What's New In Industry articles from December 2000

What's New In Industry archives from December 2000

Going `soft' over plant automation.(Softing's new PanelPC)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Softing's new PanelPC is a ruggedized PC-based platform using 4CONTROL automation software to provide a high performance `soft' controller for process and factory automation. PanelPC integrates the controller, an HMI and Ethernet and fieldbus...

Mini loaders make it `e' for efficiency.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... To meet the growth of e-business transactions, and the consequent need for the efficient handling and distribution of small goods held in tote bins, trays or cartons, Jungheinrich has reached an agreement with Moving AB of Sweden to offer a...

Reaching out with comfort.(Atlet's UNS Tergo)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Atlet's latest-generation reach truck, the UNS Tergo, is an evolution of the innovative Tergo UNE, introduced five years ago to combat repetitive strain injury on reach truck drivers, through its swivelling and automatically tilting seat, mini...

Higher efficiency in planetary movements.(Thomson Micro's Equalizer)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Swing link technology in Thomson Micron's Equalizer planetary gearheads can bring an 11 percent increase in efficiency and a 20 percent decrease in torque ripple over fixed planet configurations. They are also said to run typically 4dB quieter,...

Drive in.(AC Technology launches ac drives in UK)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... US drives manufacturer AC Technology Corporation has launched a range of compact ac drives into the UK. Claiming a range of functions usually found only on much larger units, the SCF range of inverter drives is said to overcome the...

Electric drives get heavy.(from Hoebiger-Origa)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Expanded range of modular electric linear actuators from Hoebiger-Origa now includes units specifically aimed at heavy-duty applications. The belt-driven OSP-EBHD units have a rigid aluminium profile and fully integrated roller guide. High...

Ahead in the relay race.(Crouzet)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
December 1, 2000... New generation of solid state relays from Crouzet offer EMC compliance and improved thermal characteristics inside the industry standard `hockey puck' package. A range of EMC compliant, surface mounting, optically coupled, solid state relays...

Trained to test.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Mitutoyo's Metrology Training division has launched a new one-day introductory class to hardness testing, digital imaging and image analysis. The theory, applications and types of hardness testing equipment available are explored in the first...

Check for metal.(Goring Kerr)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
December 1, 2000... Advanced new metal detection system that automatically monitor its own sensitivity levels has been launched by Goring Kerr. The DSP3 detector, designed to screen both metallised and non-metallised packaging for metal contaminants, is the first...

Taking the load.(Variohm Components model 9363)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
December 1, 2000... Variohm Components now has a fully OIML Approved `S' type load cell in stainless steel. The model 9363 is available in capacities of 50kg to 10 tonnes. The 17-PH stainless steel body is potted with a proprietary sealant after gauging, a...

Software tools provide parts i/d.(from Cognex)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Cognex has added high-speed part identification software tools to In-Sight 2000, its low-cost, standalone vision sensor. These new tools, which can read 1D bar codes 2D Data Matrix codes, can help manufacturers improve part traceability and...

Faster metering to hand.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Fluke's enhanced 180 series of handheld digital multimeters now offer higher performance by faster readings and extended ranges -- 100kHz bandwidth on voltage and current measurements, 0.025 percent accuracy and a 50,000-counts digital display...

Take a tip on temperatures.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Range of temperature indicators no bigger than a felt tip pen are available from Thermographic Measurements to monitor engineering components up to 1200 [degrees] C. For heat treatment and welding of large structures, for example, TEMP-RITE...

Seven-in-one monitoring.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Chauvin Arnoux CA8350 power quality monitor offers seven separate instruments in one case. It combines full multi-functional monitoring of all accepted power quality parameters; power, harmonics, flicker, energy, voltage, transients, spectral...

More guides.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Hoerbiger-Origa has expanded its Guideline aluminum roller bearing system with two new rail sizes -- 35 and 45mm: the direct load carrying capacity now ranges from 5900N to 43,800N. The compact system has an extruded aluminum rail housing...

Beating bad vibes.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Wunloc weldable self-locking threaded bush from TR is a specialist fastener for heavy-duty applications which need high strength combined with vibration resistance. Wunloc meets the needs of manufacturers producing construction and mining...

Gear motors uprate.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Range of uprated helical, helical shaft and helical worm geared motors from Brown Group provide power ratings up to 45kW. Able to take high radial and axial loads on the output shaft, they have low backlash at the output, suiting them for servo...

Actuator combines options.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... A brushless servomotor, inverted roller screw and encoder/ resolver feedback source are combined in a single compact assembly in Inmoco's GS40 linear actuator. A 99mm frame size unit, the GS40 offers a range of strokes from 152 to 457mm,...

Gearmotors come clean.
December 1, 2000... From Rehfuss comes a range of worm gearmotors which are easy to clean, making them suitable for food, pharmaceutical and chemical production where there may be a high risk of contamination. Called the SM range, the wormbox body castings are...

Drive Options.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Dynatork's 40W1 gearbox unit offers either female or male output shafts on single or double-sided drive shafts. Particularly suitable for conveyor drives, units can be supplied for either lubricated or non-lubricated air supply and offer...

Quickly into position.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Designed to be suitable for use with controllers from most leading manufacturers, Heason's Harmonic Drive FHA ac hollow shaft servo actuator offers improved acceleration for fast positioning, compact design, a robust output bearing and high...

Cutter on the case.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Available from Packaging Aids is the Packer Case Cutter, an advanced multi-position tool designed for the safe opening of corrugated cases and boxes and general packaging operations. The cutter has a retractable, long-life, heavy-duty blade...

All packed up and ready to go.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Using the Joker 425U from Supreme Plastics, medium-volume producers can create resealable or conventional pouches in polyethylene and polypropylene. The cost-effective bagging machine is designed around the concept of a continuous chain of...

Colourful look on white labels.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Full colour printer designed to eliminate the need for pre-printed labels has been launched by Intermec. Using thermal ink jet technology, the ColourCoder V4 is said to save time, money and storage space by printing the labels either on...

Packing stations.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Range of modular workstations for packing and assembly applications has been developed by QMP. The units are ideal for use as individual stations or as an integrated assembly or packing line. The stations are available in a range of standard...

Fork makes good sense of labelling.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The bottom plate of the fork is one of the electrodes on KL Rechner's latest capacitive fork sensor. If the labels are already passing over a flat conductive surface, then there is no need for the bottom plate as the work surface replaces this...

Taping the performance.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Self-adhesive packaging tape that combines the performance and feel of vinyl with the environmental and economical benefits of polypropylene, has been introduced by Limpet Tapes. Low-cost 527 vinyl replacement tape has a polypropylene base...

Quick fit Charlie.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... With the latest pendant control station from Metreel, three main exterior casement parts fit together without the need for tools or screws to form an ergonomic pendant, with two single or dual-speed pushbuttons with the option of an emergency...

Not so smooth.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Inka says its new plastic pallet has been nicknamed `The Beast' because it does not offer the smooth surface of other plastic pallets, but with 1 tonne dynamic capacity it is robust enough to do the job -- yet offers the clean finish of a...

Filling in bulk.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Bulk Bag filler from Flexicon has a cantilevered fill head with powered height adjustment for all popular bag sizes. Features include an inflator to expand the bag prior to filling, an automated vibratory densification/de-aeration system to...

A little manoeuvring on the side.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Levels of manoeuvrability surpassing conventional fork lift trucks are claimed for the TCM's Acroba truck, available from Industrial Equipment Distributors. Its lateral drive system enables all four wheels to turn through 90 degrees,...

Hoists under close control.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Clayton is offering its range of DRH electric wire rope hoists with an integrated ac digital frequency inverter. The inverter permits control of the hoists motor speed, without compromise to capacity or duty, providing 10:1 speed ratios, in...

Monitoring truck use.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Transmon Engineering's new monitoring system for forklift trucks can significantly reduce operator abuse, increase safety, optimise productivity and cut running costs. It can also be tailored to the demands of each customer and application. ...

Steel moved by magnet power.(magnetic conveying machinery for steel industry by Eclipse Magnetics)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Large mild steel sheets can be transferred at up to 2m/second, whilst retaining part positional accuracy, with the Eclipse Advanced Transfer Conveyor. The integral magnetic elements ensure parts are conveyed in exactly the same position...

Check up on bar codes.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Bar code validation is an increasingly important process and, thanks to a new development from Accu-Sort, one which can now be performed simply and reliably by an off-the shelf automatic validation system. ValidSCAN can be based on any...

Hoist lightens the load.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... HandyLifter hoist from Mannesmann Dematic has been developed specifically for loads at the lighter end of the scale -- at and above the prescribed limits for manual handling. HandyLifter is available in load capacities of from 60 to 100kg....

Heavy loads on the move.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Southworth Handling's new GKS Perfekt Twinlifter is a device for moving both heavy and awkward loads such as a tool cabinets, safes, machinery and cases around the workplace. Made mainly of aluminium, it is lighter than many similar devices and...

Lifting options.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Lodige's heavy-duty scissor lifts are hydraulically powered and designed for a minimum load capacity of 10 tonne rising to 50 tone with platform sizes up to 20m. Single, tandem or double scissors ensure even distribution of the lifting effort...

Pack in a box.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... With its 845-litre capacity Paxton's FPB 121010 folding pallet box is ideal for bulk storage. It has drop doors on the two longer sides and is finished in grey high-density polyethylene. Internal walls have a smooth finish, so it can be used in...

Performance is right on the button.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Designed for stand-on and sit-down operation, Yale's MP20T rider pallet truck has been designed to give effortless pallet handling in loading, unloading and load transfer options. The fly by wire electronic steering wheel control requires...

Controller gets heavy.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Toggle controller specifically for heavyweight interior and exterior industrial applications involving crane and locomotive operation, has been introduced by Cattron-Theimig. It features a sophisticated Power-On-self Test routine to analyse...

Loads on the move.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Minimover is a small, low-cost electric truck from BT Rolatruc designed for horizontal pallet movement in lighter applications. It is an ideal upgrade from a hand pallet truck, being compact, light, and easy to manoeuvre, despite its 1300kg...

Close control by radio.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Available from Crane Care, the HBC-Radiomatic Micron 5 radio controller is for use with cranes and small hoisting equipment. Key features of the battery-operated Micron 5 include integrated all-round impact protection, stop button, and the...

Lightweight chain keeps it quiet.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Tsubaki's Poly-Steel Chain combines the performance advantages of stainless steel and engineering plastics: it offers a load capacity close to that of all 304 stainless steel chain, but costs less, and is much lighter. Suitable where a...

To new heights.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Teknis range of WEZ electrostatic discharge containers has been enhanced with a new 320mm height in the popular 600 x 400 and 400 x 300mm sizes. In addition, a new lightweight container has also been introduced. Tel: 01823 481248 ...

Line'em up.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Effective visual indicator from Frasometer makes it easy to see that the tines of a forklift truck are parallel to the ground. It can be supplied as original equipment or retrofitted to forklifts of any age, and consists of a small, metal case...

Holding the drive line on the corners.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Latest addition to the Excel Conveyor's range of standard units is a powered bend designed specifically for applications where users require the load to maintain its true orientation without the use of guides. A feature of the new...

Stacks of storage.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Expanded range of interlocking and stackable plastic storage and transit containers is available from SSI Schaefer. The new L-KLT Euro container is available in four standard sizes up to a maximum of 541 x 360 x 261 mm. Designed for both...

Safe switching.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Housed in robust IP65 stainless steel closures, the range of Safeline 16A to 400A load break switches has been developed by ABB Control to combine corrosion resistance and ingress protection. They are ideally suited to isolation of electrical...

Compact power.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Power Station is a compact UPS from Power Control which provides up to 12 hours of continuous power, yet takes up to 75 percent less floor space than some traditional systems. It allows CAD systems to continue functioning during long-term power...

Power at the double in harsh conditions.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Latest addition to the Sitop range of power supplies from Siemens Automation & Drives provides two floating 15V outputs from a single unit. Applications requiring a positive and negative, dual voltage supply can now benefit by using only half...

Power for the bus.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Multiple-outlet, rack-mount power supplies from Powerline offer a choice of configurations with output ratings up to 120W, and are ideally suited to use in VME and other bus-based systems. The units are compatible with industry standard...

Motor links up to gearheads.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Available from Trident Engineering is a dc iron core motor from Pittman that delivers 183W in a relatively small package size. The M14000 comes from stock in either 73W or 183W versions with a supply voltage of 24V, although other voltages are...

Control options.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Designed for use with three-phase induction motors rated from 55 to 500kW the UMV 3301 range of electronic speed controllers from Leroy Somer are cot-effective units said to save energy, reduce downtime and limit maintenance costs. They...

Albatross's eye view.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Named Albatross because of a panoramic window behind the visor that gives the welder a bird's eye overview of the workpiece when not welding, this new welding helmet is among a new range of health and safety items from Murex. Fitted with a...

Bad vibrations.(vibration meter for use in power tool production)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Integrated sound level meter and hand-arm vibration meter from Bruel & Kjaer can monitor excessive exposure to vibrations from the types of power tools that may result in `white finger'. The 2237B controller can also be used in surveys of...

Power breathing.(brush-less motor technology respirator for welding)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Hornell's Adflo respirator is a multi-purpose, battery-powered unit for welders that uses brushless motor technology to drive the fan system. Electronic flow control keeps air delivered to the welder at a constant rate, with the choice of...

Filters protect breathing air.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Protector Technologies' new range of economic airline filter units provide assurance of factory airline breathing apparatus conformance with breathing quality requirements for compressed air supplies. The new range is suitable for single and...

Breathing easy for the great escape.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Saver CF constant flow emergency escape breathing apparatus from the Draeger allows safe, effective and uncomplicated escape from hazardous environments. It requires minimal user training, is very easy to use, and combines automatic activation...

Matting gets to grips.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Flexidot is a multi-purpose protective matting from Plastic Extruders that is mainly used as a floorcovering but is also suitable for lining surfaces and shelves to make work easier and to protect components or tools. Manufactured in PVC,...

Interlocked for safety.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Amgard 2000 is range of modular interlocks from Fortress Interlocks designed to provide flexible safety solutions for demanding industrial safety applications. The range is said to combine the convenience of gate switches with the adaptability...

Respirator folds flat.
December 1, 2000... Horizontal fold form of Greenham's Panorama respirators offers improved comfort and fit. Their filtering material gives low breathing resistance for cool use and clearer speech. All but one unit in the range have an exhalation valve. Panorama...

The quack pack.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Deb's Contect Duck Oil and Suprega Plus are now offered in handy pack sizes. In its 500ml trigger sprayer, Contect Duck Oil multi-purpose spray lubricates moving parts, loosens sized or rusted components and gives damp start protection. The...

Switching on to safe interlocking.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Guardmaster's heavy-duty Sipha GD2 brings the benefits of non-contact safety interlocking to machines in harsh environments, where mechanical switches could give problems. The Sipha family of magnetically coded safety switches offers...

Tough glove on guard.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Suited for use in the toughest industrial industrial environments, Marigold's Guarddog glove gives workers increased levels of protection when working in heavy industry. By weaving cut-resistant Kevlar fibre into a leather outer shell,...

Small for the wall.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Smaller, lighter version of Reznor's RPVE gas-fired air heater range is ideal for external wall mounting, particularly in applications where internal installation is not appropriate. Supplied in a pre-painted galvanised steel cabinet and...

Filter out dust.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Kitagawa has added a new series of dust filters units to its range of Absolent atmospheric filtration systems. Available in six models, with airflow rates from 2000 to [16,000.sup.3]/hr, the new Absolent particle filters achieve 99.96 percent...

Static stopper.(ioniser for elimination of electrostatic discharges in electronic assembly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... The VSE3000 low-cost bench-top ioniser from Kaisertech is designed to eliminate electrostatic discharges at workstations in general electronic assembly. The unit's variable speed fan, with air flow diffuser, floods a 600mm x 1.2m area with...

The big clean up for oil mist.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Dollinger International's second generation oil mist eliminators are designed to meet the highest standards for emission control and reduce end user operating costs. This new design is said to offer a more compact arrangement, with primary...

Centralising dust control.(dust control systems for industrial use)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Dust extraction systems from Dustcontrol aim to solve a significant environmental problem within a workplace by introducing a single installation facility which is commonly accessible throughout the premises. Through the installation of,...

Pipe system chills out.(piping for industrial refrigeration and air-conditioning systems)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Manufactured in HPF, the Kryoclim piping system from French company Girpi is said to guarantee the absence of corrosion, low condensation and low collant losses in secondary refrigeration and indirect air-conditioning systems. With a wide...

Dye highlights aircon leaks.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... BigEZ high-capacity injector for air conditioning dye can help service engineers checking for refrigerant leaks eliminate messy spills and wastage. There is enough fluorescent dye to treat air conditioning and refrigeration systems of...

Double doors.(insulated door for industrial use)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Sara's JET 500 door is an industrial, insulated door which matches the speed of fast-action doors. Its insulated aluminum door panels, inset with windows, have a special stacking design behind the door head to minimise headroom. The doors offer...

A real smoothie.(pourable cement-like flooring compound)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Pumpable Floor Screed PX-1 from Industrial Flooring Services is a cementitious self-smoothing compound based on the latest in cement and polymer technology. Mixed with water, the product produces a fluid, fast-setting compound, giving a very...

Rapid door takes the pressure.(Rapidlift)
December 1, 2000... Latest addition to the Stokvis range of doors has been developed for the areas with high wind loads (up to 27m/sec) and rooms with high pressure differences. The Rapidlift 940 opens and closes at a speed of up to 1m/sec, and features a lifting...

Getting tough on the floor.(floor coating material for industrial use)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Durable, high-build floor coating from Sealocrete provides excellent resistance qualities for particularly demanding industrial and commercial environments. Epoxycote is a solvent-free, two-component, epoxy resin based multi-purpose...

Building by modules.(low-cost prefabricated building systems)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Designed to exacting specifications, the Modular Building System from A-plant suits applications that require an economical alternative to traditional buildings with reduced time scales yet without compromising quality or comfort. The...

Shut that door.(Linear Drives' ThrustTube)
December 1, 2000... Linear Drives is developing a lift door actuation mechanism based around its ThrustTube tubular linear motors. The simple and maintenance-free door operating system will be available to replace conventional actuation methods. ThrustTube's...

Make the grade.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... New GC 4000 grades of steel turning inserts from Sandvik Coromant produce a guaranteed speed increase of at least 20 percent over existing grades for wet of dry finishing, semi-finishing and roughing using grades GC4015, GC4025, and GC4035....

Fast Cutting.(Sumitomo)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... New from Sumitomo, is a CVD-coated grade developed to high-speed machine nodular cast iron (GGG) grey cast iron (GG) and alloy/ carbon steels. The coating consists of a thick TiCN base layer and newly developed AI203 top layer, which is...

Smaller batches.(Gear Technology series lowers batch sizes)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Available from Gear Technology, the PVSL series of inverted vertical turning centres by PCC Pittler, Langen, accommodates the demands of the lowering of component batch sizes, by virtue of the self-loading concept. Self-loading lends itself to...

Readout combines scale and counter.(Mitutoyo: digital read out system)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Mitutoyo's new Digital Read Out (DRO) system for lathes, electro-discharge machines and other machine tools combines the KL counter and AT115 linear scale number of holes between two and 360 to be programmed with full angular offset...

Tooling gets deep down.(Mold Chucks)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... New range of BT/DIN/CAT 40 and 50-taper spindle tooling from NCMT is designed specifically for machining moulds and for other applications such as milling of deep pockets where space is limited and the risk of collision between tool and...

Turning up for a fine finish.(Cogsdill-Nuneaton burnishing tool)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2000... Universal turning holder style burnishing tool from Cogsdill-Nuneaton generates high-quality, low RA value, surface finishes on shafts, faces, tapers, contours and large i/ds (greater than 2.750ins/69.85mm). Available in two single-roll...