Being held at FIVE, Farnborough, Tuesday 10 February-Thursday 12 February — and marketed as the UK’s top annual industrial show — Southern Manufacturing features a substantial Machinery Area that will be a particular attraction to readers of Machinery Market.
Around 800 companies from all over the world will be exhibiting at the event; and in addition to those that will be demonstrating manufacturing technology and automation, there will be a large number of companies offering specialist engineering services — with many exhibiting in the UK for the first time.
Companies demonstrating metal-cutting machines will include Yamazaki Mazak, XYZ Machine Tools, GF Machining Solutions, Haas Automation Ltd, NCMT Ltd, Matchmaker CNC, Hurco Europe Ltd, Matsuura Machinery Ltd, C Dugard Ltd, Romi Machines UK Ltd, Fanuc UK Ltd and Geo Kingsbury.
On the tube and sheet-metal front will be the likes of Amada UK, Unison Ltd, Trumpf Ltd, Prima Power UK Ltd, Safan UK Ltd, Wilson Tool International, LVD Pullmax and Bystronic UK Ltd.
Companies offering programming software will include Delcam plc, Edgecam, Radan, OneCNC UK Ltd and Open Mind Technologies UK Ltd. In the field of quality and inspection, companies exhibiting include Renishaw plc, OGP UK Ltd, Vision Engineering, Carl Zeiss Ltd, Nikon Metrology, Hexagon Metrology, Bowers Group and Aberlink Innovative Metrology.
Tooling companies include WNT (UK) Ltd and ITC Ltd, with 1st Machine Tool Accessories and Roemheld UK Ltd just two of the companies demonstrating work-holding equipment. Companies offering specialist processes include Mollart Engineering Ltd (gun-drilling), Thompson Friction Welding and Bruderer UK Ltd (high-speed pressing).
In the metal
XYZ Machine Tools (
www.xyzmachinetools.co.uk) will be filling its stand with a cross-section of its machine tool range, from ProtoTrak-controlled turret and bed mills and SLX ProTurn lathes through to full CNC machining centres and turning centres.
To demonstrate the capability of machines equipped with ProtoTrak, XYZ Machine Tools will demonstrate the ability and simplicity of the control on an XYZ SMX 3500 bed mill and an XYZ ProTurn SLX 425 lathe.
This control is ideal for one-offs and small-batch quantities; even without any knowledge of CNC, operators will be producing parts within a day.
For those looking at full CNC-equipped machines, XYZ Machine Tools will be displaying an XYZ 710 VMC vertical machining centre and an XYZ Compact Turn 52 turning centre. Customers can specify either the Siemens control with ShopMill conversational programming or the Fanuc production control.
Following the success it achieved at the Southern Manufacturing exhibitions of 2013 and 2014, Ajax Machine Tools International Ltd (
www.ajax-mach.co.uk) has taken a larger stand for 2015 in order to promote the latest additions to its Interactive range of seven CNC bed mill machines and three Euroturn AJEU electronic CNC lathes.
Both machine types can be used for production, as well as in the workshop and training environments. As part of its involvement with education and training, Ajax will be presenting its latest training package. Costing under £35,000, this incorporates two UK-built machines, both fitted with Siemens controls — the Ajax Euroturn lathe and Interactive CNC bed mill.
Also included are 12 seats of the Siemens Sinumerik 808D PC training software for workpiece programming and machining simulation. The Ajax Interactive 720 bed mill has the smallest capacity in the range, with a work envelope of 720 x 380 x 500mm; moreover, its turret-style head can swivel through ±90 deg. Meanwhile, the Ajax Euroturn AJEU 200 electronic CNC lathe has a 200mm centre height, a 42mm bore and 750mm between centres.
CMZ (
www.cmz.co.uk) will be showcasing one of the latest turning centres in its TA range. The TA20TY-640 is a 65mm bar-capacity machine with a Y axis and powerful milling capabilities.
The TA range covers five machine configurations, including a standard two-axis turning-only lathe, a turning and milling version, a turning and milling version with a Y axis, a sub-spindle version and — at the top of the range — a Y-axis turning and milling machine with sub-spindle. There are three bed lengths: 400mm, 640mm and 1,100mm.
Matsuura Machinery Ltd (
www.matsuura.co.uk) will be demonstrating its MX-520 — one of the fastest-selling five-axis machine tools in the company’s history.
Designed and built in the same Matsuura factory in Japan as the company’s MAM72 series of five-axis machines, the MX-520 is suitable for companies making the transition from three axes to high-quality five-axis machining. The single-table MX-520 on show will be equipped with a 20,000rev/min spindle and 60 tools.
‘Lights out’ operation
Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd (
www.mazakeu.co.uk) will be exhibiting its new Integrex i-100S multi-tasking machine, complete with Bartac S bar feed system. This machine features a large machining area within a compact footprint.
It can machine both round and square workpieces from raw material with just one set-up, one machine and one operator; the Bartac S bar feed system offers integrated work unloading and conveyor handling of completed workpieces for ‘lights out’ and unmanned running.
Richard Smith, managing director UK & Ireland sales division, says: “The machine is highly versatile and can be used for small-batch and prototype work or volume production, delivering outstanding productivity and performance. The bar feed system allows continuous batch runs of workpieces, improving productivity and shortening turn-round times — factors that are vital for the sub-contracting sector.”
Romi Machines (UK) Ltd (
www.romiuk.com) will show three new machines: the Romi GL 240 CNC turning centre; the Romi D 800 vertical machining centre; and the Romi C 420 x 1,000mm combination teach lathe.
João Inacio, who is responsible for Romi operations in Europe, says: “We have strengthened our position in Europe through our subsidiaries in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and France. We want to offer the quality and performance of Romi products as a tool for increasing our customers’ competitiveness.”
Details of the Romi GL 240 CNC turning centre include a 51mm bore 6,000rev/ min 20kW spindle (64mm 5,000rev/min option); maximum cutting diameter and length of 300 and 400mm respectively; 12-station programmable turret; Fanuc 0i-TD control; and full C axis and live tooling. Meanwhile, the Romi D 800 VMC, which is designed to operate in medium- to high-volume production environments, has spindle ranges of 8,000 or 10,000rev/min with options for through-spindle coolant.
Control is via a Siemens Sinumerik 828-D or a Fanuc 0i-MD, both with 10.4in LCD colour screen and Ethernet interface for factory networking. The Romi C-420 CNC/combination lathe offers short set-up times, as well as quick and easy programming for single ops or volume production runs.
Hurco Europe Ltd (
www.hurco.co.uk) will be showing a VM10i CNC vertical machining centre and a TM6i CNC lathe at this year’s Southern Manufacturing exhibition.
These two machines represent the most compact of Hurco’s offerings and demonstrate that flexible productivity can be derived from a small space on the shopfloor. Both machines are fitted as standard with the Hurco WinMax single-screen control, which offers simple conversational programming and comprehensive industry-standard NC capabilities.
Maximum flexibility for any job that may arrive is provided, making it suitable for small-volume or one-off production. Touch-creen, colour graphics and a 64GB hard drive are standard. The VM10i offers a working volume of 660 x 406 x 508mm and an 11kW 73.6Nm spindle.
The TM6i slant-bed turning centre has a 6in chuck and a maximum cutting diameter of 316mm. The distance between centres is 403 mm. This compact machine will fit in even the smallest of shops and is well suited to bar work up to 42mm in diameter. Chip management is included in the competitive price, along with a three-jaw chuck and a Renishaw probe.
EDM and milling
GF Machining Solutions (
www.gfms.com) — a leading EDM, milling and laser ablation machine tool specialist and automation systems solutions provider — will be exhibiting a new Agie Charmilles CUT 200mS wire EDM machine and a new Mikron HEM 500U five-axis machining centre. The CUT 200mS is a high-productivity wire-cut EDM machine that is designed to ensure high-accuracy (±3µm) and superior surface finishes (Ra 0.1µm).
This machine features an active thermo-stabilisation system that regulates the temperature of the machine’s base, axes, mechanical components and tank, resulting in improved part accuracy and repeatability. Meanwhile, the HEM 500U is a five-axis machine that is aimed at manufacturers — specifically sub-contractors — machining one-offs and small-batch precision parts who need a versatile machine. For increased productivity, the HEM 500U can be supplied with integrated automation via a seven-station or five-station pallet changer.
Anotronic Ltd (
www.anotronic.co.uk) will be showing the River 300 CNC four-axis EDM drilling machine under power.
This machine, the CNC version of the entry-level River 3 manual EDM drill shown at last year’s exhibition, offers the option of greater capacity; the range of electrode dimeters has been increased from 0-3mm to 0-6.3mm.
Also on show will be the new SKM T30 ZNC EDM solid-sink machine; this is suitable for producing small components and for teaching at universities, colleges and schools. Both machines have a footprint no bigger than a Euro pallet.
Renishaw (
www.renishaw.com), the global engineering technologies company, will be exhibiting a range of metrology and additive-manufacturing products. These will include the company’s Equator — a lightweight, fast, highly accurate and versatile gauge that operators can use with ‘push-button' simplicity.
The unit, which compares production parts to a reference master part, allows users to greatly increase their throughput and reduce scrap rates at a fraction of the cost of an equivalent custom gauging system. Renishaw will also be exhibiting the PH20 five-axis touch-trigger system for CMMs; this increases touch-trigger CMM throughput up to three times.
The company is also the only UK manufacturer of metal-based additive-manufacturing (metal ‘3-D printing’) machines, and it will be showing a range of fully dense, complex parts that have been built using this process. The system uses a range of metal powders, including aluminium, titanium and Inconel.
Heidenhain (GB) Ltd (
www.heidenhain.co.uk) will be showing its wide range of measuring and machining technologies.
These will include: demonstrations of the Dynamic Efficiency and Dynamic Precision TNC control system functionalities to improve machining capabilities and performance; the Heidenhain Interactive Training (HIT) system and off-line programming station capabilities; a new generation of touch probes featuring hybrid radio/infra-red signal transmission; and the updated MSE 1000 connection system for gauging applications.
Also on show will be a new common end-user interface for Heidenhain TNC 640 and TNC 620 CNC systems, plus a selection of encoders for a variety of applications.
Aqueous component-cleaning specialist MecWash Systems Ltd (
www.mecwash.co.uk) will be showing its popular Duo wash machine.
Trade show demonstrations of the popular Duo’s superior cleaning capabilities proved extremely successful for MecWash in 2014 — so successful in fact that a recent sale to WTI Fasteners was as a direct result of the company first seeing a Duo at the Matsuura Open House and then finalising the deal at Aero Engineering 2014.
Managing director John Pattison said: “Show visitors regularly comment on the relatively small footprint of the Duo, the speed of the complete wash, rinse and drying cycle, and the variety of functions it has to offer. It is our best selling machine due to its suitability in such a wide variety of manufacturing sectors.”
Condition-based monitoring (CBM) is playing an increasingly important role in supporting maintenance programmes; and it is not hard to see why, when the modest investment required to implement a CBM solution is compared with the often huge costs associated with repairing or replacing machinery that has been damaged.
Many potential problems are not easily detectable by a worker, whereas monitoring technology can pick up the smallest inconsistencies. Technology from IMC Contor (
www.the-imcgroup.com) can output to MODBUS to work alongside customers’ existing systems, adding an additional layer of performance optimisation.
For example, excessive vibration can be a symptom of problems, but this can be detected by monitoring the RMS vibration of the system. Spindle damage is significantly reduced and spindle life increased.
A cleaner environment
Filtermist (
www.filtermist.com) will be exhibiting its new F Monitor, a dual-function monitoring system that advises machine operators when a Filtermist extraction unit needs servicing; it also warns of potential blockages.
Filtermist will also be exhibiting its range of centrifugal oil mist collectors, which can be used on a multitude of metal-working applications that create oil mist, smoke and steam; there is also a stainless-steel version for extracting steam from parts washers. Furthermore, as the sole UK distributor for sister company Absolent, Filtermist will be showing the Absolent A.Mist 10S, which is designed for removing oil smoke.
Following the re-launch of its QCare field service in 2014, Q8Oils Ltd (
www.q8oils.co.uk) is continuing its drive into the industrial and engineering sectors and will be launching a new metal-working fluid initiative for machine shop owners and operators on its stand at Southern Manufacturing.
Sales manager Jeremy Dineen says: “Further information will be announced closer to the time, but we are confident that our comprehensive portfolio of neat and soluble Q8 cutting fluids will prove to be an ideal manufacturing solution for our customers and save them money.”
As the UK distributor of products from Hangsterfer’s Labs in the USA, MacInnes Tooling Ltd (
www.macinnes.co.uk) will be promoting the American company’s new range of high-technology machine tool coolants and cutting oils.
These are designed to significantly reduce manufacturers’ month-on-month cutting-tool costs, as a result of increased tool life when changing to the new S787 coolant.
Trumpf’s (
www.uk.trumpf.com) stand at Southern Manufacturing 2015 will be used to demonstrate the company’s capabilities across the entire sheet-metal process chain.
Centre stage will be the TruPunch 1000, an entry-level punching machine that is very easy to operate and can process a complete medium-format sheet with a single clamping.
This machine can use Trumpf MultiTools, which can be rotated through 360deg to minimise the number of tools needed and maximise productivity. Also being demonstrated will be a new addition to the company’s TruBend Series 3000 press brakes. The latest model in the series is the TruBend 3066, with a press force of 660kN and a 2m bending length. A two-axis back-gauge is standard, but this can be optionally expanded to a four- or five-axis system, making it possible to position complex part geometries securely.
Tooling developments
WNT (UK) Ltd (
www.wnt.com) will highlight a number of cutting-tool developments, including the latest inserts featuring its high-performance Dragonskin coating; this provides increased durability, higher cutting speeds and improved process security across a range of turning and milling applications.
Dragonskin coating technology enhances tool life in combination with the latest high-performance substrates and geometries. The result is quantifiable productivity gains (of up to 80%). Among these insert developments is a range of turning inserts with a chip-breaker geometry designed for close-contour machining and general turning.
The XU chipbreaker overcomes many machining problems, especially where excellent swarf control is required. Also on show will be WNT’s latest high-feed indexable milling system; MCR solid-carbide cutters have been designed with Vortex and trochoidal milling strategies in mind.
Throughout the exhibition, WNT’s Technical Sales Team will be on hand to discuss specific machining issues with visitors and suggest the most efficient and cost-effective cutting-tool solutions.
Carbide tooling manufacturer Quickgrind Ltd (
www.quickgrind.com) is embarking on a UK-wide campaign to show British manufacturers how they can achieve savings by using its QuickVend system. This is a secure and convenient point-of-use vending solution which ensures that the right tool is always available. Furthermore, QuickVend frees up cash that the customer would normally have tied up in tool stocks.
Authorised users get tools from the QuickVend dispenser by using individual Smart Cards — similar to using a cash point. Quickgrind customer Dan Govier, tool-room manager at Pattern Forme Ltd, says: “With QuickVend, there are no more time-consuming visits to a manned store, no more hidden ‘squirrel stocks’ in staff lockers and tool boxes, no more frustrating searches and audits, and no more wasteful collections of unused tools.”
Seminar programmes
Southern Manufacturing will be hosting a comprehensive seminar programme covering a broad range of subjects that will be of interest to manufacturers in the engineering and electronics sectors; there will be a total of 28 sessions over the three days of the event, each of 1hr duration.
The sessions are free and will include: best practice and world-class manufacturing; lean six-sigma; an introduction to ‘3-D printing’; lean concepts and the practical applications of waste elimination; supply chain and SC21; quality assurance in the aerospace supply chain; an introduction to the EMC Directive; negotiating the export regulations minefield; and how additive-manufacturing technologies can drive commercial success.
For full details of the seminar sessions and to register, please go to the Web site (
www.industrysouth.co.uk).