WARDJet delivers water jet technology to AMRC

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. The specification of WARDJet for the AMRC followed an initial meeting between AMRC's project director John Baragwanath and WARDJet owner Richard Ward at the 2007 Fabtech exhibition in Chicago. The conclusion was that WARDJet wate rjet cutting technology would fully meet the requirements of the AMRC's research and manufacturing programmes. WARDJet is one of 18 so-called Tier One partners within AMRC, along with companies such as Mori Seiki, Rolls-Royce, Messier-Dowty and Renishaw. The company's water jet cutting technology has been selected to demonstrate the potential of high performance machining and the production of parts without compromise as regards component structural or surface integrity. 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 table is upgradable to 5-axis machining, for example, and it is also prepared for many other automated machining applications, if required. Wightman Stewart will provide local technical support for the AMRC installation. "This is a flagship WARDJet installation for the UK. Any company considering investment in water jet can arrange a demonstration of the WARDJet machine at the AMRC by contacting us directly," said Paul Eastburn, sales director of Wightman Stewart.