INDUSTRY NEWS
AXYZ and WARDJET run open event on 14 June
The AXYZ Router and WARDJET Waterjet Expo Event in Telford , UK , will be held on Wednesday 14 June 2023 from 10am -3pm . The cutting and routing systems specialist will showcase its portfolio of machines over the one-day event .
“ The day will be packed with live demonstrations and training on CNC router and waterjet applications . Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the demonstration areas and witness these machines in action . Each system will run various materials and applications to provide visitors with the broadest experience and showcase the versatility of the product range . The event will be staffed with experienced applications and product experts who will train attendees
in best practices and answer all their CNC questions ,” AXYZ told ISMR .
Router systems such as AXYZ INFINITE , TRIDENT , METALWORKER and INNOVATOR , along with the X-Series WATERJET with the APEX 60 five-axis head and the A-SERIES small format waterjet , will be on display . AAG ’ s control interface , MOVE™ ( which drives all machine tasks and is designed to optimise the operation of the CNC machine ) will also be
showcased at the event .
AAG ’ s industry partner Cadline , which produces Autodesk Fusion 360 fully integrated CAD / CAM software , will also be present on the day . It provides advanced manufacturing functionality for three-fiveaxis toolpath strategies , toolpath optimisation and process automation . n
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Investing in young people enables growth
R . A . F Engineering , like many UK businesses , put its expansion plans on ice to ensure that it could deal with the economic impact of Brexit ; COVID-19 ; the war in Ukraine and increasing energy bills . Now the company ( based in Workington , Cumbria ) is setting its sights on the growth and diversification which it had previously planned .
Rafal Gibki and Aneta Gibka took over the company , formerly Hudson Swan , five years ago , with ambitious plans to develop the business . Having successfully steered the company through a turbulent economy , they are now fully focused on building the company and are already “ ahead of schedule ” on their revised plans after reaching a £ 1m turnover target recently .
“ We had a vision five years ago when we bought the company . Brexit put a hold on a lot of things , then COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine . We had to fight to survive and reassess what the situation meant for us as a business as well as manage our cash flow . Now we have stabilised , we can grow ,” commented Aneka Gibka .
“ This year , we set a target of reaching £ 1 million in turnover and we reached that last month so we are ahead of where we set our sights . It helps that , even during difficult times , we have continued to invest . We have bought five new machines and we digitised the business through support from the ‘ Made Smarter ’ initiative . We have also continued to recruit young people and apprentices from Lakes College and have trained them ourselves . Raf has a lot of experience in engineering so young people and apprentices
Rafal Gibki and Aneta Gibka manufactured a striking memorial to commemorate the victims of COVID-19 .
who come here are gaining expertise and knowledge which is standing them , and the business , in good stead ,” she added .
Aneka confirmed that she also wants to “ recruit more experience ” into the business as well but “ recruiting young people in the way we have has meant that we have been able to continue to grow the company and it has worked well .”
“ We have also continued to focus on manufacturing quality products and giving good customer service by the speed of our turnaround and delivery times . We are very much open to collaboration with other businesses and organisations and are part of the ‘ Swimming With The Big Fish ’ initiative with Solomons Europe ,” she continued .
R . A . F , which employs 15 people ( mainly from the Workington and Whitehaven areas ) manufactures precision engineered and machined steel parts to a range of industries .
Rafal Gibki and Aneta Gibka of R . A . F Engineering in Workington , Cumbria .
Approximately 60 per cent of its customers are in the nuclear industry . It also supplies engineering , food and agricultural clients and plans to supply renewable and defence industries .
Most recently , R . A . F Engineering manufactured a striking memorial to commemorate the victims of COVID-19 . This was installed in a garden of remembrance at Workington ’ s Vulcan Park . The steel sculpture , designed by Steven Marshall , depicts a pair of hands around the world and was unveiled on 23 March 2023 .
The business also tries to support other initiatives in the local community including sponsoring sports teams , first aid programmes and internet safety initiatives for young people . n
https
:// rafengineering . co . uk
14 | ismr . net | ISMR June 2023