At the
Sign & Digital UK exhibition, held at the end of last month at the NEC, Birmingham, Tamworth-based
Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) invited users of routing machines and digital cutting tables to visit its stand to see its comprehensive range of cutting tools and knife blades for a wide range of applications. The event was also an opportunity for manufacturers to collect a copy of the recently published Issue 7 of the
ITC Folio Product Catalogue.
While the eye-catching orange stand caught the eye at the Birmingham NEC, it was the technology on the stand, the expertise of the ITC team and the company’s reputation for unparalleled quality that impressed.
Sally Hunt, ITC’s resident expert in the signmaking industry noted several trends from visitors at the show. She said: “
Sign & Digital UK 2023 was an excellent event. What was noteworthy was that a growing number of manufacturers are buying digital cutting tables with high-frequency spindles and the machines require impeccably balanced tools and precision tool-holding collets to keep tools balanced when cutting at very high speed. Using tools without sufficient training from tooling experts like ITC can lead to run-out, accuracy and subsequently performance issues.
“High-speed cutting without expert advice can result in poor tool life as well as inadequate surface finishes. At Sign UK, more manufacturers have realised they do not have to buy from suppliers of cutting tables to ensure they are using the correct tools. Using quality tools without suitable support can lead to catastrophic results as all machines, set-ups and materials need to be adequately managed to yield the best results.”
A lack of expert advice is most evident among users of routing machines, as Ms Hunt added: “Like the signmakers investing in high-speed digital cutting tables, a similar situation is occurring where routing machines are being purchased with ready-to-go tooling packages as an add-on. Router manufacturers are experts in routing, not cutting tools and toolholders. At the exhibition, everyone from entry-level businesses to experienced manufacturers with multiple CNC routers sought our advice and bespoke solutions.
“The search for alternative suppliers was evident at the show with business owners identifying the need for high-quality solutions. Equally important to many companies was the fact that ITC products are British-made. The desire to ‘Buy British’ was clear. The reasons ranged from our technical service and support to the fact that we can provide high-quality ‘off-the-shelf’ and bespoke products with short lead times.
“Our huge selection of products, impeccable service, longstanding reputation, and the fact that we can meet short turnround times from our Tamworth manufacturing facility are just a few reasons why ITC once again excelled at
Sign & Digital UK 2023.”