Surplex GmbH

The plant in Słupsk, Poland, plays a central role in the restructuring plans of the Swedish bus manufacturer. Here, drivetrains will primarily be manufactured in the future. (© Surplex).

23 July 2024 09:41

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

Green machines: This choice of colour is not only a piece of industrial history, but also an example of well thought-out workplace design. (© Surplex).

23 May 2024 10:48

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

Regardless of the size: quality is always at the forefront of pipe production. (© Safakcakir/Shutterstock.com).

21 March 2024 09:23

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

Whether aerospace, medicine or automotive engineering - in some industries it is essential that components are manufactured with the utmost precision. Precision mechanics makes this possible. (© Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com).

29 February 2024 09:56

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.

The components of a turbine are large, round, and heavy and must be precisely manufactured. This is best done on a vertical turret lathe. (© Nordroden / Shutterstock.com).

31 January 2024 09:00

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

With proper maintenance, used machines can also have a long life in a new operation. (© Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com).

12 October 2023 09:04

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

Value stream mapping in action: A tool in lean management with which the inventory and processes of a production are described. This is the basis for more efficiency and optimisation. (© Amorn Suriyan / Shutterstock.com).

19 September 2023 09:00

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

7 June 2023 10:34

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

An automatic cleaning system enables aircraft rims to be easily and quickly made ready for use. (© HT).

26 May 2023 09:19

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

Precise laser cutting in action: Lasers can cut sheet thicknesses up to 25 mm precisely and in complex shapes. (© Surplex).

24 May 2023 08:08

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

Working round the clock: Industrial rotary transfer machines are widespread in industry wherever metal parts need to be manufactured in large quantities, with the highest precision, and in several process steps. (© Surplex).

26 April 2023 07:00

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

Insolvencies mean for the industry that high-quality, newer equipment is available on the used machinery market. They are cheaper than new and immediately available – like this aluminium die-casting cell. It is up for auction at HT until 30/03. (©HT)

16 March 2023 07:42

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

The lighter, the faster: the choice of materials in the F1 car combines maximum weight reduction and maximum safety. (© Avigator Fortuner/Shutterstock.com).

7 March 2023 07:52

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

Portal milling machines have large dimensions and are therefore expensive to buy. But they are available cheaper on the second-hand machine market. (© Surplex).

7 February 2023 06:36

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

23 January 2023 06:07

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

Industrial robots can also be retrofitted in current machinery. A robot can take charge of placement and workpiece handling for automated production with CNC machines. (© Alexander Tolstykh / Shutterstock.com).

13 December 2022 08:00

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

Categories: metal