The more a cutting edge is tangentially engaged during milling, the faster the machining. LMT Tools has found a solution for radial cutters that ensures significantly shorter throughput times and better surface quality. What exactly is behind the increase in performance and where are radial cutters used?

In an exclusive interview with ETMM, the chairman of UKUB, the association of Turkey’s tool manufacturers, said the country’s mould making industry will grow by 15% this year and sales will exceed $800 million. Chairman Samil Ozogul also noted that half of mould sales in 2011 were earned through exports.

There is new movement in the portal milling machine market. Although centres are still designed to produce as many chips as possible for decades to come, this is no longer enough. In precision, flexibility and cost-effectiveness, the heavyweights are getting nearer and nearer to the small and medium-sized processing units.

Israel - To ensure survival in today’s marketplace, it is important for companies to gain and maintain a competitive advantage in its target markets. Jacob Harpaz, president of the IMC Group and CEO of Iscar, Israel, explains how the company, which unites a range of renowned cutting tool companies like Iscar, Tungaloy Ingersoll and Taegutec, remains competitive.

Yamazaki Mazak has announced that it is now offering Siemens Sinumerik controls as an alternative CNC option.

Etalon reports that it and the University of Oxford have developed the technology for use in the precision measurement of lengths of up to 20m.

The increase in exhibitors and visitors at Euroblech indicates the demand for individual solutions for sheet metal processing, which is also true in punching. With resource conservation and lightweighting in mind, demand for effective installation technology is high.

Germany - At the annual press conference of VDW, Dr Heinz-Jürgen Prokop, chairman of VDW, was optimistic about future trends in the German machine tool sector. Political insecurities in UK and US, however, dampen the enthusiasm at the beginning of the year.

In order to comply with market demand, Iscar recently exhibited its next generation, advanced indexable drill and further extended its comprehensive product portfolio with the launch of Sumo-3-Cham – a three flute indexable drill. According to the company it reduces machining cycle times by 50%.

The die and mould sector has progressed by leaps and bounds since the turn of the millennium. The factors behind the advances are diverse, but their effects have changed shops around the world, from the biggest OEMs to the smallest family companies.