What's New In Industry articles from September 2006

What's New In Industry archives from September 2006

WHAT'S NEW: Triple truck launch at plant opening.
September 30, 2006... Three new Combilift trucks were recently launched at the official opening of the company's #7m headquarters in Monaghan, Ireland. The TeleCombi has a single-stage boom mounted on a moving carriage, enabling it to reach across the full width...

WHAT'S NEW: Online tool to aid lift truck safety.
September 30, 2006... Delegates at this month's Fork Lift Truck Association safety conference will be able to preview a new safety training tool. The Virtual Fork Lift Truck has been developed by multimedia assessment experts Interactive Driving Systems, who...

WHAT'S NEW: Manifold block gives a quick fix.
September 30, 2006... A radical integrated mounting and manifold block from Parker Instrumentation connects instruments directly to process piping in a fraction of the time previously taken, reducing the number of joints and, therefore, potential leak paths. CCIMS...

WHAT'S NEW: Interface goes undercover.
September 30, 2006... New version of Harting's Han-Port industrial interface offers a metal cover for extra protection and additional inserts for power and signal connections. The device allows users to connect external devices such as laptops or PCs for set-up,...

WHAT'S NEW: Software records r&d data.
September 30, 2006... A PC-based integrated data-acquisition software package for acquiring and recording data from equipment used in production and R7D environments has been introduced by Yokogawa. DAQWORX is designed to acquire and record data such as flow...

WHAT'S NEW: New name in power.
September 30, 2006... Conductix is the new name for the re-launched power and data transfer specialist Insul-8, an established player in mobile electrification and crane electrification systems. With a history going back to 1944, the company has been part of the...

WHAT'S NEW: Monitor chip to ease maintenance.
September 30, 2006... A new monitoring device from SKF is designed to make the latest linear actuators easier to use and maintain. Based on a silicon chip fitted within each actuator - and coupled to a simple green/amber/red traffic light of an LED mounted...

WHAT'S NEW: Prototypes take five.
September 30, 2006... UK-wide service to deliver design houses and engineering businesses with professionally manufactured digital overlays or membrane keypads for trade show prototypes or new product development in less than five days is being offered by Fascia...

WHAT'S NEW: Too Smart for mistakes.
September 30, 2006... The SmartBox from PivotWare is a complete hardware and software solution that has been specially developed to 'mistake-proof' process activities. Through intelligent design, each SmartBox component is portable and easily replaced....

HANDLING & STORAGE: Cranes ready for jet lift-off.
September 30, 2006... A major installation of handling equipment by ABUS Crane Systems is playing a major role in the operation of a #32m showpiece engineering facility at Rolls-Royce, Derby. Able to handle around 250 large jet engines a year, the 220m by 105m AR&O...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Efficiency raises production uptime.
September 30, 2006... Raising uptime performance of production machinery from 55 percent to a minimum 90 percent was the challenge facing Philip Ryan, Maintenance Co- ordinator at a 30,000ft2 Thyssen Krupp Woodhead plant producing automobile coil springs for a...

HANDLING & STORAGE: LPG trucks provide the cleaner alternative.
September 30, 2006... Seeking a cleaner, quieter alternative to its diesel trucks, Palletline - a national pallet distribution network owned by its 60 road haulier members - has chosen for its Birmingham facility a fleet of LPG trucks supplied by Linde national...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Conveyor improves efficiencies.
September 30, 2006... MCM Conveyors has returned to the Winsford manufacturing plant of Mitras Automotive to complete its fifth overhead conveyor installation to improve handling efficiencies, the flow of goods and storage. The plant produces relatively large...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Quick-assembly pallet pack.
September 30, 2006... SCA Packaging's Industrial Division has extended its STAX range of integrated pallet solutions with a new standard all-fibreboard pallet pack. The STAX-PAK incorporates a new design of Trojan fibreboard pallet that is very strong:...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Live storage.
September 30, 2006... A gravity-fed live storage fulfilment system supplied to Yuasa Automotive Batteries by the Live Storage Company has increased pick rates by reducing travel distances and eliminated congestion and delays for order pickers and replenishers. The...

HANDLING & STORAGE: More flexibility from the 'snake'.
September 30, 2006... The traditional six-axis industrial robot, used to automate welding, handling and other tasks, has undergone a radical redesign, says Motoman, with its new IA (individual arm) unit, dubbed the 'snake'. Motoman has also added two sizes of...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Logistics for the long haul.
September 30, 2006... Logistics provider TransHaul has purchased a second Aisle-Master electric fork lift for its recently opened 50,000ft2 depot near Tring. TransHaul is responsible for storage and distribution of all in-flight equipment for 18 airlines serviced by...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Put the lid on it.
September 30, 2006... A purpose-designed automation system from IAL has been introduced at flooring products manufacturer F Ball & Co to reduce the risk to employees when manually handling 15kg tubs of floor preparation products and adhesives. "We were...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Luxury travel on the trolley.
September 30, 2006... Lineside component handling flexibility and performance has been improved at car maker Rolls Royce with the introduction of modular adaptable trolleys from The Tube & Bracket Company. The trolleys have reduced space occupied by lineside...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Lifting by air power.
September 30, 2006... Range of air-operated handling equipment from JD Neuhaus is for use in hazardous areas - not only explosive atmospheres covered by ATEX legislation, but also dusty, humid, aggressive atmospheres and temperature extremes. JDN handling equipment...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Rapid lift.
September 30, 2006... New goods lifts from Transdeck give rapid installation with minimal disruption, providing access to mezzanine floors in warehouses, factories and self-storage units. The lifts require no pits and offer platform lengths from 1000 to 4000mm. They...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Fast doors keep the heat in.
September 30, 2006... Designed to offer reliability under intensive use where there is a requirement to minimise heat loss or gain, the Ardent range of doors from Klimate (part of BID Group) use a single variable speed motor for customising door opening and closing...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Reliability wins repeat business.
September 30, 2006... Citing the performance and reliability of its Hyster trucks and Barloworld Handling's fleet management solution over the past three years, pallet distribution network Pall-Ex has upgraded the fork lift truck fleet at its #12m Leicestershire hub...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Wood stillages a low-cost option.
September 30, 2006... Claiming to offer the strength of a steel product, new wooden heavyweight glass stillages from Cases for Industry (part of the FDL Group) are stress tested to 1200kg and can be used as multi-trip units or as single-trip disposable packages....

HANDLING & STORAGE: Handling shortbread.
September 30, 2006... Scotland's oldest bakery, Campbells Shortbread, is operating a new Hyster Fortens H1.6FT-A lift truck supplied by Barloworld Handling. Although it is not a heavy-duty application, the lift truck still plays a vital part in the day to day...

HANDLING & STORAGE: A 360-deg turn for the better.
September 30, 2006... AL-Vac's floor-mounted unit can rotate through 360deg and its lifting capacity is well beyond the standard 25kg needed to handle conventional plastic and paper sacks used in many process applications. Vacuum in the Two-Joint Swing Arm...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Higher volume.
September 30, 2006... Racking installed by Pro-Dek Storage Systems has increased storage volumes and picking efficiency at a 5000m2 warehouse operated by plastic building products distributor Plaslyne. Done on a two-week fast- track schedule, the installation holds...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Materials can double geared motor life.
September 30, 2006... The service life of geared motors has been doubled by Lenze following research into gearbox materials, together with extensive test running. In one example, a change of material in the rotary shaft seal achieved double service life, bringing...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Cars set to take the train.
September 30, 2006... A fully variable, cam-actuated electro-hydraulic valve train, developed by Schaeffler Group engineers, promises improved fuel consumption and lower NOx emissions from automotive petrol and diesel engines Engineers at the Schaeffler...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Coloured resin hits the right note.
September 30, 2006... Crystal blue, rich violet, and water-clear polycarbonate with a touch of diamond sparkle - these are not your traditional violins. Crafted in Rotherham by Ted Brewer, the ultramodern Vivo2 line features GE Plastics' Lexan Visualfx special...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Cost-effective grids by PEF technology.
September 30, 2006... By further exploiting its high-precision Photo-Electroforming(PEF) technology, Tecan is offering grids for users and manufacturers of time- of-flight mass spectrometers, grids for transmission/scanning electron microscopes, and grids and meshes...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Linear units turn on the power.
September 30, 2006... New range of linear slides and ballscrews from THK is aimed at applications in power generation and associated sectors. These units are designed to offer exceptionally high positional accuracy, combined with heavy load-bearing capacities,...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Actuator power.
September 30, 2006... With maximum thrust force of 560N and typical payload of up to 30kg, the new LCB060 compact linear actuators from the Electromechanical division of Parker Hannifin provide an ideal basis for cost-effective linear motion systems using...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Pneumatic fittings just push in.
September 30, 2006... From Camozzi Pneumatics come eleven new pneumatic push-in fittings to expand its technopolymer Super Rapid Compact Series. The units complement the existing range of brass fittings. The smaller, lightweight technopolymer body makes the...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Pumps sealed - precisely.
September 30, 2006... Precision parts from Bauer Springs are being used extensively in the production of vane cell pumps for automotive power steering and fuel injection equipment. The pump assemblies consist of rotors, vanes and housings manufactured to...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Chain for food/drinks use.
September 30, 2006... One of the new generation chains from Rexnord, RexPlus is a corrosion and acid-resistant stainless steel roller chain ideal for packaging and filling use in food and drink industries as well as for all wet and damp environments. RexPlus...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: In gear.
September 30, 2006... Overcoming limited clearances while manoeuvring a 3m diameter, 23-tonne gear for Blue Circle Southern in Australia has been successfully tackled by David Brown's on-site services team. In this case a special cradle was constructed under...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Avoiding those blender blunders.
September 30, 2006... THE fundamental operating principle of an ideal batch mixer is that all particles can move in every possible direction, or in other words they are set in random motion within the vessel boundaries. After long enough time the position of an...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Keeping the fuel clean at Heathrow.
September 30, 2006... A major project associated with the construction of Heathrow Terminal 5 has seen Tyco Valves and Controls supply Whessoe-Varec Style 4 floating suction units for eight huge fuel tanks that supply the airport fuel ring main. Floating...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Expansion for automation control.
September 30, 2006... Mitsubishi Electric has expanded its Q series programmable automation controller platform with a new high-availability redundant controller for system critical use. Successor to the Q4AR system and designed to offer a new level of redundancy...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Valves in control.
September 30, 2006... The latest 470 series control valves from ARI-Armaturen suit applications involving most process fluids such as water, hot water and steam, together with heat transfer oils and other searching media. Process requirements for high flow and...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Checking up on valve positions.
September 30, 2006... Valve control specialist Netherlocks has developed a device said to provide a completely reliable indication of the position of all handwheel-operated valves. In process industries, it is vital that the distributed control system or...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Drive software for pump control.
September 30, 2006... Pump control software module for drives has been launched by ABB. With six pump control functions, the new Intelligent Pump Control (IPC) software eliminates the need for an external PLC and can help save energy, reduce downtime and prevent...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Control the flow.
September 30, 2006... New flow control valves from HSP are for installation in hydraulic system pressure lines to provide infinitely variable flow control. There are two versions: Model HSP2810 controls flow in either or both directions, while Model HSP2818 has an...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Gear pumps resist corrosives.
September 30, 2006... New range of industrial gear pumps from Michael Smith Engineers offers high corrosion resistance and optimum reliability through a combination of simplified design and tough, non-metallic materials for all wetted parts. Eclipse...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Long life valves.
September 30, 2006... European Gate Valves has completed a number of contracts to supply its double flap gate valves for use on roadstone coating plants. The valves are said to have successfully overcome premature wear and performance problems which had beset...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Sealing out the leaks.
September 30, 2006... Zero leakage is offered by the latest magnetically coupled centrifugal pump from Michael Smith Engineers, thanks to a combination of its seal- less design and a hermetically sealed liquid end. The Dickow NMA Series is suitable for hot oil or...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Tough pumps won't compromise hygiene.
September 30, 2006... TopWing rotary lobe pumps from JP Pumps are designed to provide tough and reliable performance without compromising hygiene, so are seen as ideal for transferring delicate, shear-sensitive liquids in food, pharmaceutical and similar...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Six of the best.
September 30, 2006... Made from high-performance plastics and with just six components, the new C.Pro universal rotary dosing pump from Netzsch is for the transfer and metering of low/medium viscous products at rates of 0.1 to 1000 litres/hr at 18 bar. Ideal for...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Mixing your own cure.
September 30, 2006... Master Bond has developed a new two-component room temperature curing, epoxy adhesive. Polymer System EP21 has the unusual characteristic of allowing an adjustment of the properties of the cured system by altering the mix ratio: adding more...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Paying attention to cleaner components.
September 30, 2006... Anyone paying attention in chemistry classes will remember that 'like dissolves like' - which is why chlorinated solvents are used to clean oil and grease from machined components, while water is able to flush away salts and other...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Spray makes its mark.
September 30, 2006... MicroMark precision spray marking system from EFD produces consistent, neat spots and stripes from 5 to 30mm wide without overspray or clogging. Designed for reliability and low maintenance, MicroMark can significantly reduce downtime on...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Adhesive offers a faster fix.
September 30, 2006... Claiming faster fixture times than any other 'super glue' on the market, Ritrelok XF1, a new cyanoacrylate industrial adhesive from UK manufacturer Chemence even bonds difficult materials such as leather, paper and wood. This ultra fast...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Smoother gears.
September 30, 2006... From SPV Spintec comes a new version of its automatic deburring machine for use on gear wheels and contoured profiles on round and oval workpieces such as rings, hubs and discs. The 68 2006 is a flexible machine for removing burrs on gear...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Laser cutting.
September 30, 2006... A Firestar f-Series 100W laser from Laser Lines was used to determine the cut speed and quality of 12-mil (0.3mm) thick polyethylene sheet used for packaging and consumer products such as shower curtains and tarpaulins. Cut speeds of...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Parts washers.
September 30, 2006... Meltham Mills Engineering, who heat treat motor drive components for machinery manufacturers such as Massey Ferguson, has invested in three Clean-Tek B60 basket type washing machines from Wheelabrator Group. The new compact equipment...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Watch paint dry - fast.
September 30, 2006... Improved drying performance for water-based products such as inks, paints and varnishes can be achieved by using fast response, medium wave infra-red NDA lamps from Victory Lighting. Medium wave infra-red has advantages over short wave in...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Green grinding.
September 30, 2006... Hemp, acknowledged as a premier renewable resource, has found a role in the grinding and finishing process. Imported from Germany by Engineering Utilities, Plantex disks are said to offer numerous advantages over conventional disks at no...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Composites moving 'out of this world'.
September 30, 2006... Starchaser Industries has entered into a partnership agreement with Tufnol Composites to supply materials for the construction of space products. Starchaser Industries specialises in the development, operation and commercialisation of...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: New steel bars.
September 30, 2006... Van Leeuwen Wheeler is offering an exclusive in the supply of ranges of premium quality chrome-plated stainless steel bar, including a grade that is a completely new specification to the UK market. Typical applications for the...

FINISHING & MATERIALS: Not forever blowing bubbles!
September 30, 2006... Tapered dispense tips from EFD provide fast flow and minimise bubbles when dispensing thick or particle-filled fluids. Precision-molded polyethylene tips feature a tapered hubless design that provides smooth, unrestricted application of...

QUALITY CONTROL: Filtering out running costs.
September 30, 2006... CAREFUL analysis and retrofit of specialist filtering equipment from WYKO has resulted in significantly reduced running costs for large Giddings & Lewis five-axis milling machines used in the production of aircraft landing gear at...

QUALITY CONTROL: Easy-mount modules cut assembly time.
September 30, 2006... Providing all the functions needed for process measurement applications and gravimetric level measurement, the latest range of RTN weighing modules from HBM are designed to reduce assembly time and costs through being quick and easy to...

QUALITY CONTROL: Test time for engine control.
September 30, 2006... A test system designed and built by the Peak Group is playing a key role in the development of the latest generation of electronic control systems for aero engines by Goodrich Engine Control Systems. The Goodrich plant in Birmingham produces...

QUALITY CONTROL: Testing for safety.
September 30, 2006... EasiTest safety valve testing service from Spirax Sarco aims to eradicate the production downtime that conventional test methods can demand. This reduces substantially the costs of regular safety valve testing which is required by most...

QUALITY CONTROL: Entry-level vision.
September 30, 2006... Cognex aims to set a new cost/performance standard for entry-level vision sensors with its DVT 515 and 535 units. Not limited to one, or even a few, generic machine vision uses, they handle a much broader range of functions than...

QUALITY CONTROL: Friction takes the strain.
September 30, 2006... The SLB700A strain transducer from HBM attaches directly to a plane surface with a friction joint and four bolts. This arrangement enables the strain of the test object to be transferred directly to the SLB 700A, making it ideal for situations...

QUALITY CONTROL: Controller an alternative to PLC.
September 30, 2006... More than just a basic weight indicator, the 920i HMI/controller from Applied Weighing can perform most of the functions carried out by traditional PLCs, but at a faster rate and a fraction of the cost. Able to display, monitor and control...

QUALITY CONTROL: Calibration at your service.
September 30, 2006... HBM is providing working standard calibration of Spider8 or MGCplus amplifiers at its Darmstadt facilities or at the user's premises, ensuring reliable and accurate test results - as well as compliance with ISO 9001 which make calibration of...

QUALITY CONTROL: Putting the lid on see project.
September 30, 2006... Kew's Millenium Seed Bank Project has chosen a Mecmesin Orbis 6Nm manually-operated closure torque tester for applying caps to bottles containing seed samples from over 14,000 plant species. Scientists at the project, which aims to safeguard...

QUALITY CONTROL: Actuators aid CMM accuracy.
September 30, 2006... High-performance linear actuators from THK are being used in a new CMM system to provide very high levels of accuracy, with a measuring frequency of 1kHz and a resolution less than 30nm. A maintenance-free operating life of up to ten years is...

QUALITY CONTROL: X-ray technology at entry level.
September 30, 2006... Inspection technology specialist Loma Systems has launched an entry- level X-ray system offering cost-effective advanced X-ray technology with the highest levels of accuracy, reliability, safety and longevity. With a number of performance...

QUALITY CONTROL: Filters boost analysis package.
September 30, 2006... SciLab post process and analysis package from HBM now includes filters developed specifically for its Catman software. HBM recommends use of SciLab for post process analysis of data files acquired by its MGCplus amplifier system either in...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Weighing-in for vaccine waste.
September 30, 2006... Leicester-based weighing specialist, Mettler Toledo Industrial Division, has developed a heavy-duty weighing solution for use in an advanced "contained vaccine waste handling system" for Hosokawa Containment of West Yorkshire. Working closely...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Performance measurement at speed.
September 30, 2006... Brussels-based Toyota Europe has purchased a new Suspension Parameter Measurement Machine (SPMM) from Anthony Best Dynamics (ABD). Incorporating the latest developments from ABD, the new four wheel station SPMM can measure both axles of a...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Calibration service on a grand scale.
September 30, 2006... HBM now provides torque calibration up to a maximum of 60 kNm. This allows HBM's DKD-accredited laboratory at Darmstadt, Germany to calibrate transducers up to a length of 2.20m and a maximum diameter of 75cm. The size means that HBM can...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Sprecken ze Kistler?
September 30, 2006... The Kistler Group has taken over the German torque sensor and force- displacement system specialist, Dr. Staiger Mohilo & Co. GmbH, based in Lorch near Stuttgart. Dr. Staiger Mohilo & Co. GmbH was established in 1945 and now has more...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Automotive probes find the thread.
September 30, 2006... Peak Test Services has introduced what is believed to be the first threaded coaxial spring probe on the market. The new P820/G probe series should find applications in the automotive test field, where threaded probes have largely taken...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Look Seaward for testing.
September 30, 2006... The new entry-level workplace electrical equipment safety tester from Seaward Electronic combines the functionality of a portable appliance tester with an IEC lead tester and power socket checker in a single instrument. Primetest 100 is...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Renault hits the RoaDyn!
September 30, 2006... The Renault F1 team are using a specially developed version of the Kistler RoaDyn Measuring Wheel System to gather data about the real- time performance of its Grand Prix car. During testing, the measuring wheels are fitted in place of the...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Hygrotest 650 comes clean.
September 30, 2006... Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important sterilising agent in healthcare and production processes, vital to health and safety, and has been growing in recent years due to its success. It is critically important that humidity levels and...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Bespoke electrical testing from Clare.
September 30, 2006... Clare Instruments has upgraded its bespoke custom electrical test design service for manufacturers of electrical and electronic products. Clare has developed a broad range of fully programmable electrical safety and functional test...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Differential probe for LVDS applications.
September 30, 2006... The new PBD2000 2 GHz differential probe from Yokogawa Europe is a high- bandwidth device designed for measurements in LVDS (low-voltage differential signalling) applications. When used with the company's DL9240 digital oscilloscope, the...

INSPECTION & MEASUREMENT: Stacks of samplers.
September 30, 2006... Quantitech is a supplier of Manual and Automatic Isokinetic Stack Samplers, manufactured to meet EN, ISO and USEPA Standards for particulates, Dioxins and Heavy Metals. The range includes integrated sample probes, nozzles and filter holders...