What's New In Industry articles from September 2007

What's New In Industry archives from September 2007

WHAT'S NEW: Measuring with accuracy.
September 30, 2007... Specifically designed to meet temperature measurement challenges in the metals processing industry, Raytek's Marathon MM 3M claims to measure low-to-medium temperatures (100 to 600degC) with more accuracy regardless of changing emissivity....

WHAT'S NEW: Pumps primed for reliability.
September 30, 2007... FreFlow range of centrifugal pumps from JP Pumps claim excellent self- priming abilities and are particularly suited to chemical and pharmaceutical applications which require safe and efficient transfer of low-viscosity, contaminated liquids or...

WHAT'S NEW: Grab a guide - and win a pair of gloves.
September 30, 2007... With over 100 years of experience and a presence in over 80 countries, ESAB is the most recognised brand in welding and cutting. Personal protection equipment, welding tools and accessories make up a key part of its product portfolio and a...

WHAT'S NEW: Switching on to multicore power.
September 30, 2007... Engineers can now make the most of the latest multicore, real-time processors in industrial applications from design to process control with the latest version of National Instruments' LabVIEW graphical system design platform. Building on...

WHAT'S NEW: Plant converts to biodiesel.
September 30, 2007... Multi-discipline engineering company Cross Services Engineering Ltd (CSEL) has begun work with biodiesel producer D1 Oils to convert and refit a former chemical additives plant at Bromborough, Wirral, to produce biodiesel. By converting...

WHAT'S NEW: Adhesives on site.
September 30, 2007... Power Adhesives has designed a unique web site that is said to give its customers and users more information than any comparable site. The company manufactures the TEC range of glue guns and TECBOND shaped hot melt adhesives and it claims...

WHAT'S NEW: Access system meets safety standards.
September 30, 2007... Lack of space was the main issue when scaffolding specialist Sterk Systems supplied a bespoke access system to Normandy Caravans. The company manufactures caravans and residential lodges and needed a platform to simplify the ceiling and roof...

WHAT'S NEW: Coming clear on O2 monitoring.
September 30, 2007... The Environment Agency has set out to clarify the acceptability of results from Quantitech's Horiba PG250 stack monitor given the unit's use of a zirconia cell for oxygen measurement, while the Standard Reference Method BS EN 14789 (2005)...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Taking the tandem can reduce emissions.
September 30, 2007... By replacing 'line' contact associated with conventional tapered roller wheel bearings with a new design concept based on 'point' contact using ball bearings, automotive component and bearings manufacturer the Schaeffler Group has developed...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Coupling with a trick up its sleeve.
September 30, 2007... A range of drive shaft-to-shaft couplings has been introduced by SKF to reduce significantly the time required to connect rotating shafts and flanges in heavy equipment such as turbines, generators and large gearboxes and motors. The OK...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Actuator gets an upgrade.
September 30, 2007... A new addition to Parker Electromechanical's ET ElectroThrust range of linear actuators offers enhanced performance and an extended working life. The ETV100 is derived from the established ET100 electric cylinder and utilises the same basic...

Material benefits figure strongly in Le Mans finish.
September 30, 2007... Rapid prototyping materials from Huntsman Advanced Materials helped French motor sport team Pescarolo to 3rd and 13th place finishes in this year's Le Mans 24 Hour race. One of 28 prototype cars in the race, the Pescarolo Judd LMP1 car, driven...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: New coupling stops the hunt.
September 30, 2007... A change from gear couplings to rubber-in-compression couplings has cured a motor hunting problem on a huge inclined conveyor at a drift mine in Wollogong, Australia. The metre-wide conveyor is nearly half a mile long and transports coal...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Your material of choice.
September 30, 2007... Igus has extended its igubal range of polymer self-aligning bearings to include a rod end unit with an integrated nut. It is easy to assemble: a hexagonal housing allows customers to use a spanner along the complete shaft length. The unit is...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Vehicle IGBT modules solder-free.
September 30, 2007... A 100 per cent solder-free IGBT module for 22kW - 150kW converters in electric and hybrid vehicles has been introduced by Semikron. The SKiM claims a five times higher temperature-cycling capability than modules that use a base plate and...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: High flow and productivity.
September 30, 2007... New range of High Flow and High Productivity materials from DSM Engineering Plastics is designed to bring significant system cost reductions when compared to standard resins. Added value for the user is generated by these materials via shorter...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Turning the worm.
September 30, 2007... Zeitlauf has unveiled a new gearhead that it believes could spell the end of the worm gear in certain applications. The EtaCrown delivers high torque in a small profile gearmotor, is almost silent and has very high efficiency. The unit can be...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Clamping at high temps.
September 30, 2007... Roemheld's Hilma M-TECS magnetic clamping system is said to be the only system of its kind that can be used in rubber moulding where temperatures of up to 240degC are required. This system offers a clamping time of just seconds for greatly...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: Stepper offers consistent torque output.
September 30, 2007... Offering a wide choice of stack lengths with unipolar and bipolar windings, the 200 step/rev Portescap h3 range of hybrid stepper motors from Mclennan Servo Supplies, can provide improved speed/torque performance with higher throughput and duty...

DESIGN COMPONENTS & MATERIALS: A nylon sandwich.
September 30, 2007... A lifting device installed on the top of a North Sea drilling platform has been equipped with giant pulley wheels made by sandwiching rim segments in a molybdenum disulphide-filled nylon 6 between steel flanges. The segments of the 5m...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Overpressure protection.
September 30, 2007... From Tyco Flow Control comes the new the Anderson Greenwood Series 5100 pilot-operated pressure relief valve, a modulating-action, non-flowing, soft seat valve designed specifically for overpressure protection of economisers in fossil-fired...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Mini mould sensor.
September 30, 2007... New Type 6189A sensor from Kistler for monitoring both mould cavity pressure and part surface temperature is said to be the smallest in the world with a front diameter of only 2.5mm. Part of the Kistler range of sensors for the injection...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Furnace rebuild boosts output.
September 30, 2007... A Walking Beam furnace rebuild incorporating a Stein Heurtey designed and patented Digital Furnace solution with a control system implemented by Eurotherm, has increased throughput and delivered improved energy efficiency while reducing...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: FAITH puts a new angle on ESD valve testing.
September 30, 2007... Netherlocks has updated the design of its partial-stroke emergency shutdown (ESD) and HIPPS valve testing unit, the FAITH, which now comes with an incorporated emergency override lever to be operated in the unlikely - but possible - event of an...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Monitoring tank levels.
September 30, 2007... Designed for monitoring liquid levels in tanks and open air applications where long maintenance intervals are a key requisite, the Rosemount 3100 Series ultrasonic level transmitters from Emerson Process Management put reliability and...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Hygiene comes into the mix.
September 30, 2007... Working closely with food ingredients and stabiliser systems manufacturer GC Hahn, John R Boone has designed and installed a mixing system to meet exacting standards of hygiene and handle very demanding formulations. The end result mixes Hahn's...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Improving the flow.
September 30, 2007... From butterfly valve and actuation specialist Tomoe comes a 316 stainless steel disc for use in its 700 series valves, its ribbed disc design bringing improved flow rates and optimised processing performance within plants. The design of...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Water for pharmaceuticals.
September 30, 2007... Chosen for its detailed understanding of Water for Injection solutions, Denca Controls has designed, developed and installed control system solutions to operate the WFI pharmaceutical grade water system at the new National Biomanufacturing...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Cavity pumps with polish.
September 30, 2007... Polished stainless steel construction of Mono's new Helios progressing cavity pumps for the hygienic market should appeal to end-users and OEMs in the food, dairy, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. The 29 models feature a compact design...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Pipework choice.
September 30, 2007... Following the successful launch of its National Plastic PVC-U pressure pipe, Leeds-based industrial plastics specialist Epco has extended its stockholding range, adding the following products to its existing BS sizes: 2.5 and 5-inch Class C;...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Tube and fittings with a fine finish.
September 30, 2007... The major sanitary fluid handling equipment in the USA for the food, dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical and personal care sectors for over 80 years, the Tri-Clover biopharm product range, available in the UK from Alfa-Laval, offers a wide...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Titration: keeping things simple.
September 30, 2007... To make the often perceived complex analysis of water content easy, Metrohm's Simplicity KF range consists of two complete instruments for analysis of water in most products, with a range from ppm to 100 per cent. Simple to use, they come...

PROCESS PLANT & CONTROL: Low-cost option.
September 30, 2007... Michael Smith Engineers has added a lower-cost option to its range of drum pumps. The Finish Thompson PFM pump is based on the proven design and the majority of the same corrosion-resistant materials used in the polypropylene PF drum pump,...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Faster functionality.
September 30, 2007... Forklift trucks fitted with dedicated attachments may restrict the use of the truck, effectively costing a company by being idle for some of the time. By using forklift attachments together with quick release systems, companies not only have...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Narrow aisle truck opens the door to high capacity.
September 30, 2007... Using a Sidetracker multi-directional narrow aisle lift truck to handle its range of steel personnel doors and frames has meant Omega Doors maximising storage capacity in its warehouse near Preston. Omega previously kept a small stock on...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Choosing for pick and place.
September 30, 2007... When designing systems for heavy handling and pick and place applications, choosing the right linear motion solution can be overwhelming, says HepcoMotion's Chris Rees. And with such an extensive selection available, the decision often comes...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Order for hoists.
September 30, 2007... Demag Cranes and Components has won an order for 124 electric chain hoists from Stoke-based distributor Chains and Lifting Tackle (Midlands) for an engineering sector client. All hoists are 1250kg SWL rated units from the Demag DC-COM range....

HANDLING & STORAGE: Battery package boosts warehouse productivity.
September 30, 2007... Co-operative Retail Logistics has specified Enersys' Hawker Motive Power batteries and chargers for the lift truck fleet at its national distribution centre in Coventry. The maintenance-free, sealed-gel batteries are combined with...

HANDLING & STORAGE: A lift into store.
September 30, 2007... A free-standing Transdek goods lift has provided cost-effective facilities for moving loads between the ground and first floors of a self-storage warehouse opened by The Store Room in Leicester. The premises have 20,000ft2 of storage space...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Creating integrated distribution.
September 30, 2007... Carlsberg Breweries has awarded SSI Schaefer the contract to design, plan and install a high-performance production and distribution centre with more than 75,000 storage positions in Fredericia, Denmark. SSI takes on the complete design,...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Reader/scanner protection.
September 30, 2007... OtterBox instrument protection cases from Rugged Peak provide a solution to damaged and unusable bar code readers and scanners in the factory. They are also cost-effective, a combination of reader device or PDA and a suitable OtterBox often...

HANDLING & STORAGE: From bulk to bag.
September 30, 2007... A new weigh batching system from Flexicon discharges material from bulk bags, de-lumps the product, and feeds it gravimetrically into rigid bins. The bulk-bag-to-hopper interface consists of a manual Spout-Lock clamp ring at the top of a...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Get the real lowdown on emissions.
September 30, 2007... New feature-packed range of compact, low-emission engine lift trucks from Nissan aim for a multi-purpose role of inside working in restricted areas and outside yard operations. And at less than a metre wide and able to turn in a radius of just...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Make light work of push and pull.
September 30, 2007... Twelve models make up the pedestrian-operated MasterTug range from MasterMover. The machines can pull, push and steer wheeled or semi- wheeled loads from 50 to 30,000kg. MasterTugs operate by transferring some of the weight of the actual...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Storage on toast.
September 30, 2007... A special 1800 x 1300mm flight case containing a complete engineering and service workshop has been built by 5 Star Cases for pilot Paul Bonhomme of Attitude Aerobatics, current leader of the Red Bull Air Race World Series. The case...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Dual-purpose truck for narrower aisles.
September 30, 2007... By replacing a combination of reach and counterbalance forklifts with one articulated truck that can cover both jobs, working aisle widths in the warehouse can be narrowed significantly, says Aisle-Master, who will demonstrate the point at...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Invest in storage.
September 30, 2007... A move from three separate locations to a new state-of-the-art facility by Havant-based CNC milling solutions specialist Formaplex has led to investment in a 'one-stop' selection of Lista storage and workbench units. This includes...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Leveller without the 'dock shock'.
September 30, 2007... Smooth transition dock leveller from Caljan Rite-Hite uses special hinge designs to reduce or remove gaps between the leveller and the dock itself so that lift trucks travelling over the leveller experience less shock loading than on a...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Delivering the goods.
September 30, 2007... Everything necessary for the safe, efficient and profitable operation of loading bays is offered by Huddersfield-based Easilift, including dock levellers, shelters, seals, pods, industrial doors, high-speed doors, vehicle restraints and...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Bridging the Gulf.
September 30, 2007... Loading/unloading equipment specialist Thorworld Industries has sold three of its mobile yard ramps to Middle East customers - two 10-tonne Deluxe range models to Al Kout Industrial Products of Kuwait, and a 15- tonne version to C.E.F. (Dubai...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Clamping down on keg attachments.
September 30, 2007... When Carlsberg UK centralised servicing of its keg clamps to improve the downtime and reliability at its 13 UK depots it reached a service agreement with B&B Attachments to maintain the 80 keg clamps and replace them on a regular cycle. B&B...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Truck offers transmission options.
September 30, 2007... Aimed at users in the lumber, steel and aluminium, concrete, brewing, stevedoring and chemical industries, and available with diesel or LPG engines in 6000 and 7000kg capacities, Yale's GDP/GLP60-70VX has been designed for intensive...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Bespoke robotics.
September 30, 2007... INVESTMENT in a high-speed robotic system from RTS Flexible Systems at Jeyes paid for itself in just one year. The bespoke solution eliminated manual handling of plastic bottles into carrier blocks by finding a solution to gripping the...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Double deep 'beets' drive-in.
September 30, 2007... The need to maximise storage density and increase handling efficiency were the main reasons for G's Beetroot choosing a combination of double- deep racking and Atlet XTF ride-on pallet stackers for its new Cambridgeshire warehouse. The...

HANDLING & STORAGE: Maintaining the production flow.
September 30, 2007... Morris Material Handling is helping speciality chemicals manufacturer Inno-spec maximise production efficiency at its 250-acre Ellesmere Port facility with the ongoing maintenance, repair and service of all powered fixed and traversing...

HANDLING & STORAGE: FIBCs contained.
September 30, 2007... A cost-effective alternative to a collapsible plastic pallet box or rigid plastic bulk container, Dynawest's Big Bag Container system provides support, storage and transport of FIBC bulk bags. Eight aluminium poles slot vertically into the...

QUALITY CONTROL: Blades kept in the clear.
September 30, 2007... Tyco Thermal Controls' CapaciSense business is focused on application- specific solutions for blade clearance and vibration measurement using its expertise in developing ever more advanced probes and using 3D modelling techniques to reduce...

QUALITY CONTROL: Oscilloscopes gain new options.
September 30, 2007... Two new options - power supply analysis and user-defined math capabilities - have been added to the range of enhancements available for the Yokogawa SignalXplorer DL9000 Series of digital oscilloscopes. The power supply analysis function...

QUALITY CONTROL: Detection keeps tools in check.
September 30, 2007... The most important stage of the Ducati Desmodromic camshaft production is carried out on two Stama machining centres which work non-stop producing camshafts for all the Ducati engines. Fulvio Abbondi, Manufacturing Technology...

QUALITY CONTROL: Measuring springs for squareness.
September 30, 2007... Springs being manufactured by William Hughes are being used in vital items of aerospace equipment including oxygen systems, access hatches and solenoid valves that control hydraulic and cabin pressure systems. With these critical...

QUALITY CONTROL: Feel the force.
September 30, 2007... HBM has broadened its precision force transducer range by launching the U15 for traceable force calibrations in industrial applications, as a reference in calibration systems and for classifying material testing machines. The U15's...

QUALITY CONTROL: Top of the meat test.
September 30, 2007... Ishida's IX-GI X-Ray system has been confirmed as the best product of its type in an independent evaluation by the Danish Meat Research Institute, which examined six X-ray inspection systems to get an update on new technology's capabilities...

QUALITY CONTROL: Checking up on tube.
September 30, 2007... Benefitting from the development expertise that created its Addata 'G' Plus measuring system, AddisonMckee has introduced a new, lower-cost noncontact tube measuring solution to ease the process of component inspection, measurement and data...

COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS: Connect for on-line monitoring.
September 30, 2007... Round-the-clock monitoring of compressor installations is offered by Atlas Copco's AirConnect aftermarket service that links compressed air systems to a sophisticated, highly automated 24/7 Internet-based monitoring system that allows...

COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS: Dry air for clean rooms.
September 30, 2007... The Gast Group's JUN-AIR range of ultra-quiet compressors that provide clean, dry air for clean-room and laboratory applications has been extended with the Model OF1200, a higher output version of the established OF300. The new machine offers...

COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS: Pipework takes the pressure.
September 30, 2007... Twin pipework systems have been installed by Legris at the new Bedfordshire service facility of mobile crane manufacturer Liebherr. A galvanised steel system is used for oil and Legris' rapid-fit aluminium Transair pipework for compressed air...

COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS: Condensate: get to the point.
September 30, 2007... Compressed air users know the problem, says Beko: the legal regulations applying to processing of condensate have become ever more strict and comprehensive, yet the costs need to remain within economically justifiable limits. ...

COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS: Compressor's efficiency brings energy savings.
September 30, 2007... An extension of CompAir's 75kW class machines, the new L80 lubricated screw compressor is said to provide seven per cent more air (14.72m3/min) while maintaining a lower power input. Utilising integrated modular design, the L80...

COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS: Ratchet range joins cordless tools.
September 30, 2007... Designed and engineered for automotive and maintenance professionals, new cordless ratchets from compressor/pneumatics specialist Ingersoll Rand - the first tools of their type on the European market - have been added to the growing family...

COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS: Air gun goes seven up.
September 30, 2007... Silvent has introduced a robust safety air gun said to produce a blowing force equivalent to seven times the force or ordinary air guns. And its greater efficiency and quicker blow-off can reduce both its energy consumption and exposure to...

COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS: Cylinders to order.
September 30, 2007... Made-to-order pneumatic cylinders are being offered by Asco Joucomatic through adoption of Lean manufacturing techniques at its Skelmersdale plant. The manufacturing process has been streamlined to such an extent that orders received before...

COMPRESSED AIR SYSTEMS: Set the standard.
September 30, 2007... From Camozzi Pneumatics comes a new series of compact cylinders to ISO 21287. Series 32 includes single-acting, double-acting, through-rod, non-rotating, tandem and multi-position versions. Sizes from 32 to 63mm are initially available with...

BUILDINGS & MAINTENANCE: Air curtains turn up the power.
September 30, 2007... Busy work spaces, unhindered access between internal and external areas and carefully controlled energy costs are some of the reasons that Dimplex has extended its commercial air curtain range with new high- power industrial units. The IAB...

BUILDINGS & MAINTENANCE: Keeping tags on potential podium hazards.
September 30, 2007... Scafftag has launched a tagging system to enable companies that use podiums to display latest inspection, maintenance and identification information at the point of use. Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to all work at height where...

BUILDINGS & MAINTENANCE: A firm hold on structural steel.
September 30, 2007... Lindapter has expanded its range of steelwork clamps for connecting structural steel sections in frictional load configurations with a high- performance M24 bolt version. The new M24 Type AF bolt will securely connect channel, angle and I-beam...

BUILDINGS & MAINTENANCE: Keeping the presses running.
September 30, 2007... CoGri Group has completed a major upgrade of the 3500m2 concrete floor at Trinity Mirror's print works in Watford, while allowing newspapers and magazines to be printed with minimum disruption. Installation of new printing presses and a...

BUILDINGS & MAINTENANCE: Parts storage.
September 30, 2007... Rubb Buildings' construction of a new warehouse for AEPCO Marine provides the shipyard with a new parts storage facility. Originally, AEPCO looked at using a metal structure but found that the requirements where not feasible with their...

BUILDINGS & MAINTENANCE: Door flexibility.
September 30, 2007... Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies has extended its Dor-O-Matic Swing Range with the fully automatic Flexible Door, a clear PVC unit with automated or manual activation, coupled with better visibility, easier access, tough life cycle...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Benefits of a custom container.
September 30, 2007... New bespoke plastic container designed by SSI Schaefer exclusively for the Mercedes Benz C-Class is reaping benefits for Delphi, a global supplier of mobile electronics and transportation systems for the automotive sector. SSI was invited...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Crack the code.
September 30, 2007... Code reconstruction, integrated fieldbus connectivity, simplified installation without interfacing units or gateways, and simple parameterisations make the new BCL 500i series of bar code readers from Leuze Mayser ideal for monitoring the...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Packaging goes green.
September 30, 2007... A new range of label products and services from Norprint are aimed at environmentally conscious packaging operations. The Eco-Green Label Range includes recycled, lightweight and compostable labels in a choice of materials and adhesives for...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: Gripping stuff.
September 30, 2007... Machine speed, flexibility, high performance and reliability are essential in the high-pressure converting, paper handling and mailing industries. The new Habasit Habidur folder/gluer system gives a high and constant grip whilst handling fast...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: A faster feed.
September 30, 2007... New from Electro-mec, the NG model of EMF tablet and capsule blister pack feeder is capable of meeting increasing demand for packing multi- product blisters and offers enhancements that bring more accurate and faster handling of a variety of...

PACKAGING & LABELLING: In partnership.
September 30, 2007... Your Packaging Partner is a new online system designed to enables brand owners to save cost and time on packaging, and also combat the growing concern of excess packaging. The system is said to reduce packaging by at least 25 per cent,...