Cleared for take-off

Seco Tools has announced that its annual and ever-popular ‘Inspiration through Innovation’ advanced manufacturing

best-practice event will take place on Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th October at its Technology Centre in Alcester – and that, this year, the event will be focused exclusively on the aerospace segment.

Now in its fifth year, Inspiration through Innovation has become a ‘must attend’ event for UK and Irish component manufacturers looking to find out more about the latest innovative technology solutions in the market. More recently, the event has been used by Seco to highlight and demonstrate the power of positive partnerships and the benefits available to component manufacturers from adopting collaborative approaches to problem solving.

This year’s Inspiration through Innovation event has been designed with the same objectives but with a specific focus on aerospace component manufacturing.

Mike Fleming, strategic marketing, products & services manager for Seco Tools (UK) says: “We review Inspiration through Innovation every year and make changes to its content and structure to increase its appeal and relevance. This year, we have made the strategic decision to focus on one industry segment.”

The aerospace rationale
With the economy facing a period of uncertainty, the UK will rely heavily on its most successful industries to provide growth, jobs and innovation. The UK has the second largest aerospace sector in the world, after the US, with a turnover of £31 billion last year, including £27 billion in exports, representing a 40 percent increase since 2010.

Over the next two decades, the number of aircraft needed worldwide is expected to grow by an average of 4.8 percent per year, with demand for more than 39,000 new aircraft worth $5.9 trillion being estimated.

Mike Fleming contimues: “From a manufacturing perspective, the aerospace segment is characterised by constant innovation, specifically in the use and application of new materials, the design and implementation of challenging machining and manufacturing processes and the ingenious ways the industry improves quality and safety and reduces costs and environmental impacts.

“Aerospace is a global industry with high growth potential that relies on innovation and one where we, and our Technical Partners, have considerable experience and expertise. Taking all this into account it is clear why aerospace was selected as the focus for this year’s event.”

The 2019 Event: machining demonstrations
At Inspiration through Innovation 2019, there are 30 Technical Partners taking part in eight aerospace machining demonstrations.

The demonstrations taking place on both days involve the machining of real components or, in the case of large components like aero-engine casings, the machining of real or look-alike features like holes, external bosses and flanges.

Specific components being machined include blisks, discs, landing gear, structural components (ribs) and interior cabin (seating) parts.

Mike Fleming comments: “The parts being machined are all challenging. They are made from difficult-to-machine materials that include Waspalloy, titanium, Heat Resistant Super Alloys (HRSAs) and Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), and they are machined to meet high accuracy and surface finish requirements.”

All eight machining demonstrations are designed by, and involve, a number of Technical Partners, for example machine tool builders, CAD/CAM specialists, and tooling, workholding, cutting fluid, metrology and automation suppliers.

They demonstrate the productivity gains and cost-efficiencies that can be achieved through working in collaboration.

The 2019 Event: seminar programme
There are eight leading-edge seminars planned for the two-day event, each one delivered by a recognised industry-expert and each focused on a relevant aerospace manufacturing and/or machining issue.

The Seminar Programme is currently being developed and details of all seminars including titles, speakers and synopses will be uploaded on the Inspiration through Innovation event landing page www.secotools.com/iti

To sum up, Inspiration through Innovation 2019 is focused on the future and is aimed at aerospace component manufacturers looking to get out more from their machining processes, their systems and their people. The emphasis of the event reflects Seco’s ethos that collaborative approaches to problem-solving and sharing best practice with customers deliver truly inspirational and innovative solutions.

Mike Fleming concludes: “The focus for the 2019 event is on creating something new, different and memorable in the aerospace sector. Judging by the diversity and complexity of the machining demonstrations and the content and style of the seminars, I am confident that we will achieve these objectives.”

Event details
The event is free to visitors, and doors open on both days at 09.00 closing at 19.00 on the 9th October and 16.00 on the 10th October.

Manufacturers wishing to attend Seco’s Inspiration though Innovation 2019 event can register by visiting www.secotools.com/iti

Seco Tools (UK) Ltd

Tel: 01789 764220

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.secotools.com