GENERAL NEWS
More orders at MACH 2022 |
This April ’ s MACH exhibition in Birmingham , |
UK , has racked up further orders for exhibitors , with both Kerf and Unison |
From left : Steve Haddrell of Ingenium Integration , with Darren Golden of Exigo-UK . |
announcing machine tool sales at the |
manufacturing exhibition . |
Kerf , a specialist in waterjet , plasma |
and oxy-fuel cutting technology , presented |
a dynamic mix of cutting solutions and |
reported record enquiry levels as well as two |
machine orders at MACH . |
Its RUR2500P high-definition plasma |
cutting machine was on display at the |
exhibition , with its UltraSharp cutting |
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technology that has been enhanced with new advanced technologies . Kerf also introduced the new Fineline 300 Plasma unit from Lincoln Electric that incorporates Advanced Piercing Technology and a new Watermist system . The show was also the debut for Kerf ’ s new Optima waterjet cutting machine .
MACH 2022 was also a success for Unison Ltd , which specialises in electric tube manipulation , and for its sister company , Ingenium Integration Ltd . ( the exclusive UK
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in architectural metalwork . Between them , Unison and Ingenium Integration secured just short of 200 serious enquiries at MACH 2022 .
Eco machines
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The Kerf team at MACH 2022 . |
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and Ireland distributors of European-built Nukon fibre laser cutting machines ).
During the event , Unison sold one of its newly launched Synergy hybrid multi-stack tube bending machines , while Ingenium Integration sold two Nukon fibre laser machines . One Nukon machine , the Eco- 315 2D 4kW model on display at MACH , has been sent to leading commercial gym equipment manufacturer , Exigo-UK . The other Nukon fibre laser machine , a 6kW model , has been purchased by a specialist
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offer high-spec features that are standard across the wider Nukon range . These include advanced Lantek Expert CAD / CAM nesting software and U . S . -made nLIGHT fibre lasers . The machine bought by Exigo- UK is also equipped with optional adaptive beam optimisation and optional cut-line beam-shaping technology – a capability that provides improved cut-edge finish and easy , rapid cutting of different sheet thicknesses and metals . Nukon Eco models have a compact 7m x 7m footprint and can accept |
sheet metal of up to 3m x 1.5m . They are available in power options ranging from 1kW to 4kW .
“ With significant performance enhancements to our Breeze range of allelectric tube manipulation machines , our new Synergy range to showcase and the highly accessible range of Nukon fibre laser machines from Ingenium Integration , we had an awful lot to catch the attention of visitors . Talking to prospective customers during the show , we gained the clear impression that confidence is back in manufacturing and that companies of all sizes are ready to invest in the machine tools and technologies that will help them achieve their goals ,” commented Unison joint managing director , Alan Pickering .
The Nukon fibre laser range includes 2D , 3D ( 5-axis ) and laser tube cutting machines . Nukon 3D 5-axis machines have been developed for R & D work and challenging applications such as precision-cutting tubes , pipes and intricate profiles in different materials . Nukon laser tube cutting machines include pipe and profile cutting models as well as ‘ Vento Flex ’, which can cut tubes , pipes , profiles and flat sheet metal . Ingenium Integration also offers Nukon ’ s range of fully automated loading and unloading solutions . n
AM industry increased by 18 % in 2021
The fourth quarter of 2021 capped a strong year for additive manufacturing markets , according to SmarTech Analysis .
“ The growth rate for all additive hardware , materials , software and outsourced services is estimated to be 18 per cent ( to US $ 10.6- billion ) for 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 . Specific to metals , the market grew 16 per cent to US $ 3.9 billion . Specific to polymers , the market grew 13 per cent to US $ 5.8 billion . Software is believed to have grown significantly from 2020 to account for the remainder and was worth nearly US $ 900 million in 2021 ,” said the analyst .
Beyond the annual data , the report also provides numbers for Q4 2021 . The fourth quarter saw the recovery trend continue with strong single digit year-over-year growth , and healthy continued sequential growth compared to Q3 2021 .
Scott Dunham , SmarTech Analysis EVP Research , commented , “ These totals do not include ancillary equipment which is used in AM production , or service contract revenue from machines sold . Even without these peripheral markets , the 3D printing industry ’ s core market data supports a very consistent historical upward trend . A slight COVID-related downtick in 2020 has given way to increased adoption due to technological improvements and increasing economies of scale . The perceived value of AM technologies has ramped up with consideration towards risks to globalisation posed by the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war . This is all reflected in our data and forecasts .”
Throughout 2021 , progress was made in dozens of standards development projects , and in the fourth quarter alone several key publications ( such as the ASTM International
F3529 standard for material extrusion ) were announced and are expected “ to pay dividends in terms of growth in the short term .”
“ A number of key product refreshes in the metal powder bed fusion segment throughout 2021 , and especially in the fourth quarter coinciding with the Formnext trade show , will also prove to capitalise on the forward momentum and interest in additive technologies in post-COVID corporate manufacturing strategy . New product lines and system updates will all probably come to market in 2022 to re-energise the competitive landscape and provide prospective users with even more opportunities to leverage AM to create value in their organisations ,” said the analyst . n
8 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR June 2022