What's New In Industry articles from January 2003

What's New In Industry archives from January 2003

Fibres an advance in dryer performance. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... Replacing the desiccant absorption media of conventional compressed air dryers with a new type of hollow fibre is set to redefine user expectations and advance the state-of-the-art in many potential applications, says Hoerbiger-Origa. A number...

FLTA names truck awards shortlist. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... A group of finalists representing outstanding achievement in materials handling over the past 12 months has been selected by the Fork Lift Truck Association for its next annual awards for excellence--Awards 2003. Three firms make the...

Cut control down to size. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... Traditional control panels are usually large grey units taking up lots of space. Now, an innovative new busbar mounting system from Rockwell Automation has been introduced to complement and enhance the Allen-Bradley MCS range of components and...

Airline versatility is just a push away. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... When automobile manufacturer Honda required 2km of compressed air pipework for the 130m [pounds sterling] extension to its Swindon production facility, it chose the Legris Transair system for its ability to meet a number of essential criteria....

Folded airbags kept secure. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... New method for securing folded airbags has been developed by adhesive tape specialist Scapa together with a leading airbag manufacturer. Improved safety measures in vehicle design have led to side-impact airbags being homed in the cantrail...

On-time delivery. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... Aiding the output of over 1m [pounds sterling] worth of stock every working day from SSL International's global distribution centre in Manchester is a fleet of Crown trucks. More than 3000 pallet loads each week are picked and despatched by the...

Sensing in a small package. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... Extended W9-22 range of photoelectric sensors from Erwin Sick now includes product, registration mark, colour and luminescence sensors. To aid installation, all types are supplied in the same ragged, compact enclosure. Rated to IP67, the...

50,000 [pounds sterling] prize for innovation. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... Are you inventive enought to win Britain's biggest engineering prize? The Royal Academy of Engineering is looking for contenders for the MacRobert Award 2003, worth 50,000 [pounds sterling] and a gold medal to the winner, Closing date is...

Heavy-duty unit makes its mark. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... Applications for the Imaje series of printers range from component marking in engineering and automotive industries to pack marking in dairy, food and beverage production. All units share the same core technology. The entry-level Classic...

Downsizing the industrial PC. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... Dolch has launched one of the world's smallest, lightest and most rugged industrial micro PCs around. The Versa-PC contains an Intel P-111 700MHz processor and an array of ports and plug-in options and has been specifically developed for...

Spring offers a non-steel alternative. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... Innovative new spring design from Ibex and Lee Spring claims exceptional power and load characteristics and offers a high-performance alternative to steel springs. PowerSpring is a flexible, high-strength tension/extension spring made from a...

Control relays make it Easy. (Upfront: what's news).
January 1, 2003... Moeller has expanded its range of control relays with the Easy 800 unit, which provides more capability--including network functionality--but retains the Easy range's simplicity in terms of programming. With its many inputs and outputs, the 800...

Truck design lifts out the hydraulics: a hydraulics-free fork lift truck: that's the design philosophy behind SKF's new concept machine, the E-truck. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... With its E-truck concept machine, SKF has tied the electronics and mechanical worlds together--and produced an all-electrics, hydraulic-free fork lift truck in which conventional motor and hydraulic systems have been replaced by electric...

Stationery kept on the move. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... In a five-year contract hire deal, over 30 Lansing Linde trucks are being used in the new King's Lynn warehouse complex of stationery products manufacturer/supplier Tollit & Harvey. Machines include three 1.4 tonne R14 reach trucks with 360...

Tailormade to move containers. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... Nine different counterbalanced fork lift trucks were put to the test when container/containerboard manufacturer Smurfit Midlands replaced its materials handling fleet. "I asked my drivers to rank tracks on safety, driver comfort and...

Tugs for trailers. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... Relocating to new coachbuilding works in Nottingham, trailer and track body builder Southfields also decided on a new way of manoeuvring vehicles through the production process. The factory now has installed a new Master Mover MM5/400 Trailer...

Keeping moving in the shower. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... New ac-powered counterbalanced fork lifts from Jungheinrich keep components, materials and products moving at Coram Showers, Bridgnorth, who purchased two 1800kg capacity EFG Vac 18 machines, one for goods in, the other for use in the finished...

Safety first. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... To eliminate the need for bending, stretching or reaching by workplace operatives, Welconstruct has added a mobile scissor lift and tilt work positioner to its handling and storage equipment range. Conforming to EN1570, this mobile unit has...

Raising the ergonomic standard. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... Latest stand-on stacker truck from Atlet has been provided with numerous ergonomic features to enhance driver comfort, safety and productivity. The high-capacity Ergo's compact dimensions suit it for working in narrow aisles (less than 2m) and...

BT takes the Express route. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... A fleet of warehouse trucks has been supplied by BT Rolatruc for a new 38,000[m.sup.2] purpose-built logistics centre in Leicestershire that serves one major client of TNT Retail Express. The site has racking up to 15m and operates as a...

Trolleys solve pressing problem. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... For moving presses and other heavy loads, GKS Transport trolleys are offered by Southworth Handling in capacities to 60 tonnes. Customised models can also be provided and the range allows the transportation of loads to new production locations...

Handling, weighing in combination. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... Reliability accuracy and robust design--the benfits claimed for Timotex's Carriage Scale on-truck weighing system--are producing tangible advantages for pressed parts producer Premier Stampings. Premier manufacturers large numbers of blank...

Flat-pack store expands to fit. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... Expanda-Store from Extraspace Industries provides a series of secure storage units that can be sited in awkward locations. These fully galvanised, flat-packed storage containers can be expanded by linking extra units side-by-side or end-to-end....

Mobile printer ideal for lift truck mounting. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... The MP thermal printer series has been developed by Imaje to meet the needs of warehousing and logistics for a rugged (aluminium-bodied) and easily integrated label system for pallets and cases. There are two ranges--Compact and Nova--with one...

Handling solution in the balance. (Feature: handling & storage).
January 1, 2003... Materials handling specialist Demag Cranes & Components has supplied one of its new pneumatic rope balancer hoists to the Land Rover Power Train assembly plant at Solihull. The hoist is being used on the STORM TD5 five-cylinder diesel engine...

Welding quality hits the spot: could this be the end of the line for the hammer and chisel in spot welding QA? Bosch Rexroth thinks so ... (Feature: welding & fabrication).
January 1, 2003... With its latest ultrasonic quality assurance system, the electric drives and controls division of Bosch Rexroth is claiming a significant contribution to assure the quality of spot welded joints. Compared to the random, destructive tests of...

Carrying the torch for aluminium. (Feature: welding & fabrication).
January 1, 2003... With manufacturers using more and more aluminium, which can be difficult to are weld, Motoman Robotics has developed an air-cooled torch with servo-powered wire feeding specifically for this application. With a cost equivalent to that of a...

Sensor stays right on track. (Feature: welding & fabrication).
January 1, 2003... Weld seam tracking sensor manufacturer Meta Vision Systems has until now supplied equipment based on the projection of a laser stripe onto the surface of a fabrication. Yet for about ten percent of applications, this technique can suffer from...

E-beam units turn on the power. (Feature: welding & fabrication).
January 1, 2003... EB range of electron-gun drive units and control modules from HiTek Power are for use in a wide variety of electron beam welding and materials processing applications. The series uses a versatile grid and filament control module in combination...

Tool for a sharp, centred tip. (Feature: welding & fabrication).
January 1, 2003... Said to guarantee a sharp and centred tip on a tungsten electrode every time, ESAB's G-Tech Handy is a compact hand tool that sharpens electrodes of any length down to a mere 15mm. Its integral dust filter collects potentially dangerous...

Power and control upgraded. (Feature: welding & fabrication).
January 1, 2003... Latest version of Whitelegg Machines' CFM-6010 CNC 6mm wire forming and welding machine can produce both unwelded and butt-welded components direct from the coil. Its increased power servo drives and updated pneumatic system contribute to the...

Laser route to high precision. (Feature: welding & fabrication).
January 1, 2003... Designed for industrial precision welding and high-speed cutting of metallic materials, the latest Nd:YAG laser systems from GSI Lumonics--models JK401 and JK501--offer the combination of 400 or 500W peak power, beam quality and a...

Sophistication on a plate. (Feature: welding & fabrication).
January 1, 2003... Type HE/W hot plate welding machine from Forward Technology has twin heating elements which allow a separate temperature adjustment capability for both the upper and lower tool. To provide finite temperature control, the heating elements can be...

Compression packing. (What's new: mechanical components).
January 1, 2003... Aluflon is the new compression packing from James Walker. This soft and conformable packing is said to have exceptional resistance to highly caustic alkalis and strong acids. Working temperature range is -50[degrees]C to + 130[degrees]C and...

Low-cost D nut. (What's new: mechanical components).
January 1, 2003... Aluminium framework systems are generally easy to construct and modify. A downside, however, can be the cost of fixings. Ace Assembly Systems are now offering the very useful `D' nut--or slot nut--as part of its building system at prices...

Make the connection. (What's new: mechanical components).
January 1, 2003... More than 8000 new hydraulic couplers have been added to the range from Legris. The new Legris DIN 2353 components are available in three pressure levels--LL, L and S, and in three different bites--single, double and double with seal....

Softly softly ... (What's new: mechanical components).
January 1, 2003... SOFT-SHIELD 7000 is the new high performance `fabric over foam' EMI shielding gasket available from Chomerics. The material is suitable for use at operating temperatures of between -40[degrees]C and +125[degrees]C and claims significant...

Key exchange interlocks. (What's new: mechanical components).
January 1, 2003... Whenever valves are actuated by pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical power sources, Smith Flow Control can supply key-exchange interlocks which can be easily integrated into the actuator operation. By allowing complete manual control of the...

Clips cut down to size. (What's new: mechanical components).
January 1, 2003... The Jubilee[R] Multiband, from L Robinson & Co, is a cut to length clip. The new fastening system is versatile, both in industrial and domestic situations, and has low cost and time saving benefits. Multiband is available in two widths -...

Cutting edge for gaskets. (What's new: mechanical components).
January 1, 2003... Samco's improved in-house gasket cutting capability offers prototype or large production runs of punched silicone gaskets to customer drawings. Gaskets can be produced using 40 to 70[degrees]A solid silicone sheet in a range of colours and FDA...

In gear. (What's new: mechanical components).
January 1, 2003... The e.JW Series wormgear unit is the latest addition to the range from Renold Gears. The new unit is a high quality, low powered unit providing a versatile and economical drive solution to a wide range of applications, including printing and...

New resolution. (What's new: packaging & labelling).
January 1, 2003... Videojet Technologies has announced the release of a new, high resolution, laser printer the Videojet Focus S25 laser coding system. Said to offer high reliability and print quality, the new system is designed for marking onto products such as...

New weigh for labelling. (What's new: packaging & labelling).
January 1, 2003... Bizerba's new weigh-price labeller, the Graphic Labelling Machine for Industry (GLM-I), is said to be faster, more reliable and easier to use than competing systems. Typical applications for the new GLM-I are in the packaging of food products,...

Handled with care. (What's new: packaging & labelling).
January 1, 2003... Crocodile Packaging's expertise has turned to custom packaging of plaster products for export. Crocodile has developed a case from plywood and oriented strandboard (OSB) to provide robust protection and security for paste and dry powder, whilst...

Quick-change printing at high resolution. (What's new: packaging & labelling).
January 1, 2003... New `wet on wet' print feature and a fast-change facility are said to make the POS range of pad printers from Tampo ideal for CD duplicators and replicators seeking quality print results with high output for short and long runs. POS is a...

Products secure in transit. (What's new: packaging & labelling).
January 1, 2003... For security reasons, many manufacturers and distributors of high value consumer and industrial products are switching away from traditional cardboard outer packaging for transit and storage. The new metal edged plywood boxes from Rowlinson...

Leaving their mark. (What's new: packaging & labelling).
January 1, 2003... Technifor has broadened its portfolio through an agreement to distribute RVSI's machine vision systems. The Robotic Vision Systems Inc equipment is suitable for use with Technifor's rapid indent and laser marking systems. While vision systems...

It's all in hand ... (What's new: packaging & labelling).
January 1, 2003... The multi-function, realtime Pathfinder Ultra available from Paxar is a one-piece, hand held scanner, data collector, printer and label applicator. Two lightweight models--the MO6032 and MO6037--are available and Paxar is expecting that...

Simple security alert. (What's new: packaging & labelling).
January 1, 2003... A new tamper evident security tape from Limpet Tapes is said to set new standards in security and cost, making fraud prevention accessible to a much wider market than ever before. What appears to be a plain red tape when applied actually hides...

We have lift-off protection. (What's new: process plant & control).
January 1, 2003... HBM has launched a mounting module for its RTN series of load cells that prevents damage caused by pulsed loads when mounting containers during gravimetric level measurements. The new design includes a simple and effective lift-off protection...

Tallow, tallow, tallow. (What's new: process plant & control).
January 1, 2003... Spirax Sarco stainless steel control valves are at the heart of an innovative manifold which allows boilers to run on economical tallow instead of fuel oil. The manifold is a drilled stainless steel block, with an immersion heater to...

On the level ... (What's new: process plant & control).
January 1, 2003... A new BibMaster compact rotary control device for controlling levels of dry solids in small bins and hoppers, is now available from H & H Services. Weighing just 350g, the Mini-Rotary has a small yet rugged design that enables it to be used...

Servo system nips linear force. (What's new: process plant & control).
January 1, 2003... Thermo Nobel has announced the introduction of the RCS--microPOS, a true digital servo force and positioning control reeling system that is used to adjust the primary arm's relief cylinders to the correct linear force. The system measures...

New standard for vortex meters? (What's new: process plant & control).
January 1, 2003... Emerson Process Management is hoping that the new Rosemount Model 8800CR Reducer Vortex flowmeter is set to become the new industry standard for vortex meters. Emerson's new technology reduces both the installation cost and pipework...

Valve monitoring on-line. (What's new: process plant & control).
January 1, 2003... On-line Asset Optimisation service has been developed by Emerson Process Management. Control valve performance monitoring includes a range of control valve diagnostic and testing services which, historically, would have necessitated bypassing...

Individual component protection. (What's new: process plant & control).
January 1, 2003... Protect individual, high value components from random surges of contaminants using new Hi-Bar safety screens from Lee Products. The screens are designed to complement the role of traditional in-line wire mesh and sintered screen filters in...

No moving parts. (What's new: process plant & control).
January 1, 2003... A new `no moving parts' thermal Flow Switch from FCI, is available ex-stock from UK representatives Allison Engineering. Called the FLT93, the unit is said to offer a reliable level of pump protection for two important applications: low flow...

Ultra small infrared. (What's new: inspection & measurement).
January 1, 2003... Believed to be the smallest infrared non-contact thermometer on the market today, the TN1 from Electronic Temperature Instruments weighs 32 grams and is just 68mm long. The TN1 indicates across a range of -22[degrees]C to + 110[degrees]C with a...

Measuring up. (What's new: inspection & measurement).
January 1, 2003... Testo's Ex-Pt 720 is an intrinsically safe version of its successful Pt100 thermometer. Designed for use in hazardous areas (Zones 0,1 & 2) the new thermometer offers flexible measurements with the widest range of high-accuracy Pt 100 probes or...

Safe measurement. (What's new: inspection & measurement).
January 1, 2003... The PTI 750 loop-powered intrinsically safe LVDT position transmitters from Ixthus Instrumentation are said to provide reliable position measurement in hazardous locations. Offering a 4-20mA output, the units are ideal for applications such as...

Low-cost thermometer gets smart. (What's new: inspection & measurement).
January 1, 2003... Claim for the new F200 thermometer from Automatic Systems Laboratories is "it's the smartest-ever thermometer with low life costs". Calibrated or uncalibrated thermometer probes can be used with the F200, which automatically uses the correct...

New Viper joins the nest. (What's new: inspection & measurement).
January 1, 2003... The Viper Smart Count from Mettler Toledo is the latest scale to be added to the Viper series. This new counting scale has a wide range of useful features including memory for up to 1500 records, barcode reading and writing capabilities,...

Finding fault with cabling. (What's new: inspection & measurement).
January 1, 2003... The new TDR2000/2 range of cable fault locators from Megger has been designed to provide dependable, straightforward detection for even the most elusive cable faults at ranges of up to 16km. Developed from the successful TDR2000 product...

Catman can do. (What's new: inspection & measurement).
January 1, 2003... Remote communication with field equipment up to 5km away is available with HBM's improved Catman software, with data exchange rates of up to 100Hz across eight channels possible from measuring devices such as HBM's Spider8. The software...

Material world. (What's new: inspection & measurement).
January 1, 2003... Mettler Toledo, has developed what is believed to be the first commercially available material transfer control solution. The Q.i. software and services package combines predictive adaptive control technology with material transfer control to...

On the waste trail. (What's new: environmental control).
January 1, 2003... Product handling specialist Lodematic has designed and developed a bespoke solution to reduce manual handling in a waste management application, using a trailer with an integral bin tipping unit to avoid the health and safety risks associated...

Crack static with ESD matting. (What's new: environmental control).
January 1, 2003... Following industry demand, reducing the effects of electro-static discharge (ESD) is now possible with a special matting, manufactured by Plastic Extruders. Claimed to be the only ESD and open grid matting on the market, Vynastat provides...

Sliding doors on video. (What's new: environmental control).
January 1, 2003... A new type of activation system for automatic sliding doors intelligently analyses video images to detect when to open and close doors. In addition to door control, the new system also provides video output for live or recorded security...

Pumped full of new ideas. (What's new: environmental control).
January 1, 2003... Sabre's Kitagawa gas detection tubes are well known in the UK and form a core part of the new Scott gas solution range. Tubes are available for measuring more than 300 gases, with different measuring ranges available on most of them. The...

Restricting access. (What's new: safety, security & cleaning).
January 1, 2003... Mistura Maidstone, a solenoid tongue switch from Mistura Systems, has a side bolt actuator for guards on machines. Featuring a trapped key adaptor mounted between the solenoid release and the bolt actuator means that only authorised personnel...

Thinking positive. (What's new: safety, security & cleaning).
January 1, 2003... Positive identification for staff and visitors is an easy way to improve security so Kalamazoo Security Products has added three Instant ID Starter Pack options to its range of identification systems. The packs include Instant ID software, for...

In case of emergency. (What's new: safety, security & cleaning).
January 1, 2003... Storacall TeleAcoustics has just launched the updated RM6 emergency telephone cabinet, which is ideally suited for installations in shops, offices, leisure centres, hotels and factories to provide a visible `phone point in the event of fire,...

Welders are kept in the dark ... (What's new: safety, security & cleaning).
January 1, 2003... Personal protection equipment from Nederman UK now includes a range of auto-darkening helmets. Switching from Shade 4 to between 9 and 13 in 0.1ms at 55[degrees]C, or in 0.4ms at room temperature, the helmets offer optimal eye protection with...

Machine safety in colour. (What's new: safety, security & cleaning).
January 1, 2003... Castell Iso-Lok now supplies a range of different coloured locking-off equipment contained in matching storage cases. The contents of the cases, and the cases themselves, are customised to fit each customer's needs and can contain a range of...

New SW 700S sweeps clean. (What's new: safety, security & cleaning).
January 1, 2003... Capable of sweeping up to 3150 sq.metres per hour, the new walk-behind sweeper from Nilfisk-Advance will clean six times quicker than traditional cleaning with brooms. The SW 700S is said to be the ideal solution for all medium-size...

Action station ... (What's new: safety, security & cleaning).
January 1, 2003... As an automatic test and calibration station, the Draeger E-Cal Optimal Instrument Management system is believed to be the most progressive and economic form of instrument management available; ideal for use by large scale distributors as well...

Handling with care. (What's new: safety, security & cleaning).
January 1, 2003... The Perfect Fit Aracut Max Heavy knitted glove from Bacou-Dalloz is state-of-the-art hand protection for those whose work involves the dry handling of sharp sheet metal or glass. Made from Du-Pont's Kevlar[R]) Armor Technology, the 7-gauge...

Save on assembly. (What's new: factory equipment).
January 1, 2003... Mikron Assembly Technology's latest development is said to deliver cost per item savings of up to 50% in high-volume highspeed production. Mikron's aim was to develop a machine that could respond quickly to changing market trends and retain a...

High exchange rate. (What's new: factory equipment).
January 1, 2003... Developed for applications where hygiene is vital, such as food processing and dairy industries, a new range of stainless steel flamed plate heat exchangers has been introduced by HRS Heat Exchangers. The units feature pressed, herring bone...

Quick change booth. (What's new: factory equipment).
January 1, 2003... The most significant advantage of the PVV Easycolour Automatic Coating Booth from Sames Technologies is an exceptionally fast change between colours, whether light to dark or vice versa. Colour changing can typically be accomplished in just...

Saying goodbye to wrinkles. (What's new: factory equipment).
January 1, 2003... Welwyn Tool Co has introduced a high-speed automatic welding machine to eliminate problems of `creasing' and `wrinkling' when fabricating PVC material to produce tarpaulins and coated fabrics. Developed primarily for use in the Made-Up...

Action stations ... (What's new: factory equipment).
January 1, 2003... Welconstruct's new range of Hyslide workstations can be specified with a range of options to meet individual user's bespoke requirements. Six standard base storage cabinets are offered with varying sized sliding drawers and / or cupboards,...

No more tangled webs. (What's new: factory equipment).
January 1, 2003... Forward Technology has developed a process for the systematic cutting and sealing of webbing. Usually consisting of woven polyester possibly reinforced with other fribres, the manual cutting of webbing has had the inherent possibility of frayed...

On the shelf ... (What's new: factory equipment).
January 1, 2003... ZincRack range from Welconstruct can be used to house a wide range of components and goods. Available in capacities up to 500kg per shelf, the zinc coated storage system is both easy to erect and install, using nothing more than clips. It can...