| Working with exclusive UK agent Wightman Stewart, WARDJet has supplied a Z Series 513 waterjet cutting table, equipped with an X Series touch screen controller, to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing near Sheffield. This is a flagship installation of WARDJet technology in the UK at a facility dedicated to scientific excellence, expertise and technological innovation within the University of Sheffield’s faculty of engineering.
AMRC’s vision is to become a world class global research facility developing innovative and advanced technology solutions for advanced materials forming. Boeing invests directly in the facility and has a ten year commitment of investment to invest in R+D in science and manufacturing.
WARDJet of the United States was selected as a partner on the basis of its world leading position in waterjet cutting technology. The specification of WARDJet for the AMRC followed an initial meeting between AMRC’s project Director John Baragwanath with WARDJet owner Richard Ward at the 2007 Fabtech exhibition in Chicago. The conclusion was that WARDJet waterjet cutting technology would fully meet the requirements of the AMRC’s research and manufacturing programmes.
WARDJet of the US is one of 18 tier one parties within AMRC. The company’s waterjet cutting technology has been selected to demonstrate the potential of high performance machining and the production of parts without compromise to the structural or surface integrity of the component. The WARDJet machine will be employed on a wide range of research projects and its ability to cut both non-metallic and metallic materials from mild steel to aerospace alloys and high performance plastics is critical to the installation.
An important attribute of the WARDJet Z Series 513 waterjet cutting table is the ability to extend and upgrade it in the future to meet the requirements of AMRC’s research programmes. The WARDJet philosophy of offering technology solutions which are “more than just a waterjet” is central to this so that the table is not only upgradable to 5-axis machining, but is also prepared for many other automated machining applications if required. The X Series user friendly touch screen controller is also a vital element of the machine’s capabilities, providing easy operator control of all cutting parameters.
Wightman Stewart of Ripponden, West Yorkshire has outstanding experience in the application of waterjet technology and will provide local technical support for the AMRC installation. “This is a flagship WARDJet installation for the UK. Any company considering investment in waterjet can arrange a demonstration of the WARDJet machine at the AMRC by contacting us directly, “says Paul Eastburn, Sales Director of Wightman Stewart. |
