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Amada – Catering For Any Bending Requirements

The Amada EP panel bender has been developed to realize new levels of production with speed efficiency and versatility being key aspects.

With improved production versatility over a full range of material sizes and an extensive range of automation options, the EP will provide a blank – to – bending solution to meet any specific needs. The servo drive system employed, ensures 100% repeatability, exceptional high speed and very low maintenance costs. The automation options ensure continuous production flows at the desired speeds.

HS 1303 Brake Press

Key benefits of the EP panel bender are extended range of shape sizes, large range of material thicknesses, high possibility of complex shape production and simple visual programming. All these benefits will eliminate any limitations that are associated with conventional panel bending.

The addition of two press brake models, namely the HS and HG series assures that Amada has a press brake to cater for any bending requirements. The HS series press brakes are down-stroking machines, available with different backgauge options and bend lengths from 2 meters up to 4 meters. The simple touch screen control allows the operator to set all bending conditions according to tooling being used and material being bent. Various back gauge options provide for a simple 2 axis machine or the more sophisticated 4 or 6 axis versions.

With the larger open height of 470mm and stroke length of 200mm, deep bending can be realized with less interference. The Eco-Drive system behind this operation ensures significant energy saving, compared to conventional machinery.

The HG range of press brakes has been developed for high speed and accuracy in all production environments. The combination of the high rigidity frame and the new hybrid drive system allow for process range expansion. The newly developed NC unit has strengthened display functions which allow the operator to check the forming information, view 3D models, while bending the components correctly from the first part. The hybrid crowning system will ensure a bend angle accuracy of ±15′ anywhere along the bed length.

An option of the Bi-S or Bi-L angle measuring system together with the thickness detection system (TDS) will ensure repetitive accuracy through automatic compensations being made to the program.

For more information contact Amada – Tel: 011 453-5459

Manufacturing Indaba 2018 To Focus On Industry 4.0 And IOT

The Manufacturing Indaba 2018 will be hosted at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, Africa’s economic hub, on the 19th and 20th of June 2018.

This year’s event will explore Industry 4.0, otherwise known as the 4th Industrial Revolution. Industry 4.0, together with IoT (Internet of Things), are fundamental to digital transformation in the manufacturing industry.

Industry 4.0 represents a breakthrough in manufacturing innovations, transforming product creation and company operations. The advent of smart devices enables manufacturers to communicate autonomously whereby machines communicate with each other via sensors to reduce defective products and waste. Companies can now gain access to critical, real time data by tracking the productivity and efficiency levels of employees, machinery and business operations. This ultimately allows a calculated evaluation of the entire manufacturing value chain.

In today’s globalized world, companies and their industrial practices in both developed and emerging markets are urged to stay abreast of these exponential changes to remain competitive and relevant in the marketplace.

Due to inadequate accessibility and connectivity, the African continent is unable to embrace Industry 4.0 at a rate equivalent to that of the developed world. However, emerging markets are unrestrained by infrastructure legacy issues and are more versatile in dealing with change than their developed counterparts. This poses a considerable advantage for developing Sub-Saharan African countries to adopt a more receptive outlook towards Industry 4.0.

Furthermore, the event will address an array of other pressing issues within the sector, such as: strategies dedicated to growth and competitive advantage in the sector; opportunities to provide industrial players with assistance and access to finance; international trends to support the development and maintenance of a skilled workforce; opportunities and challenges facing the South African manufacturing sector within the next five years; and Intra-African Trade in the SADC region.

This year’s Manufacturing Indaba, intends to raise the bar by delivering 67 influential speakers, attracting 473 conference delegates, 70 exhibition stands as well as 2283 expo visitors. In addition, 531 complimentary business matchmaking meetings will be facilitated to promote Intra-Africa trade to support Africa’s growth trend of 5,5% as forecasted by the International Monetary Fund.

With a bigger venue, this year’s event will see the launch of the Small Business Indaba Exhibition, aimed at small manufacturers that play a key role in the growth of Sub-Saharan Africa’s manufacturing industry.

Trumpf Acquires Manufacturer Of Ultrashort Pulsed Lasers

The high technology company TRUMPF recently acquired the laser manufacturer AMPHOS. This strengthens the TRUMPF portfolio of laser products and technologies.

A 200-watt ultrashort pulsed laser made by AMPHOS machines a carbon-fiber part.

AMPHOS was founded in 2010 as a spin-off of RWTH Aachen and the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT. AMPHOS develops and produces ultrashort pulsed lasers with high output power for manufacturing and research applications. Ultrashort pulsed lasers are especially important in electronics manufacturing, where they are used to produce items such as printed circuit boards, displays and cover glass.

The key to AMPHOS lasers is InnoSlab technology, which was co-developed by the company’s founders while still a part of ILT. InnoSlab will allow TRUMPF to open up an entire new range of parameters for its ultrashort pulsed lasers. InnoSlab technology allows us to consolidate the technological leadership of TRUMPF,” says Christian Schmitz, head of the Laser Technology division.

AMPHOS develops ultrashort pulsed lasers that feature output power between 200 and 400 watts. The company also offers high-power lasers for research applications that have an output as high as 1.5 kilowatts.

Aluminium 2018 – New Topics To Meet The Future

Global production of aluminium has reached a record high level; the energy transition and the transport sector are driving demand for light metals. The precise trajectory might vary from country to country, but all around the world, the industry is making new investments to gear up for an economy that continues to boom. This positive mood is felt as well at the ALUMINIUM World Trade Fair – even with ten months still to go before it opens its doors in Düsseldorf.

From 9 to 11 October 2018, the Exhibition Centre on the Rhine will again become the global marketplace of the aluminium industry. Spread across six exhibition halls, global players, specialists and young innovative companies will showcase the industry’s complete range – from aluminium production to machines and plants for processing to finished goods and recycling.

Special exhibits like the Innovation Areas and themed guided tours are aimed at providing better orientation for visitors from user segments such as automotive engineering, mechanical engineering, aerospace and the construction sector. The well-known theme pavilions will serve as points of contact to lead visitors through the structured exhibition halls.

In the new special exhibition area Digital Manufacturing, visitors will experience what Industry 4.0 means for the aluminium industry and what kinds of productivity benefits can already be achieved today by deploying high-performance IT solutions in production.

Another new exhibition area dubbed Environmental Engineering will cover water treatment, air filtration systems and oil/oil mist vacuuming systems – and show how the aluminium industry is leading the way when it comes to emerging topics such as energy and resource conservation in one’s own production chain.

Expert presenters from industry and science at the ALUMINIUM 2018 Conference and the ALUMINIUM Forum will discuss the trends and innovations of the aluminium sector. Organised by the GDA, the umbrella association of the German Aluminium industry, the ALUMINIUM 2018 Conference will focus on the material’s future prospects. Exhibitors at the ALUMINIUM Forum will present their latest solutions and technologies covering the areas of lightweight technologies, e-mobility and additive manufacturing, among others.

Wire 2018 And Tube 2018 – Bigger Than Ever

Nearly four months before the start of the metal trade fair summit in Düsseldorf the exhibition centre has received better bookings than ever before in the successful history of wire and Tube Düsseldorf, a history of over 30 years.

Never before have so many square metres been reserved by exhibitors. Taken together, wire and Tube already have a net floor space occupancy of 120,000 sqm, which is about 10,000 sqm more than the final figure for the two trade fairs in 2016.

The number of exhibitors who have so far registered for wire 2018 is currently 1,180, representing 50 countries. Over 65,000 sqm are occupied in Halls 9 to 18. The occupancy level for Tube in Halls 3 to 7.0, 7a and 16 to 18 is over 52,000 sqm, with 965 exhibitors from 53 countries.

Ongoing demand from China has made it possible to set up a Chinese Pavilion again. Chinese companies from the wire, cable and tube industries will be jointly represented in Hall 16 under the slogan “Meet China’s Expertise”.

Airbus Commercial Parcel Delivery Drone ‘Skyways’

This inaugural flight demonstration follows the launch of the experimental project with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in February 2016 to develop an urban unmanned air system to address the safety, efficiency and sustainability of the air delivery business in cities such as Singapore.

The collaboration was subsequently extended in April 2017 with Singapore Post (SingPost) becoming the local logistics partner to the project.

Airbus Helicopters is the overall Skyways system architect and provider, contributing its capabilities in drone platforms as well as its concept of future parcel delivery. This concept involves systems and structures that allow drones to land, dock with secure structures, discharge or take on payloads, and then fly off to other destinations. Airbus Helicopters is at an advanced stage of the Skyways project. The research and development phase is progressing well, with equipment and facilities installed at the NUS campus. Various tests are already underway and the unmanned air system will be demonstrated in the university when the trial service commences this year. Campus students and staff will be able to make use of Skyways to have small parcels between 2kg and 4kg delivered to designated parcel stations within the campus, which is the size of 150 football fields.

An experimental project aimed at developing a safe and economically viable aerial unmanned parcel delivery system for use in dense urban environments, Skyways is one of a number of innovative Urban Air Mobility projects currently being researched at Airbus. These also include the Racer high-speed helicopter demonstrator, as well as the Vahana and CityAirbus autonomous flying vehicle concepts.

Oerlikon And Boeing Partnering In Additive Manufacturing Work

Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company and Oerlikon, a leading technology and engineering group, signed a five-year collaboration agreement to develop standard materials and processes for metal-based additive manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing, popularly known as 3D printing, is a controlled process in which material is joined or solidified to create a threedimensional part.

“This agreement is an important step toward fully unlocking the value of powder bed titanium additive manufacturing for the aerospace industry,” said Leo Christodoulou, Boeing Chief Technologist. “Boeing and Oerlikon will work together to standardize additive manufacturing operations from powder management to finished product and thus enable the development of a wide range of safe, reliable and cost-effective structural titanium aerospace components.”

Dr. Roland Fischer, CEO Oerlikon Group said, “this program will drive the faster adoption of additive manufacturing in the rapidly growing aerospace, space and defense markets. Working together with Boeing will define the path in producing airworthy additive manufacturing components for serial manufacturing. We see collaboration as a key enabler to unlocking the value that additive manufacturing can bring to aircraft platforms and look forward to partnering with the largest and most respected aerospace company in the world.”

Boeing and Oerlikon will use the data from this collaboration to support the qualification of additive manufacturing suppliers to produce metallic components using a variety of machines and materials. The research will initially focus on industrializing titanium powder bed fusion additive manufacturing and ensuring parts made with this process meet the flight requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense. The strong collaboration between Boeing and Oerlikon will enable the companies to meet the current challenges to qualify materials and processes for aerospace and provide a route for the adoption of additive manufacturing with a qualified supply chain that achieves quality and cost targets.

Since 1997, Boeing has been a leader in researching and implementing additive manufacturing in the aerospace industry and currently has about 50,000 3D-printed parts flying on commercial, space and defense programs. In 2017, Boeing became the first aerospace manufacturer to design and install a Federal Aviation Administration-qualified 3D-printed structural titanium part on a commercial airplane, the 787 Dreamliner. With the creation of the Boeing Additive Manufacturing organization in 2017, Boeing is focused on using additive manufacturing to generate value for customers by enabling greater affordability, quality, customization and speed-to-market innovation.

CECIMO And EPMA To Drive Additive Manufacturing Forward

Additive Manufacturing is defined as the process of joining materials to make objects from 3D model data, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to subtractive manufacturing methodologies.

Among the main opportunities, there is design flexibility, mass customization, process sustainability and rapid product development. The overall challenge for AM is to move from a prototype solution to a main manufacturing method and be integrated into existing production environments.

CECIMO and EPMA will therefore work together to support Europe’s industry through this critical change. Both associations will exchange information on advocacy activities in additive manufacturing to better coordinate their own actions and get the utmost of it. EPMA and CECIMO will also look for opportunities on EU project proposals in future calls.

CECIMO is the association conveying the concerns of the AM industry to the EU authorities. Representing key companies in the AM ecosystem, it engages with policy actors for the creation of an enabling policy, and regulatory and business framework for the uptake of additive technologies in Europe. This includes initiatives such as developing specific AM standards within the remit of EU regulations, advising the European institutions on the AM priority research areas for the next EU budgetary programme and producing curricula to boost AM in education. CECIMO is also partner, in several EU projects, which encompass a wide range of issues such as regulatory and business barriers for industrial AM in Europe, AM skills gaps and bottlenecks in training, emerging AM business models. Furthermore, CECIMO organizes high-level conferences in the European Parliament with leading AM businesses and European policy-makers, and hosts the meetings of its own industry-driven AM Working Group, gathering experts from across Europe.

EPMA who represents Powder Metallurgy in Europe, has been working to increase the awareness of Additive Manufacturing technology, with a special focus on metal powder Additive Manufacturing and to foster the synergy in the metal AM community through research programmes, workshops, benchmarking and exchange of knowledge. Through its European Additive Manufacturing Group (EuroAM) the EPMA has launched several initiatives including a flyer and a well-received Introduction to Additive Manufacturing brochure, the organization of Metal AM Seminars and the coordination of internal collaborative AM Projects such as the Quality Test for Selective Laser Melting Powder project. EPMA also organises Europe’s largest Metal AM technical programme within its annual international “Euro PM” Congress and Exhibition event. EPMA participates in several European funded projects to represent Powder Metallurgy and support the Metal AM industry in its R&D effort.

This partnership points at the advancement of additive manufacturing in the industrial landscape and at the removal of barriers to the future development of this technology.

 

Flexible Control Makes Shops More Profitable

When software engineers at Hurco develop features for the Hurco control powered by WinMax® software, they focus on features that will make customers more profitable, according to the company.

Additionally, the flexibility of the Hurco control is especially valuable for shops that have a high mix of parts because it is equally powerful for industry standard NC programming as it is for conversational programming.

In order to support large programs that are becoming increasingly common with CAD/CAM and industry standard NC, Hurco recently upgraded the already robust technical hardware specifications to 128-GB Solid State Storage Drive, 4 GB of RAM and 3,000 bps of processing power.

As for conversational programming, Gerald Roch, co-founder of Hurco, invented this method of user-friendly programming in 1974 and the Hurco engineering team is continually improving it by inventing new features and evolving the user interface. For example, Hurco has introduced many 5-sided conversational features that make it possible to program at the control on a 5-axis machining center without a CAM system. Transform Plane is one of the key features that eases the transition from a 3-axis machining center to a 5-axis machining center to manufacture 5-sided parts because it essentially changes programming on a 5-axis machining center back to 2.5D programming that is used on a 3-axis machine. The machinist simply establishes the initial part origin and programs the first side of the part. Then, he enters the axis angle(s) to the next side, programs the features on that side of the part and tells the control the axis angle(s) to the next side. After following those steps for each side of the part, Transform Plane does the rest, calculating the tilting and rotating required.

“Hurco engineers have focused on the development of 5-sided programming features like Transform Plane because the fastest way for shops to instantly increase their profit margins on existing parts is to transition from 3-axis machining to a 5-sided machining process on a 5-axis VMC. It’s been a major initiative at Hurco since 2008 to make sure that the Hurco control leads the industry in making this transition to 5-sided machining as easy as possible in an effort to help customers be more profitable,” said a company spokesperson.

Another control feature that shops of all sizes find valuable is NC/ Conversational Merge because it combines NC programming with conversational programming. With NC/Conversational Merge, the machinist can call up an NC program and apply popular conversational features, such as pattern operations, scaling, tool probing, and part probing, to G-Code programs.

For more information contact Hurco South Africa – Tel: 011 849 5600

A Journey That Left Behind Half A Century – Ermaksan

Ermaksan is a pioneer with an impressive research and development department and 80 000 square meters of modern production facility in Bursa Turkey.

The highly qualified 700 strong staff compliment is dedicated to the manufacture of high quality machine tools.

With 80 000m2 area, the biggest production plant under one-roof in its sector.

The factory is equipped with the latest industry leading precision CNC machine tools. Under the supervision of expert engineers, the factory produces over 3 000 machines annually. Ermaksan, one of the world’s leading companies in the manufacture of sheetmetal machinery is represented by F&H Machine Tools in southern Africa and exclusive dealers in a further 70 countries around the world. All offer strong technical support and are backed up by a factory team of expert sales and service engineers.

Ermaksan designs and manufactures durable, productive and value based machinery by continuously meeting customer demands and striving to exceed industry standards.

Ermaksan manufactures a range of products with innovative technologies to meet the needs of a broad range of industries, such as heavy duty, wind turbine manufacture, lighting pole, transportation, power plants, defence and ship building. Their range of products include CO2 and fibre optic lasers in many different configurations, plasma cutting machines, a full range of CNC press brakes up to 14 200mm x 2 000 ton, CNC hybrid servo motorized press brakes, punch presses, guillotine shears and iron workers. Allied to these products, Ermaksan also offers sheet and product handling systems, pipe cutting options, automation and other customer specific solutions.

For more information contact F&H Machine Tools – Tel: 011 397 4050

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