International Metal Tube Magazine March 2017

INDUSTRY NEWS

MARCH 2017 Volume 4 Number 46

The industry magazine for tube and pipe producers and processors

Borgward orders servo press line page 20

Industry news p.2

Products p.13

Tube Bending p.22

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Exhibitions p.30 IMT March 2017

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INDUSTRY NEWS

PIPE FACING MACHINES

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IN THISNEWS ISSUE INDUSTRY

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COMMENT elcome to the first print issue of IMT 2017. With four printed issues this year scheduled these are supported

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by our E-newsletters eight times a year ensuring a monthly flow of information. Our E-Newsletters are

proving ever more popular with more of you are sign up to receive them in the last three months compared to the previous six months, our newsletters and print issues are also supported via the website www. internationalmetaltube.com for those news items that are very time sensitive.

Last year we were asked to start including information on sheet metal as so many of you our readers also worked with sheet as part of the production and processing activity, this has now been fully integrated into all aspects of IMT and continues to be a very popular subject.

INDUSTRY NEWS

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If you wish to register for our newsletters please use the following link, https://confirmsubscription.com/h/j/96BDACC14092F764 Coming up in the next three months, to contribute to any topic please email Vince Maynard at imtmagazine@virginmedia.com April -E – Newsletter – Measuring & testing May - E – Newsletter – Sheet metal

PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT

June issue Tube in an automotive setting Handling & Bundling Technology (including vehicles, logistics & Cranes) Modern Tube & Pipe mills

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Vince Maynard

IMT Contact Information PUBLISHER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Vince Maynard +44 (0) 1732 505724 Mobile +44 (0) 7747 002286 Fax +44 (0) 1732 860052 imtmagazine@virginmedia.com EDITORIAL ADVISOR Justin Whitsed hartswoodmedia@aol.com TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS EDITOR David Young imtmagazine@virginmedia.com CIRCULATION June Bray Fax 01268 711567

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TUBE BENDING

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EXHIBITIONS

IMT March 2017

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Report heads off skills crisis Women to play key role in engineering future

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new report launched in Parliament this week sets out the path to overcoming the sector’s looming skills crisis by encouraging more women to start their career in engineering.

The Engineering Skills for the Future report, from not-for-profit employer-led skills experts Semta, shows that female engineers are more attracted to an ‘interesting career’ than to the salary they will receive.

The report also shows that female engineers are more likely than their male colleagues to encourage people to enter the sector because it offers the prospect of interesting work – and are less likely to focus on career prospects and the potential to earn while learning through an apprenticeship or sponsored degree.

Amongst the report’s recommendations is a plea to education and industry “not to discount any of the people around us” as potential engineers – as a career in the sector simply may not have previously been sold to them effectively.

Semta CEO Ann Watson said: “When we conducted this research, we were never expecting to write a report about gender diversity – and there is lots of other interesting material in the Engineering Skills for the Future report too.

“However, without narrowing the engineering gender gap,

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there’s simply no way we will ever be able to recruit the engineer’s employers need. If our sector’s skills needs aren’t met, the economy as a whole will suffer and we’ll all be worse off.

“Despite a huge effort by employers to address the gender issue, just 3% of engineering apprenticeships are started by women. We need to ask whether we’re using the right messages to

encourage women to enter the sector.

“This is all the more important in the context of Brexit – if we are going to find it more difficult to bring people in from overseas then we need to do much better at making the very most of the potential engineering workforce at home.”

“This report will give politicians, employers, engineers and non-

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engineers alike a vital steer on what they can do to help. Not fixing this problem is simply not an option.”

Engineering Skills for the Future is published in the wake of a hugely impressive female performance at the annual Skills Show, where six of the seven female entrants into engineering competition finals (86%) walked away with medals.

Recent research from WorldSkills UK shows that 93% of parents would be happy to support their child going in to a career not usually associated with their gender.

Leading engineer and Semta Chairman Allan Cook CBE added: “We simply have to do more on diversity and inclusion in our sector, because if we don’t we’re ignoring the potential contribution of half of our population. The Skills Show proves that where women become engineers, they usually go on to do brilliant things.

“It’s so important that we can show everyone, but especially women, that a career in engineering can offer you so much more than just a monthly pay cheque and a pension – it gives you the chance to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges and to really make your mark on society.”

See the full report here: http://semta.org.uk/images/pdf/ Engineering-Skills-for-the-FutureReport---Final---November-2016.pdf Further media information from Dan Kirkby 07785 392735

INDUSTRY NEWS

Amada Miyachi Europe on the move Amada Miyachi Europe announces UK operations to to larger offices in Mildenhall, Suffolk

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mada Miyachi Europe announces it will be centralising its United Kingdom offices, moving from its current Derby location to Mildenhall, in Suffolk, England, effective 31 March 2017.

The new and larger facility is located at the existing home of Macgregor Welding Systems, which Amada Miyachi Europe acquired in 2016.

The consolidated facility includes sales, engineering, development, application support services, production, and shipping. UK operations will continue to provide design, development and sales of resistance welding and micro arc welding products, as well as custom manufacturing systems incorporating welding products.

Consolidating UK operations in a larger facility will increase efficiency and improve customer support through the integration

of MacGregor and Amada Miyachi Europe sales channels. Customers in the Northern Europe region will benefit from a larger sales team, as well as increased engineering and application support resources, including a larger application laboratory.

In addition to strengthening UK operations, bringing the teams together will promote cross selling of the MacGregor brand with the four strong existing Amada Miyachi Europe brands – Miyachi, Miyachi UNITEK, Miyachi PECO and Miyachi EAPRO. “Combining the professional Amada Miyachi Europe sales team with the international scope and superior engineering capabilities of MacGregor results in synergies that will increase efficiency and enable us to provide even better customer service,” said Jörg Kundrat, Chief Operations Officer for Amada Miyachi Europe.

About Amada Miyachi Europe Amada Miyachi Europe is a leading manufacturer of equipment and systems for Laser Welding, Laser Marking, Laser Cutting, Resistance Welding, Micro Arc Welding, Hermetic Sealing and Hot Bar Reflow Soldering & Bonding. We customize our products around specific micro-joining applications for all our customers around the globe. Amada Miyachi Europe product markets include medical devices, battery, automotive, solar industry, electronic components and aerospace. We are an ISO9001 certified company. Contact Amada Miyachi Europe at infode@amadamiyachi.eu. Find out more about the company’s products and services at www.amadamiyachi.eu.

2017 UK budget reaction from MTA

Reacting to today’s budget MTA CEO James Selka commented “We are pleased to see some of the announcements in today’s Budget reflecting some of the positive measures outlined in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper.

Manufacturers will welcome the commitment of £740m to fund digital infrastructure. This investment will play an integral part in switching them on to Industry 4.0 based technologies and further automating their businesses. We need fast reliable connectivity throughout the UK

to power this revolution and to encourage investment in new technologies.

It is encouraging to see the Government thinking about the skills gap in technology led sectors, with funding being made available for mid-career upskilling but more

needs to be done to address the massive challenges that companies face in helping their workforces to master technological change.

The £40m announced for Lifelong learning pilots to look at how to do that is therefore welcome.

We welcome the recognition in

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the Chancellor’s speech that the R&D Tax Credit system could be an even more important driver for companies, particularly SMEs, to invest. We will continue to press Government to make the scheme as easy as possible for SMEs to access.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

UKF lasertube LT5 MMK celebrates 85th anniversary purchase

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KF Stainless Ltd, suppliers of high quality stainless steel tubing, have purchased of a state of the art Lasertube LT5, enabling to enhance their specialist cutting services.

This purchase represents the culmination of 12 months of research and development within a variety of market places both new and existing to UKF. Highly acclaimed within the industry the machine – equipped with a fibre laser generator – is made by BLM Adige in Italy. The project, partly funded by the ERDF offers state of the art precision opportunities for UKF’s customers.

LT5 with its low operating costs, extreme ease of use and high reliability, is specially designed for cutting tubes with small and medium thickness – and can cut a wide variety of materials with high productivity and quality level, from steels and alloys to copper and brass.

LT5 will leave conventional equipment lagging behind allowing UKF Stainless Ltd to manufacture and add more value to parts that currently cannot be achieved.

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The addition of the Lasertube LT5 will enhance their current suite of machines and allow UKF to offer customers a ‘one stop shop’ solution for users of stainless steel tube and sections.

Diameters from 12mm to 120mm can be accommodated by this new Laser machine – with the added bonus of a clean and spatter free product throughout thanks to its use of a unique accessory protecting the internal diameter of the tube.

LT5 provides extreme efficiency – the multiple benefits of which are passed straight on to customers. Conceptual thinking in the design stage of components using a dedicated CAD/CAM package ARTUBE provides the opportunity to exploit all the machine functions during the design stage, and to obtain very accurate costings. The use of the laser can eliminate the need for additional operations such as welding, delivering more costeffective parts which are even cosmetically enhanced.

UKF Stainless Ltd offering the best in productivity and performance for efficient handling of tubes to the industry worldwide.

ast month, OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works celebrated it’s 85th anniversary of the launch of its Magnitogorsk mill. On 1 February 1932 the mill’s first blast-furnace produced its first batch of pig iron. This date has come to be celebrated as marking the launch of MMK – one of the largest metal facilities in Russia and globally.

Over 85 years, MMK in total mined more than 430 million tonnes of ore, produced more than 700 million tonnes of sinter, 614 million tonnes of pig iron, 791 million tonnes of steel, and 633 million tonnes of finished metal products. If all the steel it produced over this time was set out in sheet form, 0.5 mm thick, it would cover around 200,000 square meters – an area larger than Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland combined.

MMK is holding a number of special celebratory events in Magnitogorsk to thank its current and former employees.

The company has always been the flagship of the metals industry in Russia. When it launched in 1932, it was the largest metal mill in the world. It also played a major role for the USSR during World War II – supplying the steel needed as armor for every second Soviet tank, and in the production of every third shell.

In the late 1990s, MMK launched

a major investment programme to upgrade production. It built state-of-the-art high-efficiency production facilities focused on producing highly-competitive metal products for both domestic and international markets. Its steelmaking facilities were radically updated. The long product rolling mill was restored, modern facilities for producing galvanized and polymer-coated metal were built.

In the past decade, the company has launched a thick plate mill and a new cold-rolling mill (Mill 2000) to produce cold-rolled and galvanized steel for the automotive industry.

In 2016, the company produced over 12.5 million tonnes of crude steel and more than 11.3 million tonnes of commercial steel products.

Investor Relations Department: Andrey Serov, Head of IR tel.: +7 (3519) 24-52-97 E-mail: serov.ae@mmk.ru

About MMK MMK is one of the world’s largest steel producers and a leading Russian metals company. The company’s operations in Russia include a large steel-producing complex encompassing the entire production chain, from the preparation of iron ore to downstream processing of rolled steel. MMK turns out a broad range of steel products with a predominant share of high-value-added products. In 2016, the company produced more than 12.5 million tonnes of crude steel and more than 11.3 million tonnes of commercial steel products. MMK Group had sales in 2015 of USD 5,839 million and EBITDA of USD 1,668 million.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Measure And Validate Your Profile PROFILEMASTER® SPS Series – In-Line Light Section Profile Measurement Systems For Hot And Cold Applications

Visit us at: May 9 – 11, 2017 Atlanta, GA, USA Booth # 1540

5 – 8 June, 2017 Моscow, Booth # FO B46

Provides real-time dimensional, shape and angular measurement as well as cross-sectional display

• With up to 8 cameras. Modular camera setting, any shape can be captured • Up to 16,000 points / contour (2,048/camera) = 5,734,400 points/second (with 8 cameras) • Different colors of the lasers, thus no interference • Shape fault detection (SFD) • Creation of measurement recipe with Zumbach software: – Customer can load the profile via its own DXF file (from CAD construction) or – By means of the "Product Generator": predefined forms allow quick "read in" of any product with round or rectangular size

Learn more about the PROFILEMASTER® Family ZUMBACH Electronics sales@zumbach.ch I www.zumbach.com www.internationalmetaltube.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Kasto to hold May open house

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cology and economy when sawing and storing material will be the themes of an open house to be held by Kasto at its UK headquarters and showroom from 16th to 18th May 2017. The address is Unit 5, Garamonde Drive, Wymbush, Milton Keynes, MK8 8DF. People interested in attending should telephone Ernst Wagner on 07747 802991 or email sales@uk.kasto.com The firm’s latest, cost-effective sawing machines and storage systems will be launched in the UK, having been introduced last year by the German parent company.

They include the new KASTOmicut, which offers higher levels of technology and performance at a lower price than the company’s previous range of pivot-bow bandsaws.

Featured also will be a production bandsaw for use

The KASTOwin pro AC 5.6 bandsaw, launched at the AMB 2016 exhibition in Stuttgart last September. with either a bimetal or TCT (tungsten carbide tipped) blade, the innovative KASTOwin pro

AC 5.6. It is just as productive but less expensive than the well-established KASTOtec, or

even faster with the adaptive KASTOrespond system, and has the added advantages of

The new KASTOecostore sheet storage system.

A KASTOmicut swing-frame, pivot-bow bandsaw for use in workshops.

IMT March 2017 www.internationalmetaltube.com

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INDUSTRY NEWS

lower power consumption for the hydraulics as well as energy recovery features that reduce electricity use and hence running costs.

The occasion will also provide a first opportunity for visitors to hear about a new, modular, entry level sheet storage system called KASTOecostore, which is lower priced than its predecessor, the KASTOunitower C. Finally, visitors will hear about a recently developed energy recovery and storage system for the company’s industrial warehouses, which are used globally for automated storage and retrieval of bar, tube, sheet, plate and other materials. The technology, which is optional on all of the company’s storage systems and is also retrofittable, provides

savings by enabling surplus kinetic energy to be converted into electricity and stored temporarily for later use. To achieve even greater efficiency, energy storage capacitors can be integrated.

KASTO Ltd, Unit 5, Garamonde Drive, Wymbush, Milton Keynes, MK8 8DF. T: +44 (0)1908 571590.

F: +44 (0)1908 566106 E: sales@uk.kasto.com W: www.kasto.com Contact: Ernst Wagner, Managing Director THE RIGHT IMAGE Ltd, PO Box 42, Twickenham, TW1 1BQ. T: +44 (0)20 8891 0603.

E: chris@therightimage.net W: www.therightimage.net Contact: Chris Wright

INDUSTRY NEWS

Test With The Best Instruments, systems and solutions for nondestructive testing.

Backed by a team of experts who will put them to work for you.

MAC® UT Spinning Tube Test System www.mac-ndt.com/ultrasonic-spinning-tube-test-system/

www.mac-ndt.com

Energy recovery and storage technology has been developed for all Kasto automated industrial warehouses. www.internationalmetaltube.com

IMT March 2017

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Strong increase in orders received by Schuler in 2016 • Acquisition of Yadon and AWEBA strengthens Group profit • EBITDA margin remains in double figures at 10.4 percent in 2016 • Digitization and e-mobility driving growth

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he two subsidiaries acquired by press manufacturer Schuler AG in 2016 – AWEBA and Yadon – already made a positive contribution to growth and earnings in their first year.

The global market leader based in Göppingen, Germany, posted strong growth above all in new orders (+17.6 percent) and order backlog (+13.5 percent). Over the 8

IMT March 2017

year as a whole, the company received orders worth € 1.20 (prior year: € 1.02) billion. As of December 31, 2016, the order backlog had risen to € 1.01 (€ 0.89) billion. After a slow start, consolidated sales were almost on a par with the previous year at over € 1.17 (€ 1.20) billion. The operating result (EBITDA) of € 122.6 million was well above the unadjusted prior-year figure of €

70.9 million.

Adjusted for special items of around € 73 million for the restructuring of production in Germany, Schuler had posted a record EBITDA result of € 138.8 million in 2015. Earnings in 2016 were bolstered by special income of € 13 million from winding up the restructuring concept. Including this income, the EBITDA margin – a measure of the company’s

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profitability – once again reached double figures in 2016 at 10.4 (prior-year adjusted: 11.6) percent, and was thus amongst the highest in the German engineering industry.

Schuler’s pre-tax earnings of € 95.1 million in 2016 were well above the unadjusted prior-year figure of € 44.0 million. Adjusted for restructuring effects, the figure in 2015 was € 116.6 million.

INDUSTRY NEWS

The new members of the Group, the Chinese press manufacturer Yadon (as of April 1) and the German toolmaker AWEBA (as of June 30), made a total prorated contribution to consolidated sales of almost € 120 million and to EBITDA of almost € 17 million in 2016.

Noticeable increase in sales and earnings expected for 2017 At the presentation of the company’s annual accounts in Göppingen, Germany, CEO Stefan Klebert stated that: “We are entering the new fiscal year with a strong tailwind from the higher level of new orders. The propensity of our customers to invest in new capital equipment has increased, the dip in sales and new orders from early 2016 is now behind us. The past year also underlined that our decision to acquire the German toolmaker AWEBA and the Chinese press manufacturer Yadon was strategically correct. Both companies open up new markets for Schuler and are making aboveaverage progress.”

Schuler expects a noticeable increase in sales and earnings in the current fiscal year 2017.

The improved order position, more favorable cost structures in Germany due to the almost completed pooling of production at four sites, and the first fullyear contribution of earnings from Yadon and AWEBA are all expected to provide a positive impetus. With regard to the macroeconomic conditions, Schuler expects largely stable GDP growth for Europe and China in 2017, and even an acceleration of growth in the USA.

Growth program launched In America, Schuler revived its own traditional brand BLISS in 2016 and has already enjoyed initial success with a new machine generation. “All in all, we aim to accelerate Schuler’s growth in the coming years,” said CEO Klebert.

“With our growth program “We

Schuler Group at a glance (IFRS)

2016 2015 Sales

€ million

1,174.2

1,200.0

New orders

€ million

1,199.5

1,015.7

Order backlog

€ million

1,013.1

894.7

EBITDA (without SI/with SI 2015)

€ million

122.6

138.8 / 70.9

EBIT (without SI/with SI 2015)

€ million

95.4

115.7 / 43.1

EBT (without SI/with SI 2015)

€ million

95.1

116.6 / 44.0

EBITDA margin (without SI/with SI 2015) %

10.4

11.6 / 5.9

Group profit

€ million

77.4

39.3

Total statement of financial positions

€ million

1,361.3

1,074.5

Shareholders’ equity

€ million

438.4

369.1

Equity ratio

%

32.2

34.3

Net financial status

€ million

116.3

281.3

Employees incl. apprentices

€ million

6,617

5,167

SI = special items affecting income from the implementation of restructuring programs 2015

go for 20.2”, we are aiming above all to shorten time-to-market for innovations and to tap new customer groups with new products.” Including possible acquisitions, the target is to reach a sales corridor of around € 2 billion by 2020.

An important innovation driver is the further digitization of metalforming technology. In 2016, Schuler unveiled its Smart Press Shop to address this issue.

It showcases digital solutions for the networking of forming technology which increase both the process reliability and economic efficiency of production for Schuler’s customers.

a leading electric vehicle manufacturer and the German traditional brand Borgward, as

well as from the South Korean battery manufacturer Samsung, are currently being processed.

Mid-range market segment and e-mobility offer future potential With regard to products, Schuler is targeting the world’s fastest growing segment – mid-priced press lines. Yadon’s technologies and Schuler’s own new developments, like the soon-to-be-launched MSP 400 press, both play an important role in this strategy. At the same time, Schuler has entered the new market of electromobility.

Corresponding orders from

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At € 537 (€ 605) million, Europe still accounted for the largest share of sales totaling € 1.17 billion in fiscal year 2016. Sales in China remained stable at € 299 (€ 299) million. Schuler’s business in North America made strong progress with increased sales of € 267 (€ 190) million. The number of Group employees rose to 6,617 (5,176) as of December 31. This figure includes 1,011 employees of Yadon and 628 of AWEBA.

Equity base remains comfortable Against the backdrop of its positive earnings trend, Schuler – in which the Austrian ANDRITZ Group holds 95 percent of capital stock – was able to make further improvements to its capital base.

Shareholders’ equity rose to € 438.4 (€ 369.1) million. As the balance sheet total grew more strongly due to the acquisition of Yadon and AWEBA, the equity

ratio fell slightly to 32.2 (34.3) percent. However, this is still the second-highest level since the IPO in 1999. “Our capital and liquidity resources provide the necessary stable foundation for us to finance further organic and external growth as required,” stated CFO Norbert Broger.

Schuler raised capital expenditures once again to € 45.8 (€ 38.2) million in 2016. The soon-to-be-

completed technological center in Göppingen, the Schuler Innovation Tower, accounted for around half of this amount. Further focus areas for investment were IT and digitization. At € 116.3 (€ 281.3) million, net financial status (liquid funds less financial debt) was well below the prioryear figure. This is due to cash outflows for the successful acquisition of AWEBA and Yadon.

ММК completes reconstruction of sulphur capture systems OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (“MMK”) today announces that it has completed reconstruction of sulphur capture systems (SCS) designed for removing sulphur compounds and fine dust from sinter gases at the second sinter plant.

The reconstruction included construction of a complex of 10

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dust and gas capturing units, which processes the full volume of sinter gases removing sulphur compounds and fine dust. The complex includes three cleaning systems, each comprising highefficiency equipment – electric filter and scrubber/absorber (with 10m diameter and 30m height) with three-tier sprinkling

system which disperses absorbing solution. The SCS at the second sinter plant has degree of purification of up to 95% for sulphur dioxide.

The first three capture systems were launched in 2015 and 2016.

In the late February 2017, the final stage of the underground channel reconstruction (designed

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to transfer all sinter gases from the second sinter plant to SCSs for clean-up) was completed.

The total investment into the project was RUB 3,814 mln. In 2016, air emissions were reduced by 3,522 tonnes. Since the launch of the project, total reduction in air pollutant emissions amounted to 24,750 tonnes.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Ericsson and Comau partner to explore potential of 5G for smart manufacturing

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ricsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and Comau, a world-leading company in industrial automation products, systems and solutions, have signed a collaboration agreement to explore the potential of 5G through a series of projects related to the development of innovative services and solutions on Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, enabled by 5G technologies.

Through the combination of Ericsson’s leadership in 5G technologies and Comau’s leadership in automated manufacturing solutions, this

collaboration aims to prove the benefits of advanced Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for industrial automation. Comau and Ericsson will leverage existing and future 5G network technologies, IoT platforms, Cloud and Big Data solutions, in order to enable innovative services, increased competitiveness and efficiency for smart manufacturing, maintenance and quality control.

The collaboration also aims to establish a strong research and industrial community and an innovation ecosystem where Comau and Ericsson, their customers, academia, public authorities and other

stakeholders may join and collaborate to boost ideas and share resources, in order to showcase the benefits of advanced IoT solutions for different applications.

Mauro Fenzi, CEO of Comau, a company that has been committed to developing solutions for Industry 4.0, focuses on the importance of the project: “Our strategy to make more and more ‘open industrial automation’ and easy-to-use technologies is enhanced by a new element, represented by the agreement signed with Ericsson. This collaboration, and especially the synergy that comes

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from the union of the knowhow of two great companies, enables us to develop the technological infrastructures for the communication networks of the ‘Factory 4.0’, applying them directly in industrial plants while complying to our fundamental values - security, speed and ease of use”.

Nunzio Mirtillo, Head of Region Mediterranean, Ericsson, says: “As the world becomes ever more digitally and globally connected, industries are experiencing an ICT-driven transformation. This collaboration with Comau is an important milestone that can demonstrate how factories and

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industrial plants can leverage on 5G potential. The use of 5G technology offers extensive benefits to manufacturing processes, having the capacity, reliability and security to enable remote control and monitoring of processes. When connected to advanced analytics solutions, it is also able to assist analyzing and predicting faults and potential threats before they occur.”

This new agreement is part of Ericsson’s ‘5G for Europe’ initiative, a cross-industry 5G research and development program involving a range of European markets such as Sweden, Spain, Germany, Austria and Italy. With Ericsson as driver, the program focuses on delivering research, innovation and industrial pilots that use 5G networks combined with IoT and Cloud technologies.

The agreement is also a part of Comau’s cross-industry IoT R&D program – ‘Digital Workplace’ – which focuses on delivering research, innovation and industrial pilots that use next-generation wireless and wired networks, combined with IoT, artificial intelligence (AI),

Mauro Fenzi, CEO of Comau data analysis and visualization, data management techniques and Cloud technologies.

Following this agreement, Comau has entered the ‘5G for Italy Initiative’, the cross-industry 5G research and development programme launched by Ericsson

Nunzio Mirtillo, CEO of Ericsson Italia together with TIM. Scope of the initiative is to identify innovative solutions enabled by the 5G technology within the Cloud Robotics and Security segments. The final scope of the project is to enable a secure and reliable cloud-based wireless

monitoring solution to control and process sensors data from robots and the plant in real time, applying analytic functionalities based on encrypted processing and providing feedback to the customers for preventive maintenance.

About COMAU Comau, a member of the FCA Group, is a worldwide leader in delivering advanced industrial automation solutions that integrate products, technologies and services to help companies of all sizes increase plant efficiency while lowering operating costs and optimizing returns.

Headquartered in Turin, Italy, Comau has over 40 years of factory-proven experience, and an international network of 34 locations, 15 manufacturing plants and 5 innovation centers that span 17 countries and employ more than 9,000 people. With a strong focus on innovation, Comau is committed to developing competency through the formation of individuals and groups as part of its open automation approach. Comau is driving the future of production automation by engineering lean and sustainable solutions and products. Its modular, flexible and highlyconfigurable products can be tailored to meet the needs of each individual customer. Through the continuous development of products and services, Comau is able to lead the automation industry in every phase of a project - from design, implementation and installation, to production start-up and maintenance services. Its comprehensive offering includes manufacturing and assembly solutions, powertrain machining, robotics and asset maintenance services for a wide range of industrial sectors. www.comau.com

About Ericsson Ericsson is a world leader in communications technology and services with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Our organization consists of more than 111,000 experts who provide customers in 180 countries with innovative solutions and services. Together we are building a more connected future where anyone and any industry is empowered to reach their full potential. Net sales in 2016 were SEK 222.6 billion (USD 24.5 billion). The Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on NASDAQ in New York. Read more on www.ericsson.com.

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COMAU Giuseppe Costabile PR & MEDIA RELATIONS giuseppe.costabile@comau.com Tel. +39 011 0049670 Tel. +39 338 7130885 BURSON-MARSTELLER Alessandra Boscolo alessandra.boscolo@bm.com Tel. +39 02 72143504 Tel. +39 346 6287691

www.internationalmetaltube.com

BURSON-MARSTELLER Daniele Zibetti daniele.zibetti@bm.com Tel. +39 02 72143565 Tel. +39 344 2061802

CONTACTS ERICSSON

For media kits, backgrounders and high-resolution photos, please visit www.ericsson.com/ press

INDUSTRY NEWS

Final beam placed on Lincoln Electric’s new welding training centre New facility will mark 100 years of educational leadership in welding industry; taps local trades workers for construction efforts

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onstruction on Lincoln Electric’s new $30 million Welding Technology Center project continues to progress toward a projected 2017 opening. Crews placed the final beam on Feb. 8, completing the structural frame of the building on the company’s Euclid, Ohio, campus. The next phase will focus on the building’s façade, interior, electrical and plumbing work.

“Construction is progressing rapidly – structural framing just wrapped up, allowing us to move on to the next phase of construction,” says John Mueller, Director of Facility Planning and Development, Lincoln Electric. “We look forward to opening the facility later this year.”

Before crews hoisted and placed the beam into position, representatives from Lincoln Electric and other companies working on the project participated in a beam-signing ceremony. Onhand to sign the beam were Chris Mapes, George Blankenship and Doug Lance from Lincoln Electric’s senior management. Members of the Lincoln Electric facilities team and representatives from Panzica Construction Company, Structura Architects Ltd. and Ironworker Local Union No. 17 also added signatures.

Multiple northeast Ohio contractors are working on the project including: Contemporary Electric Co.; Fire Protection Inc.; Geauga Mechanical; Harner Plumbing Inc.; Mr. Excavator Inc.; Nova Structural Steel; Panzica Construction Company; Phoenix Cement Contracting LLC; and Valentine Contractor Inc. “We are proud to be using tradesmen from the same trades organizations we actively help

Crews placed the final beam of Lincoln Electric’s new Welding Technology Center on Feb. 8, completing the structural frame of the building. to train at a variety of sites around the country,” says Jason Scales, Manager, Education Solutions, Lincoln Electric.

“General contractor Panzica Construction Company, Steel fabricator Nova Structural Steel

and other contractors on the site employ skilled trades workers typically trained on Lincoln Electric equipment in their skilled trade schools.”

When the new Welding Technology Center opens, it will

mark the centennial anniversary of the company’s legacy welding school, the longest-operating one in the United States. The facility further reflects Lincoln Electric’s 100-year commitment to leading welding education and innovation in an era of strong demand for skilled trades.

The new 130,000-squarefoot center will double Lincoln’s welding education capacity to 180 welding booths and will include high-tech classroom and seminar spaces. It also will showcase and integrate Lincoln Electric’s latest technologies and solutions into a comprehensive welding curriculum – making it the industry’s most advanced facility of its kind.

In addition to training for new and seasoned industry welders, programming also will include trainthe-trainer courses and certification Representatives from Lincoln Electric and other companies working on activities, as well as resources to support welding training for constrcution of the new Welding Technology Center participated in a veterans. beam-signing ceremony.

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PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT

Cycle time and environmental benefits make 4-RUNNER a winner for Worcester Bosch

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s part of its ongoing programme of replacing machines deemed to have reached a natural end of life, Worcester, Bosch Group, has introduced its first BLM 4-RUNNER tube processing system.

The new machine is delivering cycle time savings of between 25 and 30 per cent compared to the machine it replaced, as well as delivering significant environmental benefits to the company.

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of domestic heating and hot water appliances, one of Worcester’s, key targets is energy efficiency, as demanded by its customers. As a result it has a corporate policy of ensuring that any machine tool purchases reflect that energy/environmental remit.

Previously, the tube processing at Worcester had been carried out by hydraulic powered machinery.

The switch to the BLM 4-RUNNER, with its all-electric, servo controlled operation provided a major step forward in environmental terms, with the added advantages of improved quality and consistency as well has reduced cycle times.

“It is part of our long term vision to replace all of our old hydraulic BLM Planet machines

Tube bending on the BLM 4-RUNNER with modern all-electric, servo driven, tube processing systems.

The 4-RUNNER’S servo control is important for a number of reasons, such as improved accuracy of bends, consistency and cycle times, but of equal, if not greater importance was the fact that they are far more energy efficient compared to hydraulic machines, and this was key to our purchasing decision,”

says Chris Packer, Group Leader – Manufacturing, Worcester, Bosch Group.

The BLM 4-RUNNER is a modular-based machine that can be configured to include decoiling, straightening, end-forming, bending, cutting off and unloading, the machine at Worcester is fully configured in this way delivering finished components from coiled

The BLM 4-RUNNER control is extremely user friendly 14

IMT March 2017

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copper tube up to 22 mm diameter.

The bending capability of the 4-RUNNER allows left and right hand bends to be formed as well as fixed and variable radii bends in single and 3D planes. The machine is also capable of completing compression and draw bending techniques. For end-forming the BLM 4-RUNNER features a multi-station end-forming unit with either four or six ramtype forming stations or four ram stations and one rotary station. A variety of cutting devices can also be specified depending on the material being processed, these include internal or external orbital swarfless cutters, or conventional sawblades.

One of the key benefits of the BLM 4-RUNNER’S all-electric system is its consistency of bend, with hydraulic bending the bend is more variable, but with servo-driven positioning every bend is the same.

“The variations that we find on our hydraulic benders have been

PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT

Cutting off of the finished tube totally eliminated since the switch to the 4-RUNNER,” says Rob Crane, Production Engineer, Worcester, Bosch Group. “We are finding that bend quality and repeatability are superior across the spread of parts that we are producing, when you then add in a typical cycle time saving of 30 per cent, we are seeing a night and day difference in the technology with the 4-RUNNER massively ahead of its predecessor.”

From a shopfloor perspective the environmental gains of switching from hydraulic to all-electric are also winning approval at Worcester, Bosch Group. Production Leader, Adam Timms adds: “The total lack of hydraulic oil makes it much easier to maintain the quality of the working environment. The cleaner working environment also makes it much easier to maintain our Five S, total productive maintenance (TPM) and planned maintenance initiatives (PMI).” The step up from the previous machine and control technology was significant as there was about a 20 year gap in control technology alone. “It took us a short while to get to grips with the new control system, but we quickly realised that we had to forget all that we knew from the old system and embrace the userfriendliness of the new control.

In addition, the machine design makes setting much easier, for

example, we have all of the tooling we need to process 13 mm tube in a single set-up and, as we become more familiar with the machine, and setting will be quicker than before.”

Another area in which BLM has improved the tube processing capabilities is the cutting off module of the 4-RUNNER. This setting is now controlled via the CNC on the 4-RUNNER with any of the setter/ operators able to quickly set up the cut off cycle. This is proving to be a major time saver. “The success of the BLM 4-RUNNER here at our Worcester manufacturing plant, both in terms of productivity and energy efficiency has resulted in that same machine being installed at other Bosch Plants across Europe.

The philosophy of specifying machines that are not just more productive, but also more energy efficient is completely in-line with our group thinking and is what we aim to deliver to our customers,” says Chris Packer.

In addition to the 4-RUNNER Worcester has also taken delivery of a BLM Tube-Form ELE end forming machine. Again, this is a fully electric machine with an extremely low environmental impact. With a ram capable of applying 8 tonne of pressure this machine is allowing Worcester, Bosch Group to produce more complex forms, with up to

The BLM Tube-Form ELE is able to form larger diameter tube six punches available and also on larger diameter tube than could previously be achieved. As with the 4-RUNNER, the purchase of the Tube-Form ELE was dictated by its

eco-friendly credentials, having no hydraulic systems, and also as part of Worcester’s replacement policy where older technology is being phased out.

Worcester, Bosch Group Worcester has been manufacturing domestic heating and hot water appliances since 1962 and became a member of the Worldwide Bosch Group in 1996. It is currently the UK market leader in domestic boilers producing around 250,000 units per year mainly for the UK domestic market, which is the largest in Europe. In addition to gas and oil fired central heating boilers the company’s range also includes hot water cylinders and renewable technologies such as heat pumps and solar water heating systems, plus an associated range of controls and accessories. For the past six years its boiler range has been the recipient of the Which Best Buy Award. It is also a market leader in respect of service and quality, much of which can be attributed to the quality of manufacture at its Worcester (gas products) and Clay Cross (oil products) manufacturing facilities.

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IMT March 2017 15

PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT

Zumbach - (Self)calibration of measuring units increases accuracy of measurements

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alibration in measurement technology means establishing the measurement deviations on the measuring unit. During the calibration no technical intervention occurs at the measuring instrument, as opposed to adjusting where a measuring instrument is set or adapted to keep the measurement errors as small as possible or that the number of measurement errors do not exceed the error limits.

The official calibration of a measuring unit is carried out according to the rules and regulations of the examining authority and the unit is marked with the respective stamp. The examining authority establishes whether the respective measuring unit fulfils the respective prerequisites.

The validity of a calibration period follows practical requirements such as manufactures information, requirements of quality standards or company internal and customer specific regulations, rather than an official calibration with a fixed time period validity for use.

Return and Calibrating Hierarchy In order to be able to compare results of measurement, it must be possible to «feedback» information via a chain of comparison measurements to a national or international master.

For this purpose, the display of the measuring unit in use or the material representation must be compared with the masters in one or more stages. On each of these stages a calibration is carried out with a master which has been previously calibrated with a higher-level master. According to the ranking of the master – of consumption or factory standards 16

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via reference masters up to national standards – there is a calibration hierarchy of points to be carried out. This extends from the in-house calibrating laboratory through accredited calibrating laboratories up to the national metro-logical institute.

Professional Calibration Different standards, regulations and guidelines are valid for the expert carrying out of calibrations.

A unit must fulfil basic requirements before a unit can be calibrated. One must also be aware of the physical conditions required in order to carry out a calibration and observe them. Rules for the calibration of instruments are essential when a company decides on adhering to a specific norm or guideline or if it produces a product whose production is subjected to legal regulations.

Standards for Quality Control – Statutory Regulations Standards and regulations, such as the ISO 9000 series, are becoming more important for quality assurance in all industrial nations.

Then it may be explicitly required to calibrate all test equipment that directly or indirectly influence the quality of the product. This includes,

for example, test equipment that are used as references during the production process.

The Zumbach Electronic AG adheres to different standards and guidelines of quality assurance. The regulations of the FDA (American Food and Drug Administration), for example, are important worldwide in respect of international trading relations. The CFR (Code of Federal Regulation) demands that «devices, apparatus, measuring instruments and recording devices be calibrated at suitable intervals in agreement with an in writing created program which contains specific guidelines, schedules, limits and accuracy and precautions for remedial actions if accuracy and/or limits are not fulfilled». European legislation has similar requirements.

Example of a Zumbach measuring unit: Calibration and Selfcalibration Functions of ODAC® Measuring Heads Our measuring units are calibrated using reference standards which were certified by the federal office for metrology (www.metas.ch) or by accredited laboratories. Each unit is supplied with a detailed calibration protocol.

A regular check for measuring

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errors along with the corresponding protocol can be carried out according to the customer requirements. The regularity of these calibrations is dependent on the customer specific requirements (internal regulations). We recommend a check of accuracy every 12 to 24 months.

All the measuring heads of the ODAC® series have a selfcalibration function (Patent DE3111356) which makes a subsequent, regular calibration superfluous, except when exchanging components.

All the relevant parameters for accuracy are continuously monitored by the measuring system and automatically compensated when required. This is particularly important for possible ageing effects of the scanner motor or the possible long-term drift of the measuring electronics.

Typical ODAC® laser diameter measuring gauge with reference calibration standards

Documentation A calibration protocol shows the results of the calibration and documents the traceability to a national master for the representation of the physical units in agreement with the International system of units (SI).

PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT

Kinkelder extends TCT Champion Series for high-end tube cutting

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utch saw blade manufacturer Kinkelder has extended its range of TCT Champion saw blades for high performance tube cutting.

Applying a new carbide grade,

PVD coating, body design and tooth geometry, the Champion TL saw blade series contains our latest innovations for high performance TCT tube cutting.

Over the past few years, the number of heavy-duty

tube cutting applications has increased significantly. Following performance feedback from the market and the demand for a new high-end TCT saw blade, the Champion series has recently been extended with two new blade types.

The Champion TL saw blade has been designed to cut tubes with tensile up to 850 N/mm2 on high output / high quality stationary sawing machines. Due to a new carbide grade, a new PVD coating to obtain a very smooth surface finish and a new tooth geometry and body design for better chip evacuation, this Champion saw blade has an improved blade life of typically 50% and more

compared to CX 3.

A dedicated Champion TL Multi saw blade has been developed for multiple tube cutting with a tensile strength of 400 – 800 N/mm2. This blade type is specifically suited for Rattunde Twin machines but also for other applications where multiple tubes are being cut, such as the BEWO, RSA and Sinico machines. Our cutting experts can advise you regarding ideal parameters for the application.

Kinkelder Champion TL saw blades are available in diameters from 225mm up to 560mm with a pitch of 9mm, 11mm and 13mm.

Kinkelder BV, Netherlands. www. kinkelder.com

As sophisticated as your tube processing.

About Kinkelder Founded in the Netherlands in 1945, Kinkelder has grown to be one of the leading manufacturers of circular saw blades worldwide. Over 90% of production is designated for export to approximately 70 countries.

Outside of the Netherlands, Kinkelder has its own sales and service branches in Germany, France, Belgium and China. Production also takes place in the USA and Czech Republic. The rest of the world is being covered by a network of dedicated distributors.

Kinkelder’s own subsidiaries as well as their experienced worldwide network of engineering distributors have their specialized Application Engineers available on call.

Hall 20 Booth B14

The best machine technology.

www.tube-processing-machines.com

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PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT

Ford tests large scale 3D printing with light-weighting and personalisation in mind • Ford Motor Company is testing 3D printing of large scale car parts using the Stratasys Infinite Build 3D printer • F ord is the first automotive company to trial this technology with Stratasys, and is currently exploring potential applications for future production vehicles, like Ford Performance vehicles or for personalized car parts • I ncreasingly affordable and efficient, 3D printing large car parts, like car spoilers, could benefit both Ford and consumers. Parts that are printed can be lighter in weight than their traditionally manufactured counterparts, and may help improve fuel efficiency

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ord Motor Company is exploring how large one-piece auto parts, like car spoilers, could be printed for prototyping and future production vehicles, as the first automaker to pilot the Stratasys Infinite Build 3D printer.

Capable of printing car parts of practically any shape or length, the Stratasys Infinite Build system could be a breakthrough for vehicle manufacturing, providing a more efficient and affordable way to produce tooling, prototype parts, or components at low volumes, like Ford Performance vehicles, or for personalized car parts.

“With the Infinite Build technology, we are now able to print large tools, fixtures, and components, making us more nimble in design iterations,” said Ellen Lee, Ford technical leader for additive manufacturing research. “We’re excited to have early access to Stratasys’ new technology in order to help steer the development of large scale printing for automotive applications and requirements.”

The new 3D print system is located at Ford’s Research and Innovation Center in Dearborn.

An emerging technology for manufacturing As 3D printing becomes increasingly efficient and affordable, companies are employing this emerging technology for manufacturing applications in everything from aerospace, to education, to medicine.

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canister is empty, a robotic arm automatically replaces it with a full canister. This allows the printer to operate for hours or days while unattended.

Benefits of 3D printing

Wider adoption in 3D printing has been driven by recent technology advances, new areas of application and government support, according to Global Industry Analysts Inc. By 2020, the global market for 3D printing is expected to reach $9.6 billion, the organization reported.

In the future, 3D printing could have immense benefits for automotive production, including the ability to produce lighter-weight parts, which may help improve fuel efficiency. A 3D-printed spoiler, for instance, may weigh less than half of its metal-cast equivalent.

Additionally, 3D printing is a more cost-efficient way to produce parts only needed at low volumes, like prototypes and specialized parts for racecars. Further, Ford also may use the technology to make larger printed tooling and fixtures as well as personalized components for customers.

How it works Specifications for the part are transferred from the computeraided design program to the printer’s computer, which analyzes the design. Then, the device goes to work, printing one layer of material at a time – in this case, plastic – and then gradually stacking the layers into a finished 3D object.

When the system detects that the raw material or supply material

Though 3D printing isn’t yet fast enough for high-volume production manufacturing, it is a more costefficient way to produce parts only needed at low volumes, like prototypes and specialized parts for racecars. In addition, when not limited by the constraints of mass production processes, components can be designed to function more efficiently.

Using traditional methods, an engineer would create a computer model of the part and wait for months for prototype tooling to be produced. With 3D printing, Ford can print the same part in days at a significantly reduced cost. For example, a prototype for a new intake manifold could be produced over a couple of days as opposed to several months, at an order of magnitude lower cost.

About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 201,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

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PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT

AFRC targets oil and gas and automotive with new flow former

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he University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) has made a seven-figure investment in a bespoke forming machine, which will extend and enhance its capabilities in a range of sectors.

The centre has purchased a VUD-600 vertical flow former developed by the centre’s tier two partner, WF Maschinenbau.

The unique piece of kit was designed to meet the AFRC’s customers’ diverse requirements.

The machine allows the AFRC, which is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, to form intricate components suited to a variety of markets, including the oil and gas and automotive sectors.

The machine’s flexibility allows it to form small parts such as hubs, gear shafts and pulleys.

It also has the capacity to form larger products, like alloy wheels, up to a diameter of 800mm and 600mm in length.

The vertical flow former is the second machine the AFRC has acquired from WF

Maschinenbau, complementing its existing horizontal STR 600/3.

Predominantly used to produce components for the aerospace sector, the STR 600/3 has three rollers, while the new VUD-600 can house up to four, allowing greater flexibility during forming.

The machine, which is being commissioned during March, already has research and development trials lined up which are due to begin in May. Dr Alastair Conway, Senior Manufacturing Engineer and rotary processes team lead at the AFRC, said: “This new machine

marks a big step forward for the AFRC – it will significantly broaden the services we have to offer to our members and customers. It will also open up opportunities for companies, particularly in the oil and gas and automotive sectors, to look at different ways of producing new and innovative components.

“Our new machine’s ability to form aluminium, nickel and steel alloys at a range of temperatures has already stirred up a great deal of interest: we have trials in the pipeline with a number of companies. After

heavily investing in our facilities over the past few years, this latest acquisition reaffirms our commitment to securing the best equipment for our customers, as we ramp up our R&D offering to manufacturers across the country.”

For more information, please contact: Peter McFarlane, BIG Partnership, 0141 333 9585, peter.mcfarlane@ bigpartnership.co.uk Finlay Matheson, BIG Partnership, 0141 333 9585, finlay.matheson@ bigpartnership.co.uk

About the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) The University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre is a globally-recognised centre of excellence in innovative manufacturing technologies, R&D, and metal forming and forging research. The centre is part of the UK Government’s High Value

Manufacturing Catapult and is the only centre of its kind in Scotland putting it at the heart of the country’s manufacturing R&D sector. https://www.strath.ac.uk/research/ advancedformingresearchcentre/

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PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT

Borgward orders servo press line Schuler impresses the automotive manufacturer with technological innovation and an excellent price-performance ratio

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he traditional German car brand, Borgward, has been successfully launched onto the Chinese market with its innovative BX7 model. In order to increase production capacity, Borgward Automotive ordered an XL servo press line from Schuler at the end of the previous year.

From August 2018 onwards, the five-station servo press line based in Beijing-Miyun will produce body panels for the BX7, BX5 and BX6 models. The line with a press force of 67,000 kilonewtons comprises five presses and is fully supplied by Schuler, including the corresponding automation. The line features the now tried-andtested ServoDirect technology and offers state-of-the-art in terms of energy efficiency. The latest energy management for the main drives is also just as important a

requirement when it comes to designing the hydraulic drawing cushion in the first press with triple action cylinders.

Up to 16 large parts per minute are produced by the Servoline 16, double and quadruple parts can be manufactured accordingly at a higher batch quantity. The simulation program, which is also included within the scope of the order, ensures that operators are provided with optimum alignment of all movements of single presses and automation, including destackers, Crossbar Feeders for the parts transport and exit conveyor. The fast, fully automated replacement of dies and toolings ensures the flexibility needed for fast product changes.

Except for a few special components, Schuler manufactures and assembles the modules for the line – beds, uprights, slides and

Up to 16 large parts are produced per minute, 32 double and 64 quadruple parts, which are transported by Crossbar Feeders. (Image: Schuler)

From August 2018, the servo press line from Schuler will form body panels in Beijing-Miyun for the BX6 model, among others. (Image: Borgward)

crowns – completely in the Chinese production facility in Dalian.

The total vehicle production capacity of Borgward will increase even further, thanks to the cooperation with Schuler.

As such, the overall operative strength of the intelligent factory 4.0 is considerably increased and supports the production system by offering consumers more intelligent automobiles.

About the Schuler Group – www.schulergroup.com

About BORGWARD – www.borgward.com

Schuler is the world market leader in metal forming technology. The company offers cutting edge presses, automation, dies, process knowhow and services for the entire metal forming industry and lightweight vehicle construction.

Our clients consist of automotive manufacturers and suppliers, as well as companies from other industries, such as foundries, household devices, packaging, power and electronics. Schuler is the market leader in minting presses and supplies systems solutions for the aerospace, railway and large pipe industries.

In 2016, Schuler achieved a turnover of 1,174 million euros. Following the acquisition of die manufacturing company AWEBA and with a majority holding in Chinese press manufacturing company Yadon, Schuler employs around 6,600 members of staff in 40 countries. The Austrian ANDRITZ Group holds a majority share in Schuler.

The Borgward Automotive Group with its revolutionary technology and extensive product range was founded in 1919 by Carl Borgward in Bremen, Germany. With an export share of more than 60 percent, Borgward was the third largest automotive manufacturer in Germany. Numerous record-breaking and significant automobiles and many other vehicles were manufactured by Borgward. The German Borgward Automotive Group is based in Stuttgart. Top German designers and engineers, along with the integration of global resources and an excellent manufacturing process guarantee consistently outstanding quality. At the same time, the new “Resource coupling, Internet release” business model calls for the globalisation of the Borgward structure and provides drivers across the globe with the perfect driving experience. In the future, Borgward will be strongly committed to using renewable energy resources and networked automobiles, while offering consumers intelligent electric vehicles.

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PRODUCTS & EQUIPMENT

Metal recycling – ARJES VZ 950 with plant solution

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he Metal Recycling Plant solution from ARJES crushes and sorts mixed scrap, car bodies, white goods, engine blocks, aluminum profiles, alloy rims, etc. to efficiently recover valuable ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Its modular structure allows for an easy customizable plant design to meet the structure of your location. Based on an efficient 3-step architecture (Pre- Shredding

/ Screening / Separation) our system is able to achieve high throughput and clean material fractions on heavy-duty tasks.

Heavy-duty ARJES shredder VZ 950 for pre-crushing of the coarse material into smaller chunks. Asynchronous drive with alternating shaft speeds for easier intake. Jam-detection and automatic reversal to prevent damage. Powerful diesel engine with approx. 800 hp – also

available with electric drive (2 x 250 kW). Service control panel with multi-display for monitoring and adjusting machine data & parameters. Vibration finger screen for separation of oversize material (which is transferred back by the return conveyor) and uniform distribution of the finer particles.

The powerful magnetic cores of the magnet roll are able to create a high separation rate of ferrous materials. Final ferrous product

is discharged through lateral conveyor. Non-ferrous metals can be separated from the conveying stream by an eddy current. In the eddy current, many permanent magnets are arranged on a fastrotating deflection roller, which in turn generates a high frequency magnetic field. With this, the induced currents in the non-ferrous metals counteract their origin and thus push off and separate these material parts.

Introducing the new generation Hardox® wear plate Hardox 500 Tuf delivers exceptional strength, hardness and toughness in one and the same wear plate.

Hardox 500 Tuf combines the best properties from Hardox 450 and Hardox 500. The result is a wear plate that has no real competition on the market.

It is tough enough to perform as a structural material in heavyduty dump bodies, containers and buckets. Superior wear and dent resistance gives increased service life and the ability to withstand heavy impact.

Twice the service life possible

WearCalc and TippCalc calculations based on sliding wear with granite indicate that Hardox 500 Tuf has 85-100% longer service life compared to Hardox 400.

Working conditions where Hardox 500 Tuf will excel include the loading and unloading of heavy and sharp rocks in quarries and mines, handling large and heavy steel scrap, and in demolition when pieces of concrete containing rebar are loaded or dropped into dumpers.

Hardox 500 Tuf has a guaranteed impact energy of 27 J at -20°C (20

ft-lb at -4°F) and a typical value of 45 J at -40°C (33 ft-lb at -40°F). It has an unusually narrow Brinell hardness window of 475-505 HBW. Hardox 500 Tuf will be available from September 2017.

For more information about properties and performance data, please contact: Jenny Brandberg Hurtig, Ph.D. Product Manager Hardox® wear plate, SSAB Special Steels D +46 155 25 46 18 M +46 70 237 30 85 E: jenny.brandberg-hurtig@ssab. com

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TUBE BENDING

Fast systematic tool change transfluid simplifies complex tube processing with an automatic tool change system

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More effective with transfluid sequence control In the scope of a current project, the setup of this special bending system has been implemented fully electrically. All movement axes are optimally synchronised by the

Photo: © transfluid

ontinually faster and more adaptable: Bending of tubes with diameters of up to 127 mm is growing continually more demanding, while the subsequent costs are to approximate zero.

“It isn’t only about implementing technical efficiency in processes or machines anymore,” says Stefanie Flaeper, managing director at transfluid. “Most of all, the increased demands to new products must be implemented here. No matter the time efficiency and precision, the solution should, of course, be controllable.” The specialists from Germany have developed their tube bending machine t bend DB 40120-CNC-VE for this. It permits bending radii of 1 x D at very thin wall thicknesses for such tubes.

The new pipe bending machine DB 40120-CNC-VE by transfluid changes tools automatically. special transfluid sequence control or can be programmed controlled against each other. Additionally, it is possible to easily optimise the process via this sequence control, which effectively improves product-

specific cycle times.

Another strong point is simple operation. All parameters can be taken from the CAD. Necessary form clamps are integrated in the automatic sequence. The transfluid

engineers have implemented reduction of the follow-up costs by an automatic clamp die change system. The time frame for tool change is comparable to that of a radii changer.

Photo: © transfluid

Changing the clam dies up to eight times

The transfluid machine permits bending radii of 1 x D and more for tubes with diameters up to 127 mm while reducing wall thicknesses from 2 mm to 1.5 mm.

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The new DB 40120-CNC-VE has two tool levels. It is able to change the clamp dies eight times, so that each tube can be bent even in highly complex geometries. This form of tool equipment is particularly efficient, reducing follow-up costs to a minimum. “In particular because the diameters are relatively similar and radii are very tight with 1 x D, only the bending geometries really change in new products. This means that only new clamp dies need to be used,” explains Stefanie Flaeper. To implement the tight radii at a relatively thin wall thickness, the new tube bending machine has an additional boosting device that can controlledly support even the last bend at short rest lengths.

TUBE BENDING

Gresham boosts output by 50% with BLM electric tube bender investment

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resham Office Furniture has come a long way since its creation some 40 years ago when typewriter engineer Ted Smith started producing desks in his garden shed. Now, under the guidance of Julian Roebuck, who became Managing Director in 2008 after a management buyout (MBO), the Bolton-based business now operates out of a 200,000 ft2 state-of-the-art factory that produces over 1000 chairs alone every day.

The MBO at the height of the financial crash provided the opportunity for a fresh look at the business and to move it in a new direction, which included looking at value stream mapping, workflow and general improvements in efficiency. The latter providing the opportunity for Operations Manager, David Openshaw to review the tube bending capability at Gresham, bringing in an all-electric BLM E-TURN 52 to complement the two existing tube benders from BLM and, adding greater capacity and efficiency. The combined result of these changes saw the business win the prestigious Mixology North Manufacturer of the Year Award in 2016. “Gresham was extremely successful before we implemented these changes, but with these new ideas, equipment and diversification into new markets, such as hospitality and corporate, as well as increasing export sales, we have seen a 50 per cent growth in turnover over the past 7-8 years to around £30 million and we employ 250 full time. With more potential still to be realised it’s fair to say that Gresham is now a waking giant,” says David Openshaw.

One of the advantages that Gresham has over its competitors is it reaction time to orders, with

Rigth and above: Furniture manufactured by Gresham Office Furniture using the BLM E-TURN 52 10-days being a typical lead time.

The introduction of the BLM E-TURN 52 will play a significant part in maintaining that advantage due to its efficiency and flexibility.

“We are finding that the E-TURN 52 has increased output by around 50 per cent compared to the older hydraulic machines, which we installed over 16 years ago, the only restriction we have in terms of further gains are the ability of the operator to keep up, but we do have an option for automated loading in the future.

The reassurance of BLM being one of, if not the, largest manufacturer of tube processing machinery was also an influence on our decision, as was seeing the impressive manufacturing facility,” says David Openshaw. The efficiency of the E-TURN comes from its allelectric axes operation, which is both energy and environmentally efficient, as the machine only draws power when it’s required, reducing operational power requirement by around 50 per cent and idle power is reduced by around 85 per cent.

The electric operation also has a positive influence on bend accuracy and repeatability, once set every bend is good, removing much of the requirement for highly-skilled setter/operators.

The E-TURN 52 installed at

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Gresham is one from a very comprehensive range of BLM All-Electric tube benders with a capacity to handle tube from 6 to 52 mm diameter with a 2mm wall thickness. The electric operation of the machine’s axes mean that no 4

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TUBE BENDING

The BLM E-TURN 52 at Gresham Office Furniture has improved output by 50 per cent

3mechanical adjustment is needed during set-up and the bends are better controlled and repeatable without manual intervention.

Energy efficiency is also greatly improved as E-TURN machines are also capable of achieving left and right hand bends with varying radii. Customers also have the option of integrating machine load/unload capability, which can be done prior or post machine installation.

Another aspect of Gresham’s business is the creation of bespoke furniture. This in turn leads to small batch sizes, where the E-TURN comes into its own

due to the speed and efficiency of the machine set-up. “We have pre-set tooling, which BLM helped us with, and using this and the BLM control software we can set the E-TURN in around a minute and the first off will be correct over 90 per cent of the time.

This is far easier and quicker than with our hydraulic machines, with the E-TURN it’s a case of tube in, correct part out.”

Gresham and BLM share certain values such as customer focus and service along with a flexible attitude to making things right as Gresham’s Engineering Senior Supervisor, Andy Smith points

out: “Throughout the process of bringing in the E-TURN 52 BLM has worked with us to help develop solutions for our products. We know what we want to achieve and their detailed knowledge of the capability of the machine has resulted in greater efficiency. Getting programs into production is also simplified by use of BLM’s VGP3D software, which is fantastic. Through its auto-simulation routines we can visualise the exact movements of the machine from the production office by simply inputting the bend coordinates, or directly importing them via BLM’s new

Andy Smith has explored the capabilities of the BLM E-TURN by creating a variety of test components 24

IMT March 2017

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B-IMPORT software module from a stp or igs CAD model, before sending the program out. Once it is downloaded to the machine control we can carry out secondary checks for any possible collisions on the touchscreen control.”

The success of Gresham, even with the improved productivity of the BLM E-TURN 52 means that it is outgrowing its existing floorspace and plans are underway for further expansion.

This may bring further investment with the addition of a BLM laser tube machine that can be linked to the BLM E-TURN 52 in order to deliver even greater efficiency.

WELDING

Purge with Extra Options

W

eld purging is the act of removing oxygen from the vicinity of a joint with an inert gas. It is essential when welding metal tubes and pipes made from titanium, stainless steel, chrome and nickel steels where a high strength joint or an exceptionally clean and smooth joint is needed. For example in power piping and ultra high purity stainless steel joints it is important to have a good weld purge that will provide non-oxidised, zero colour welds.

PurgExtra® Inflatable Tube and Pipe Purging Systems, available from Weld Purging Experts Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT®, provides an extra gas purge for weld purging tube and pipe joints from 1 – 24” ø. This range complements the PurgElite® Series that has a single purging inlet.

Luke Keane, Distributor Support for HFT® said: “The PurgExtra® System allows the operator to purge at the recommended rates initially and then, when conditions are correct, to introduce the additional gas at high flow rates.

This system is especially valuable for achieving the lower oxygen levels required for welding materials around 20 parts per million.”

When welding joints where interpass temperature control is necessary, PurgExtra® allows extra argon gas into the welding zone, helping to cool the area dramatically. The extra gas also helps to remove the gases that are expelled by the outgassing, which occurs as the metal is being heated. The extra gas flow will prevent these expelled gases from combining with the hot metal and oxidising, which would cause the

metal to discolour and lose its corrosion resistance.

PurgExtra® comprises of two inflatable dams connected by a heat resistant, highly flexible gas hose that has the unique IntaCal® gas release system. IntaCal® allows the dams to be inflated correctly and then releases the inert gas to safely purge the space between the dams. The low profile IntaCal® Valve replaces the old fashioned, bulky complicated valves, which are still used by other types of purging devices.

The highly flexible spinal hose between the dams allows the PurgExtra® Systems to be pulled

or pushed easily around bends and elbows. In the centre of the spinal hose a strip of RootGlo® material is adhered, allowing the welder to see from outside clearly, when the PurgExtra® System has reached the correct position in the pipe. RootGlo® can be charged by exposing it to daylight for 10 minutes, after which it will provide up to 24 hours of bright illumination inside the pipe.

The innovative PurgeGate® Valve may be fitted to the PurgExtra® Systems as an accessory, to protect the inflatable dams from bursting due to accidental over pressurisation.

Heat Resistant Covers are also available for PurgExtra®, which fit onto the inflatable dams and allow operation with pre-heated and post-weld heat-treated pipe joints where the temperatures might reach 760°C. Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® have a Worldwide Exclusive Distributor network, which can be found at www.huntingdonfusion. com.

For further information, please contact: Michaela Reay, Marketing Associate, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® +44 1554 836 836 Press: michaelareay@ huntingdonfusion.com Sales: hft@huntingdonfusion.com www.huntingdonfusion.com

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WELDING

Copying carriage option To perform compound bevels on heavy pipes Use compound bevels to reduce your welding operations costs

T

Bevel

he copying carriage option was design to perform compound bevels for wall thicknesses over 50mm (1.968”).

The use of a compound bevel provides a reduction in the amount of weld metal that needs to be deposited in the weld bead. The aim is to avoid welding operations that are too long and too costly from a labor and consumables point of view.

The Copying Carriage option is made for PROTEM beveling machines in the US40 to US450 range and PROTEM cutting and beveling machines in the TT-NG series.

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Compound Bevel

Using HSS or carbide inserts allows machining on metal pipes including mild steel, chrome, stainless steel, duplex, super duplex, coppernickel alloy steel, inconel, P91, aluminium, copper, exotic alloys and more.

Reliable and accurate copying carriage system To implement the copying carriage system, simply remove the tool plate from the unit and fit the copying arm on the machine. This implementation is fast and easy to do. Once it has been completely equipped with its copying arm, the machine is ready to perform beveling operations

During the machining operation, the operator’s safety is ensured by the safety cover which is situated over the copying arm during rotation.

Reliable and accurate, the copying carriage system performs machining operations by using a copying cam. The copying cam is connected to the tool holder by a ‘’follower finger’’ which provides radial movement to the carriage.

In order to guarantee that the land or root face has a constant width over the whole

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circumference of the pipe, a counterboring tool may be added on the copying carriage.

Copying carriage advantages •R educes welding operations costs •E asy machining on heavy wall thicknesses •E asy installation • F ast set-up •H igh precision machining •E nsures the safety of the operators •M achining on all materials •P erfect welding preparations

WELDING

Lincoln Electric expands line of CrossLinc-Equipped Flextec welders The Flextec® 650X multi-process welder from Lincoln Electric® gives operators full functionality and control at the arc without an added control cable, thanks to embedded CrossLinc® Technology.

T

he Flextec 650X expands upon the well-established and proven Flextec 650 platform. Like its predecessor, the Flextec 650X is rated at 650 amps, 44 volts at 100% duty cycle. It delivers up to 815 amps for heavy applications or a stable arc at low currents for MIG or TIG welding on thin materials.

Typical applications include construction, shipbuilding and heavy fabrication. It’s ideal for large-diameter stick, flux-cored, MIG or submerged arc welding on thick materials and is also capable of gouging with up to a ½ inch (12.7 mm) carbon. The 650X yields a fast arc response, smooth arc action and smooth bead appearance on all DC wire, stick and TIG processes.

Using CrossLinc, the Flextec 650X now enables remote control of procedure settings at the arc. This leads to improved weld quality and increased productivity by reducing trips to the power source. It also improves safety by reducing jobsite cable clutter. With the Flextec 650X, CrossLinc can be used with an LN-25X feeder for wire fed welding processes or the new CrossLinc® Remote for Stick, TIG or gouging processes.

Broad wire-feeder compatibility is not an issue with the new Flextec 650X. It now is not only compatible with existing Lincoln Electric standard bench, boom and acrossthe-arc wire feeders, but it also is compatible with the CrossLincequipped and advanced digital ArcLink® feeders.

With the addition of ArcLink, Lincoln Electric’s digital communications protocol, the Flextec 650X can be used with an expanded list of wire feeders compared to the previous 650 model. Applicable feeders include weld schedule memory storage to give operators easy recall of critical

or often-repeated weld procedures.

The Flextec 650X can be used with a wide range of available, three-phase input power.

Engineered for outdoor use and harsh environments, the machine is IP23 rated. It also is Desert Duty® rated for extreme temperatures up to 55°C. Components are designed

to run cool for long life in hightemperature environments.

Media Contacts: Robin Suttell – rsuttell@ fallscommunications.com or 216.696.0229 Greg Coleman – greg_coleman@ lincolnelectric.com or 216.383.2462

About Lincoln Electric Lincoln Electric is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Lincoln has 47 manufacturing locations, including operations and joint ventures in 19 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries. For more information about Lincoln Electric and its products and services, visit the company’s website at www. lincolnelectric.com.

www.internationalmetaltube.com

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WELDING

Successful Gas Tungsten Arc Welding with MultiStrike ®

T

ungsten is a rare metallic element used for manufacturing gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) electrodes. Tungsten Electrodes are available in a range of sizes and lengths and are made up of either pure tungsten or an alloy of tungsten and other rare-earth elements and oxides.

Choosing an electrode depends on the base material type and thickness and whether you weld with alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC).

Each electrode is colorcoded at the tip to eliminate confusion over its type. Unlike the red-tipped thoriated Tungsten Electrode, which contain 2% thoria, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT®’s blue-tipped MultiStrike® Tungsten Electrodes contain a mix of non-radioactive rare earth elements, eliminating the risk to health posed by thoriated Tungsten Electrodes.

A customer in the UK recently said: “We have tested your MultiStrike® under production conditions where we need to make short lengths welds using the TIG process. On a batch of 50 components only 2 light regrinds were required compared to 7 heavy regrinds when using thoriated electrodes. Even when

the welder occasionally touched the work with the electrode there was no material change in performance whereas we would normally expect to have to regrind. Better weld quality and finish was observed. We were particularly impressed with the health and safety aspects and have taken the decision to remove

all thoriated electrodes from site.”

MultiStrikes® can be used for welding aluminium with the AC process as well as steels and alloys with the DC process, which allows the welder to have just one type of Tungsten Electrode to weld all materials and reduce the amount of stocks and purchasing requisitions.

Other tungsten electrodes work at higher temperatures so their oxide additions (mostly radioactive) burn out, or evaporate much faster than those non-radioactive ingredients in MultiStrike®, so much so that they give at least 10 times more arc striking capacity of other tungsten electrodes, when tested under the same conditions.

With most tungsten electrodes in use still containing radioactive and carcinogenic 2% thorium oxide, MultiStrike® provide the TIG and Plasma welder with a safe and superior alternative.

Each packet comes with a traceability number to ensure that companies with a quality control procedure have traceability over another aspect of their joining processes.

MultiStrike® Tungsten Electrodes demonstration video is available at: https://youtu.be/ bx1BeepVMaw Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® have a worldwide Exclusive Distributor network, which can be found at www.huntingdonfusion. com For further information, please contact: Michaela Reay, Marketing Associate, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® +44 1554 836 836 Press: michaelareay@ huntingdonfusion.com Sales: hft@huntingdonfusion.com www.huntingdonfusion.com

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WELDING

Rapid purge your pipes with QuickPurge

®

W

eld Purging is the act of removing oxygen within the vicinity of a joint when welding, especially when joining metals such as stainless steel, nickel alloys, titanium, zirconium etc.

However, completely filling tubes and pipes with expensive inert gas such as argon for weld purging is time consuming.

Such costly time loss and excessive waste of argon gas can be avoided now because of QuickPurge® Tube, Pipe and Pipeline Weld Purging Systems designed and manufactured by weld purging specialists and developers, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT®.

Whatever the size of pipe, QuickPurge® Systems reduce waiting times so dramatically that they pay for themselves in less than one weld. QuickPurge® is simply inserted into a tube or pipe, inflated within the pipe, restricting the area that is to be welded and removing the oxygen within minutes.

For example, a 36” diameter stainless steel pipe can be purged

down to 100 parts per million (ppm) of oxygen in under 32 minutes. Comparing this with weld purging using foam dams or other home-made devices that will outgas heavily into the welding zone, taking many hours.

Some features of QuickPurge® Systems include: • An additional gas input line, allowing extra purge gas to be introduced for extra high speed purging down to the lowest oxygen levels, which is perfect for larger diameter pipes where quality welds are required. This extra cold argon gas input is perfect for mitigating the extra heat produced by the Plasma / TIG process.

•T he advanced design of the QuickPurge® System means that oxygen levels as low as 10 parts per million (ppm) can be reached every time, allowing zero colour welds to be achieved with no loss of corrosion resistance caused by oxidation.

• I ntaCal® combined with the integrated PurgeGate® device makes it possible to safely inflate the systems with argon gas, for sealing and then purging the space between the dams where the weld joint is located. With PurgeGate®, any risk of over inflation is due to pressure or flow increase is eliminated.

•A ll systems are manufactured as standard with a hose for connecting a Weld Purge Monitor®, which can read oxygen levels down to as low as 1 ppm (accurate to 10 ppm).

•M aterials used in the manufacture of QuickPurge® are such that they are resistant to the higher weld temperatures present and they don’t outgas, thus preventing weld contamination.

For pre-heated chrome steel

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and high strength stainless steel pipe joints, HFT® manufactures the HotPurge® Systems for a higher and longer temperature exposure.

QuickPurge® Demonstration Video is available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/Q4MJTssaxN0.

For further information, please contact: Michaela Reay, Marketing Associate, Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® +44 1554 836 836 Press: michaelareay@ huntingdonfusion.com Sales: hft@huntingdonfusion.com www.huntingdonfusion.com

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EXHIBITIONS

I

Despite the sustained global steel crisis and dwindling oil prices as well as a tight economic situation overall in Russia, expectations for the trade fair quartet are high.

Now it is of particular importance for both international and Russian companies to “fly their flags” and place their products on the Russian market. Furthermore, many international exhibitors are expected in Moscow to intensify existing business relations and make new contacts.

In 2015 exhibitors rated trade audience quality positively and the conversations held at the stands were conducted with visitors with

high decision-making powers. The trade visitors primarily originated from Russia, other CIS states as well as neighbouring European countries.

For further information on all four trade fairs go to the relevant Internet portals at: www.wirerussia.com, www.tube-russia.com,

www.metallurgy-russia.com and www.litmash-russia.com.

Your press contact in Germany: wire Russia, Tube Russia Petra Hartmann-Bresgen M.A. Ulrike Osahon Tel.: +49-211-4560 541/-992 HartmannP@messe-duesseldorf.de

© Strajin Igor

nnovative technologies all in one place, short distances for visitors, valuable synergies for decision-makers: from 5 to 8 June 2017 the Russian metal trade fair quartet wire Russia, Tube Russia, Metallurgy Russia and Litmash Russia will be held together at the Moscow trade fair location Krasnaya Presnya.

The trade fair quartet is organised by Messe Düsseldorf GmbH, Messe Düsseldorf Moscow and the Russian partners JointStock Company VNIIKP for wire Russia and Metal Expo for Tube Russia, Metallurgy Russia and Litmash Russia.

© Strajin Igor

Four metal trade fairs together: wire Russia, Tube Russia, Metallurgy Russia & Litmash Russia held at Moscow in June 2017

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EXHIBITIONS

EuroBLECH Exhibition Survey: EU countries remain key markets for the sheet metal working industry

E

uroBLECH 2016, held in autumn last year, was regarded as highly successful by the international sheet metal working industry. One of the main themes at the 24th International Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibition was the overall trend for digitisation and automation of production processes. The innovative spirit in the industry sector led to a 2% increase in net exhibition space and visitor numbers compared to the previous event. EuroBLECH 2016 attracted a total of 60,636 visitors from 102 countries. A total of 1,505 exhibitors from 41 countries showcased their products and services on a net exhibition space of 87,800m2.

The exhibition survey results which have just been completed, confirm both the exhibition’s renowned standing within the international sheet metal working industry and its position as the leading industry event.

Furthermore, the survey shows some important industry trends on markets and the economic situation of the industry sector.

Exhibitors assessed the economic situation of the sheet metal working industry as much more favourable than two years ago. In the exhibitor survey almost 70% of the German exhibitors and some 40% of the exhibitors from outside Germany rated the current economic situation as positive; an increase by 6% and 5% respectively compared to the previous event.

According to the exhibitor survey, the main reasons for exhibiting were to attract new customers and approach new markets. Major target markets for manufacturers and providers of

sheet metal working machines and solutions were the EU-countries, in particular Germany, followed by other European countries, Asia and the Americas. When asked about key future markets, exhibitors referred to Germany, the USA, China, Russia and Poland.

International business activities are, therefore, a major focus for the sheet metal working industry. With its high degree in international attendance, EuroBLECH 2016 reflected the importance of global business contacts: 54% of exhibitors and 39% of visitors were from outside Germany; an all-time record.

Major increases in visitor numbers were registered from EU countries other than Germany (+11%) and from Asia (+46%).

Visitor numbers from the Americas had in contrast decreased by a quarter. There were some shifts with regards to the top visitor countries: Italy regained its 3rd place in the list of top visitor countries, after Germany and the Netherlands. While Turkey and the USA had slightly dropped behind,

Romania is listed within the top 15 visitor countries for the first time and India is also back again in this ranking.

According to the visitor survey a great majority of all visitors to the show are highly qualified and have decision-making and buying capacity: 84% of visitors at EuroBLECH 2016 were decisionmakers or involved in the buying process and almost half of all visitors (45%) came to Hanover with concrete investment plans.

From outside Germany, the percentage of visitors with the definite intention of buying was

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even higher (57%). There was an even split between first time visitors and regular visitors. A total of 28% of visitors to EuroBLECH 2016 indicated in the exhibition survey that they were not attending any other exhibition.

Exhibitors and visitors gave excellent feedback on the show overall, the organisation, the marketing and the venue. Three quarters of all exhibitors already confirmed on- site that they intended to exhibit again at the next show.

The exhibition survey revealed that three quarters of all exhibitors and visitors preferred a show duration from Tuesday to Friday.

EuroBLECH 2018 will, therefore, be held from 23 - 26 October 2018.

Issued by: Susanne Neuner, PR & Marketing Director EuroBLECH Press Office, Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd Romeland House, Romeland Hill, St Albans, Herts AL3 4ET, UK Tel: +44 (0)1727 814400, Fax: +44 (0)1727 814501, Email: press@mackbrooks.co.uk

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EXHIBITIONS

wire Southeast Asia/Tube Southeast Asia 2017 • A key forum to leverage on upcoming trends in Southeast Asia’s wire, cable, tube & pipe industries • Special Fastener Pavilion to debut at wire Southeast Asia 2017 •T rade-focused setting to present the latest innovations, exchange first-hand knowledge and establish global connections

W

ire Southeast Asia and Tube Southeast Asia 2017 returns to the Bangkok Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Bangkok, Thailand from 19 – 21 September with its 12th and 11th edition respectively. Held biennially, the opportune and strategic staging of the symbiotic specialist trade fairs come amidst encouraging prospects expected for the wire, cable, tube & pipe industries, especially on the back of a thriving infrastructure and manufacturing landscape in Southeast Asia.

Robust prospects expected in Southeast Asia’s infrastructure and manufacturing landscape According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), it estimates that through to 2020, energy and transport sectors will form 62.6% of the total ASEAN infrastructure investment needs.

This is in tandem with Goldman Sachs’ projection on infrastructure spending in power and transport of four ASEAN countries (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Philippines), which will amount to US$524 billion come 2020.

Another major ASEAN infrastructure initiative is the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) which will see investment requirement of US$5.9 billion, as well as the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur high speed rail which will span 350km and is expected to start operations in 2026. On the manufacturing front, should ASEAN implement the ASEAN Economic Community’s integration strategy fully and is able to capture a larger share of global manufacturing, the region could gain US$280–US$625 billion 32

IMT March 2017

in annual GDP by 2030 as stated in a recent report by the McKinsey Global Institute.

Special Zone: Fastener Pavilion Set against this infrastructure growth, alongside the expansion of the automobile, new energy, high-speed rail, urban transport, aerospace, petrochemical, infrastructure construction and other application industries, these have brought about new opportunities for the fastener industry. Reflecting such global trends, a special zone on fastener technology will make its debut at wire Southeast Asia 2017. The Fastener Pavilion will feature a dedicated showcase on the complete upstream and downstream industry chain on fastener technology, with an exhibit profile that range from standard fasteners and nonstandard ones, fasteners application in various industries, to manufacturing skills and supporting facilities of fasteners.

Reflecting the established credentials of the world’s leading trade fairs wire – the International Wire and Cable Fair – and Tube – the International Tube Fair, and supported by prominent industry partners, wire and Tube Southeast Asia 2017 will simultaneously present technology highlights from the synergistic wire and tube industries, be the focal platform to insights of the industries’ latest developments and an arena for faceto-face meetings in forging business linkages and partnerships.

The dynamic line-up at wire and Tube Southeast Asia 2017 will feature an all-encompassing range of innovative machinery in wire, cable, tube and pipe manufacturing, processing and finishing, fastener

technology, new processes in measuring, control and test engineering and specialist areas, as well as new and upgraded tools and auxiliary materials, augmented by a series of conferences and seminars.

• Machinery for: •W ire and cable manufacturing and processing •W ire products manufacturing and finishing • Fastener production • Spring making • Fibre optics manufacturing •T ube and pipe manufacturing and processing machinery • Fastener technology • Process technology tools •A uxiliary process technology materials •M aterials, special wires and cables • Tools, auxiliary materials • I ron, steel, stainless steel and nonferrous tubes and accessories •O ther tubes (including concrete, plastic, stoneware, etc.)

•M easuring and control technology • Test engineering • I nstallations for environmental protection • Specialist areas and services, etc.

Augmenting the expansive product range on the show floor is the inaugural Tube & Pipe Industry Development Seminar organised by the International Tube Association.

The seminar calls for exhibitors of Tube Southeast Asia 2017 to submit an abstract that focuses on technical/economical classifications, new technologies, modernisation, R&D or recent case studies that would increase the competitiveness of the business against the current industry climate. Each submitted proposal will be considered by the association’s technical committee.

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Success of wire and Tube Southeast Asia 2015 Proven to be the leading platform for global trade opportunities for the synergistic sectors, wire and Tube Southeast Asia 2015 came to a successful close on 18 September.

The co-staged synergistic exhibitions were presented by 411 internationally prominent companies from 33 countries, including 7 National Pavilions and country groups from Austria, China, Germany, Italy, Taiwan, the UK and USA. At closing, the event threeday exhibition welcomed 7144 international trade visitors from 56 countries.

Almost 33% of these visitors came from outside Thailand, from countries such as Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, Myanmar and Pakistan as well as visiting delegations from China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, manifesting wire and Tube Southeast ASIA 2015 as the regional platform for the wire and tube industries.

For 2015 Post Show Report, visit: http://www.wire-southeastasia.com/ post-show-report.html Space Bookings Are Now Open!

For more information, please visit: www.wire-southeastasia.com | www.tube-southeastasia.com

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TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG PIPE BENDING SYSTEMS Hunold-Rump-Str. 76–80 · 57368 Lennestadt · Germany Phone: +49 2725 9540-0 · pbs@tracto-technik.de · www.pipe-bending-systems.com