Manufacturing Machinery World July 2017

NEWS NEWS NEWS
esab wins industrie lyon award
ESAB France SA is proud to announce that it
has won the Innovation Award in the “Digital
Tools” category at Industrie Lyon 2017, held
April 4 - 7 in Lyon. Prevailing over 160
innovations presented, ESAB’s WeldCloud
online data management system took the
winning spot for its ability to provide digital
solutions that optimise welding and associated
manufacturing activities. Industrie Lyon is held
every 2 years, hosting 21,000 visitors and 900
exhibitors, including ESAB. The fair showcases
a global range of manufacturing equipment and
services, and Industrie Lyon has presented the
Innovation Award for 15 years.
To win the award, Antony Fernandes and
Florent Dourlens — and 160 other entrants —
presented to a committee of 22 people
comprised of technical journalists and
representatives of the industrial scientific
community. The committee narrowed these
What goes around comes around and the XYZ
Lean Production Machine (LPM) is a case in
point for specialist manufacturer of precision
quality industrial blades and machine knives,
Horsham-based Precision Edge and its director
Ross Candfield.
“We initially considered buying an XYZ
LPM machining centre five years ago, but after
due consideration we decided our workload
wasn’t quite right for the machine and went for
an XYZ SMX 5000 bed mill with the ProtoTRAK
SMX control instead,” says Ross Candfield. At
the time Precision Edge was machining a lot of
profiles, so the bed size and capability of the
SMX 5000 was ideal for its needs alongside an
existing SMX 4000 bed mill. As time went on
workloads changed and Precision Edge needed
additional capacity, with the LPM still in mind
it returned to XYZ, but came away with one of
its innovative XYZ 2-OP machining centres.
After having the 2-OP for 18 months,
business growth meant a need for further
machining centre capacity and the advantages
seen from of the XYZ 2-OP, with its ProtoTRAK
control and Jergens Ball Lock table finally
created the opening for an XYZ LPM to
complete Precision Edge’s machining
capabilities.
“With already having the 2-OP, the addition
of the LPM was straightforward as the
programs are compatible between the two
ProtoTRAK controls and the fixture plates that
entrants down to 16 innovations representing
four categories: Digital Tools, Sustainability,
Industrial Performance and New Technologies.
In the Digital Tools category, ESAB won over
nominees Siemens, Schunk and Pro Dis (view
video featuring Antony Fernandes). More than
900 people attended the award ceremony.
“There are many worthy offerings in the
welding community that provide Industry 4.0
capabilities, but we believe WeldCloud has
several key, customer-driven benefits that set it
apart from other systems,” says Roul Kierkels,
Global Product Manager DDA & WeldCloud,
ESAB.
“WeldCloud enables data-driven decision
making so that any employee can move the true
levers of productivity and quality,” says
Kierkels. “Users at all levels have commented
that the WeldCloud interface is very intuitive
because the applications function similar to
those found on a smart phone or tablet.”
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products is one of
the recognised leader in the welding and
cutting industry. From time-honored processes
in welding and cutting to revolutionary
technologies in mechanised cutting and
automation, ESAB’s filler metals, equipment
and accessories bring solutions to customers
around the globe.
web: www.esab.com
Precision edge fills caPacity gaP
with lean Production Machine
we had invested in were also transferrable
between the two machines. The additional
spindle power means that we can also maximise
cutting data and we are seeing cycle times
reduce dramatically and productivity
improvements as a result. The capability of the
LPM goes beyond improved cutter
performance as we can now machine a part
from blank to finished machined in a single setup.
Prior to the LPM’s arrival this would have
been completed on three machines.”
The XYZ LPM is a compact machining
system that makes the transition from bed mill
to machining centre straightforward. It uses the
ProtoTRAK PMX control system, which will be
familiar to anyone using other ProtoTRAK
variants and newcomers to CNC will find it
extremely easy to use, and features a 16 station
tool changer, 15 hp/8000 revs/min spindle and,
the 900 x 500 mm table benefits from the
innovative Jergens Ball Lock location system.
tel: 01823 674200
email: nigel.atherton@xyzmachinetools.com
web: www.xyzmachinetools.com
PurPose-built
acadeMy
launched
FANUC, the global manufacturer of factory
automation solutions, is launching a purposebuilt
training academy at its new 107,000 sq ft
facility in Ansty Park, Coventry.
The academy, which is more than four times
the size of FANUC’s previous facility at the
Seven Stars Industrial Estate, includes more
than £300,000-worth of brand new equipment,
allowing students to receive practical training
in a safe, controlled environment.
The academy features eight cells of new
FANUC M-20 and M-10 robots, as well as a
ROBOCUT (wire electro-discharge cutting),
ROBODRILL (highspeed milling) and a
ROBOSHOT (injection moulding). The
academy also includes two established robot
models, which can be stripped down and
rebuilt for maintenance training.
Each machine is equipped with the latest
touchscreen teach pendant and human-machine
interface (HMI) technology. The machines are
smaller versions of the FANUC models on sale
and operate at a teach speed, allowing students
to work on them at their own pace.
The basic introductory course, which lasts
for around five days, allows students to learn
the fundamentals of machine operation, from
basic safety protocol to programming and
control. The academy also offers advanced and
maintenance courses, as well as bespoke
programmes. Applications are accepted from
both experienced and first-time users of
automated machinery.
The FANUC academy is one of several
similar facilities at various locations around the
world, helping customers to increase their
productivity and minimise downtime by giving
them the knowledge they need to work and
maintain their machines without requiring the
assistance of a FANUC engineer.
Anthony Bentham, Customer Service
Manager at FANUC UK, said: “The FANUC
training academy helps customers and staff to
make the most of the machines they work with,
be they a robot, a plastic injection moulding
machine or an electric wire cutter.
email academy@fanuc.co.uk
web: www.fanuc.eu/uk/en/lifetimemanagement/academy
8 Machinery World, July 2017