Thanks to the technology of SLS additive manufacturing (Selective Laser Sintering), Ecoparts located in Rüti near Zürich (Switzerland) can achieve functional prototypes in metal and small series of complex parts with very short delivery time. "Ecoparts is the only company of its kind in Switzerland," says Mr. Kündig its director. Working with two EOSint M 270 machines produced by EOS (recently represented in Switzerland by Springmann) this small structure is specialized in the (…)

Launched in July 2010, the EU-funded DEMAT project defines its main objective as to dematerialise the machine tools and manufacturing systems that are designed and produced in Europe. Today, European machine builders, the vast majority of them SMEs, sell high performance and productive, but heavy and long-delivery-time machines. The heavy material structure of the machine, coupled with heavy duties assigned to it, is often a source of high energy consumption. Sounds like Sci-Fi to me (…)

Mikron offers transfer machines with remarkable capabilities. In the example below, a German company producing components of turbochargers for the automotive industry with 2 machining centers (4-spindle) and 2 turning centers faced a strong demand and had to increase its productivity to remain competitive with its Asian competitors. It also had to be flexible enough to manage the production of 5 different parts in variable batches. The choice of the Mikron transfer machines not only (…)

New ideas for new opportunities are a constant aim of the Medtech Switzerland’s Fact Finding Missions and evening seminars. Medtech Switzerland next seminar will focus on an unusual and fast-growing market: South Africa. In 2012 South Africa was added to the BRIC classification of emerging markets resulting in `BRICS´ with the new membership. Our insight into the health technology market in South Africa will offer information on new trends, opportunities, and pitfalls. Organized by Medtech (…)

Since 16 June 2011, European Commission regulation 640/2009 imposes the use of class IE2 high-efficiency motors. Brake motors are not currently affected by the application of these new directives. Nonetheless, Leroy-Somer has chosen voluntarily to adopt an energy-saving approach and is already offering a new generation of high-efficiency brake motors. The marketing campaign of the company is quite original and raises questions on sustainability, it is perfectly adapted to nowadays’ (…)

..and much more! In fall 2010 we presented R. Frein CNC Service as being specialized in the supply of spare parts for ENC and Deco machines. Today, with the opening of his workshop dedicated to completely overhaul machines, the service provider offers a still broader range to its customers and potential customers. Meeting with the director Mr. Frein. After 6 years of presence in the market as a quality provider for service, spare parts and rehabilitation of CNC machines, the company takes (…)

EasyCLAD® Magic LF6000 is a new laser additive manufacturing solution designed by Irepa Laser, mainly for the construction of parts for aerospace and aircraft industry. With this technique based on the CLAD® process (French acronym for ‘Construction Laser Additive Directe’ - direct additive manufacturing by laser) developed by Irepa Laser it is possible to directly manufacture functional parts without resorting to casting molds, dies, polluting and energy consuming processes. CLAD® process (…)

The European Machine Tool industry, represented by CECIMO, launches a European initiative on sustainability: the Blue Competence Machine Tools initiative. The machine tool industry is the first mechanical engineering sector to embark on a broad-based campaign on sustainability at European level. Machine tool builders which participate in the Blue Competence Machine Tools initiative commit themselves to optimize the use of energy and other resources to enable faster, better and higher (…)

Eurotec issue 380 has just been released and I’m sure you will find a lot of valuable information in it. You canread it online here or download it here. Lets’ see its content Viewpoint: Lausannetec – how are things on the Swiss exhibitions market? Pemamo - indeed mastering the micron is easy Newemag - more possibilities to the top Cyklos - a quantum leap in surface treatment Conceptools and Innotools - to provide even more specialization Wibemo - Rethinking centring – so many years to (…)

At the beginning of 2011 Fritz Studer AG presented its new S41 universal cylindrical grinding machine to the market. The company can report a sound success. By the end of 2011 45 cylindrical grinding machines had already been built, 33 of which are proving themselves in customers’ demanding production environments. More stable, despite a greater centre height and distance between centers, quicker, more precise and more efficient in the long term. These are the buzz-words used by the (…)