The Confluence of Metalworking And Digitalization

Metalworking companies have long provided critical support to major sectors—from semiconductor and aerospace to heavy industrial and construction. “Metalworking companies are actually one of our best-fit industries,” says Wee. “A lot of our customers come from this sector.”

A key success factor, especially in Singapore, is the ability to link operations across complex production lines and serve high-tech verticals such as semiconductor manufacturing. Where once metal fabrication was primarily about machining and finishing, modern-day metalworking must cater to intricate, nanometer-scale tolerances and advanced materials.

Wee observes:

“Metalworking shops that serve the semiconductor industry need to manage extremely fine tolerances. They want the shop-floor data to flow seamlessly back into their ERP system, ensuring real-time visibility into materials usage, process parameters, and cost structures. That’s where the power of a fully integrated software platform becomes indispensable.”

Industry 4.0 And ERP Interconnectivity

Traditionally, ERP (enterprise resource planning) systems were siloed, limiting manufacturers’ ability to glean timely insights from the production floor. Today, manufacturers demand integrated connectivity from sensors, automation systems, and supply chains through to the top-level financial dashboards. As Wee puts it:

“Integration or interconnectivity used to be a major barrier to adoption of technology. But now, with Industry 4.0, open protocols, REST APIs, and platforms like our Automation Studio, manufacturers can ‘snap in’ new software tools quite easily. They no longer have to worry about the complexities of older ERP structures that were never built for real-time data collection.”

This flexibility allows high-mix, low-volume shops (common in Singapore’s precision engineering ecosystem) to rapidly scale or pivot—crucial if they are handling contract manufacturing projects across aerospace, oil and gas, or consumer electronics.

Shifting From Siloed Data To Actionable Insights

IoT devices, collaborative robots, and advanced process controls can generate an avalanche of machine data. The real challenge is separating the “signal” from the “noise” and using that data to guide decision-making.

Wee explains how Epicor’s ERP solution helps:

“The data collection on the shop floor—whether it is cycle time, machine usage, quality checks, or scheduling—feeds directly back into the ERP. Previously, teams were reluctant to adopt new technology because they feared the complexity of integration. But with modern solutions, you gain a single source of truth. And that single source of truth is what powers actionable insights.”

For metalworking companies, those insights might include better real-time scheduling (e.g., re-routing a job to another CNC machine if a lathe is nearing capacity), more accurate job costing (capturing every step in the production process), and improved traceability of materials.

Addressing Common Pain Points

Many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) struggle to fund large capital investments in digital infrastructure while also grappling with workforce upskilling. “Manufacturers face multiple pressures right now,” says Wee. “At the SMF Summit, I sensed a genuine urgency around adopting the right technologies and also training their employees to handle these systems.”

In parallel, environmental and sustainability demands are intensifying. Government initiatives, such as Singapore’s commitment to net-zero by or around mid-century, challenge companies to track carbon footprints, waste management, and energy usage more closely. This data, too, is best tracked through comprehensive, integrated software.

“Sustainability, AI, interoperability—everything is converging at the same time,” Wee notes. “And the manufacturers we speak to are seeing that an advanced ERP system helps them thread all these issues together. When you have end-to-end visibility, you can build accurate audits, reduce waste, and optimize production flows.”

Global Ambitions And Local Footprints

For local Singaporean or ASEAN metalworking outfits eyeing new markets, advanced ERP solutions can accelerate expansion. When a domestic shop secures a contract from overseas, it faces the immediate need to scale planning, warehousing, and compliance reporting.

“Internationalization is also a conversation,” Wee says. “As companies branch out from Singapore, they’re often dealing with multi-site operations, multiple currencies, and complex shipping channels. An ERP system that handles compliance in various jurisdictions while offering a unified operational view can literally open doors for them.”

SMF’s Role And Forward Momentum

The Singapore Manufacturing Federation’s Manufacturing Day Summit 2025 served as a focal point for these discussions. SMEs, MNCs, and government bodies alike shared best practices and tackled urgent questions about productivity, AI, and workforce development.

Wee commends the SMF’s efforts:

“I think they have a lot of influence on manufacturers, especially in conveying the right message about where Singapore’s industrial base needs to be headed. This year’s theme is absolutely on-point because 2025 is indeed a turning point. With multiple disruptions coming together—technology, skilled labor, and sustainability—it’s critical for the entire ecosystem to be aligned.”

Looking Ahead: Transform Or Be Left Behind

Even as economic headwinds rise and global supply chains remain volatile, the consensus is that digitalization will define the winners in the manufacturing arena. Many of Epicor’s customers have realized that adopting an ERP system is not a “nice-to-have” but the backbone of future growth and competitiveness.

Wee sums it up well:

“Metalworking companies are right at the crossroads. They need to adopt technologies, upskill their workforce, and incorporate sustainability measures—all at once. That can be daunting. But with the right integrated solutions, it’s entirely achievable. And the companies that get it right now will shape the next decade of manufacturing.”

This vision resonates strongly with the objectives of APMEN, which has consistently championed advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, and best practices in the metalworking ecosystem. As we continue to highlight stories of industrial innovation, it’s clear that software-driven solutions—in everything from AI-based scheduling to shop-floor IoT—are rapidly becoming the linchpin of future-ready metalworking.

Conclusion

The takeaway from our discussion with Lorraine Wee is that digital integration is not a one-time investment—it’s an iterative journey that must be embraced holistically. With open APIs, cloud capabilities, and automation platforms readily available, integration hurdles have been lowered considerably. By leveraging these modern ERP solutions, metalworking shops can gather real-time data, unify disparate operations, and position themselves for global competitiveness.

Yet this shift demands more than just tech spend; it requires upskilled talent, top-down leadership, and ecosystems of support from organizations like the SMF. The manufacturing sector is indeed at a turning point—one where technological enablement, sustainability mandates, and workforce readiness converge. Companies that harness the power of integrated ERP stand poised to evolve beyond mere metal shops to become agile, digitally driven innovators.

APMEN will continue to track these transitions, celebrating the companies that embrace digital transformation and highlighting solutions that pave the way for Industry 4.0. Keep an eye on our upcoming features for more deep dives into real-world applications, lessons learned, and success stories from the metalworking frontlines.

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Promoted by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE, the Italian machine tools, robots and automation systems manufacturers’ association, and organised by EFIM-ENTE FIERE ITALIANE MACCHINE, 33.BI-MU will take place exactly one year after EMO MILANO, the world trade show of the sector, which was held in October 2021, achieving resounding success with the public of reference.

Following on from this outcome, which has actually launched the new post-pandemic era, and owing to the extremely favourable economic moment, 33-BI-MU is preparing to meet the consensus of the enterprises of the sector. At their disposal, these companies have a very dynamic and receptive Italian market, also thanks to the Government incentives that will remain in force at least for the whole year 2022.

Willingness to invest in new production technologies, need for a renewal of industrial plants, which increasingly require state-of-the-art systems and machines: these are the reasons that will enable 33.BI-MU to attract a wide attendance of users from all major end-use sectors.

Visitors will experience an event full of proposals for all production requirements. Besides machines and systems, making up the core of the exhibition, 33.BI-MU will propose a special focus on 5 technological issues for 5 exhibition areas to represent the complete ecosystem of the sector: RobotHeart, sponsored by SIRI (Italian Robotics and Automation Association) and dedicated to the world of robotics; BI-MU Digital, focused on the world of ICT and connectivity technologies; BI-MU ADDITIVE, sponsored by AITA-ITALIAN ASSOCIATION OF ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES and dedicated to additive technologies; METROLOGY & TESTING centred on systems and machines for testing, measuring and quality control and finally, BI-MU LOGISTICS, focused on the logistics for the mechanical industry.

In addition to the exhibited product offering, there will be BI-MUpiù, an established initiative of the biennial machine tool exhibition, which will propose a full agenda of in-depth cultural and thematic meetings arranged by the organisers and by the exhibitors. Besides the presentations of the novelties on show, there will be meetings centred on the big issues of interest for the operators of the sector. Among the hot topics, special attention will be devoted to digitalisation and sustainability, in response to the new guidelines dictated by Transition 4.0 and by the approach based on ESG criteria, which are increasingly important for those who operate in the industrial world.

A great novelty of this edition is also the full concurrence of 33.BI-MU, held in the halls 9-11 and 13-15, with Xylexpo, the biennial international trade show of woodworking technologies and components for the furniture industry, taking place in the opposite halls (22-24; 14-18), thus creating a single exhibition complex with a complete and mutual possibility of entry for both events.

The two exhibitions, undisputed leaders in their respective sectors of reference, intend to be two separate, yet absolutely complementary events making up a single big appointment centred on the manufacturing industry. The 100,000 visitors expected in Milan on the occasion of the “week dedicated to the mechanical machinery industry” will find an excellent proposal in terms of content, services, product display and in-depth thematic analysis.  Many of these will concern both exhibitions, thus allowing the involved operators to optimise their business travel time.

PressRelease_UCIMU.IT

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In machining aerospace components, the main challenges relate to component materials. Titanium, high-temperature superalloys (HTSA), and creep-resisting steel are difficult to cut and machining is a real bottleneck in the whole aircraft supply chain. Poor machinability of these materials results in low cutting speeds, which significantly reduces productivity and shortens tool life. Both these factors are directly connected with cutting tools. 

In fact, when dealing with hard-to-machine typical aerospace materials, cutting tool functionality defines the existing level of productivity. The truth is, cutting tools in their development lag machine tools, and this development gap limits the capabilities of leading-edge machines in the manufacturing of aerospace components.  

Modern aircraft, especially unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), feature a considerably increased share of composite materials. Effective machining composites demand specific cutting tools, which is the focus of a technological leap in the aerospace industry.

Aircraft-grade aluminum continues to be a widely used material for fuselage elements. It may seem that machining aluminum is simple, however, selecting the right cutting tool is a necessary key to success in high-efficiency machining of aluminum.

A complex part shape is a specific feature of the turbine engine technology. Most geometrically complicated parts of aero engines work in highly corrosive environments and are made from hard-to-cut materials, such as titanium and HTSA, to ensure the required life cycle. A combination of complex shape, low material machinability, and high accuracy requirements are the main difficulties in producing these parts. Leading multi-axis machining centers enable various chip removal strategies to provide complex profiles in a more effective way. But a cutting tool, which comes into direct contact with a part, has a strong impact on the success of machining. Intensive tool wear affects surface accuracy, while an unpredictable tool breakage may lead to the discarding of a whole part. 

A cutting tool – the smallest element of a manufacturing system – turns into a key pillar for substantially improved performance. Therefore, aerospace part manufacturers and machine tool builders are waiting for innovative solutions for a new level of chip removal processes from their cutting tool producers. The solution targets are evident: more productivity and more tool life. Machining complex shapes of specific aerospace parts and large-sized fuselage components demand a predictable tool life period for reliable process planning and a well-timed replacement of worn tools or their exchangeable cutting components.

Coolant jet

In machining titanium, HTSA and creep-resisting steel, high pressure cooling (HPC) is an efficient tool for improving performance and increasing productivity. Pinpointed HPC significantly reduces the temperature at the cutting edge, ensures better chip formation and provides small, segmented chips. This contributes to higher cutting data and better tool life when compared with conventional cooling methods. More and more intensive applying HPC to machining difficult-to-cut materials is a clear trend in manufacturing aerospace components. Understandably, cutting tool manufacturers consider HPC tooling an important direction of development.

ISCAR, one of leaders in cutting tool manufacturing, has a vast product range for machining with HPC. In the last year, ISCAR has expanded its range by introducing new milling cutters carrying “classical” HELI200 and HELIMILL indexable inserts with 2 cutting edges (Fig. 1). This step brings an entire page of history to ISCAR’s product line.

The HELIMILL was modified and underwent changes which led to additional milling families and inserts with more cutting edges. The excellent performance and its close derivatives of the original tools ensured their phenomenal popularity in metalworking. Therefore, by adding a modern HPC tool design to the proven HELIMILL family was a direct response to customer demand and the next logical tool line to develop.

In Turning, ISCAR considerably expanded its line of assembled modular tools comprising of bars and exchangeable heads with indexable inserts. The bars have both traditional and anti-vibration designs and differ by their adaptation: cylindrical or polygonal taper shank. A common feature for the nodular tools is the delivery of internal coolant to be supplied directly to the required insert cutting edge (Fig. 2). The efficient distribution of coolant increases the insert’s tool life by reducing the temperature and improving chip control and chip evacuation; substantially increasing this application line in the aerospace industry.

To continue reading this article, head on over to our Ebook!

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Lithium-ion battery packs are rechargeable batteries mainly used for electric vehicles and portable electronic items. These battery packs are eco-friendly alternatives to store energy and do not contain high levels of heavy metals that are harmful to the environment. All these aspects act as prominent growth generators for the lithium-ion battery packs market.

The demand for hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles has increased exponentially across various regions. The growing demand for these vehicles has led to an increase in the demand for lithium-ion battery packs, which will positively influence the growth of the global market for lithium-ion battery packs market.

Furthermore, government bodies of numerous countries are increasing their efforts to reduce carbon emissions across their regions. Various agreements such as the Paris Climate Agreement have been signed to speed up the process of decarbonisation. Densely populated countries like India are encouraging the production of electric vehicles through initiatives like Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) and others. Thus, these factors are helping in increasing the growth opportunities across the lithium-ion battery packs market.

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Sustainability is a priority for both iconic companies, which through joint exploration led to this unlikely, earth-friendly solution. The resulting injection molded parts are better for the environment with no compromise in the durability and quality standards Ford and its customers demand.

The recycled materials are being used to manufacture injection-molded fuel-line clips installed first on Super Duty F-250 trucks. The parts have better chemical and moisture resistance than conventional versions, are seven percent lighter and cost 10 percent less. The Ford research team has identified 10 other fuel-line clips on existing vehicles that could benefit from this innovative use of material and are migrating it to future models.

“Finding new ways to work with sustainable materials, reducing waste and leading the development of the circular economy are passions at Ford,” said Debbie Mielewski, Ford technical fellow, Sustainability. “Many companies are finding great uses for 3D printing technologies, but, together with HP, we’re the first to find a high-value application for waste powder that likely would have gone to landfill, transforming it into functional and durable auto parts.”

HP 3D printers are already designed for high efficiency, with systems and structures to minimise the excess material they generate and reuse a greater percentage of the materials put into them. Working with Ford, which uses HP’s 3D printing technology at the company’s Advanced Manufacturing Center, the team created this solution that produces zero waste.

“You get more sustainable manufacturing processes with 3D, but we are always striving to do more, driving our industry forward to find new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle powders and parts,” said Ellen Jackowski, chief sustainability and social impact officer, HP. “Our collaboration with Ford extends the environmental benefits of 3D printing even further, showcasing how we are bringing entirely different industries together to make better use of spent manufacturing materials, enabling a new circular economy.”

For its part, Ford is developing new applications and utilising a multitude of different processes and materials for 3D printing, including filaments, sand, powders and liquid vat polymerisation. The company already employs 3D printing for a variety of low-volume commercial vehicle parts, as well as fixtures used by assembly line workers use, saving production time and enhancing quality.

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“TRUMPF is opening up to customers’ production ecosystems with this acquisition,” says Thomas Schneider, Managing Director of Machine Tool Development at TRUMPF. “Our customers’ process is our focus – with Lantek, we comprehensively cover the sheet metal process chain, even with machines from different manufacturers. In this way, we are taking another big step toward efficient and connected sheet metal production and enriching the Smart Factory solution portfolio.”

After participating in the development of umati, the open machine data interface, the development of omlox, the open positioning standard, and the cooperation with intralogistics expert Jungheinrich on automated guided vehicles, the cooperation with Lantek is a consistent step towards process optimisation and connectivity for the sheet metal production of the future.

“We are looking forward to cooperating closely with TRUMPF. Lantek has been leading the sheet metal software for 35 years thanks to its ability to bring the best manufacturing solutions to any cutting machine, and this will continue to be our goal, assuring interconnectivity and independency between machine tool builders. Our customers benefit from a close exchange in the key technologies of the future AI, data models and holistic process control. This enables us to bundle our competencies and develop software for the future of sheet metal production in an even more open and customer-oriented way in the future,“ says Alberto López de Biñaspre, CEO of Lantek.

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Join us in this one-hour webinar that will highlight next-generation machining and advanced automation solutions from Taiwan, for your smart manufacturing future.

Date: 12 November 2020

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm (GMT+08:00)

The post Spotlight On Taiwan’s Next-Generation Machining And Advanced Automation Solutions appeared first on Asia Pacific Metalworking Equipment News | Manufacturing | Automation | Quality Control.

In Part 1, we featured different case studies regarding AM deployments in ASEAN. Click here to view its recap as well as watch the videos of the webinar.

On 15 December, we will explore the possibilities and look into what the future holds for AM in part 2 of our webinar series!

Register for the free webinar below!

Part II: Future Developments For Additive Manufacturing In Southeast Asia
Tuesday, 15 December 2020
3:00pm – 4:00pm (GMT+08:00)

Be part of the panel discussion with SLM Solutions, Markforged, Universal Robots and National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC), who will discuss the unique opportunities of AM; what it can do to your design, manufacturing operations, and innovations; the latest technologies for AM; and future developments and outlook for the 3D printing industry in Southeast Asia.

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Register for the free webinar:

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