Industrial Process News Issue 724

IPN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS NEWS

October 2023 – Issue 724 Tel: 0121 550 2086 www.industrialprocessnews.co.uk Search for us on LinkedIn

and follow us on Twitter

or download our iOS app

See more on page 6

CM Services Global Ltd Page 7

RS Industria Pages 10-11

@ipn_uk

Optics.org

Pages 30-31

Contents

Editors Notes

This month, we uncover the latest industrial process technologies and explore how The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) need no longer be a complex digital application, but a simple solution leading to valuable energy-saving decisions in real-time.

RS Industria offers a brilliant comprehensive solution with its cloud-based end-to-end IoT platform through its modular assetbased monitoring approach. You can jump to pages 10-11 to read more on what RS Industria can do for your business.

Gina Burton Editor

gina@industrialprocessnews.co.uk

You can also read a review of the UK’s premier intralogistics and materials handling exhibition, IntraLogisteX. Marked as the biggest one yet, the 2023 show did not disappoint in offering the latest solutions in IT & Software, Materials Handling, Packaging, Picking & Sortation, Robotics, Storage, Warehouse Automation, and Warehouse Infrastructure & Services. Read up on all the latest from the industry’s top experts, businesses and suppliers as we delved into some of the featured sessions from each of the three conference theatres alongside a review of its co-located Robotics and Automation Exhibition.

IPN INDUSTRIAL PROCESS NEWS

Issue 724

Photonics is a huge, growth industry with lasers, optical fibres, optical tweezers and even the cameras and screens on our phones being just few examples of their everyday uses. On pages 30-31, we have featured optics.org, a renowned online resource, offering all the latest informative articles and business news from the photonics industry. optics.org is also the founder of SPIE Photonex Expo, and in this article, we were able to speak to Head of Sales & Marketing: Rob Fisher, who explained more on what SPIE is and why it proves indispensable for many working in the field. We have also exclusively highlighted three exhibitors from SPIE Photonex 2023 for your interest.

Manufacturing + Engineering Week 2023 displayed a festival of industrial innovation at the NEC in Birmingham and in this issue, we have chosen some of our Top Exhibitors whose products and services are helping others to better prepare their business for change.

RS Industria

Don’t forget to send us your latest Industrial news and updates and email us at: info@industrialprocessnews.co.uk

10-11

Cover Story

Schmersal

Zetamotion

13

Unleashing Full Production Potential with AI-Powered Quality Control as a Service (QCaaS) and addressing several challenges faced by manufacturers in implementing quality control processes

6

Contacts

Industrial Process News is a multi-media digital magazine which circulates directly to 25,000 targeted businesses per issue, and is downloadable from multiple digital news stands and via social media.

Publication Management Fallon Waldron, Publication Manager T 0121 550 2086 fallonwaldron@industrialprocessnews.co.uk

Accounts Paul Whitaker, Accounts Manager T 0121 709 5534 accounts@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk

Production Robert Sharp, Production Manager production@businessandindustrytoday.co.uk

Editorial Gina Burton, Editor gina@industrialprocessnews.co.uk

The entire content of this publication is advertorial based. To place an advertorial or an advert, please call 0121 550 2086.

IPN is sponsored by

Thermal Vision Research

Please contact 0121 550 2086 Email info@industrialprocessnews.co.uk www.industrialprocessnews.co.uk For more information on print or format requirements, please see our Media Pack and follow Find us on LinkedIn us on Twitter @ipn_uk

– see them on page 6

18-19

Industry Excellence

Transforming the way you measure and monitor noise at work with Cirrus Research I

n this issue of Industrial Process News, we are proud to honour Cirrus Research for Industry Excellence in Measuring and Monitoring innovation. exposure levels. By utilising the innovative devices from Cirrus Research, you can proactively address noiserelated challenges, create a safer and healthier work environment, and enhance overall productivity and employee satisfaction.

Excessive workplace noise poses risks to employee wellbeing and necessitates compliance with regulations.

Monitoring noise levels is crucial for creating a productive and safe work environment, whilst also being vital to protect your business against claims, fines and prosecution from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

This article explores the importance of noise monitoring in the workplace, the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, and highlights three innovative devices from Cirrus Research to transform the way you measure and monitor noise at work.

Understanding the Control of Noise at Work Regulations (2005) The Control of Noise at Work Regulations ensures employee protection from excessive workplace noise and require employers to reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to noise at work.

These regulations stipulate that employers must assess and control noise exposure levels to ensure compliance and protect the well-being of their workforce.

Employers are required to conduct noise assessments to identify areas where noise levels exceed the upper exposure action values (85dB) or lower exposure action values (80dB). If noise levels exceed these thresholds, employers must implement control measures to minimise exposure and protect employees.

The regulations also necessitate the provision of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as hearing protection, and establish health surveillance programs.

Importance of Monitoring Workplace Noise Monitoring workplace noise is vital for employee wellbeing and compliance with regulations.

Prolonged exposure to high noise levels can lead to hearing loss, increased stress and reduced concentration.

Regular noise assessments help identify hazards, implement necessary and effective control measures, and safeguard and protect your employees and your organisation.

At Cirrus Research, we provide a selection of instruments for measuring and monitoring noise that will aid in accurate measurement, management, and communication of workplace noise.

Introducing the Cirrus Research doseBadge Personal Noise Dosimeter The Cirrus Research doseBadge Personal Noise Dosimeter accurately measures an individual’s noise exposure throughout the day. Its lightweight design ensures comfort while capturing detailed data. The doseBadge facilitates compliance assessments and enables the implementation of control measures.

There are a few options to consider when looking to purchase a doseBadge Personal Noise Dosimeter: ■ The Original doseBadge4 Personal Noise Dosimeter is the original wireless personal noise dosimeter, which is the ideal tool to carry out occupational and

4

industrial hygiene noise measurements and provides a unique solution for these applications.

■ The IS doseBadge is an intrinsically safe version of the original doseBadge, so includes all of the same exciting features with added intrinsic safety. This means that the instrument can be safely used in explosive atmospheres.

■ The Advanced doseBadge5 Personal Noise Dosimeter is high performance and allows you to make compliant occupational noise measurements. With all the features of the original doseBadge, plus some added key features, this device is discreet, robust and reliable.

Exploring the Cirrus Research Optimus+ Red Sound Level Meter The Optimus + Red sound level meter is another powerful device for monitoring noise in the workplace. This handheld instrument provides real-time noise measurements, enabling quick and accurate assessments of noise levels in various work environments.

With its high-resolution colour OLED screen, this instrument displays essential noise parameters and allows users to visualise data trends effectively. It offers advanced functionalities ensuring comprehensive noise monitoring capabilities.

The Cirrus Research advantage We have been pioneering and innovating solutions that have made monitoring and measuring noise and vibration easier and more accessible than ever before for more than 50 years. As one of the world’s leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of noise measurement instruments, we’re the name that you can rust to provide accurate, reliable and easy-to-use equipment that will stand up to scrutiny.

When you purchase from Cirrus Research, not only do you benefit from our accurate, reliable and easy-to-use noise measurement instruments, you also receive the following added value through the Cirrus Research Advantage: ■ Easy to use instrumentation ■ 15-year warranty ■ Licence-free data analysis and reporting tools ■ Accurate, reliable and compliant noise measurement data ■ In-house technical support ■ Designed, manufactured and supported in the UK Interested in learning more about measuring and monitoring noise at work? You can contact the experienced team at Cirrus Research by emailing: sales@cirrusresearch.com, by calling: 01723 891655 or by visiting: www.cirrusresearch.co.uk

The Optimus+ Red serves both general noise assessments and specific tasks, such as measuring machinery noise or identifying noise ‘hotspots’ within a facility.

The SoundSign Noise activated warning sign from Cirrus Research The SoundSign Noise Activated Warning Sign is an innovative tool that enhances workplace communication and promotes noise awareness. It is a visual noise monitoring and warning device that displays real-time noise levels using bright LED indicators. This allows employees to have a clear visual indication of noise levels in their immediate vicinity.

The SoundSign can be strategically placed in communal areas or workspaces, reminding individuals to maintain an environment conducive to concentration and communication.

With customisable threshold settings, the device can trigger lit up warning messages or signals when noise levels exceed predefined limits, prompting employees to take necessary action to reduce noise.

Monitoring noise in the workplace is essential for prioritising employee wellbeing, complying with regulations, and fostering effective communication. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 establishes guidelines for employers to assess and control noise

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

Review – Top Exhibitors

IntraLogisteX 2023: The Biggest Warehousing Logistics Event of 2023 28th & 29th March 2023, NEC Birmingham

T

he ninth annual IntraLogisteX show was, in all ways you can measure it, the biggest event in logistics and warehousing in the UK in 2023.

It featured the most advanced industry innovations and solutions – everything you need to create the warehouse of tomorrow, today.

According to Stephen Brooks, owner and Managing Director of Akabo Media, the organiser of both exhibitions, the decision to co-locate gave both shows an immediate gain in number of exhibiting companies and number of qualified professional visitors – attendance at the events more than doubled for 2023!

Following on from last year’s outstanding sold-out event, IntraLogisteX 2023 was even bigger show. It moved, for the first time to the NEC Birmingham, and swelled to take up Hall 6, and filled it with an excited hubbub as visitors from brand owners in retail, wholesale, consumer goods and more joined third and fourth-party logistics service providers to view the latest in warehousing equipment, automation, software, packaging, and much more.

IntraLogisteX once again provided its visitors with an industry-leading conference programme packed with 60 expert speakers. The IntraLogisteX conference spanned both days of the exhibition and offered visitors practical insights in the latest industry innovations. Visitors were able to hear directly from industry leaders who shared real world examples of their solutions in action.

IntraLogisteX offered its guests an unrivalled selection of hundreds of exhibitors showcasing solutions in warehouse automation, robotics, materials handling, storage, racking, sortation, picking, barcode, labelling, packaging, software, and warehouse and facilities management innovations.

Also, IntraLogisteX co-located with the Robotics & Automation Exhibition – the UK’s largest dedicated robotics and automation exhibition – for the first time.

This show also moved to the NEC following a successful 2022 event, and grew alongside IntraLogisteX.

This included an address from Roads Minister Richard Holden MP and a conference session from government robotics policy leader Gordon Baker, showing the events’ significance in the logistics and manufacturing sectors.

Representatives from top retailers and manufacturers like Marks & Spencer, the Co-Op, and Airbus, and leading logistics companies like XPO, CEVA Logistics, and DPD also addressed the conference.

Topics covered in the outstanding conference included decarbonisation and efficient solutions in the automotive industry,

growth via investment in automation and technology, logistical techniques to achieving customers’ needs, and the importance of inclusion within the logistics industry.

Organisers have announced that the 2024 edition of IntraLogisteX will take place on 19th–20th March 2024, once again at the UK’s leading live events venue – the NEC Birmingham.

It is a totally free exhibition and your best chance to see an unmissable showcase of the latest solutions and innovations in intralogistics.

Visit their site to learn more and register now: www.intralogistex.co.uk Please also visit: https://www.roboticsandautomation.co.uk

Maximising Warehouse Potential N

ene Warehouse Solutions stands as a beacon of excellence in the warehouse and storage solutions industry, merging innovation with an unyielding commitment to quality. Founded on principles of trustworthiness and reliability, Nene Warehouse Solutions embraces a youthful spirit whilst demonstrating an unwavering focus on expert service delivery. With the industry ever-evolving, Nene Warehouse Solutions leads the pack in providing state-of-the-art solutions that adhere to the highest standards of safety and functionality.

Nene Warehouse Solutions offers a comprehensive suite of services, from consultation and design to installation and maintenance. We pride ourselves on offering bespoke solutions that maximise storage capacity and improve operational efficiencies. Our highly skilled team collaborates closely with clients to

IPN is sponsored by

understand their specific needs, ensuring each project meets and often exceeds expectations.

The ethos at Nene Warehouse Solutions goes beyond the bottom line. We aim to create value for our clients, the community, and the planet, true to the Nene mission.

Moreover, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is not just a policy but a practice, influencing every part of the business from team dynamics to client relationships.

Speak to our experts today, call us on: 01327 300456, email: enquiries@nene.co.uk or visit: www.nene.co.uk

– see them on pages 26-27

5

Review – Top Exhibitors

Manufacturing & Engineering Week is industrial sector’s biggest event

M

anufacturing & Engineering Week, produced in association with The Manufacturer, has become the biggest industrial sector event in the UK in just its second year, according to statistics released by event organisers The Nineteen Group. Over the course of the live shows back in June, 10,355 manufacturers, designers, engineers and maintenance professionals attended at the NEC and 342 exhibitors showcased their products and services.

The week began with digital sessions produced by The Manufacturer, a BBC radio broadcast followed by four live events featuring high profile speakers including Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State at the Department for Business & Trade who gave the welcome address in the Keynote Theatre. The six solution theatres covering Automation & Robotics, Digital Transformation, Innovation, Industrial Data & AI, IIOT & Connectivity and Maintenance were also packed on both days.

Senior manufacturing leaders attended the Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit and the SME Growth Summit while also finding time to visit the Google Leaders’ Lounge and The Manufacturer Top 100 Award ceremony, which celebrates the heroes of UK manufacturing and recognises their contribution to the sector. As part of the STEM programme, more than 450 students attended the exhibition on the final afternoon finding much to inspire them in the Made Smarter Innovation Alley, the Innovation Village and beyond.

Manufacturing & Engineering Week has the support of most of the high-profile organisations, institutions and trade bodies representing the UK’s industrial and manufacturing sector, none more so than Make UK. Stephen Phipson CBE, CEO of MAKE UK and chair of Manufacturing & Engineering Week said of this year’s event, “Manufacturing and Engineering Week has gone from strength to strength with key challenges high on the agenda with skills, supply chain and sustainability discussed in detail. It was great to see the show also offset their carbon emissions once again by planting thousands more trees in the M&E Week forest.”

Peter Jones, CEO of Nineteen Group commented on the success of the event saying, “We gave our team the licence to disrupt the accepted norms of what an industrial sector trade show looked like, from the Nexa3D guitar players’ competition to the festival-like stilt walkers and branding to the sheer sense of excitement generated on the

exhibition floor it’s been superb, and it will only get better next year as we add Drives & Controls, Air-Tech and Fluid Power & Systems alongside the established Smart Factory Expo, Maintec and Design & Engineering Expo.”

This is our pick of the best exhibitors from this year’s event, listed here in alphabetical order: Assent Incorporated, CM Services, SIC Marking & Zetamotion. Further details can be found on this page and the next.

M&E Week 2024: 5th-6th June – Smart Factory Expo, Design & Engineering Expo, Maintec (2 days, Hall 4) 4th-6th June – Drives & Controls, Air-Tech, Fluid Power & Systems (3 Days, Hall 5).

For more information, please visit: www.mandeweek.co.uk +44 (0)20 8947 917 enquiries@mandeweek.co.uk

Zetamotion: Innovative AI-driven Quality Control as a Service (QCaaS) provider

Z

etamotion is a groundbreaking, innovative AI-driven Quality Control as a Service (QCaaS) provider. Our QCaaS platform is designed to assist manufacturers in automating their quality control processes at scale.

UK manufacturers spend up to 40% of their sales revenues on quality control (QC), a staggering amount every year.

To reduce these costs, companies have begun to adopt digital tools, such as real-time data from automated QC systems and advanced analytics. However, a recent survey found that only 30% of manufacturers have adopted these technologies. This puts the remainder at risk of falling behind in the global shift towards Industry 4.0.

Unfortunately, many of these adopters are hitting the ceiling on the capabilities of the solutions they have invested in.

Current automated QC tools can be inflexible, do not scale and are often expensive, making it difficult to keep up with changing product designs and customer demands.

In our discussions with clients, we have often seen this reflected in their ‘burnt ground’ stories. ‘Yes, we tried computer vision. It did not go very well...’

smooth onboarding process and ongoing support tailored to the ever-evolving manufacturing and QC landscapes.

As hardware-agnostic as is feasible, we interface with existing network and IoT infrastructure to be part of the overall production solution. We are very much aware of our customers and manufacturers in general security consciousness and Intellectual Property rights concerns, which is why our QCaaS platform operates all inspection fully on premises.

Our innovative and patented AI platform was designed from the ground up to be scalable, adaptable, and flexible.

New products, new materials, and modified designs can be rapidly onboarded and put into production in as little as 24 hours, without asking manufacturers to amass thousands of images and data points per product variant and months of machine learning/training and fine-tuning.

By leveraging our novel AI machine-learning techniques and our synthetic data approach, Zetamotion can effectively handle diverse materials and products,

What is often not delivered is the ‘last mile,’ the push from an easily attainable 80% accuracy rate to a far more demanding 99%+, which is orders of magnitude more challenging yet essential for manufacturers.

Our approach is inherently different. Unlike many faceless tools available for download, engaging with Zetamotion means partnering with a team of real people, who understand and address your pain points and work towards achieving your goals. This relationship-focused approach ensures a

6

IPN is sponsored by

including those with non-uniform appearances or low production volumes.

Zetamotion reduces QC time by as much as 95%+, achieving a 99%+ accuracy in defect identification from the onset. This leads to up to a 50% improvement in product yield and operational cost reduction, while also cutting waste by over half – a substantial contribution to national sustainability goals. This comprehensive approach ensures manufacturers not only realise increased yield and reduced waste but also optimise the deployment of skilled labour.

In the shifting sands of the manufacturing sector, Zetamotion emerges as a stable and innovative partner.

Our AI-driven QCaaS platform not only improves and streamlines the QC process, it allows for greater quality output and valuable process insights whilst also aligning with manufacturers’ sustainability goals, offering a win-win solution for manufacturers aiming for efficiency and environmental responsibility. By opting for Zetamotion, their Quality Control Partner of choice, manufacturers are not just adopting a tool but embracing a service dedicated to production health, growth and improvement. contact@zetamotion.com https://www.zetamotion.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/zetamotion

– see them on page 6

Review – Top Exhibitors

The impact of MIB: Maintenance in substance bans on the Balance manufacturing industry Parts obsolescence in production processes

integration of a maintenance actions/prescription database.

W

hen looking at many of the substances restricted or banned under international chemical regulations, most companies focus on the risk from the product perspective, as an activity after production.

OftenProduct Design is also involved to address the Product Design LifeCycle issue: it might take significant time to establish replacement technologies.

While these are all relevant and essential activities, one thing frequently overlooked is the obsolescence risk introduced by missing parts in the production environment. Machinery itself contains chemical technology. If substance bans affect availability of spare parts for machines – not all regulations permit the continued sale of spare parts according to their original design – production processes might all of a sudden become disrupted, because no one considered the fact that chemicals are used in the parts that form part of the inner workings of the machinery.

Imagine what will happen, if the

M

upcoming EU restriction on PFAS would impact the components needed for the machinery that is used to manufacture semiconductors. While semiconductors themselves might fall under a derogation, was the machinery considered? Replacement could be a nightmare, as the PFAS’ inherent properties are not easily substituted.

Early understanding of production processes, the use and application of chemicals in the components that make up machinery, education of and collaboration with the supply chain, and joint safeguarding of access to the scarce resource of replacement technologies ARE a most pressing challenge!

Contact David Rhodes, +44 (0)7944 084998 david.rhodes@assentcompliance.com www.assent.com

XXL-BOX LASER MARKING WORKSTATIONS

IB is a product/service that optimises after-market services. It builds in diagnostic support for multiple assets via Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.

It is used to detect anomalies and Machine faults. MIB incorporates the diagnostic knowledge of expert diagnosticians in the conventions mature condition monitoring techniques and aligns this with AI functionality to identify true outliers and then offer meaningful diagnostic advice. MIB bridges the gap between normal AI that predicts anomalies by putting the expertise into the software.

Using our asset condition assessment software MIB, we will create an integrated software platform for undertaking prescriptive maintenance on your machinery and auxiliary systems. This will be achieved by using data from existing condition monitoring, diagnostic sensors and systems, the implementation of advanced predictive analytics and the

Based upon advanced, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning algorithms, MIB will prescribe, the most appropriate maintenance strategy in real-time for every asset under its control, based on the subtle pre-alarm indications of emerging faults that will occur at a future time.

Specific objectives of MIB are to: 1) Establish the monitoring and maintenance needs of each site 2) Specify the software platform parameters based on each site’s requirements 3) Deploy our intelligent monitoring software module 4) Integrate the module into the MIB platform and provide routine updates to the staff Please contact Simon Edmondson, +44 (0)7422 079140 simon.edmondson@ cmservicesglobal.co.uk https://cmservicesglobal.com

Funnel Integrated Technology hits the stage The FIT tunnel eliminates the need to enclose the entire part for the laser marking process by enclosing just the marking area.

The compact design allows for the FIT system to be retrofitted easily into an existing robotic cell.

The most competitive solutions for marking large workspaces

O

ver the last 30 years, there has been a boom in the traceability and identification of manufactured components.

Many industries want to directly laser mark these, however there are some parts that are just getting larger and larger.

Casting and pressing companies sometimes have such large parts that they simply cannot fit these into a standard sized Class 1 laser enclosure leaving many companies wondering how they can mark them.

➤ 3 WIDTH AVAILABLE ➤ ERGONOMIC & SECURED ➤ MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC AXES ON DEMAND

IPN is sponsored by

Even though they launched a new range of large XXL-Box class 1 enclosures in 2022, SIC Marking saw this problem as a new challenge for 2023. They have now launched their Funnel Integrated Technology (F.I.T. for short) as a complete all in one solution that combines all of the necessary components and settings to mark larger parts in a simple, safe and economic way within the customers production line and budget.

This ready to integrate and secured laser marking system comes as a ‘Tunnel Style’ Class 1 compliant enclosure. It is a compact and easy to integrate solution with a single connection to a PLC. The F.I.T. can be mounted to a robot head for presenting to a stationary part – or fixed in position allowing the robot to present the part for marking.

Not only is the F.I.T. adapted for production environments with its maintenance drawer for the cleaning of the lens, it has built-in shock protection preventing the funnel from damage.

The F.I.T. tunnel can be adapted to your marking needs with three window sizes available as standard: 24mm x 32mm, 100mm x 32mm and 100mm x 100mm.

Contact +44 (0)1926 830372 salesuk@sic-marking.com https://www.sic-marking.co.uk

– see them on pages 26-27

7

Industrial Process Technologies

Significant investment keeps automotive supply chain agile and just in time W

High Power Picosecond Pulse Laser

illiam Hughes, a specialist manufacturer of springs and wire components, has adapted quickly to a serious increase in demand from a tier-one automotive seating customer, thanks to a major new investment in robotic welding cells and associated tooling and fixtures.

The investment at its plant in One of the new Fanuc robots in action Bulgaria is in reaction to the at William Hughes Bulgaria where the ramp up in popularity for a complete welded frame has a total of recently released sports utility 62 MAG welds vehicle (SUV). Currently selling beyond production capacity, the vehicle is available with The investment in its Bulgarian facility multiple seating configurations, so the cements the company’s commitment demand for seating frames and hardware to its customers and Eastern European has seen commensurate growth. operations. Indeed, the plant is already being asked to investigate newer According to Ben Cox, Manager of William seating variants, with its customers Hughes Bulgaria, “The output for the being confident that William Hughes can various seating modules and formats is quickly ramp up and scale production to now about 30% higher than the original cater for any demand level – now and in anticipated peak production plan. And the future. with the automotive industry relying on just-in-time delivery for primary modules, Contact such as seating, we knew that we had to 01963 363377 pull out all the stops to ensure our tier-one sales@wmhughes.co.uk customer would not disrupt production.” www.wmhughes.co.uk

8

IPN is sponsored by

T

he picosecond pulse laser series FPYL-Q-PS is offered with peak power up to 100W at a repetition rate of 1MHz and a pulse width of <10ps. Available wavelengths are 266nm (1-8W), 355nm (1-50W), 532nm (1-80W) and 1064nm (1-100W). The repetition frequency range is between 400kHz and 2MHz. The power stability is <3% (<1% optional). The pulse-to-pulse stability is <2%. Both are measured in rms and over 4 hours. The output beam is transverse mode TEM00 and has high beam quality of M2<1,2.

With a beam diameter of ~3mm and a divergence <1mrad the output beam is very well collimated.

The laser will be delivered with an

appropriate power supply for the voltage range 100-240V as well as a water chiller.

Due to the high power with pulse widths <10ps these lasers are excellent suited for micro material processing. Typical applications are: Applications: ■ Flexible Materials Processing ■ Brittle Materials Processing ■ OLEDs Processing ■ Glass & Ceramic Cutting and Drilling ■ Semiconductor Industry Contact sales@frlaserco.com www.frlaserco.com

– see them on page 6

Industrial Process Technologies

Heat Exchange Group’s Radwell launches UK clients welcome new field buying division approach R adwell International has launched a new UK field buying division headed

by Andrew Duke and Daniel Jones.

H

eat Exchange Group has seen its global Plate Heat Exchange (PHE) service business increase significantly after launching its all-encompassing Service Partner Agreement.

The company’s Service Partner Agreement is a document that is produced collaboratively with clients across a range of industry sectors including healthcare, food and drink and industrial.

It is produced by Heat Exchange Group’s PHE Service team listening carefully to clients’ requirements to enable them to create a highly individualised proposal.

It covers a wide range of elements of service delivery including a very detailed scope of work, how the project will be planned and documented, transparent pricing, guaranteed response times and contact details for the client’s team

at Heat Exchange Group.

“Although we have always produced detailed proposals for our clients, our new Service Partner Agreement has taken us up a league in our industry and makes us significantly stand out against the competition in our market,” said Neil Ford, group service sales director at Heat Exchange Group.

“Time and time again clients have told us that they have been wanting a more comprehensive view on what they will be getting from their suppliers for a long time. Our recent success has shown that our approach is exactly what they were looking for.”

0300 124 0495 sales@heatexchangegroup.co.uk www.heatexchangegroup.co.uk

IPN is sponsored by

A leading global supplier of surplus and remanufactured industrial control systems, Radwell International operates in the UK from three sites, with premises in Blackburn, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Tamworth.

With over 2,000 employees across fifteen locations worldwide, the company is an authorised distributor for over 350 new components and parts brands and also specialises in hard-to-source parts for the provision of refurbished industrial automation components for the repair and maintenance of equipment on plant floors and other end markets globally.

The new UK field buying division, headed by Andrew Duke and Daniel Jones, will be dedicated to sourcing used stock directly, with the pair conducting outbound site visits to assess value and provide purchase and removal offers.

On launching the new division, Andrew Duke said, “Disposing of old kit can be seen as a headache by many in terms of both time and expense.

“We not only take that pain away, we offer cash in return. We buy surplus

automated parts from all over the UK, Ireland and Europe, visiting new and existing vendors at their own facilities.

“By visiting sellers onsite, we aim to make the process as simple, hassle free and profitable as possible for anyone with used automation equipment and components they are looking to responsibly dispose of.

“The ability for companies to sell their end-of-life or end-of-use parts not only provides financial returns that might otherwise be wasted, it also helps companies meet their commitment to sustainability, maximising the lifecycle of industrial equipment in use across the global economy.”

To book a visit and assessment by the Radwell UK field buying team, please call: 01782 576800 or visit: www.radwell.com

– see them on pages 26-27

9

Software & IT

Start simple: Grow smar of modular condition mo T

he Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) can feel like a new-fangled, complex digital application, requiring nothing short of a Ph.D. to understand even the most rudimentary steps. Nothing could be further from the truth. It has the unlocked potential to connect vertical data flows with horizontal ones to create a truly connected factory. Tapping into the right data, via a modular platform can be a low-risk and low-cost endeavour for companies wanting to save on energy consumption or improve CNC machinery efficiency. In short, extracting the right data can enable single integrated views of asset condition monitoring, leading to valuable energy-saving decisions in real-time.

Food and beverage and engineering factories are brimming with data, but between untapped data, stranded and siloed data and new data, it can appear simply like a never-ending labyrinth of differing systems and devices.

RS Industria offers a comprehensive solution with its cloud-based end-toend IIoT platform, through its modular asset-based monitoring approach. The system can collect different asset protocols such as: OPC-UA, MODBUS and PROFINET and translate them seamlessly into one common format. The data is then transmitted to the cloud platform to create a single point of asset insight, for engineers to analyse further.

Due to its innovative modular format, monitoring of new assets can be added as key problems progressively solved for example, once energy consumption has been identified and decreased, wastewater or CNC machinery could be added to the system. This plug-and-play approach is simple, flexible, cost-effective and can be installed quickly.

Richard Jeffers, Director for Industrial Solutions at RS Components encapsulates and demystifies the RS Industria approach, “At its simplest level, IIoT revolves around how machines interact with each other and

how we know what’s going on within those machines through data. It’s about extracting better data, not big data.”

“Rather than thinking of it as a single overwhelming project, industrial organisations need a structured approach to tap into their data by collecting it in a planned and modular way.”

RS Industria simplifies the connection of manufacturing assets such as vibration sensors, PLCs, SCADA systems and utility meters, offering state-ofthe-art condition monitoring insights and enhanced asset health status alerts.

The company was founded in 1937 as Radio Spares, supplying the radio industry with electronic components. It has grown substantially over the years, with the online e-commerce platform substituting the iconic, original RS Catalogue to become a global, £3 billion powerhouse supplying industrial components, supplies and consumables around the world. RS Group is now a FTSE Top 100 company.

risk. With three years of development and market operation behind them, RS Industria has enabled many manufacturers to save costs and improve the efficiency of their production lines through continuous digital monitoring of assets and processes.

Based in London, RS Industria prides itself on supplying an industrial data platform, offering valuable asset insights for evidence-based decisions.

We caught up with John Bound: Head of Proposition Marketing at RS Industria for more insights, “We want our customer to start simple: grow smart. Many companies are confused by the technobabble around industry 4.0 and IIoT and feel they are being left behind. We are fully aware of the perceived barriers to IIoT, from substantial upfront costs (especially for SMEs), the almost mythical complexity surrounding system integration, legacy system retrofitting, cyber security, the skills gap in data analytics, the upheaval

RS Industria was created within this large and stable group, with a fast and flexible culture more akin to a Tech start-up, but without the financial

10

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

rt – the power onitoring from change management, to ROI uncertainty. These are all valid concerns and as a business, trying to overcome these barriers on your own is very difficult and requires a combination of careful planning, investment, education, collaboration, and a long-term commitment to digital transformation. This is why adoption of these technologies is so low in industry and why in-house IIoT projects often fail.”

“However, the core proposition of RS Industria is that our platform and our implementation team overcome these barriers quickly and cost-effectively – delivering the benefits much faster than in-house projects or many of our competitors.”

Statistics from expert business consultants: Deloitte UK show that equipment failure is the leading cause of downtime, with unplanned maintenance and paused production costing the manufacturing industry in excess of £337 billion per year.

Brompton Bicycle is one of the UK’s largest bike manufacturers, renowned for their legendary fold-up bikes. They rely heavily on their Greenford manufacturing factory in West London and their welding site in Sheffield, Yorkshire, to keep up with high demand. Engineers at the Greenford site were frustrated with one of their key CNC cells, which, due to the complexity of the different machining operations, meant that the sixaxis machine had a relatively long cycle time. Because of this, that particular CNC machine had become a production bottleneck – the slowest part of the line.

Brompton Bicycle were familiar with RS Industria

through their existing use of the platform to monitor energy consumption, which had already saved the company thousands of pounds, and decided to collect the CNC machine data via continuous monitoring. This was nothing short of a game-changer, as Brompton Manufacturing Engineer: Malcolm Millar explains, “This industrial data platform has removed the need for testing a high volume of parts. RS Industria has also led to an improved cycle time, as well as freeing up engineers’ time better spent on other activities. I have been using RS Industria to develop tooling speeds and feeds. By exporting peak torques for Spindles 1A/1B, I plugged the data into Minitab to run an optimisation analysis to minimise torque & noise.”

The result was that Malcolm’s team were able to reduce the process cycle time, remove the bottleneck and increase annual production capacity by up to 20,000 bikes – for minimal capital investment.

Brompton are now looking at extending the existing monitoring on their paint line and extending it to the Autobraze and wheel-building operations, creating real-time visibility of the whole Greenford factory site.

It is common for companies to focus on a particular area of immediate concern, such as energy consumption, and then extend the monitoring system to other aspects such as machinery and processes. as they see the benefits of better data. To facilitate this low-risk, high-return approach, RS Industria is a modular system, specifically structured to make the expansion process simple and quick.

The core proposition of RS Industria is that our platform and our implementation team overcome these barriers quickly and cost-effectively An example of this is a global food and beverage group that has over 150 manufacturing centres across over 30 countries. One of their UK sites produces the sweet and fruit ingredients for preserves, fillings, sauces and toppings. The company, like many around the UK, is firmly committed to the UK Government’s 2050 Net-Zero targets and wanted to actively reduce carbon emissions and energy costs across its operations by 2030. The site had a few existing energy meters and submeters, but the consumption data had to be collected manually each week, and both the limited scope and the slow data collection meant the site team did not have a clear view of energy consumption by area, process or time. By connecting the existing submeters to the RS Industria platform and installing new ones across the plant, they were soon able to see how and where energy was used. This real-time visibility of usage enabled the team to prioritise and target areas of high consumption and waste by changing procedures and amending behaviours – such as turning off equipment left on standby or by shutting down whole areas over the weekend.

The rapid deployment of the energy monitoring system led to an astonishing 14% decrease in energy consumption within the first three weeks. The RS Industria system also enabled them to experiment in real-time, by turning equipment and distribution circuits on and off to determine the base loads.

The two previous case studies illustrate how deploying the RS Industria condition monitoring system can offer companies insight into their production processes, enabling them to potentially make huge savings on energy costs and other utilities such as wastewater, and to optimise their production processes and ancillary equipment.

To find out how RS Industria can help your company today with condition monitoring of your factory assets, see the website below.

RS Industria will be at Smart Production Solutions Expo (SPS) at NürnbergMesse, Nuremberg, Germany from 14th-16th November 2023.

0333 2470235 https://www.rs-industria.com

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on pages 26-27

11

Electrical & Electronics

Taking a systems approach to solve electrification challenges I

ndustrial organisations can push decarbonisation forward by shifting process heater systems from fossil fuel-burning to electric. This kind of electrification needs to be done with a systems approach in mind – by considering the entire thermal loop. Of all the components needed to switch to electric, control panels are one of the most important. For large-scale applications, control panels need to be designed to maximise reliability, accessibility and safety. In this article, Jeff McClanahan, business segment leader at industrial technology company Watlow (pictured), explores why systems approach thinking is key in the manufacturing of components for electrification.

The question of electrification is less of an if or a when, and instead how. Globally, companies are prioritising the reduction of their carbon footprint. There is a huge push across different industries to ‘go electric’ as part of a larger program of decarbonisation. But the details for doing so can be elusive. It’s not as easy as swapping out gas-fired heaters for electric heaters, for example, without also considering the size, location and connectivity of the control panel that will regulate those electric heaters. These considerations will, in turn, have a bearing on how and when the system needs to be maintained, how long downtime lasts and what the prospects are for future expansion.

The point of a systems approach is to take a step back,

12

seeing how different design considerations impact on the system and process might have as a whole, rather than focusing on the functioning or replacement of a single part. A systems approach also has an impact on the business aspects of an industrial process, as it encourages engineers to consider the total cost of ownership when comparing different options.

Meeting challenges at scale Taking a systems approach to process heating was a foundational consideration behind the design of Watlow’s L and XL WATCONNECT control panels. Here, we take a deeper look at what went into that design as a way of illustrating the power of this kind of thinking.

A systems approach means finding not just one or two solutions to meet a challenge, but finding as many solutions as possible to optimize a given outcome. Take reliability, for example. What are all of the different ways a system can be optimized to ensure near 100% uptime?

One way this was done in the design of the WATCONNECT panels was by looking at the thermal design of the system.

All systems generate some heat, and excess heat is the nemesis of electronics. Therefore, optimising the system to keep heat under control is critical.

IPN is sponsored by

Watlow’s design looked at adding to the insulation of the system, reducing power where possible, and improving the airflow throughout the system.

Airflow itself was improved by using high-reliability EC inlet and outlet fans with advanced monitoring, which provide up to twice the airflow compared to industry standard fans.

Therefore, by better controlling waste heat within the panel, Watlow can extend the life of the electronic components and significantly increase reliability.

WATCONNECT panels are also designed with solid copper internal power interconnect for less expansion and contraction. This is especially important at high-resistance junctions, because the more this component heats up when made from an alternative to copper, the higher the risk of failure.

Lastly, while the panels are categorised as large, they use only 50% of the space that competitive panels require.

This can make it easier to install the panels when space is limited. Or, if replacing current equipment, the savings potentially frees up space for other critical equipment, allowing for future expansion.

To learn more about Watlow’s electrification solutions, visit: watlow.com

– see them on page 6

Electrical & Electronics

Enhanced productivity with highperformance error diagnosis Schmersal launches new version of the SD Gateway

T

he Schmersal Group is about to launch a new version of the SD Gateway for its SD bus. Users will be able to take advantage of the improved fault diagnostics offered by the new SDG Fieldbus Gateway. This in turn will help to increase machine and plant productivity by minimising downtime and simplifying commissioning and maintenance. The device is also user friendly and easy to install.

Electronic safety sensors and interlocks with SD interface can transmit comprehensive status and diagnostic data to a higher-level machine control system. Data from the serially connected switchgear is sent via the SD bus to the SDG fieldbus gateway and then passed on via the fieldbus to the machine control unit – enabling the forwarding of error messages such as overtemperature warnings, faulty actuator warnings and invalid actuator combination messages.

The diagnostic information is transmitted separately from safety signals. Warning notifications enable controlled process shutdown and targeted maintenance so as to prevent process interruptions.

The new variant of the SD Gateway also offers

a web server and has a microSD memory card and thus offers the following features: ■ Event logs can be evaluated in real time via the web interface.

■ Complete diagnostic data from all safety switchgear devices are displayed in plain text in the browser window.

■ Devices, such as interlocks and control panels, can be controlled directly via the web interface.

■ The microSD card allows event logs to be exported for evaluation and long-term storage.

■ The configuration of the series connection is stored on the microSD card to enable seamless device replacement in case of error.

In the near future, Schmersal will further expand the functionalities of the SDG fieldbus gateway so that the data of the connected safety switchgear can be transmitted not only via EtherCAT, but also via the common fieldbus protocols PROFINET, EtherNet/IP and Modbus. In addition, networking options will be expanded through connection to IO-Link and OPC UA communication systems.

An additional and significant benefit of the SD bus system is being retained in the

The new SDG Fieldbus Gateway from Schmersal enables high-performance error diagnosis, contributing to improved system availability

new Gateway: by connecting sensors and interlocks with the SD bus in series (an SD Gateway can communicate with up to 31 safety switchgear devices), this safety solution enables extremely lean wiring and reduces costs without sacrificing Performance Level (series connection for applications up to PL e). Setup and commissioning of an SD installation have been designed to be as convenient and straightforward as possible and all devices receive addresses from the Gateway automatically.

Contact +44 (0)1684 571980 uksupport@schmersal.com www.schmersal.co.uk

New outdoor protective housing for infrared cameras under harsh environmental conditions P

recision electronic equipment is difficult to operate in harsh environmental conditions such as extreme temperatures, humidity and dust levels and therefore needs adequate protection to function properly. Optris have recently introduced a new outdoor housing for their PI and Xi series of infrared cameras to enable these precision devices to operate in harsh environmental conditions.

The housing enables a combination of an infrared

ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEERS ● ELECTROMECHANICAL REPAIRS & REWINDS SERVICES ● SITE SERVICES ● SPECIALIST MANUFACTURING SERVICES ● BAKER SURGE TESTING ● ATEX HAZARDOUS AREA MOTOR REPAIRS & REWINDS

0191 416 5222 WWW.ADC-ELECTRICAL.CO.UK

IPN is sponsored by

camera and a high definition camera in a single compact system with an integrated and compact USB server.

The new housing is IP66 compliant and is therefore suitable for operation in dusty or humid environments. An electrical heating element is included that activates automatically at temperatures below +15°C to enable use in very low temperatures; a ventilation fan circulates warm air evenly within the housing. The system can operates at temperatures ranging from -40°C up to +50°C. An optional air purge unit continuously clears the protective housing’s window with compressed air while ensuring that no dust or condensation gathers there. This ensures that the infrared camera consistently has clear visibility and can provide precise and reliable temperature measurements.

When operating in conjunction with the optional HD video camera, with its 1280x720 pixel resolution, combined thermal and optical condition monitoring as well as fire protection applications can fulfilled with precision and confidence.

The integrated USB server transfers the images from the infrared camera and the video camera can be used so that data from both cameras is merged into a single stream; transmission occurs via an Ethernet line. These cameras are therefore easily integrated into existing industrial video control systems.

Contact +49 (0)30 500 197-0 sales@optris.com https://www.optris.com/en

– see them on pages 26-27

13

Industrial Cleaning Equipment Company of the Year

Creating clean, protecting health I

n this issue of Industrial Process News, we are delighted to announce Crescent Industrial as our Industrial Cleaning Equipment Company of the Year.

Crescent Industrial is a leading supplier of industrial floor cleaning equipment for hire and purchase across many sectors including: construction, manufacturing, food processing and warehouse/distribution. As an Alcumus safe-contractor member and ISO 9001: 2015 quality assurance, customers can expect expert results for all their industrial cleaning needs.

The leading family-run business was first established in 1975, with a focus on electrical contracting services and then by the early 1990’s diversified into repairing cleaning machines. Later down the line, after supplying and servicing industrial cleaning machines, there was a highly successful merger with a Londonbased equipment supplier. This has opened doors to supplying next-generational automated cleaners, paving the way towards smart technology.

Here at Industrial Process News, we have previously selected Crescent Industrial as our Company of the Month, with the showcasing of the cuttingedge K900 vacuum sweeper robot. We caught up with Calvin Stacey: Marketing Manager to find out more about the company and where it’s heading now, “We are specialists in providing cleaning solutions to customers in high-dust or intense

or skip. We’re already seeing this positively impact construction sites and other highdust applications where protection from substances such as silica dust is a real concern.”

cleaning applications and pride ourselves in giving customers a tangible result from using our cleaning machines – both in efficiency and effectiveness.

We do this through a range of superior products, such as scrubber-dryers that have three-four times the scrubbing pressure of alternative options and vacuum-sweepers that deliver double the sweep power, thanks to a unique Tandem Roller Sweep system.”

“The last 12 months has been a time of considerable growth and change at Crescent. Not only have sales been higher than expected, but we’ve launched four new products and our team’s grown by over 25%!”

“We’ve recently launched a revolutionary dust containment system that’s been specifically designed for use on our Topfloor TF95 Vacuum-Sweeper. It’s a really exiting world-first fully sealable solution that protects operators from exposure to harmful dust when emptying their sweeper machine into a bin

14

IPN is sponsored by

Particulate Matter (PM) is a mixture of microscopic materials found in our air, many of which are present in harmful construction dust and are dangerous to human health. The smaller sized PM particles, such as silica dust, can be inhaled through our throat and nose, entering and remaining lodged in our lungs. Our lungs then form scar tissue around the particles, ultimately resulting in life-threatening respiratory conditions like silicosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and even lung disease. Particulates are rated according to size and the UK Government is primarily concerned with reducing particles less than 10 micrometres in diameter (PM10.)

The construction industry, alongside the UK Government has been continually concerned about the long-term health of its workers, from the PM10 particle levels in silica and other dangerous dusts commonly found on constriction sites across the country.

In response to these concerns, Crescent Industrial

– see them on page 6

carried out rigorous in-house testing on a wide variety of cleaning methods in a tightly controlled environment. The results were surprising and staggering, in equal measure. As expected, there were dangerously high levels of dust activated by using a standard broom or manual sweeper with no filter or active vacuum dust-control.

When using a battery-powered vacuum sweeper with HEPA filtration, the amount of airborne dust created during cleaning was dramatically reduced to safe levels for the operator. What was surprising, however, was that when the TF95 vacuum sweeper was emptied, the dust levels peaked to almost the same amounts as generated by traditional manual sweeping.

Crescent Industrial got to work on some high-tech R&D prototype testing and after extensive trial, error and adjustments, the Product Development Team came up with the world’s first dust containment system for industrial vacuum sweepers. This patentpending Bag-In-Bin product provides an ingenious sealable solution for collecting hazardous dust, protecting construction workers or any operators in a high-dust applications.

The Bag-In-Bin system allows for all the debris to be collected into a bag which operators can then seal using a cable tie and safely dispose of. The system can be used with the existing TF95 pedestrian vacuum sweeper, providing a robust solution for safe and efficient cleaning on-site.

IPN is sponsored by

With this ingenious innovation, Crescent Industrial has once again proved that it is the market leader in the world of industrial cleaning equipment. This handy adaption to the already powerful TF95-TRS means that construction companies can seamlessly improve the protection of the long-term health for their workers.

The Topfloor TF95-TRS vacuum sweeper with Bag-In-Bin system can be hired or purchased now from the Crescent Industrial team.

The central head office location is in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire and with distributors and remote office across the UK, there is nationwide coverage available for all customers.

With a dedicated team of delivery drivers and highlyexperienced field service engineers, any maintenance issues, planned or otherwise can be resolved quickly, without adverse downtime.

With a strong reputation providing cleaning equipment in high-dust and intense cleaning environments, the extensive existing range of products include: walk-behind and ride-on vacuum

sweeper machines, industrial vacuums, scrubberdryers and fully autonomous cleaning robots. All the equipment is available for purchase or rental, to industrial users from brickworks, construction sites, foundries, food factories, warehouse distribution clients and many more industries.

Now, with the world’s first dust containment system for industrial vacuum sweepers, Crescent Industrial have provided a gamechanger in the fight against harmful PM10 particles on construction sites and highdust application areas.

“Going forward, we have over five new products nearing launch stage which we’ll be adding to our range to fill some new areas that our customers have been requesting solutions for.

A quick taster – there’s an ever-increasing focus on automation so you can be sure that we’ll be revealing some further developments in this category soon!”

“It’s a massive privilege to be chosen for this Company of the Year award – we’re very grateful for the recognition we get that cements Crescent as being the market leader when it comes to industrial cleaning solutions,” concluded Calvin.

To view the full range of cleaning machinery solutions, including the new Topfloor TF95-TRS vacuum sweeper with Bag-In-Bin system, get in touch using the details below: 01789 415695 info@c-ind.co.uk www.crescentindustrial.co.uk

– see them on pages 26-27

15

Plastics & Rubber

Screw & Barrel Wear – Keeping costs down F

or plastics and rubber processing, Magog Industries constantly strive to offer solutions to reduce wear on screws and barrels but it is equally important to regularly monitor for early signs of wear.

With high volume but low cost/unit production, it is understandable to keep machines running where possible.

But further challenges such as using more regrind along with fluctuation in polymer quality can only add to eventual problems such as higher temperatures, lower output and unwanted quality issues on the moulded product, leading to increasing the pressure, adding to energy use and eventually leading to increased costs of worn parts.

As a guide, the minimum gap between a 50mm screw O/D to the barrel bore is between 0.10mm to 0.25mm (max) and for a larger 150mm dia screw, from 0.30mm to 0.45mm. For mixing elements such as a Maddox the gap is between 0.50mm and 0.75mm. But screws and barrels tend to wear unevenly over time and to save cost in the long term, monitoring screw and barrel wear should be part of regular maintenance.

16

Visual inspection can show some obvious signs such as scored surfaces, pitting or material worn away especially to the flight sides on the screw. Accurate digital measurement of screws, barrels and associated parts provide a clear indication of the amount of wear and what action is needed.

At Magog Industries, our engineers conduct Inspections at our workshops or alternatively carry out the Inspection at the customer’s site. A Report on the condition is made available with recommendation for repair, re-design or replacement.

Magog will be at Sustainable Plastics Live 2023 at the Coventry Building Society Arena (formerly Ricoh Arena), Coventry 10th-11th May. Visit us on Stand B18, Hall 1.

We will be pleased to offer solutions available including surface coatings, alloys available and re-design to maximise effectiveness in plastics and rubber processing.

For more information, contact Magog Industries: enquiries@magog.co.uk, telephone: 01920 465201 or visit: www.magog.co.uk

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

Hydraulics, Pneumatics & Compressed Air

The compact solution to higher air demand F

PS Air Compressors is releasing the range of Fini direct-drive compressors into the UK. Comprising MiniCUBE and CUBE models, the former is the most compact solution in its market segment and comes as a single-phase solution if preferred in the 2.2kW model. Where higher air requirements are necessary, the CUBE is available in models up to 7.5kW, providing a direct replacement for a piston compressor while producing 30-35% more output.

Small in size, but big in benefits, the MiniCUBE delivers compressed air for pneumatic devices that include air tools, spray paint guns, production machinery and packaging systems, to list but a few. The unique 1:1 direct drive means no belts, gears, pulleys or couplings, avoiding tension or misalignment issues.

The upshot is reduced maintenance and noise emissions, alongside high levels of energy efficiency and safety.

Suitable for continuous use, the reliable MiniCUBE offers all the power of a screw compressor in either three-phase

(400V) or single-phase (240V) variants, where the former features an IE3 energy efficiency class motor. Providing simple and reliable operation in a footprint of less than 1m3, the unit is exceptionally quiet, allowing its placement near any operating environment. Notably, this oil- lubricated coaxial compressor is available at low investment cost, despite the inclusion of features like a shock-resistant thermoformed protective cover, intake regulator and ‘LOGIN Basic’ multi-function controller.

For higher air demands, the larger capacity CUBE range comes in models up to 7.5kW and just like the MiniCUBE, the oil-injected rotary screw CUBE compressor, is quiet, compact, energyefficient and extremely reliable.

01865 892620 sales@fps-compressors.co.uk https://www.fps-compressors.co.uk/ minicube-and-cube.html https://www.fps-compressors.co.uk/ energy-saving-air-compressors.html

Surface Finishing & Coatings

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on pages 26-27

17

Thermal Imaging Camera Company of the Year

Pioneering Thermal lab at The Engineering Design Show 2023 I

n this issue of Industrial Process News, we are delighted to announce that Thermal Vision Research is our Thermal Imaging Camera Company of the Year.

The Engineering Design Show has been running for eleven years and is the business and networking calendar event for the engineering design sector, showcasing the latest advanced innovations across the mechanical, electronics and embedded design sectors. This is where the future intersects the present, with the very best across the engineering design industry. As many in the industry will already know, the best way to showcase product innovation is through experiential workshops and practical demonstrations, not dissimilar to the best school STEM lessons, with flying rockets, marble runs to LEGO forts.

Thermal Vision Research (TVR): UK distributor for Teledyne FLIR’S IR thermography camera range, will be exhibiting at The Engineering Design Show and its director, Matthew Clavey is full of wonder and curiosity around thermal imaging cameras.

With a passion for filming in his free time, he has taken sublime thermal video footage of drag racing at the famous Santa Pod Raceway in Podington, Bedfordshire. Using the iconic Teledyne FLIR T650sc, Matthew captured race car motion in sumptuous orange and purple hues, giving the effect of a cinematic art house movie. With his innate creativity and talent for visual merchandising, the exhibition stands for Thermal Vision Research (TVR) are always eye-catching and attract many visitors. Matthew explains the strategy for this year’s Engineering Design Show, “We are delighted to have a state-ofthe-art thermal lab at this year’s Engineering Design Show in Coventry. Think of all the best engineering/ science classes you ever had at school, we want people to get just as curious and excited about our technology and its true capabilities, across multiple

applications, from electronic component testing, EV battery testing to aircraft, defence or rail network research and many others.”

“The best way for engineers and designers to really get the feel for our technology is to see it in action.

We’re not just exhibiting – we are showcasing spellbinding thermal imaging cameras, capable of next-level technology.”

We want visitors to ask us the big-How and What questions: ■ How do you test for heat or temperature?

■ How can you see if a battery is overheating?

■ What does a bullet look like, travelling at high or slow speed?

“We will then answer utilising our advanced visible thermogram form technology, digitised with cutting-edge software processing,” challenged Matthew.

Established in 2017, Thermal Vision Research (TVR) by visionary Director Matthew and is based at Aztec West Business Park near Bristol, in South Gloucestershire.

Thermal Vision Research (TVR) is the UK distributor for Teledyne FLIR’S IR thermography camera range, designed for specialist R&D applications.

Matthew Clavey with be joined at the two-day event by the American FLIR Business Development Managers, to answer queries on technical camera specifications, “We will be showcasing the Teledyne FLIR infrared thermal camera range and introducing visitors to the new Teledyne FLIR Research Studio Professional Edition software.”

the FLIR camera range, computers and tripods and the BDM’s can answer the technical questions from design engineers and academic heads of department,” adds Matthew.

The R&D possibilities of FLIR thermal cameras are boundless, offering razor-sharp images and measurements. Thermal Vision Research recently partnered with The Aircraft Research Association (ARA): a specialist, local UK aerodynamic research institute, to test the hybrid laminar flow control hypothesis. The Bristol-based company loaned its Teledyne FLIR T1K to locate accurate temperature changes in the high-speed transonic wind tunnel, with speeds up to Mach 1.4 (1,000mph.) As a result of the air turbulence generated from the high speeds, the precise point of transition for airflow changes by less than 1°. The Teledyne FLIR T1K provides a visualisation of the airflow in-situ, without effecting the aerodynamic variable. These meticulous point of transition results has allowed the Aircraft Research Association (ARA) to prove the hybrid laminar flow control hypothesis, within controlled test conditions.

The ARA are now at the early stages of marketing the pioneering FLIR T1K wind tunnel concept design to engineering companies. The over-arching research goal is to make long-haul flights more sustainable, especially as we edge towards the UK Government’s 2050 net-zero targets.

Here at Industrial Process News, we have previously awarded Thermal Vision Research as our Company of the Month, through its pioneering partnership

“This latest release encompasses a Professional Edition with FLIR Research Studio Playerprecision designed for R&D applications that are in need of sturdy data capture and analysis and an upgraded version of the FLIR Research Studio Standard Edition. Both versions offer a ‘Connect-View-Record-Analyse-Share’ workflow, designed to seamlessly identify key thermal data, to make critical decisions.”

“Our Bristol-based team can demonstrate

18

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

batteries, notably with the recent cargo ship fire off the Dutch coast. The ship was en-route from Germany to Egypt and was carrying 3,000 vehicles, with 25 electric vehicles at the time, when a deadly inferno broke out. The suspected cause is thought to be the EV batteries.

with ARA and secondly an innovative collaboration with Northern Rail, using Teledyne FLIR camera technology.

This unique partnership has seen the trialling of an ‘intelligence train,’ installed with a FLIR A6750sc cooled thermal camera. The camera works with acoustic monitors, G-shock Bogie, AI camera,

radar dome, LIDAR horizon-scanning cameras and precision-driven 180° thermal imaging software, providing precision-driven accuracy on track infrastructure problems.

IPN is sponsored by

As the train is naturally running at high-speeds, the camera needs to capture clear images in transit, but with pixels generating in sub-one milliseconds of particular track sections and full-frames of 125Hz, this camera is certainly up to the job. The cooled camera can register up to 100 metres ahead on the tracks and will automatically upload detailed track date to a SMART-cloud platform, which can be accessed by Northern Rail remotely The advantages of using a camera in this way are twofold: ■ It allows the train company to keep the track open for regular train services, saving costly downtime.

■ Thermal imagining pinpoints precise areas for track maintenance, earmarking for strategic future engineering maintenance.

With the recent push towards EV batteries and the now associated cargo ship transportation safety concerns, the Teledyne FLIR high-speed thermal camera could provide extra test safety reassurance.

This camera provides more accurate high-speed imaging results than previous thermocouples and general IR devices, pinpointing the exact location of short-circuits and subsequent heat spreading. This is key information for battery design engineers, helping them navigate round potential damage scenarios. The high-speed camera offers unprecedented slow thermal imaging captures at high temperatures of over 700°C and provides comprehensive details of the thermal management system, during the EV battery testing period.

TVR are happy visit businesses in person, to demonstrate the camera range capabilities on-site and offer camera hiring, lease and purchasing options.

This pioneering trial will continue throughout 2023, with the potential to expand to other rail networks around the country.

Thermal Vision Research will be exhibiting at The Engineering Design Show at Coventry Building Society Arena from 12th-13th October 2023 at Stand G74.

After a highly successful exhibition at EIS Instrumentation Analysis and Test Exhibition at Silverstone earlier in May, the Thermal Vision Research team is ready to ramp up a gear for the forthcoming Engineering Design Show.

For more information on TVR, please see the website below: 0333 200 4667 info@thermalvisionresearch.co.uk www.thermalvisionresearch.co.uk https://www.linkedin.com/in/ matthew-clavey-b8ab082a

One of the most hotly contested issues in the industry is overheated

– see them on pages 26-27

19

Oil, Gas & Offshore

SeaShield 70/80™ System: Effective protection for submerged and shoreline pipelines

Digital Edge Subsea: Offshore Digital Video + Inspection systems

F

or over 50 years, SeaShield™ corrosion control systems have provided enduring protection on jetty piles and marine structures from the devastating effects of corrosion. The recent addition of the SeaShield 70/80™ System is a response to the industry’s need for a robust, UV-stable, easy-toapply system designed specifically for submerged and shoreline pipelines situated in aggressive marine environments.

Sections of the pipe were wrapped in the contractor’s yard (inset) then transported to site, whilst others were wrapped in-situ

The SeaShield 70/80 System, from Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd, was created by combining a water-displacing petrolatum tape and primer with a tough PVC-backed bitumen tape (the SeaShield 80™ System) and a moisture-cured glassfibre reinforced outerwrap (from the SeaShield 70™ System). The resulting system provides exceptional mechanical and impact strength and is available in three variations to suit the level of protection required.

The flexibility offered by the SeaShield 70/80 System marked it as the ideal

20

choice for a recently completed project on the West Sussex coast. Leith Hill Plant Ltd., on behalf of Arun District Council, applied the heavy-duty version of the system in stages, both off-site and in-situ, to protect newly laid pipe sections on two outfall pipes that had previously suffered significant damage from shingle movement.

Contact +44 (0)20 8670 7511 www.denso.net

IPN is sponsored by

D

igital Edge Subsea supplies subsea industries with digital video recording systems (DVR). The company was established more than 13 years ago, and has nurtured strong customer relationships that have allowed for honest customer feedback, and this has been incorporated into the development of the Version 5 Edge DVR. Digital Edge Subsea also offer further software that will help their customers better serve their clients. The Archive App offers a data storage and backup solution that uses an integral Edge architecture to avoid needing a 3rd party app. Edge Archive handles the transfer of data from the internal DVR drives to Client storage,

either on a NAS, a Raid, or a phased delivery to multiple external hard drives. Archive can act as a Simple data mirror of the correct internal drive data folders, or can be used to create multiple simultaneous backups of Client Deliverables. This can be done in continuous backup or a phased approach, i.e., after each dive.

Our DVRs are available in 4u, laptop and workstation formats, providing a great range of potential solutions for many situations.

For more information or a demonstration of the system, contact: info@digitaledgesubsea.com or visit: www.digitaledgesubsea.com

– see them on page 6

Leaders in measurement of Nitrogen Oxides E

CO PHYSICS AG has a global presence with is main HQ based in Dürnten, Switzerland, and two other offices in Germany and the United States. Since 1989, ECO PHYSICS AG has been at the forefront of the environmental, health and process control industry. Its ECOlogical leadership combined with its passion for innovation ensures the company remains dedicated to sustaining the environment through all of its business activities.

The company offers sophisticated solutions for a range of applications including Medical, Semiconductor, Automotive, Aviation, Marine and Combustive Engines, Industrial, Environmental, Ambient Air and Research, and NO liquids.

ECO PHYSICS AG offers innovative analytical solutions for measurement of nitrogen oxides and related gas components like ammonia, in the fields of environment, health

Oil, Gas & Offshore

ESG and renewables energy journey opening doors for innovative J&S Subsea Limited

‘

Do it because you want to, not because you have to’ – that’s the mantra at J&S Subsea Limited where a focus on the company’s ESG and renewable energy journey opening doors to exciting new opportunities and gaining recognition thanks to a recent award win. and process control and by using its interdisciplinary research and development team, it can also deliver customer oriented, tailor-made products and services. ECO PHYSICS AG is highly involved in the Industrial industry and places a large focus on medium NOx , NOx-related and multigas-concentrations up to 5,000 ppm where flexibility is a central requirement. Its range of Modular Gas Analyzers include parameters for NO, NO2, NOx , NH3, NOx-amines, O2 and CO2, and typically support applications for industrial emission monitoring and gas manufacturing control.

Contact +41 55 220 22 22 info@ecophysics.com www.ecophysics.com

Two years on from a management buyout of the subsea controls engineering division of SEA (part of Cohort plc), J+S Subsea Limited has just been named as this year’s sustainability winner in the Decom Awards, and is on track to deliver turnover of £10 million in the coming years thanks to a significant uplevelling in its commitment to the circular economy.

Central to the company’s growth and net zero focus will be the innovative Legacy Locker which facilitates the reuse, refurbishment, and recycling of subsea equipment.

As well as unlocking capital tied up in unwanted equipment, the system also helps users to boost

L-R: Kenny Taylor, Partner – Energy Infrastructure, Zero Waste Scotland, James Morris – Engineering Director at J&S Subsea & Sam Long, CEO, Decom Mission

their environmental credentials by finding ways to reduce waste.

As part of its drive towards net zero, the ambitious Kintore-based company has been supported by Scottish Enterprise and is also participating in the Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR) catapult programme.

To find out more, please visit: +44 (0)1224 773435 www.jands.co.uk

‘New, versatile and flexible ambient air monitor’

T

he nCLD AL3/nCLD 8555 CY by ECO PHYSICS AG is the ideal instrument for ambient air monitoring, either installed in racks, fixed monitoring stations or mobile laboratories. Besides the ambient air in the open environment, the analyzer is also suitable for air quality monitoring in production plants and offices (TLV = threshold limit value). The nCLD AL3/nCLD 8555 CY is a three-channel chemiluminescence based analyzer, capable of measuring NO, NO2, NOX and NH3 simultanously.

The measurement ranges are individually adjustable within a maximum of 50ppm. The minimum detection limit is determined at 0.4ppb. The instrument’s inlet operates at ambient pressure and the vacuum pump supplies the detector with a sample gas flow of 1 L/min. The

IPN is sponsored by

calibration of the unit runs quick and automatic, while all necessary data is continuously stored in the integrated data logger. The modular version of the nCLD AL3/nCLD 8555 CY offers optional features such as a heated inlet, pressure regulation or calibration valves, in case your application is for example the testing of specialty gases. The is nCLD AL3/nCLD 8555 CY based on the nCLD AL2, which is QAL1 certified according to ISO EN 14211.

ECO PHYSICS AG Bubikonerstrasse 45 8635 Duernten Switzerland +41 55 220 22 22 info@ecophysics.com www.ecophysics.com

– see them on pages 26-27

21

Drives, Controls & Automation

Six days instead of six months delivery

Machining & Engineering

M

otor customers in the UK are currently particularly pleased with the fast delivery capability of German manufacturer Menzel Elektromotoren.

In early June, the family-run company received two orders for large machines within one week. Due to motor failures, the water supply to 30,000 households was threatened and production in a cement plant was halted. After delivery times of only six and ten days, respectively, both the pump and the cement mill could be restarted in the shortest imaginable time. Faced with unexpected downtime due to equipment failures, customers often cannot afford to wait for a motor manufactured from scratch – standard delivery times in higher output ranges start at six months. Menzel has proven itself to be a strong partner in an emergency, quickly configuring suitable motor systems for a wide range of high-output applications from its large, diverse stock of motors, cooling units and ancillary equipment – such as the current two jobs for British customers. The squirrel cage pump motor has a nominal output of 1,380kW operating at 3,300V. The slipring motor for a cement mill delivers 2,000kW at 11kV. Its special features are increased ingress protection rated IP55

Menzel’s large warehouse and modular design for motors and coolers allow fast delivery of tailored motor systems for industrial applications (here: 2,000kW 11kV cement mill motor) and a closed cooling system with a top-mounted air-to-air heat exchanger (cooling type IC 611), ideal for dusty environments and large temperature fluctuations.

Large industrial motors from stock and quickly tailored to order: https://www.menzel-motors.com/ article/large-lv-mv-hv-motors +49 30 349 922-0 info@menzel-motors.com www.menzel-motors.com

ABB to invest $280 million in its European Robotics hub in Sweden A

BB today announced an investment of $280 million to expand its manufacturing footprint in Europe and build a new state-of-the-art ABB Robotics European Campus in Västerås, Sweden. The Campus will serve as the hub for ABB Robotics’ offering in Europe, providing customers with AI-enabled collaborative and industrial robots, as well as digital solutions to support flexible automation as part of the company’s ‘local for local’ production strategy. Replacing the existing robotics facilities at the site, the new Campus is planned to open in late 2026.

ABB’s investment in the Robotics Campus in Västerås will enhance its robotics and automation leadership globally. With the facility, ABB will expand production capacity by 50% and strengthen its capabilities to supply the European market, which is expected to grow at 7% CAGR through

22

20271. When the campus is completed, ABB will have invested $450 million in its three robotics facilities since 2018, including its mega factory in Shanghai that supplies customers in Asia and the Auburn Hills facility that supports the Americas.

ABB’s new Campus will enable close collaboration with customers and partners to develop robotics and automation solutions in a safe and functional environment. Customers will be able to test their solutions and experiment with the latest automation innovations on-site. In addition, employees, visitors, and students alike will be able to take part in an open and lively Campus, both during and after office hours. www.abb.com 1. Shipments. Source: Interact Analysis

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

Why the £270 million from Plastic Packaging Tax could solve long-term industry challenges

By Paul Empson, General Manager, Bakers Basco

T

he UK Government’s collection of £270 million from the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) in its first year signals a strong commitment to addressing plastic waste.

However, beneath the surface, challenges in sourcing recycled plastic must be tackled for long-term success.

Introduced in April 2022, the PPT imposes a £200 per tonne charge on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content, aiming to promote recycling and collection. But the complexity emerges when assessing its impact on industries reliant on plastic packaging.

A key issue, highlighted by Plastic Recyclers Europe, is the shortage of sorted plastic waste in Europe, affecting the £7.7 billion plastic recycling sector. With only 52% of recycled material coming from the UK, questions arise about the remaining 48% and associated carbon emissions.

This situation forces companies, even smaller ones like Bakers Basco, into

using 30% recycled content in their products. However, this presents its own problems due to supply chain struggles.

The long-term consequences for the plastics industry are significant, with production delays affecting various sectors.

Bakers Basco, known for its reusable Omega breadbasket, faces challenges in securing the required recycled plastic, impacting not only their operations but also the baking industry.

In conclusion, the PPT revenue highlights the UK’s commitment to combat plastic waste, but addressing business challenges and imported recycled material accountability is crucial.

Allocating funds to enhance domestic recycling infrastructure and innovation paves the way for a sustainable future, emphasizing that legislation alone is insufficient; strategic actions are vital for a resilient and circular plastics industry.

08000 327323 https://bakersbasco.com

Print & Packaging

Essentra’s Kidlington site switches to 100% recyclable packaging E

ssentra Components, a leading provider of essential components and solutions, has completed the switch within its UK manufacturing and distribution centre in Kidlington to using paper-based packaging.

The new packaging contains recycled content and is widely recyclable after use, supporting both its own and its customers’ ambitions for a more sustainable future.

This initiative supports Essentra’s goals of ensuring 100% of its packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2030, and reaching 50% recycled content across its packaging materials by 2030.

Working closely with packaging suppliers, the Kidlington distribution team focused on replacing transport packaging with more sustainable options: plastic used to fill voids, for example, has been replaced by 100% recycled cardboard, created by converting waste cardboard on-site;

plastic mailers have been replaced with paper versions containing 20% recycled paper; and the tape used to seal boxes is now made from widely recyclable paper, and the adhesive biodegradable.

Jennifer Spence, Head of Sustainability Strategy at Essentra, says this initiative is a great example of the Kidlington distribution team turning targets into results, “Our aim has always been to reduce not only our own environmental footprint but also to support our customers in delivering their own sustainability targets,” she says.

“This latest announcement shows how incremental shifts, and making even relatively small changes, can have a significant impact on improving our collective sustainability.”

Contact 0345 528 0474 www.essentracomponents.com www.essentraplc.com

Health & Safety

Industry expert Casella Introducing your 5-Point launches enhanced High Maintenance Program for Flow Air Sampling Pump on-site Safety Showers!

A

A

t Aqua, we understand the importance of keeping your on-site safety product in optimal condition to ensure the well-being of your workforce. That’s why we’re excited to offer our comprehensive 5-Point Maintenance Program. Let’s take a closer look at the five key points of our maintenance program:

sbestos-related diseases take the lives of 20 tradespeople every week.

Despite being banned in the UK, research has found that extensive asbestos remediation work is still needed on more than 100,000 UK buildings, posing a threat to anyone who disturbs the dangerous material.

Global occupational hygiene and workplace hazard monitoring expert Casella has launched an enhanced version of its Vortex3 high flow pump, designed to simplify asbestos and air sampling.

Continuing to fulfil its mission to improve health in the workplace and community with life-changing monitoring technology, the upgraded Vortex3 offers an 8-hour runtime at 8L/min and 4 hours at 12L/min with a typical filter, ensuring continuous performance. With a flow accuracy better than +/-5%, the Vortex3 ensures consultants, contractors and specialists have confidence in results.

Using Casella’s patent-pending, interlocking design, the Vortex3 has an ergonomically comfortable handle and weighs just 2.37kg, allowing users to carry multiple units in one hand with ease.

The Vortex3 has an IP65 rating, providing protection from dust and water ingress.

Casella’s ergonomic design has ensured the high flow pump’s smooth body finish is free from small crevices that could hold fine airborne asbestos fibres, allowing for safer decontamination and cleaning.

Available in two versions, the Vortex3 Pro model is compatible with Casella’s innovative Airwave App and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling users to remotely start, pause or stop a measurement run, monitor battery life and memory capacity and check measurement progress direct from a mobile device. +44 (0)1234 844100 www.casellasolutions.com

IPN is sponsored by

■ Regular inspections: Our team of trained engineers will conduct regular inspections of your on-site safety product, carefully examining each component for signs of wear, damage, or malfunction. By catching potential issues early on, we can address them protectively and prevent any major breakdowns or accidents.

■ Cleaning and lubrication: Proper cleaning and lubrication are essential for the smooth functioning of your safety equipment. We will thoroughly clean all parts, removing dirt, debris, and other contaminants that could compromise performance.

■ Maintenance and inspection: Failsafe maintenance and inspection are crucial to guarantee safe and reliable operation. Our experts will

calibrate your safety product according to industry standards, making necessary adjustments to maintain availability in times of need.

■ Component replacement: Over time, certain safety product components may wear out or become obsolete.

As part of our maintenance program, we will identify any worn-out parts and promptly replace them with high-quality, manufacturer-approved replacements where possible.

■ Documentation and reporting: Our maintenance program includes comprehensive documentation and reporting. We will keep detailed records of all inspections, repairs, and replacements performed on your safety product.

Invest in the longevity and reliability of your on-site safety product with our 5-Point Maintenance Program.

Your workforce’s safety is our top priority at Aqua! +44 (0)1942 318096 sales@aqua-safety.com www.aqua-safety.com

– see them on pages 26-27

23

Print & Packaging

Stop losing bags in pallet build – use LOCK N’POP™ W

ith the pressure to identify areas where production line efficiency can be improved and costs reduced, it is worth focusing at events further down the production line. Whilst the consistent flow of filling, sealing and moving bagged products will bring lower production costs as reliability increases, these savings are lost if stoppages occur at the last stage, i.e. the automatic palletisation process prior to warehousing and dispatch. With the development of specific pallet stabilising cohesives for bags and sacks, the LOCK N’POP technology now offers a solution that improves efficiencies and reduces costs in this often overlooked area. Visit: www. locknpop.co.uk or read on for further information.

There are specific challenges for producers palletising bagged products.

Whether the product is pet food, horse feed, aggregate or cement, there are common issues to

be faced. The dropped or misplaced corner bags as the conveyor moves the finished pallet is a common and efficiency sapping occurrence. As the alarm sounds and the line is forced to stop, bags replaced and robots reset, the pounds and pence earned by high production line efficiencies are lost.

In addition to losses on the line the production of misshaped pallets leads to other unnecessary costs as pallets are loaded onto trailers. Often the number of pallets per load can not be maximised leading to avoidable higher road transport costs.

Manufacturers of high volume bagged products are no longer prepared to accept that this has to be ‘the normal’ and have turned to Gransden UK and LOCK N’POP to remove this problem. With a range of cohesives specifically designed for plastic and paper sacks it is possible to achieve reliably built pallets that move through the final production processes in the factory and on the road to the customer problem free.

Gransden UK install the water based, cold, LOCK N’POP technology directly before palletisation, usually after the bag flattener just prior to the robot pick up point. Using minimal quantities of cohesive, less than 0.5 gramme per bag, the LOCK N’POP cohesive provides a temporary tack to the bag surface. Consequently, every bag dropped

by the robot onto the pallet stays in position and does not slide sideways. This reliable bag positioning from the base layer to the top ensures consistent and straight pallets and ensures that even the top layer bags stay in position. With an ‘on cost’ of less than that of a single layer sheet, which will not be needed with LOCK N POP, the economics are attractive.

As the cohesive dries, the lock remains until depalletized at distribution centre or supermarket. By this time, the cohesive is dry, the tack has disappeared and no evidence of the LOCK N’POP cohesive remains. For the customer this means perfect pallets presented every time.

A range of companies in the UK, big and small, are now palletising bags and sacks using LOCK N’POP to improve production efficiencies, reduce operating costs and get their pallets to the customer in perfect condition every time.

For more information, please contact us at Gransden UK Ltd, 01728 726621 07516 683314 locknpop@gransden.org www.locknpop.co.uk

Introducing the Aero Carbon Fiber Pallet Wrap Dispenser: Precision meets performance I

n the fast-paced world of manufacturing, where time and efficiency are critical, the Aero Carbon Fibre Pallet Wrap Dispenser emerges as the peak of innovation.

Inspired by Formula One technology and designed for factory and warehouse floors, the Aero transforms pallet wrapping with its exceptional features.

from cutting-edge carbon fibre, the Aero is astonishingly lightweight.

Manoeuvring it through your workspace is a breeze, and operators can effortlessly reach and wrap the bottom of pallets. Less physical effort translates to saved time and reduced fatigue.

Ergonomic Design: Crafted with meticulous attention to ergonomics, the Aero dispenser ensures that workers can wrap pallets comfortably and efficiently. Its intuitive design minimises strain, allowing operators to maintain peak productivity without compromising on well-being.

Versatile Adaptability: The Aero is engineered to effortlessly accommodate various sizes of pallet wrap, making it a versatile addition to any factory. Say goodbye to the hassle of switching between dispensers for different jobs.

This adaptability streamlines your processes and optimises your workspace.

Feather-Light Efficiency: Constructed

24

Low-Profile: With its sleek, low-profile design, the Aero excels in accessing those hard-to-reach areas beneath pallets. Every inch of your load can now be securely wrapped with ease, eliminating the need for timeconsuming adjustments.

The Aero Carbon Fibre Pallet Wrap Dispenser is specifically designed for use with Armour Wrap pallet wrap, offering unparalleled compatibility and performance synergy. Improve your pallet wrapping game to Formula One standards with the Aero. Visit: Springpack.co.uk/aero for more information and to buy online.

01905 457000 www.springpack.co.uk

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

Section

Pumps & Valves

Triple Gate Valve triumph for Oliver Valvetek O

liver Valvetek identifies new and emerging opportunities to supply higher-pressure small-bore subsea valves, and recognises the technical barriers that hinder most other valve suppliers.

The subsea oil and gas industry has been rapidly developing new technology to allow the development of ‘challenging fields.’ These challenges are usually associated with high pressure, high temperature (HP/HT), and operation at great depths.

Fields with pressures of 15,000psi (1,034bar) were generally considered high pressure, however, new fields are now being discovered and developed for well bore production with working pressures of 20,000psi (1,380bar).

demand for smaller compact HP/ HT valves has mainly been due to increased numbers of 20,000psi fields being reviewed for development.

Clearly, the technical challenge for our engineering team, was how to achieve subsea qualification testing on much smaller and compact valves at much higher pressures and temperatures, and in rapid time. Importantly not compromising on Safety, which remains critical for valves being installed in these applications.

Oliver Valvetek had already successfully designed and qualified a 3/8” Nominal Bore 20,000 CWP needle valve for a High Pressure/High Temperature field development in the Gulf of Mexico.

Work began in March 2021 to develop two valve types that were required for critical application of flow control and monitoring on the Trident 20K Intervention System - ½” Double Gate Valve and ½” Triple Gate Valve, both manufactured using Nickel Alloy 718 material.

Utilising this specialist and field-proven history with Shell Appomattox, Oliver Valvetek successfully developed and tested a Dual and Triple Gate Valve assembly in accordance with API6A PR2F, API 17D and API 17G.

Project technical specification requirement: ■ High Pressure 20,000psi ■ High Temperature +150°C/+302°F ■ Operating Depth 3:048m/10,000ft

The journey started early in 2021, Oliver Valvetek scoped out opportunities to supply other small-bore High Pressure/High Temperature valves to these new and technically challenging fields. Working closely with Trendsetter Engineering based in Houston on their modular Trident 20K Intervention System, Trendsetter and Oliver Valvetek engineers began work on designing valves that would meet these new high pressure, high temperature requirements.

Small bore gate valves are often used for chemical injection, venting flowlines and bypass lines, and these valves can be required in single isolate arrangements but also in double and triple or 3 valve assemblies.

Subsea small-bore valves have to conform to the same rigorous standards for design, qualification and manufacture as the much larger bore valves. Rapid

Fatigue Assessment, all of which were reviewed and verified by nominated I3P’s such as the Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).

Weight is a crucial factor for equipment being lifted and installed on the subsea. Using the very latest in elasticplastic finite element software, valve designs have been optimised to produce the most compact small-bore valve to operate subsea at 20,000psi high pressure.

API technical reports provided the necessary guidance to our engineering team, and client, on analysis tools and design processes for HP/HT subsea equipment.

This resulted in a Double Gate Valve comprising of 2x manual Gate Valves in one block, and a Triple Gate Valve with a combination of both manual and hydraulic functions. The full valve designs were subject to numerous technical assessments as part of the API qualification, followed by strict design evaluations including; FMECA, Elastic-plastic analysis, Ratcheting Assessment, and

26

IPN is sponsored by

Prototype testing takes many weeks to simulate valve operation at varying pressures, temperatures and working depths. Hydraulic actuated valves require separate testing on the hydraulic operation and the override operation.

Steve Williams explains the extent of the testing process, “Close client collaboration and extensive technical evaluations were instrumental to the success, as too, were the independent design and process validation by Third-Party and client Regulatory bodies evaluating all aspects of the design for Safety, Quality and long-term reliability.

“Enhanced QC & QA procedures at each stage of production of both valves were implemented, including body integrity pressure testing up to 30,000psi. Even before the order could proceed, the ½” gate valve was subject to extensive in-house qualification procedures that simulated the intervention system, in an extreme pressure and temperature environment deployed subsea – all conducted in our own state of the art R&D facility.”

He continues, “Valves operating in such extreme environments require extensive and arduous qualification testing to meet API standards. This project was the most technically reviewed and evaluated one we’ve ever undertaken and by far, the most rewarding for our engineers and designers. Everyone involved in the project is acutely aware of the leaps we’ve made in terms of research & development, engineering design, and manufacturing processes. We’re all very proud of this achievement and very much look forward to future developments with our clients.”

For more information on how Oliver Valvetek can supply your subsea project with the very best valve solutions, contact us on: +44 (0)1565 632636, email: sales@valves.co.uk or visit our website: www.valves.co.uk

– see them on page 6

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on pages 26-27

27

Test, Measurement & laboratory

Mastering the art of materials testing & inspection M etalitest provides high quality materials testing machines and material inspection/ analysis hardware & software to a wide range of industries including aerospace, automotive, metals, construction, energy, textiles and medical.

Metalitest’s innovative product portfolio includes: impact, tensile, compression, bending, fatigue, static, dynamic and creep configuration testing, whereas the advanced analysis systems streamline complex microscopy and characterisation tasks.

An experienced team with the expertise to provide bespoke solutions for individual applications.

With a core focus on sample preparation, image analysis and materials testing of metals, plastics, composites. And a specialist team taking care of material specific testing machines for concrete, cement, paper and rope, amongst others.

Metalitest are now UKAS accredited to calibrate materials testing machines in accordance with ISO and ASTM standards for force (tension and compression), displacement, speed, extensometers, impact (Charpy and Izod) and creep. Additionally they offer a unique calibration service for strain alignment, resolving the issues in measuring strain alignment at numerous angles at the same time.

The Birmingham based company was a top exhibitor at The Instrumentation, Analysis and Testing Expo at the Silverstone Race Circuit on 16th May 2023. The Expo is regarded as the leading annual event for the latest, innovative testing and analysis technologies, with the Metalitest team on hand to discuss expert materials testing/analysis with interested delegates.

To find out more, please see the website below: +44 (0)121 751 2112 sales@metalitest.com www.metalitest.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/ metalitest

THE COMPLETE SPECTRUM OF PERFECT TEMPERATURE CONTROL • Process circulators • Water chillers • Water baths

• Viscometers • Tensiometers • Water stills • Shakers

• Incubators • Freezers • Contact angle measurement

+44 (0)1780 243118 INFO@LAUDA-TECHNOLOGY.CO.UK WWW.LAUDA-TECHNOLOGY.CO.UK

28

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on pages 26-27

29

Photonics Publication Company of the Month

SPIE Photonex 2023: Exciting look at quantum photonics and solidstate beam steering technology In this issue of Industrial Process News, we are honoured to select optics.org as our Photonics Publication Company of the Month.

I

n 1960 physicist and engineer, Theodore (Ted) Maiman successfully carried out the first ruby laser demonstration, followed by the subsequent development of the gallium arsenide (GaAs) semiconductor laser diode in 1962. These two inventions ignited the world of photonics, propelling fiber-optic communication decades later in the 1980’s. Nowadays, photonics is defined as the physical science of light waves: namely the formation, detection and manipulation of light.

Photonics is a huge, growth industry from the advance of fiber-optic networks powering ultrafast broadband, the versality of LED lighting solutions, medical state lasers, lightweight, light sensors in bar code scanners and automotive sensors, to next-generational, optoelectronic circuits. optics.org is a renowned online resource, offering all the latest informative articles and business news from the photonics industry. With a global readership, spanning North America, Asia and Europe, it is the most trusted publication for scientists, engineers, through to sales directors in the world of photonics. It is published in conjunction with SPIE: The International Society for Optics and Photonics, a leading not-forprofit organisation. SPIE was founded in 1955, with a leading mission to connect the global optics and photonics community towards a further advancement of research and technologies. Over the past five years, the organisation has contributed more than $22 million to the international optics community, in the form of education and training grants. optics.org was launched in 1996 and now boasts 30,000 monthly users and 20,000+ subscribers to its

30

weekly e-newsletter, from all over the world. With over 1.1 million page views per year, the publication is the undisputed leading online resource, from across the world of photonics. We spoke to Head of Sales & Marketing: Rob Fisher to find out more.

He commented, “optics.org is a daily resource, providing informative content, news articles, analysis, case studies and press releases. We cover all the latest topics including: cutting-edge cancer detection sensors, industrial and defence applications, automotive sensors, virtual reality through to quantum photonics. SPIE is a not-for-profit organisation, unlike most commercial profit-driven organisations, so we are focused on the dissemination of factually-based content, which proves indispensable for many working in the field.”

providers, unifying the whole supply chain from supplier companies, consultants, industrial users, researchers, science groups and innovative starts-ups.

Leading exhibitors will be showcasing innovative products and research around the following areas: ■ Applied photonic equipment ■ Components and instrumentation ■ Expertise and consultancy services ■ Fibre optics ■ Imaging ■ Lasers and laser systems ■ Materials ■ Opto-mechanical devices and equipment

“We have a huge readership in North America, which provides major photonics investment, followed by the UK/Europe – with Germany providing manufacturing and the UK leading on quantum photonics, through to about 20% of our readership from Asia: providing industrial lasers and components/systems.”

“Our writers are based in the UK, Europe and the US and we pride ourselves on publishing time-sensitive articles, pertinent to manufactures, R&D facilities and academic departments around the world.”

“We are looking forward to welcoming delegates to our SPIE Photonex 2023 in October in Glasgow, Scotland, this year, the largest exhibition in the UK that focuses on optics and photonics.”

SPIE Photonex 2023 runs from 25th-26th October at the SEC, Glasgow. The exhibition brings together the best solutions across components, instruments, systems

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

“Quantum photonics is now established as a hot topic in cyber-security and the UK Government is at the forefront, providing funding for R&D,” explained Rob. To register for SPIE Photonex 2023, click here: https://spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/ photonex?webSyncID=aab06a42-b3ea-4363-65b62cbe51a80174&sessionGUID=a45e290d-e793-c15a9dae-7e247254d54a&SSO=1

■ Quantum technologies ■ Sensors and detectors ■ Spectroscopy ■ Vacuum components and instruments ■ Vacuum deposition systems ■ Vacuum equipment and chambers Here at Industrial Process News, we have chosen to exclusively highlight three exhibitors at SPIE Photonex 2023: ■ ALRAD: Extensive imaging portfolio range from ultraviolet, visible, infrared, shortwave infrared thermal wavelengths. The company supplies stateof-the-art scientific camera technology and vision components: optics, acquisition and illumination products. Bespoke software and integrated system solutions for applications including: machine vision, scientific, medical, agriculture, UAV/Drone and security sectors.

■ ANDOR: Renowned leader in scientific imaging cameras, spectroscopy solutions and microscopy systems for research and OEM markets. Has been expertly providing next-generational light measuring solutions for over 20 years.

■ Greateyes GmbH: Market-leading manufacturer of cooled, advanced-precision cameras covering spectroscopy, imaging, microscopy and astronomy and optical inspection systems. The cameras are used for a wide range of applications.

Fisher continued, “SPIE Photonex 2023 has been running for over 20 years, SPIE took on the management of the event three years ago, which is free to attend. We have exhibitors from across Europe including, Germany, France and Lithuania, as well as many from the UK and further afield including Turkey and the USA. Scotland is an ideal host as it is one of the centres of excellence for quantum photonics, with The University of Strathclyde leading the charge, alongside other exciting work in space communications and silicon photonics.”

“With an industry programme that allows the public to hear how various government-funded projects are using photonics – from quantum to sustainable energy solutions to space, photonics impacts our lives at the smallest scale to the explorations of the expansive outer space.”

IPN is sponsored by

Quantum photonics uses quantum optics in applications such as: communications, computing and information processing. There is particular current interest in quantum cryptography: the art of securing and transmitting data that cannot be hacked. However, quantum cryptography uses physics, instead of the more traditional mathematics; using photons to transmit data using fiber optic communication.

These great strides in photonics are set to revolutionise banking security, protect Government intelligence files, and protect websites.

optics.org publishes news articles on a daily basis, with the opportunity for companies to publish their own press releases and product launches through a moderated channel. Recent cutting-edge articles have focused on breakthroughs by the University of Birmingham and University of Cambridge in using quantum methods to detect infrared light at room temperature. This is a huge step in understanding chemical and biological molecules. The research teams converted MIR protons into high-energy visible protons using molecular emitters. This could in the future help scientists identify MIR radiation and ultimately, perform spectroscopy at single-molecule level at room temperature.

This pioneering approach, called MIR VibrationallyAssisted Luminescence (MIRAL) uses molecules that are MIR and contain visible light and could be applied to gas sensing, medical diagnosis, astronomical surveys and quantum communication.

“Scientists are closing-in on the science of quantum photonics and the UK The SPIE Photonex 2023 expo will feature the latest work in this area for interested parties across cybersecurity,” added Fisher.

The SPIE Photonex 2023 is an unmissable event for researchers from the photonics industry across UK, Ireland and Europe and has a rotating event location, with next year’s being hosted in Manchester.

SPIE Photonics West 2024 is the premiere event of the photonics calendar and will next run from 27th January1st February at The Moscone Centre, San Francisco, USA. The focus will be on: lasers, biomedical, optics, biophotonic technology, quantum and optoelectronics, and draws major interest from the whole North American supply chain.

The world has come a long way from the pioneering work of ruby lasers and semiconductor laser diodes of the 1960’s. The optical semiconductor developer Lumotive recently launched the Light Control Metasurface (LCM) optical beam-steering semiconductor. The LM10 is a powerhouse, supercharging the next-generation of programmable optics. The unique metamaterials and semiconductor manufacturing process provide cutting-edge 3D sensing for robotics, smart systems and automotive applications. optics.org exclusively published a fascinating article on the LM10, proving that solid-state beam steering technology is indeed the future of 3D sensing.

To sign-up to the optics.org weekly e-newsletter, click here: https://optics.org/newsletter For further editorial information, contact Matthew Peach: matthew.peach@optics.org For all sales enquiries, contact Rob Fisher: rob.fisher@optics.org For all further information on optics.org, see the website below: https://optics.org SPIE Photonex 2023 runs from 25th-26th October 2023 at the SEC, Glasgow.

– see them on pages 26-27

31

Green Products

Pioneering Sustainability in Rotational Moulding

CP Cases collaborates with Matrix Polymer & Queen’s University for a Recyclable Bio Polymer Project: Pioneering Sustainability in Rotational Moulding n a world striving for sustainability, the manufacturing industry faces a transformative challenge to reduce its environmental impact. Among the innovative pioneers leading the charge is CP Cases, renowned for producing protective cases and containers. In a groundbreaking partnership with Matrix Polymer, experts in rotomoulding materials and Queen’s University, a renowned research institution, all playing a pivotal role in a feasibility study project funded by Innovate UK for introducing a field-tested recyclable Bio Polymer. This project focuses on revolutionising rotational moulding by integrating Matrix Polymer’s cutting-edge materials, with sustainability at the forefront.

I

A shared vision: The collaboration between CP Cases, Matrix Polymer, and Queen’s University is a testament to their shared commitment to sustainable innovation. These industry leaders have come together under the umbrella of Innovate UK’s initiative, aiming to introduce the power of recyclable bio-polymers into the rotational moulding process, thus paving the way for a more eco-friendly manufacturing approach.

Matrix Polymer’s Pioneering Materials: Matrix Polymer brings to the table its expertise in raw materials, as a leading supplier to the rotational

32

moulding industry. With a focus on reducing carbon emissions and plastic waste, these materials align seamlessly with the project’s core objective of sustainability. Matrix Polymer’s key objective is to bring fresh ideas and exciting new materials to the market and strong technical roots are a cornerstone of this collaboration.

Queen’s university’s research excellence: The research ability of Queen's University plays an integral role in this collaborative endeavour. With a deep understanding of material science and manufacturing processes, the university is providing critical insights and technical expertise to validate the feasibility of creating recyclable bio-polymers to introduce into rotational moulding. Their involvement ensures that the project’s outcomes are grounded in scientific rigour.

CP Cases’ legacy of innovation: CP Cases specialises in crafting high-quality protective solutions for a wide array of industries. Leveraging decades of experience, they design and manufacture custom cases, containers, and enclosures that safeguard valuable equipment and delicate instruments from even the harshest conditions. Their commitment to innovation and precision ensures that their solutions not only meet but exceed the stringent demands of various sectors, including defence, aerospace, technology, and more.

With an unwavering focus on quality and functionality, CP Cases is your trusted partner in safeguarding your assets wherever your journey takes you. Their dedication to sustainability and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of rotational moulding make them an invaluable contributors to the project. CP Cases’ reputation for precision and

IPN is sponsored by

forward thinking makes them an ideal collaborator in this ambitious endeavour.

The innovate UK recyclable bio-polymer testing project in action: The project’s success hinges on rigorous testing and validation, a process guided by the combined expertise of CP Cases, Matrix Polymer, and Queen's University.

Through meticulous examination of the materials’ performance within rotational moulding processes, the collaboration aims to ensure a seamless integration that meets industry standards and requirements.

Eco-conscious impact on industries: The impact of this collaborative effort could be profound across industries reliant on rotational moulding. Sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and packaging stand to gain from these eco-friendly alternatives. By reducing reliance on traditional plastics, these industries can significantly decrease their carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

A beacon of sustainability: CP Cases, Matrix Polymer, and Queen’s University are not only pioneers in their fields but also examples of collaborative action for the greater good. Their involvement in this Innovate UK-funded project sets a precedent for innovation that is driven by a commitment to sustainability. As these companies push the boundaries of possibility, they illuminate the path to a greener, more resilient manufacturing landscape.

The collaboration between CP Cases, Matrix Polymer, and Queen's University is a harmonious symphony of innovation, research, and sustainability. As they navigate the complexities of creating recyclable bio-polymers for rotational moulding, they are not just changing the game; they’re rewriting the rules for manufacturing as a whole. This partnership is a testament to the transformative power of collective action and a beacon of hope for a more sustainable future.

Contact +44 (0)20 8568 1881 info@cpcases.com https://cpcases.com

– see them on page 6

Maintenance

Achieving Sustainable Operations: How CMMS Software supports organisations in meeting ISO 55000 Standards and UN Sustainable Development Goals

by Donal Bourke, PEMAC Director of Sales

I

n today’s rapidly changing business landscape, sustainability has become a key focus for many organisations. Companies are increasingly recognising the importance of operating in an environmentally responsible and socially conscious manner. One area where organisations can make significant strides in achieving their sustainability objectives is through the use of Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) software.

CMMS software is a powerful tool that can help organisations optimise their maintenance processes, reduce downtime, improve asset management, and streamline inventory management, all of which can contribute to more sustainable business operations.

The ISO 55000:2014 Asset Management standard provides guidelines for organisations to establish and maintain effective asset management systems.

It emphasises the importance of sustainable asset management practices, including the need to consider the environmental, social, and economic aspects of asset management. CMMS software can help organisations align their maintenance practices with the principles outlined in the ISO 55000 standard, thereby contributing to their sustainability objectives.

One of the ways in which CMMS software can help organisations achieve their sustainability objectives is by optimising maintenance processes. Efficient maintenance practices can help extend the lifespan of assets, reduce the need for replacement or disposal, and minimise waste. CMMS software provides organisations with tools to schedule and track maintenance activities, set up preventative maintenance programs, and monitor asset performance. This allows organisations to identify and address maintenance needs in a timely and efficient manner, reducing downtime and minimising the impact on the environment.

optimise inventory replenishment based on asset usage and maintenance needs. This can help organisations reduce excess inventory, minimise stockouts, and improve overall inventory management efficiency, thereby contributing to their sustainability objectives.

In addition to aligning with the ISO 55000 standard, CMMS software can also support organisations in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals that aim to address social, economic, and environmental challenges, including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water, clean energy, responsible consumption, and climate action, among others. CMMS software can contribute to several of these goals by helping organisations improve their operational efficiency, resource management, and environmental impact.

For example, CMMS software can help organisations reduce energy consumption, a key target of SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy). By optimising maintenance processes, organisations can ensure that assets are operating at peak efficiency, minimising energy waste, and reducing their carbon footprint.

CMMS software can also help organisations monitor and analyse energy consumption data, identify areas of improvement, and implement energy-saving measures, such as preventative maintenance programs or equipment upgrades.

CMMS software can also contribute to responsible consumption and production, which is a target of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

By optimising asset management and inventory management, organisations can minimise waste and reduce the need for new purchases. CMMS software

can help organisations track and manage spare parts, materials, and consumables, ensuring that they are used efficiently and not wasted. This can lead to reduced waste generation, minimised environmental impact, and improved resource management, all of which align with the principles of responsible consumption and production.

Adopting a sustainable approach to asset management has become a key priority for organisations looking to create long-term value while minimising their environmental impact. By implementing a CMMS software solution that aligns with the ISO 55000 standard and UN Sustainable Development Goals, organisations can achieve significant improvements in asset performance, maintenance efficiency, and sustainability outcomes.

With the ability to monitor, manage, and optimise their assets in real-time, organisations can reduce operational costs, minimise downtime, and improve their overall sustainability performance. By integrating sustainability principles into their asset management strategy, organisations can create a more resilient and sustainable future for themselves, their stakeholders, and the planet.

To discover how PEMAC ASSETS CMMS can support your sustainability agenda, please email: sales@pemac.com or call our UK sales team on: +44 (0)161 710 3346.

You can also visit: www.pemac.com to learn more.

Furthermore, CMMS software can help organisations improve asset management, which is a critical aspect of sustainability. Efficiently managing assets can help organisations maximise their lifespan, reduce the need for new purchases, and minimise waste. CMMS software provides organisations with a centralised database of asset information, including asset location, condition, maintenance history, and lifecycle status. This enables organisations to make informed decisions about asset utilisation, replacement, and disposal, which can contribute to sustainable resource management.

CMMS software can also support organisations in streamlining inventory management, another important aspect of sustainability. Effective inventory management can help organisations minimise waste, reduce costs, and optimise resource utilisation. CMMS software provides organisations with tools to track inventory levels, set up automated re-ordering processes, and

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on pages 26-27

33

Cleaning & Hygiene

Cleaning up our impact: How Tork bio-based paper towels complement sustainability T

ORK, from leading hygiene and health company, Essity, looks ahead by providing products and solutions that help customers achieve sustainability goals.

Manufacturing today faces a particular challenge – how to balance the demand to continuously improve productivity with the need to meet sustainability goals. Sitting alongside Tork’s targets to provide better hygiene across a range of sectors, is the mission to make hygiene in manufacturing as sustainable as it can be. Sustainable innovation and collaboration are key to accelerating progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Tork products help to improve more from less and create circularity by helping factory owners and manufacturers to close the loop. From the start of a product’s life at its raw materials such as wood fibres, to how

to product is used and disposed of at the end. Reducing packaging, reducing CO2, building upon sustainable practices and improving wellbeing can all contribute to establishing this circular component of hygiene in collaboration with Tork products.

Tork products and services support green workspaces, through ecolabelcertified hygiene products and datadriven educational tools and advice to help businesses optimise sustainable practices and create circularity.

Contact www.essity.com

Process & Control

34

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

Cleaning & Hygiene

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on pages 26-27

35

Photonics & Optics Company of the Month

Customised solutions for optics and photonics I

n this issue of Industrial Process News, we are honoured to select Sill Optics GmbH as our Photonics and Optics Company of the Month.

Sill Optics is a market-leading German manufacturer of lenses across the photonic technology sector, synonymous with premium innovation and quality. Renowned for its high-end product developments and innovative solutions, the company has secured a well-deserved international reputation for expertise and excellence. The customers for Sill Optics include: OEMs in laser material processing, additive manufacturing, quantum computing, process monitoring, chip production, medical technology and mechanical engineering.

new exciting products over 2023, such as these highlights: ■ High Power F-THETA ■ Motorised Beam Expanders ■ DUV Optics ■ Large Telecentric F-THETA lenses ■ Trapped Ion lenses ■ Imaging optics

Sill Optics understand that all laboratory foundations are unique, with a range of ion types, wavelengths, beam parameters, and vacuum chamber dimensions. The German manufacturers offers catalog optics and custom redesigns, drawn from the catalog optics.

Dr. Klaus Kerschensteiner, Marketing Manager at Sill Optics

The company was established in 1894 by founder: Julius Ernst Sill as an original glass grinding shop. Nowadays, the company factory is in Wendelstein, south of Nuremberg and continues to maintain its exceptional manufacturing brand reputation.

The Motorized Beam Expanders, for example, are a game-changer for automation and flexible laser processing within machining systems.

The Motorized Beam Expanders,

silica as the primary material for all optical components, ensuring exceptional stability and reliability, even under conditions of high average power or intense laser usage.

To address diverse needs, a wide array of beam expanders with various functions is offered. From fixed magnification alternatives suited for large beam diameters to compact expanders with fixed magnification, there is a solution tailored to every application. Furthermore, the motorized divergence adjustment feature enables seamless adaptability and fine-tuning, eliminating the necessity to open the setup for adjustments.

For those in pursuit of unparalleled versatility, the motorized variable magnification beam expanders represent the optimal selection. The capability to modify both magnification and divergence provides complete control over focal size and laser processing precision.

With such innovations, it is easy to see why Sill Optics has remained such a heavyweight in laser optics, over the last century. A second 2023 highlight: Their High Power F-THETA are the leading choice for complex applications in laser material processing. Thirdly, the Trapped ION ensure extended superposition states and new levels of controls, on a level never seen before.

We asked Klaus what the future holds for this industryleading company, “We have embarked on an exciting venture to fortify our non-European core markets, specifically in the United States and Southeast Asia.

Notably, we have established a dedicated operation in the United States, operating under the name Sill Optics, US Inc., which is under the proficient leadership of Ziad Najem, the CEO of Sill Optics US. This strategic move is part of our concerted efforts to not only expand our market presence but also to establish fresh distribution channels and foster new partnerships in North America.

We spoke to Dr. Klaus Kerschensteiner: Marketing Manager to find out more about this illustrious company, “We are a specialist manufacturer of laser optics and machine vision lenses in the Photonics and Optics field.”

“Sill Optics represent quality and innovation in the field of photonic technologies. We are on a mission to develop pioneering application solutions that draw global attention in the high-end field of photonics.”

“We are known internationally as a specialist for customised optical systems. In addition, Sill Optics carries a high-quality range of portfolio products.”

“All our products are highly customisable, as we specialise in custom manufacturing. We are the right partner when it comes to special designs: designing and manufacturing in-house, from the initial design brief to series production.”

meticulously crafted, are intended for precise and efficient alteration of beam diameter. The maintenance of a constant product of beam diameter and divergence guarantees optimal beam quality throughout the entire laser processing procedure.

The German Powerhouse has already showcased many

The beam expanders are constructed using fused

We invite you to join us at SPIE BiOS and Photonics West next year, where you can witness our latest groundbreaking innovations. This will be a unique opportunity to engage with our existing distributor, Couriertronics, and our dynamic US team, as well as meet our upcoming sales partners in US.” Sill Optics will be exhibiting at BiOS: San Francisco, USA: 27th-28th January 2024 (Booth 8581) See Sill Optics at Photonics West 2024: San Francisco, USA 30th Jan-1st Feb 2024 (Booth 2366) For more information on the Photonics and Optics expertise of Sill Optics, please see the website below: +49 9129 9023-0 https://www.silloptics.de/en

36

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

Machining & Engineering

Handling, Storage & Logistics

Wooden pallet manufacturing and reuse show large uplift M

anufacturing and reuse of timber pallets increased significantly according to the most recent survey commissioned by the Timber Packaging & Pallet Confederation (TIMCON) and the research arm of the Forestry Commission, Forest Research.

The UK Wood Pallets & Packaging Market survey showed that UK manufacturers produced an estimated 48.6 million in 2021, up 8.3% from 44.9m the previous year. These manufacturers repaired and sold on for reuse a further 16.2m pallets, up from 15.6m in 2020. Overall, pallet repair was down slightly, at 48.1m, compared with 49m the year before.

The annual survey is based on a questionnaire answered by TIMCON members, who manufacture approximately 80% of the 50 million new pallets produced in the UK every year.

TIMCON President John Dye said the manufacturing increase has led to

IPN is sponsored by

corresponding growth in sawmilling output into the pallet and packaging sector of around 13%, to 1.61m3.

The report was presented to TIMCON’s general meeting held in Manchester during March, which also heard updates on TIMCON’s work with the UK Government, including the recent consultation on the reform of existing Packaging Waste Regulations and the new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Packaging Waste, due to come into force in 2025. As a result of this work, said Dye, Defra announced earlier this year that it was still considering the recycling target for wooden packaging and, rather than setting recycling targets for wooden pallets, it is now considering options for reuse obligations before recycling.

Contact 0116 274 7357 info@timcon.org https://www.timcon.org

– see them on pages 26-27

37

Classifieds Surface Technology

Logistics

DVR & Inspection Systems

PDC Drill Bits

Robotics

Threaded Inserts

The Insert Company UK Ltd

Your PDC Drill Bits Engineering Partner

Specialist in Threaded Inserts for Wood, Plastic & Metal

Zinc Alloy Inserts Steel Inserts Brass Threaded Inserts Furniture Connectors

High Spec Made Affordable

www.zerdalab.com

sales@theinsertcompany.com www.theinsertcompany.com

Air Pollution

DPSS Lasers

Electric Vehicles

Frankfurt Company presents: Wide Temperature Range Single Frequency DPSS Laser • Confocal Microscopy • RAMAN Spectroscopy • Particle Measurements • DNA Sequency • Flow Cytometry • Digital Imaging sales@frlaserco.com • Analytical Chemistry www.frlaserco.com

Engineering

Water Technology

Expansion Joints

Leak Detection

High Grade Expansion Joints ERV rubber expansion joints from ELAFLEX, setting standards for decades & offering the ideal solution.

Please visit www.elaflex.co.uk 01992 452950 • sales@elaflex.co.uk

38

IPN is sponsored by

– see them on page 6

Classifieds Humidity Control

Pressure Measurement

Explosion Protection

Security Cages

Gas Cages

HUMIDITY CONTROL MADE EASY 01372 571200 www.humiditysolutions.co.uk

Mobile Security Cages

Adhesive Specialists

Handling & Lifting Equipment

Industrial Cleaning Equipment

AdCo’s HD 250 NV is a true standout among industrialgrade hot melt glue guns 01428 751755 enquiries@adco.co.uk

Filtration

Nitrile Gloves

Valves

Continuous Screen Changer SiloScreen

The Siloscreen is now the first choice for the production of: blown and cast film, thermoformed products, expanded sections, oriented tapes, twines, rope, tubing and other products which benefit from uninterrupted extrusion and steady process conditions.

Please visit: www.siloteq.com Mobile: +44 (0)7733 111929 Email: trish.siloteq@gmail.com Registered in England – GB No: 862 8924

IPN is sponsored by

Please visit www.elaflex.co.uk 01992 452950 • sales@elaflex.co.uk

– see them on pages 26-27

39

EXPLOSION VENT PANEL

EXPLOSION ISOLATION VALVE

DIVERTER

DEFLECTOR

FLAMELESS DEVICES With technical expertise in explosion protection, we provide a comprehensive service to offer help and advice on your project.

Our website is an open-source platform which allows you to download drawings, manuals & a questionnaire with all the information required to define the vent area to protect yourprocess (Filters, Dust Collectors, Silos, Elevators).

Our modern in house test facility provides pressure test certificates along with certificates of conformity following the latest standards.

Our staff pride themselves on offering you, the customer, a first class product and service.

CERTIFICATIONS: • NFPA certified • Ex II GD • EN 14491-2012/ EN 149942007/ EN 14797-2007/ EN 1127.1-2011 • EN 16009-2011 • EU Certificate: INERIS 15 ATEX 0001X • EU Certificate: INERIS 14 ATEX 0049X • Production quality assurance notification: INERIS 08ATEXQ406

Please visit www.macclancyandsons.com Email: info@macclancyandsons.co.uk Phone: +44 (0)7884 350337

Macclancy and Sons Ltd Strathaven, UNITED KINGDOM