What's New In Industry articles from December 2002

What's New In Industry archives from December 2002

Coating has the legs for a trip into space. (Cover Story).
December 1, 2002... Surface coating technology specialist Poeton Industries has supplied specialist coatings for the ESA's International Rosetta Mission, whose goal is to rendezvous with comet 46 P/Wirtanen. Poetan, whose surface coatings were specified on the...

On the sunny side of the plasma. (Upfront: what's news).
December 1, 2002... Some of the world's most advanced plasma fusion experiments, being undertaken by scientists and engineers at the Culham Science Centre in Oxforshire, use drives and actuators from Hoerbiger-Origa that can withstand strong vacuum forces and...

Three link up for safety protocol. (Upfront: what's news).
December 1, 2002... Three leading automation and machine safety specialists--Rockwell Automation, Omron and Erwin Sick--are collaborating on the development of an open protocol for safety communications. Based on the existing control and information protocol...

Nanogrinding for a close finish. (Upfront: what's news).
December 1, 2002... Aiming to break new ground in ultraprecision grinding technology, with the ability to generate optical quality finishes without recourse to lapping or polishing, the Tetraform C Nanogrinder from Heidenhain can produce 2D and 3D forms using...

Imaje moves on. (Upfront: what's news).
December 1, 2002... Marking and coding specialist Imaje has moved from Chester to a purpose-built HQ in Manor Park, Runcorn--officially opened last month. The move has meant a quadrupling of workspace and is seen as the platform for a planned doubling of turnover...

Time to check up on your image. (Upfront: what's news).
December 1, 2002... Image Checker A230 series from Matsushita Electric Works is an easy-to-configure vision inspection system that allows inspection of OCR and OCV applications to be realised with minimum effort. A development of the established A210 series,...

It's Hardinge for Bridgeport in US. (Upfront: what's news).
December 1, 2002... Leicester-based machine tools manufacturer Bridgeport, recently acquired by American Capital Strategies, has entered into a letter of intent with Hardinge for the North American manufacture and distribution of its knee mills, related parts and...

Linking up for a clean workplace. (Upfront: what's news).
December 1, 2002... Business development link that harnesses Nederman's P160 and P300 portable high-vacuum dust extraction units with Desoutter's grinders, sanders, saws and drills is said to have produced a steady expansion of the two companies' joint `total...

Prize draw winner. (Upfront: what's news).
December 1, 2002... Lucky winner of 100-worth [pounds sterling] of Dixon's vouchers in What's new in Industy's prize draw was Mr P S Howarth of Southfork Innovations, Huntington, York. Entrants completed a simple industrial purchasing/specifying form,...

Monitoring both flow and level. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... NuTec thermal flow/level switch with no moving pans and two-wire, loop-powered electronics has been introduced by Allison Engineering. The same principle of thermal dispersion is said to operate equally well for both flow and level monitoring...

When the dosing gets tough. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... From Milton Roy comes the Primeroyal range of hydraulically-driven diaphragm liquid end dosing pumps to suit applications such as high-pressure additive injection in oil production and transferring thick, high-temperature, corrosive and...

A mass of new opportunities. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... Innovative new family of Coriolis mass flowmeters set to overcome previous limitations in technology and open up a range of metering opportunities has been launched by Krohne. The Optimass units claim superb accuracy, repeatability and ease...

Probing pump vibration. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... Latest range of eddy current probes from Monitran has deen designed to offer reliable non-contact vibration measurement for all kinds of pumps, booster sets and other pumping systems. Supplied with a direct 4-20mA output, these latest...

Drying under close control. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... From Biopharma Process Systems comes a cGMP stainless steel granulation dryer, with its own operator interface terminal (OIT) control system. The Gruenberg dryer is constructed around a welded structural steel frame: all interior surfaces...

System cuts steam trap maintenance. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... With the release of its UFT14 stainless steel ball float trap, Spirax Sarco has completed the launch of its Quick-Fit steam trap range. The Quick-Fit system can cut maintenance costs, reduce steam system downtime and help to eliminate quickly...

Control in hazard zones. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... Innovative, fully integrated fieldbus manifold system has been developed by Parker Hannifin's Fluid Control Division Europe for controlling pneumatic actuators in hazardous (Zones 1 and 2) process industry environments, typically in chemicals,...

Child's play. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... The largest yet globe valve from Burkert Fluid Control Systems is a four-inch unit the size of a small child. These valves can be adapted to almost any requirement with a large number of pneumatic actuators and can be combined with a variety of...

Process heat transfer on a plate. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... SWEP says it has developed Plate Heat Exchanger technology `to its ultimate level of cost-effective efficiency' to produce a range of units which are simple to integrate within systems and easy to maintain. SWEP has refined and developed the...

Coping with aggressive media. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... Suitable for applications involving acids/alkalis, steam, petroleum or other aggressive media, the MV Automation Systems S-Series of solenoid valves offer stainless steel internals inside a plastic body, with a separating disphragm to avoid...

Pump gets into the thick of it. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... Transferring thick, high-viscosity liquids such as tomato puree, creams or syrups in the food processing industries can present pumping problems. Pump Engineering is offering the range of CSF air-operated piston pumps to transfer such thick...

Easier liquid analysis. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... SIPAN family of liquid analysers from Siemens Process Automation provides user-friendly measurement of conductivity, concentration, pH, Redox and dissloved oxygen in an all-inclusive single unit. Both two-wire (model 32) and four-wire (model...

Switching on to automation. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... New version of a solid-state remote power controller from E-T-A can reduce installation times when used with an E-T-A power distribution module. This plug-in device provides inexpensive power amplification for PLC outputs, protects output loads...

Control debugged. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... Simulation software from Woodhead Connectivity allows system integrators to design and test a process control system on a PC before it is installed, detecting and eliminating potential problems before start-up and commissioning. The SST...

Process displays get smart. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... Expanded DPI270 series of digital process indicators from Druck provides a choice of versatile, smart displays compatible with a wide range of process sensors and signals including pressure, level, temperature, humidity, moisture and...

Ball valves go free-floating. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... Series 110 and Series 200 Ultra-Seal by Hindle Valves, available from Tyco, is a range of flanged, free-floating (seat supported) ball valves offered in both reduced and full bore designs, three pressure classes and a range of sizes. They...

Emptying out the barrel. (Process Plant & Control).
December 1, 2002... Viscoflux barrel emptying system from Flux Pumps will effectively empty barrels containg very high viscosity media, solving the problem of tranferring products such as grease, ointment, silicone, paint or tomato pulp. This portable system...

Pump cuts noise and vibration. (Compressed Air Systems).
December 1, 2002... Designed and structured with a simplicity that removes the need for complex components such as rods and bearings, the AIMS air compressor/vacuum pump from Archfact offers minimal noise, low vibration and negligible, oil-free maintenance. ...

Managing air costs. (Compressed Air Systems).
December 1, 2002... Industrial sites with even modest compressed air consumption are being guaranteed significant cost savings by using EnergAir Solutions' compressed air management systems. Initially, systems are individually assessed for potential. Where...

Obtaining more air--for less power. (Compressed Air Systems).
December 1, 2002... Improved noise reduction, energy savings, air treatment and system monitoring and control are offered by the large-scale introduction of five new compressor ranges from Atlas Copco's Industrial Air division. New developments include redesigned...

Variable speed unit retrofits. (Compressed Air Systems).
December 1, 2002... Retrofit VSD variable speed drive from EnergAir has been launched to allow compressed air users to reduce energy consumption without the capital outlay of buying a new compressor. Existing machines can now be upgraded with variable speed...

Checking by tube. (Compressed Air Systems).
December 1, 2002... Developed to detect the presence of either mineral or synthetic oils in breathing air, the Draeger Oil Tube measures concentrations from 0.02mg/m upwards and can be used with most industrial lubricants. It can also check for oil in process or...

In miniature ... (Compressed Air Systems).
December 1, 2002... New range of miniature pneumatic cylinders from Norgren come in diameters of just 2.5 and 4mm. They have been developed for tasks requiring fast, repetitive actions, such as function and life testing manually-operated products including...

Spray-on solution for OEM designers: many problems facing OEM designers and developers--due to heat, friction, adhesion, abrasion, corrosion or electrical conduction--could be solved economically by thermal spraying. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... Were it not for thermal spraying, the engines of most modern aircraft would melt, car engines would not perform so well--and your neighbour's hip or knee replacement might be quickly rejected by the body. The process involves heating a...

Paint system to turn up the heat. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... Specially-designed finishing system with heated paint application has been installed by Hodge Clemco at Castle Container Systems as part of upgraded production facilities at the works. Benefits include at least 15 percent Lower paint costs,...

Ice and clean. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... Green Tech range of mobile dry ice cleaning machines from Industrial Mineral Supplies claim environmental benefits over conventional open nozzle blast cleaning, plus increased cleaning rates, minimal masking time and reduced site cleaning. ...

A cleaner coat. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... Claiming a breakthrough in environmentally-friendly flame retardants after a major r&d programme, Sentega says its new bromide-free compound is now being applied as a coating for most substrates it uses for applications such as airbag covers...

Premier lubrication. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... High-performance, multi-purpose lubricant from Rocol, Sapphire Premiere suits high-speed and high-temperature applications. Fortified with PTFE, it claims superior corrosion protection and provides excellent lubrication where good load carrying...

Alloy protection in the fog. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... Apticote 250 range of modified polymer coatings from Poeton Industries claim increased corrosion protection when applied to aluminium alloys with a high silicon content, materials that can be very difficult to anodise. Poeton says that 250 has...

Signs come out of the shadows. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... Vulcafoam Extra from Vulcascot is a foamed PVC material having a white, high-density surface on a black core, a combination providing wide opportunities for designers, in particular for shadow lettering. The white surface can be engraved,...

Floor coating gets tough. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... An immensely tough, colourful floor coating that combines hardness with great bonding power, Epoxy Floor Paint is a solvent-free. two-pack epoxy resin which provides a decorative matt silk finish to concrete, stone and metal surfaces. Easy to...

Benchtop bathing. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... Kerry has developed bench-top ultrasonic cleaning baths which can be programmed to maximise the quality and repeatability of results. MKC baths allow the user to preset exact cleaning times and temperatures, ensuring consistent levels of...

Minimising overspray. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... Latest manually-operated spraygun from Sames combines electrostatics with the Kremlin air mix aircap and spray tip, a combination allowing the unit to be used as an air-assisted airless or a higher-pressure airless system spraying at up to...

In the black.... (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... Traditional methods of `blacking' iron and steel components involve caustic-based solutions, often in open tanks, at temperatures up to 140[degrees]C. Now, Vaporblack from Vapormatt and Blackfast Chemicals enables parts to be processed at...

Pin-in-hole for PCB solutions. (Finishing & Materials).
December 1, 2002... As PCB makers increasingly adopt pin-in-hole reflow, Tecan is introducing feasible custom stencil solutions. PIHR allows SMT and through-hole components to be assembled on the same board. Tecan's multi-level stencils offer distinct...

Four wheel drive welding. (Metalworking Equipment).
December 1, 2002... Based around a compact yet extremely rugged four-wheel-drive carriage, the Multitrac gas metal arc welding machine from ESAB can be used with either solid or flux-cored wires. The Multitrac features tachometer feedback, from the wire feed...

Welders keep it neat. (Metalworking Equipment).
December 1, 2002... Roebuck Cylinder hanger from Buck & Hickman keeps everything in one place while welding. Welding torches, masks and spray cans are conveniently hooked up to minimise dirt, scratches and breakages, and prevent the trip hazard of trailing cables....

Bush that's worth the weight. (Metalworking Equipment).
December 1, 2002... The Flowdrill Thermal Drilling process from Flowdrill (UK) uses a tungsten carbide toolbit to form a hole and simultaneously extrude a bush from the displaced material. The resulting smooth bush length is about three times the original material...

Not the standard drill ... (Metalworking Equipment).
December 1, 2002... Rotabroach's new, ultra lightweight magnetic drilling machine--the Puma--provides the freedom to cut holes in the tight comers and confined spaces of structural steelwork. The Puma weighs just 11.3kg and, using Rotabroach cutters, has the...

A place for everything ... (Handling & Storage).
December 1, 2002... Excelsior Rotational Moulding has launched a new range of materials handling products to coincide with its Centenary celebrations. The products include Ingredients Trucks and Dispensers, made from 100 percent food grade polythene and available...

Reaching new heights. (Handling & Storage).
December 1, 2002... New models added to Donati's range of articulated jib cranes allow loads to be lifted higher in environments where overhead space is limited. The new models feature a secondary beam on top of the jib arm. The hoist, vacuum lift or other lifting...

Chinese takeaways ... (Handling & Storage).
December 1, 2002... Palletower has released details of a new range of Nestable Plastic pallets which comply with new regulations imposed by the Chinese to prohibit the use of conventional pallets. Designated types PP1208LN and PP1210LN the pallets, which are...

Storage made simple. (Handling & Storage).
December 1, 2002... Designed to help speed and simplify, parts storage and distribution functions is Welconstruct's all new range of plastic tote pans. Manufactured from food grade polypropylene, the containers are strong and robust and, being stackable, they...

Easy handling from any angle. (Handling & Storage).
December 1, 2002... Edmolift's patented range of Arm Lifts features the unique Z-configuration scissor mechanism which has the facility to function as a regular lift table as well as tilting the platform for precise, ergonomic positioning. It is no longer...

All sorts sorted. (Handling & Storage).
December 1, 2002... The Series 25 high speed sorter is capable of accommodating different sized products--from credit card size up to cartons and boxes weighing 30kg--and can be easily configured to suit many applications. The new system from Axiom GB operates at...

Dilute costs for bulk liquids. (Handling & Storage).
December 1, 2002... Packaged dilution system from Tecstream is said to show considerable long term savings on transportation costs for liquid raw materials. High concentrate fluids can be cost-effectively transported in bulk, with dilution taking place at the...

A more practical pallet? (Handling & Storage).
December 1, 2002... Allibert Buckhorn has launched an 800 x 600mm distribution pallet. Easier to access than the conventional 1200 x 1000mm units, the new pallet minimises valuable loading time and is said to be "ideal for fast deliveries". Various options are...

Red is a warning. (Packaging & Labelling).
December 1, 2002... A tiny tubular device from Shockwatch Euro will indicate when a pre-set level of impact has been exceeded by showing an instantly recognisable `red' Using adhesives, glue, tapes or clips, the entirely self contained indicator can be permanently...

Wider film range. (Packaging & Labelling).
December 1, 2002... United Packaging has announced a new development in its Reel Rapper 30 stretch wrapping machine. The Rapper can now be equipped to accept and apply a Vapour Phase Corrosion Inhibitor Film, providing a protective layer resistant to moisture,...

Wrapping that won't stretch the budget. (Packaging & Labelling).
December 1, 2002... Packer Systems has introduced a range of high quality stretchwrapping machinery with models to suit all budgets. From the entry level manual version, right up to a fully automatic system, all models feature a rugged steel frame construction and...

Printing where it's needed. (Packaging & Labelling).
December 1, 2002... Printing bar code and description labels `on the move' is now possible with two new lightweight portable electronic label printers from SATO UK. The SATO MB series is ideal for the growing range of portable data applications, from bin and...

The point of packaging. (Packaging & Labelling).
December 1, 2002... Avery Dennison Fastener's new Variable Needle System (VNS) is said to fasten a product to a card backing "in seconds", and can be used to replace twist and cable ties. The VNS can effectively secure irregularly shaped items such as toys,...

End of the line for errors. (Packaging & Labeling).
December 1, 2002... Latest enhancements to Claricom's Package Coding Management Systems are designed to offer even greater accuracy in packaging. The Scanpoint Packaging Validation Module can be used as part of automatic line set-up to confirm, for example, lid...

Packaging by hand. (Packaging & Labelling).
December 1, 2002... Avery Dennison Fastener's versatile hand held packaging system, the MicroTach, has been designed for soft goods and textiles, such as toys, cushions, upholstery, textiles and fabrics, and offers a safe alternative to metal staples, glue, pins...

Joints all wrapped up. (Mechanical Components).
December 1, 2002... Comflex from James Walker is a range of tough multi-layered compensator wraps, in standard widths of 300, 400 and 500mm, the wraps are intended for the on-site construction of flexible expansion joints, in ductwork for air and exhaust gases....

Rail travel. (Mechanical Components).
December 1, 2002... The Series 2000 rail stages from Naples Coombe are precision, ready to mount components, said to offer excellent load bearing capacity, long travel, high accuracy, repeatability and economy. With travel ranges in excess of 500mm, they are...

Made to fit. (Mechanical Components).
December 1, 2002... Designed for use by maintenance and design engineers working with vacuum equipment, the KF Fittings Kit from Creative Group comprises five sets of blanks, centering rings and clamps for KF10, 16 and 25. A KF25 to KF16 reducer and a tube of...

Linear bearing suits to a `T'. (Mechanical Components).
December 1, 2002... When a small, lightweight, quiet running, high-speed linear bearing system is required the new Drylin T system available from igus is said to offer `the complete solution'. A smaller linear bearing represents lower costs, but the new TK-04...

Getting it taped ... (Mechanical Components).
December 1, 2002... With a range of high performance foamed acrylic tapes from Alfas Industries. The tapes are based on a composition of viscoelastic acrylic polymers and monomers, with glass microsphere fillers, which is extruded and cured. The resulting product...

A riveting new system. (Mechanical Components).
December 1, 2002... Bollhoff Fastenings has launched a new range of modular riveting equipment which is fully configurable to meet specific applications and easily upgraded to meet increasing output levels. A positive tractor-feed system has been developed to...

Stainless steel works. (Mechanical Components).
December 1, 2002... BeA Fastening Systems has introduced a comprehensive range of staples, brads and pins of special interest to the boat building industry. Manufactured from stainless steel containing less than 1 percent ferrite, the new range has a high...

If I had a hammer ... (Mechanical Components).
December 1, 2002... Alcon's Anti-Water Hammer Valve is said to be suitable for domestic and industrial applications. The new solenoid operated valve can be used to control the flow of liquid media (ON or OFF) and incorporates a self controlling, slow closure...

Remote analysis. (Factory Equipments).
December 1, 2002... New from Servomex is a PC based software product that acts as an interface between a PC and the Servomex 2200 gas analyser system, making it possible to use any modern PC for remote configuration, calibration, diagnostics and troubleshooting....

Go with the flow. (Factory Equipment).
December 1, 2002... CEM's "Voyager" offers a flow-through system for synthesising larger quantities of compounds for laboratory scale-up. Capable of synthesising milligram to kilogram quantities of material quickly and easily, it is thought to be the first system...

Reel improvements in film processing. (Factory Equipments).
December 1, 2002... The latest electrostatic systems from Eltex are said to help improve product quality, reduce waste and enhance safety in many converting processes. In film extrusion, the Eltex R32ATR pinpoint static charging head is used to fix the edge...

Spray wash for a smaller unit. (Factory Equipment).
December 1, 2002... USF Surface Preparation has introduced a range of orbital spray wash machines for cell operation, or where space is at a premium. The Cleancell uses the latest aqueous technology, and is available as a single stage wash system or as a dual...

Out of the mist ... (Factory Equipment).
December 1, 2002... Oil mist and smoke are generated when fast moving machinery (usually CNC) atomises or vaporises coolant into the workshop atmosphere. Vokes has launched a new product range, ScandMist, specifically to overcome the mist problem. Having been...

Sprayers scrub up. (Factory Equipment).
December 1, 2002... DeVilbiss `Scrubs" from ITW Industrial Finishing are new, heavy-duty, single-wipe hand cleaners for sprayers in industrial paint shops. In one step the pre-moistened towels quickly loosen, dissolve and absorb paint, oil, grease, adhesives,...

Putting on the pressure. (Factory Equipment).
December 1, 2002... The KBR and KBRV range of rotating nozzles, from Calder Systems, will clear pipes of plastic, greasy deposits and hard encrustation created by water sewage, chemical and food processing operations. They can be used with all types of high...

Watch your weight. (Inspection & Measurement).
December 1, 2002... The IQ system from Applied Weighing is a flexible weighing solution for industries including materials handling and chemicals. Top of the range is the 920i fully weighing controller, said to process data faster than any other system...

A better online image. (Inspection & Measurement).
December 1, 2002... New, cost-effective, fully radio-metric on-line thermal imager--the IRI 1002--has been launched by IRISYS. It uses a proprietary pyroelectric array that provides a 256 pixel image in real time (6Hz). The IRI 1002 is fully self-contained,...

Weighing when it counts. (Inspection & Measurement).
December 1, 2002... Stevens Group has launched a new system specially designed for the accurate checkweighing of cages of bulk coins. The new terminal can be fitted to an existing platform scale--eliminating the need for expensive installation costs and...

Eagle-eyed inspection with Hawk. (Inspection & Measurement).
December 1, 2002... Hawk is a new range of metrology systems available from Vision Engineering. Due to the large number of possible options, a selection of pre-packaged systems have been prepared to cover the majority of applications and budget span, offering...

New tube technology. (Inspection & Measurement).
December 1, 2002... Tube bending technologist, Addison-McKee, has developed new software for the Addata-Plus tube measuring system to make product inspection easier and more convenient. Called the Addata "G" Plus, the latest model simplifies the transition between...

Measuring on the move. (Inspection & Measurement).
December 1, 2002... A new portable meter available from Vaisala has been designed for measuring relative humidity and temperature in chambers and other demanding applications where accuracy is important. This hand-held meter is robust and features a graphical...