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Categories: metal

  • Between rising costs and falling demand: Causes of the supplier crisis


    The crisis in the automotive industry is affecting not only manufacturers but, in particular, suppliers. Even well-established companies are struggling when orders decline, material and energy costs rise, and major customers adjust their supply chains. A Czech plastics supplier was forced to cease production—now, around 150 high-quality machines are being auctioned off due to insolvency.
    Th

  • Exceeding expectations: AMRC and Surplex successfully auction machinery

    The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield is a leading research institution in manufacturing engineering and material sciences. In February, 32 select, high-quality machines from the machine park were auctioned off by the industrial auction house Surplex. Phil Bell, Commissioning Engineer at AMRC, and Antony Reed, UK Country Manager for Surplex, take stock.

  • New directions in bus production: Auction following restructuring of Swedish city bus manufacturer’s plant in Słupsk, Poland

    Due to technological advancements and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, bus manufacturing faces significant challenges, necessitating a realignment of business strategies. A leading Swedish manufacturer has ceased the production of complete buses and instead focuses on producing chassis with various drivetrains at its plant in Słupsk, Poland. As part of this restructuring, around 1,150

  • Why were old lathes, milling machines and drills green?

    The green lathes, milling and drilling machines seem like relics from times gone by. These robust machines, often lacking CNC technology, are now rarely seen. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the so-called Reseda Green was one of the standard colours. Since green causes the least eye strain and helps prevent accidents in the workshop, Germany even had a standard, DIN 1844, until 1974, which specified

  • Used machines: New paths in pipe production

    They are encountered more often than you might think and are essential in many branches of industry: tubes. How today's production has been optimised, which areas of application pipes are used in and how used machines can be a sensible investment for more sustainable production.
    The history of pipe production is closely linked to the industrial revolution and the rise of steam engines. These ma

  • 5 future trends in precision engineering

    Precision engineering has been the key to high quality and safety in industries such as aerospace and medical technology for decades. As manufacturing technology advances, new trends are emerging that are pushing the boundaries of what is possible - from 3D printing to intelligent production networks. But it is not only newly manufactured machines that can contribute to progress in the industry.

  • Precision work in XXL: 7 facts about vertical turret lathes


    How are gears for heavy industry – 16 m in diameter and 500 t in weight – manufactured? On a vertical turret lathe. These special lathes are used whenever large and heavy workpieces need to be produced with the utmost precision. The following overview explains the technical fundamentals of vertical turret lathes in seven facts.
    Fact 1: Vertical turret lathes process particularly large work

  • Breathing New Life into Used Machines: A Guide to Smart Ownership and Maintenance

    Affordable, immediately operational, and eco-friendly. Used machines provide an ideal addition for industrial operations. How can they be optimally utilized, maintained, and traded? And why it's important to rely on professionals from the get-go.
    The used machinery market is booming. Companies are increasingly recognizing the value in buying and selling pre-owned equipment. Instead of sending m

  • The role of used machinery in Lean Management

    Lean Management is especially important in turbulent economic times as it boosts a company’s efficiency and competitiveness through process optimisation. Used machinery can also play a role in this strategy, offering a cost-effective way to promptly address production bottlenecks and optimise the machinery pool.
    In economically turbulent times, one corporate strategy comes into particular focus

  • Used machinery made easy: the industrial auction house Surplex


    Offices in 16 European countries, competent all-round service and a wide range of machinery: For over 20 years, the Surplex industrial auction house has offered the ideal platform for buying and selling used machinery.
    The used machinery market is growing. More and more companies from various industries are recognising the opportunities offered by deploying used machinery in production. Es

  • Aircraft Rims – The Unsung Heroes of Takeoff and Landing

    Small yet crucial for taking flight, aircraft rims serve an important function in aviation and must be of the highest quality to ensure a safe flight. They undergo demanding production and maintenance processes. However, the machines required for these processes don't necessarily have to be brand new.
    Aircraft rims are an essential yet often overlooked component in the aviation industry. They p

  • Precision, versatility, and automated production: The basics of laser cutting

    Laser cutting is a versatile manufacturing process in which a laser precisely and efficiently separates complex shapes from sheets of material. How does a CO2 laser work? And what are its application areas in various industries? Why are lasers ideal for integration into automated production? And can a perfect result be achieved with used machines as well?
    Laser cutting is a separation process i

  • Make the world go round: 7 facts about rotary transfer machines

    Hundreds of thousands of throttle valves for diesel injection systems are manufactured every year. The same applies to the cylinders and keys of a locking system or plugs in the electronics industry. All these metal parts must be manufactured to the nearest micrometre, and various machining processes are required to achieve this. Here are seven facts about why rotary transfer machines are the pref

  • HT auctions machinery of insolvent Postel Druckguss GmbH


    Postel Druckguss GmbH, a specialist for aluminium and zinc die-casting solutions, has filed for insolvency in 2020 and is being supported by HT Hanseatische Industrie-Consult GmbH. Over 800 machines and operating equipment will be sold in an online auction until 30/03/2023.
    Postel Druckguss GmbH is a renowned specialist for die-casting solutions made of aluminium and zinc. The company, bas

  • Fascination Formula 1: Which metals are used in the world’s best cars?


    Super fast and super safe, that's what Formula 1 cars are. To achieve this, the component materials are selected based of their mechanical properties and density. Because the lighter the car, the faster it is. Carbon fibre is the material of choice. But which metals are used in the car? As advanced as the material is, F1 components are often manufactured on standard CNC machines. Some used la

  • Big, bigger, portal milling machines


    54 m long, 14 m wide and 12 m high – these are the workspace dimensions of the largest portal milling machine in the world. But how are such giant milling machines used? What advantages do portal milling machines offer? And how can the high investment costs be reduced?
    To be able to process large workpieces, you need large machines. With a clearance height of 12 m and a width of 14 m as we

  • Balancing between optimism and caution

    The opportunities and challenges the metalworking industry is facing in 2023
    In recent weeks, many companies have been looking to the new year of 2023 with mixed feelings. The coronavirus pandemic, which dominated the past two starts to the year and caused major restrictions, has faded in significance. Even China, which had, until recently, operated the strictest “no covid” strategy, has began

  • Over to you, robots!

    Will robots save production? Five current trends outline how the use of robots can advance digitalisation and prevent a shortage of skilled workers.
    “The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment.”
    Warren G. Bennis, US economist (1925–2014)
    Increased installa