Engis (UK is now able to offer customers a one-stop shop for high quality lapping and polishing supply solutions.
Engis (UK), part of Global diamond and superabrasives systems provider, Engis Corporation, is now able to offer customers a one-stop shop for high quality lapping and polishing supply solutions.

Engis' consumables product range includes: abrasives, cast iron lapping plates and rings, composite plates (compete or re-coat) polishing cloths (silk, felt, woven, compressed and non-woven), diamond slurries and pastes and precision optics products such as Cerium Oxide, Colloidal Silica and Alumina, polishing pitch, mounting waxes and polyurethane pads.

To celebrate the launch this new one-stop shop initiative Engis is making a special introductory offer of 12.5% discount on all silicon carbide abrasive.

Wilson and Royston, a manufacturer of bespoke plastics moulds, pressure diecasting dies and rubber moulds, has changed its name to WR Tooling, following a management buyout.
Wilson and Royston has changed its name to WR Tooling, following a management buyout earlier this year. The West Yorkshire based company has been purchased back by founder shareholder Ian Wilson and director Paul Royston, son of co-founder Mike Royston. The business, which trades nationwide, manufactures an extensive range of bespoke plastics moulds, pressure diecasting dies and rubber moulds.

Prior to the MBO it was part of the JL French UK group, formerly Morris Ashby PLC, however, a decision by the parent company to concentrate on core business activities resulted in the sale.

Wilson said: 'The opportunity to purchase back the business arose quite unexpectedly and after a very quick discussion, we were keen to pursue it.

The advantages of operating the company independent of any parent company are huge and it also means that we will not have any conflicts of interests arising from group products.' Twenty four jobs at the company's 10,000ft2 have been safeguarded as a result of the move and it hopes to make further appointments including more apprentices, as and when trading permits.

At a time of doom and gloom generally in engineering, the decision by Messrs Wilson and Royston must come as a welcome relief to those involved in the struggling industry and it also underscores both shareholders' confidence in the future of British engineering.

The business is particularly keen to emphasise its investment in CAD technology which allows it to accept initial data in a wide range of formats, and software includes Unigraphics, Pro/Engineer, SDRC Ideas and AutoCAD 2000.

WR Tooling's bigger machines are CNC shop floor interfaced, allowing instructions to be sent direct from the CAD office.

Recent on-going investments in machinery have seen the purchase of a Mikron HSM 700, with spindle speeds up to 42,000 rpm, and a Huron KX20, capable of spindle speeds of up to 24,000 rpm.

Explaining, the company's sales director Ray Brown says: 'We manufacture a comprehensive range of plastics, rubber and pressure diecasting moulds and dies, many of which are bespoke produced.

The company is fully committed to the industry and draws on more than 30 years of experience.' END About WR Tooling - founded in 1974 by Ian Wilson, a toolmaker, and Mike Royston, a pattern maker, the business grew steadily over the years and has survived the test of time by investing in state of the art plant and machinery, including software systems for 3D modelling and shop floor programming.

CAD facility consists of Unigraphics, Pro/Engineer, SDRC Ideas and AutoCAD.

NC Graphics is employed for shop floor 3D CNC programming.

The business is an active member of the GTMA and is highly respected for its ability to produce precision moulding, often at relatively short notice.

With the ever increasing pressures on both delivery times and costs, Toolcraft Plastics have set out methods for the quick production of injection mould tools.
With the ever increasing pressures on both delivery times and costs, Toolcraft Plastics of Swindon have set out methods for the quick production of injection mould tools. The ability to import client drawings from a wide range of formats such as DXF, DWG, IGES, Pro-Engineer, SolidWorks and STL reduces design time. Fully equipped with modern CAD/CAM facility and up-to-date mould flow analysis packages mould designs can be optimised at Toolcraft and any proposed parts or tool changes relayed to the client using E-drawings without additional software on client's systems.

By judicious choice of material grades, tools in aluminium alloys, capable of 100's of thousands of operations can be made often up to 30% cheaper than the equivalent steel product.

They are easier and faster to machine, with deliveries typically 50% of normal delivery times.

Being lighter they are more easily handled, do not rust and are generally corrosion resistant, particularly against PVC induced contaminants.

Also as aluminium conducts heat four times better than steel, tools run cooler, and can therefore be run faster, resulting ultimately in lower parts costs.

Toolcraft's long term experience enables them to predict areas of stress which where necessary can be strengthened with steel inserts.

For further extended life, and minimal cost increase of around 10 - 15% tools can be nickel cobalt coated to a Rockwell hardness of 55.

Fast, accurate and reliable tool manufacture then comes from the direct link between design computers and production machines.

The final 'edge' comes with Toolcraft's ability to set up quickly and run prototypes, pre-production runs or full production in a wide range of plastic materials.

Toolcraft Plastics have years of experience in all forms of tooling, not just in aluminium and have an abbreviated analysis of tools and their applications 'on the web'.

EDM equipment supplier Agie, CADCAM developer Delcam and tooling systems specialist System 3R are to repeat their recent 'From CAD to Component' seminar for mould and die makers.
Agie, Delcam and System 3R to repeat EDM seminar in UK and North America EDM equipment supplier Agie, CADCAM developer Delcam and tooling systems specialist System 3R are to repeat their recent 'From CAD to Component' seminar on the latest developments in the design, manufacture and use of electrodes in the UK and in North America. These free events will both be held on 26th June, with the UK meeting at Agie's UK headquarters in Chemsley Wood, Birmingham, and the North American seminar at the Ciociaro Club in Windsor, Ontario. They will cover the complete EDM process in a series of presentations and demonstrations, with particular attention being given to new automated methods that can speed and simplify all stages of electrode use.

Electrodes are needed by toolmakers to create small features and sharp corners in their tools, to give the highest quality finish, or to produce textured surfaces.

Like every other aspect of toolmaking, it is essential that the latest methods are used to meet the customers' demands for faster delivery and higher quality at a lower price.

Each day will begin with a presentation on Delcam's PS-Electrode software for the automated design of electrodes.

This software allows quick and easy production of electrode models, together with set-up sheets for their manufacture and use, plus programming instructions that can be supplied directly to the Agievision control system.

Designs created within PS-Electrode can be used by Delcam's PowerMILL cam software to produce the machining data for their manufacture.

System 3R will describe the company's range of standard blanks and holders, all of which can be specified from within PS-Electrode.

The benefits in production efficiency that can be gained from using these standard components will be outlined, together with the opportunities for automation that they offer.

The Agie presentation will cover the many advances that have established the company as a leading supplier of high performance EDM systems.

The main focus will be on recent developments that have greatly simplified the EDM process, making it quicker and more accessible at all requirement levels, and at same time boosting its popularity as a reliable high-performance manufacturing method.

Following the formal presentations, visitors will be able to see detailed demonstrations of the various technologies.

Staff from the three companies will be available to discuss all aspects of the application of the latest EDM technology in the delegates' companies.

An anodised aluminium injection mould in a two-year EU-funded thermoplastics moulding research programme performed close to the standard of the steel one - among other surprises.
Project ALAMO, a two-year European Union funded research programme coordinated by Rapra Technology, is drawing to a close with some spectacular results. The project was initiated to investigate innovative uses of anodised aluminium in the field of thermoplastics moulding, concentrating on injection and rotational moulding, with the ultimate aim of competing directly with steel tooling. Aluminium has several known advantages for tooling applications - easy machining, good thermal properties, light weight and excellent recyclability but it has suffered from a perceived lack of wear and chemical resistance.

The anodised coating perfected by the team from across Europe has given the wear and chemical resistance without compromising the inherent beneficial properties of aluminium.

The programme members combined expertise in various fields - anodising, materials testing, mould manufacture, moulding and 3D moulding simulation, using both injection moulding and rotational moulding techniques to produce test tools which compared traditional P20 steel, aluminium, and anodised aluminium mould tools (for rotational moulding and injection moulding) The results were promising to say the least.

The rotational moulding tool exhibited a 20% reduction in cycle time compared to a conventional aluminium tool due to the rapid heating and cooling made possible by the high emissivity of anodising combined with the excellent thermal conductivity of aluminium.

There was a corresponding reduction in energy usage and the resultant mouldings were thoroughly tested and showed no difference in material properties.

The injection mould was a four impression tool which compared wear rates over 10,000 mouldings of an abrasive glass filled nylon compound.

The results were conclusive: the anodised aluminium insert performed close to the standard of the steel one whereas the non-anodised aluminium insert showed marked wear in the gate area, visible to the naked eye.

The final phase of the ALAMO project has been to make some industrial demonstrators in order to expand on the positive results of the tests phase.

These results are expected around November 2006 when the project reaches the end of its current funding.

However the resulting technology will continue under the guidance of the SME partners in the project.

Merged toolmaking companies offer a total solution service to the plastics and associated industries from initial concept through to full production.
Kent based Millaber and Folkestone Precision Engineering have combined their 60+ years experience in rapid prototyping, toolmaking, checking fixture manufacture and low volume production to form a new company called Advanced Tooling Systems UK (ATS-UK). The merging of the two companies individual services places ATS-UK in a unique position in the marketplace as the only UK based company that can genuinely offer a total solution service to the plastics and associated industries from initial concept through to full production. Adrian Gander-Group Managing Director said 'With the formation of ATS-UK we have created a market defining company, a number of our competitors claim that they can offer the level of services that ATS-UK can but none of them offer it all in house and with the level of technical management that comes as standard to ATS-UK.

This truly puts us in a class of our own!' Operating out of two sites, rapid prototyping and Fixture manufacture in Maidstone, toolmaking and Moulding in Folkestone, ATS-UK currently employs around 50 staff and turnover is expected to exceed GBP 7.5 million this Year.

David Greenwood-Director said 'We are anticipating Year on Year growth in turnover and to support this we have been making heavy investment in new technologies and systems in order to reduce our leadtimes, improve our service levels and remain a competitive player in today's highly volatile marketplace despite competition from overseas'.

The current customer base includes many prestigious clients such as Visteon Interior Systems, Jaguar, Bentley Motors, GDA Group, McLaren, Lear Corporation, Geberit and the various divisions of the Etex Group.

Mark Terry-Group Business Development Manager said: 'Although the main focus is currently centred around large automotive projects we firmly believe that the very high quality of our services and the levels of support and project management demanded by the major Automotive OEM's will be of benefit to many players within the non-automotive sector and this is an area in which we will be actively pursuing new business particularly in the aerospace and medical industries, indeed we have just secured our first aerospace tooling contract for the new Airbus A380 which we plan to expand upon very quickly'.

ATS-UK is linked with the European ATS Group within which lies a very strong manufacturing base in large scale Toolmaking (Moulds of up-to 185t have been manufactured!), Aerospace fixture manufacture and Project Management services all of which strengthens ATS-UK' s ability to manage very large and complex projects with each division being centrally managed and contracts being placed according to each sites relevant capabilities.

Using technology developed in-house, a proprietary mould system is engineered specifically for the automotive industry to produce large car parts - such as bumpers
SPG Group, leading manufacturer of high precision tooling systems, has introduced the Pre-Tension Tool. Using technology developed in-house, this proprietary mould system was engineered specifically for the automotive industry, and is capable of producing large car parts such as bumpers. The whole process can be completed in a record 8 weeks, meeting the automotive industry's highest quality demands.

The Pre-Tension Tool utilises the same technology as series production.

Built with aluminium product forming inserts in a pre-tension frame, it has all the features of a conventional injection moulding system and is capable of reproducing all current injection moulding processes - delivering large automotive parts of production series quality.

Small series production = pre-Tension Tool was originally devised for the production of large automotive representative prototypes - and as such it has a proven track record with a number of significant projects for leading automotive applications.

However, after fine-tuning and expansion of the technology, the system has demonstrated that it is capable of producing bumpers and other large automotive parts for small series.

According to SPG Group Sales Director Mario Neijts, the new technology has already demonstrated its value, by delivering production quality small series bumpers for Porsche enabling them to start vehicle production a full 10 weeks earlier than originally planned - delivering a measurably faster return-on-investment.

Mario Neijts: 'Today, large automotive parts such as bumpers are more complex and are required to meet the highest standards.

Mould costs represent a significant investment and the production of a standard bumper injection mould, including many modifications, can take up to 24 weeks or longer.

Thanks to our experience in producing representative prototypes for large car parts such as bumpers, we are now able to introduce the Pre-Tension Tool.' SPG Project Management - today, OEMs and systems suppliers are looking to outsource their small series parts production.

It is here that SPG Project Management makes the difference.

As a fast growing member of the SPG Group, SPG Project Management is specialised in overseeing all aspects of mould development and production.

By taking on board the full process on a turn-key basis, SPG Project Management provides a single point of contact to manage the many individual efforts that are involved in the mould-to-final-part process.

SPG Group is a leading producer of high precision tooling components and systems for the automotive and connector industry.

The company comprises 9 individual units, each specialised in specific aspects of design engineering, tool manufacturing and production.

SPG Group is an operating company of Kroymans Corporation, an international organisation, active in automotive and industrial markets.

Kroymans Corporation has approximately 100 operating companies throughout Europe, the United States and Asia.

Moldflow congratulates Avenue Mould on winning the Plastics and Rubber Weekly 'Toolmaker of the Year' Award; the company was the first Irish toolmaker to produce 96-cavity moulds.
Moldflow Corporation is delighted to congratulate its Irish customer Avenue Mould on winning the Plastics and Rubber Weekly (PRW) toolmaker of the Year Award, after three consecutive years on the shortlist for this category of the Plastics Industry Awards (PIA). From its base in Sligo, in the heart of Ireland's mould and toolmaking sector, Avenue Mould has over the past 15 years developed a powerful niche position in production of high-precision multi-cavity injection moulds for applications in the medical and teletronics industry. Its customers include many leading international names across Ireland, the UK and northern Europe.

This achievement is even more impressive given that Ireland was seen as lacking in high-quality mouldmaking skills when managing director Felim McNeela and a group of seven employee shareholders decided to set up in Sligo.

Since then Avenue has become used to setting standards: it was the first-ever winner of the PIA Toolmaker of the Year award; it was the first Irish mouldmaker to move into 96-cavity mould manufacturing; it was the first to use the Moldflow Fusion package in Ireland; and it was the first to implement the Moldflow MPX moulding machine optimisation system.

Avenue's efforts have been clearly recognised in this year's PIA voting, pushing it back to top position once more.

The company achieved sector-leading scores from PRW readers in three of the PIA categories - design and manufacturing investment, project support and product quality.

In fact, its performance in the product quality category was far ahead of its rivals.

The company operates a well-equipped mouldmaking shop supported by first-class mould trialling facilities.

But it maintains this is only one element in its success.

It says that what it does with its machinery investments differentiates it from its competition.

Avenue makes full use of Moldflow software to predict performance and to establish mould operating windows prior to delivery to customers.

Its machining centres are extensively robotised to provide unattended 24-hour operation.

However, it is also people that make the difference.

'The equipment on the market is open to everyone, but it is how we use it that gives us the edge.

The better designed we can make the mould, the faster and more efficient it will be for the client, and the less maintenance will be required,' says managing director Felim McNeela.