MTA 2015: International showcase of high-value manufacturing solutions

INTERNATIONAL METALWORKING NEWS FOR ASIA interviewed companies who exhibited their latest machines at MTA2015 Singapore.

Sutton Tools sees a bright future for carbide drills

Australian owned family company, SUTTON TOOLS, was founded almost a hundred years ago in 1917. What began as a company which manufactured threads and gauges is now a large cutting tools company that manufactures its products not only in Australia, but New Zealand and the Netherlands too. The company provides cutting edge tool many industries, including power generation, mining, medical, electronics, and automotive.

Through MTA 2015, Sutton Tools was able to reach many potential clients and current end users - from both Singapore and around th

e region - and spoke to them about their newest technologies. They also showcased their newest products, which they have a ready stock of in Singapore.

“We have a lot of new tools that we're showing at MTA this year,” says JEFF BOYD, GENERAL MANAGER. “For example, we have a good range of carbide end mills for high temperature materials. Those are targeted towards the oil and gas industry. Then we have a new range for machining aluminium aimed at the aerospace sector.”

Sutton Tools' top three highest selling products are, respectively: drills, taps, and end mills. However, carbide drills show a lot of potential as its sales have been increasing every year. This is catalysed, perhaps, because over the past few years the Australian company has acquired some products in Europe and India and some of these companies have brought in decades of industry experience. New tools and products such as the carbide drill have since been introduced. This, plus Sutton Tools' highly competitive product range is what keeps the company at the top of its game.

“Our product range is highly competitive everywhere,” says Jeff. “We consider our products to be high end. So we really look for that performance ratio; it has to make sense and provide an advantage for the customer. We want our products to gain productivity for them and we support our products technically.

Sutton Tools sees a bright future in the region, however they understand the importance of getting the right partners and people involved to maximise business potential.

“Vietnam is a country which is a growth opportunity for us and I think also China,” says Jeff. “When doing business, it is really important that you get your distribution channels correct and that you have the right partners.”

FARO upgrades its cutting-edge measurement tools

FARO is, undoubtedly, one of the top and most reliable companies in 3D measurement technology. The American company is headquartered in Florida, but has head offices in Germany and Singapore as well as branches all over the world. The company has installed more than 30,000 systems worldwide, which include metrology, 3D documentation, 3D surveying, and FARO software. The cutting-edge and highly accurate technology is used in a wide range of sectors, such as aerospace, automotive, motor sports, consumer goods, electric power generation, and heavy equipment. They work with some of the best companies in the world, such as Miele, Audi, BMW, Bosch, Boeing, Aston Martin, and Airbus.

During MTA 2015 in Singapore, Mr. QUAH BENG CHIEH, HEAD OF MARKETING (ASIA PACIFIC), FARO Technologies was excited to share new products in 3D documentation and 3D measurement. For example, the FaroArm^® has an updated probe that gathers data much more quickly, acquiring up to three times as much data than its predecessor. Furthermore, this updated version can scan parts that were previously too tricky to scan, such as highly reflective and dark parts. The latest models of FARO^® Laser Scanner Focus^3D also come with more efficient and added features.

“The Focus^3D can scan in broad daylight and we have added new sensors to make it more stable and reactive,” says Quah. “We've also introduced a new hand-held scanner, FARO^® Scanner Freestyle^3D, to complement the Focus^3D. This enables the customer to perform scans in places that aren't accessible by the laser scanner, such as behind structures or dark corners. Importantly, all of these devices can be integrated to the FARO^® SCENE software, which can piece the point cloud data together into an entire structure, so that you can use it for post-processing.”

Although FARO's manufacturing facilities are only in the United States and in Europe, there are ample resources for servicing in Asia, which is convenient for their clients. The regional servicing plants in Asia are located in Singapore, China, India, and Japan and are fully stocked with parts, as well as staffed with technicians who provide attentive, fast, and efficient service.

Although the company has been in operation for many years, Quah still sees much room for growth and is forward thinking.

“Our company is still growing and we are constantly on the look out for ways to help our customers,” he says. “The customer feedback that we receive directs our research and product development, which goes into the next generation of products that in turn benefit our customers again.”

GF Machining Solutions Targets the Aerospace Industry

Based in Switzerland and with a presence in over 50 locations, GF Machining Solutions, is one of the three divisions of Georg Fischer Cooperation, headquarter in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

GF Machining Solutions is the global market leader of precision machining solutions for mould making as well as for precision components manufacturing. They pride themselves on high precision manufacturing technologies such as their cutting edge electric discharge machining (EDM), high speed milling machines (HSM), laser texturing, as well as clamping and automation solutions.

At MTA Singapore, we managed to speak to Mr. CARLOS GAZIO, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SOUTH EAST ASIA. Gazio has been in China for the past five years and sees much potential for growth and business opportunities in Southeast Asia. “South East Asia is a very interesting place because it is a completely different market. I'm absolutely convinced that some jobs [will leave] China because China is not cheap anymore,” says Gazio. “So there are countries like Indonesia and Vietnam which have good conditions for companies. I'm absolutely convinced that in the coming years, Southeast Asia should be a growing market.”

Gazio believes that India, with a population of over one billion, will have major opportunities. He explained that the company will continue to invest in the country as they believe it will pay off.

During MTA 2015, GF Machining Solutions made sure to highlight their five-axis machines with aerospace parts. The aerospace industry is one of the industries which GF Machining Solutions is targeting. However, Gazio says that the company also makes it a priority to remain flexible as the different countries around the region have very different specialties and interests. 

“We really want to highlight the aerospace aspect because we have a dedicated solution with a mix of technology,” says Gazio. “So during MTA 2015 we are offering two seminars every day to show what we can offer the aerospace industry. During the seminar we explain that we have a very special and innovative solution to problems which they might encounter.”

The company presented its milling machines designed for use in the field of fully automated and simultaneous high performance machining. The robustly designed (polymer concrete body) high-speed and high-performance MIKRON Milling centres offer superb price/performance ratio for high-mix parts production to keep your operation running full speed. With very high dynamic machine platforms, state-of-the art controls, enhanced chip evacuation systems, tool identification systems, and peerless thermos-stabilisation, our Milling solutions pave the way to success in aerospace manufacturing.

“Our renowned expertise in five-axis Milling— with proven reduction of setup and lead times as well as costs—is supported by our in-house Step-Tec spindle manufacturing and technical know-how,” Gazio adds.

Filtermist Improves Health and Safety

Founded in 1969 in Bridgnorth, Shropshire in the United Kingdom, FILTERMIST now has a large global presence. They are over 60 countries thanks to distributors who come with attentive local support. Furthermore, there are over 200,000 Filtermist oil mist collectors in operation around the globe. The company’s product range is simple and small, yet essential, offering a safe and clean environment to work in. They offer oil mist collection, oil smoke and fume extraction, as well as dust removal for a variety of manufacturing and engineering processes. Each purchase gains access to support with great after sales services and a service kit.

“We've been around for a while. So what Filtermist offers you is experience as well as a robust, reliable, and simple product,” says MANAGING DIRECTOR, JAMES STANSFIELD. “It is simple to fit and to maintain - and that's key. Our simplicity is one of our key points. It is important because the customer doesn't want to have to worry too much about the product. Our product doesn't make anyone any money, but it saves health – so the key is to make it as simple as possible.”

The products would benefit anyone in the metalworking industry – from automotive to aerospace to medical. Stansfield explains that health-harming oil mist is created when metal is cut because oil is sprayed on the metal and the oil then creates a mist because of heat and forces of friction. Although most machine tools come with a mechanism to remove oil mist, not all do. Health and safety is something that Stansfield says is more of a priority for Asian manufacturers. Over the past three years, their sales figures have grown by 40%.

“There are a lot of multinational companies who manufacture in Asia,” says Stansfield. “Their health and safety regulations are the same as in Europe, Japan, or America. Plus what we're seeing in the region now is the younger generation coming forward and learning about regulations in university and saying that they don't have to work in the same conditions as the older generation did. The younger generation has a choice, and they want to work in a nice, clean, advanced factory. So they're demanding this and that's good because they don't have to work in that environment.”

SCHUNK forges automation in South East Asia

German multi-national manufacturing company, SCHUNK, was founded in 1945 in Friedrich Schunk's humble garage in Lauffen/Neckar. However, at present day, the successful 70-year-old company is in over 50 countries and employs over 2,400 people around the globe. The company has a range of solutions for manufacturers, including linear and mechatronic modules, magnetic handling devices, robot accessories, tool holding systems, stationary workholding, lathe, and chuck jaws, and special hydraulic expansion technology. The majority of Schunk's products are still being manufactured in Germany, with five factories in Germany as well as one factory each in Italy, the United States, and Switzerland.

In MTA Singapore, we managed to speak to ALEXANDER TJIOE, President of Schunk Asia. Alexander sees a bright future in Southeast Asia and, unlike some of their competitors, is in the process of creating a stronghold in the region.

“We're ow building a strong structure in Southeast Asia,” says Alexander who has recently joined the team in Schunk Asia. “It's my job to develop the organisation here.”

Schunk currently operates out of its regional headquarters in Singapore's German Centre. However they are in the process of finalising a technical and automation center in Indonesia where they will employ a slew of local engineers to give Asian clients the support that they need. Tjioe's focus will be on emerging markets around the region such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore and the industries that will be targeted will differ. 

“It's very important to have local people in the company,” Tjioe explains. “So that's why we're opening the technical centre in Indonesia this year. Its location will be just outside of Jakarta. Then next year we will aim at opening another technical centre in Thailand.”

Tjioe believes that a large trend in the region will be a push towards automation – something that is inevitable. This is because the trend is moving away from finding cheap labor and moving towards being more productive. Thus, Southeast Asia remains at the top of the list of priorities for Schunk. Tjioe explained that he has been surprised with all of the inquiries about automation during the recent MTA 2015 in Singapore. The inquiries and interest did not just from Singapore-based companies, but also from businesses in the region such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 “The Singapore government is really pushing for more automation and this is what Singapore needs as soon as possible. Automation is also something that will be coming to other countries in the region like Indonesia and Thailand very soon,” says Tjioe. “The businesses want automation, but they just don't know where to start. They also have concerns about not having any local support, and that's what we're addressing with the technical centres. However, I'm very optimistic about the future of automation in Asia and it is really taking off now.”

ABB spearheads robotics

Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, large multi-national company, ABB, prides itself on innovation. The large company is one of the world's largest engineering companies and also one of the biggest conglomerates. ABB employs over 140,000 people around the world and has a presence in a staggering 100 countries. Five divisions make up the company: power products, power systems, discrete automation and motion, low voltage products, and process automation. However, the company operates mainly in robotics and power and automation.

In order to better serve the regional market, ABB's regional application hub was opened in Singapore last July. However the company has had a presence in Singapore since 1971, however the robotics department has only been in Singapore for the past 11 years. The seasoned company knows its industry well.

“Standard robots have been in the market since the 1970's and they have become almost like a commodity already,” says ANG BOON HUA, LOCAL BUSINESS UNIT MANAGER, ROBOTICS, ABB PTE LTD. “We try and avoid to go into a pricing war in a commodity market. So we place a lot of focus on after sales service. We have our service centres in more than 50 countries globally. If you look at Southeast Asia alone, we have service people in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and so on.”

Although most of the robots are manufactured in Sweden, ABB recently established a robotics headquarter in Shanghai as well as a factory in the United States. This leaves ABB with manufacturing facilities in three continents, which in turn, allows them to respond to their customers much faster. In addition to localising their services, ABB also emphasises that their value proposition also lies in their extensive know-how.

The Swiss company also has a slew of new products launching in the coming years, including the YuMi, which the company says is a 'collaborative, dual arm, small parts assembly robot solution that includes flexible hands, parts feeding systems, camera-based part location and state-of-the-art robot control'. With new products in tow, Ang is confident in the future of ABB in the region.

“According to the International Federation of Robotics, robotics in the Asian market is predicted to grow about 12% in the next two or three years,” says Ang. “From what I've seen, robotics has been growing quite well in Asia. We have local business units in most countries, so we are really focusing on growing the business."

Creatz3D offers massive opportunities for 3D technology

Established in 2012, CREATZ3D is a subsidiary of Hong Chek Company Group. The company is an expert in 3D printing and other additive manufacturing solutions. Although the company is based in Singapore, they also work in regional countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam. Some of their clients include Dell, Nestle, Puma, and Olympus. Targeting companies in a variety of sectors such as animation, aerospace, automotive, medical, and consumer, Creatz3D offers a wide array of tools such as systems by Stratasys, Arcam, and Materialise. The company boasts over 120 3D printing materials which includes 13 proprietary FDM-based thermoplastic materials and titanium allow metals as well as over 100 proprietary inkjet-based photopolymer materials.

Although the Asian market is still relatively new to the technologies of 3D printing, SEAN LOOI, GENERAL MANAGER believes that Asian manufacturers should invest time in getting to know the benefits as the rewards can boost innovation and productivity because its applications go far above and beyond people's initial perceptions.

“A great advantage of 3D printing includes mass customization – high mix and low volume,” adds Looi. “But whether 3D printing will replace traditional technology for manufacturing, I don't think so. If you take 3D printing as a substitute technology, you are not making full use of the advances of 3D printing. You need to look at it from a complimentary point of view: how this technology can affect your entire business process. Because 3D printing can be used in the entire business process, in manufacturing, production, research and design, marketing, and even sales.”

The advances in 3D printing technology are also creating more opportunities for existing and potential clients. Previously, only plastic and rubber products were able to be printed, now, metal is possible. However, Looi explains that you should be selective in which parts you want printed. Although 3D printing offers great solutions for the manufacturing process, it doesn't mean that it makes cost-effective sense to print simple items, such as metal hinges.

Creatz3D prides themselves on their stellar after-sales support, training, and consultancy. It's not only about providing a printer, says Looi, it's about guiding the customer to use the technology in a smart and innovative way while helping the client to incorporate the technology into their business process. He says that clients can take it slow to see if 3D printing is something that can benefit their companies before they really invest in it.

“With the boom of the consumer 3D printers which are more affordable, there are more people that are open to this technology,” Looi comments. “So people are able to get a taste of it and see if it is really something that can benefit their business.”