What's New In Industry articles from January 2007

What's New In Industry archives from January 2007

WHAT'S NEW: Controller has robots up in arms.
January 31, 2007... Latest robotics controller from FANUC Robotics offers an increase in the number of robot arms it can control, a fully integrated vision control system and enhanced performance over previous units. The R-J3iC controller's improved vibration...

WHAT'S NEW: Floor-standing drives package.
January 31, 2007... New easy-installation, space-saving free-standing cubicle drives from Mitsubishi incorporate energy-saving FR-F700 variable speed drives. The F700 FSU (floor standing unit) provides a total solution without the need, or costs, of building a...

WHAT'S NEW: Snake makes the most of its new freedom.
January 31, 2007... The traditional six-axis industrial robot, used for decades to automate welding, handling, machining, painting and other tasks, has undergone a radical redesign with the launch by Motoman of a new model, the 'snake'. Designated the IA...

WHAT'S NEW: The future-proof connection.
January 31, 2007... HanPower T industrial connector products from Harting allow installation of a 'pluggable' serial power bus for powering a number of devices, such as motors. The design of the new system allows the use of pre-assembled, fully tested cables,...

WHAT'S NEW: Drive system integration.
January 31, 2007... The new Sinamics S120 ac drive from Siemens has been added to the portfolio of motion control products offered by HMK Automation & Drives. The drive, for high-performance single-axis applications, expands the S120 system into an integrated...

WHAT'S NEW: Bearings aid the ultimate soapbox.
January 31, 2007... A world away from childhood orange boxes and pram wheels, Lotus Engineering's stunning Type 119B gravity racer - surely the ultimate 'soapbox' - beat the course record for downhill racing at the Brooklands 'Soapbox Derby' recently. The...

WHAT'S NEW: Water jet cutting has the edge.
January 31, 2007... Enhanced high-speed abrasive water jet cutting services are offered by James Walker after installation of a Calypso cutting system at its Cockermouth custom gasket plant. The service offers accurate, cold, burr-free cutting of almost any...

WHAT'S NEW: Cylinders combine drive/guide.
January 31, 2007... New guided pneumatic cylinders from Hoerbiger-Origa combine the driving and the guiding elements into a single unitary design that is compact, robust and simple. The FZ series is available with a choice of sliding or ball bearing guides, and...

WHAT'S NEW: Connecting by USB and FireWire.
January 31, 2007... New versions of Harting's Han-Brid industrial hybrid connector range offer the addition of USB and FireWire interfaces for connecting computers and peripherals to control cabinets without compromising the IP rating required for harsh...

QUALITY CONTROL: 3M opens up the lab doors.
January 31, 2007... The launch of 3M Analytical Services provides access to the company's extensive r&d resources to all companies - not just existing 3M customers - particularly in the areas of health and safety, design, assembly and manufacture. It can be...

QUALITY CONTROL: Feeling the force.
January 31, 2007... A retention test on lancet needles is being carried out by a Mecmesin tensile force tester on the production line of Owen Mumford, UK-based designer and manufacturer of blood glucose monitoring and control devices. The single-use lancet...

QUALITY CONTROL: 3D digital scans right on target.
January 31, 2007... Designed to make creating a 3D digital scan as simple as playing a torch over a target item, the Handyscan 3D from Unimatic is a new handheld mobile scanning solution said to represent a whole new technology platform to support the full range...

QUALITY CONTROL: Speeding up alignment.
January 31, 2007... Designed to make shaft alignment quick, simple and cost-effective in a range of manufacturing and process applications, SKF's Fixturlaser XA is an entry-level system for use with rotating machinery from turbines, motors and gearboxes, to...

QUALITY CONTROL: Materials put to the test.
January 31, 2007... BSI Product Services has enhanced its materials testing capability with the addition of a new Testometric M500-50 CT tensile testing unit. Fitted with full length contracting laser extensiometers, it will help BSI test a greater range of...

QUALITY CONTROL: Taking analysis out of the lab.
January 31, 2007... Two new products from Parker Hannifin have been designed to remove engineers' reliance on external laboratory services for accurate solid particle contamination analysis of liquids. Icount BS performs tests on liquids presented in standard...

QUALITY CONTROL: Entry route to thermal imaging.
January 31, 2007... Robustly built and ergonomically designed for entry-level industrial needs, the LAND Guide M3 thermal Imager from Land Instruments enables plant engineers to operate more efficiently and productively on day-to- day preventative maintenance...

QUALITY CONTROL: Force sensors press to fit.
January 31, 2007... A range of five force sensors from Kistler Instruments has been developed for use in production environments, especially for quality assurance monitoring in press-fit assembly. They combine compact size and easy installation with a wide...

QUALITY CONTROL: Detectors reveal flaws in welds and castings.
January 31, 2007... Easy to use Sitescan flaw detector series from Sonatest has evolved in response to the requirements of users and their applications. The Sitescan 123W is seen as the ideal training school flaw detector: its interface is so easy to use...

QUALITY CONTROL: Customised system applies the brakes.
January 31, 2007... Brakes are one of the most safety critical components on a vehicle, and their correct assembly depends on correct tightening of the mounting bolts. Compared to high-volume car manufacturing, Alcon produces exclusive and high-tech solutions in...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Motor matching: when size really mattters.
January 31, 2007... According to data from the BPMA, pumps represent the largest single use of motive power in industry and commerce, accounting for 31 per cent of overall energy usage in UK industry alone. Pumps like fans, compressors, conveyors et al, are...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Batch control to aid productivity.
January 31, 2007... ABB is to supply Akzo Nobel with a batch control system for the production of cellulose derivatives at its operation in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. The system, based on ABB's automation system 800xA, forms part of a major investment project to...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Pompey pumps.
January 31, 2007... HMS Clyde, the first complete ship to be built in Portsmouth's Naval Base for nearly 40 years, has been constructed using around #200,000 worth of valves from Leicester-based Econosto. VT Shipbuilding moved to #50m state-of-the-art...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: New vision for valve control.
January 31, 2007... From its non-contact sensor for precises position feedback, to the fully encapsulated electronics module to provide detailed performance data of the pneumatic automated valve package, the new XamineR field device from Tyco Flow Control sets out...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Pumps cope with 'high-solids' liquids.
January 31, 2007... Pumping pastes, sludges and other challenging liquids which contain a high quantity of solids can present problems for pumps. Progressive cavity pumps are the type best suited to handling these difficult materials, says Michael Smith...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Benefits from peristaltic pumping.
January 31, 2007... PeriPump easy-to-install peristaltic pumps from Abbeychart have been designed for use by equipment manufacturers in industries including chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, ceramics, water and waste treatment, food and beverage, and...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Switching on to pneumatics.
January 31, 2007... Range of ifm electronic switches and mounting accessories for pneumatic cylinders has been extended to cover C-slot as well as T-slot mountings in three and two-wire versions and ATEX 3D types. A wider range of adapters helps users to...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Cartridges cut filtration costs.
January 31, 2007... From the Process Filtration Divsion of Parker Hannifin comes a range of high-performance filter cartridges designed to make significant reductions in the installation, maintenance and operating costs of filtration systems. Offering high...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Busbar system a real timesaver.
January 31, 2007... New busbar system from Rittal, the RiLine60, combines timesaving assembly and individual modularity. With systems available up to 1600A, and a choice of flat bar or profile bar, the permutations are virtually endless. Control gear can be...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Solenoid valves go to extremes.
January 31, 2007... The new high-flow/high-speed EExd NAMUR series solenoid valves from Alcon (a division of International Motion Control) are for use in hazardous areas and extreme environments. They offer universal 5/2 or 3/2 operations in offshore, processing...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Pumps set for a quick change.
January 31, 2007... Aimed at scientific and heavy-duty industrial uses, the new range of IP66 cased pumps from Autoclude use the company's Easy Tube Load heads for quick tube changes, and an enhanced version of the established 3000 pump head for heavy-duty use...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: 'Revolutionary' ART in a box.
January 31, 2007... Predicting that it will "revolutionise the way that fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals are manufactured", Alfa-Laval's new ART (Alfa Laval Plate Reactor) is, essentially, a reactor-in-a-box; a heat exchanger that does not merely heat or cool...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Go with the flow.
January 31, 2007... New from Camozzi Pneumatics, the Series TMCU, TMVU and TMCO (pictured) flow regulators in technopolymers complement Camozzi's existing brass range. These new unidirectional and bi-directional flow controllers are offered in a variety of tube...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Logging the leaks.
January 31, 2007... HWM Hydreka's ChronoFLO Transit Time ultrasonic flowmeter is a temporary or semi-permanent device for accurate, real-time pipe flow measurement and leakage logging. The device is non-invasive - there is no disprution of plant operation, no...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Magnetic drive pumps resist corrosives.
January 31, 2007... Challenging fluids handling applications, such as those involving highly corrosive fluids, place tough demands on pumps, especially if downtime and repairs are to be avoided wherever possible. The new Finish Thompson DB sealless, plastic...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Valve gains FDA approval.
January 31, 2007... Schuber & Salzer says its programme of continuous development has enhanced further its range of aseptic control valves by securing FDA approval for soft materials. Allowing in-place cleaning, the valves are said to offer ideal...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: On the LINE.
January 31, 2007... New AT Line analyser expands the Metrohm Titrando range of lab titrators, allowing Metrohm to offer a complete range of chemical analysis instrumentation for laboratory; AT Line and fully On-Line. The system uses established Metrohm hardware...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Tough pumps transfer liquified propane.
January 31, 2007... Dosing and metering applications in chemical and processing can involve hazardous fluids such as glycol and methanol. Primeroyal dosing pumps from Milton Roy suit such situations through robust design based on a variable eccentric mechansim...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Materials options.
January 31, 2007... Reliability, easy and low-cost maintenance, plus a wide choice of construction materials are offered by the CombiChem range of horizontal centrifugal pumps from JP Pumps (a division of Johnson Pump AB). These pumps comply fully with ISO...

FASTENING & JOINING: Adhesive with a silver lining.
January 31, 2007... Master Bond's Polymer System AC85 is a silver-filled adhesive and sealant, its highly conductive, non-oxidizing, silver particles providing good conductivity. It also offers long term durability, even when exposed to adverse environmental...

FASTENING & JOINING: Small torque.
January 31, 2007... MicroTorque electric screwdrivers from Atlas Copco Tools provide intelligent 'micro torque' fastening at forces starting from just 0.05Ncm. The range includes transducerised fixtured types, DigiTork fixtured and Digitork handheld...

FASTENING & JOINING: Clamps get a grip on oil well head.
January 31, 2007... Specialist engineers for the oil and gas industry, Destec Engineering, has enhanced the operational ability of the MARS (Multiple Application Re-injection System) work platform - supplying subsea single bolt clamp connectors that offer rapid...

FASTENING & JOINING: Weld system goes right to the root.
January 31, 2007... FastROOT is a new welding process from Finnish manufacturer Kemppi that has been developed for accurate and fast MIG/MAG root pass and thin sheet metal welding on structural (Fe) and stainless (SS). It allows the welder to weld in all...

FASTENING & JOINING: UV adhesives clear the lines.
January 31, 2007... Lincos, a supplier of glass and mirror fittings to furniture manufacturers, is using RiteLok UV curing adhesives from Chemence for high strength 'glass-to-glass' and 'glass-to-metal' bonding. As well as invisible bond lines, the adhesives are...

FASTENING & JOINING: Clinchers plug'n'go.
January 31, 2007... Latest portable clinching pliers from Eckold are air-operated, suiting them a range of workshop applications. Two models are available, the MDZ 35/35 and 45/30, offering variations in clinching force as well as horizontal throat and access...

FASTENING & JOINING: Thread tools boost batch work.
January 31, 2007... The problem-solving capabilities of Vardex Threading Solutions have come to the fore in the production of a series of internal milled threads required in a titanium flange tube. Not only did the switch to the Vardex MilliPro thread milling tool...

FASTENING & JOINING: Welder means faster fasteners.
January 31, 2007... Production of BigHead fasteners relies on one core requirement - the ability to weld a thin, large-diameter metal head to a stud or collar, at a strength equal to that of the metal of which it's made. This central skill is at the heart of...

FASTENING & JOINING: Steel nuts withstand 1000-hour salt spray test.
January 31, 2007... A new finishing process developed by Profil and applied to its standard range of steel nuts, has resulted in the fasteners withstanding more than 1000 hours of automotive testing without red rust (RR) appearing: a typical zinc electroplated...

FASTENING & JOINING: Adhesives take the strain.
January 31, 2007... From Intertronics comes the DYMAX range of specialist coatings, adhesives, encapsulants, potting, sealing and masking products for micro-electronic and opto-electronic manufacture, rework and repair: they are particularly useful for...

FASTENING & JOINING: Anchors away.
January 31, 2007... Con-serts from SEAC are concrete-insert screws that thread directly into pre-drilled holes without the need for anchors or plugs, providing a permanent, secure fastening with exceptional pull-out resistance. Fastening with Con-serts simply...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Flooring puts style underfoot.
January 31, 2007... Matting and flooring specialist Coba has acquired the rights to the Interlock Tile from Interface. Interlock is an easy-to-fit, interlocking 'deck' system that, when linked together, provides a stylish square-tile effect floor covering:...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Docking for distribution.
January 31, 2007... A major loading bay installation has been completed by Stertil Stokvis at a new #20m distribution centre for Multipart Supply Chain Solutions. The 268,000ft2 centre at Chorley, Lancs, handles operations for Multipart's client Lex Auto...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Munching medical waste.
January 31, 2007... A recent project to solve the onerous maintenance problems of the sewage and waste water system at Hafan Derwen Hospital in Wales involved installation of a Mono Series 'A' Muncher in the sewage sump. Previous pump blockages are now a thing of...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Flexibility boosts Blyth's spirit.
January 31, 2007... The Port of Blyth needed a modern, flexible building solution to reflect its growing status as a major port - and needed it fast in line with the growing status of Battleship Wharf. After considering various options, the port selected a package...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Third building boosts storage.
January 31, 2007... Rubb Buildings has supplied a third storage and distribution building to electrical distributor Bridisco. Measuring 18m span x 60m long x 7m leg, the new Special BVR unit, in addition to its canopied loading dock, has a 6m x 15m recess to...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Factory roof flies the Flag.
January 31, 2007... Construction of a 500 hectare paper manufacturing plant on the exposed South Wales coast meant that sustainable, weather resistant materials were key to the spec. FLAGON SR PVC single-ply membranes from Flag were chosen for weather...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: An upside down flooring solution.
January 31, 2007... Flexible plastic matting laid upside down is being used as an ingenious solution to protect steel coils and the factory floor at Kiverton Park Steel, Sheffield, from damage during the manufacture of steel components. The production...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Stainless hinge.
January 31, 2007... Applications for stainless steel hinges are increasing as more equipment is installed in harsher washdowen environments. EMKA now offers a solution for closure engineers in its Program 1110 range with a new quick-fit AISI 316 hinge with...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Storage when needed - fast.
January 31, 2007... When materials handling equipment manufacturer BT Rolatruc needed a fast storage solution at its Warrington site, CopriSystems delivered and installed a canopy building within six weeks, relieving warehouse congestion and improving working...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Sentry guards the corners.
January 31, 2007... Vulnerable corners and trucks can be shielded with HiLo's Corner Sentry. Moulded in bright yellow plastic, the corner guards can be attached to any corner exposed to heavy traffic. Unlike rigid steel corner protectors which merely...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Increased bolt options.
January 31, 2007... Access Technologies has extended its BoxBolt range of hot dip galvanised cavity fixings with countersunk and button head options added to its hexagon head style BoxBolt, and adapted its BoxSok installation tool to the new designs. These moves...

BUILDINGS & MAITNENANCE: Floors on test.
January 31, 2007... Testing and design service from FACE Consultants makes sure that warehouse floors can withstand mezzanines, lift truck traffic and leg loadings from racking systems. Point loadings up to 20 tonnes beneath mezzanine legs are common, says FACE,...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Milking the benefits of vision systems.
January 31, 2007... Traceability has evolved from 'nice to have' to 'must have' in the world of food preparation and packaging. Nowhere is this more evident than in firms supplying major supermarket chains. In order to cater for traceability demands without...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Four solutions for warehouse printing.
January 31, 2007... Four solutions for warehouse-based printing and labelling are being offered by Imaje. The Compact Mobile label printer has been designed for installation on forklift trucks and mobile stations. Its reliability and robustness recently made...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Winding up the label volume.
January 31, 2007... The CLP MediaWinder from Citizen will automatically rewind printed rolls of media from selected Citizen printers, allowing high volumes of labels to be printed and handled efficiently and quickly. Of relatively simple construction, the...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Line efficiency all wrapped up.
January 31, 2007... Looking for increased production line efficiencies, ready-meals manufacturer Loxton Foods saw the need to improve the print and application of its labels, previously printed on a desktop system and applied to outer cases by hand. The...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Printer can reduce supply chain errors.
January 31, 2007... From Sunala comes the VP2020 digital ink jet printer offering flexible colour printing for all types of package labels for manufacturing, logistics and retail operations. It prints full colour roll-fed labels and tags at 600dpi resolution at...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Inkjet coder thinks big.
January 31, 2007... Latest large character printer in Imaje's 4000 Series, the mid-range 4020 offers improved printing capabilities and increased connectivity over the machine it has replaced, the Crayon X-tra. The 4020 uses intuitive icons with local...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Strapper hot on the press.
January 31, 2007... Three specialist newspaper end-of-line strapping machines from Mosca have been installed on new Muller-Martini publishing lines for the Irish Times. The RO-TAI-5 is Mosca's strapping solution for the newspaper industry. With speeds...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Squaring up for reliability.
January 31, 2007... Glasgow-based corrugated packaging supplier Cullen Packaging has updated its strapping operation with Mosca semi-automatic bundle squarers, developed to strap the unusual shapes of multipoint glued boxes. Mosca's RO-ATRS-K machines can strap 22...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Coders out to set benchmark.
January 31, 2007... The LASERSystem Plus compact laser coding solutions from Allen Coding Systems aim to set a new benchmark in laser coding performance: the cost-effective Plus range is said to be ideal for use within the food, beverage, personal care,...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Plastic containers with the premium look.
January 31, 2007... Single-source packaging solutions provider FDL Packaging Group has secured a contract for the sale and distribution of Superfos Packaging's new Paintainers, a range of paint containers offering the 'premium brand' appearance of metal, yet all...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Bulk container is fully recyclable.
January 31, 2007... Said to be the first ever fully recyclable bulk container for liquids, the LiquidPak from DS Smith Tri-Wall is an octagonal corrugated container that provides a direct alternative to plastic and metal bulk containers. Its appeal lies in its...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Foam bags packed to fit.
January 31, 2007... Sealed Air's new SpeedyPacker Insight packaging system can take the guesswork out of selecting the proper size of foam-in-bag packaging. The system has a full-color graphical display with interactive technology. The display console has six...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Labels applied to top or side.
January 31, 2007... Low-cost label print and apply system from Weyfringe complements their high volume labelling systems. The DB2 is for users who need to automatically label up to a few thousand products a day and incorporates the H Series printer from Datamax,...

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL: Global service thinks local.
January 31, 2007... Highly trained engineers and an extensive stock of spare parts are vital components of Rittal's after-sales service for its climate control products. Operating in over 80 countries worldwide, including 30 subsidiaries, Rittal can provide...

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL: Perfect balance.
January 31, 2007... Econo-Air 3000 series direct-fired gas heating and ventilating system from Stokvis Energy Systems is designed to optimise energy usage, minimise the effects of draughts and cold penetration, and respond instantly to internal temperature...

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL: Some don't like it hot.
January 31, 2007... Workers in the 1125m2 Frying and Packaging areas at Indian foods producers, Pataks Foods no longer feel the heat following the installation of Breezair evaporative cooling from Seeley International. Specified and installed by CoSaf...

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL: Keep comfort in store.
January 31, 2007... Food retailer Somerfield's store development plans include the flexible Dimplex CAB15E 1.5m air curtains with energy saving thermostatic control. Mike Hopkins, Building Services Manager at Somerfield, explains: "We specify Dimplex air...

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL: Steamed up about saving.
January 31, 2007... Ci-NERGY (Compact Intelligent Energy Recovery Unit) from Spirax Sarco is a condensate recovery system to help steam plant operators reduce their energy costs. Handling up to 30,000kg of hot condensate per hour, Ci-NERGY has a pump delivery...

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL: Feel the heat.
January 31, 2007... Heat Harvester from Monodraught is just 300mm diameter, looks like a jet engine, and works by sucking in the hot air that rises to the top of a building and blasting that hot air back down to floor level. Hot air always rises and as a...

WASTE MANAGEMENT & RECYCLING: Small-scale greyscale sorter.
January 31, 2007... Developed from the SPEKTRUM colour sorter, new entry level SPEKTRUM BW from S+S Inspection brings the same technology to the sorting of light and dark materials, such as separating the dark rubber seals from the lighter PVC of window frames...

WASTE MANAGEMENT & RECYCLING: Effluent InLine for recycling.
January 31, 2007... Delfland Waterboard in the Netherlands has recently installed a Berson InLine 400+ medium pressure UV system at its Nieuw Waterweg Waste Water Treatment Plant in Hoek van Holland. The system is used to disinfect effluent, which is then...

WASTE MANAGEMENT & RECYCLING: BioCat meets EU guidelines.
January 31, 2007... Formulated in line with the guidelines of the EU Landfill Directive, BioCat from Darcy Products, provides a quick, safe, environmentally friendly means of dealing with small industrial spills of oil, petrol, diesel or lubricants. It is...

ENVIRONMENTAL - FUME & DUST EXTRACTION: Fumes in reach.
January 31, 2007... ATEX certified Evolution No Smoke extraction arm has been launched by QD/Coral. Complete removal of welding smoke, gas, vapours, aerosol, oil fumes and dusts can be difficult, particularly if customers require ATEX certified products....