Germany — Due to the corona pandemic, Metav digital 2021 was held digitally. During four days the international trade fair for the metalworking industry connected 80 exhibitors with 2,500 attending online visitors. Until April 16, there will be additional opportunities to attend web sessions.

Italy — The international exhibition focused on the industry of sheet-metal forming machine tools and innovative technologies related to the sector, Lamiera, scheduled to take place at fieramilano Rho from 26 to 29 May 2021, has been officially postponed for one year. The new date of the event promoted by Ucimu-Sistemi Per Produrre and organised by CEU-Centro Esposizioni Ucimu is set for 25 to 28 May 2022.

Germany — 3D printing of metals is currently changing many production processes in the industry. As a supplement and alternative to foundry technology, the 3DMP process offers an opportunity to manufacture even large workpieces economically in small numbers. This does not necessarily have to be seen as a competition — an additive manufacturing machine could be an ideal expansion of the manufacturing processes offered by foundries.

Germany — Tooling manufacturer Paul Horn is expanding the range of products it supplies to manufacturers of equipment for machining pipes and sleeves used in oil and gas production, as well as to end users.

UK — A collaborative partnership between cutting tool technologies specialist, Seco Tools, and CNC simulation and optimisation software provider, CG Tech, is aiming to improve customer's manufacturing operations.

Anybody looking to machine medical components cost-effectively and reliably needs high-precision tools that have been tested in practice — sometimes with the smallest of dimensions. The tool manufacturer Inovatools from Haunstetten near Kinding in Germany offers the Inomed range of tools for this very purpose.

'Umati' allows machines from different manufacturers to be linked — securely, simply and smoothly — to customers' own digital solutions. Based on OPC UA as the “global language of production”, it considerably simplifies the connection of machine tools to production-related IT systems. The alliance will be participating in the Metav digital from 23 to 26 March 2021.

Sweden — New computer-aided-manufacturing (CAM) technology has been introduced by Esprit CAM, part of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division. It provides manufacturers with the control and flexibility needed to use multi-spindle and multi-channel computer-numerical-control (CNC) machinery for the machining of long parts.

Germany — “Networking — three in one” is the motto of the Metav digital which will be opening its virtual doors on March 23. Almost 80 exhibitors from six countries will be taking part. It is the first exclusively digital event for metalworking organised by the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association), Frankfurt am Main.

The decision was long anticipated. Now there is clarity. In view of the continuing problems associated with the pandemic, Moulding Expo 2021 will not take place.