What's New In Industry articles from July 2004

What's New In Industry archives from July 2004

Productivity: it's a set-up.
July 28, 2004... Set-up time is non-productive time and non-productive time costs money. Brauer's Ball Lock system from Jergens quickly, accurately and repeatedly positions workpieces, allowing the exchange of fixtures in as little as one minute. The...

Cost-effective metering.
July 28, 2004... From Honeywell comes a cost-effective metering capability for more accurate measurement and reporting, integrated inside a general-purpose process controller. MeterSuite allows accurate measurement of gas and liquid product flows between...

Machine downsizing: take a trip around the islands.
July 28, 2004... Designed to be the smallest and lightest 8mm section valve islands available, Asco Joucomatic's Compact 8 units claim to take up less than a third the space of competitive devices for an eight-station island and weigh, in some cases, just...

Hoist design can make more of factory space.
July 28, 2004... Modernise a crane with a Konecrane CXT wire rope hoist and previously unused or under-utilised areas can become productive workspaces. Or specify a CXT unit for a new-build project and a smaller, hence lower cost, building with its...

Thermal imaging: no strings attached.
July 28, 2004... Top version of FLIR Systems' P-Series infrared cameras offers three carrrying mode options - LCD-attached, no LCD, or LCD split for remote control to optimise operator safety. The P65 also stores up to 30 seconds of voice comment per image,...

Integrating data.
July 28, 2004... Firmware updates for Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley MicroLogix 1200 and 1500 controllers add Modbus remote terminal unit (RTU) master protocol capabilities. This allows users in water, wastewater, oil and gas industries to easily...

Control at hand.
July 28, 2004... Citect is offering new and existing users of its CitectSCADA system the benefits of mobile plant monitoring and control 'in the palm of the hand' - anywhere and at anytime. The CitectSCADA Pocket package employs standard wireless media,...

Data at a touch.
July 28, 2004... Entuitive 1925L 19-inch LCD desktop touchmonitor from Elo Touchsystems boasts 'designed for touch' features such as a stable tilt base, OSD features on the side with special lock-out function for public use, built-in touch LED status...

Tag reader right on track.
July 28, 2004... A UK-designed and manufactured intelligent tag reader is aiming to revolutionise the efficiency - and reduce the costs - of warehouse distribution systems. Designed for complex tracking and routing applications, Intelligent Distributed...

Multi-function I/O boards at the double.
July 28, 2004... Containing digital I/O and counter/timer functions on a single card, new multi-function I/O boards available from Crellon Microsystems cut costs and save slots by replacing two I/O boards with just one. The Acromag boards are available in...

Talking torque.
July 28, 2004... Opta Comms+ data management and software package from Crane Electronics is designed for use with established Crane TorqueStar Opta and DTT Opta torque instruments, allowing them to communicate with a PC in order to upload and download data...

Read in the sun.
July 28, 2004... Display specialist Display Solutions has launched a 15-inch LCD panel for use in high ambient light and direct sunlight. The Aaeon PD8500's enhanced brightness backlight improves brightness to 1000nits - over five times that of typical LCD...

In the balance.
July 28, 2004... From Mettler Toledo come two sets of LabX software for balances. LabX light balance enables you to control a single instrument from a PC, while LabX pro balance provides full network capabilities and 21 CFR Part 11 support. LabX light...

Entry-level PLCs take control.
July 28, 2004... Omron has expanded its established CJ1 series of programmable logic controllers by introducing a range of entry-level CPUs. CJ1 units set out to reduce the cost of control system design and development by ensuring that truly modular...

Ethernet switch makes the grade.
July 28, 2004... The relatively high cost of industrial Ethernet switches over those used in office environments has persuaded some users to install such devices in industrial applications. Not a good idea, warns Westermo Data Communications - Ethernet in an...

Sensor data storage goes straight to chip.
July 28, 2004... New Sensors 'Plug&Play' software and hardware products from National Instruments are based on the recent IEEE 1451.4 standard for smart Transducer Electronic Data Sheet (TEDS) sensors. The TEDS technology eliminates paper-based sensor data...

More power to the Ethernet.
July 28, 2004... Latest computer from Hero uses CAT5 Ethernet cable to carry both its power and data, enabling it to operate from any existing LAN network with a Midspan Hub. Remote operation is possible up to 100m from the hub. The recent IEEE802.3af...

Screens use infrared sensors.
July 28, 2004... New 15 and 17-inch LCD touch monitors from ELO TouchSystems boast the company's CarrollTouch next-generation infrared touch technology. Enhanced versions of existing Elo monitors, both new units are available with a serial or USB touch...

On an Impulse.
July 28, 2004... Designed to provide embedded systems engineers with a complete performance package, the Z-World BL2600 Wolf single-board computer is offered by Impulse in two standard forms - one with 10/100 Ethernet, one without. The BL2600 incorporates...

ATEX: time to clear away the dust.
July 28, 2004... As most people in industry are aware, the new European ATEX directive relating to potentially hazardous areas came into force at the beginning of July 2003. This directive is basically split into two parts: One part designates which...

Keep it clean for a close finish.
July 28, 2004... No matter what you produce, the quality of the finished product is the first thing that the customer sees. Many products are finished using a coating of some type, whether powder coated or plated, so to ensure a quality finish the component...

Lending a hand on the packaging line.
July 28, 2004... The increase in packed products in recent years has been enormous, especially in the food industry where everything needs to be hygienic and date stamped. On many packaging lines one of the biggest problems is waste, generally where offcuts are...

Cylinder on a cushion of air.
July 28, 2004... SMC's RLQ series of compact cylinders feature drop prevention at any point of the stroke should the air supply be cut off. The cylinders also benefit from a built-in air cushion, standardised bypass piping and a 'home position holding...

Clamping power.
July 28, 2004... Developed to provide more power in less space, a new pneumatic power clamp from HMC Brauer is aimed at applications - particularly in the automotive sector - where quality, reliability and productivity are pre- requisits. The range...

Giant rotors present no trouble at th'mill.
July 28, 2004... The compressor division of MAN, one of Europe's largest machine producers, has turned to UK specialist machine tool and helical component manufacturer Holroyd to produce three sets of the largest screw rotors ever made. Each rotor, measuring...

Air end design boosts compressor efficiency.
July 28, 2004... Two new models introduced to update the mid-range of CompAir's rotary screw range of compressors have been given new air end technology aimed at bringing significant efficiency enhancements. Designed using a modular concept that reduces...

In-line 'fuse' stops airline whip.
July 28, 2004... From Thomas Wright/Thorite Group comes an inexpensive device which sets out to make a significant contribution to air tool user safety. The in-line Cubeair AirFuse will instantly detect an air hose pressure failure and stop the flow of...

Breathe easily.
July 28, 2004... Draeger's new Personal Airline System (PAS) AirPack 1 and 2 heavy-duty airline apparatus is said to be ideal for any application requiring extended duration breathing air. Easy to manoeuvre, the trolley-mounted cylinders can be used in...

Compact actuators.
July 28, 2004... Aimed at applications in the packaging, process and electronics industries, as well as in general mechanical engineering, the PRN and PRO series of compact pneumatic rotary actuators from Parker Hannifin's Pneumatics Division consists of a...

Separation by filtration.
July 28, 2004... With the latest oil/water separators from Atlas Copco, condensate is separated through filtration, not by gravitation. The OSC units enable almost all condensates to be separated, including most condensate emulsions. In the OSC design,...

Archimedes dunked in the bath.
July 28, 2004... As every schoolchild ought to know, Archimedes, baths, displacement theories and the rotating helix all go together. And at Eureka! The Museum for Children in West Yorkshire, two Atlas Copco GA5 compressors provide the means to dunk an effigy...

Control boosts air efficiency.
July 28, 2004... Industrial companies spend about ten percent of their electricity bill on compressed air generation, so a compressor installation that is 20 percent more efficient can contribute significantly to profits. EnergAir claims to deliver this gain...

Seal system in the clear.
July 28, 2004... A trend in industrial hydraulic cylinder use - largely dictated by economics, says seal specialist Busak+Shamban - has been the increased use of lower-cost cylinders with greater hardware tolerances. In response to this, B+S engineers have...

One in the bush.
July 28, 2004... Aiding machine builders to create extended travel linear motion systems at low cost, THK's LM linear bushing is mounted onto a specially hardened and ground shaft. Each linear bushing consists of an outer sleeve and a retainer mechanism...

Ceramics give motors a smoother start.
July 28, 2004... The superiority of high-technology ceramic components in situations where metals are pushed to their limits is illustrated by the latest range of spindles offered by maxon motor. Compared to their conventional steel counterparts, and even to...

Cylinders come clean.
July 28, 2004... Clean room certified rodless pneumatic cylinder based on Hoerbiger Origa's OSP-P range is said to be the first actuator of its type to meet the latest clean room specification as defined by the IPA Institute - DIN EN ISO14644-1. Its...

Panel options.
July 28, 2004... Two front panel options and three sizes are offered by OKW's Unidesk- Terminal cases. Typical uses are for medical, security or machine control. Theses sloping front cases have a basic housing made from diecast aluminium side panels and...

Pressure check.
July 28, 2004... Two new models have been added to Norgren's range of pressure switches. The 33E and 33L have been developed to offer users maximum advantage in applications that require pressure monitoring or pressure control. Offering a vacuum and...

Save space in the relay race.
July 28, 2004... Smallest in its class, Matsushita's automotive CJ relay has been designed to meet the demands of increasing use of technology in vehicles. Occupying just two-thirds the space and volume of the previous configuration, where two independent...

Gates on the move.
July 28, 2004... Gate automation specialist FAAC has introduced two energy-efficient sliding gate motors. The 740 and 741 units come in 230 and 24V versions and have adjustable height and gate distances to allow maximum flexibility in installation dimensions....

Custom solution at standard cost.
July 28, 2004... Danaher Motion AKM range of servomotors from Inmoco sets out to offer OEMs the exact spec. of a custom solution with the faster delivery times and lower cost of a standard catalogue product. Motors are manufactured by a production process...

Bearings set for a long life in isolation.
July 28, 2004... Extended bearing life, reduced downtime and increased reliability are among benefits claimed for John Crane's ProTech range of bearing isolators. These units are said to give zero leakage of lubricant from the bearings, zero entry of...

New switches stay out of the arc.
July 28, 2004... Moeller has expanded its DILM contactor range with three new types with ratings up to 2000A AC-1. Type DILM1000 offers1000A/560kW AC-3; the DILH1400 provides 1400A AC-1; and DILH2000 offers 2000A AC-1. All contactors from 580A are vacuum...

Clean to the touch.
July 28, 2004... New handles and hinges from WDS provide OEMs with opening solutions for doors, lids, cabinets, machinery and mobile equipment. Materials include anodised aluminium, stainless steel and reinforced plastic and handle designs include standard,...

Ready for lift-off.
July 28, 2004... CFO and CFN lift-off hinges from Elesa share a patented offset centre hinged pin with hexagonal indexing to allow micro adjustment of door/frame spacing, so installers can 'fine tune' a cabinet for optimum door position to allow for...

Programmed for accuracy.
July 28, 2004... Four devices make up the A114X Series of two-wire, unipolar Hall- effect switches from Allegro Micro-systems. Offering factory programmability for end-of-line optimisation of switch point accuracy, the devices use a patented high-frequency...

Steel's appeal.
July 28, 2004... Domex 650MC high-strength steel from SSAB Swedish Steel has been used in the development of a new demountable tipper for tractor units by Jak- a-Box of Fermanagh. The loaded tipper demounts within four minutes onto integral legs, leaving the...

Into position without a wobble.
July 28, 2004... Combining air bearing technology and direct drive with slotless/brushless servo-motors, Aerotech's ABR ultra-high precision rotary stages aim to provide unsurpassed error motion, wobble perfor- mance and velocity stability for high-throughput...

Drives add functionality.
July 28, 2004... Quin Systems has extended its range of compact, low-cost drives with two new 230V three-phase units for motors of 6A and 9A continuous ratings. The new units complement the existing 100 to 230V ac single- phase 4A version and provide full...

Making a point for PCB tests.
July 28, 2004... For design and development engineers working on prototype or small quantity PCBs, it's no easy task making quick and reliable connections to test points on the board. Now, from William Hughes, comes PCB Test Points, a neat and inexpensive way...

Switch doubles packing density.
July 28, 2004... Tactile switch system that can significantly improve switch packing densities, and so minimise the potential overall size of key panels, has been developed by Danielson. Traditionally, the principle factor that limits switch packing...

Drum roll for components.
July 28, 2004... Three sizes of the Rotamat Coating Drum from ISPC Walther Trowal provide an economic solution to the uniform coating of small parts. Metal, wooden, plastic and rubber parts up to 150mm in length are loaded into the elliptical drum (8 to 50...

Apply logic.
July 28, 2004... Crouzet introduces Motomate, a new motor with a built-in, fully featured logic controller. The low maintenance motor gives over 20,000 hours life, and the brushless design reduces noise. Motomate is said to combine all the benefits of...

Long term protection.
July 28, 2004... Apticote anti-corrosive surface treatment from Poeton Industries, developed to coat storage drums containing low-risk contaminated waste, is available for industrial and defence use where long-term exposure to aggressive environments is a...

On the spot train repair.
July 28, 2004... Surface coating specialist, Hi-Tec Spray, has signed a contract with train builder and maintenance company ALSTOM Transport to help keep trains on the UK rail network in top condition. Hi-Tec Spray was commissioned to design and...

Press ahead.
July 28, 2004... The technical engineering team at Jet Press offers the expertise to develop and manufacture bespoke fasteners and hardware components to suit virtually any new product. This is in addition to the 80 million components already held in stock. ...

Drum motors drive recycling on.
July 28, 2004... BDL have supplied conveyor drives for just about every type of bulk and waste handling application, replacing conventional geared motor drives with compact, totally sealed BDL drum motors. One market sector involving recycling of waste...

Belts 'steel' the show.
July 28, 2004... Sandvik Process Systems is expanding its presence in the conveying market with the introduction of ultra-thin steel belts for use in applications previously monopolised by plastic belts. The new belt thickness of 0.2mm, together with a belt...

Bottle detector is in the clear.
July 28, 2004... WEG, soft drinks producer, fills around 1.5 million PET bottles every day. 25,000 bottles per hour move through six bottling lines operating in three shifts around the clock. The bottles must be detected precisely and reliably at high speed...

Hush - radial blower at work.
July 28, 2004... With a special design of spiral housing, ebm-papst's RL65 radial blower offers low noise performance combined with compact size. Said to offer outstanding size/performance ratio, the blower offers benefits to designers and end users in a...

Keep the clean wheels turning.
July 28, 2004... Specialist pumps from Euroflo Fluid Handling are integral to the heavy vehicle and wheelwash systems from Wheelwash Ltd. The self-contained 'Rhino' unit features a 22kW Aquafit 80 x 65 x 200B end suction pump, feeding spray bars at a...

Thinking small.
July 28, 2004... MKS Instruments UK has released its HPS Series 925 Compact MicroPirani Transducer. The MEMs-based 925C is a thermal conductivity gauge incorporating MKS' MicroPirani sensor technology in a compact package. The 925C features an increased...

Transforming connections.
July 28, 2004... A new range of UL approved connectors from Camden Electronics offers protection for small transformers. The CTT series transformer connectors feature an orange or grey insulating body moulded in PA66. A single-pole model is also available...

ATEX gears up.
July 28, 2004... New range of ATEX-compliant planetary gearboxes from Brevini suit applications in zones where explosive atmospheres may occur, or in zones characterised by the presence of gas mixtures and/or combustible powders. To ensure compliance, all units...

Springs are safe.
July 28, 2004... Walkersele radial lip seals from James Walker now come with the lip- energising spring encased in elastomer and cured in position using a new Spring Safe method. This tells plant operators that the spring is located correctly during the seal...

Press here for quickest fit.
July 28, 2004... EAO, specialist in Human Machine Interfaces, has introduced a fast- mounting version of its Series 56 pushbutton. Simply press the switch into a 59mm cut-out and let the rubber flange seal it into the panel - no screws are needed. The...

Motoring up to 150 degrees C.
July 28, 2004... Distributed in the UK by Electro Mechanical Systems. KAG's new high- temperature rated dc drive motor is available in diameters of 42mm and 63mm, and at very short notice. These motors have an extremely high overload capacity in intermittent...

Lead screws: set and match.
July 28, 2004... The ability to supply a professionally tapped nut, matched to the thread form of the supplied lead screw is the key to supplying quality linear application products, says Abssac. In many cases screw stock and special nut designs are from...

Characters destined to last.
July 28, 2004... EAO offers fully-customised keypads with function keys engraved to customer specifications. A wide range of characters and symbols, including upper- and lower-case lettering, graphics and engineering characters - Roman and Greek - superscripts,...

Safety edges offer a first.
July 28, 2004... A new range of Safe Edges, believed to be the first with AS-i Bus capability, has been launched by Leuze Mayser. The AS-i Bus system is thought to offer the simplest method of connecting individual safety devices, and adding or removing devices...

Doing a trade.
July 28, 2004... The Tradesmig Challenger 186C and Tradesmig 313 MIG welders from Murex are said to provide users with high welding quality and superb performance. Common features include simple to set controls and positive, powerful wire feed systems. ...

Keep on moving.
July 28, 2004... MCM Conveyors offer the enhanced 'Automatic Lubricator', which ensures exact quantities of lubricating oil are applied at speeds of up to 18 metres per minute. In order to combat the problems associated with over-lubricating, MCM can...

TIG and MMA go on the road.
July 28, 2004... Indoor and outdoor welding applications using TIG and/or MMA are catered for by the new ESAB OrigoTig 150 and OrigoArc 150 portable welding sets. Both machines benefit from IP23 weatherproof enclosures making them suitable for use on site. This...

Laser down to the wire.
July 28, 2004... Synrad's sealed CO2 lasers are used in various industrial processes, including cutting, welding, drilling and marking. Wire stripping applications are also an area that can benefit from CO2 laser technology. Typical plastic-type wire...

Paint coatings head south.
July 28, 2004... Powder paint coating equipment supplier ITW Gema has appointed Hi-TEC as their new representatives in the Southeast of England. With over 18 years of experience in product finishing, Hi-TEC have depots throughout their operating territory...

Fire trolley range.
July 28, 2004... Three variations of fire trolley have been developed by Walden's Trucks, each providing a selection of fire extinguishing components to suit most industrial and commercial environments. The trolley is 1.1m high, 0.485m wide and 0.44m deep...

Precision boring.
July 28, 2004... The introduction of the swissTools ST system of precision modular boring tools by tooling specialist WNT (UK) provides users with roughing and finish boring capability through a range of modular couplings and extensions. Available in...

From the land of the Rising Sun.
July 28, 2004... Linear Diaphragm pumps from Hiblow of Japan are now available in the UK from Charles Austen Pumps. These electro-magnetically operated diaphragm air pumps complement the existing range of reciprocating diaphragm, rocking piston and rotary...

Rotary valve is on the ball.
July 28, 2004... Emerson Process Management has introduced the Fisher Slurry Vee-Ball control valve, said to provide a longer service life in erosive slurry type applications, such as in metals and mineral processing, when compared with other valve types....

Rough pumping.
July 28, 2004... To meet the demands of liquid transfer involving highly corrosive or aggressive media, ASV Steubbe offers a range of end suctional horizontal centrifugal pumps - the bareshaft or long coupled NM type and the close coupled NMB - which are...

Expanded range.
July 28, 2004... Compressed air and fluid process systems specialists, Thomas Wright/Thorite Group, has increased the range of products available from its network of Sales and Service centres. Selected to offer the Group's customers a more complete processing...

Cool cost savings.
July 28, 2004... Modern separators are used to condition cutting fluids during production, doubling the life of coolant that is critical to machine tooling operations. Westfalia Separator uses its separation technology as part of a fluid management...

Handy sized web controller.
July 28, 2004... Hitachi Drives & Automation is launching what is thought to be the first palm sized controller with an embedded server, through UK distributor Silverteam. On-board HTTPD (hyper text transfer protocol Daemon) and special CGI (common...

Pumps with driving options.
July 28, 2004... The introduction of a new metric motor adapter, for Michael Smith Engineers' FMI range of dispensers and metering pumps, means an increase in the drive options covering all FMI pump heads. Theses new single and three phase ac drives are...