What's New In Industry articles from March 2007

What's New In Industry archives from March 2007

WHAT'S NEW: Drive down robotics design time.
March 31, 2007... A new simulation package from Fanuc Robotics aims to bring significant reductions in the design and programming of robotic systems. Aimed at robot system integrators and end users, ROBOGUIDE is a cost-effective system for engineers to...

WHAT'S NEW: No servicing slips on DLR.
March 31, 2007... A 135m long anti-slip, anti-corrosion wash bay platform system from Fibreglass Grating has been installed on London's Docklands Light Railway as part of a recent service station refit. Replacing an earlier metal platform, it took a four-man...

WHAT'S NEW: Micro pumps give precise dispensing.
March 31, 2007... Small pumps which can dispense very precise amounts of liquid in the microlitre and millilitre range and at very low flow rates are particularly important in many laboratory, analytical instrumentation and similar high-tech fluids handling...

WHAT'S NEW: Time to take your temperature.
March 31, 2007... New range of add-on I/O modules means that a wide range of temperature sensors can now be connected direct to Moeller Electric's MFD Titan controllers, which combine the functions of a programmable relay with those of an operator interface...

WHAT'S NEW: Roller table tailored to suit.
March 31, 2007... Heavy-duty chain-driven gravity roller table added to MiniTec's range of conveyor and materials handling systems can transport loads of up to 300kg. The RFK 300 may be specified in working lengths and widths, with adjustable height to...

WHAT'S NEW: Torquing about efficiency.
March 31, 2007... New LFT bearings from Koyo have been specifically designed with the aim of reducing the amount of running torque inside the common taper roller bearing, and hence improve its efficiency. Decreasing the bearing internal torque contributes...

WHAT'S NEW: White out.
March 31, 2007... ITW Dymon offers a premoistened wipe designed to erase and clean white boards in one step. Dual-purpose ERASE-it-ALL combines a low alcohol formula and an absorbent 8ins x 6ins wipe in packs of 120. It is non- toxic, non-flammable and...

BEARINGS & SEALS: Bearing cages steeled against shock loads.
March 31, 2007... Tapered roller bearings and cylindrical roller bearings incorporating new pin-type cages that have up to six-times the strength of conventional cages against the effects of shock loads have been developed by NSK. The bearings are made of a...

BEARINGS & SEALS: Here for the beer.
March 31, 2007... Revolvo's special bearing service has helped safeguard production at renowned Black Country brewer Bathams. At short notice, Revolvo manufactured a special assembly for a Sparger arm, which is critical to the brewing process. The...

BEARINGS & SEALS: Students right on the Pulse of F1 design.
March 31, 2007... Precision hybrid ceramic bearings with a bore diameter of less than 4mm have helped a student racing car team pick up four prizes at the 'F1 in Schools' UK National Finals held at the NEC. Pulse, a group of 14 to 16 year-old students from...

BEARINGS & SEALS: So solid oil.
March 31, 2007... Developed and manufactured by SKF, Solid Oil is a lubrication development to protect bearings in particularly demanding applications or in areas where they cannot easily be lubricated. Solid Oil is contained within the normal bearing envelope...

BEARINGS & SEALS: It's a gas.
March 31, 2007... Polymer plain bearings from igus are being used in the new range of Marineline gas springs from Alrose Products due to their low friction design. A mix of aluminium and bronze bearings were used previously, but caused marking on the rods,...

BEARINGS & SEALS: Long-term plan provides the cure.
March 31, 2007... With six 300mW pump storage turbines, Dinorwig Hydro is the largest power station of its type in Europe. Back in 1996 Dinorwig decided to replace its top and intermediate bronze guide vane bearings with a self-lubricating material and so...

BEARINGS & SEALS: In the groove.
March 31, 2007... From Austrian bearing manufacturer NKE comes a new range of single row deep groove ball bearings, suitable for use in a range of applications which place high demands on performance and cost-effectiveness. NKE POP bearings offer reduced...

BEARINGS & SEALS: Mountings wrap up for a longer life.
March 31, 2007... Euro-Bearings is offering a simple solution to the problem of natural rubber anti-vibration mountings breaking down through contamination with hydrocarbons - wrap them in a polythene bag. All anti-vibration mounts from Euro-Bearings are...

BEARINGS & SEALS: Another giant step.
March 31, 2007... Claiming to be a large step in size, and a giant leap in sealing technology, FlexiMold is a new proprietary technology from Busak+Shamban for the manufacture of high precision, large diameter O- rings and other seal profiles. FlexiMold...

BEARINGS & SEALS: Sealing in reliability.
March 31, 2007... Designed to improve the reliability of both off-the-shelf gearboxes and standard helical and bevel helical gear units, the new HMS5 and HMSA10 radial shaft seals from SKF are manufactured using a specially formulated compound said to provide...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Tracing system keeps personnel in contact.
March 31, 2007... Enabling companies to continuously track and maintain contact with personnel working in remote single or multiple locations, IDC's Simplitrak Personnel Tracking System is a Web-based system that comprises ZigBee wireless personnel tracking...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Safety systems protect nuclear staff.
March 31, 2007... A new Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) experimental facility is using five Pilz PSS programmable safety systems to protect scientists working in five separate safety zones. The OPAL reactor will produce neutrons...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Shining a light on safety.
March 31, 2007... Range of hazardous area and industrial torches offered by Hazardous Area Equipment has been widened with new devices from Peli. The extended range now includes models for use in certified Zones 0, 1 and 2 hazardous areas. Among new...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Spill protection.
March 31, 2007... Added to the wide range of spill protection equipment from Denios are polyethylene dispensing stations and two and four-drum sumps which allow drums to be placed directly on the sump on Euro of chemical pallets, eliminating the need to...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Safety gear on test.
March 31, 2007... Seaward Electronic's PrimeTest 300 has been designed to make testing and inspection of a range of workplace safety equipment and appliances fast and effective. The hand-held tester provides a simple and convenient way to record periodic...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Interlock increases uptime.
March 31, 2007... While a solenoid interlock (interlock switch with guard locking) should provide accurate alignment of actuator and device when newly installed, during a lifetime of use the actuator and device can become misaligned, causing damage to both...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Checking for gas or vapours.
March 31, 2007... Ideal for short-term or routine situations such as industrial shutdowns, the new Draeger X-am 1100 Personal Air Monitor provides up to 120-days detection of explosive gases and vapours, including diesel fumes, as well as oxygen, carbon monoxide...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Doors safe for four hours.
March 31, 2007... Independently certified as safe in a fire situation for up to four hours, Hillaldam Coburn Straightaway 320 is a top hung, straight sliding fire door system for use within factories, garages and warehouses. Designed for use with approved...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Wider cushioning.
March 31, 2007... Pillomat from Plastic Extruders is a multi-purpose matting for use as either a light-duty floor covering or to cushion working surfaces, shelves and storage compartments. It is now offered in an increased width option of 1.2m, as well as 60...

HEALTH & SAFETY: A quick fix for safety fencing.
March 31, 2007... New profile system from industrial safety specialist Troax speeds up installation and modification of its ranges of wire mesh industrial partitioning. The new fixing clamp makes it very quick and simple to install and modify partitioning on...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Safer blasting.
March 31, 2007... A special valve developed by Hodge Clemco can increase greatly the safety of grit blasting operations by reducing the time taken for equipment to depressurise when it is shut off. On standard blasting equipment there can be a significant delay...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Firing a Salvo for safety.
March 31, 2007... Frozen food maker Birds Eye has chosen Castell's Salvo to protect warehouse operatives at its Hull plant from the threat of unscheduled trailer departure. Recognising that its existing system of traffic lights and manual powering up of...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Breathing easily behind the mask.
March 31, 2007... Optifit is a versatile, full-face air purifying respirator mask from Willson, the respiratory protection equipment brand from Bacou-Dalloz. Available in three sizes, it offers a high level of respiratory protection against a range of...

HEALTH & SAFETY: Lock on to AS-i.
March 31, 2007... Machine safety specialist Fortress Interlocks has introduced an AS- interface control and safety base module for its eGard system, so it can be connected to an AS-i Safety at Work control network in minutes - it is said to provide significant...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Pressing on to tackle diabetes.
March 31, 2007... A not so traditional Black Country 'metalbasher' is now manufacturing five precision metal pressings for Pfizer's revolutionary new insulin dispense system - and providing a service to other international customers, too - as a World-class...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Golden touch optimises performance.
March 31, 2007... TECfin Connect is a new range of gold-based finishes designed to provide optimum durability, reliability and/or 'solderability' dependent on the application. The finishes have been developed by Tecan to change surface properties for specific...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Seeing the light.
March 31, 2007... New UV/visible light-curing adhesive for vehicle light assemblies is now available from intertronics to bond a range of engineering plastics. Dymax 3-20469 offers fast cure speeds and the ability to cure through clear, UV-blocked plastic. ...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Check abrasion.
March 31, 2007... Sealing technology specialist Garlock is offering a new material for its Klosure range of high-performance dynamic seals. Klozure MILL-RIGHT is an elastomer available in three grades and which, says Garlock, has been shown to offer up to 90...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Sealed to spec.
March 31, 2007... James Walker's FR25/90 fluoroelastomer has been rated with an exceptional service life of 142,000 years in a sour (H2S) gas and liquid hydrocarbon mixture during its qualification to the exacting requirements of Norsok M-710. Two other grades...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Drop in the ocean.
March 31, 2007... Scott Barder Crystic Crestomer Advantage 30 high-performance adhesive has been used by Norsafe AS to upgrade its GEF-40 (gravity escape freefall) lifeboats to meet the highest safety specs required by OLF, the Norwegian Oil Industry...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Spray cleaner.
March 31, 2007... Now offered in convenient aerosols as well as in drums, 3M Novec cleaners are non-flammable and non-conductive, as well as having a short atmospheric lifetime. They are also non-ozone depleting, having no HFCs, HCFCs or hazardous air...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Streamlining fluid dispensing.
March 31, 2007... EFD's Ultra TT Automation Series is an easily implemented dispensing robot system that improves productivity when making repetitive deposits of adhesives, epoxies, sealants, solder pastes and other assembly fluids. The Ultra TT...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Welding under close control.
March 31, 2007... Transtig ac/dc 253iS from Murex Welding Products can carry out TIG or MMA industrial welding operations in either ac or dc modes. It provides a typical 250A TIG rating at 40 per cent duty and 250A MMA rating at 35 per cent duty. Murex...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Thickness check on coatings.
March 31, 2007... New from Sonatest, the Sonacoat coating thickness gauge provides fast and accurate measurements in an easy to use format. There are two models available, Sonacoat Easy and Sonacoat II, each with an F (Ferrous) and FN (Ferrous and Non-ferrous)...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Clad all over.
March 31, 2007... The ScreenClad range of colour tinted transluscent screening and cladding panels from Fibreglass Grating are produced from a high- performance composite that combines strength and durability with zero maintenance. The transluscent resins...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Automation by Ethernet.
March 31, 2007... Compatible with both TCP/IP and the deterministic Ethernet standard, Ethernet Powerlink, Baldor's new MotiFlex ac drives, join single-phase drives, a machine controller and a development environment. Together, the Ethernet-compatible range...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Lock onto higher rod/bar production.
March 31, 2007... In processing lines producing steel rod and bar, fixing the feed rollers is made more efficient, says Lenze, by using an ETP-HYLOC shaft-to-hub connection. As well as accepting high radial forces and giving accurate concentricity, this locking...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Servo drives turn up the power.
March 31, 2007... The power range of Parker Electromechanical's Compax3 servo drives has been increased to extend their scope of application in to the high power bracket. The Compax3 range now covers from 1kVA to 110kVA, with potential duties encompassing...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Actuator given a lower profile.
March 31, 2007... Hoerbiger-Origa has now extended its BHD series of modular, belt-driven linear actuators for heavy-duty applications with a new small size 20mm unit. Offering the advantages of a sealed mechanism and fit-and-forget installation, the BHD...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: ACB designed for easy retrofit.
March 31, 2007... The new Super AE-SW Series of low-voltage air circuit breakers from Mitsubishi Electric offer backwards compatibility with earlier models, for quick and simple retrofitting with easy access, vertically-arranged terminals. All breakers in...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Disc is the key to encoder breakthrough.
March 31, 2007... From Motor Technology comes what is thought to be the first high- resolution, magnetic, absolute encoder to combine the precision and accuracy of optical technology with the robustness of magnetic, all- metal construction. Designed and...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Put the spring into bed making.
March 31, 2007... Luxury bed maker Vi-Spring has increased performance and significantly reduced maintenance on its Spuhl pocket spring making machines by fitting precision indexing clutches from Renold Clutches and Couplings. The previous clutches had to...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Servo in sync.
March 31, 2007... From Siemens Automation & Drives comes a compact 1FT7 servo motor for high-performance uses in machine tools and production machinery. The unit is said to be characterised by its high dynamic response and compact design. With this new...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Inverter drives offer easy integration.
March 31, 2007... Building on its DF5 and DV5 families of inverter drives, Moeller Electric has launched two new models: the DF51 is designed to provide energy-efficient speed control for fans, pumps and similar variable torque loads, while the DV51 combines...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Tension control without contact.
March 31, 2007... With increased reel/roll sizes, more web layers and higher speeds being required from printing and processing machinery, integrated contact- free tension control systems are becoming the industry standard, says ZF. A combination of EBU...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: A cleaner finish for pharmaceuticals.
March 31, 2007... Marlin Stainless has added pharmaceutical finish motors to its range of stainless steel ac units: a similar option is offered with the company's gear-boxes to give a combination that allows Marlin to offer drive packages for the most...

DRIVES & CONTROLS: Keeping coal on the move.
March 31, 2007... As part of an on-going modernisation programme, Hanson Transmissions has completed the gear unit refurbishment on a boom conveyor that forms part of a stacker reclaimer system in a UK coal-fired power station. Coal-fired generation is...

IMHX 2007: Show set to hand industry a lift.
March 31, 2007... IMHX, the UK's major materials handling event that brings together every aspect of supply chain solutions and equipment opens its doors at the NEC, Birmingham, from the 13th to the 16th of this month. On show will be the products and...

IMHX 2007: Driving up performance.
March 31, 2007... New KPI module for the Empirica warehouse management system from Chess Logistics Technology allows users to track and report a range of warehouse metrics that help them to monitor, analyse and confirm performance. The information can be used...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Batteries lead efficiency charge.
March 31, 2007... Selecting high-performance Hawker EnerSys batteries and chargers for the warehouse truck fleet at its new Prime Point distribution centre has provided Culina Logistics with an efficient solution to its power source requirements. The...

HANDLING & STORAGE: An open and shut case.
March 31, 2007... Stertil is to launch its latest high-speed Rapid-Roll door at IMHX. The Rapid-Roll 600 has been developed to cope with the most demanding environments and intensive traffic. The Rapid-Roll 600 is of modular construction, so is easy to...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Terminals provide data for drivers.
March 31, 2007... Shopfloor networking and hardware specialist DLoG is using IMHX to promote its X Series range of vehicle mount and mobile terminals, including the new X10/X12. Centrepiece of the stand will be an X10 terminal mounted on a Linde electric truck...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Conveying at high speed.
March 31, 2007... Latest materials handling solution from SSI Schaefer is a new generation of high-performance, ergonomic conveying systems, which allow for the reliable high-speed transportation of different goods to their destination. A variety of cartons...

HANDLING & STORAGE: On the level.
March 31, 2007... Rubber compounder Eastland Compounding has chosen a Thorworld electro- hydraulic dock leveller to ease unloading of incoming raw materials at its new 1500m2 warehouse in Manchester. The 6000kg capacity leveller, some 2170mm long by 2100mm...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Quick coupling for attachments.
March 31, 2007... Mast and forklift truck attachment supplier, B&B Attachments is expanding its range of quick release systems with the OilQuick Forklift, a quick coupler system for that enables hydraulic attachments to be connected in just 15 seconds. ...

HANDLING & STORAGE: An overnight success.
March 31, 2007... Reduced operating costs and increased driver comfort were key reasons in Toyota Industrial Equipment becoming preferred materials handling supplier to nationwide parcels carrier APC Overnight. The Toyota trucks offered the driver...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Mini-crane ASRS.
March 31, 2007... From Austrian logistics solutions supplier Knapp comes the new SPIDER automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS). Such ASRS solutions, using miniload cranes, are often used for high-intensity order picking and many suppliers have offered...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Safer handling comes to the four.
March 31, 2007... Safer handling of extreme lengths and a 50 per cent cut in loading time are among benefits that a Combilift four-way forklift has brought to operations at the Stockport branch of industrial door manufacturer Indupart, whose General Manager...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Turning on the power.
March 31, 2007... On show from Excel Automation is an inductive powered transfer (IPT) system designed to demonstrate the versatility and core benefits that this technology can offer. IPT combines two parts - primary and secondary - which are magnetically...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Storage built to suit the job.
March 31, 2007... Lean manufacturing live storage, workstation and handling solutions built using the modular Lean Tek system are being shown at IMHX by The Tube & Bracket Company. The system offers a wide range of interchangeable tubular components, brackets,...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Sounding the charge.
March 31, 2007... Latest high-frequency battery charger from Powercell combines a high power factor and efficiency with the aim of reducing energy consumption and gas release from the battery. The Fiamm Premium ES unit, which can be wall-mounted, competes...

HANDLING & STORAGE: AGVs keep the beer moving.
March 31, 2007... Control and automation specialist Keymas, in association with Egemin AGV systems, have provided logistics solutions to some of the world's major brewing companies. Miller Brewing, the oldest major brewer in the USA, commissioned Egemin...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Convertible hand truck lays on the power.
March 31, 2007... From American exhibitor Magline comes its recently launched Powered Gemini, which it claims is the first powered convertible hand truck. Ideal for use in the plant or by delivery drivers, the Powered Gemini can reduce fatigue and increase...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Truck deal takes off.
March 31, 2007... Korean forklift manufacturer Doosan has won a long-term contract - won by its national distributor, Rushlift - to supply the BA World Cargo Centre at London Heathrow. The latest in high-performance forklifts, a 'radical' new battery system...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Managing risk.
March 31, 2007... Pyroban helps companies manage explosion risks by preventing industrial equipment such as fork trucks, scrubber dryers, cranes etc. from being the source of ignition in hazardous areas. Pyroban safety systems help protect workers in...

HANDLING & STORAGE: More power at a stretch.
March 31, 2007... Chloride Motive Power has added a copper stretched metal battery to its Classic range. The unit's negative copper expanded metal grid design is said to give improved performance over traditional vented lead acid batteries. The battery...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Sprinting to safety.
March 31, 2007... Supplier of pharmaceutical/nutritional products for the 'own-label' market, Perrigo has reaped multiple benefits by installing sara doors at its facility near Barnstaple: the plant now has 16 Sprint 355 series doors at key locations. ...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Flexible boost for racking.
March 31, 2007... The versatility of Flowstore's DuraFlow modular multi-wheel roller track sections has provided a flexible solution to storage requirements at Argos' Lutterworth facility. Utilising the Duraflow system has enabled Argos to add a new dimension...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Stacks and jacks.
March 31, 2007... A range of counterbalance stackers is being introduced by Pfaff Silverblau. The new EGV EPC machines will be offered in standard and compact versions, with load capacities from 600 to 1500kg and lifting heights to 4500mm. Pfaff Silverblau...

HANDLING & STORAGE: AIMing to minimse risk.
March 31, 2007... The Maintenance Services Division of lifting services provider Morris Material Handling is offering a managed safety handling service designed to help users reduce the risk associated with potential load failures. The Asset Inspection...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Easier loading for city stores.
March 31, 2007... Specialised loading bay equipment from Transdeck has been installed with minimal disruption and no construction work to increase efficiency and reduce cost of deliveries at two John Lewis stores. The Sheffield and Nottingham stores have...

HANDLING & STORAGE: The ultimate Sacrifice.
March 31, 2007... The financial implications of pallet positions being out of use due to damaged uprights, plus the extra cost of replacing sections of pallet racking due to damage from forklifts, could be a thing of the past with the introduction of the...

HANDLING & STORAGE: A star of the big screen.
March 31, 2007... 5 Star Cases has designed and built a specialist flight case for PSCo to house the world's largest plasma screen. At 103ins on the diagonal, the Panasonic TH-103 was a challenge for 5 Star's design team, but after consultation with PSCo, two...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Cleaning up in a brewery.
March 31, 2007... Belhaven Brewery of Dunbar has previously relied on a 'Clean in Place' system. The CIP system suffered from air lock problems as well as having a noisy pump that, by exerting a high level of vibration and stress on pipework, was contributing...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Complements solenoid valves.
March 31, 2007... Asco Numatics introduces the Series 342 stainless steel filter regulator to complement the existing range of stainless steel solenoid valves. Suitable for inlet pressures up to 20 bar, the 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch filter regulators have a fully...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Lower costs with high reliability.
March 31, 2007... Emerson Process Management has announced the availability of the Rosemount MultiVariable 8800 Vortex Flowmeter. Users have traditionally preferred vortex technology in saturated steam applications for reliability and wide rangeability, but also...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Tailored chilling for all.
March 31, 2007... The range of industrial chillers for process cooling, available from Rittal, can now be exclusively tailored to suit individual requirements by either the user or a Rittal project manager. Available in water, oil or 'dip' varieties the...