What's New In Industry articles from November 2004

What's New In Industry archives from November 2004

Auto motion control system knows its place.
November 30, 2004... Enhancing Quin Systems' range of motion control solutions, Quin Logic Control (QLC) has set out to radically augment the company's powerful PTS motion control programming language with many built-in functions, at the same time integrating...

A sense of proportion in the loop.
November 30, 2004... The ability to maximise continuous automated production processes in all sectors of industry is provided by Asco Joucomatic's digital Sentronic D proportional valves. Simple to set up and highly dynamic and transparent in operation, these...

Staying in control at Seven Seas.
November 30, 2004... Lenze SMD drives have halved the cost of replacing a seized packaging conveyor control system at the Seven Seas plant in Hull. Other benefits have included increased flexibility of the line due to finer speed control. Part of the Seven...

Cello hits the right note.
November 30, 2004... Cello, the latest in Inmoco's Elmo line of SimplIQ digital servo drives, is just an inch wide, yet incorporates all the key features for fast and problem-free integration of motors and drives into machines. Combining high power with a...

Shaft power.
November 30, 2004... Claiming twice the power to weight ratio of competitive models, the new Fenner SMSR Power Plus shaft-mounted speed reducer gearbox available from Wyko can put less stress on mounting fixtures through its compact design and lower weight. ...

Inverters give performance a lift.
November 30, 2004... From IMO Precision Controls comes a new range of Jaguar inverters designed to give a significant boost to commercial lift performance. The LE drives can be driven by battery power, allowing otherwise trapped lift passengers to be rescued...

Driving with precision.
November 30, 2004... Precise control, high-speed response and much reduced vibration are claimed for the Hitachi AD series of ac servo drives and motors introduced by Silverteam. Advanced motor technology is said to give a 65 percent reduction in cogging...

Protected drive powers up at the double.
November 30, 2004... Maximum power rating of Rockwell Automation's IP66 version of its PowerFlex 70 ac drive has been boosted from 15 to 37kW. Designed for use in harsh environments, the enclosure protects against high-pressure water spray, corrosion and...

Flexibility in the loop.
November 30, 2004... Plastic double-loop couplings have been around for a while, but not always in the exact bore size you wanted, keywayed hubs or alternative materials. This has prompted Huco to introduce its Flex-P double-loop couplings, with their flexibility...

Smart servo for all to see.
November 30, 2004... Available from Wyko for both 230V ac and three-phase 460V ac supply, the Giddings & Lewis MMC Smart drive offers simple configuration, tuning and maintenance using PicPro software. This provides ladder logic, function block and structured...

Sizing up starters.
November 30, 2004... WEG has increased both the functionality and ease of use of its SSW-05 micro soft starters by introducing a new programmable keypad and sizing software. The software makes the task of selecting a soft starter for all types of fans,...

Go with the flow to save energy.
November 30, 2004... Steel wheel make Magnetto-Topy is achieving significant energy savings by applying closed loop control to an existing variable speed drive installation. The original installation saved the company some #30,000 a year in energy costs. But an...

AC drives turn up the power.
November 30, 2004... Control Techniques is turning up the power with its Unidrive SP 'solutions platform' range of ac drives, with increased ratings per drive now up to 90kW to complement the existing units of up to 30kW. With only one control philosophy...

Motion control in sweet harmony.
November 30, 2004... Latest range of rotary silicone dampers, linear air dampers and push- push latches from Heyco are designed to provide 'smooth and harmonious' motion control in a range of design applications. The rotary silicone dampers suit uses such as...

Sensing out critical collisions.
November 30, 2004... Latest cost-distance-measuring sensors from Erwin Sick offer analogue and switched outputs - the analogue facility giving more sophisticated control in critical anti-collison use such as overhead cranes and other transport systems. The...

Linear transmission belts up for double the benefits.
November 30, 2004... From HepcoMotion comes a double-acting variant of its established PDU2 belt-driven linear transmission. The DAPDU2 suits situations such as driving automatic doors on spray booths etc. A typical application would consist of four carriages...

Going Solo for drive integration.
November 30, 2004... New from Aerotech is the Solist, a full-featured, single-axis motion/machine controller combined with a direct on-line power supply and integral drive for sinusoidally commutated, linear or rotary brushless servo motors. With the ability...

Drive turns on the power.
November 30, 2004... Offering machine builders and end users an easy way to upgrade a machine shaft adjustment from manual to powered with the minimum of engineering design, the compact AG02 drive from Siko has a hollow shaft design to allow direct connection to...

Quicker by rail.
November 30, 2004... VIPA SPEED7-CPU PLC system from Wyko claims be the fastest rail-mount STEP7 programmable controller you can get, with minimum cycle time of just 100ys, full support for Siemens STEP7 instruction set and a scaleable memory from 64K to 16Mb....

Clad all over.
November 30, 2004... Weld overlay cladding could become economically viable for industries outside its usual oil and gas sector following a comprehensive refit of workstations at the Gloucs. factory of Arc Energy Resources. New control systems have brought about...

Forming machines in from the cold.
November 30, 2004... New generation of SACMA cold forming machines offered by TDT Technology range from single-die, double-blow headers with thread rolling, up to four, five or six-die progressive/combined header variants. For manufacturers producing screws,...

Auto bandsaw takes stock.
November 30, 2004... Kasto's new automatic bandsaw cuts stock up to 260mm dia. or square. With a small footprint (1755 x 2149mm) for its capacity, the KASTOtwin A2 twin-column saw is fully enclosed by guarding which is easily removed for blade replacement or for...

Robotic cells link up for automation.
November 30, 2004... Two linked robotic cells are providing a high degree of production automation at Surrey plant of Designplan Lighting. One cell comprises a single Motoman robot that loads and unloads a press brake: once folded, the lighting component can be...

The big clean-up.
November 30, 2004... From Surtech comes a new electrochemical weld cleaner using 55/80A ac current and selected chemicals via a wand to produce heat and an instantaneous chemical reaction to remove all discolouration - and leaving even highly polished stainless...

Welding sets keep tanks looking good.
November 30, 2004... Re-equipping a factory producing chassis and tanks for road tankers with ESAB welding sets has brought about an increase in product quality, with reduced rework and fettling for Crossland Tankers, who purchased Massey Tankers of Burnley last...

Gearing up for precision.
November 30, 2004... A leading manufacturer of steel columns for constructing offshore rigs and wind farms uses precision welding and positioning rigs from Key Plant that employ advanced gear technology from David Brown Engineering. Key Plant supplied a #500,000...

In Profile: L6 cutting machine.
November 30, 2004... Finn-Power's L6 high-speed laser cutting machine, able to process sheet sizes up to 1565 x 3074mm and up to 2mm thick, boasts both digitally- controlled linear drives and flying optics. Available from Press & Shear, it offers positioning at...

Efficiency in the pipeline.
November 30, 2004... The practice in the construction and building industries of fabricating drain, chimney and ventilation pipe joints on site is time-consuming and expensive, says Eckold. Traditionally, short collars are cut from metal pipes, then welded to...

Productivity into orbit.
November 30, 2004... From Swagelok Company comes an orbital welding system designed to enable a wide range of industries to streamline their fluid system welding process, improve quality control and achieve a lower cost per weld. "Users of the system will be...

A modular approach to MIG/MAG/MMA welding.
November 30, 2004... Aimed primarily at medium/large fabrication shops in industries such as shipbuilding, offshore fabrications and the rail industry, Kemppi has introduced its new Weldforce range of MIG/MAG/MMA machines. One innovation is the wire feed...

Forging ahead.
November 30, 2004... Model 60H sliding head friction welding machine from Thompson Friction Welding has been supplied to the Bangalore factory of Wipro Fluid Power, where it is being used to weld a range of hydraulic cylinder piston rods from 20 to 70mm dia. and...

Scan further.
November 30, 2004... The capabilities of Leuze Mayser's 96 series of photo-electronic sensors has been extended with the addition of new laser light scanner, model HRT 96-5000. Equipped with background suppression for increased reliability, the new sensor offers...

Striking a light.
November 30, 2004... Takex's GN range of sub-miniature sensors is available from OEM Automatic. The sensors, available ex-stock in three different types, are said to offer high performance at competitive prices. An IP67-rated coating ensures they can be used in...

Transducers in for a Penny.
November 30, 2004... Penny & Giles, designer and manufacturer of precision sensing technology, has launched a new range of contactless in-cylinder linear displacement transducers. Designed for hostile conditions inside mobile and static hydro-pneumatic actuators,...

Puts a spark in history.
November 30, 2004... The Seaton Tramway in East Devon is using Hawker batteries to power its fleet of purpose-built heritage trams. The batteries supply power to the overhead lines with which the 2'9" gauge trams' trolleys make contact. Four sets of Hawker...

Terminals cross the track.
November 30, 2004... Adaptaflex can supply the new range of DIN rail terminals and accessories from its sister company Elkay Electrical. The terminals' space saving design features a low profile and is said to facilitate quick installation. The Morsettitalia...

Input converted.
November 30, 2004... The new A8430, from Allegro MicroSystems, is a non-inverting high frequency boost convertor IC that steps up the input voltage, providing a programmable constant-current output at up to 36V from a 2.5-10V input for driving LEDs in series. ...

Clamp down.
November 30, 2004... From Camden Electronics comes a range of interlocking vertical PCB connectors that feature rising clamp terminals to provide secure connection of cables. The new blocks are available in two sizes, offering a 6.35mm (1/4 inch) pitch...

Torque flexible.
November 30, 2004... The ProWrench Opta, from Crane Electronics, combines a digital torque wrench and data collector in one tool. Its flexibility means it can be customised to specific requirements and updated with extra software modules if needs change. ...

Makes sense to stay connected.
November 30, 2004... Ircon has introduced a dedicated Multi-Sensor Interface (MSI) for its Modline 5 series of infrared sensors. It enables users to access configuration and temperature data for up to 12 sensors over plant-wide networks and the internet via an...

Maintaining the H2-flow.
November 30, 2004... New SU Series from ifm electronic can help ensure the flow of cooling water to welding systems, induction furnaces, injection moulders and high-value laser cutting equipment is maintained. It provides an alarm if there is the slightest...

One small step.
November 30, 2004... Hybrid stepper motors measuring 20mm square are now available in the UK from SmartDrive. Manufactured by Tamagawa, the motors come in two-phase (3692) and five-phase (3682) unipolar and bipolar versions, combining high torque with high-speed...

Keep voltage in-line.
November 30, 2004... The new SI-3000KM, developed by Sanken Electric and available in Europe from Allegro MicroSystems Europe, is a family of low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator integrated circuits in the TO-252 surface-mount package. The device is available...

Safe hands.
November 30, 2004... Designed to give complete skin protection, pr88 from The Skin Protection Company is non-greasy, soft and made entirely from natural raw materials. Application involves only a small amount of cream, which the manufacturers claim will...

Foot safety first.
November 30, 2004... BAC'RUN footwear from Bacou-Dalloz is designed to provide safety with the same level of comfort expected from sports footwear. The shoe's built-in, asymetrically shaped, wide, fully composite SPACIUM toecap reduces the weight of the shoe...

On guard for human entry.
November 30, 2004... New Entry Exit FT-Muting Guard, developed by Leuze Mayser enables a simple but essential safety function - preventing personnel from becoming entwined in machinery such as shrink-wrappers while allowing the free-flow of approved items. In...

A time to reflect?
November 30, 2004... Reer is very successful with the Janus range of Category 4 photoelectric safety barriers, and to strengthen their line up even further, they have introduced the new Janus JTRX. The Janus JTRX is unique to the range as it is a Category 4,2...

Keep keys clipped close.
November 30, 2004... Castell Iso-Lok has introduced a new self-retracting key reel which clips easily to any belt or pocket. The key reel is a simple, convenient device which keeps keys handy at the wearer's side. It features a strong reel-back action and a double...

Throw down the value gauntlet.
November 30, 2004... "The best value protective glove, of its type, available anywhere," is how Mainline APT, an ADCO Group company, describes its new SensiFlex Foam Nitrile Glove. Manufactured to meet EN 388 cat 2 requirements, the SensiFlex glove's foam...

Quality counts.
November 30, 2004... The SQC16 is a compact statistical quality control system from Mettler Toledo. It is said to ensure the user achieves consistent quality control, reduces costs and fulfils the regulatory requirements of industry. Continuous random...

In the balance.
November 30, 2004... Healthtech, manufacturer of personal coin-operated scales, is launching three new machines utilising HBM's PW10 load cells. The cells are intended to improve accuracy and reduce manufacturing costs. HBM's PW10 load cell is rated at 250kg...

Making light work of safety.
November 30, 2004... Latest addition to the Clare Instruments range of electrical safety testers is a dedicated model for the lighting industry. The SafeTest Luminaire has been designed for manufacturers of lighting products who need to meet electrical safety...

Weigh under the bridge.
November 30, 2004... Mettler Toledo's IND310drive weighbridge terminal, is designed to provide fast and accurate handling of vehicle weighing transactions. In addition to vehicle ID and transaction tables, it offers four configurable database tables for storing...

Testing times for Tinius Olsen.
November 30, 2004... Greater range of textiles testing services are now available from Bolton-based test house IFS, following an investment programme that included the purchase of a new Tinius Olsen H5KS testing machine. IFS was started to offer fire tests to...

Scanning with fire.
November 30, 2004... New linescan testing facilities have been installed at Industrial Vision Systems' Wantage headquarters. The equipment is designed to meet the demand for Firewire linescan solutions based on the NeuroCheck machine vision software. NeuroCheck is...

Showing the art of detection.
November 30, 2004... Weighing, inspection and detection specialist Thermo Electron Corporation will be demonstrating its capabilities in the food, beverage, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries at Emballage 2004. Key products to be highlighted include the...

Voltmeter is going analogue.
November 30, 2004... The SP5 1710-BL, recently launched by Lascar Electronics, features an LCD that shows a 17-position 'analogue-style' display. Essentially a voltmeter with a full scale deflection of 1V, this module can be used in many places where a quick...

Certified gauge.
November 30, 2004... XP2i digital pressure gauge from Haven Automation is now offered in a fully ATEX-approved version. Accuracy is specified in percent of reading (+/-0.1 percent of reading from 20 to 100 percent of full scale), yet the gauge is thought to be...

Loading across the junction box.
November 30, 2004... HBM has introduced a stainless steel version of its junction box for interconnecting up to four strain gage load cells. The junction box is fitted with an integral resistor network enabling the unit to support HBM's corner load adjustment....

A Triumph for tool checking.
November 30, 2004... TorqueStar Opta torque indicators and data collectors, from Crane Electronics, are being used to calibrate click wrenches and power tools used in assembly operations at the Triumph motorcycle factory in Hinckley. The system provided is...

HBM go under the sea.
November 30, 2004... Mitsui Babcock, specialist in the design validation and testing of sub- sea oil pipelines, has selected HBM's strain gages and catman(R) data analysis equipment to gain maximum value from its testing operations. A four point testing rig,...

From the bench.
November 30, 2004... New Cirrus benchtop atmospheric RGA system from MKS Spectra is a purpose-built benchtop analysis system for sampling gases at atmospheric pressure. These gases include trace contaminants in process gases, solvent vapours, inorganic gases...

Triple the quality.
November 30, 2004... Fluke has launched a new series of three-phase, hand-held power quality analysers with features said to enable power quality problems to be assessed faster and in greater detail. The instruments meet the CAT IV 600V safety standard and can...

Easy pill to swallow for Electro-mec.
November 30, 2004... Electro-mec (Reading) has devised a bespoke tablet handling system to accurately place individual tablets into a plate with a clearance of just 0.1mm per tablet in readiness for a secondary process. The company's expertise and experience were...

FLT in Hi-Gear.
November 30, 2004... Hi-Gear, specialist distributors of camping, ski and general outdoor equipment, has opted for two LPG powered Bendi Aisle-Masters to optimise the space in their new warehouse facility. For warehouse manager, Tony Leek it was a priority to...

Affordable PAL.
November 30, 2004... PAL and AXO range of palletisers from Kosme have been designed to offer an affordable first step to automation for mid-volume package and container companies. The automation of palletising operations, while maintaining manually...

Taking a stand.
November 30, 2004... Diagonal standing position is one of the new features making the SBR K series stand-on stackers from Mitsubishi more comfortable, controllable and productive. Where both stacking and horizontal travel over large distances are involved,...

Racks more than cosmetic.
November 30, 2004... Industrial safety specialist, Troax UK has supplied a range of custom- designed wire mesh racking enclosures to cosmetics manufacturer Constance Carroll, solving a number of Health and Safety issues at the company's warehouse and distribution...

Hydrarolling out the barrel.
November 30, 2004... Coors, brewers of over seven million barrels of beer a year, uses a Hydraroll Slip Chain System from Joloda for unloading and transferring pallets of empty cans at its Burton-Upon-Trent facility. Acquired by the company in 1989, to maximise...

Less on line at Bosch.
November 30, 2004... Robert Bosch Ltd has chosen the LeanTek modular system in a project to dramatically reduce stock levels within the final assembly area at its Cardiff plant. Introduction of bespoke LeanTek live storage racks from The Tube & Bracket Company...

Hyster milestone.
November 30, 2004... Hyster reached another landmark in its success recently as the 2000th reach truck model was produced at its manufacturing plant in Italy. Launched two years ago, the high-specification Hyster Matrix became an immediate success, bringing...

Bendi moves the furniture.
November 30, 2004... In specifying its newly leased warehouse to work with Translift's articulating Bendi forklift, street furniture supplier Furnitubes has gained 50 percent more storage space than was possible at its former premises. Furnitubes looked at...

Below the surface.
November 30, 2004... Ditone's successful printing of sachet laminate has been enhanced by introducing 'under-surface' printing for additional security and protection. The new service expands the choice and flexibility available to customers from Ditone's...

Saxon's new bundler of joy.
November 30, 2004... Installating Mosca's MCB corrugated bundler has brought fast, automated strapping to Saxon Packaging. Based in Lowestoft, Saxon Packaging manufactures a wide range of corrugated cases, supplying to a variety of outlets, and already uses a...

A Positive ID.
November 30, 2004... Flakt Woods, leading supplier of air conditioning and climate control equipment, is using a cost-effective labelling system from Positive ID to identify aluminium impeller blades. A bespoke design of background colour and pre-print allows...

Global label language?
November 30, 2004... In June 2004 the EPC Global organisation finally obtained international agreement on the structure of the electronic product code to be held within the RFID label - the Chicago Protocol. However, RFID labelling systems from Sato UK are...

Marking time?
November 30, 2004... Synrad's sealed CO2 lasers, available in the UK from Laser Lines, are used in a variety of industrial processes but can also be used to mark plastic components. Marking speed and power setting are adapted according to the properties of...

Getting stuck up over tape?
November 30, 2004... Packer Products has added the C25 Electronic Paper Tape Dispenser to its packaging range. The robust C25 machine automatically moistens, cuts and dispenses. Single or multiple lengths can be produced, ranging from 10 to 110cms at 10cm...

Seeing double.
November 30, 2004... Sessions of York has a second ink jet inspection finishing machine to double its sequential numbering capabilities. Sessions has seen an increase in users requesting and using sequential numbering for products where security,...

Take your pick.
November 30, 2004... Able Systems has announced three development and production kits for its recently introduced AP1300 thermal portable printer. The AP1300 range offers options of RS232, IrDA and Bluetooth interfaces. Each kit contains a printer fitted with...

On the road.
November 30, 2004... XYZ Machine Tools' new demonstration vehicle, a seven-tonne Mercedes truck, can be fitted with a choice of machine tools and control units, allowing prospective customers to see specific working demonstrations on their doorsteps. Unable...

Real all-rounder.
November 30, 2004... Maycast-Nokes Precision Engineering has recently installed an XYZ Edge 1500 manual/CNC turret mill with 1066 by 228mm table primarily, says Phil Poulsom, Maycast-Nokes' technical director, "to cut down the setting and run times for small...

Turn and turn about.
November 30, 2004... With its 300 mm swing over bed (168 mm over cross slide) and 700 mm between centres, the new XYZ ProTURN VL 300 is the smallest of the four models in the ProTURN range of manual/CNC lathes. As with the larger models, the ProTURN VL 300...

Skin saver?
November 30, 2004... A wheelable centrifuge from Alfa Laval, "Alfie" has solved an ongoing dermatitis problem for a supplier of machined parts and components. Despite following Best Practice advice from the Health & Safety Executive, combined with regular...