Integration of 3D printing with traditional manufacturing processes is increasingly being explored. This hybrid approach aims to combine the benefits of both technologies for a more flexible and efficient manufacturing. Visitors to the show can look forward to discovering more about these technologies.

Launched in 2014 as an alternative to the traditional open house, the two-day gathering is not only a showcase for Seco’s cutting tools but also brings together machine tool manufacturers, workholding, metrology, CAD/CAM and coolant companies, along with machining demonstrations, talks and seminars, to offer visitors industry insights, best practice and networking benefits.

If you find this article informative, consider subscribing digitally to Aerospace Manufacturing for free. Keep up to date with the latest industry news in your inbox as well as being the first to receive our magazine in digital form.

“It’s a live event so machining will be going on all the time,” adds Fleming. “Of course, we bear a lot of the cost but we also expect our partners to invest in the event too and encourage them to invite their customers along. We want our partners to benefit from seeing our customers and other partners’ customers so we all contribute in some way and feel we have benefitted from it.”

As the Advanced Engineering show approaches, there are fresh announcements of cutting-edge technologies and products to be showcased at the upcoming event at the NEC in Birmingham on October 30 and 31. As a result, this year’s exhibition is shaping up to be a must-attend for engineering and manufacturing professionals, offering a glimpse into the f...

Image

Of course, to achieve those kinds of advances Seco’s partners have to buy in to this concept of collaboration, so what has been their response?

Seco Tools is adopting a new approach that solves customers’ machining challenges through an integrated and holistic process with its partners. Ed Hill visited its UK headquarters to find out more.

Seco technician apprentice, Emma Roberts pictured holding a newly machined Inspiration through Innovation event brand identity

Also in CNC machines, BMG will launch the patented digital 3D taster from Haff & Schreider at MTA 2024. The innovation makes 3-dimensional setting of the zero point on CNC machines easy and more accurate without having to add expensive point references.

This year’s Inspiration Through Innovation, being held on 9-10 October, in many ways encapsulates the Innovation Hub concept by focusing on one sector (aerospace) rather than the broader precision engineering supply chain.

“For ITI this year we felt it was natural that we focus on aerospace,” Fleming says. “Every machining demonstration will be a component related to the sector. For example, we have projects featuring turbine blisk and disc manufacturing from difficult-to-machine materials, such as Titanium, Inconel and Heat Resistant Super Alloys (HRSAs). We have chosen parts, materials and processes that we think are most applicable and worked with partners who we felt could make the best contribution to those demonstrations. They are all aerospace parts being made by the best technology available, so customers can see the ideal solution.”

Essentially, the Innovation Hub and its related initiatives, is about garnering skills and generating new revenue streams that benefit everyone involved, and solve customers’ technical challenges.

The demand for energy-efficient machine tools is growing as manufacturers seek to reduce operational costs and minimise environmental impact. This trend is being driven by regulatory requirements as well as growing social awareness.

“Industry 4.0 is a bit of a buzzword, but there is an issue in the industry about integration when it comes to the use of data. Unless we all share and utilise it effectively, we won’t get the full value from it,” states Magnall.

DNE Laser will showcase solutions for the sheet metal industry at Machine Tools Africa. The company’s Evolving Fiber Laser technology aims to take customers to higher levels of efficiency and productivity.

Developments in the local manufacturing sector have led to the demand for automatic machine tools and growth in the CNC machine tools market in the years ahead. Developing industries require high-precision and complex parts, driving the demand for sophisticated CNC machines capable of intricate designs and tight tolerances.

These include presentations from: Rolls-Royce on manufacturing turbines; Siemens on material solutions and additive manufacturing; the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) on blisk demand; Renishaw on Industry 4.0 and utilising machining and metrology data.

In a significant move to streamline mechanical testing and enhance material insights, Airbus is collaborating with Plastometrex to support the standardisation of PIP (Profilometry-based Indentation Plastometry) – the innovative mechanical testing technique developed and commercialised by the Cambridge-based technology provider.

The foundations for this collaborative approach to be not only a cutting tool supplier, but also a combined consultancy service has been built from Seco’s experience staging its Inspiration Through Innovation (ITI) event each year.

At the cutting tool manufacturer’s UK facility in Alcester, Warwickshire, the company is creating what it describes as an ‘Innovation Hub’ that not only draws on its own engineering know-how and resources, but is also opening its doors to encourage other industry stakeholders to work together to solve customers’ engineering and process challenges.

The industry is also adopting disruptive manufacturing technologies such as, digitalisation (Industry 4.0), advanced alloy and composite material processing and additive manufacturing, and having to tackle environmental concerns, resulting in the hunt for more fuel-efficient aircraft and ecological power sources such as electrification.

Image

This new initiative is a substantial change of direction for the cutting tool supplier. Although design, development and pricing of custom tools will remain at its UK headquarters, production of such tools has been transferred to France. This is so machining and factory resources once employed for cutting tool manufacturing can be applied to solving new projects where customers need substantial efficiency improvements for components manufactured in the supply chain.

Alongside the machining demonstrations there will be a number of seminars delivered by recognised industry-experts related to the projects demonstrated on the shopfloor.

Image

The Machine Tools Africa exhibition is an event by the Machine Tool Merchants’ Association of South Africa (MTMA), and organised by Specialised Exhibitions, a division of the Montgomery Group. Recognised as the essential machine tools exhibition in Africa, the expo is designed to showcase the very latest global machine tool technology and to highlight the importance of local suppliers and their international manufacturing partners. The Machine Tools Africa exhibition is seen as a crucial platform for business to connect with potential customers and for visitors search of new products, technologies, and trends.

As the old saying goes ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ and this idea seems to be one that Seco Tools (UK) is embracing enthusiastically when it comes to meeting the demands of advanced engineering and manufacturing industries – particularly in the aerospace and medical sectors.

In line with this Chemical Solutions and Innovations (CSI) will be presenting Evaporator Technology – an efficient process to treat industrial wastewater and the modern technological advancements of metal working fluids to improve the protection of both human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. CSI’s supplier WSI has developed South Africa’s first industrial water waste treatment machine that uses Evaporator technology to efficiently treat industrial water waste.

One of the machining demonstrations taking place at Inspiration through Innovation 2019 involves the machining of an aero-engine disc, achieving a 50% cycle time reduction

“The technical partners get it right away because they are of a similar mind,” Magnall asserts. “We soon know which companies buy into the idea because they are the ones that start to push us too and are happy to invest either money or equipment.”

All the latest trends in Machine Tools will be on display at Machine Tools Africa exhibition, taking place from 21-24 May 2024 at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec, where industry leaders will have the opportunity to engage on the latest industry trends and technological developments in the machine tools market.

FANUC South Africa will be launching the new α-D28LiB5 ADV Plus Y500, with 28 tool turret, and extended Y axis travel up to 500mm. The company will also demonstrate its full range of products, including the FANUC Robodrill, a compact machining centre that offers high speed with high reliability and the FANUC Robocut, a wire EDM, with the latest CNC for easy operation and high precision cutting.

Tooling manufacturer, Horn has introduced a new carbide insert grade, SG66, for turning components from steel that has been case hardened to 58 HRC.

Other developments in the machine tools market include the growing emphasis on automation in manufacturing processes. Machine tools equipped with robotics and automation are becoming more popular, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.

Seco has chosen aerospace not only because this is a sector where it has extensive experience and sales, but also because it is a high-end engineering industry that faces large order backlogs and significant operational and economic pressures meaning suppliers have to substantially increase production speeds and reduce manufacturing costs.

The NeoMill-Alu-QBig indexable insert milling cutter from Mapal stands for top performance in high-volume milling of aluminium. The tool manufacturer thus offers a very economical solution for use on high-performance machines, such as those found primarily in the aerospace industry.

Retecon will launch a new portable self-centering N.K.O Stinger 300 bevelling system for preparing weld surfaces on pipes and tubes. The new 1000 series fiber laser and press brakes produced by TRUMPF CN are well suited for the local sheet metal industry with an impressive price-performance ratio. The company will also display the all new TruBend 5000 series for high-level accuracy CNC bending. Retecon will also launch the first of its kind in South Africa, the AL-FLAK 900 from Alpha Laser. The AL-FLAK offers wire welding and powder cladding of tooling and shafts for rapid repair and return to service.

Inspiration Through Innovation will also be a far more international event with attendees expected not just from the UK but also Europe, Asia and the US. And the collaboration that epitomises ITI is intended to be the springboard for the Innovation Hub and year-round collaboration with Seco’s partners to offer practical and production ready manufacturing solutions.

The next Southern Manufacturing & Electronics show will take place from 4th to 6th February 2025 at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre.

The necessity for this approach comes predominately from customers according to Dave Magnall, innovation partnership manager, at Seco Tools (UK) who is part of the team driving this new initiative.

Machine tools is an integral part of the manufacturing industry, and directly impacts the economy of any country. The machine tools sector in Africa provides numerous prospects for investment, motivated by demand from the aerospace, automotive and energy sectors. There are several new trends influencing the Machine Tools market in Africa and driving the growth of the industry going forward.

Hi-Tech Machine Tools will be unveiling the latest Mazak CNC Machines running the latest Smooth CNC Controls at MTA 2024. The 3 Mazak CNC Machines: the Mazak Variaxis C600, the Mazak VCN600 and the Mazak HCN6800 Neo with 2 Pallet changer, will be cutting demonstrations utilising the company’s various products. Blaser Swisslube Synergy 735 coolant to lubricate and cool the Hofmann & Vratny cutting tool held by the Albrecht Precision holders. Parts programmed in hyperMILL and held by 5th Axis Workholding.

Puma Machine Tools will launch the BFC Plus 3015 laser machine at MTA 2024. This new machine sets a new standard for productivity and cost-effectiveness and is equipped with a TruFiber Laser from TRUMPF. Fitted with electric press brake, the TPE8 series is powered by a direct-drive servo motor for supreme precision and stability. The new laser machine will demonstrate how to laser cut sheet metal, in the form of a specialised ruler and geometry stencil. The company will demonstrate various other DN Solutions, ViciVision, and Iemca machines at MTA 2024.

“In many ways we are responding to industry demands,” he says. “Many OEMs don’t want small incremental improvements of 10-20% to production from their suppliers anymore, they want improvements of 50, even 70%. With the best will in the world you can’t get a 70% process improvement just by redesigning a cutting tool. You have to draw on a network of partnerships made up of CAD/CAM developers, machine tool builders, coolant suppliers, workholding and metrology specialists to work together to solve a customer’s problem.”

The demand for machining tools capable of handling advanced materials like composites and high-strength alloys is on the rise. Precision machining for applications in aerospace, automotive, and medical industries are becoming increasingly important.

Fleming concludes: “Our ultimate aim is to create a space where like-minded people can come together to work on projects permanently that benefit the whole industry. It means we all work towards the same goal, which is how we can make the process more efficient for the customer. If we can develop tooling, machine tools, workholding, lubricant and software solutions that work in harmony then this becomes a unique offer and we can achieve some truly game-changing developments and opportunities.”

“People ask is this sort of work not being done by the likes of the AMRC or MTC already, but we are coming at it from a much higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL),” Magnall explains. “These are improvements that customers can implement the next day or the next month rather than 5-10 years down the line on projects that need solving immediately. We are much closer to manufacturing subcontractors so what we do complements the type of R&D that they do.”

Mike Fleming, strategic marketing, products and services manager, at Seco Tools (UK) explains: “We are creating an environment where we and our partners can come together to collaborate on best-in-class machining processes and also on R&D, training and education. We want the Innovation Hub to be a co-owned environment where our partners are equal members in this venture. Like us they can access the facilities whenever they need, so we all work together using our particular knowledge and strengths to ultimately benefit our customers.”

Around 30 technical partners will be taking part including well-known machine tool brands – with their machines working on site, CAD/CAM and metrology experts, as well as workholding and cutting fluid suppliers.

Seco Tools is adopting a new approach that solves customers’ machining challenges through an integrated and holistic process with its partners. Ed Hill visited its UK headquarters to find out more.   As the old saying goes ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ and this idea seems to be one that Seco Tools (UK) is embracing enthusiastically when it comes to meeting the demands of advanced engineering and manufacturing industries – particularly in the aerospace and medical sectors. At the cutting tool manufacturer’s UK facility in Alcester, Warwickshire, the company is creating what it describes as an ‘Innovation Hub’ that not only draws on its own engineering know-how and resources, but is also opening its doors to encourage other industry stakeholders to work together to solve customers’ engineering and process challenges. This new initiative is a substantial change of direction for the cutting tool supplier. Although design, development and pricing of custom tools will remain at its UK headquarters, production of such tools has been transferred to France. This is so machining and factory resources once employed for cutting tool manufacturing can be applied to solving new projects where customers need substantial efficiency improvements for components manufactured in the supply chain. Mike Fleming, strategic marketing, products & services manager, Seco Tools Mike Fleming, strategic marketing, products and services manager, at Seco Tools (UK) explains: “We are creating an environment where we and our partners can come together to collaborate on best-in-class machining processes and also on R&D, training and education. We want the Innovation Hub to be a co-owned environment where our partners are equal members in this venture. Like us they can access the facilities whenever they need, so we all work together using our particular knowledge and strengths to ultimately benefit our customers.” The necessity for this approach comes predominately from customers according to Dave Magnall, innovation partnership manager, at Seco Tools (UK) who is part of the team driving this new initiative. “In many ways we are responding to industry demands,” he says. “Many OEMs don’t want small incremental improvements of 10-20% to production from their suppliers anymore, they want improvements of 50, even 70%. With the best will in the world you can’t get a 70% process improvement just by redesigning a cutting tool. You have to draw on a network of partnerships made up of CAD/CAM developers, machine tool builders, coolant suppliers, workholding and metrology specialists to work together to solve a customer’s problem.” The foundations for this collaborative approach to be not only a cutting tool supplier, but also a combined consultancy service has been built from Seco’s experience staging its Inspiration Through Innovation (ITI) event each year. Launched in 2014 as an alternative to the traditional open house, the two-day gathering is not only a showcase for Seco’s cutting tools but also brings together machine tool manufacturers, workholding, metrology, CAD/CAM and coolant companies, along with machining demonstrations, talks and seminars, to offer visitors industry insights, best practice and networking benefits. Spotlight on aerospace This year’s Inspiration Through Innovation, being held on 9-10 October, in many ways encapsulates the Innovation Hub concept by focusing on one sector (aerospace) rather than the broader precision engineering supply chain. Seco has chosen aerospace not only because this is a sector where it has extensive experience and sales, but also because it is a high-end engineering industry that faces large order backlogs and significant operational and economic pressures meaning suppliers have to substantially increase production speeds and reduce manufacturing costs. Seco technician apprentice, Emma Roberts pictured holding a newly machined Inspiration through Innovation event brand identity The industry is also adopting disruptive manufacturing technologies such as, digitalisation (Industry 4.0), advanced alloy and composite material processing and additive manufacturing, and having to tackle environmental concerns, resulting in the hunt for more fuel-efficient aircraft and ecological power sources such as electrification. “For ITI this year we felt it was natural that we focus on aerospace,” Fleming says. “Every machining demonstration will be a component related to the sector. For example, we have projects featuring turbine blisk and disc manufacturing from difficult-to-machine materials, such as Titanium, Inconel and Heat Resistant Super Alloys (HRSAs). We have chosen parts, materials and processes that we think are most applicable and worked with partners who we felt could make the best contribution to those demonstrations. They are all aerospace parts being made by the best technology available, so customers can see the ideal solution.” Some of the other demos include: turbine blade repair using additive and subtractive processes, machining a A350 fuel connector, a titanium structural part, an aero-engine combustion chamber and machining carbon fibre (CFRP) seat parts using robotics. Around 30 technical partners will be taking part including well-known machine tool brands – with their machines working on site, CAD/CAM and metrology experts, as well as workholding and cutting fluid suppliers. “It’s a live event so machining will be going on all the time,” adds Fleming. “Of course, we bear a lot of the cost but we also expect our partners to invest in the event too and encourage them to invite their customers along. We want our partners to benefit from seeing our customers and other partners’ customers so we all contribute in some way and feel we have benefitted from it.” Talking the talk Alongside the machining demonstrations there will be a number of seminars delivered by recognised industry-experts related to the projects demonstrated on the shopfloor. These include presentations from: Rolls-Royce on manufacturing turbines; Siemens on material solutions and additive manufacturing; the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) on blisk demand; Renishaw on Industry 4.0 and utilising machining and metrology data. “Industry 4.0 is a bit of a buzzword, but there is an issue in the industry about integration when it comes to the use of data. Unless we all share and utilise it effectively, we won’t get the full value from it,” states Magnall. Inspiration Through Innovation will also be a far more international event with attendees expected not just from the UK but also Europe, Asia and the US. And the collaboration that epitomises ITI is intended to be the springboard for the Innovation Hub and year-round collaboration with Seco’s partners to offer practical and production ready manufacturing solutions. “People ask is this sort of work not being done by the likes of the AMRC or MTC already, but we are coming at it from a much higher Technology Readiness Level (TRL),” Magnall explains. “These are improvements that customers can implement the next day or the next month rather than 5-10 years down the line on projects that need solving immediately. We are much closer to manufacturing subcontractors so what we do complements the type of R&D that they do.” In fact, Inspiration Through Innovation and the Innovation Hub are all part of an ongoing commitment that Seco calls its T50 pledge. This aims to reduce customers’ costs or process times by 50% and to use innovative technologies and training to achieve it. One of the machining demonstrations taking place at Inspiration through Innovation 2019 involves the machining of an aero-engine disc, achieving a 50% cycle time reduction Of course, to achieve those kinds of advances Seco’s partners have to buy in to this concept of collaboration, so what has been their response? “The technical partners get it right away because they are of a similar mind,” Magnall asserts. “We soon know which companies buy into the idea because they are the ones that start to push us too and are happy to invest either money or equipment.” Essentially, the Innovation Hub and its related initiatives, is about garnering skills and generating new revenue streams that benefit everyone involved, and solve customers’ technical challenges. Fleming concludes: “Our ultimate aim is to create a space where like-minded people can come together to work on projects permanently that benefit the whole industry. It means we all work towards the same goal, which is how we can make the process more efficient for the customer. If we can develop tooling, machine tools, workholding, lubricant and software solutions that work in harmony then this becomes a unique offer and we can achieve some truly game-changing developments and opportunities.” To register for Inspiration Through Innovation visit www.secotools.com/iti2019 www.secotools.com

Some of the other demos include: turbine blade repair using additive and subtractive processes, machining a A350 fuel connector, a titanium structural part, an aero-engine combustion chamber and machining carbon fibre (CFRP) seat parts using robotics.

For more information and to register to attend, visit the Machine Tools Africa website www.machinetoolsafrica.co.za

In fact, Inspiration Through Innovation and the Innovation Hub are all part of an ongoing commitment that Seco calls its T50 pledge. This aims to reduce customers’ costs or process times by 50% and to use innovative technologies and training to achieve it.

Walter has now launched its new X·treme Evo Plus drill from the DC180 Supreme product family that is now available up to 8XD for the first time.