What's New In Industry articles from April 2001

What's New In Industry archives from April 2001

At a touch.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Touch trigger probe system, complete with a probe module changing facility, has added versatility to Mitutoyo's Quick Vision non-contact CMM range. There is said to be no impairment to the performance of the image processing system, while touch...

Fast field check.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Economical MIC7 mA instrument calibrator from Beamex offers field check and calibration of two-wire loops and mA signals. It operates in active (integral 24V dc supply) or passive modes and offers automatic step and ramp functions. 454...

Self-calibration.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Mettler's AX, MX and UMX lab balances offer in-built proFACT calibration, countering any detrimental temperature influences. If the units go outside set tolerances, in-built weights are used to recalibrate automatically. 455 Mettler Toledo...

High-speed sensor gets into gear.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Own-brand Hall effect sensor range from Cherry Electrical Products includes a solid state geartooth speed sensor which provides near zero speed sensing of rotating ferrous geartooth targets such as web speed gears, power transmission gears and...

Precision -- it's just a question of scale.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... A non-contact digital scale system that uses magnetic detection methods has been introduced by Sony Precision Technology. This latest addition to the Digiruler range of tape scale systems is said to be ideally suited to linear position feedback...

Checking up by remote control.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... QuaNix Keyless automatic coating thickness gauge from Cygnus can be operated by remote control and requires no zeroing of the sensors -- it takes place automatically inside the sensor. Calibration on a known thickness, such as a shim, is not...

Flexibility under pressure.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... New series of Ruska fully programmable portable pressure gauges available from Druck replaces the existing 6200 range. These new 7200 units give dual sensor and triple scale capability for wide ranging pressure flexibility, enabling up to six...

New scales are in for the count.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Easy to operate, the Salter 610 scale from Salter Weigh-Tronix has built-in functions to help the user work quickly and efficiently. A check limit quantity can be programmed into the scale to warn the operator when the count exceeds the...

Low down by degrees.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
April 1, 2001... Versatility of Land Infrared's System 4 on-line, non contact temperature measurement systems has been enhanced by a new Fibroptic thermometer for low temperatures. Designed for the measurement range 50 to 250 [degrees] C, the M3 thermometer...

Vision sensors are Ethernet ready.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... In-Sight 1000 and In-Sight 3000 are general purpose Ethernet-linked machine vision sensors from Cognex that require no programming, and are designed to handle a wide range of vision tasks including part location, measurement, identification;...

Socket and see.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Three new wiring testers from Kew Technik, the SOK 12, 22 and 32, allow rapid first-line detection of at least 13 dangerous wiring faults such as no earth or reversed live and neutral in 230V 13A outlets. Using long life LEDs to indicate...

Control link.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Unitronics M90 controllers from OEM Automatic can now send and receive SMS text messages. The M90 is a panel or DIN rail-mounted controller with a single line 16-character display and 15-key user definable keypad. Any GSM telephone can now...

Connectivity drive.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... DeviceNet connectivity is now offered with the Allen-Bradley Ultra 100 series of servo drives from Rockwell. With a power range 500W to 2k, the Ultra 100 can cover a wide range of duties such as an analogue input velocity servo, a stepper...

Costs plugged.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Invensys says it can overcome the high maintenance costs of many rotary control valves with its Worcester C-Flow eccentric plug control valve, with its innovative two-piece plug design. With rangeability of 200:1 the C-Flow represents a...

Monitoring integrated into valve control.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The ZR plus control position monitor from Tyco Valves Controls aims to provide a new level of integration for position monitoring and control of automated valves. Designed specifically for general purpose or hazardous area applications, this...

Transmitters meet networking space.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Yokogawa's YTA 310 and 320 series of temperature transmitters are now offered with Foundation Fieldbus registration, making them compatible with the industry-standard networking specification. The YTA 310 and 320 series are high-performance...

Difficult media keep on flowing.(Delta Force magmeters)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Delta Force magmeters from Flowline need no lining and are said to guarantee specific performance under site conditions, irrespective of media. Delta-Mag (1-84in) and Demi-Mag (2mm-1in) measure difficult media that may completely coat the...

In-line flow switch can take the pressure.(Gems Sensors FS-380)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... The FS-380 series of compact flow switch from Gems Sensors deliver an operating pressure of up to 68 bar and require only 150 micron filtration. Offering flow rate settings of 1.0 to 7.6 litres/min, the FS-380 performs with a low 140...

On time.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The iTRON family of microprocessor controllers from Jumo is designed for applications needing a controller with a wide range of functions. Four versions are available in 1/4,1/8,1/16 and 1/32 DIN sizes, all fully programmable using front...

Interface makes the connection.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Series CP Fieldbus interface from Camozzi conforms to the international Profibus standard EN50170 for compatibility with existing network devices. The CP interface allows solenoid valve banks to be connected to the Profibus DP comms...

Sealed for a long life.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... For service from -29 to 249 [degrees] C, the Hoke 7188 ball valve, added to the Flomite 71 Series of two-way integral panel mount valves, features floating ball design, encapsulated seats and check seals to for extended leak-tight cycle life....

Spring has sprung.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Size and force variants in the Lift-O-Mat range of gas springs from SKF cover piston rod diameters from 6 to 20mm and forces from 50 to 5200N. The spring curve of the dampers is linear and so provides uniform force progression over the entire...

No more `creep'.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... From BSL, the Garlock PS61 lip seal combines an ANSI 316 stainless steel seal body with a hard wearing Gylon lip and is fitted with an internal Viton gasket to prevent fluid and gases from leaking in high pressure sealing applications such as...

Bushings carry a heavier load.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Rexroth Star's new range of compact linear bushings are now capable of speeds up to to 5m/s and have an improved load carrying capacity. With acceleration rates of up to 150m/s, the bushings offer an extremely high dynamic response with high...

Space saving cylinders.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Designed around VDMA 24562 hole centre mounting dimensions, KV's new pneumatic cylinders are shorter than conventional cylinders, and ideal for use where space is tight. They come in four bore diameters from 32 to 63mm and each has magnetic...

Make sense of hydraulic loads.(KMS load-sensing pump valve)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... From Kawasaki Precision Machinery comes a more efficient and responsive load-sensing valve, the KMS. Originally developed to complement their K3VL medium-high pressure hydraulic pump range is suitable for use with other compatible pumps. This...

Cutting hydraulics down to size.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Aimed at fluid instrumentation applications, new miniature stainless steel needle valves and manifolds from Parker Hannifin operate at up to 414 bar (6000psi), and offer bubble-tight seating and sealing with lifecycles of over 6000 operations...

Thermal printing.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Weber Marking Systems' new 200 Series line of thermal/thermal-transfer printers handle pressure-sensitive labels and tags in sizes from 3.54 to 8.8ins wide and 20.0 to 39.0ins in length, depending on the model. Print speeds range from four to...

Filling flexibility.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Modular designed Series 200 ST rotary pistol filler from M&P Engineering offers as standard features motorised height adjustment, quick-release colour-coded change parts, integral control panel and easy strip down for cleaning. Options include...

System's advanced control links remote printers.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... ZebraLink is Zebra Technologies' advanced printer connectivity and control solution that, in addition to real-time, remote error notification and printer management, enables users to print from non-Zebra-specific data sources and to drive...

Pack handling gets heavy.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Versatile range of compact depalletising machines, originally developed by Dawson to depalletise empty bottles, jars, cans and aerosols, has been modified to handle heavy packs of boxed or unboxed wrapped product. The company's PLC-controlled...

Thermal printing keeps on the move.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Compact and lightweight thermal printer, suitable for use in in-vehicle and mobile applications, has been added to the Martel Instruments range of portable printers for the OEM market. Able to be trickle charged from an unregulated power...

No excess tipping.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Tiltwatch label indicator, attached to the outside of a shipped package, works together with an optional high visibility companion label to warn handlers that the content should be kept in the upright position. The indicator will show bright...

Desktop print.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... New labelling system from River Labels & Labelling is designed for desktop label printing in low to medium-volume applications. Label formats can be designed on a PC and downloaded to the printer's own memory. The system can then be taken...

Faster checking for bar codes.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Bar code validation is becoming an increasingly important process and, through a new development from Accu-Sort, one which can be performed simply and reliably by an off-the-shelf automation validation system. The validSCAN system can be...

Speeding up the labelling process.(Advanced Labelling Systems launches ALS-PL Series pallet labellers)(ALS-PL Series pallet labellers)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Latest range of ALS-PL Series pallet labellers from Advanced Labelling Systems offers three versions -- PL1, PL2 and PL3 -- which are suitable for use across low and high end applications. They are designed to print and apply one or two...

Safer storage for CNC tooling.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Hyslide drawer storage cabinets from Welconstruct have been specially designed to provide safe, secure storage for high-cost CNE tooling. Standing 840, 1200 or 1500mm high, the cabinets can be supplied in various drawer storage...

Plastic pallets box clever.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... From pallet specialist Palletower comes an expanded range of injection moulded plastic box pallets which now covers ca pacifies from 22 litres up to 1400 litres. The new 1400-litre unit measures 100 x 1300 x 250mm and is aimed at...

System CAN reduce truck componentry.(Toyota Industrial Equipment launches pallet trucks)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Four new powered pallet trucks from Toyota utilise the Powerdrive integrated drive system that claims to harness a combination of advanced and proven design elements. An on-board `brain' controls and assesses the performance aspects of the...

Stacking in tight spaces.(Atlet launches range of pedestrian-operated pallet transporters)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Broad range of compact pedestrian-operated pallet transporters and stackers have been introduced by Atlet following its acquisition of Germany company LAFIS. The trucks' compact dimensions, minimal weight and good manoeuvrability suit them...

Breathing new life into old batteries.(Barlow Handling)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Battery regeneration service to restore lost capacity and extend the functional life of electric vehicle batteries has been set up by Barlow Handling. The MACBAT system, being set up at Battery Regen Centres throughout Barlow's UK network,...

Trucks offer more power options.(Extensive Cargo counterbalance trucks from BT Rolatruc)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Extensive Cargo range of counterbalance trucks from BT offfers a wide choice of capacities and power systems -- dc or ac electrics and ic-engines with LPG or diesel power. Four basic models make up to electric range, the smallest a...

Conveyor range is on its `metal'.(Goring Kerr launches Concept 700 of metal detector conveyors)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Larger and heavier products can be handled by a new series of metal detector conveyors launched by Goring Kerr. The Concept 700 extends the Concept family from being able to handle a maximum product weight of 7.5kg up to 25kg. Developed...

Pick to order at high level.(Lansing Linde launches `V' range of medium and high-level order pickers)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Lansing Linde's `V' range of medium and high-level order pickers consists of three basic models each with a range of options to suit individual market requirements. All are available with supplementary lift or walk-through cabins. Picking...

Conveying flexibility.(Spiroflow launches Model 146 and Model 196 flexible screw conveyors)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Spiroflow's two new flexible screw conveyors can handle large throughputs of powder and granular materials, Model 146 conveying up to 22 tonnes/hour and Model 196 to 40 tonnes/hour. The conveyors are said to retain all the advantages of...

Trucks offer fuel options.(Globemech Materials Handling launches Nuova Detass Sherpa diesel series of fork lifts)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Nuova Detass Sherpa clean diesel series of fork lifts from Globemech Materials Handling offers nominal lift capacities ranging from 1.5 tonnes to 3 tonnes. Their clear-view masts give excellent driver visibility, with Duplex and Triplex masts...

Easy picking.(Bito Storage Systems' storage bins)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Bito's six-size range of open-fronted storage bins come in a range of standard Eurosizes: for fast, easy order picking. These versatile bins are also stackable and will complement any of the other Bito `Euro-size' containers including their...

Pallet needs no strapping.(Cookson Plastic Moulding)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Aimed at automotive and general engineering applications, a new pallet system from Cookson Plastic Moulding is said to remove the need for non-reusable packaging and strapping while providing high load stability. Based on the Auto-Pal E,...

More air in the pipeline.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Large factories demanding greater volumes of compressed air will benefit from a new range of pipework for large ring main installations. Legris has launched a 63mm range which claims a 300 percent increase in air volume over its 40mm...

The eliminator.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Hankinson M Series Oil Eliminator protects compressed air equipment and processes from oil separator failures, using filter bed technology to capture slugs of oil of up to 100 litres. The air is directed through water-resistant glass...

An air of efficiency.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... The GX 5-11 series of workshop compressors from Atlas Copco employ oil-injected rotary screw technology to provide light industrial users with reliable and efficient machines. The receiver-mounted GX series offers a choice of air levels within...

Cleaner working at the bench.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Flow Bench workstations from Camfil Farr provide a high level of protection for operators. The range provides a self-contained unit designed to provide a cleaner and safer environment for operators exposed to hazardous dust. The...

Get a grip on twisted hose.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... If your air lines are getting you in a twist, then Leader Gripper supplies a solution in the form of a rotary manifold fitted with radial and axial pressure ports. By installing the rotary manifold on rotating cylinders and rotating...

Compressed air on a budget.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Budget range of compressors from Bambi is aimed at the low to medium air user. A new non return valve for silent operation, an easy-to-use oil filter and a ten micron air filter are just features of the units, designed around a high-efficiency...

Turbo keeps labels dry.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Turbo Blower from Secomak claims almost three times the volume output of previous models. The blower was developed for use with Secomak's air knife drying systems and is ideal for drying labels on high-speed bottling lines. The blower is...

Heat analysis.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Kane 400 analyser is a combustion analyser, carbon monoxide(CO) monitor, differential thermometer and differential pressure meter in one handheld unit. The analyser from Kane International will help heating engineers meet the requirements of...

Monitoring in slow motion.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... New handheld MotionMeter camera is a slow-motion digital video system designed for monitoring in manufacturing and maintenance applications. The camera, from Lake Image Systems, is capable of recording up to 1000 frames per second with a...

Valve packing jetted away.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Geegraf Extractor from Gee Graphite provides an effective solution to the time-consuming practice of unpacking valves and pumps. The portable water jet packing extractor uses micro bursts of a focused water-jet a very high pressure to...

Wet or dry cleaning.(Euromec launches 703 sweeper)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Fast and efficient, the 703 sweeper from Euromec is now available with a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. Features of the machine include front wheel steering for easy manoeuvrability and good visibility with the driver seated at the front. The...

Bearings extend pump life.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... FTL Seals, distributors products for sealing, bearing and frictional problems, offers the Glycodur range of dry bearings to extend the life of hydraulic pumps. In many cases, interruption to the supporting lubricant film results in premature...

All lined up by laser.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... BeltAlign is a laser tool from SKF to counter the premature damage to belts and bearings due to misalignment. Most belt arrangements are aligned using trial and error adjustments, whereas the laser tool achieves greater accuracy by placing...

Tackle heavy loads with brute force.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Big Brute range of industrial vacuum cleaners has been extended to provide easy emptying of heavy loads. The new machine from Michael Williams, is designed to handle loads of up to 500kg and is appropriately called the...

Stop in an emergency.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Emergency stop and push buttons and complementary relays from Schmersal comply with the European standard EN 418 and are designed for switchboards, control panels, lifts and conveyors. The range includes modular push buttons with thermoplastic...

Dispensing safety.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Gojo's new soap dispensers are for use in high-usage areas in airports to factory floor sinks. Each dispenser in the NXT range is said to hold twice as much product into the same space as existing soap dispensers: this halves the number of...

Long-term testing.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Crowcon has developed the Eikon personal gas detector to provide continuous protection for two years before it is returned for recycling. For those users who may require regular testing, an optional automatic calibrator can be supplied. ...

Switching on to safety.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Guardmaster's new Elf is a very small safety interlock switch which integrates 2 N/C contacts into an IP67 housing measuring 75mm x 25mm x 29mm. The switch has been designed for use on small and medium-duty equipment such as packaging machines...

A warning from the Phantom.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Phantom respirator from Protector incorporates a warning battery light and beeper which signals to the wearer that the battery is reaching a point when the high airflow rates are compromised. The respirator delivers in excess of 160...

Stress test in the heat.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Personnel working in hot environments can now benefit from the latest model of the Microtherm WBGT from Casella CEL. The meter measures from PRTD sensors for wet bulb, dry bulb and globe temperatures and calculates the wet bulb globe...

Breathing purer air.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Portable breathing air purifier from Zander provides high-quality breathable air from a normal compressed air supply. Two purification stages are combined in a tough, chemical-resistant unit. The Breathing Star BSC has the capacity for up...

Flexible dust and fume extraction.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Panda dust cart from Horizon International is designed for dust/fume collection. The unit has a 2m radius self-supporting flexible fume extraction arm and has powerful suction with a maximum of 1700 [m.sup.3]/hr. The mobile dust collection...

Filter keeps the dust under control.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... The Dalamatic DLMV is an insertable dust control solution featuring Torit DCE's reverse jet fabric filter technology. The filter is efficient in handling high dust concentrations at optimum filtration velocities and is designed for use in...

Better air -- with less energy.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Latest air conditioning system from Daikin can operate seven indoor fan coil units from a single outdoor condensing unit. The system is said to combine low operating noise with rapid start-up, high efficiency and low power consumption. The...

Protection against dust explosions.(NEX dust extraction arm, FilterMax DX)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Nederman has launched a complete system for explosion protection caused by dust particles. The NEX self-supporting dust extraction arm has stainless steel hoods, concealed joints and a separate removable air duct and is designed for working...

Filter gives a close shave.(Cyclo-Filter)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... Flat bottomed filter designed by Air Plants Dust Extraction can handle particles such as MDF dust and wood shavings. Three standard sizes handle 17,000, 34,000 and 50,000 [m.sup.3]/hr. The Cyclo-Filter offers 95 percent separation in the...

Pumping up the volume.(high volume pressure fans)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... New range of high volume pressure fans from Air Control Industries is said to deliver a greate volume of air at a significantly higher pressure than previous blowers of similar size. This due to the new single-inlet blowers having curved foward...

Simple trunking.(Trunklip cable restraints)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
April 1, 2001... If you're fed up using bits of wood, cardboard or plasterboard when you're wiring straight runs, Heyco's answer is its Trunklip cable restraint for wiring electrical trunking. Trunklip simply slots into the trunking with one hand, allowing...

Sentry welds in security.(Jackson's fencing)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Designed to be highly adaptable, Jackson's Sentry Bar fencing comes in seven heights between 1m and 3m and is available in hot dip galvanized finish (ISO 1461) or with an additional powder coating (BS 6497): the latter is normally black or...

Keeping cables under control.(ACA-Apex cabling system)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Compact CMOS cabling system developed by ACA-Apex for installing the mass of communications cabling found in many offices has been developed around Spelsberg's modular-build GTi enclosures to provide a compact unit that is designed to be both...

Heavy-duty floor on the level.(Resdev)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Latest heavy-duty industrial flooring from Resdev, Pumadur vRT gives a self-levelling finish said to be as strong as a conventional trowel-applied surface. It produces a pleasing surface with no trowel marks whilst still being tough enough to...

Safer steps.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Surestep self-adhesive treads from Watco are designed to give instantly improved safety on stairs and steps. They can be applied to most smooth surfaces requiring enhanced traction treatment, can be used inside or out and can be fixed onto...

Tight grip for inserts.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Advanced Carbide-Tooling is offering users of Metal Masters face milling cutters a new type of insert clamping screw and T-bar driver for securing the patented Frustum inserts -- and it's free. The left-hand thread screw and 3mm hexagonal...

Easily mixed.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Two compact drum-mounted coolant mixer units from Filtermist accurately combine cutting fluid concentrate with water in measured ratios, providing a ready to use solution straight from the drum. The standard unit is supplied for 205-litre drums...

Tapping the market for high-speed drilling.
April 1, 2001... Range of high-speed drilling and tapping centres available through Umak offer a 15,000rpm direct drive spindle, 0.8secs tool change and 48m/m rapid traverse rates. The Topper QT-II Super Tapmill is available as a standard machine or with...

Laser system gives effective tool repair.(pulsed Nd: YAG laser)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Repair of mould tools by pulsed Nd: YAG laser can be both cost-efficient and allow the re-use of tools that would otherwise be irreparable or simply too costly to repair. For this specific purpose, the Haas-Laser arm of Trumpf has developed its...