Confident about its future UK success in 2007, Mills Manufacturing Technology delivered more than 300 Doosan Daewoo CNC machine tools valued in excess of GBP 30 million

Mills Manufacturing Technology has announced record sales for 2006 delivering more than 300 Doosan Daewoo CNC machine tools valued in excess of GBP 30 million. Said Mike Jenkins, managing director at Mills: 'The results for 2006 are fantastic and represent real growth of over 20%'. 'This performance was all the more special considering that during the year we managed to refinance the business and complete the installation of a new GBP 150,000 integrated management system which will deliver real benefits for the business and our customers.' With its installed base in the UK and Ireland now topping 3500 machine tools - Mills is confident about its future success in 2007 and beyond.

Continued Jenkins: 'The investments we have made in our technical and applications teams mean that we are well placed to capitalise on the growing demand among customers for complex turnkey solutions.

Doosan Daewoo machines are in high demand.

From standard entry 2-axis lathes and ultra-productive 3-axis machining centres - right through to multi-axis, multi-tasking mill-turn centres - we can provide the optimum machine tool solution.' In May 2007 Doosan Daewoo will hold its bi-annual DIMF Show in Korea where it is expected that over 60 new machine tool models will be launched.

The ECO-maxi is a completely new concept designed specifically to improve just-in-time cell manufacturing processes. Besides being able to use the traditional water/compound mixture to deburr and radius parts turned and milled on CNC machines, the ECO-maxi can easily use the same water/oil emulsion as the CNC machine itself. This is a major breakthrough and has the immediate cost benefit of not requiring a separate water connection/drainage or waste processing solution. As it can be independent of connections and is compact, the unit can be set-up anywhere in the production cell.

Speed is another major advantage of the ECO-maxi. Typically, a perfect finish can be achieved in just 20 minutes, whereas a tumbler or vibratory machine at the same price level would take three to four hours for the same part.

Even more enticing for users is the fact that ECO-maxi can combine three types of finishing - wet grinding/polishing, dry grinding/polishing and magnetic polishing. This is achieved simply by having interchangeable bowls for each process. If a different finishing process is required then the operator can quickly and easily change the bowl. No mess or delay, just maximum productivity at all times.

The machine is ideal for CNC produced parts as well as for parts formed by pressing and bending. Adaptability of the device means it can even be set-up to process plastic parts, for example, removing flash.

There has never been a better time for manufacturers to upgrade their deburring and radiusing capabilities. With ECO-maxi costing just £1,500 the investment will soon pay for itself. Space saving, time saving, cost saving and high quality productivity boosting are all combined in a new revolutionary package that is available now.

DIMAC Tooling has released the MQL semidry cut system IV, giving good cutting and surface finish results, with extended cutter life. It can be used to machine magnesium, titanium, stainless, alloys, aluminium, nonferrous metals, hardened dies and moulds, along with most exotic metals.

The system creates a fine mist which coats cutters with a film of the Ultima vegetable oil without waste or the attendant problems of disposal of contaminated or spent coolants.

The micromist is created using an 0.6MPa maximum pressure air supply, through a standard 1mm nozzle. This creates a jet stream through the spindle of a machining centre or through the turret of a CNC turning centre.

The air delivery system aids in cooling the cutter as well as dislodging chips and improving the surface finish. The oil to air ratio is automatically maintained while changing tools with different nozzle sizes, allowing a constant mist density.

The Ultima vegetable oil is a nonhazardous product of low viscosity and extreme lubricity. It does not cause staining or corrosion on aluminium and nonferrous metals. Typical usage rates for the oil are from 1cc/h to 100cc/h.

Austrian CNC turning machine builder will present its latest developments alongside latest CNC milling machine and machining centres from recent Italian machine tool company acquisitions.
Emco, the Austrian machine manufacturer, is pursuing an expansionist course. This is not only apparent from its new appearance as the Emco Group but is evidenced by a virtual explosion of innovations to be presented at the EMO 05 in Hannover. Emco's range of products for the machining industry will feature a cache of useful innovations and further developments on display at the Emco Group's stand in Hall 26.

The innovation for lathes and turning centres start with the successor to the smallest Emco lathe.

The conventional classic EmcoMAT Super 11 will be replaced by the EmcoMAT 14.

The interface from the conventional program to teach in lathes has also been bridged with the introduction of the new EmcoMAT 160 as Emco's smallest teach in lathe.

A new generation of Emco turning centers was already introduced last year with the successful launching of the Maxxturn model family.

Additional sizes were introduced this year: Emco's Maxxturn 110 and a big bore version of the Maxxturn 65 with a port for bar diameters of 3in or 77mm.

TheMaxxturn 110 also introduces the Siemens Solution Line - featuring the latest developments in control technology.

Cost-efficient automation solutions have always been an Austrian specialty.

Especially powerful portal systems integrated into existing production systems will be presented at the EMO, based on the successful Hyperturn 665 fully automated machining system.

Turning and milling from a single source is the slogan used by the EMCO Group to market its line of industrial products.

It comes as no surprise that the new brands in the group are also undergoing a change, especially with state-of-the-art drive technology.

For the first time, Emco-Famup is employing linear drive in the MMV model line, the traveling column vertical machining center for high-precision machining, achieving decisive advantages in terms of precision.

Emco-Mecof is a new family member in the group and the Emco-Mecof Prima 1.3 will be presented live in operation at the EMO.

Emco-Mecof is the Group's large-scale CNC machining centre programme for mouldmaking and toolmaking.

The presentation of these innovations is an indication of the direction the Emco Group's key technological developments will take in the future.

* Selective use of linear drive for a variety of milling and turning systems to increase performance and precision.

* Combination of various machining technologies such as turning.

milling, grinding, gear cutting, friction welding in fully-automated machining systems.

The Emco Hyperturn model series is a successful example with extra potential.

* Further enhancement of integrated automation solutions.

The primary goal is the direct benefit to the customer.

Cost efficiency without compromises in performance is the Emco Group's goals for all its brands and products.

And that is something that will be demonstrated once again at the EMO 2005 in Hannover.

Builder of multi-axis and large, long-bed milling/drilling machines, F Zimmermann, is enthusiastic about the results of attending a recent Chinese machine tool show.

'CIMT2005 was a sensational success for F Zimmermann,' states Rudolf Gaenzle, President of F Zimmermann in Denkendorf, Germany. He was exceedingly enthusiastic after the most important exhibition for machine tools in China. During the seven days April 11-17.

2005, Zimmermann was able to establish more than 800 contacts and leave an impressive mark by their presence.

'Particularly representatives of the Chinese automotive and aircraft industry appreciate the high quality of Zimmermann machines and our absolute strategic orientation towards our customised solutions,' states Ruediger Schrott, Sales Director for the Chinese market at F Zimmermann.

'Our FZ 37 machine 'made in Germany' was the highlight of the show - not only in the Chinese hall but perhaps even on the whole exhibition,' reports Gaenzle.

This is not only the subjective impression of the president of Zimmermann.

Within the framework of an exhibition documentation a contribution of the Chinese Television was about the High End HSC Portal milling machine FZ 37 of Zimmermann.The FZ 37 Portal Milling Machine with 42m3 milling volume was one of the biggest exhibits - of course with live cutting performance.

Both, technical specialists from the customer, as well as politicians from high-ranking positions like Mr Jia Quinglin Standing member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (C.P.P.C.C.) expressed their enthusiasm about the presented technology.

The cooperation with the Chinese machine tool manufacturer DMTG Dalian Machine Tool Group Corp - offers a very good platform for successful activities in the Chinese market.

'A win-win situation is thereby guaranteed, both on the Chinese as well as on the German side'.

More compact and inexpensive than traditional milling machines, a machine with the same strength, power, and accuracy to cut high-performance alloys is priced at only US$6,800.

Tormach, innovator of CNC technology, has introduced of its PCNC 1100 CNC, the most affordable 3-axis milling machine on the market. With a base price of only US$6,800, the PCNC 1100 CNC mill represents an entirely new class of machinery, more compact and inexpensive than traditional mills, with the same strength, power, and accuracy to cut high-performance alloys. Tormach coins the term, 'Personal CNC', to describe the product, drawing parallels in cost, size, and ease of use of the personal computer compared to its bulky, room-sized predecessors.

Three years in development, the design of the agile PCNC 1100 combines reliable cast-iron construction with the best of CNC technology to create a simple and robust platform with ample options for user-installed upgrades.

The mill weighs 1130 lb and is equipped with a 1.5HP - well suited for short run and prototyping applications as well as secondary operations.

'Tormach's PCNC release is really the advent of a revolution in CNC which will make the technology far more accessible and far simpler to use,' said Tormach CEO, Greg Jackson.

'Where 3D printers have allowed companies to make prototype replicas in house, this new generation of CNC will enable companies to affordably produce both working prototypes and initial production parts.

Unlike 3D printers, where the material is limited to plastics, materials used in Personal CNC technology are basically anything that can be cut with a tool.' With a modern bed mill style frame and iron construction, the machine is fully capable of cutting iron, steel, titanium, and even chromium alloys such as 300 or 400 series stainless.