August 2020 www.mepca-engineering.com
CONTENTS
Editor Chris Callander chrisc@cimltd.co.uk Publication Manager Jon McIntosh jon@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509105
Classified Sales Executive James Davies jamesd@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509129
Credit Facilities Manager Natalie Murray creditcontrol@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509103 Sales Director Tom Woollin tom@cimltd.co.uk Chief Executive John Denning jdenning@cimltd.co.uk www.mepca-engineering.com © 2020 CIM Online Limited, The Goods Shed, Jubilee Way, Whitstable Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8GD. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical or physical – without express prior permission and written consent of the publisher. Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and addressed envelope. Manuscripts should be typewritten. No responsibility can be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographic or artistic, belongs to CIM Online Limited. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept liability for any loss arising from the late appearance or non-publication of any advertisement.
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August 2020
hen the global pandemic began to affect our daily lives back in March, we clearly didn’t understand the true extent of the impact it would have on the manufacturing sector. The fact that some events initially postponed to late autumn are now being further delayed until 2021 bears this out. The uncertainly and worry over recent local lockdowns shows we are far from business as usual. And yet the manufacturing sector is fighting back. I see this on a daily basis, as stories that were about organisations turning their skills and capabilities to immediate issues – such as supporting the NHS and keyworkers – are turning to how the manufacturing sector is using technologies in new ways to meet their own challenges. Organisations are being innovative and adapting work practices to ensure business can continue as closely to normal as possible – safely. An excellent example of this is our health and safety piece on page 30 of this issue. It shares how Siemens has used existing hardware and software to create a system which enables social distancing to be managed and monitored in production environments. The approach uses techniques we hear of in very different contexts, such as digital twinning, to tackle the very new, but vitally important issue. While there are clearly major challenges ahead, not only for the manufacturing sector, it is encouraging to see that, on the whole, we are up for the fight. Chris Callander, Editor @Mepcamagazine
CONTENTS Industry Partners:
6 INDUSTRY NEWS All the latest news and updates
8 OPINION Make UK and AEMT
12 COVER STORY Omron
14 SENSORS & SENSING SYSTEMS SICK, ifm, Baumer and RS Components
20 DRIVES, MOTORS & CONTROLS ABB, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS & Mitsubishi
26 MATERIALS HANDLING HARTING
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28 MACHINE BUILDING JET PRESS
30 HEALTH & SAFETY Siemens
32 FOOD PROCESSING HRS Heat Exchangers
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32 www.mepca-engineering.com
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Industry news
New platform to engage engineers in career development Enginuity, a skills organisation backed by the UK’s biggest brands in engineering and advanced manufacturing, has partnered with Filtered to support the engagement of the sector’s labour force by launching the Engage platform.
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ngage takes seconds to suggest focus areas and builds a personalised plan from the industry’s best existing digital learning resources to grow knowledge and skills. Enginuity is a not-for-profit skills organisation with board members from companies such as BAE Systems, RollsRoyce and Siemens. Its mission is to ‘create practical solutions for individuals, educators, and engineering employers, using unmatched industry expertise and data - so engineers can change their world and ours’. Engage will do just that by steering users towards videos, articles and whole learning pathways focused on emerging engineering
technologies and transferable skills like resilience and communication. The initiative is powered by Filtered’s magpie platform and can generate a personalised skills signature - the mix of knowledge and skills most likely to equip a given individual for the future - with just three questions. This informs a transformative skills framework - tailored to Enginuity - that is used to produce playlists of recommendations that closely match the aptitude and goals of the user while driving organisational capability. To fill these playlists, Filtered and Enginuity have curated the best digital resources and courses from the web, the existing Engage
Research Hub and Enginuity’s industry partners. www.enginuity.org/engage
Derby stands out as major centre for additive manufacturing innovation A study from European Patent Office shows that the UK is a leading European country in AM innovation, with the country ranking as the second largest European contributor to AM innovation behind Germany and Rolls-Royce as the third largest European patent application filer.
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new study from the European Patent Office (EPO) has revealed that the United Kingdom as a leading European country in additive manufacturing (AM) innovation, also known as 3D printing. The United Kingdom accounts for 5% of AM patent applications at the EPO, putting it in second place behind Germany. European patent applications for AM increased at an average annual rate of 36% from 2015 to 2018. This is more than ten times greater than the average yearly growth of all applications at the Office combined in the same period (3.5%). The report, entitled “Patents and additive manufacturing – Trends in 3D printing technologies”, further
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demonstrates that Europe is a global leader in AM, with European inventors and businesses accounting for almost half of AM patent applications filed with the EPO in the period from 2010 to 2018. The United Kingdom shows a high degree of specialisation in AM patenting with an RTA (revealed technological advantage) index of 1.2, which is one of the highest of all European countries, particularly in the digital aspects of AM and in AM application domains. The data also shows that Derby is
at number seven in a ranking of 15 major European AM innovation centres and by far the most important British region. While very large companies filed two out of three patent applications in AM technologies, the study also reveals that companies with 15 to 1,000 employees accounted for 10% (or 2,148) of applications, while individual inventors and small businesses with fewer than 15 employees generated 12%. bit.ly/EPOreport
Industry news
New leadership at JET PRESS Following a recruitment process carried out under the constraints of COVID-19, fastener specialist, JET PRESS, has appointed a new Managing Director, Mark Niblett
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ark Niblett is the fi rst Managing Director to be hired from outside the company in over 25 years. With more than 25 years of leadership experience, from start-ups to industry leaders like Anixter International, Mark is ideally suited to this new challenge. During his career, he not only gained experience in Europe but also in North Mark niblett, Managing director at JetPress America, Asia and especially the Middle East. Commenting on his appointment, Mark the daily business and working with the Niblett said: “JET PRESS is a company with team, our customers and suppliers. My goal a proud history and an exciting future. It is is to guide JET PRESS into a glorious future an honour for me to be appointed Managing through a proactive and targeted growth Director. I look forward to getting to know strategy. “
BPMA partners with Make UK
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he British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) – the trade organisation representing UK and Irish suppliers of liquid pumps and related equipment – has partnered with Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation. Make UK is the largest force backing UK manufacturing and has been helping the sector to compete, innovate and grow for more than 120 years. As part of the agreement, BPMA representatives will be in regular contact with Make UK’s policy and lobbying teams and will be helping them to understand the pump sector and the specifi c challenges it faces. The partnership also entitles all BPMA member companies to Affi liate Membership
of Make UK. This provides a range of benefi ts to complement the existing BPMA membership, including industry reports, publications, insight, member events, webinars, podcasts, and briefi ngs.
Brexit impact report paints a grim picture Brexit will have signifi cant adverse effects on a UK manufacturing sector highly integrated with the EU single market, a new report by UK in a Changing Europe fi nds.
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he report Manufacturing and Brexit, which reviews evidence on the effects Brexit on the UK manufacturing sector, fi nds the effects will be disruptive and negative. The extent of disruption depends on the outcome of the UK-EU negotiations. A worst-case scenario would be no trade deal between the EU and the UK. This would introduce delays at the UK-EU border and add costs and disrupt tightly interwoven supply chains. Manufacturing will be negatively impacted, and some sectors, such as volume automotive production will particular badly affected, just as they are trying to recover from the slump caused by Covid-19. Few manufacturers have found any benefi ts from Brexit which, even if a deal is agreed, will cause signifi cant disruption. The importance of manufacturing for the UK economy far outstrips its relatively small size (10% of the UK economy). Manufacturing accounts for a disproportionate share of total exports (45%) and 65% of private sector R&D spending. Some services only exist because they are closely tied to manufacturing. And the report explains how shocks to UK manufacturing will have a major impact on the broader UK economy. bit.ly/UKiace
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OPInIOn
We need a National Skills Taskforce Make UK’s CEO, Stephen Phipson, believes we need a National Skills Taskforce to tackle the impacts of COVID-19 and to enable businesses to embrace and benefit from the 4th Industrial Revolution.
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n the summer of 1854, a mysterious disease swept through central London, killing hundreds of people in a matter of weeks. A Yorkshire physician by the name of John Snow had recently set up a medical practice in Soho. Snow witnessed many of his patients succumb to the ‘Asiatic cholera’ outbreak and was determined to ascertain the cause of the disease. He began by making a dot map, meticulously recording the address of every cholera case and interviewing the victims’ families to understand their daily habits. In doing so, Snow noticed that nearly every one of those who had been infected used the same water pump on Broad Street around the corner from his office. Theorising that there must be something in the water, he had the handle of the pump removed to render it unusable after which there was an immediate drop in the number of cases. John Snow had invented contact tracing. Skip forward almost 200 years and the UK is again having to resort to contact tracing to stem the spread of another viral epidemic. The hope is that contact tracing via an App will pinpoint exactly who needs to be in quarantine and who doesn’t, making it key to easing social distancing measures and getting our economy and businesses back to work. It is just one example of how artificial intelligence and 4th Industrial Revolution technologies are playing a key role in tackling the Covid-19 crisis. Yet those firms that have heroically repurposed production to support the response to Covid-19 will face further disruptions and costs as they revert their factories to return to normal operations. Other firms will need to refurbish or repurpose their facilities to adapt to the post COVID-19 environment. This return to production will require up-front financing
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for labour and raw materials which some firms can no longer afford, but this challenge coincides with the need to adapt to a changing and more competitive global trade environment as well as the Government’s commitments to fight climate change. As industry faces the twin challenges of economic recovery while transitioning to more green modes of production, automation and digitisation will be vital for boosting our export growth in a sustainable way. But adopting new technologies to counter the Covid-19 crisis also needs to go hand in hand with upskilling the existing workforce and future employees that enables them to use these new technologies effectively. That is why we’ve called for a National Skills Task Force which would have the objective of retaining key skills within industry by re-deploying employees who have lost their jobs to other companies and enabling them to be re-trained. A similar scheme was set up after the Global Financial Crisis, and Make UK believes there is now a case to re-establish a much bigger scale project on a national basis. Even before the epidemic, the 4th Industrial Revolution was fundamentally altering the way many companies operate, communicate, and manufacture goods. Yet, to date, the take up of these new technologies within the UK has only been moderate. Covid-19 has, however, highlighted the need for manufacturers to pick up the pace. Those firms who were further ahead on the technology ladder at the start of the outbreak have proved better placed to survive and adapt. The current epidemic is creating significant disruption for manufacturers and firms navigating this challenging environment will need to rethink their ways of working if they are to emerge stronger and succeed in the new world. However, disasters like
Stephen Phipson, CEO at Make UK
pandemics are never just destructive. They also create change, and often spark scientific discoveries, industrial innovations, market opportunities, and social reforms. The 1854 cholera outbreak was followed by investments to improve public health to stop populations getting the disease in the first place; research and development of new medicines and vaccines to treat and cure the disease and related illnesses; and international cooperation to prevent another catastrophic economic downturn accompanying a future outbreak. Those same steps will be required to recover from this epidemic and ensure industry and our economy can make it back to normal again.
Change the way you see things The new PMDLine OID200 photocell from ifm electronic detects even dark objects at 2000mm; turn the ring to the distance you want in cm and the time-of-flight class 1 laser takes care of the rest ‌ All that for the price of a standard sensor. M30 housing, M12 connector, DC, open and closed signals, plus IO-Link.
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OpiniOn
The effect of repairs on motor efficiency Karl Metcalfe, Technical Support at AEMT, looks at the association’s latest report into the effect of repairs on motor efficiency and the procedures that were used to support its findings.
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s the use of premium efficiency (IE3) motors has increased, due in part to strengthened regulation, the question of maintaining motor efficiency after a rewind process has reappeared. The most recent study into the effect of repairs on motor efficiency, conducted in 2019 by AEMT and EASA, has again used independent testing facilities and revealed that even these higher efficiency units are unaffected by a repair using good practice procedures. Electric motors place a huge demand on electrical supplies throughout the world, and most countries have now introduced regulations for the minimum efficiency levels of new motors. Legislation in Europe and Internationally continues to improve the efficiency of the overall motor population
Establishing procedures The first study, undertaken by the AEMT and UK Government in 1998, established the Good Practice Guide under the DETR Best Practice Programme, using 40 smaller motors of around 5.5kw supplied by manufacturers. In 2003 a very comprehensive joint study using 23 large motors was completed by AEMT and EASA in America. Considerable time was spent determining the parameters of the investigation as well as the procedures and testing facilities that would be used. As part of this process, options such as multiple rewinds and round-robin testing were included in that study. As these had no effect on those results, they were not included in the latest 2019 tests. The results of the 2019 study were published as The Effect of Repair/Rewinding on Motor Efficiency. It established that efficiency was maintained on repairs to current machines up to IE3 efficiency.
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Karl Metcalfe, Technical Support at AEMT.
To enable comparisons, the ten premium efficiency or IE3 motors under evaluation had similar characteristics to those in the 2003 tests. The power ratings ranged from 30 to 75kW with half being IEC and half NEMA designs. They had totally enclosed fan-cooled enclosures, covered both 50 and 60Hz supplies with 2-pole and 4-pole models. The repair procedures that were published in the Good Practice Guide to Maintain Motor Efficiency in 2003 were followed for each motor. This Good Practice Guide has now been incorporated into the latest international repair standard IEC 60034:23:2019, and the latest American ANSI/EASA standard AR100. As per the previous 2003 study the IEEE 112B test standard was used. The international IEC 60034-2-1 test standard is now harmonised with the IEEE 112B standard, so that the results of the latest study comply with both standards. All the efficiency testing was performed at North Carolina Advanced Energy Corporation (Advanced Energy) located in Raleigh, North Carolina, using the eddy current dynamometer test stand.
Currently, Advanced Energy remains the only independent motor lab in North America to hold the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) accreditation for motor efficiency testing.
Analysing results The test results from the ten motors showed no significant change in efficiency compared to figures taken before the rewind, which mirror the results from 2003. On average there was a decrease in efficiency of just 0.1%, as this is well within the range of the standard calibration test accuracy of +/- 0.2%, it effectively means that there was no efficiency change beyond that which would normally be expected during testing. The main conclusion that can be drawn from these results is that by using the latest international repair standards, to repair a motor, the efficiency of the machine will be maintained within the tolerances that it was originally manufactured to. For more information on the effects of repairs and rewinding in motor efficiency, the full study can be downloaded at: www.theaemt.com/technical
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COver StOry
OMRON launches high capacity mobile robot OMRON has announced the launch of the HD-1500, the strongest and newest addition to the company’s series of mobile robots. MEPCA found out more.
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MRON has announced the launch of the HD-1500, the strongest and newest addition to the company’s series of mobile robots. The new HD-1500 boasts a large payload capacity of up to 1500kg. It is ideal for today’s factories, where autonomous material handling solutions need to manage more demanding industrial automation tasks, along with implementing new social distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 1500kg payload capacity of the HD-1500 enables transportation of large automotive components such as car chassis and voluminous pallet size payloads - items that would have traditionally been moved using forklifts. With the release of the HD1500, OMRON’s mobile robots, including the LD-60/90 and LD-250, form a seamless lineup of models that can transport a wide variety of items – from components to WIP (work in progress), finished products, and heavy material. Ensuring efficient material handling in factories, OMRON’s industry-first Fleet Manager can control up to 100 mobile robots with different sizes, configurations and payload capacities under one system to automate complex material transport and logistics applications. The robots can automatically calculate the best route, while collaborating safely with people and navigating around obstacles, without the use of magnetic floor tapes or other guides. The HD-1500 battery charges in just 36 minutes and can handle a full shift on a full load, reducing downtime. Commenting on the launch, Tom Mathias, President and CEO of OMRON Robotics and Safety Technologies, Inc., said: “Onsite logistics, the movement of products and material within the factory and warehouse, is becoming a real bottleneck for many companies due to the frequency and
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the HD-1500 offers 360° safety coverage promoting a collaborative and safe working space
tediousness of the job, compounded by the need to meet social distancing protocols. Fast-paced manufacturing environments require speed and flexibility. OMRON’s HD-1500 mobile robot can help companies solve this issue by working 24 hours a day tirelessly, punctually and safely side-by-side with people.”
Highlights of the HD-1500 Higher Payload and Sturdier Structure: The HD-1500 can move pallet size payloads in manufacturing facilities and reduce the need for a forklift. Built with sturdy metal skins, the HD-1500 is robust and able to withstand heavy unintended external impacts. Faster ROI: The HD-1500 offers a solution to automate complex and dangerous tasks. Organisations can reduce the use of forklifts and safely transport large pallets containing finished goods, voluminous materials in the food and commodities industry and automotive frames. Workers can now focus their attention on more vital tasks, allowing customers to load more, make fewer trips with heavier batches and increase ROI. With the HD-1500, customers can do more with less equipment. Customisable fleet: Mobile fleets can become more diverse but still be controlled through the same system. OMRON’s Fleet
Manager allows a diverse mobile fleet of up to 100 mobile robots, including the HD-1500, to be controlled with the same system while achieving high performance. Thanks to optimised traffic management, battery management and routing of vehicles, customers can add the HD-1500 to their fleets without worrying about safety, compatibility or performance. industrial.omron.co.uk
Additional features of the HD-1500 include: • The HD-1500’s battery charges in 36 minutes to realise greater efficiency and less downtime. • 360° safety scanning lasers are used for simultaneous localisation and safety functionality. • Superior navigation is made possible using adaptive safety zones from LiDAR technology. • Improved CAPS technology allows for better accuracy and repeatability for docking. • With the Fleet Simulator feature, it’s possible to simulate up to 10 robots in up to three separate fleets.
INOX STAINLESS STEEL
SenSorS & SenSing SyStemS
Vertically integrate your sensor data SICK has established a new web-based platform, SICK IntegrationSpace, to be the home for its growing data-based digital software and services portfolio.
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s the distribution channel for a modular portfolio of digital tools, services and cloudbased applications, SICK’s IntegrationSpace will enable users to vertically integrate sensor data from devices through to the cloud, creating transparency for users both of the sensors themselves, and the data they generate. Through IntegrationSpace, data from SICK sensors and other third-party devices becomes a valuable raw material to be collected, represented and manipulated using the appropriate web-based service. All of the new platform’s modules are non-sector specific. They are designed to work seamlessly with SICK’s sensor technology portfolio and its AppSpace software framework to serve the company’s wide-ranging customer-base across factory, process and logistics automation. A range of asset-focused digital services are among the key foundation modules included in the initial launch. They are the Installed Base Manager database smartphone app, AssetHub, a digital-twin asset management system, LiveConnect which provides real-time access capability from sensor to cloud, and Monitoring Box, a real-time analysis and condition monitoring tool. Neil Sandhu, SICK’s UK Product Manager for Imaging, Measurement and Ranging explained: “The modular concept of IntegrationSpace allows you to subscribe only to the services you use. You can connect your SICK devices in three simple steps: Firstly, create a virtual representation (digital twin) of your device, then pair the real device with the virtual representation. Finally, via the virtual device, manage how the data is routed and forwarded to other SICK data applications, such as individual dashboards, digital maintenance services, as well as
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to your third-party dashboards or business improvement systems.” Customers may choose to start their IntegrationSpace journey by using the Installed Base Manager smartphone app to build a database with fingertip access to information about both SICK and third-party installed devices. By simply tagging the 2D code label on the SICK device, users can collect data on their entire installed sensor inventory. For every SICK device, the App will automatically detect and log the serial number and its age, assign it to the machine and plant, with the option to add photos and the exact GPS location. Individual sensors can then be located quickly using the search function, with quick access to technical data and product manuals. All stored device data can be exported for use in the customer’s own systems. A key foundation of the IntegrationSpace platform, the AssetHub is a web-based enterprise asset management (EAM) system that enables users to manage a digital twin of their assets along their entire life cycles. The AssetHub presents a feature-rich and interactive view of all sensors, systems and other devices. The AssetHub evaluates device data so that maintenance happens at the right times, software and firmware are up to date, and that inventories are well planned and optimised. The AssetHub also provides transparency for SICK field services to support customers effectively and enables maintenance programmes to be optimised. To access the virtual representation of the sensor and its data, SICK uses LiveConnect
to deliver a standardised connection from an edge gateway to the Asset Hub. This visualises the sensor status, thereby providing a foundation that opens up new opportunities for optimising plant availability and process efficiency. The LiveConnect service creates a digital trail linking hardware to SensorApp, and to the cloud. Monitoring Box allows for the early detection of status changes in sensors, machines, and plants. It enables visualisation of data in a browser-based dashboard for condition monitoring and real-time analysis. Integration with sensors is facilitated through standard SensorApps for SICK devices and implemented via the SICK cloud, or at a customer’s premises. Process changes can be tracked directly from devices and users have real-time access to sensor parameters, for example whether pre-set limits have been exceeded. Alarms and notifications can be set up, and historical data and events are presented clearly in a logbook format, so they can be used to make application-specific predictions. SICK plans to release further modules for the IntegrationSpace platform at a rapid pace supporting asset-focused digital value-adding services, as well as cloud-based processes and applications. www.sick.co.uk
Incremental and Absolute Encoder Solutions! When you call BEPC, you talk to engineers and encoder experts who can help you find and spec the right encoder for your application. From compact to heavy-duty stainless steel, thru-bore or shaft, incremental or absolute, we’ve got the encoder you need for motion feedback.
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SenSorS & SenSing SyStemS
Don’t lose sight of your plant Sensor specialist, ifm electronic, has introduced two new product ranges aimed at providing visual indication; one for status signalling and one for level detection.
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ignal lamps in the new DV2100 range from ifm electronic are an ideal choice for machine and plant status signalling applications even in demanding environments. The signal lamps are capable of displaying up to seven different colours which are easily visible even in bright lighting conditions, and they feature robust IP67 construction. Their compact size and ease of installation with a single M30 nut mean that they are equally well suited for use in new equipment or to replace and upgrade existing light signalling systems. To further increase their versatility, DV2100 signal lamps can be supplied with an integral sounder that generates audible warnings at levels up to 90 dB, and with an integral no-wear capacitive pushbutton. Versions are also available with both of these options. All models in the DV2100 range have an IO-Link interface that offers dependable and straightforward connectivity combined with maximum versatility. They also have conventional digital inputs for use in simple and legacy applications. When used with the IO-Link interface, all operating parameters can be instantly adjusted via acyclic commands from a PLC. Operating parameters include dynamically changing to one of seven different colours, with a choice of three blinking modes and three flashing modes. Users can also choose from seven different warning sounds for models fitted with a sounder and, for pushbutton equipped models, the function of the pushbutton can be freely assigned. Two operating modes are provided when conventional digital inputs are used. The first allows seven colours to be produced via three digital inputs that can be switched individually or in combination. The second mode allows three colours to be selected via separate pins on the unit’s M12 connector
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the new DV2100 signal lamps
and is intended for applications where the DV2100 is used as a replacement for a traditional multi-segment signalling lamp. In both of these modes, the sounder and pushbutton, when fitted, are accessible via separate pins on the M12 connector. Also new from ifm, the KQ10 level detector and display units feature a vertical column of LEDs that tracks the level of liquid or granules within the tank, providing a display that mimics the traditional sight glass, but with none of its disadvantages. In addition to its visual display, the KQ10, which can also be used on non-metallic pipes, provides a continuous level signal over the range 0 to 100% via its IO-Link interface. It also has three user-adjustable switching points, allowing it to replace three conventional sensors. Since the KQ10 is installed on the outside of a vessel, it never comes into contact with the medium it is monitoring, which makes it ideal for use in hygienic or aggressive chemical applications. External installation also eliminates the need to drill
ifm’s KQ10 level detector and display units
holes in the vessel, as would be required to accommodate conventional sensors. Individual KQ10 level detector and display units are 250 mm long, but if the level being monitored changes by more than this, several units can be combined to produce a longer display with no dead bands. The units automatically sense the level within the vessel using capacitive technology and are unaffected by minor build-up of deposits on the vessel wall. If the build-up approaches the level where sensing accuracy will start to be degraded, a warning signal is generated. All parameterisation of KQ10 sensors is conveniently carried out via the IO-Link interface. In addition to the switching points, which are typically set to indicate low, high and overflow levels, users can also adjust the switching hysteresis for each set point and choose between normally open or normally closed operation. In addition, they can configure the sensor orientation and the detection zone. ifm.com
T H E H O ME O F V I S C O U S P U M P IN G S OL U T I O N S
Kecol have over 25 years of experience in handling all types of viscous products in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics markets, as well as general industrial applications.
A sample of products we already pump… ✓Honey ✓Petroleum Jelly ✓Mascara ✓Sauces ✓Lanolin ✓Lip Gloss ✓Essences ✓Eye Ointment ✓Meat Paste ✓Paraffin Wax
T: +44 (0)1746 764311 E: sales@kecol.co.uk W: www.kecol.co.uk
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SEnSorS & SEnSing SySTEmS
Sensors prove ideal for automatic hand sanitisers Optical sensors from sensing and instrumentation specialists Baumer are playing an important role in the fight against COVID-19 as MEPCA discovers.
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verybody is familiar with them, especially as they are more in use right now than they have ever been and we take them for granted as an important part of the battle to combat the spread of COVID-19. We are talking about automatic, non-contact hand sanitisers which incorporate miniature optical sensors as supplied by sensing and instrumentation specialists Baumer. The sensors ensure reliable, safe hand detection at switching distances from 15 to 300mm, at any angle of incidence, even when the viewing window is soiled and for the entire lifetime of the device. Adjustable switching delays also prevent multiple or unwanted spray bursts to reduce wastage.
Also, thanks to the high immunity to ambient light, there are no restrictions to the sensor functions, even in very bright environments. The extensive range of sensor designs available from Baumer ensures easy integration into dispenser housings. For example, 0200 Photo-electric miniature sensors which offer outstanding reliability, excellent precision and reproducibility, even on black, shiny, transparent or irregular surfaces. Or the 0300 Miniature Sensors, ideal when space is very limited, providing enhanced processor performance for reliable detection in a 12.9mm housing, detecting the smallest objects plus past processing. Finally,
cylindrical M18 photo-electric sensors for cost-effective object detection in a compact yet robust industrial housing of either plastic, brass or stainless steel. www.baumer.com/gb/en/c/279
Monitor pressure and temperature in industrial environments RS Components is now stocking the new DPI 705E family of handheld pressure and temperature indicators from Druck, a specialist in piezo-resistive sensors and test and calibration instruments.
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wo versions of the Druck pressure and temperature indicators are now available from RS Components – the DPI 705E for use in safe areas and the DPI 705E-IS (Intrinsically Safe) for use in hazardous areas. These models combine a tough, durable design and build on and replace the DPI 705 family. The instruments are designed for single-handed use and introduce new and improved features to ensure even greater accuracy and reliable pressure or temperature monitoring during commissioning, fault finding, and system testing, including leak testing. A key advantage of the DPI 705E family is its enhanced accuracy, providing 12-month uncertainty up to 0.05% full scale (FS) over
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a temperature range of -10 to +50°C. An extensive pressure range is also covered – from 25mbar to 1400bar in absolute, gauge or differential configurations. The DPI 705E and DPI 705E-IS both have integrated pressure sensors and are designed to interface directly with external remote pressure or optional remote plugand-play Resistance Temperature Detector (RTD) sensors, providing even more flexibility while out in the field. Each pressure sensor holds integral calibration data, meaning a single DPI 705E can be used with multiple remote sensors, allowing various ranges to be measured in seconds. The leak test function is rapidly configurable between one, three or five minutes. The power-efficient design means
that the indicators can be used for eight hours per day, six days per week for one year using a single set of batteries. uk.rs-online.com/web
2530 3D Smart Sensor | Blue Laser
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Drives, Motors & Controls
Drive brings benefits to contract packer MEPCA learns how an ABB drive installed to get a customer out of a tight spot is bringing a host of additional benefits, including more consistent end-product quality and enhanced fault finding.
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ramptons, a contract packing company, processes around 1.5 million litres of fruit juices and milk-based drinks each week at its facility in Shepton Mallett, Somerset. A variable speed drive (VSD) controls the speed of a pump which is used to feed soft water to four fruit juice blending areas. The company was concerned about finding a drive to replace the obsolete unit from another manufacturer not least of all because the new drive needed to fit into the existing cabinet to avoid the cost and time of building a replacement cabinet. ABB Value Provider, APDS, recommended installing an ABB general purpose drive, the ACS480. The drive’s compact physical size and low power rating range (0.75 to 22 kW) makes it an ideal fit for the size of fans, pumps, mixers, conveyors, and compressors most commonly found in the food and beverage industry. As such, it is becoming an increasingly popular option for retrofit in food and beverage production facilities. The ABB drive is also facilitating more consistent end-product quality by applying closed-loop control to the blending process. As the soft water pump feeds four blending cells, it is critical that the water pressure to any one of them remains constant, regardless of how many cells are activated. A PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller provides the closed-loop control. This is included in the VSD software, which is inserted within the control loop so that the loop can be tuned to ensure stable and accurate control with good response times. PID control is a mathematical algorithm that is used to control a range of parameters such as flow and pressure. The PID controller then determines the optimum speed at which the pump’s motor achieves
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the correct water flow rate. A pressure transducer in the water tank feeds a signal to the VSD. As the pressure of the water varies, the pump’s speed is adjusted accordingly, quickly stabilising at the set point. This provides a constant flow of water into the system, ensuring the fruit juices are mixed to the right consistency every time. The VSD’s intuitive control keypad, also known as an assistance control panel, offers Framptons more intelligence on the process. “Since the drive was installed, we haven’t had to do anything with it – it has simply done exactly what it is supposed to,” said Tom Dowson, site services manager at the Shepton Mallet facility. “An added benefit, however, is how much process information we are now able to get from the drive, using the keypad. As a result, fault finding is now faster and more efficient.” The drive’s keypad allows the user to customise the display to show key parameters such as water pressure, flow rate and energy savings in money, kWh or CO2 emissions. The keypad can hold up to 21 selected parameters, which can be
displayed in various formats such as history trend graphs, amplitude loggers, peak load detectors and load profiles. Simple left and right buttons enable the operator to quickly scroll through the home screens to access the information they need. “Previously, if the pump wasn’t running as expected, or if the water flow rate wasn’t as high as required, we would have to put an amp meter inline and measure the current from it. With the ABB drive, that information is displayed on the screen.” Most of the beverages produced at the Shepton Mallet facility are destined for UK supermarkets. As a result, the site is regularly audited by its customers to ensure that it achieves stringent energy efficiency targets. “Around 80 to 90% of the site’s electrical consumption is used to power pumps or move product, so it’s critical these applications are as efficient as possible. We fit drives on all equipment rated over 75 kW and are also in the process of upgrading our existing IE2 motors to ABB IE4 high efficiency motors,” concluded Tom. www.abb.com
Enhanced reliability and space-saving with the RGC Series The RGC Series guarantees error free operation over a very large number of cycles. The RGC Series provides a slim single phase switching solid state contactor, at a mere 17.5mm width and is rated at 25AAC @ 40°C (104°F).
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Drives, MoTors & ConTrols
Efficiency at a new level According to NORD DRIVESYSTEMS, its new IE5+ motor generation offers consistently high efficiency over the entire adjustment range in a hygienic design. MEPCA found out more.
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he new IE5+ motor generation from NORD DRIVESYSTEMS offers a high power density, and the company claims it raises the LogiDrive concept for intralogistics to a new level with regard to energy efficiency and reduction of variants. The energy-efficient latest generation permanent magnet synchronous motor has considerably lower losses than the current IE4 series. The unventilated smooth motor achieves its high efficiency that, at times, is significantly above efficiency class IE5 via a wide torque range - and is optimally suitable for the operation in the partial load range. The compact IE5+ motor offers a high-power density with less installation space and was initially launched in a size for power ranges from 0.35 to 1.1kW with a continuous torque from 1.6 to 4.8Nm and speeds from 0 to 2,100rpm. Direct motor attachment, as well as NEMA and IEC motor attachments, are available. The motor concept will be gradually extended with
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more sizes and powers. It is ideal for use in hygiene-sensitive and harsh environments because it is easy to clean, corrosionresistant and wash-down capable. nsd tupH surface treatment and IP69K protection class are optionally available, as well as an integrated mechanical brake. An integrated encoder is part of the standard equipment. With the new generation of IE5+ motors, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS says it is taking the first step towards a new product system landscape with focus on ultimate energy efficiency paired with compact design. The new IE5+ synchronous motor can be combined with all NORD gear units and drive electronics as a modular system and supplements the successful LogiDrive concept. The standardised geared motor variants - consisting of an energy-saving synchronous motor, a 2-stage helical bevel gear unit and a NORDAC LINK frequency inverter - have been specially developed for use in intralogistics, parcel logistics and airport technology, and represent an optimal
compromise between energy efficiency and a reduction of variants. The new IE5+ motor can further increase these benefits. Utilising the high overload capacity of the motors and the system´s wide adjustment range, the solution is individually tailored to each customer and designed for the system´s specific load range. The decentralised LogiDrive systems are highly efficient and extremely easy to service thanks to plug-and-play technology. The entire system has a modular design so that all components of the drive technology can be individually serviced. This minimises maintenance and repair costs. The compact design saves space and is light in weight thanks to the aluminium housing. Thanks to the special design of the IE5+ motor and its operation with the frequency inverter, the same motor variant can be used worldwide. This means that the same motor type can be used independently of the respective mains voltage or local energy efficiency regulations info.nord.com/en/ie5
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DrivEs, Motors & Controls
Variable speed drives fly high When iFLY, a leading operator of indoor skydiving tunnels, needed new drives to continue delivering its experience at the company’s facility in Milton Keynes, it chose a powerful and highly reliable solution from Mitsubishi Electric.
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very day, up to 300 people flock to the permanent indoor skydiving facility in Milton Keynes, one of the three iFLY sites in the country. There, flyers of all abilities can experience the thrill of wind speeds up to 165 mph, as strong as a Category 5 hurricane or indeed jumping out of an aeroplane. When experiencing the excitement of true free-fall conditions in indoor skydiving centres, it is easy to forget about the apparatus required to suspend flyers in the airstream. It is created by a 12ft diameter wind channel linked to four large fans, which generate an upward airflow that makes skydivers feel like they are free-falling. The speed of the fans – and subsequently, wind speed – is regulated by four inverters or variable speed drives (VSDs). The responsiveness and accuracy of these pieces of equipment are fundamental for the instructors to achieve effective teaching conditions. They need to adjust the skydiving conditions with a high level of accuracy to meet specific requirements, e.g. weight of the flyer and experience level. In addition, a near-real-time response is crucial to ensure maximum safety for anyone in the wind chamber. The reliability of the VSDs is also key for iFLY to maximise the facility’s uptime. Sean Freeman, Milton Keynes Assistant General Manager at iFLY, explained: “To accommodate our many visitors, we require a minimum of ten hours of flying time in a day, every day of the week. Therefore, any unplanned downtime affects us commercially.” While iFLY’s centre in Milton Keynes has been running smoothly for many years, a timely upgrade of the drives was deemed essential when the existing system could no longer be guaranteed to ensure the
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same level of reliability. The indoor skydiving business contacted its preferred system integrator Rion Designs to upgrade the system which in turn got in touch with Mitsubishi Electric to source the new VSDs. The team had already collaborated in the past to build a spare system using Mitsubishi Electric’s 355 kW FR-F800 drives. This was used across the three indoor skydiving facilities in the UK when maintenance of the old equipment was required. Phil Cutcliffe, Managing Director at Rion Designs, said: “We are used to working with Mitsubishi Electric’s range of automation products. They have proven to be robust and highly reliable for us, which made them an ideal choice for this application. Also, the cost versus performance of their systems is very good. From a specification and commissioning perspective, we appreciate the technical support and assistance offered by the company throughout any integration project.” For the permanent replacement project, iFLY and Rion Designs again chose Mitsubishi Electric’s 355 kW FR-F800 series drives. The FR-F800 is designed specifically to work
with fans and pumps providing advanced excitation control within the motor. This not only provides smooth ramp-up but fast response and high electrical efficiency too. During operation, the auto-adjust routines then optimise energy efficiency. “Even with the original motors in place, these new drives will simultaneously reduce energy costs, improve system response times and look after the motors,” explained Wayne Turtill, Product Manager for Drives and Servos at Mitsubishi Electric. The main installation requirement during the upgrade was ensuring minimal downtime for iFLY. “To do so, the team agreed on replacing the inverters at night, when the facility is closed to the public. More precisely, every night one VSD would be removed and replaced with a new one, for a total of four days,” explained Wayne. The new drives have addressed any system reliability concerns as well as offering iFLY a transition from analogue to digital control. Instructors now have precision control over airflow from a more responsive system. gb3a.mitsubishielectric.com
MaterIals HandlIng
Simplified materials handling thanks to RFID technology HARTING explains to MEPCA how it used its RFID components and systems to equip its recently commissioned European Distribution Centre, digitising and optimising the flow of components and goods across the site.
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n the summer of 2019, HARTING opened its new European Distribution Centre (EDC). With around 300 pallet storage locations, 13 loading gates and up to ten thousand shipments being sent out per day, the ability to identify and locate components and track goods across the facility were a key concern. To fully digitise processes and optimise the flow of goods, HARTING installed its own range of RFID hardware and middleware in the facility. RFID allows you to monitor the physical location of items and assets digitally. It is extremely flexible and can be used in a variety of environments. A key benefit of RFID is that you do not need a direct line of sight to read the tags. It’s also possible to extract information from multiple tags at the same, as the high-speed technology can read up to 300 per second. They’re also able to cope with harsh, industrial environments and can endure wide temperature variations and high humidity. Another huge advantage of an RFID system is the improved security it offers. The risk of counterfeiting and forgery is reduced because transponders can be encrypted and password protected. Within the EDC, HARTING utilises RFID technology to reduce delivery errors and make the distribution as efficient as possible. As goods arrive, a sophisticated software system automatically assigns pallets a designated space. The pallets are then equipped with RFID transponders, meaning they can be tracked to ensure the most efficient flow path through the warehouse. Correspondingly, goods-moving equipment and forklifts are equipped with UHF RFID readers, which communicate with and read the transponders attached to the pallets. During loading and delivery, goods are assigned a unique identifier, which is written
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onto the rewritable transponders. When the forklift operator receives an order via their terminal, the RFID technology automatically checks and determines whether the pallet matches the order. In addition, the storage location is also identified by RFID transponders embedded in the floor, meaning the forklift driver is immediately alerted if pallets are transported to the wrong storage locations. This helps to improve efficiencies and speed up the distribution process. A similar system is used to ensure the loading of goods onto lorries is as organised and cost-effective as possible. The loading ramp has transponders embedded in the floor, which automatically check that goods on the pallet tally exactly with the transport order, helping to eliminate incorrect deliveries. The technological advancements even extend to outside the building; as drivers enter the site, their vehicle is immediately identified by the RFID system and the barrier raised to allow entry. One of the biggest technical challenges in implementing these RFID applications within the HARTING logistics centre was ensuring reliable identification. Due to the surrounding
environment, which contains objects which can reflect, block or absorb signals, it was important to select the correct hardware and software. Rather than the classic RFID gate solution, HARTING opted to install local, spatially defined reading zones, which eliminate the accidental misidentification of pallets or storage areas and means the middleware does not need to filter out misreads. As well as RFID, the EDC is equipped with other ultra-modern intralogistics solutions which are used in different areas. The flow of goods through the distribution centre is completely paperless, and energy and machine data are recorded and evaluated by edge computing devices, which is then used for preventative maintenance. In the future, it is hoped that artificial intelligence will further develop and improve logistics technology in the EDC. For example, autonomous route optimisation of automatic guided vehicles (AGV) and intelligent palletising solutions for shipping items of different sizes and weights are all being considered as we move further towards an automated digital future. www.harting.com/UK/en-gb/rfid
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Machine Building
Using gas struts in the production process Industrial hardware specialist, JET PRESS, recently deployed a Camloc gas strut to create a functional and cost-effective solution for its customer. MEPCA found out more.
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ETPRESS’s customer describes its business as ‘market leaders in versatile packaging solutions’, but this is packaging at a very technical level. The customer needed a stillage to transport car panels on the back of a vehicle travelling to and from a paint shop. The stillage has to protect the panels from damage and keep them dry and features a 65kg lid. This is where the Camloc gas struts come in. Gas struts are essentially energy storage devices used for motion control. When you close a lid, the gas stores energy. This energy is then used to raise the lid. It’s a simple concept, but get it wrong, and the lid will still be too heavy, or it may spring open, which can be dangerous. An engineer using a gas strut as part of their design has to accurately factor in the geometry of the opening, the weight of the lid, the length of the strut and the pressure of the gas. Then choose the most appropriate gas strut for the project. Users can specify a gas strut with a standard gas pressure. However, the forces involved and the position of the strut will need to be calculated to make sure it performs as needed. Alternatively, a Camloc Vari-Lift gas spring can be adjusted after it has been installed, by letting out gas. But this takes time and skill to get it right, and if you let out too much gas, the gas strut is useless. This is something the JETPRESS team are experienced in dealing with. In the case of the stillage, they calculated that approximately 680N were required. They then calculated the mounting points and created a pair of test Vari-Lift gas struts. The struts were taken to the customer, and the gas level was fine-tuned to precisely the correct pressure. The adjusted test struts were then sent to Camloc, who measured the pressure.
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Camloc then prefilled all the gas struts needed to the precise requirements. As a result, the customised Camloc gas strut works well, with an open force of 3kg and a close force of 5kg. After opening 10°, the lid lifts itself so all the stillages open and
close perfectly every time. This saves time during the manufacturing process, keeps operatives safe, and no gas struts are wasted as a result of an error. www.jetpress.com
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HealtH & Safety
Safer production with a real-time locating system Using proven hardware and software, Siemens has developed a solution for social distancing in the workplace. Users of the system can simulate and manage the possible risks to their employees while at the same time increasing the productivity of their plants, as MEPCA discovered.
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iemens has used a combination of hardware and software to offer a new solution for the challenges that companies face as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The solution enables companies to quickly and efficiently control how employees interact with one another, with the production line and with the plant setup. An integrated digital twin helps users to simulate the safety of employees, to test and optimise the setup of work areas, to validate safety measures, and to design future-proofed production lines as a result. Dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 is not just a case of re-establishing operating processes with new standards; the safety of each employee in terms of social distancing will also be a much more important consideration in future. The Simatic RTLS Real-time Locating System offers companies a means of measuring, monitoring and maintaining social distancing between employees. Through the interaction of wearable RTLS transponders with infrastructure devices, the movement of employees in all clearly defined areas can be tracked while observing all applicable data protection regulations. The additional SieTrace software from Siemens processes the location data from the transponders using an algorithm and determines the distances between employees. If the social distance falls below 1.5 meters, a warning signal is sent to all persons involved via the e-link display of the transponder. This ensures that social distancing can be implemented continuously on company premises, and also means that in the event of a risk scenario, those employees who could be affected by the risk are identified quickly and reliably.
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In addition, the real-time data provided by the Simatic RTLS can be combined with a digital twin of the real production environment. In the event of an employee contracting COVID-19, companies can then determine possible interaction scenarios between employees. Possible ‘hotspots’ for particular risk areas can also be identified quickly and easily, and with this precise knowledge of where the risk areas are, safety concepts can be swiftly optimised in the areas where there is an actual need. Large cost-intensive hygiene measures across the entire site can then be avoided in favour of a focus on specific areas. The transparency provided by movement data from the Simatic RTLS can also benefit
other applications in the company. The intelligence acquired based on position data for the digital twin provides the company with a comprehensive overview of material flow, order information or possible problem areas for the entire company. With precise location information, time-consuming searches can be minimised, or bottlenecks avoided entirely, while throughput and efficiency in the company can be increased. Real-time locating systems support the successful implementation of safety concepts, while also revealing the potential for optimisation for innovative production and logistics concepts. www.siemens.com/rtls
There’s a reason Managing Safely doesn’t cut corners The consequences of rushing health and safety training can be fatal. So Managing Safely takes exactly the right amount of time to get participants up to speed. That’s why our three day health and safety course is the most popular for line managers, in any sector, worldwide.
Managing Safely Tried. Tested. Trusted. www.iosh.com/managingsafely
Food Processing
Evaporation increases cheese drying capacity Matt Hale, International Sales & Marketing Director at HRS Heat Exchangers, explains how a novel use of evaporation using heat exchanger technology has increased drying capacity for a major European processor of cheese products.
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RS Heat Exchangers’ client takes out-of-specification cheese products from production sites across Europe and converts them into high-quality protein for use in pet food and animal feed. The cheese is pasteurised and then dried to produce a powdered additive. When the client wanted to increase production capacity, its first thought was to install an additional dryer; an expensive and energy-intensive solution. However, as the capacity of the dryer is determined by the amount of water it can remove per hour, another way to increase overall throughput would be to reduce the water content of the cheese products before drying, so that a larger volume could be dried at one time. The client approached HRS because of its established expertise in evaporation and concentration technology. The first step was to determine if the existing dryer would cope with a more concentrated cheese solution. HRS supplied a trial evaporation system which the client used to analyse all aspects of the revised production system, the properties of the materials and the potential results. The trial unit proved that the concept was feasible, and so HRS designed an appropriate evaporation system to sit between the existing pasteuriser and dryer. The trials and material analyses also showed how the physical and thermal properties of the cheese change as it is heated and the water is removed. At the beginning of the process, the product is fairly liquid with good thermal transfer characteristics, but as water is removed, it becomes more solid and concentrated, with less heat transfer. To provide adequate processing, a continuous treatment process would have to be designed around the
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‘worst case’ thermal characteristics at the end of the process. It was therefore decided to adopt a batch treatment approach as overall this required a smaller heat transfer surface, less equipment and less energy, requiring a smaller evaporator, smaller ancillaries and less energy to run. The batch system, which employs two tanks – one of which is filled while the other is being treated – is also simpler to design and operate. Employing a two-tank system with full automation also results in a continuous operational process. Heated cheese is a high-fouling, extremely viscous, material. Therefore, an evaporator based on the HRS Unicus Series of reciprocating scraped surface heat exchangers was supplied to prevent the build-up of cheese and burnt-on cheese residue on the tube walls of the heat exchanger. To reduce energy requirements and improve operational efficiency, the evaporator operates at a vacuum of around 200 mbar, meaning that the water in the cheese solution boils off at 60 °C. HRS supplied two complete skid-mounted systems, each of which comprised the Unicus
evaporator, two tanks, pumps, controls, and connections. Each skid-mounted system can process 3.6 tonnes of cheese product per hour, increasing the total solid concentration from 34 to 45 per cent, and increasing dryer capacity by a similar amount. www.hrs-heatexchangers.com
Fluid Carrying
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CONNECTIONS Anti Vibration Products, Mounts & Bushes
Industrial Fasteners & Components SD Products Ltd Unit 1, Fulwood Road South, Fulwood Industrial Estate, Sutton-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, NG17 2JZ T: +44 (0)1623 655 265 E: sales@sdproducts. co.uk W: www.sdproducts. co.uk
Fibet Rubber Bonding (UK) Ltd Unit 9 Dale Mill, Hallam Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 8AN T: 01282 878200 E: sales@fibet.co.uk W: www.fibet.co.uk
Control Systems Beckhoff Automation Ltd. The Boathouse Station Road Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 1AZ T:+ 44 (0)1491 410539 E: info@beckhoff.co.uk W: www.beckhoff.co.uk
Machine Tools, Factory Automation & Laser Processing Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd Badgeworth Drive, Worcester, WR4 9NF T: 01905 755755 E: sales@mazak. co.uk W: www.mazakeu. com
Displays & Sensors MMS Electronics Ltd Unit 3, Whiteley Court Pool Road, Pool in Wharfedale, Leeds LS21 1FR T: +44 (0)1943 877668 E: sales@ mmselectronics.co.uk W: www. mmselectronics.co.uk
Power Conversion Products Powersolve Electronics Ltd Unit 8A Arnhem Road, Newbury RG14 5RU, Berkshire T: 44-(0)1635-521858 E: sales@powersolve. co.uk W: www.powersolve. co.uk
Dust & Fume Solutions Impact Technical Services 3 Kingsley Street, Leicester, LE2 6DY T: 0116 244 8855 E: enquiries@ impactts.co.uk W: www. impacttechnica lservices.co.uk
Electronic Filters Kemo Limited Unit 1, Dene Yard Green Street Green Road,Dartford, Kent, DA2 8DH T: +44 (0)1474 705168 F: +44 (0)1474 705366 E: uk@kemo.com
Flow Meters iCenta Controls Ltd Unit 3 The Woodford Centre, Lysander Way, Salisbury, SP4 6BU T: +44 (0) 1722 442 307 F: +44 (0) 8445 430 845 E: sales@icenta.co.uk W: www.icenta.co.uk
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Sensors
Stainless Steel Fittings Nero T: 0121 665 3900 F: 0121 665 3903 W: www.nero.co.uk
Standard Machine Elements Elesa 26 The Moorlands, Metheringham, Lincoln LN4 3HX T: 01526 322670 E: sales@elesa.co.uk W: www.elesa.co.uk
Temperature and Humidity Measurement & Calibration Rotronic Crompton Fields Crompton Way Crawley, RH10 9EE T: 01293 571000 E: instruments@ rotronic.co.uk W: www.rotronic.co.uk
Test & Measurement HBM United Kingdom Limited Millbrook Proving Ground, Station Lane, Millbrook, Bedfordshire MK45 2RA T: +44 (0)1525 304980 W: www.hbm.com W: www.hbm.com/ hbmshop-uk
Valves - Actuated & Manual Carlo Gavazzi UK Ltd 4.4 Frimley Business Park Frimley GU16 7SG T: 01276 854110 F: 01276 682140 W: www.carlogavazzi. co.uk IFM Electronic Efector House, Kingsway Business Park, Oldfield Road, Hampton, Middlesex, TW12 2HD T: 020 8213-0000 E: enquiry.gb@ifm.com W: www.ifm.com Monitran Monitor House, 33 Hazlemere Road, Penn, HP10 8AD T: 01494 816569 E: info@monitran.com W: www.monitran.com
Albion Valves (UK) Ltd T: 01226 729900 E: sales@ albionvalvesuk.com Dixon T: +44 (0)1772 323529 E: sales@ dixoneurope.co.uk W: www.dixoneurope. co.uk
Water & Chemical Storage Drayton Tank & Accessories Ltd T: 0871 288 4213 E: enquiries@ draytontank.co.uk W: www.draytontank. co.uk
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