongest in the UK for thisequipment.

Together with its businesspartner and fellow GTMAmember Carl ZeissMetrology, CHECoordinate Metrology hasbeen actively involved in

CHE Coordinate Metrologyare one of the few labora-tories recently accreditedto the new ISO Standards -ISO 10360-2:2009 and ISO10360-5:2010 for the Re-verification of CoordinateMeasuring Machines.

With a comprehensive rangeof calibration equipmentincluding high quality stepgauges, CHE can satisfy the

retrofitting the Zeiss Calypsosoftware to non-Zeiss coordi-nate measuring machines for a wide range of industrysectors.

In many cases the retrofittedsoftware has been installed torun alongside the older softwareand programs to provide acost effective transition to theup-to-date Zeiss Calypso technology.

Although times are still tough,CHE has observed anincreasing trend with companies investing in people and machines for a competitive market, whereorders are being placed toproduce engineered partswith the high quality associated with UK engineering.

www.che-metrology.co.uk

CHE is 'one of the few' on new ISO standards

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:28

23

UK Manufacturing UK...

ATOS: The TRITOP file wasimported into the ATOS scan-ning software as a referencefile, and the airframe scannedusing a GOM ATOS lll TripleScan. A second system (GOMATOS lle) captured the move-able surfaces using the sameairframe alignment. Using twosystems simultaneously meantsignificant time savings.

The data was converted intoindividual polygon meshes foreach component and eachposition; then checked forerrors and post processed tomanageable file sizes prior todelivery to BBMF for digitalarchiving; and to Amalgam foruse in creating the model.

Touch Probe: The opticallytracked touch probe was usedto determine the location of thecomplex bubble shaped canopyglass. This method was chosenas an alternative to usingexcess polish on the transpar-ent surface. These points canthen be turned into a mesh inthe post processing stage andadded into the project.

The handheld GOM touchprobe is used for capturinggeometry on objects being

scanned. The probe is opticallytracked by the ATOS sensorand calibrated to a high accura-cy. It allows movement of boththe sensor and probe by usingthe TRITOP markers to precise-ly align the data when captured.

The processes used by PhysicalDigital successfully captured allnecessary data for Amalgam torecreate a detailed model whilstmaintaining the high level ofaccuracy necessary for archivingthis priceless historical aircraft.

Using GEOMAGIC softwarePhysical Digital reverse engi-neered CAD models which canbe produced from the scan data.This process can then be usedto recreate components andtooling for worn, broken, dam-aged, and hand modified parts.

Physical Digital can alsoanalyse and redesign thesecomponents making themstronger, lighter and safer byusing computed simulationsand modern material properties.

www.physicaldigital.comwww.gom.comwww.finemodelcars.comwww.raf.mod.uk/bbmf

The Spitfire and the model - digitising made it possible.

B K Tooling is a specialist

in the design and manufac-

ture of rapid tooling for

low to medium volumes of

plastic injection moulded

products.

B K Tooling

“Taking plasticinjection moulded products from concept to creation”

B K ToolingPleasant ViewGaston GreenBishop’s StortfordHerts CM22 7QS

Tel: 01279 600970Fax: 01279 600980

Email:[email protected]:www.bktooling.co.uk

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:28

24

Micron Metrology EurolabThe largest calibration laboratory of its type in the EU

MAJOR £300K REFURBISHMENT AND INVESTMENT PROGRAMME NOW COMPLETEDMore services, more equipment, more facilities, more accreditations

“Possibly the only calibration laboratory you will ever need”

Recent additions to UKAS Schedule:

• Pressure Gauges• Combination Gauges• Digital Pressure Indicators• Manometers,Oxygen Gauges• Pressure Calibrators• Pressure Switches• Pressure Transducers• Sphygmomanometers• Dead Weight Testers• Autoclaves

UKAS Accredited Calibration Laboratory (0720)

• Online certification and calibration system management

• Complete managed calibration system consul-tancy service

• Guaranteed turn-around times of five days orless (48 hour Goldtrack Service)

• Emergency response when required• Onsite UKAS calibration service• Electrical and mechanical repair service• Collection and delivery service• Uk agents for Indysoft Gauge InSite• International services• On-shore/off-shore

Specific areas covered include:

• Mechanical• Dimensional• Electrical• Pressure• Torque• Time• Mass......

Contact our sales team for a free no obligation quotation on 0121 784 7498 using extension numbers 201 or 203.

General EnquiriesEmail: [email protected]: www.micron-metrology.co.uk

MARKETS COVERED: AUTOMOTIVE • AEROSPACE • PHARMACEUTICAL • OIL & GAS • MARINE & RAIL

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:28

25


Toolmaking company SprintTool and Die is involved incutting edge technology toautomatically link cavitypressure monitoring with hotrunner controller.

Telford based Sprint Tool andDie is working with KistlerInstruments and the PolymerTraining and Innovation Centrein Wolverhampton, to installKistlers latest transducer tech-nology to automatically balancehot runners and eliminate theneed for manual optimisation.

The Kistler CoMo softwarecommunicates with the MoldMasters hot runner controller, toachieve constant pressure with-in each moulding.

Cavity pressure monitoring is awell established practice, interms of putting sensors in a

mould tool and using a monitor-ing system to plot the pressurein each cavity. But the newtechnology will not only com-municate with the hot runnercontroller, but will also makenecessary adjustments and bal-ances automatically.

This is not the first research proj-ect GTMA member Sprint Tooland Die has been involved with.The Emold project, in which IanAmos, MD, Sprint Tool and Die,was a research partner, investi-gated the progressing of thisinformation to the next level, so

that hot runner systems andcontrollers can be accessedremotely – from another room,country or continent.

www.sprinttoolanddie.co.ukwww.kistler.comwww.wolvcoll.ac.uk/polymer

Cutting edge technologyautomates hot runner balance

The big emphasise in toolingfor leading mould and pressprecision toolmakers, NDPrecision Products, is QCO(quick change over).

The company, which isapproaching its 40th anniver-sary, has an extensive historywithin the mould tools industryand a long term client baseacross sectors including aero-space, automotive, chemical oiland gas, electronics, plastics,

rubber, machine tools, andmedical.

NDPP supports its workforceexpertise with investment incutting edge manufacturingtechnologies including AGIEwire and sink erosion equip-ment, System 3R automationand Solid Edge (UGS) CADdesign.

Its commitment to fast deliverymeans it is able to offer high

priority turnaround times along-side its professional and highlycompetitive precise service.

It also offers design, prototyp-ing, pre-production runs andevaluation, cassette QCO tool-ing compression tools, andthermoset mould tools for dieselinjection systems.

It is very strong in the medicalsector, particularly for theorthopaedic industry, including

tooling for manufacturing kneejoints.

NDPP's aim, says MD NickSquire, “is to offer cost effectivetooling solutiions to all our cus-tomers....ultimately optimisingbottom line financial perform-ance for them.”

www.ndprecisionproducts.co.uk

QCO is the focus for NDPPas 40 years approaches

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 11:34

26

EXCELLENCE IN MOULD TOOL ENGINEERING

• Innovative UK toolmaker specialising in thedesign, manufacture and on-site validation ofhigh performance, complex precision plasticinjection mould tools of the highest quality.

• Specialist markets include medical andpharmaceutical, caps and closures, multi-shot applications and thin wall packaging.

• Professional and personalised service withcomplete project support.

contact: Darren HugillRyetools Limited, Enterprise Way, Thornton Road Business Park

Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7NA

Tel: 01751 476020 Fax: 01751 477220Email: [email protected] Website: www.ryetools.co.uk

4747

Stainless Steels and Titanium are both prone to galling and seizing. WS2 is a very low friction dry lubricant surface treatment,developed by NASA for use in deep space, and has been shown toprovide a very cost effective solution preventing both problems onthreads and other sliding surfaces. WS2 works well from -273° to450° C and down to 10-14 Torr. WS2 has also been applied to bearings and gears to extend life.

Distributed by: Cytec Systems UK Ltd.Lancaster House • 234 Fields New Road • Chadderton • Oldham OL9 8NZ

Tel: +44-161 678 7090 • Fax: +44-161 620 5392www.ahp.de

www.cytecsystems-uk.com

HYDRAULIK & PNEUMATIK

Block cylinder

Qualityyou can rely on

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:30

27


Leading international visionsystems company MachineVision Technology continuesto be a major innovator in itssectors, which range fromautomotive and pharmaceu-ticals to robotics, electronicsand production engineering.

One of its latest projectsinvolved a request for a fullyautomated quality control andinspection system to handleand inspect labyrinth plate plas-tic mouldings for a global bluechip food and beverage com-pany – and led Machine Visioninto a previously unknown areaof glass geometry.

The part that needed measuringwas just 26mm diameter, with3mm high characters at thebottom of a hole. They neededto be read at the rate of 900 aminute!

The system met a range ofneeds, including:

• Ability to handle with mini-mum changeover two

labyrinth plates mouldingsthat are physically different insize and shape.

• No damage whatsoever to thecomponents, which have adetailed periphery. Damagewould mean loss of function-ality.

• Ability to inspect from all threeplanes: Top for damage andOCR (optical character recog-nition); Bottom for diameterand damage; Side for dam-age, height and profile.

• Capability to operate up to arate of 1800 parts/minute withthe labyrinth plates either coldfrom storage (minimum 10degrees C) or directly from amoulding machine (maximum40 degrees C).

• Ability to detect and expel100% of components that areoutside the specified limitsgiven in the clients URS, butgenerate the minimumamount of waste due toeither damage caused to thelabryinths by the vision sys-tem or rejection that are notoutside the limits of the speci-fication.

• It must be designed to meetfood and GMP standards.

The concept evolved byMachine Vision, a sister compa-ny of GTMA member AlanBrowne Gauges, enable MVTvision cameras to be mountedto view top, bottom and sidesof the components- removingrisk of damage.

This handling solution involved arevolutionary idea of a “rotatingglass disc” – yes a glass disc.This allowed viewing from allthree angles – and led MVT intoa new area of expertise in glassgeometry which proved to be

both technically interesting andchallenging, remembering thatthe glass needed to be flat over850 mm diameter and capableof being spun at a rate fastenough to pass up to 900labyrinths per minute beneaththe vision system.

MVT has supplied four machinesso far with three more due fordelivery in May. The customer,which previously used machinesfrom Italy which caused damageto parts, is delighted.

www.machine-visiontechnology.co.uk

How an innovator in the food industrylearnt about glass geometry…

The rotating glass disc - a see-through solution.

Byrne-Mech is a leadingsheet metal fabrication com-pany providing extensivesub-contract manufacturingservices to the aerospace,automotive, medical, utilitiesand telecoms sectors.

The GTMA company exportsinto Europe and North America,and specialises in the fabrica-tion of aluminium, steel andstainless steel up to 22mm atits fully automated facility which

includes robotic punching,bending and welding.

Byrne-Mech also offers a fullfinishing service in-house fromelectro-plating through to powder-coat painting.

The company can build yourproduct to whatever level youdesire including electro-mechanical assemblies, cableand harness assemblies andpre-line sub-assembly.

Working within the aerospacesector for over 10 years, Qualityand Traceability are key to it andits customers. It is ISO 9001:2008and ISO14001 certified and itsenclosures are BS EN 60529 certified with an IP65 rating.

Based in Galway, Ireland andestablished in 1977, its plant listincludes Trumpf Laser, twoAmada Vipros 358 King PunchPresses, an Amada Em3510KRobotic Punch Press, four

Amada Promecam 125T 8-axisPress Brakes and an AmadaAstro Robotic Press Brake.

All painted parts are finished inits powder painting plant and itcan also provide various finish-es to products including ClearChem., Linishing, Passivationand Stainless Polishing.

www.byrnemech.ie

Byrne-Mech leads in sheet metal fabrication

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:30

Manufacturing UK...

28

ND Precision ProductsToolmakers / Precision Engineers

Mould Tools

Press Tools

EDM/Spark Erosion

WEDM (Wire

Erosion)

High Speed Milling

Electrode Design

Jigs & Fixtures

0 1 2 7 1 3 4 5 4 9 [email protected]

www.ndprecisionproducts.co.uk

After months of field trialsand development work AHPMerkle has announced thelaunch of a new on-linePARTcommunity for themould and tool industry.

GTMA member Cytec Systemsis exclusive UK and Ireland dis-tributor for AHP Merkle cylin-ders which are used extensivelyacross the mould and toolindustry for side movers, mov-ing ejector plates and unscrew-ing operations.

As well as its comprehensiverange of block cylinders a fullrange of standard cylinders,guided cylinders and stampingcylinders are available. All arenow shown in thePARTcommunity which isreplacing the old PARTserverwhere you were (and still are)able to download its CAD-Files.It is easier to use and has manynew functions.

The main difference fromPARTserver is you need to reg-ister (for free) forPARTcommunity and generatea username and password.

This allows the designer to callup CAD data for the completeAHP Merkle range includingcylinders with special strokes.This will optimise the selectionprocess with many new func-tions (eg PDF sheets for spe-cials). Moreover all CAD dataare completely revised andcomponent parts can beexported as CAD files.

Component parts and specialfunctions can be called up and

built into the construction. Thespeciality of the new CAD datais that a complete cylindermodel can be exported as abuilding group into a CAD sys-tem allowing the user to ani-mate the model.

3D files can be exported inDWG, IGES, SAT and STEPformats as well as 2D files in

DXF or DWG formats.

Cylinders can be shown withthe piston rod in any position.The PARTcommunity allows theuser to identify easily spareparts i.e. seal kits or spareroads, and all catalogue pagesare available as PDF files.

For customers unfamiliar withAHP products its sales teamcan give assistance in selectingthe correct cylinder for theapplication and e-mail the CADdata or catalogue page.

www.cytecsystems-uk.comwww.ahp.dehttp://ahp.partcommunity.com

AHP launches new on-lineparts communityCytec is the UK distributor

AHP Merkle - helping industry viaUK distributor.

tool & die ltd

•Design and manufacture ofplastic injection and die cast tools

•High precision, intricate tools

•Insert mould tools

•Tool trial facilities

•On line project management

•ISO 9001:2000

•Hot runner systems

•Prototyping andpre-hardened tools.

Telephone 01952 587 060email [email protected] visit www.sprinttoolanddie.co.uk

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:30

... Manufacturing UK... Manufacturing UK... Manufacturing

29

Kent based Vivacta Ltd is aworld class developer ofpoint of care medical diag-nostics which deliver rapiddiagnostic results within 10minutes, to an accuracyequal to traditionallaboratory results.

In 2009, having developed anew medical diagnostic systemVivacta chose a high profileSwiss toolmaker to make theinitial mould tool. In 2010,Vivacta developed the nextgeneration of the revolutionarymedical diagnostic system. Theimproved cartridge wasrequired on a ‘mission-critical’timescale (guaranteed) and soVivacta sought the advice of aleading UK plastics consultancythat had run the Swiss pro-duced mould at their premises.

They recommended Ryetools asa leading UK toolmaker capableof supplying a mould tool of thevery highest quality to a verytight lead-time. Ryetools whereawarded the project.

The toolmaking challenge wasto produce flat, optically clearacrylic mouldings with highlydetailed, super accurate minia-ture channels to take the bloodsample.

• The tool was designed, man-ufactured and fully dimension-ally validated - including sizingof the highly detailed, superaccurate miniature channels -at Ryetools' Pickering based-purpose built premises within10 weeks, an improvement of6 weeks in comparison to theoriginal tool produced over-seas.

• The flatness of the parts pro-duced from the Ryetoolsmould showed an improve-ment over the parts producedfrom the original mould - aresult of improved ejectionand feed location designed byRyetools.

• The moulding cycle time toproduce the flatter parts was8% faster than that producedby the original tooling.

Director of Manufacturing

Operations at Vivacta said:“From the beginning, we wereimpressed with Ryetools’ downto earth communication style andthe quality of their technical input.The Ryetools’ design had severalimprovements over the originalpilot designs.

“The tool ran right first time andwas an impressive piece ofengineering. Workingclosely with Ryetools on thisproject showed me that aBritish toolmaker was able tocompete very favourably withinternational competitors I hadpreviously worked with.

“Ryetools were very cost com-petitive, delivered on time andadded significantly to theperformance of the new toolcompared to the original.”

Managing Director of Ryetools,Darren Hugill said: “We are par-ticularly pleased that we haveexceeded the project targets onquality and lead-time. Immensepride is gained in proving that ourteam can compete favourablyagainst world class overseascompetitors on complex accu-rate mould tools such as this!”

www.ryetools.co.uk

Ryetools – showing again how Britishtoolmaking is the best

World class service from another GTMA memberAnother GTMA memberdelivering world class serv-ices to UK manufacturers isSescoi which is celebrating25 years of innovative engi-neering software.

The company has been deliver-ing world class engineeringsoftware systems and serviceto thousands of companiesworldwide, since 1987.

Its solutions, WorkNC CAD-

CAM, WorkPLAN ERP and theWorkXPlore 3D high speedviewer integrate to provideengineering companies withsolutions which are automated,highly reliable and easy to use.

Sescoi’s more recently intro-duced software, WorkNCDental and WorkXPlore 3Dhave both been hailed as inno-vative and award winning.

Continuous enhancements and

step change developments inWorkNC CADCAM andWorkPLAN ERP have ensuredthat Sescoi is recognised asone of the leaders in its field.

Since its formation, Sescoi’sguiding principles for softwaredesign have been ease of use,automation and reliability.

Automated 5-axis machining,feature recognition, parallel pro-cessing, automatic stamping and

robot milling are just some of therecent advances in WorkNC.

Sescoi software is used in avariety of industries includingautomotive, aerospace, medicaland consumer goods and cus-tomers include virtually all of theworld’s automotive OEMs,Eurocopter, Snecma, Calor,Miele, Whirlpool, Samsung,Motorola and the ARKK group.

www.sescoi.co.uk

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:30

30

Physical Digital LimitedUsing the latest scanning systems, we provide the highest accuracy non-contact digitising available.

Our mobile equipment allows on site 3D scanning solutions which increase

downtime and costs.

Reverse EngineeringQuality Control & InspectionProduction & First Article Testing

Prototype Modelling & SurfacingDigital Archiving & RecordingCompetitor BenchmarkingDeformation Measurement

••••••••

W: www.physicaldigital.com E: [email protected] T: 01483 857537 M: 07880 703010

Sales, Support & Training

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:30


31

GTMA member DuttonSimulation typifies the breedof UK manufacturers com-mitted to Research andDevelopment.

Based in the West Midlands, ithas been working with automo-tive and aerospace manufactur-ers since 2003 and is a leadingsupplier of computer aidedengineering software for simu-lating manufacturing processes.

These include simulations forprocesses such as metal form-ing (sheet metal pressing, rollforming, tube bending, hydro-forming, etc) and plastic injec-tion moulding.

A priority for the company, saysfounder Trevor Dutton, is toshow clients how to get themost value from the simulationtools available - helping themsolve challenging problems andby demonstrating how to applyanalysis software effectively.

Dutton works with its softwarepartners to add new functionswhen required.

“In this way,” he says, “we’vehelped companies analyse suchthings as roll forming usingatypical materials and combina-tions of processes; how toidentify cosmetic defects downto a few tens of microns; howto compensate tooling geome-try to correct for springback inchallenging materials such ashigh strength steel and alumini-um; and even how to predictthe correct location for hun-dreds of holes in a flat blank sothat, when the panel is formed,the holes are the right size andin the right place.”

One of Dutton’s most recentprojects is a TSB funded pro-gramme to investigate warmforming of aluminium. TheWAFT project aims to examineif forming aluminium at an ele-vated temperature can improveformability.

The process differs from otherwarm or hot forming processesbecause the production rate iskept close to current practice –there is no requirement to form

the part very slowly (as withsuperplastic forming) or to holdthe part at the end of the cycleto quench it (as with hot form-ing of boron steel).

WAFT involves companies fromthe whole range of organisa-tions involved in sheet metaldesign and manufacture, includ-ing a premium UK automotivecompany, a major tier 1 stam-per and a leading tooling engi-neering house, supported bymaterial and lubricant suppliers,and with a major UK universityconducting extensive materialtests and characterisation.

Dutton has carried out studiesof the process, using theadvanced simulation capabilitiesof DYNAFORM, to examine theexpected levels of strain for a

prototype panel over a range oftemperatures and strain rates.

The project will end later thisyear with a demonstration cellto investigate the pros and consof the warm forming process ina production-ready facility.Dutton is planning to presentthe results at a series of conferences.

Dutton works with softwaresuppliers from the world’s lead-ing organisations in each field.Metal forming simulation comesfrom Forming Technologies Inc(FTI) whose FormingSuite pack-age specialises in upfront analy-sis for assessing feasibility aswell as cost estimation andoptimisation.

www.duttonsimulation.com

Dutton Simulation – another UK company with Research priorities

Micron Metrology 2000Limited, one of the UK’slargest independent special-ists in UKAS calibration serv-ices, has invested around£300k in upgrading its labo-ratory and test facility.

The investment is in responseto ever more exacting customerrequirements and forms part ofa Laboratory modernisationprocess. This will also see the

extension to its UKASAccreditation over the comingmonths to cover Mass andTemperature, with a view topositioning the company at theforefront of its sector.

Established in 1978 and cele-brating its 34th anniversary thisyear, Birmingham-basedMicron now boasts one of thewidest scopes of UKASAccreditation along with part-

ners for supply of gauges,measuring instruments andelectrical test equipment. Itserves all industries both in theUK and Europe.

“Working for today’s technical-ly-demanding industry sectors,we have to deliver excellenceand innovation across all of ourcalibration services” saysMicron Metrology’s GeneralManager Alan Smith.

“That’s why we have investedin state-of-the-art calibrationand test equipment and contin-ue to extend our UKAS scopeof accreditation.

This will strengthen our overallcapabilities and help cementour relationships with cus-tomers across all sectors.”

www.micron-metrology.co.uk

£300,000 upgrade at Micron facility

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:30

Werth A4_bleed.indd 1 3/7/2012 12:54:50 PM

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:31

33

at MACH 2012.... MACH 2012.... MACH 2012....

GTMA out in force again 35

Renishaw's pioneering

products 35

Proto Labs and the red

brick car 36-37

Delcam's Vortex

strategy 36-37

New solutions from

CGTech 39

Boneham & Turner's new

catalogue 39

Roemheld's new

product ranges 41

Double the impact with

Alicona 41

Cytec's robotic link 42-43

Steinbichler's proven design 43

Heidenhain's power for

Red Bull 44

3D Lasertec's 14 years 44

Mazak powers to MACH 45

Special from Total Metal

Products 46

Longer tool life with WNT 46

Werth's analysis is

worth it 49

RUD is revolutionary 49

A-Z of GTMA exhibitors 50-52

In this MACH Focus:

MACH 2012

ExpertiseMACH 2012 at the NEC sees

almost 50 GTMA members

underlining their expertise and

innovations.

ExhibitorsThe event has almost 500

exhibitors – a sign some say

of the many green shoots in

UK manufacturing.

ShowcaseFor GTMA and our companies

it is another opportunity to

showcase best in class across

a range of industry sectors.

A racing car made from injection moulded bricks – findout the link between Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton and

GTMA member Proto Labs on pages 36-37

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:33

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:33

at MACH 2012 ... MACH 2012... MACH 2012... MACH 2012..

35

MACH 2012, Britain’s biggest exhibitionfor the manufacturing technologyindustry, reported pre-registrations upby 25% as we went to Press.

It reflects the signs of movement in the UKmanufacturing base highlighted in ourManufacturing UK feature on pages 21-31.

As well as pre-registrations the exhibitionspace allocated was 20% more than in2010 and the number of exhibitors wasbeing forecast to reach almost 500 organi-sations in total.

GTMA members are once again firmly rep-resented with almost 40 companies takingindividual stands and eight more in theGTMA Pavilion (stand 4919). A full list ofthose there, with website links etc, is onpages 50-52.

“Many of our members are again showcas-ing new products and services,” saidGTMA CEO Julia Moore. “And our ownPavilion has a strong cross section ofmember companies also.”

Over 5,000 tonnes of working machinerywill be in operation at MACH 2012 which isbeing billed as “an unrivalled opportunity tosee the very best of British, European andGlobal Manufacturing Technology underone roof.”

Well over 20,000 visitors were forecastincluding buyers, suppliers, researchers,policy makers and over 1,500 teenagerswho have pre-registered their attendanceto find out what a career in the industry hasto offer.

The event was taking place as we published at the NEC in Birmingham (April 16-20).

www.machexhibition.comwww.gtma.co.uk Stand 4919

GTMA out in force againMACH success underlines manufacturing hopes

Renishaw will be exhibiting its range ofprecision engineering technologies atMACH - including new products, suchas Equator™ - the versatile gauge™-and laser melting systems for creatingcomplex parts in a variety of metals,using an additive manufacturingprocess.

Equator™ is a radical new alternative to tra-ditional dedicated gauging, filling a gap inthe market never before addressed.

Its patented low-cost design, unique inconstruction and method of operation, iscapable of high-speed comparative gaugingfor inspection of high-volume manufacturedparts.

It has been developed and proven on theshop-floor in collaboration with industry-

leading companies in multiple industriesand applications.

Renishaw will highlight for the first time atMACH its range of additive manufacturingtechnologies. On show will be Renishaw'slaser melting systems, which use a pioneer-ing, additive manufacturing process capa-ble of producing fully dense metal parts

direct from 3D CAD, using a high-poweredfibre laser.

Parts are built from a range of fine metalpowders that are fully melted in a tightlycontrolled atmosphere, in layer thicknessesranging from 20 to 100 microns.

www.renishaw.com Stand 5640

Pioneering and radical products from Renishaw

Photo from exhibitor Alicona - one of several members showing new products at MACH.

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:33

at MACH 2012... MACH 2012... MACH 2012... MACH 2012...

36

GTMA member Proto Labs, the world'sfastest resource for custom injectionmoulded and CNC machined parts andan exhibitor at MACH, has played a keyrole in a high profile television com-mercial featuring British Formula Onedrivers Jensen Button and LewisHamilton.

It worked with Asylum Models & Effects Ltdto produce 9000 complex plastic 'bricks'used to create a racing car featured in theadvert for Santander.

Asylum has an impressive track record ofmodel making and special effects in filmand television and the Santander projectinvolved producing a giant Formula One carmade of interlocking ‘bricks’. Asylum wasselected to help meet the technical andcreative challenge.

Previous Santander commercials have alsoused the brick concept but they were com-

puter-generated ‘virtual’ bricks. “This time,because Lewis and Jenson were to beshown interacting with the bricks, they hadto be real,” said Asylum project managerJohn Pennicott.

Computer programs determined how manybricks were needed and how they neededto be stacked to create the car. Becauseof the short lead-time, a steel ‘skeleton’was used for the interior to keep the num-ber of bricks down.

From order sign-off to delivery of 9,000

injection-moulded bricks was about eightweeks – but it would have been four timesthat without the steel frame, he said.

After initial design, CAD models were sentto Proto Labs, which has worked withAsylum before. Proto Labs is dedicated toultra high speed prototyping and short runproduction via CNC machining (Firstcut) orinjection moulding (Protomold) – the latter isbest for quantities between 10 and 10,000and was a perfect fit for Asylum’s needs.

“The quote came back with suggestions forminor tweaks such as angle relief on cer-tain faces for mould release purposes,”says Mr Pennicott.

“We also adjusted the quantity of gloss fin-ish and made sure the gate area was hidden.”

Each identical brick is shaped like a double‘chunk’ of chocolate. Measuring approx

Speed of the essence to create the red brick racing carProto Labs helps in Formula One Santander commercial

Delcam will preview its new Vortexstrategy for high-speed area clearanceat MACH.

Vortex will be the major enhancement forthe 2013 release of Delcam’s PowerMILLCAM system for high-speed and five-axismachining. The new strategy will also beadded to the FeatureCAM software for feature-based programming and thePartMaker system for Swiss-type latheslater this year.

Vortex, for which Delcam has a patentpending, has been developed by the com-pany specifically to gain the maximum ben-

efit from solid carbide tooling, in particularthose designs that can give deeper cuts byusing the full flute length as the cutting sur-face. It can be used for two- and three-axis roughing, positional five-axis areaclearance and for rest machining based onstock models or reference toolpaths.

Like other Delcam roughing strategies,Vortex toolpaths are calculated to givemore efficient machining by following theshape of the part and by keeping air movesto a minimum. This is particularly importantfor rest machining operations.

One fundamental problem with conventional

Delcam’s Vortex heads for MACH

Delcam’s new Vortex toolpath strategyoffers higher material removal and longertool life

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:33

at MACH 2012...

37

300mm long x 100mm wide, the ABS bricks are pigmented withthe Santander brand-red (a very important factor for these parts)and can be easily interlocked.

“When you see the commercial it looks easy but it was actuallyvery complex,” states Mr Pennicott. “Fortunately, the accuracy ofthe bricks produced by Proto Labs meant they stacked togetherperfectly in every direction – like a dream!”

The car itself required 8,000 bricks with another 1,000 for a win-ners’ rostrum (also in the commercial). The main body of the carwas split into a nose-to-cockpit front section, with the area behindthe cockpit divided into two halves.

There was also a front and rear spoiler to construct along with fourwheels, each of which weighed 0.75 tonne.

“Because of the tight lead-time, deliveries from Proto Labs had tobe slick, but they were brilliant. Once the design was finalised wewere getting deliveries every three days of around 1,500 bricks. Atruck would leave Proto Labs’ facility at Telford at 9am and arrivehere in Wimbledon by 3pm the same day.”

www.protolabs.co.uk Stand 5261

012...

area clearance strategies is that the optimum cutting conditionsonly occur during a straight line cut. Any internal corners withinthe model significantly increase the engagement angle of the cut-ter. To protect the cutter, this increase needs to be balanced bysetting a lower feed rate.

Unlike other high-speed roughing techniques that aim to maintaina constant theoretical metal-removal rate, the Vortex strategy pro-duces toolpaths with a controlled engagement angle for the com-plete operation. This maintains the optimum cutting conditions forthe entire toolpath that would normally be possible only for thestraight-line moves.

As a result, the cutting time will be shorter and tools will never beoverloaded and will achieve the maximum tool life. Finally, the abili-ty to use step downs of up to three times the tool diameterspreads the tool wear evenly, again contributing to longer tool life.

www.delcam.com Stand 4011

Proto Labs' modern facility in Shropshire – thecompany's actions for theSantander project weredescribed as “brilliant” by the customer.

TMPT o t a l M e t a l P r o d u c t s

Specialists in :

Roll Forming.Stretch Bending.Incremental Sheet Metal Forming.Punching & Piercing.

Sub Contract CNC Manufacturing.

Visit us at GTMA LOUNGE on stand 4919B

We also have a full page editorial on page 46 of this publication.

Email - [email protected]

Telephone - 01600 719422

Total Metal Products Ltd - Unit 3 - Mayhill Industrial Estate Monmouth - NP25 3LX

WWW.TOTALMETALPRODUCTS.COM

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:33

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:33

New catalogue launch for Boneham & Turner

at MACH 2012... MACH 2012... MACH 2012... MACH 2012..

39

CGTech Ltd will demonstrate the nextrelease of VERICUT CNC machine simulation and optimisation software atMACH 2012.

VERICUT 7.2 features many enhancementsto improve speed, and reduce the time formanufacturing engineers to develop,analyse, inspect and document the CNCprogramming and machining process.

Along with proactively adding new features,CGTech developers and engineers arefocusing on implementing hundreds of cus-tomer-driven enhancements and harness-ing the power of 64 Bit multi-processors todeliver greater performance.

“We continue to focus on the customer'suse of VERICUT and how we can improvethe simulation process speed and effective-ness,” said John Reed, CGTech's MD.

“We added features to the user interface tosimplify the most common user actions andinvested significant developer effort toincrease speed by more thoroughly takingadvantage of multiple processors andbackground processing.

“The result is that VERICUT 7.2 is signifi-cantly faster than previous versions with nocompromise on accuracy.”

Among new features is the ability to opti-mise an NC program from a saved simula-tion. Users can adjust and re-optimise with-out rerunning the simulation.

A new interactive panel displays cuttingconditions immediately anywhere in themachining process. The user can navigatethe NC program to evaluate cutting condi-tions and can quickly see the results ofadjustments to optimisation settings.

CGTech will also be demonstrating VERI-CUT Composite Applications. These aremachine-independent off-line programmingand simulation software solutions for auto-mated composite tape and fiber-placementCNC machines.

www.cgtech.com/uk Stand 5230

New software solutions fromCGTech just get faster and faster

Photo shows a collision detected on anexpensive aerospace wing rib component.

Boneham & Turner Ltd, one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers oftooling components and precisionengineered components in the UK, islaunching a new catalogue at MACH2012.

Available in hard copy, and for downloadon its website, the catalogue covers some200 products offered under the “PrecisionEngineered Solutions” strapline.

Amongst the ‘Classic B&T’ range are drillbushes, dowel pins, engineer’s pins andrelated fasteners and shims.

The catalogue also encompasses the restof the B&T range of engineered solutions,including: Koenig Expander plugs, clampsand workholding, fixing and machine parts,

knobs and handles, press tool componentsand information on the company's UK man-ufacturing capabilities.

Marketing Manager Peter Boneham saidamong the main focuses for this year will bepromoting the new catalogue, as well aspromoting the Koenig Expander range ofsealing plugs, a global leader in providingsealing solutions for cross drilled holes.

On display at the stand (4317) there will bea cylinder head where the plugs can beseen in situ, as well as a short videodemonstration.

Established in 1918, the company has beenprominent in the aerospace, automotive,machine building and defence industries formany years.

Its reputation for quality and excellence iswell established in the UK and around theworld. Its New Jersey based USA sub-sidiary company, Boneham Metal ProductsInc., has been successfully operating since1972 serving the American markets.

www.boneham.co.uk Stand 4317

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:33

40

1-10 PARTS

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©2012 Proto Labs, Ltd. ISO 9001:2008 Certified

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:33

at MACH 2012... MACH 2012... MACH 2012... MACH 2012.

41

Roemheld (UK) Limited is launching inthe UK a wide range of new workhold-ing and assembly products at MACH2012.

Alongside additions to the Roemheld coreworkholding clamps and vices, a new rangeof Hilma 5-Axis vices and jaws will beexhibited: completing the full range of con-centric vices. These new products willinclude the KC100 5-Axis vice, whichenables concentric components to begripped in the same vice and which allowsmachining of both un-machined andmachined parts.

Visitors will also be able to view new zeropoint mounting innovations including thenew Stark Easy Click, a fast-closing zeropoint mounting system that simply clicksinto place and holds immediately.

Also being launched in the UK isRoemheld’s range of E-Tec products. Thiscompletely new range, which includes elec-tric wedge clamps, swing clamps, zeropoint mounting systems, machine vices,block cylinders and work supports, waspresented at EMO 2011 and proved a hugedraw for eco-conscious visitors to the show.

In addition, Roemheld will showcase the lat-est developments in its flexible fixturing sys-tem (Pogo stick), Jergens vice systems andModulog assembly and mounting products.

Bill Neal, Managing Director of Roemheld(UK), said: “Many of the products at MACHare completely new so it should be a veryexciting show for us. To display our newranges to their best advantage, we havealso designed a new-look stand and arelocated in a new position in Hall 5.”

Hilma 5-Axis vice and flexible fixturing sys-tem – new from Roemheld at MACH.

Two new products for optical 3Dimensional Measurement have beenlaunched by GTMA member Aliconaand will be on display at MACH.

The products are the IF-Portable and theEdgemaster and are both based on theFocusVariation technology developed byAlicona to allow the 3 DimensionalMeasurements of surfaces and features.

The IF Portable is a mobile optical meas-urement system to measure form androughness on areas of larger surfaces. It isalso used as a tool for production for quali-ty assurance.

The Portable can be used to measure flatand curved surfaces. A key application isplaten inspection in print industry, but it canbe applied to any task where small meas-

cutting edges of inserts and tools in pro-duction. It is used to measure form, radiiand chipping regardless of type, size, mate-rial or surface finish of the tool.

The EdgeMaster is the only system that willalso provide traceable roughness measure-ment. Automatic Measurement results are made within 20 seconds and no pre-treatment of the surface is required.

Compared to other techniques, the systemprovides stable measurement even in aproduction environment.

Quality assurance with the EdgeMastermeans improved work piece quality, opti-mised tool life, fewer rejects and increasedproductivity in all materials.

www.alicona.com Stand 4023

Roemheld's new productranges have debut at MACH

Double the optical impact with Alicona technology

www.roemheld.co.uk Stand 5240

urements on large surfaces are required.

The EdgeMaster is an optical 3D measure-ment system to automatically measure the

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:36


42

GTMA member Cytec Systems andEurope's number one robot manu-facturer Kuka have joined forces tobring to market the new FSW robot.

An enterprise for Friction Stir Welding, itcombines a KR-series robot andCySpeed motor spindles with peripheryas a complete package.

Friction Stir Welding is a simple, cleanand innovative joining process for lightalloys. Compared with conventional join-ing, very high seam strength can beachieved. Significant weight savings arepossible.

Compared to common welding process-es FSW joins structural parts with low

energy consumption and a high static anddynamic seam resistance. The surfacequality is brilliant, and distortion of parts isvery low. During FSW process no fumes,dust or spatter is generated

Even different materials can be joined suchas all aluminum alloys, al-cast, copper,magnesium, zinc, titanium and plastics.

Industrial applications include Aerospace,Automotive, Rail, Marine, Tool Machinesand General Engineering among others.

The FSW spindle incorporates a torque monitoring system which generates therequired pressure and friction heat in the join-ing area. The rotating pin plunges into thelinear butt between both parts to be joined.

Looking to re-equip?

See us atMACH 201216 - 20 April • Stand 5240

Roemheld Workholding. The one to watch.For full details contact us on 0121 453 1414or visit www.roemheld.co.uk

Look at ourEasy-Click ZPMsystem first

Cytec's robotic link is a complete package

BAUROMAT

Bauromat UK Ltd

Bauromat UK Ltd, Enigma Business Park, Sparrowhawk Close, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 1GL

Tel.+44(0)1684575757, Fax.+44(0)1684569887 Email. [email protected], www.bauromat.co.uk

System Integrators.Specialist in Design & Manufacture of

Fixture Tooling &Automated Welding Systems.

.

‘Solutions without Boundaries’

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:36


43

The material is heated up caused by thegenerated friction and gets stirred by rota-tion. After cooling, a positive material con-nection is achieved.

The FSW robot offers high surface qualityand can be easily automated.

The partner with Cytec in the project, Kuka,has been involved in the industry for 30years and has supplied over 80,000 robotsin the field.

www.cytecsystems-uk.com

More information from GTMA Stand 4919c

Exhibiting in the GTMA Pavilion atMACH, Steinbichler UK will be demon-strating the L3D entry-level fringe projection system.

Based on proven design principles andinnovative features, expected from a marketleader in the design and manufacture ofnon-contact metrology systems, the BlueLight L3D System has been very wellreceived in the digitising world since itslaunch in 2011.

GTMA member Central Scanning has beenUK agent since 2006 for Steinbichler which designs and manufactures a widerange of high end non-contact metrologyequipment.

The company will be happy to discuss anycurrent or future requirements at MACH orcall 01527 837283.

www.steinbichler.com GTMA Stand 4919a

012.

See us at MACHStand 4317

Proven design for newfringe projection system

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 11:36


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systems (as do all Red Bull Technology’smilling machines) - making Heidenhain(GB) an important and proactive supplier tothe team.

www.heidenhain.co.uk Stand 5449

Developed in conjunction withKinematicsOpt – which is based around theuse of a touch probe system in conjunctionwith a precision sphere to determine therequired compensation parameters –Heidenhain’s KinematicsComp innovationenables the compensation of known com-ponent and location errors of linear androtary machine axes.

KinematicsComp routines measured 21errors of the machine’s linear axes (usingan Etalon LaserTracer tracking laser inter-ferometer) and compensated – in terms ofaxis positioning, straightness (in two direc-tions perpendicular to the axes) and angularerror, including roll, pitch and yaw, as wellas any rotary error and axis misalignment.The machines feature Heidenhain control

Red Bull Technology – the manufactur-ing power behind the all-conqueringRed Bull Racing Formula One team -has become the first UK company toharness the power of a relatively low-cost yet highly innovative piece of soft-ware from GTMA member Heidenhain.

The software has not only saved the team asignificant investment in capital equipment,but is also ensuring that its pattern-makingmachine accuracy is as true as possible tooriginal design specification.

Indeed, the software routines providedmachine accuracy improvements in theorder of 2.5-5 times!

Red Bull Technology produces carbon fibrechassis from moulds taken from male pat-terns machined on multi-axis CNC routers –and the accuracy of the finished form ulti-mately depends on the accuracy of thesemachines.

The Heidenhain KinematicsComp and lasertracer process in action – helping Red Bullto better accuracy.

Red Bull is first in UK to use new Heidenhain software power

3D Lasertec Ltd, a sub-contract laserengraving company, is now entering its14th anniversary of business.

The successful growth of the company hastaken laser technology beyond the standardlimits to open new and exciting markets.

The inclusion of the 3-dimensional laserenhances the laser engraving probabilitiesto attract areas of new business that previ-ously would not have considered changingfrom the traditional methods.

Mould toolmakers of injection and blowmoulds, diecasting and stamping dies wereamong the first to identify with the laserengraving process and through the 13years other industries from photographic,

pharmaceutical, medical, automotive, elec-tronic to name a few have all benefittedfrom the process.

Having recognised that a fast turnaround ofthe service was extremely important for allindustries, the majority of projects arereturned to the customer within two days.

Mould toolmakers often see 3D Lasertec'ssub contract laser engraving service as anextension to their workshop, without theoutlay of the laser equipment. Major reasons include:

• Reduces breakdown cost of resettingtheir CNC machine for a engraving cutter

• Allows more time for EDM of major toolparts

• Reduces number of electrodes stored ontheir premises

• Repeatability on large cavitation • Accessibility into deep cavities • Finer detail achievable (small cutters

fragile & expensive) • Able to laser on majority of engineering

materials • Able to laser on hardened tool steel • Accuracy & quality of laser engraving • Quick delivery

www.3dlasertec.co.ukMore information from theGTMA Stand 4919c

How laser engraving looks 14 years on...

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:36

at MACH 2012...012.

45

Mazak powers to MACHwith seven machinesYamazaki Mazak will display the ‘Power of Mazak’ withseven machines at MACH, each highlighting exceptional productivity and performance that is available to machinetool users.

Centre stage will be Mazak’s multi-tasking machines including theINTEGREX i-400 ST, the next generation of the successful INTE-GREX series, now equipped with a number of improvements andnew technologies which significantly improve performance.

These include a larger working area, particularly in the Y-axis whichhas a range of up to 250 mm, with each axis also equipped withrigid linear roller guides to give improved positioning accuracy withlower friction.

Mazak machining centres will be represented by two machinesfrom the Mazak VARIAXIS range: the j-500 and the i-700. Mazakwill also be displaying machines from its vertical machining centrerange, including the Vertical Centre Smart 430A, Mazak’s entry-level machining centre.

Turning centres will include Quick Turn Smart 300M, a simplified 2- and 3-axis machine packed with high performance features at a surprisingly affordable level. The 300M is available with powerfuldirect drive spindles, linear guides, a compact fast-indexing tool turret and NC tailstock. Crucially, the machine is also equippedwith a milling function which delivers 7.5 kW of power for high productivity and accuracy.

Tony Saunders, UK Sales Director for Yamazaki Mazak, said:“MACH 2012 will feature seven Mazak machines, some of them likethe Quick Turn Smart built in the UK, and all offering exceptionallevels of performance and productivity. We are confident thatmachine tool users of all sizes, from the smallest subcontract shop to the most sophisticated manufacturer, will find the technolo-gies they need to take their machining capabilities up to the next level.”

www.mazak.eu Stand 5410

Friction Stir Welding Technology

NEW!

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:36


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Total Metal Products is a special purpose machine tool builder based inMonmouthshire with more than 30years experience in the design andmanufacture of a range of special purpose machine tools for the formingof metal components.

It has expertise in roll forming, stretchbending, piercing and punching systems.Its in house capacity uses 3D CAD CAMsoftware, which with CNC manufacturingenables it to offer a complete service tocustomers worldwide.

Typical industry sectors using its equipmentinclude architectural, automotive, aero-space, marine, rail and bespoke productmanufacturers. Projects include the designand manufacture of process equipment tomanufacture steel burial caskets for theNorth American market, presenting manynew engineering challenges and innova-tions.

Its products and services include:

Roll Forming Equipment – the rangeembraces the manufacture of duplicate raftsolutions through to complete manufactur-ing process line packages, from coil han-dling, mill base, tooling rafts, tooling andeven through to in-line seam welding andpunching operations.

Punching & Piercing Rigs - TMP designsand manufactures punching and piercingrigs to suit both the application and thebudget. As these are bespoke machinesthere is no limit to size or complexity. TMPuses Faro 3D measurement technologyensuring the machine is set to CAD dataguaranteeing accuracy at an early stage ofthe project.

Stretch Bending – Machine and toolingdesigns are available that have evolved inline with market needs, incorporating;elec-

trical servo, conventional hydraulic and pro-portionally controlled hydraulic drivenstretch benders. The type of machine andtool selected is driven by budget, productand manufacturing requirements.

Incremental Sheet Metal Forming -TMP is at the forefront of this a revolutionarynew process. This fully encompasses itsmetal forming experience with its machine

tool expertise. In partnership with GTMA it isnow working with prototype and low volumemanufacturers in a variety of industries.

For more information please email:[email protected] or Tel 01600719422.

www.totalmetalproducts.comStand 4919b

Special machine tools from Total Metal Products

Roll Forming Equipment Punching & Piercing Rigs

Stretch Bending Incremental Sheet Metal Forming

Longer tool life with WNTWNT (UK) is focusing its attention onproductivity gains for its customers atMACH, where it will unveil a host ofnew and upgraded cutting tool ranges.Key among these will be HCX1115, anew grade for turning steel.

WNT’s development of its DragonskinHCX1115 turning insert range will be ofmajor interest to those involved in the highvolume manufacture of turned parts.

HCX1115 sits within the ISO P15 grade ofcarbides, making it ideal for the machiningof steel components. Its key benefit,though, is the extended tool life that canbe achieved through its enhanced processreliability and wear resistance making itideal for high volume applications. Typicallytool life is extended by between 35 and50 per cent depending on the application.

www.wntuk.com Stand 5548

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:36

12.

MADE ON A MAZAK

www.mazak.eu

Confident of the return on their investment.Of the highest level of accuracy. Of the highestlevel of productivity. Of the quality.

Confident that if it’s made on a Mazak,it’s the best it can be.

So their customers are confident too.

That’s the Power of Mazak.

No matter what our customersmake on their Mazak machines,they are confident.

10510_MACH_Ad_210x297_Eng_Sub_AW.indd 1 12/03/2012 10:39

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:36

48

INSPIRINGINNOVATIONY E A

RS2519

87-2

01

2

INSPIRING INNOVATION

InfiniteFocusSL is a new optical 3D surface measurement device

for rapid and intuitive surface characterization. Users measure sur-

face roughness and form with a single measuring system. Based on

the robust technology of Focus-Variation the system can also be

used in a production near environment.

As fastand intuitiveas a surface finishmeasurement devicecan be

hall 4/4023

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:36

49

at MACH 2012... MACH 2012... MACH 2012... MACH 2012..

It takes a combination of sensors andpowerful analysis software to ensurereliable measurement results, saysGTMA member Werth MesstechnikGmbH which has specially adaptedimage processing software to meet theneeds of dimensional metrology.

The software has been continuously devel-oped over 30 years, including special filter-ing methods for grayscale image process-ing, such as contour and image filters, toreduce the influence of different states ofmachining, or of dirt particles, on the meas-urement results. They also have functionsfor increasing contrast (top left image).

A light controller ensures that illuminationintensity is automatically adapted to

changes in surfaces and colors.Measurements in the Z axis are taken bythe image processing sensor by focus vari-ation, either by surface measurements asa point cloud (3D patch) or as a single point(top right).

The selection of the type of illumination iscritical when measuring with the image pro-cessing sensor (transmitted light, brightfieldincident light, or darkfield incident light).

The lighting selection is CNC controlled forall machine types. For example, whenmeasuring complex plastic parts, flexibledarkfield illumination is very important. Amultiple segment ring light (Werth MultiRing)is ideal here, as it allows the direction andthe angle of incidence to be adjusted (bot-

tom image). This can be used to generateexcellent contrast at the critical objectedges. This is important for creating reliableCNC programs.

www.werth.deMore information from GTMA Stand 4919m

Werth's analysis software meets measurement needs

Time consuming tracking of liftingapplications, and copious amounts ofpaperwork, can now be a thing of thepast due to the latest revolutionaryinnovation from GTMA member RUDChains.

The new technological innovation involvesRFID (Radion Frequency IdentificationTechnology). It has been specificallydesiged to track and identify applicationsquickly and effortlessly making inspectionsand documentation of products a quick andeasy process, leaving dated time consum-ing, manual documentation behind.

RUD is a leading manufacturer of lifting appli-cations and has been producing top qualitychains and components for over 130 years.

A defining element of its business strategyand vision is leading the field in technological

innovation and RFID is the latest in these. Itenables you to track, identify, inspect andtrace all your equipment, with the compo-

nents embedded with a RFID chip and givena unique identification number. This is thentracked through a RUD-ID-EASY-CHECK® ,which captures the unique identificationnumber and transfers it to the RUD-ID-NET® application on your PC.

RUD’s RFID technology means chain slingsand components can be effortlessly andquickly identified without errors, and theProduct Identification Number registeredand managed like never before.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) continues to evolve as a major technologi-cal development reforming the way docu-mentation and inventory management isdone. Inspection and documentation ofgoods has never been easier.

www.rud.co.ukStand 4919d

RUD's revolutionary innovationsaves time, stops errors

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:38

These are the GTMA mem-ber companies committed toexhibiting at MACH 2012 aswe went to Press:

Alicona UK Ltd

Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1YHwww.alicona.comStand 40233D and optical surfacemetrology specialists

Alphacam Edgecam

Ashford, Kent TN24 OTTwww.alphacam.comwww.edgecam.comStand 5660CAD/CAM computer software

Blum Novotest Limited

Lichfield, Staffs WS13 8AAwww.blum-novotest.comStand 5250Measurement and testingtechnologies

Boneham & Turner Ltd

Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts NG17 5FSwww.boneham.co.ukStand 4317Precision engineered toolingcomponents

Bowers Metrology

Bordon, Hampshire GU35 9HHwww.bowers.co.ukStand 5810Precision measuring solutions

Bruderer UK Ltd

Luton, Bedfordshire LU4 0JFwww.bruderer.co.ukStand 4524a & 4625Standard press tool andmould and die parts/compo-nents

CGTech Ltd

Hove, East Sussex BN3 2PDwww.cgtech.co.ukStand 5230VERICUT CNC software

Craftsman Tools Ltd

Otley, West Yorkshire LS21 1JEwww.craftsmantools.comStand 5603Precision machining, workholding equipment etc

Delcam PLC

Birmingham, West MidlandsB10 0HJwww.delcam.comStand 4011CAD/CAM systems

Europac 3dimensional

Crewe, Cheshire CW1 6UAwww.europac3d.comStand 5460Metrology equipment andsolutions

Faro Technologies UK Ltd

Coventry, West Midlands CV3 4PEwww.faro.com/ukStand 5838CAM measuring equipment

GOM UK Ltd

Coventry, West Midlands CV3 2TXwww.gom.uk.comStand 4020Optical measuring systems

Hardinge MachineTools Ltd

Leicester, Leicestershire, LE8 6BDwww.hardinge.co.ukStand 5438CNC machining centres

Heidenhain (GB) Ltd

Burgess Hill, RH15 9RDwww.heidenhain.co.ukStand 5449CNC controls, precisionlength and angle measuringsystems

Hexagon Metrology Ltd

Telford, Shropshire TF7 4PLwww.hexagonmetrology.comStand 5610Metrology systems and services for internationalmarkets

IMSM Ltd

Swindon, Wiltshire SN1 1FEwww.imsm.comStand 5134ISO standards specialists

Kemet International Ltd

Maidstone, Kent ME15 9NJwww.kemet.co.ukStands 5882, 4219Metallographic machinesand consumables

Mastercam

Cirencester, Glos GL7 1QGwww.mastercam.co.ukStand 5693CAM systems

A-Z of GTMA member companies at MACH 2012


50

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:39

Metrology Direct Ltd

Quedgeley, Gloucestershire GL2 2APwww.metrology-direct.comStand 5858Metrology equipment andservices (UKAS lab)

National PhysicalLaboratory (NPL)Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LWwww.npl.co.ukStand 5782Leading science andresearch facility

Nikon Metrology UK Ltd

Castle Donington, Derby DE74 2SAwww.nikonmetrology.comStand 5860Optical and mechanical 3Dmetrology solutions

Phase Vision

Loughborough, Leics LE11 3AQwww.phasevision.comStand 5850Optical inspection solutions,white Iight scanning

at MACH 2012...12.

Members exhibiting in the GTMA pavilion (Stand 4919) are:

Central Scanning 4919awww.central-scanning.co.ukTotal Metal Products 4919bwww.totalmetalproducts.comGTMA 4919cwww.gtma.co.ukRud Chains 4919dwww.rud.co.ukTrac4919fwww.trac-group.com

Yorkshire PrecisionGauges 4919jwww.ypg.co.ukHigh Gain Technology 4919kwww.highgaintechnology.co.ukBauromat 4919Lwww.bauromat.co.ukWerth Technology & Mantech Geometrics 4919mwww.werth.dewww.mantechgeometrics.comDutton Simulation 4919owww.duttonsimulation.com

continued on next page

51

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:40

52


continued from previous page MACH 2012...

Prospec SystemsLimited

Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 2SJwww.psldatatrack.comStand 5116PSL Datatrack productionmanagement software

Proto Labs

Telford, Shropshire TF1 4QNwww.protolabs.co.ukStand 5261Fast prototype and low-volume production parts

REM Systems Ltd

Churcham, Gloucestershire GL2 8AXwww.remsystems.co.ukStand 5404Erowa production automation systems

Renishaw PLC

Wotton-under-Edge,Gloucestershire GL12 8JRwww.renishaw.comStand 5640Global supplier of probingand set-up systems

Ringspann (UK) Ltd

Bedford, Beds MK41 0QSwww.ringspann.co.ukStand 4010Workholding equipment andtechnology

Roemheld (UK) Ltd

Rubery, Birmingham B45 9ALwww.roemheld.co.ukStand 5240Workholding systems andsolutions

SGS Carbide (UK) Ltd

Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 1QWwww.sgstool.co.ukStand 4109Rotary solid carbide tools,milling cutters

Solartron Metrology

Bognor Regis, PO22 9STwww.solartronmetrology.comStand 5883Measurement equipmentand technologies

The L.S. Starrett

Company LtdJedburgh, Borders TD8 6LRwww.starrett.co.ukStand 5865Precision measuring instruments

Third Dimension

Filton, Bristol BS34 7PLwww.third.comStand 5869Metrology equipment andservices

Verisurf UK Ltd

Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 1QDwww.verisurf.comStand 5365Leaders in model-basedmetrology software

Vision Engineering Ltd

Woking, Surrey GU21 5ENwww.visioneng.comStand 5840Optical inspection andmeasurement systems

WDS Component Parts Ltd

Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 6LEwww.wdsltd.co.ukStand 4225Standard parts and workholding systems

Wenzel UK Ltd

Gloucester, Glocs GL2 2ALwww.wenzel-cmm.co.ukStand 5851Metrology technologies andsystems

Whiteland Engineering

Bideford, Devon EX39 4BHwww.whitelandengineering.co.ukStand 5030CNC Precision Machining

WNT (UK) Ltd

Sheffield, Sth Yorkshire S9 1XUwww.wntuk.comStand 5548Catalogue of 45,000 toolingitems for mould and die sector

Yamazaki Mazak UK

Worcester, Worcs WR4 9NFwww.mazak.euStand 5410Machine tools includingMilling, Turning, Cutting

Carl Zeiss Ltd

Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 1STwww.zeiss.co.uk/metrologyStand 5829CMM market leader, metrology services etc

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:39


53

A unique product devel-opment from GTMA's System3R is helping the medical andother sectors measure micro-components, barely the widthof three human hairs.

The company hasdevelopedVDP - vibration-damped palleti-sation - a product programmeoffering unique damping prop-erties and capabilities.

Among customers is EDMDepartment Inc. in Bartlett,Illinois which produces mould-ing tools for new product devel-opments in medical technology,defence and communicationindustries. It also makes proto-type components and precisionproducts in short series.

“Our drawings are usually in

micro inches,” says GM MarkRaleigh. “We manufacture microcomponents with nano-proper-ties. Nonetheless, we have toadmit that getting down to under1 µinch is still a challenge.”

Examples include manufactureof graphite electrodes and thedischarge machining, in toolsteel, of 120-µinch holes to adepth of 1,700 µinches.

Another is a tool for needles. Theneedles have a tip radius of 500nano inches! Delivery is onlypossible through combining thelatest in milling and EDM tech-nologies, e.g. nanopulsing andSystem 3R's patented vibration-damped palletisation (VDP).

VDP helps in rapid tooling byminimising vibrations which can

affect precision and surfacequality. A system's dampingcapacity is crucial in this whichis where VDP wins.

EDM Department's Macro sys-tem all the company’s

machines. These include fourEDM machines that run 20hours a day, seven days aweek. The goal is to take thefacility to 75 % unmanned production.

“With regard to electrode manufacture, Macro VDP hasmarkedly sharpened our capac-ity,” says Mark Raleigh.“Before, we could make micro-electrodes with a length todiameter ratio of 12:1.

“We have now made electrodeswhere the ratio is 35:1. System3R technology thus now opensup to us entirely new possibili-ties for the production of nano-precision mould tools and components.”

www.system3r.com

12.

Big success is micro sized for System 3R

A graphite microelectrode with 14needles, each 130 µm diameter.

Laser-sintering machinesfrom GTMA member EOShelped Coventry University’sPhoenix Racing team winthe Shell-sponsored awardfor most fuel-efficient car in the premier class of the Formula Student championship.

Key components of a novel,active suspension system,which were both compact andlightweight, were producedlayer-by-layer from titanium alloypowder (Ti64) in EOS laser-sintering machines.

Against fierce competition atSilverstone from over 100worldwide universities the single-seater racing car wasplaced 20th overall. It was 5thin the endurance challenge,

involving a separate, 22 kmrace during which the carsprove their speed and durabilityand the students execute a pit-stop and driver change.

Phoenix Racing is made up ofthird-year motorsport engineer-ing students, who took fulladvantage of the university’smotorsport workshop, in partic-ular the direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS) machinesmade available through spon-sorship by EOS.

The equipment allowed the stu-dents to manufacture intricatetitanium parts for an electroni-cally-controlled, hydraulic anti-roll system to ensure that thecar maintained grip in the corners, a clever design featurethat was acknowledged by the

judges. All were industry profes-sionals that had not previouslycome across such a system atthe competition.

Considerable interest was alsoshown in the active front sus-pension by a number of firms in

the motorsport and automotivesectors, including Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix, Mercedes-Benz High PerformanceEngines and Jaguar LandRover.

www.eos.info

>>>

EOS sponsorship helps race car win

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:39

54

10’000 SINGLE PARTS.1 METROLOGY PARTNER.

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w.h

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onm

etro

logy

.com

®

MACH 2012, NEC, Birmingham, UK16-20 April, Hall 5, Booth 5610

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:39

medical... medical... medical... medical... medical

55

The huge growth – andtherefore potential – in themedical sector was high-lighted to delegates at therecent GTMA EngineeringAssisted Surgery Medicalevent in Coventry.

Phil Russell, International KeyAccount Manager with membercompany Seco Tools, told howthe orthopaedic sector alonehas emerged from a modestsub-sector of medical devicesto a $43 billion worldwide mar-ket.

With a range of treatmentareas, it is now the singlelargest segment of medicaldevices with more than 1700companies involved.

The prediction for 2012onwards is continued growthwith knee and hip operations byfar the most common jointreplacements and growing atphenomenal rates.

Another GTMA member in thelimelight was Wines Medical,whose medical expert CraigBluett spoke on Partnering withSurgeons. “Products should besurgeon driven and patientfocused,” he said. “ It is onlywith surgeon know-how thatengineers can produce instru-ments and implants thataddress clincal issues.”

He stressed the need for engi-neering companies to be awareof ISO 13485, an ISO standardpublished in 2003, which setsout requirements for a compre-

hensive management systemfor the design and manufactureof medical devizes.

Additive manufacturing expertProfessor David Wimpenny cov-ered the “production of preciseprosthesis and impants” usingadditive manufacturing.Technology Manager at NetShape Manufacturing he saidthe method was no longer con-fined to production of engineer-ing prototypes.

“It is being used for anatomicalmodels and patient-specificimplants that can be producedfrom medical scan data, simpli-fying complex surgery proce-dures. Enabling components ofalmost unlimited complexity tobe made from scan data, workis already underway in the fieldof organ printing.”

Research in other areas wasalso highlighted. Professor JohnSullivan, Head of the SurfaceScience Group at AstonUniversity and Director ofMidland Surface Analysis, iskeenly involved in the develop-ment and application of physicaland chemical surface analyticaltechniques. He focused oncoatings in bio-medical applica-tions and surface analysis in hispresentation.

“Coatings offer the possibility ofmodifying surface physical andchemical properties to give opti-mum compatability with a givenbio system,” he said.

A form of amorphous carboncontaining a significant fractionof diamond bonds, diamondlike carbon (DLC) is one thevery latest coating technologies.“It is an interesting coatingmaterial because the physicaland chemical properties can betailored to specific require-

ments. It can have a high hard-ness, chemical inertness, highoptical transparency, wide bandcap and biocompatability.Potentially DLC films can havewide range of medical applica-tions,” he said.

The way strategic partnershipscan help bring success wasunderlined when Bryn Jones,Operations Director at BristolMaid (Hospital Metalcraft) spokeon 'Technology Partnerships' –and in particular on collabora-tions between manufacturing,

$43 billion - and that's justone sector in medicalResearch and partnerships highlighted at GTMA event

Hot DesksOn the medical hot desks were:

3T RPDBlum NovotestDelcamCentral ScanningCRDM/HPFenlandForegone SolutionsGTMAIMSMD G MortimerNikon MetrologyOmega PlasticsParagonSecoTracWolverhampton UniversityCarl Zeiss

continued overleaf

This end-of-bed unit was developedusing lean manufacturing tech-niques - highlighted at the event.Below: Our Medical Briefing publi-cation which looked at opportunitiesand challenges.

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:41

medical... medical... medical... medical... medical

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continued from previous page

academia and the healthcaresector.

Strategies involving expertsfrom design, science andresearch deliver “outcomes thatpush boundaries, change per-ceptions, affect end userbehaviour, deliver the results ofacademic research and impor-tantly are commerciallyviable,”he said.

Among projects he explainedwas DOME (Designing OutMedical Error), a 3-year projectfunded by the Engineering andPhysical Sciences ResearchCouncil to tackle medical errorsin hospital wards.

All common tasks weremapped and this identified thebed-space area as high risk,with many items scatteredaround the ward.

Lean manufacturing techniqueswere applied with an all-in-oneunit containing all important, fre-quently used items at the endof each bed – from aprons andgloves to hand gel, disposablewipes, clinical waste bin topatient notes and even a flatsurface for documents.

Delcam, another GTMA mem-ber with wide medical sectorexperience, covered the dentalindustry in a joint presentationwith Seco. Chris Lawrie,Healthcare BDM for Delcam

explained how its dedicatedsoftware met sector demandsand how mass customisationwas a business model to adopt.

Lahoucine Akechtabou, SecoProduct Specialist Solid CarbideTools focused on precisionmachining on various metalsused for dental implants.

Final speaker was NinianPeckitt, a consultant cosmeticoral, maxillofacial and facialplastic surgeon who coined thephrase 'Engineering AssistedSurgery' (EAS).

EAS uses an array of engineer-ing project planning principles. Ituses automation via MRI and CTscanning reverse engineering

techniques to create models ofimplants that fit patients exactly.

“It mirrors the effective moderni-sation of manufacturing industryand enhances surgical preci-sion. It reduces human error,enhances patient outcome andreduces cost.”

Medical is a key sector forGTMA, which has worked hardover recent years to developprogrammes to promote UKsuppliers in the sector.

GTMA is able to assist compa-nies in the medical sector findaccredited suppliers in the supply chain.

www.gtma.co.uk

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Contact IndySoft Europe to find out more

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'Designing Out Medical Error'

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:39

57

press releases... press releases... press releases...

Press Releases Here is a selection of Press Releases received atGTMA offices. If you want to be considered please send yourreleases by email and in a Word document to: [email protected] the Subject: Press Release.

IMSM Managing Director, MichaelBright with EFQM Assessors AudreyAsamoah and Jane Keeley.

European recognition for IMSMIMSM Ltd has beenawarded the Recognisedfor Excellence 4* certifica-tion by the EuropeanFoundation for QualityManagement (EFQM).

Industry leading IMSM Ltd.specialises in the implementa-tion of ISO standards, servingan international client base.

The assessment, carried outby a team of EFQMAssessors, is designed fororganisations that are well on

their way to achieving sustain-able excellence. It recognisestheir efforts and identifies goodpractices.

The EFQM’s Excellence Modelcovers nine sets of criteriarequired to establish a frame-work that allows a company togrow in a structured and organ-ised fashion and still maintain aculture of excellence.

The intensity of the process andthe assessment allowed IMSMLtd. to identify the company’s

key strengths and perhapsmore importantly, the weak-nesses – vital information forany company wishing to main-

tain a market leader position.

Wendy Mewis, CompanySecretary and head of IMSMLtd’s EFQM leadership team,comments on undertaking theaward, “Our assessment weekwas tiring, stressful but intense-ly rewarding. The achievementof our goal made all the hardwork worth it and the assess-ment feedback has given usinvaluable insight in how tomove forward.”

www.imsm.com

Integrated solution: Integratede-Manufacturing solutions thatmeet the need for quality assur-ance in series manufacture ofcustomised products were high-lighted by EOS at EuroMold.The company announced thatits Integrated Process ChainManagement for plastic applica-tions is being developed furtherto optimise powder handling.The new IPCM will be scalableto fit into production environ-ments where management ofpowder quality, traceability andstorage is essential. EOS isworking closely with selectedcustomers and their input isbeing integrated in the furtherdevelopment of this concept.

www.eos.info

Radan release: Planit Softwarehas announced the latestrelease of the world’s mostpowerful sheet metal CAD/CAMsoftware, Radan, whichincludes significant enhance-ments to the popular Taggingfunction, along with additionalfunctionality for the Nestingmodule, and even betterUnfolding capabilities for press

brakes. Radan 2012 R1 alsooffers advances in profiling,punching and bending, andmore control over the powerfulnesting process. It is more flexi-bile when it comes to usingmicro joints on profilingmachines. Radan is a principalbrand of Planit, ranked byCIMdata as the world’s fastestgrowing CAM vendor, withmost industrial users. Planit is a global supplier ofdesign and manufacturing soft-ware for engineering industries,offering best-in-class solutionsto customers worldwide.

www.radan.com www.planit.com

Optical partner: MetrologyDirect has partnered with

Bruker Nano Surfaces to pro-vide industry leading 3D non-contact Optical Profiler sys-tems. From Contour GT-KOand Contour GT-K1 bench topsystems to fully automatedNPFlex inspection systems, ahost of surface properties canbe characterised including:Surface finish and roughness,surface form, flatness, 3D criti-cal dimensions and film thick-ness.

www.metrology-direct.com

New catalogue: BowersMetrology UK has announcedthe launch of its 2012/13Metrology Catalogue. In addi-tion to featuring Bowers’ owncomprehensive range of high-quality gauges, the all-inclusive260 page publication contains alarge variety of cost-effectivemeasuring instruments from

renowned group memberMoore & Wright. The cata-logue’s expanded Bowers CVsection boasts a new range ofhigh-quality bench and portablehardness testers, a wide choiceof surface finish instrumentsand numerous other cost effec-tive material testing devices.

www.bowers.co.uk

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:46

in the news... in the

58

FARO Technologies hasannounced the launch ofCAM2 Measure 10, itsnewest software for theFAROArm, ScanArm andFARO Laser Tracker.

The ground breaking releasemarked the first time Faro hasincluded features for collectingand analysing point cloud dataas part of its robust CAM2 line,in addition to other newenhancements like Live Colour

Scan, Shortcuts and the EasyMove Wizard.

Already a leader in the develop-ment of contact measurementsoftware, FARO's new CAM2Meassure 10 provides non-con-tact users the ability to scanand collect point cloud data forreverse engineering, rapid pro-totyping and analysis.

www.faro.com/uk

Joshua Lane, Middleton, Manchester UK, M24 2AZ Tel: 0161 655 3355 Fax: 0161 655 3322Web: www.hansonthorpe.co.uk Email: [email protected]

• Competitive prices• Complete project support• Fast response times• Continual investment• Tool trialling and validation in-house

on 50 & 100T Engel machines• In house tool design offering Moldex

plastic flow simulation

Hanson Thorpe Precision Toolmakers Ltd

Manufacturers ofPlastic Injection Mould Tools

and PrecisionMedical / Engineering components

For more information contact Simon Collins onTel: 01494 686820 Web: www.selectmoulds.co.uk

Select Moulds offer a full solutionFrom ‘conception to birth’ we can support our customers by supplying a ‘one stop’ service

Select Moulds offer a wide and diversified product rangeto its customer base, including:

• Automotive • Electrical (Switchgear) • Medical (Devices, Respiratory) • Telecom (Connectors, Mobile Phone) • White Goods • Aerospace (High Accuracy “one-off” Machining) • Repair and Refurbishment (All ranges of moulds, Non

Select Products, Prototype Moulds, Rapid Tooling, SoftTooling)

• Pre-Production Tooling (Fully Hardened ProductionSimulated Moulds)

• Multi-Cavity Moulds • Gas Injection • Multi-Shot Moulds • Full Turn-Key Packages

Point cloud first fornew FARO software

Dutton Simulation haslaunched an updated rangeof Computer AidedEngineering software forproduct and process simulation.

Updates from key suppliers ofnew software for plastic injec-tion moulding and finite elementanalysis for product designinclude the release of Version10.0 of FormingSuite, byForming Technologies. Thisincorporates industry-standardcomponents FASTBLANK andCOSTOPTIMISER.

Also new is the updatedV5.8.1 of DYNAFORM fromETA, which can be used toanalyse a wide variety of metal

forming processes withadvanced modules for DiefaceEngineering, Die SystemAnalysis and SpringbackCompensation.

Dutton now also offers plasticinjection moulding simulationfrom Moldex3D and is nowrepresenting NEi Software,supporting its range of analysistools for product design, basedon the renowned NASTRANsolver. These solutions areavailable standalone or as CADintegrated systems.

Dutton is exhibiting at MACHwhere the updates were beingrepresented.

www.duttonsimulation.com

New releases from Dutton

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:46

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59

GTMA is celebrating its 70thanniversary – an associationborn to the backdrop of theSecond World War and in theshadow of the Munich crisisfour years earlier.

In fact, the war effort and theneed to increase production ofarmaments, aircraft and otherequipment for the war was thecatalyst to the incorporation ofthe Gauge and Tool Makers'Association Limited on August12, 1942.

There were 16 founder mem-bers but this quickly grew to 50companies by January 1943,and to 75 by the first AGM inSept 1943 and to 150 by thesecond annual meeting in 1944.

There had been discussionssince the early 1930s betweenleading companies in the indus-try to form a trade associationbut a combination of their inde-pendent nature and the dis-parate nature of special tool-making products could not beovercome.

The tremendous increase in thewar effort, however, threw thespotlight on the fact that thekey to increased manufacturewas the supply of special tool-ing and gauges.

The Ministry of Supply was themain coordinating departmentand early in 1940 a 'MachineTool Control' was set up for themanufacture of machine toolsand their distribution. By the sum-mer of 1942 it was apparent thata similar control was essential for-

gauges and special tooling.

The move to form the new“gauge and tool” associationcame at the right time and withofficial backing. The proposalcame from Sir Percy Mills (laterLord Mills), the controller-gener-al of machine tools in theMinistry of Supply. In turn, itwas taken up by the then con-troller of “jigs, tools andgauges”, Mr Stanley J. Harley(later Sir Stanley) who assem-bled a small group of gaugeand tool makers to set up theAssociation.

The birth coincided with twonew Allocation Boards at theMinistry. These were for screwgauges and broaches.

The centre for screw gaugeswas set up in Leamington Spa.It received all enquiries frommanufacturing plants and dis-tributed them to gauge manu-facturers according to theircapacity and expertise. Thefledgling GTMA played a role in

supervising this work.

Sometimes meeting with com-panies were called at shortnotice to deal with particularlydifficult or urgent requirements –remember, this was in war time.

The co-operation betweencompanies who had previouslybeen competitors was impres-sive and contributed hugely tothe successful outcome of thewar effort. And Sir StanleyHarley was President of theGTMA for 10 years of its post-war history.

From its inception the GTMAdeclared three aims:

1. To improve the efficiency ofthe tool and gauge industry

2. To eliminate wasteful compe-tition

3. To maintain close liaison withGovernment.

In aiming to meet the everincreasing demands for specialtools and gauges there werelong discussions with theMinistry of Labour on the supplyof skilled labour. This includedcalls for skilled workers to bereleased from the armed forces– not received sympatheticallyby the Ministry. The payment of“unskilled female labour and

GTMA – first it supports the war effort;then it helps members to profit...70 years anniversary for association born in the shadow of Munich

An historic document – the membership application of GTMA memberBoneham & Turner dated July 2nd, 1943.

B&T is the longest-serving association member and has seen huge changesin the industry. Founded in 1918 by John Boneham the company has builtup extensive experience in precision manufacture of a wide variety of engi-neering products including shims, dowel pins, drill bushes and a range ofspecial engineering components. Peter Boneham says the company havebeen proud members of the GTMA since1943. Both company and associa-tion have undergone significant changes over the years and both are com-mitted to “supporting manufacturing excellence” for many years to come.

continued next page

GTMA Presidents

H.H. Harley 1942-1947F.W. Halliwell 1947-1958Sir Stanley Harley 1958-1968L.E. Van Mappen 1968-1971Norman Harley 1971-1976H.A. Hobrow 1976-1980V. Sharp 1980-1982F.A. Mercer 1982-1984J.J. Harvey 1984-1986P.D. Edwards 1986-1988P. Hall 1988-1990K. Bearton 1990-1992B.J. Watson 1992-1994M.N. Dunn 1994-1996Howard Chadwick CBE 1996-1998Roger Tromans 1998-2000Mike Malby 2000-2002Roger Onions 2002-2005Tony Steels 2005-2006Nik Tipler 2006-2009Alan Pearce 2009-2012

HISTORIC DATE: GTMA 70th Anniversary Dinner on 19thJune at Nailcote Hall, Coventry.

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:46


60

female trainees” received muchattention.

The association's work in lob-bying was important from thefirst. At its Council meeting onSeptember 8, 1942 – less thana month after its formation – theChairman complained that “thekey nature of the gauge andtoolmaking industry is apparent-ly not fully realised nor appreci-ated by the Ministry of Labour.”

On the other side, the Ministry

of Supply complained that thesmaller gauge makers werecharging higher prices that thelargest firms for identical sizes –and that in the “interests of thecountry” such prices should belowered. Ten years later the storychanged on pricing agreementssuch as this with new rules onRestrictive Trade Practices!

Another early objective which isstill key was the association'scontinuous attention to publicrelations – the press conference

to announce the GTMA launchin September 1942 was attend-ed by 10 national technicalmagazines, all of whom ranpositive welcoming articles.

An imaginative, and longer termdecision, was the setting up ofthe export committee in March1944 to plan an export driveafter the war.

Publications such as the BuyersGuide were being distributedsoon after the war end and the

first of many gauge and toolexhibitions was held at theRoyal Horticultural Hall inWestminster in 1946.

As the years moved forward theassociation began to take on thefocus it continues today – withnational and international actionsto support the sector matched byan increasing commitment to pro-vide more help for the individualmember company. The aim isimproved efficiency and thereforeprofitability.

continued from previous page

GTMA memberIndySoft Europe has beenappointed a value addedreseller of MotionComputers.

IndySoft is recognised as asupplier of the best ‘commer-cially available’ Enterprise-widerange of gauge management,instrument calibration and toolmanagement software tools onthe market.

With almost 20 years of contin-uous real-world development –and thousands of global licensesales - IndySoft understandsindustry requirements, andspecifically needs for compli-ance to standards including ,QS9000, TS16949, ISO9000,FDA 21CFR Part 11 andISO17025.

IndySoft is a preferred supplierto most of the top fortune 500global manufacturing compa-nies, with customers inAutomotive, Aerospace,Pharmaceutical, MedicalDevice, Defence, Food &Beverage, Electronics, Rail,

Research & Development,Space and CommercialLaboratories.

The tie-in with MotionComputers means IndySoft cannow offer Motion’s mobile com-puting products alongside thesoftware, which is fully support-ed, maintained and ready touse – right out of the box.

IndySoft makes no assumptionsas to the type of instrument thatis calibrated. You can createyour own test points with toler-ance limits and other sophisti-cated calculations or you caneven use MS Word or Excel ifyou already have them set-up.

There is no restriction on theequipment you can store, cali-brate or service with theIndySoft software: Electrical,Force, Pressure, Torque,Dimensional, Temperature, etc.

Among other features the soft-ware enables on-site calibra-tions using stand alone systemssynchronised back to the mainserver; and automated alert

reports and equipment calibra-tion or maintenance remindersfor clients/colleagues.

Comprehensive report builderscan create automated reports,work orders, delivery notes,invoices etc. Other modulesinclude Trend Analysis,Uncertainty Calculations andFluke MetCal Import Utility.Barcode scanning and RFItracking is supported.

It is quick and easy to performyour own calibrations and auto-matically generate certificatesand stickers or send equipmentout to sub-contract laboratoriesand then store their certificatesback into the system.

Motion Computers is also aninnovator with mobile comput-ing products for a broad rangeof industries. Motion Tablet PCsare uniquely designed formobile users in rugged environ-

ments and offer special featuresand benefits that support out-door field users.

This range of super-fast TabletComputers are packed with richfeatures like a rear-facing cam-era (great to take pictorial evi-dence / video in an audit orservice / maintenance scenario)and front facing web cam forSkype communication or simi-lar. There are options for mobilebroadband 3G, Wi-Fi, andBluetooth.

Running the IndySoft GaugeManagement software on theseTablet Computers is very easy,allowing users, for example, totrack assets with the barcodescanner, perform on-site cali-bration or service / maintenancetasks, and generate paperlesscertificates or print calibrationlabels from a portable printer.

www.indysoft.co.uk

IndySoft reseller deal backs calibration

>>>

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:46

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61

Research by Subcon – whichstages the ContractManufacturing andTechnology Show at the NECon June 12-14 - has shownthat the manufacturing sec-tor is set for further growth.

Almost 90% of companies sur-veyed said they planned toincrease or maintain their levelof subcontracting over the nextthree years and 36% hadbrought work back to the UKthat had previously beensourced in low-cost countries.

Reflecting these trends, Subconis expected to be around 20%bigger than last year. Over 300exhibitors will be at the Show,with the proportion of UKexhibitors increasing to around70%.

GTMA members lined up toattend include: ÉireComposites, Faro, HexagonMetrology, IMSM, MetrologyDirect, Nikon Metrology, PDQEngineering, Superite Tools,Thormac Engineering, WDSComponents.

GTMA will also have a stand atthe event which is seen bymany as a showcase for latestmanufacturing technologies. Itis dedicated to contract andsubcontract manufacturing.

It is seen as a showcase for thelatest technologies and thefinest manufacturing services

in the world.

You can register free at thewebsite; and for informationabout exhibiting please contactDavid Beattie at GTMA([email protected]). Memberscan obtain a 5% discount.

www.subconshow.co.uk

...

Subcon research shows 36% shun low cost country sourcing

The Plastics Design andMoulding Exhibition andSummit PDM12 returns tothe ExCel Centre in Londonon May 29-30.

GTMA will be representingmembers on Stand 13; withmember companies known tobe exhibiting independently aswe went to Press including CarlZeiss (Stand 48), Engel UK(P33), Midas Patterns (19) andSuperite Tools (5).

PDM12 is a place for plasticsmanufacture and design profes-sionals to network, learn and dobusiness with representativesthere from every part of the UKplastics design and mouldingcommunity.

These include product designcompanies, moulding machin-ery suppliers, toolmakers,mouldmakers and moulders; 3Dprinter, software suppliers and

materials testing specialists.

Dennis Turner, formerly chiefeconomist for HSBC, will deliverthe keynote at the PDM12Summit. The two-day Summittackles a host of in-depth topicsfocusing on the core subject ofBest Practice in Plastics Design.

It will include award-winningdesign and innovation casestudies and the second day willalso feature sessions from theBritish Plastics Federation’srotomoulders as well as addi-tives and masterbatch groups.

www.pdmevent.com

TCT Live is the event forProduct Development andAdditive Manufacturing inEurope. It is being held atthe NEC, Birmingham,September 25-26.

The show provides the idealforum for everyone involved inthe concept, design, specifica-tion and manufacturing processto learn about the latest inAdditive Manufacturing, 3DPrinting and other cutting edgeproduct development softwareand technology.

The show will see exhibitorsgather from around the globeand includes companies repre-senting all the major 3D Printingand Additive Manufacturingmachine manufacturers.

Also there will be prototypingand model making bureaux;metrology, scanning and digitis-ing equipment and services;

resins, board, composites andother materials; CAD and CAEsoftware; CAM and tooling soft-ware; design, analysis andproduct development serviceproviders plus many more relat-ed services.

There is a full seminar pro-gramme, free parking and freevisitor wi-fi service. Theexhibitor list will be on the web-site soon.

www.tctmagazine.com

Best Practice focus of PDM12 summit

TCT Live - the forumfor additive manufacturing

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:46

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62

Aerolink Wales and West, Chepstow RaceCourse, South WalesMACH 2012, NEC, Birmingham, GTMAPavillion 4919GTMA North, North West Forum Meeting Control 2012, StuttgartGTMA North East Forum Meeting British Banker’s Association Meeting, MTC,Ansty, CoventryPDM, Excel Centre, London, GTMA StandSubcon 2012, NEC, Birmingham AGM and 70th Anniversary Dinner, NailcoteHall, Nailcote Lane, Berkswell, Warwickshire Farnborough Air Show, Farnborough

April 18th

April 16th-20th

April 26th May 8th-11th

May 9th May 22nd

May 29th-30th June 12th-14th

June 19th

July 9th-13th

Instrumentation Scotland and OffshoreSystems, AberdeenGTMA Emerging Technologies, Delcam,Smallheath, BirminghamTCT Live and Mediplas, NEC, Birmingham GTMA South East Forum MeetingEngineering Design Show, CoventryBritish Banker’s Association Meeting,London, MTA OfficesFakuma, StuttgartGTMA 6th Make Measurement MatterRoadshow, CEME, Rainham, EssexOilfield Engineering with Polymers,Millennium Gloucester Hotel, LondonAero/Composite Engineering, NEC

Sept 5th-6th

Sept 19th

Sept 25th-26th October 3rd

October 10th-11th October 16th

October 16th-20th October 17th

October 23rd-25th

November 7th-8th

Events 2012

MMM 2012 is set for success Engineering a multiple event

NEXT ISSUE Our next issue will be a showcase for metrology membersto promote themselves at the MAKE MEASUREMENT ROADSHOW inOctober. This issuewill also have special emphasise on members inPRECISION MACHINING and PRESS TOOLS with the launch of a newseries “At the Heart of.....GTMA.” For more information call ColinSwindells on 01243 828358 or email [email protected]

Control is the world’s lead-ing trade fair for qualityassurance, presenting inter-national offerings for QAtechnologies, products, subsystems and completesolutions to a broad range ofindustry user groups.

At Stuttgart, May 8-11, it is

hosting a multitude of innova-tions, components and equip-ment for measuring technology,materials testing, analysis tech-nology and optoelectronics.Control 2011 attracted 820exhibitors from 27 countriesand over 24,000 visitors.

GTMA is on stand H7 and

GTMA members fly flag at Control members there include: Amtek,Alicona, ASI Datamyte, BlumNovotest, Bowers Metrology,Cognitens, Delcam, Faro, GOM,Hexagon Metrology, JKMetrology, Leica, Leitz, Mahr,Nikon Metrology, Phase Vision,Piccadilly Precision, Renishaw,Solartron Metrology, StarrettPrecision Optical, Tesa

Technology, Third Dimension,Vision Engineering, Wenzel andCarl Zeiss.

www.control-messe.com

GTMA will once again hostits popular MakeMeasurement Matter roadshow on Wednesday, 17thOctober 2012. Now in it’ssixth year the event will beheld at the prestigious CEMECentre in Rainham, Essex.

Free parking is available to allvisitors and a key focus of theevent will be over 30 of the topUK metrology companiesexhibiting, along with the exten-sive networking opportunity in arelaxed environment.

These metrology companies areactive participants in creating

successful engineering solutionsfor the current and futuredemands of all industry sectors.

CEME, the Centre forEngineering and ManufacturingExcellence, is a stunning edu-cation and business park. It is ahub of a new technology revo-lution sweeping the capital andis part of a £400 million regen-eration in East London.

For further information pleasecontact David Beattie on 0121601 6350 or visit the website.

www.makemeasurementmatter.com

The 2012 AdvancedEngineering UK group ofevents (NEC, November 7-8)again brings together multi-ple high value-addedadvanced engineering andtechnology events.

The line-up is Aero Engineering2012, Composites Engineering2012, the UK Plastic ElectronicsShow 2012 and new for 2012is the Automotive Engineering

2012 UK supply chain trade fairand briefing. The ‘integrated’technology transfer and busi-ness development environmentincludes an expected 450-plusspecialist exhibitors and fivesector technology auditoriums.

See website for free visitorbadges and registration.

www.advancedengineeringuk.com

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 12:00

High Gain Technology

High Speed Machining for Machines and Robots

Complete robotic machining

systems for styling and

sculpturing studios supplied

by QDesign from Pisa

and High Gain Technology

Peron Speed spindle

running at 24000 rpm for cutting steel

or aluminium mould tools on an

Anayak CNC. One of many UK

applications with complete

system supply by High Gain Technology

For all your High Speed and Robotic Machining needs contact

High Gain TechnologyE: [email protected]

M: 07861 233930Web: www.highgaintechnology.co.uk

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:46

GTMA NEWS ISSUE 1 2012 3/4/12 10:46

gtma news issue 1 2012

Documents

ifthe uk

uk manufacturers

specific gtma companies

takethe uk tooling industry

companies returningwork

network of companies

certain key sectors

farnboroughtoolmakers