Northern powerhouse

Northern Manufacturing & Electronics returns to Manchester for the fifth consecutive year on September 27th and 28th 2017. Against a backdrop of record order books for UK manufacturing, expectations of a busy show are running high.

It is perhaps a very British attitude to look at the recent headline-grabbing successes for UK manufacturing as just a temporary blip on an otherwise downward trajectory. However, even the most pessimistic observer would have to agree that there does appear to be an underlying growth trend that can’t be explained away solely as the by-product of a weaker pound boosting exports.

As reported in PES at the end of July, the CBI Industrial Trends survey indicate a healthy job market, full order books, both domestic and export, and a continuing cautious optimism amongst UK engineering firms. This year’s Paris Airshow, to cite just one example, netted a record-breaking £13 billion worth of orders for the UK aerospace industry - much of that work heading to the North, an area which accounts for roughly a quarter of the UK’s £32 billion aerospace business, employing some 25,000 skilled workers and supporting a rich eco-system of suppliers.

Add in other recent good news stories such as CAF’s new train factory in Wales and new models for BMW Mini and Toyota’s UK factories, and it does appear that this growth is expected to be sustained and that the North can expect to be one of the main beneficiaries.

The Northern Manufacturing show is located pretty much at the epicentre of this explosion of activity, making it a key showcase for both machinery and production hardware vendors looking to capitalise on the expected expansion of capacity in the region, and subcontractors hoping to benefit from new orders. Not surprisingly, the big machinery vendors are returning to Northern in force for 2017.

Top technology in the aisles

Two new machines from Haas Automation make their UK debut at Northern Manufacturing 2017; the new 2017 ST-15 turning centre and DM-2 high-speed drill-mill centre. The new machines will be put through their paces with live cutting demonstrations. The ST-15 is the latest addition to Haas Automation’s line of big bore turning centres while the DM-2 compact drill-mill centre is pitched at high-mix production shops looking to increase throughput, as well as job shops looking for a small, fast 40-taper machine.

Yamazaki Mazak has expanded its presence to two stands for 2017, showcasing its Variaxis range of 5-axis machining centres. The North’s aerospace industry has long been an important market for Mazak making, the firm believes, the Northern Manufacturing & Electronics show the ideal showcase for its machines’ capabilities.

Combining a compact footprint with the ability to offer simultaneous 5-axis machining across multiple surfaces, the Variaxis j-500/5X can be used in a variety of sectors, including aerospace and oil and gas. Its advanced manufacturing capabilities – it comes equipped with a 5-axis version of Mazak’s SmoothX technology – are suited to small batch, volume production or prototype work, says the firm.

Amada will show advances in both standalone and automated press brake technology. Built on the solid foundation of its HFE series, the HFE3i 1003 press brake includes additional production enhancing features and an innovative touchscreen AMNC 3i interface. Also on the stand will be the HG-ATC (automatic tool changer), designed to load even the most complex tool layout within three minutes, allowing operators of varied experience levels to operate the bending system effectively.

Bystronic stand returns with its innovative Xpert 40 press brake and Mobile Bending Cell, designed to speed production through automation while at the same time allowing manual work when required. The compact Xpert 40 can be set-up and put into operation in virtually any environment, claims the company. Users can set up the robotics system on the Xpert 40 in just a few minutes. When not in use, the bending robotics can simply be moved to one side and the machine used as normal.

Axminster will demonstrate the iKX3 mill and iKC6 lathe from its CNC Technology Series, together with a range of pillar drills from the Axminster Engineer Series: SB-16, SB-25, SB-250 and SB-25-TC. The machines are designed for prototype and light engineering, small production workshops and component makers, fabrication works for testing, research and development, and the education sector including UTCs (university technical colleges). Axminster is also the exclusive UK distributor of the Jet Elite range of mills, lathes and bandsaws.

Exhibiting for the first time at Northern Manufacturing, YMT will showcase its impressive line-up of toolholding, workholding and fixturing solutions for a variety of applications. The firm supplies a variety of markets including Formula 1, medical, aerospace and electronics, and its wide portfolio spans everything from spindle tooling, collets and machine vices, through to angle heads, heat shrink technology and rotary tables, oil and mist extraction systems.

Also worth checking-out is, Leader CNC Technologies, the main European dealer for Toshiba Machine, and UK distributor for Kitamura, DMC, Gruppo Parpas and FAT Haco machine tools.

Advanced manufacturing is also well represented. Laser Lines, a Stratasys Platinum Partner for the UK and Ireland, offers a portfolio of over 20 3D printer and rapid manufacturing systems, together with industrial lasers for cutting, welding, marking and cladding. On display will be a compact laser marker, together with a mechanical marking system.

Automation solutions on show include the Olympus Technologies universal robot welding system, featuring On Robot’s RG2 flexible gripper and OptoForce’s force torque sensors. The OptoForce force torque sensor provides robots with a sense of touch that has not been previously available to collaborative robots, says the company. Olympus’ UR welding system offers a cost-effective robotic MIG welding solution, ideal for companies who have previously not been able to justify the investment in an industrial robot cell, or simply do not have the space for one.

More than just metalcutting

While the big-ticket machinery cutting metal is one of the major attractions of the show, there is plenty more to see at Northern Manufacturing. Northern Manufacturing & Electronics offers a wealth of other production hardware from suppliers such as Nikon Metrology and Faro, and is a natural focal point for subcontract services with particular expertise in areas such as aerospace.

Among the many contract engineering firms present in 2017 is Chesterfield-based Mintdale, a well-equipped CNC machinist that also offers clean medical assembly, brazing and induction brazing to medical standards. Items are produced to ISO 9001:2008 quality standard for the medical, brewery, aircraft and shop fitting industries. Other well-known names exhibiting include Orbital Fabrications and Jenks & Cattell Engineering, the Wolverhampton-based specialists in sheet metal presswork. A full list of service providers exhibiting this year can be found at www.industrynorth.co.uk

As in previous years, the show’s free technical seminar programme will bring the spotlight of expert opinion on a number of pertinent topics. The 2017 programme includes, amongst others, hour-long presentations on implementing Lean, CE marking, an examination of 3D printing, the advance of Industry 4.0 and an insight into the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulations that will have profound implications for businesses. A full list of seminars can be found at www.industrynorth.co.uk

The show’s free entry and free onsite parking for ,3000 cars make it possible to easily fit in a visit as part of a working day. EventCity is also easily reached by public transport from Manchester city centre for those wishing to spend a more relaxed day exploring what the show has to offer.

To register online for free 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.industrynorth.co.uk