Look North

Northern Manufacturing & Electronics, the North's top manufacturing and engineering technology exhibition, returns to EventCity, Manchester from September 28-29 for its fourth year. PES takes a look at what visitors can expect to see.

Despite being a relatively new addition to the engineering scene, the show has acquired an importance that rather belies its short history. It’s popular, SME-friendly formula, introduced at its sibling Southern show, is certainly one reason for its rapid success. The other is the event’s location at the heart of one of the most important engineering regions in the country.

Nearly a quarter of the UK’s aerospace industry is located in the North West. According to the North West Aerospace Alliance, the sector generates a colossal £7 billion of revenue annually. Supporting this vital industry is a supply chain of hundreds of firms. Northern Manufacturing’s convenient venue close to Manchester city centre therefore makes the show a natural forum for companies involved in aerospace manufacturing, not to mention automotive and public transportation, which are also key regional industries.

In fact, so important are these activities to the regional engineering economy that since 2014, the show has included a special feature catering specifically for them. RoadRailAir brings together a wide range of firms who share particular expertise in various aspects of aerospace, automotive and public transportation. In fact, one third of the show’s 3,000 visitors last year were connected with one or more of these activities so bringing together a range of related services in one area makes sound business sense.

Top technology

For those hunting for shiny new equipment, Northern Manufacturing ticks the right boxes. Over 40% of visitors in 2015 came with machinery investment in mind, and the show’s impressive line-up of machinery manufacturers this year is all encompassing. Vendors such as Amada, Bystronic, Yamazaki Mazak, HPC Laser, Unison, CMZ, Haas Automation, XYZ Machine Tools and Trumpf will all be running live demonstrations.

Presented for the first time in the UK, the new Trumpf TruBend Series 5000 has become the manufacturer's fastest selling press brake worldwide. As the centrepiece of Trumpf’s presence at Northern Manufacturing 2016, the new model is optimised for maximum efficiency, from programming and tool set-up through to the bending work itself. Two clever angle measurement systems boost accuracy and repeatability. The machine also features a brand new control design that is claimed to be pioneering in its simplicity and ease of use. It is eco-friendly too because it only consumes energy during the bending process.

Visitors to the Amada stand will discover the Ensis AJ fibre laser cutter. Amada recently added the Natural Resources Agency and Energy Efficient Award from the Japan Machinery Federation (JMF) to its trophy cabinet, in addition to those presented by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), two by the Natural Resources Energy Agency and nine other awards by the JMF. The fibre laser machine adjusts to a range of thin and thick materials. It can process materials usually associated with a 4kW machine with both the speed and quality using only a 2kW oscillator, saving energy, time and costs.

Haas Automation believes its UMC-750 universal machining centre for 3+2 and simultaneous 5-axis machining will prove a popular attraction at the exhibition for SMEs wanting to make a cost-effective switch to 5-axis machining. The UMC was specially designed and manufactured based upon customers’ ‘must have’ features list in a universal machine, resulting in what Haas Automation says is a high performance CNC machine tool for a fraction of the usual cost associated with machines of such capabilities and quality.

HPC Laser will offer a 3% show discount on its laser cutting and engraving machines at the show. The firm is the UK and European distributor of Laserscript CO₂ laser cutting and engraving machines, and operates from Halifax, West Yorkshire. Highlights on the LaserLines stand include Synrad sealed CO₂ lasers of 10 to 400W power, Datalogic laser marking systems using DPSS, fibre and CO₂ laser technologies, high power diode systems to 40kW, OR Laser pulsed YAG welding workstations, and laser micro-machining systems from Optec.

Complementing the machinery is a wide selection of tooling, production aids, components, consumables and industrial fixtures and fittings. Quickgrind returns to Northern Manufacturing with its comprehensive range of solid carbide cutting tools, together with its distributor for the North and Scotland, Alliance Tools.

Also joining the stand is sister company Quickvend, showcasing its versatile and convenient vending machines, ideal for cutting tool stock management. Schunk will be showing a multitude of new workholding, toolholding and automation products alongside some of its established market favourites. Highlighted will be the Tendo E Compact hydraulic expansion toolholder. Said to be capable of reducing set-up times by up to 60% whilst generating 2,000Nm of torque, the Tendo E Compact delivers micron precision for a host of machining applications.

Subcontracting solutions

The variety of subcontract services on show at Northern Manufacturing is just as comprehensive. Jenks & Cattell Engineering will be highlighting recent investments in capacity, including an additional laser cutting machine, 250 tonne press, 400 tonne press and three robotic welders, as well as the introduction of a double shift at its Wolverhampton facility. For automotive and off-highway metal pressings, it has introduced a 400 tonne progression press to existing high-speed, coil fed and progression presses.

JJS Manufacturing specialises in end-to-end procurement, manufacture and supply chain solutions. It delivers a range of assembly services including PCBA, box build, cables and wiring looms, control cabinet build and electro-mechanical assembly. Ranked as one of the largest UK EMS providers with over 30 years’ experience and 320 staff, it specialises in complex, low-to-medium volume industrial electronics products across a range of markets.

Visitors to the Blue Diamond Technologies stand will be able to discuss its 3D scanning technology which extends reverse engineering services to cover non-rectilinear components featuring complex curves and shapes. The company can replicate an existing part by capturing its physical dimensions and analysing the composition and properties of its materials. A 3D scan is then translated into an accurate 3D CAD file before metallurgical analysis using the latest spectrometry technology. Further analysis of material hardness and tensile strength provides accurate material specifications which, together with the CAD file, are used to create a CNC machined replica.

Easy access

Business management and service providers are also well represented at Northern Manufacturing 2016. Examples include training providers such as STEGTA and asset finance specialists Close Brothers and Finance for Industry. Again there is plenty to see, with a wide variety of firms present offering solutions in areas such as industrial cleaning, stock control, industrial lighting, consumables, health and safety equipment, manufacturing software and pretty much everything else required to operate an engineering enterprise more cost-effectively and efficiently.

The free seminar programme is another compelling reason to attend. Over a fast-paced two-day programme, presenters from both trade organisations and commercial firms will address a wide variety of technical and operational themes in a series of hour long sessions running over the two days of the show. As with the show itself, access to the seminar sessions is free of charge, making this an ideal chance to listen to world-class presenters consider the newest ideas in manufacturing, engineering and industrial management.

Entry to Northern Manufacturing & Electronics 2016 is free to business visitors, and Event City offers 3,000 free onsite car parking spaces, with easy access by road, rail or air. To register online for tickets simply visit the website below. Visitors can follow all the latest news from the show at LinkedIn.industrynorth.co.uk, or on its blog page at http://blog.industrynorth.co.uk

Northern Manufacturing www.industry.co.uk