Advanced Engineering, the UK’s largest annual gathering of advanced-engineering professionals, returns to the NEC near Birmingham on 1-2 November (in halls 2, 3 and 3a).

This year’s show has attracted some of the industry’s biggest names, including Airbus, Hexcel and Dassault Systèmes, who will be looking to do business across the supply chain with visitors from a range of engineering sectors, including automation, fluid handling, process control and machining.

The sub-contract market is growing steadily; and with the demand for machining in the second quarter of 2017 increasing by 6.7% compared with the first quarter, the figures have continued to set a positive trend.

Advanced Engineering is the place where the UK supply chain meets face-to-face with engineering management from all areas, including: the process, control and plant industries; R&D; design; and testing — plus production and procurement from OEMs, integrators and top-tier industry players.

Alison Willis, industrial divisional director at show organiser Easyfairs, said: “We’re very excited about this year’s exhibition, as the industrial-machine market is growing at a very healthy rate.

“Advanced Engineering is the place to find new suppliers and customers — and meet with existing contacts — to ensure that this growth continues. We will bring together the latest advances in engineering and — just as importantly — the people who buy and provide engineering services.

“For visitors and exhibitors alike, Advanced Engineering will not only provide a business forum and a supply-chain showcase for individual sectors but will also introduce participants to new opportunities in industries using related technologies and services.”

Meanwhile, a two-day ‘open conference’ will include presentations from Composites UK, Toyota Tsusho, Siemens, the Composites Leadership Forum and Nissan — plus many others.

Topics will include how specific engineering problems have been overcome, as well as more-strategic issues — such as the ‘fourth industrial revolution’, Brexit, additive manufacturing and advances in aluminium engineering.

Ms Willis says: “The conference will provide insights into topics affecting the industries that the show covers. We have something for everyone; and with expert keynote speakers, there will be interesting discussions and Q&A sessions — especially around the hot topic of Industry 4.0.”

Visitors will have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge of the various advanced-engineering sectors and technical topics, as well as to see a wide variety of ‘cutting edge’ technologies and materials being shown by exhibitors. There will also be a number of ‘show floor’ features at various locations around the show.

These will include: Aceleron, which will be showing a revolutionary low-cost energy storage module that is made from 100% recycled materials (including ‘repurposed’ batteries); Riversimple will be showing an electric vehicle capable of travelling 300 miles on one tank of hydrogen; Safran Landing Systems will be highlighting its aircraft landing gear and braking systems; Libralato will be showing a hybrid rotary engine that offers exceptionally high efficiency and low emissions; Transfiniti will be demonstrating a steplessly variable transmission with individual wheel speed and direction vectoring capability; while Contra Electric Propulsion will be showing a ground-based test rig for the world’s first electric contra-rotating reversible fixed-pitch propeller for light aircraft.

Other companies participating in the ‘show floor’ features include: Scott Bader, a multi-national chemical company, which will be showing a Caterham car that incorporates its Crestapol resin; Cristex, which will be showing a Land Rover vehicle featuring the company’s composites technology; while the University of Wolverhampton will be there with a Formula 3 Morgan Motor Co car.

Ms Willis says: “The ‘show floor’ features this year are mostly focused on sustainable methods of travel, which is key to the ever-changing world of advanced engineering. Not only are these features great to look at, they are built by forward-thinking companies that are changing their industries.”

Also part of the show are five zones: Aero Engineering, Composites Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Performance Metals Engineering and Connected Manufacturing, the latter being new for 2017.

Also included this year is Enabling Innovation. Sponsored by Magna International and supported by Innovate UK’s network partner, the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), this provides an opportunity for up to 50 start-
ups and researchers to showcase the next generation of new technologies.

Now in its ninth year, the show is bringing together over 600 companies and anticipates a record number of visitors — all looking to source, specify and invest in the most up-to-date products and explore the latest industry
innovations. For more information on Advanced Engineering, or to secure your free ticket for the show, visit the Web site (www.advancedengineeringuk.com). Regular updates will be posted on Twitter via .

Production-related equipment

Devon-based XYZ Machine Tools (www.xyzmachinetools.com) has taken two stands at the show. A total of five machines will be on display, with the XYZ UMC-5X gantry-style simultaneous five-axis machine taking centre stage on stand CM17. Next door on stand CM18 will be a display covering the range of XYZ ProtoTrak- and Siemens-controlled machines.

XYZ considers Advanced Engineering to be an ideal platform to highlight the capability of the UMC-5X, which it sees as a ‘game-changer’ in the five-axis market due to its exceptional technology/price ratio.

This machine is said to deliver exceptional performance, matching that of machines that would cost considerably more for the same level of technology and accuracy. It is available with either the Siemens 840DSL Shopmill or the Heidenhain iTNC 640 HSCI control system.

The machine also benefits from: a gantry-type design, which adds greater rigidity and performance; C-axis rotation via a direct-drive low-maintenance high-torque motor giving 90rev/min; ±120deg on the tilting A axis, with 2.5sec for full movement; and 600mm of axis travel in X and Y (500mm in Z), allowing larger parts to be accommodated than on comparable machines.

Visitors will also be able to see the new XYZ 500 LR vertical machining centre under power at the show. The LR range of machines forms the first step to VMC ownership from XYZ, while still offering exceptional specification and performance. These machines make use of linear-rail ball-bearing slideways, which provide a lower cost alternative to XYZ’s existing range of box-slideway machines without compromising performance.

The range consists of three machines: the 500 LR, 750 LR and 1000 LR (with the number indicating the X-axis travel). Also on stand CM18 will be an SLX 355 ProTurn lathe, a SMX 3500 ProtoTrak-controlled bed mill and the versatile XYZ 2-OP portable vertical machining centre.

Sheffield-based WNT (UK) Ltd (www.wnt.com) will use its attendance at Advanced Engineering (stand N22) to highlight the major cycle-time savings that can be achieved using its solid-carbide circular-segment milling cutters in conjunction with Open Minds’ HyperMill Maxx Machining CAM software.

Launched recently at a presentation at Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, these cutters can deliver cycle-time reductions of 90% in finish-machining operations on five-axis machines.

These reductions are compared to using more-conventional ball-nose cutters and milling techniques for machining pockets and deep-walled components, typically found in the aerospace and mould-and-die sectors.

In addition to reducing cycle times, the circular-segment cutters can also deliver surface-finish improvements, as the extremely large effective radius of the cutters enables greater step-over distances to be achieved.

In comparison, a typical ball-nose cutter would have a step-over distance (or axial depth of cut) of around 0.5mm, achieving a surface finish of Ra 1.22µm.

With the circular-segment cutters, the step-over can increase to 1.5mm, with a surface finish of Ra 0.46µm. Typical cutting data for a 6mm-diameter circular-segment cutter with three flutes machining tool steel (1.2312) will be 300mm/min surface speed, 16m/min feed rate and an axial depth of cut of 1.5mm and radial depth of cut of 0.2mm.

Another advantage is that the machining strategy allows hard-to-reach planes on a component to be machined, such as deep walls in a pocket on an airframe or mould tool that would be impossible to reach with conventional end mills.

Visitors can also discuss a number of other tooling developments, including the new sliding-head tooling range (pictured), which has its own dedicated catalogue containing over 11,000 items, 5,000 of which are brand-new to WNT and offer significant advantages to those using sliding-head machines.

This catalogue is a ‘one-stop shop’ for all things related to sliding-head tooling, and key product inclusions are: solid-carbide slitting saws, new grades for Deco-style tools, an extensive range of guide bushes and collets, as well as the brand-new XHeadClamp system of interchangeable tools; this allows a modular head — or even the style of head — to be changed in less than 5sec, with guaranteed positioning of the cutting edge.

Milling is also well catered for by the newly introduced MonsterMill PCR UNI range of solid-carbide milling cutters. These excel at rough and finish milling and are extremely adept at vertical plunge milling.

With four cutting edges, they have a significant advantage over conventional plunge milling cutters, achieving feed rates that are up to a third higher. For ramping/plunging, slotting and profiling operation, feed rates up to 0.137mm/rev are possible.

WNT’s technical sales engineers will also be on hand to discuss specific applications and machining strategies, such as trochoidal milling, which is helping customers to reduce cycle times significantly.

Using the latest in cutting-tool technology, such as WNT CCR cutters and modern CAM systems, trochoidal milling achieves the optimum machining process to deliver significant savings, particularly where large volumes of material are to be removed, or in machining deep slots or high flanks.

The design of these tools allows greater flute length to be used, with tool wear (in relation to the volume being machined) distributed across this increased flute length.

Gloucestershire-based Renishaw plc (www.renishaw.com) will be showcasing a new probe system for use with its REVO five-axis measurement system on stand B53.


The SFP2 increases the surface-finish measurement capabilities of the REVO system, which offers a multi-sensor capability providing touch-trigger, high-speed tactile scanning and non-contact vision measurement on a single CMM.

Combining surface finish measurement and dimensional inspection on the CMM presents advantages over traditional inspection methods requiring a separate process.

Powered by five-axis measurement technology, the SFP2’s automated surface finish inspection offers significant time savings, reduced part handling and greater return on CMM investment.

The SFP2 system consists of a probe and a range of modules; it is automatically interchangeable with all other probe options available for REVO, providing the flexibility to easily select the optimum tool to inspect a wide range of features, all on one CMM platform.

Data from multiple sensors is automatically referenced to a common datum. The surface finish system is managed by the same I++ DME-compliant interface as the REVO system, and full user functionality is provided by Renishaw’s MODUS metrology software.

Renishaw’s award-winning REVO five-axis measurement system is the only scanning system for CMMs that simultaneously controls the motion of three machine and two head axes while collecting workpiece data.

Using its range of 2-D and 3-D tactile probes, surface finish measurement and non-contact vision probes, the REVO system brings dramatic speed and accuracy benefits to part inspection on CMMs.

Bletchley-based PDJ Vibro Ltd (www.pdjvibro.co.uk), the leading vibratory-finishing specialist, will promote: its comprehensive range of new and refurbished bowls, barrels and high-energy centrifugal equipment; its vast range of consumables; and its repair and sub-contract finishing services.

They all ensure that the deburring, descaling, edge breaking, surface finishing and super-finishing of components are carried out automatically to a high degree of repeatability that is unattainable when processing by hand.

At the same time, parts can be degreased, rinsed, dried and pre-treated for anodising, chemical blacking or painting.

More than 120 machines are available for inspection at the supplier’s headquarters, which houses a showroom, technical centre and demonstration facility.

PLC dosing of additives, water metering and recirculation, automatic parts separation, drying and acoustic suppression can be supplied with the machines.

Also in stock are over 70 tonnes of the main consumable items (over 6,000 varieties), including ceramic and porcelain media, detergents and other compounds.

PDJ Vibro can provide free process advice, which takes into account the number of parts to be finished per batch, frequency of production, drainage and noise issues, the size of components and how vulnerable they are to damage
by ‘impingement’. Finishing trials and sample processing are also offered, along with flexible payment and buy-back solutions.

If funding is not available for machine purchase, the company recommends its 24/7 sub-contract finishing capacity. Around 35 million parts are processed annually.

A collection and delivery service is provided, but customers can arrange their own transportation if preferred — or even wait for the parts to be ready.

Designed for the mass processing of small to medium-size components, the company’s main high-end vibratory-bowl range has chamber sizes from 7.5 to 6,000 litres.

Alternatively, three competitively priced, entry-level models have process chamber capacities of 300, 150 and 75 litres.

They are priced at about 25% less but are still built to a high specification, having a durable stress-relieved bowl with cast polyurethane lining driven by a heavy-duty three-phase electric motor.

Rectangular troughs are available in 13 sizes, with capacities from 22 to 2,200 litres. They are the preferred choice for finishing larger prismatic items and those made from flat sheet metal, as well as delicate components that are susceptible to impact damage.

Hove-based CGTech Ltd (www.cgtech.co.uk) will demonstrate the new version of Vericut CNC machine simulation and optimisation software on stand O62.

Vericut 8.1 sees enhanced support for Force optimisation, plus a new additive-manufacturing (AM) module that simulates both additive and traditional machining capabilities used in any order on hybrid CNC machines.

Simulating both operations can identify potential problems when integrating additive methods. It checks for the accuracy of laser cladding and material deposition, detects collisions between the machine and additive part — and finds errors, voids and misplaced material.

Users can virtually experiment with combining additive and metal removal processes to determine optimal safe hybrid manufacturing methods.

CGTech will also demonstrate its Composites Applications software for the programming and simulation of Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) and Automated Tape Laying (ATL).

Tony Shrewsbury, CGTech’s managing director, says: “Due to the extensive time, energy and labour invested in composite workpieces prior to machining, they can often be more expensive than even some exotic metal alloy parts.

Repairing composite workpieces after a machining error is problematic — and often not advisable — so validating the part program prior to trimming is critical.”

Visitors to CGTech’s stand will also have the opportunity to receive a thorough overview of the steps needed to get from a CAD-designed composite part to the CNC programs that drive AFP and ATL machines; there will also be
information on new projects that highlight the implementation and use of machine-independent off-line NC programming software for these machines.

Brighouse-based Asquith Butler Ltd (www.asquithbutler.com), on stand N115, has been manufacturing machines tools since 1865 and is acknowledged as a world leader in the design and manufacture of large-capacity machining centres.

The company is guardian of the renowned Asquith and Butler machine brands, which feature products such as the Asquith radial-arm drill, ram-type machines and the Butler Elgamill.

It now focuses on bespoke ‘state of the art’ multi-axis CNC machine tools to meet the ever-increasing demands of today’s manufacturing industries.

Working with its manufacturing partners Zayer and Bray/Sahos, Asquith Butler can offer machining centres with the very latest technology to the highest quality standards at competitive prices.

Peterborough-based Measurement Solutions (www.measurement-solutions.co.uk) — a specialist in 3-D measurement and scanning (and Creaform’s partner since 1998) will be displaying its latest hand-held 3-D measuring solutions on stand F51.

Iain Caville, Measurement Solutions’ managing director, said: “Customers constantly strive for new solutions to old problems, and it’s now the turn of metrology to see a massive game-change. Our hand-held measuring systems eliminate the need for portable measuring arms.

“One example is the latest MetraScan3D hand-held 3-D scanner — with 14 laser lines simultaneously scanning a surface, it is faster than any other scanning technology. It can scan any surface, including highly polished chrome finishes and shiny black parts, which means an end to having to spray white powder everywhere.

“When combined with the HandyProbe Next, a wireless hand-held probe, the user has a complete measuring solution. The HandyProbe Next offers a measuring volume of over 16m3 from a single set-up.”

Mr Caville added: “There is a lot of hype surrounding 3-D scanning, but with Creaform as our partner, we will have no hesitation in proving to show visitors that our solutions do exactly what they say on the tin.”

Letchworth-based RARUK Automation Ltd (www.rarodriguez.co.uk) — a Universal Robot preferred distributor — will demonstrate on stand CM28 how its robots are a cost-effective production solution that allows humans and robots to work collaboratively.

There are three flexible and lightweight six-axis robot arms in the Universal Robot range that can be used for a wide variety of applications.

They are categorised according to their payload limits and have reach, weight and footprint differences.

Complementing these robots is Universal Robots+, an on-line showroom available via RARUK Automation for cutting-edge products that allow Universal Robots to be customised for specific applications.

Fresh from world premieres at EMO, Rugby-based Mapal Ltd (www.mapal.com), a manufacturer of PCD cutting tools, will be bringing new product lines to stand M51 at Advanced Engineering.

Taking centre stage will be an extension of the company’s hole-making line, with its new CPR500/510 replaceable-head reamer available in diameters from 8 to 40mm.

Incorporating optimised cooling that offers an economic advantage in “cast machining”, this new range can extend tool life, as its solid-carbide replaceable heads feature a CVD coating.

Complementing this new line will be a complete programme of ISO indexable inserts for boring steel, stainless steel and heat-resistant cast steel.

The new ISO indexable-insert series will be available as standard or as special designs and will incorporate an optimised carbide substrate and will be available with PVD or CVD coating.

Last year, Mapal defined a new standard in drilling with the arrival of its three cutting-edge Tritan-Drill.

At Advanced Engineering, the extended line of drills will be on display with a specially adapted version for machining steel.

The robustness of the Tritan-Drill-Steel is due to the new cutting-edge design, which is different to the Tritan-Drill-Uni for universal use.

The resulting stable cutting edges reduce the mechanical loads, while the coating is specially adapted for the machining of steel.

Also on display will be the new OptiMill-Uni-Wave solid-carbide high-performance milling cutters for roughing applications.

This slot-milling series makes a groove depth of up to 2xD possible, and the level of performance is significantly increased compared with previous existing HPC milling cutters.

To achieve this, Mapal has developed a highly ductile carbide substrate with a wear-resistant coating and special cutting-edge preparation.

The five cutting edges of the OptiMill-Uni-Wave are divided unevenly, and the new line will be available in short, long, over-long and extra-long sizes in the HB shank form with a diameter range from 4 to 25mm.

Metal heat treatment and hard-coating are relatively mature processes, but the metal performance properties demanded by aerospace, automotive and medical device engineers mean that the technical boundaries are being pushed all the time.

At Advanced Engineering, on stand P52, Cambridge-based Wallwork Group (www.wallworkht.co.uk) will showcase its research and development expertise.

At its well-equipped laboratory, the company is developing heat treatment and coating processes that solve real-world problems for customers.

Highly skilled and qualified staff are involved in cross-industry research with product manufacturers to improve performance, reduce production cycle times and achieve savings.

Once a new process is developed, Wallwork scales it up from the lab to full production. Non-disclosure agreements are an important part of this work to ensure that a customer’s return on investment is protected.

With sites in Cambridge, Manchester and Birmingham, the firm offers a wide range of metal improvement services. Heat treatments include solution, age or precipitation, hardening and tempering, nitriding by gas or plasma — and more.

Coatings include TiN, CrN, CrAlN, TiAlN, diamond-like carbon, duplex nitron and multi-layer variants. The company is also a centre of excellence for vacuum brazing, producing complex component assemblies by joining same-metals or dissimilar metals.

Already AS9100 revision D certified, the company has many process specific approvals from aerospace primes such as Airbus, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Moog.

Brierley Hill-based Alloy Wire International (www.alloywire.com), a world-leading manufacturer of ‘exotic’ alloys, will be exhibiting its wire range on stand M52.

The company makes precision-drawn round wire, flat wire, profile wire, bars and wire rope in more than 60 different ‘high performance’ nickel alloys.

Operating from two ‘state of the art’ factories and a network of 40 inter-national offices, it supports 15 demanding industries, including aerospace, nuclear, automotive, chemical, electronic, medical and oil and gas.

West Yorkshire-based Keighley Laboratories (www.keighleylabs.co.uk) will be on stand K85 to discuss any metallurgical heat treatment, analysis and testing requirements.

Visitors to Advanced Engineering can discover how independent BSI and Nadcap-accredited heat treatment facilities, together with UKAS 17025 and Nadcap-accredited testing services, make Keighley Laboratories a trusted partner. The company offers a large range of metallurgical services and heat treatments on one site to ensure that customers’ metallurgical components are fit for purpose.

Stourport-based Sharmic Engineering Ltd (www.sharmic.co.uk), a leading provider of vibratory-finishing solutions and consumables, will be exhibiting on stand P72.

The company can supply both new and refurbished vibratory-finishing machines and systems for deburring, descaling, cleaning, degreasing and polishing on components made from metals, plastics or wood. It offers an extensive range of consumables and chemicals, plus a sub-contract finishing service.

Silverstone Technology Cluster

The Silverstone Technology Cluster (in association with Silverstone Park) will have a major presence at Advanced Engineering through hosting the VIP lounge. Each of the STC’s founding members — as well as its CEO Pim van Baarsen — will be present in the lounge on both days; it will be an ideal location for figures from all corners of the advanced-engineering spectrum to network.

Alison Willis, industrial divisional director at show organiser Easyfairs, said: “We are delighted to welcome the STC and Silverstone Park as key partners at this year’s Advanced Engineering.

“An STC VIP lounge on the show floor fits perfectly with Advanced Engineering’s growing focus on promoting innovation and facilitating networking between industry decision makers and innovators.”

STC is a not-for-profit company that was launched in December 2016 to promote the region within an hour’s drive of Silverstone; this area has been identified as home to around 4,000 companies in high-tech engineering and recognised by the UK Government as having ‘latent potential’.

CEO Pim van Baarsen said: “The Advanced Engineering show is the perfect location to promote the STC; it is multi-sectoral in focus and embraces advanced technologies and future technologies, which is what the STC is all about.”

Silverstone Park is the high-tech business estate that developer MEPC has rapidly grown since taking over management of the site in September 2013. It includes the UK’s only dedicated sub-contract inspection facility, in partnership with Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence.