EoW January 2008

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EuroWire – January 2008 13
english corporate news
Metals and manufacturing businesses are
being invited to take advantage of new
rapid manufacturing technologies that
are designed to speed up new product
development and increase profitability.
The Rapid Manufacturing Programme
(RAMP) is funded by Yorkshire Forward
and is led by TWI from its base on
the Advanced Manufacturing Park in
Sheffield, UK, with support from Castings
Technology International (Cti), NAMTEC
(National Metals Technology Centre), the
University of Sheffield IMMPETUS Centre,
Keyworth Institute at the University of
Leeds and Materialise.
RAMP involves rapid prototyping of
finished components using integrated
computer aided design (CAD) or computer
aided manufacture (CAM), which means
that manufacturers can respond quickly
to customer requirements, reduce
production times and wastage and
eliminate risk.
One very popular and successful
technique in the programme is layer
manufacturing, which is a method of
rapid prototyping where a shape can
be produced in a single process by
adding successive layers of materials.
With layer manufacturing it is possible
to produce the prototypes in a wider
range of materials, with final products
manufactured in a matter of days instead
of weeks or even months.
This process is quicker and less expensive
as it eliminates the need for tooling,
setup and assembly processes, and can
produce parts of superior quality and
complexity to meet a customer’s specific
requirements.
Since layer manufacturing enables the
integration of computer control into
the manufacturing process through
CAD and CAM, it is now possible to have
a manufacturing cycle with seamless
transition through computer design,
simulation, modelling and fabrication.
NAMTEC – UK
Fax: +44 1709 724999
Email:
Website:
Increase profitability and speed up development
New sales manager
Shaw Inspection Systems, specialists
in real time, digital non-destructive
testing systems, has appointed Stuart
Wright to the newly created position
of sales manager. In his new role he
will be responsible for extending
the company’s international sales of
sophisticated x-ray imaging and analysis
systems for industrial NDT applications.
Shaw Inspection Systems Limited
– UK
Fax: +44 1493 603 347
Email:
Website:
Kerry’s new role
Central Wire Industries has appointed
Kerry Buck to its sales department,
responsible for internal and field sales
for the greater Toronto area. Prior to
joining Central, Buck held a similar
position with Roechling Engineered
Plastics.
Central Wire Industries Ltd – Canada
Fax: +1 613 267 5617
Email:
Website: