PRODUCT REVIEWS
Mazak at EMO Hannover
The Yamazaki Mazak exhibition stand at EMO 2023 will showcase a total vision for modern machining aimed at enabling machine users across Europe to drive productivity and profitability . Located this year on stand B14 , Hall 15 , Mazak will be showcasing 19 machines and 12 automation systems to include machine-tool and laser technologies , live cutting demonstrations , advanced software solutions and the latest developments in its Smooth Ai control software .
“ Central to our vision will be a focus on offering solutions to the major challenges that face machine users from productivity improvement through to skills shortages , energy prices , wage inflation , increased competition and a focus on the environment – and how technology and advanced services can deliver increased profitability ,” Mazak told ISMR .
“ We will demonstrate entry-level machines designed to increase productivity , profitability and competitiveness at an affordable price as a key theme , particularly for machine users new to Mazak technology ,” the manufacturer highlighted .
Automation and laser cutting
Automation systems to increase productivity and mitigate the impact of skills shortages and increasing wages also form a key part of Mazak ’ s vision . A total of 12 integrated automation solutions will be on display capable of delivering increased machine uptime , greater production flexibility , improved operator utilisation and reduced costs working towards the goal of increasing ROI and profitability .
“ The solutions on the stand will include easy-to-program machine-tending robots and more sophisticated automation to support the trend towards high-mix , low-volume manufacturing and the demand for fiveaxis automation . We will also include new machining solutions for rapidly growing industries , such as EV battery manufacturing , showcasing the new FSW-460V , a hybrid machine principally designed for automated Friction Stir Welding while maintaining metal cutting capabilities ,” added Mazak .
Advanced Mazak laser cutting technology , the OPTIPLEX 3015 NEO , will also be on display featuring the latest beam-shaping technology and the latest MCT 3 cutting head with intelligent functions ( including auto nozzle changing and auto focus distance ).
Digital and maintenance services
“ Stand visitors will also be able to view more information about Mazak iCONNECT , a new digital service for existing Mazak customers that has a suite of free services , including product manuals and e-learning , along with a Machine-2-Mazak ( M2M ) subscription service . The M2M services enable increased machine monitoring , proactive maintenance strategies ( including remote support to detect problems ), remote optimisation of machining processes with increased uptime , as well as access to Mazak applications , project engineers and service operators ,” concluded Mazak .
Environmentally aware manufacturing will also be a key theme with a focus on the practical technologies to deliver lower cost component production , including energy dashboards and digital services to help machine users measure energy usage and reduce CO₂ impact . The stand will also include machines developed to deliver the company ’ s 2030 goal of environmental efficiency four times higher than its 2010 machine equivalents .
Visitors can register for complimentary tickets courtesy of Mazak , as well as schedule appointments on the Mazak stand via the website : www . discover . mazakeu . com / emo23 n
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. mazakeu . co . uk
Coil grabs , lifters and C-hooks
Majestic Steel USA is in the final stages of installing materialhandling equipment , including custom telescopic coil grabs from The Caldwell Group Inc . at its new facility in Hickman , Arkansas ( USA ).
Rockford , Illinois-based manufacturer Caldwell delivered nine coil grabs , two sheet lifters and five C-hooks via distributor Simmers Crane Design & Services . The coil grabs are 60,000lb capacity each and include a ‘ lock-out ’ limit switch to prevent opening while the load is suspended . They also feature an anti-clamp touch plate that protects the coils as the lifter is closing , preventing damage when the legs close . The two sheet lifers are 20,000lb capacity and the C-hooks are 60,000lb .
The fleet of material-handling equipment
The coil grabs are each 60,000lb capacity . will operate below-the-hook of 14 32.5-ton capacity , doublegirder , electric , overhead travelling ( EOT ) cranes , manufactured by OMi Crane Systems Inc . installed by Simmers Crane . Also included in the order were parking stands to facilitate storage of the coil grabs when not in use . All overhead lifting technology is operated by remote control . The facility will be fully operational later this year .
Devon Poling , assistant branch manager / sales engineer at Simmers Crane , said : “ The telescoping feature on the coil grab is ideal when handling coils in the horizontal position . The telescoping legs give the units the ability to handle a wide range of coil diameters and widths . They will be moved and used on multiple cranes throughout the facility .”
Majestic Steel has nine locations , including its latest facility in Hickman , Arkansas . In addition to Caldwell ’ s coil grabs and lifters , the site will be fully equipped with the latest processing equipment . Its footprint spans from coast-to-coast , servicing all regions across the U . S . The latest expansion will support growth in the southern part of the U . S . market .
Majestic Steel stocks and processes flatrolled steel sourced from domestic and qualified import mills . With plant locations across North America , it services a diverse customer base in construction ; heating ; ventilation and air conditioning ( HVAC ); agriculture ; transportation and other markets .
The company specialises in coldrolled ; galvanized ; aluminized ; galvalume ; galvannealed ; bonderised and pre-paint steels . Seafler explained that the Hickman service centre will have an extensive range of capabilities . The facility will be able to customise anything from seven gauge to 30-gauge material , slitting to a quarter inch , as well as handle coils from 100 to 60,000lb and process flat sheets from 36 ” W x 8 ’ -12 ’ to 72 ” W x 8 ’ -10 ’ -12 ’ and more . n
60 | ismr . net | ISMR July / August 2023