Engineering Update - November 2017

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JOC_SE Eng Update Nov 17 Weld 17vA.pdf 1 20/10/2017 12:26:25

November 2017

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Connect with us

November 2017

CONTENTS Editorial Assistant Jenna Burridge 01843 448 443

Publishing Director

Jodie Little 01843 448 443 jodie@jetdigitalmedia.co.uk

Publication Manager

Tim Johnston 01843 448 443 tim@engineering-update.co.uk

Publishing House Jet Digital Media Ltd The Mill Spratling Court Office Spratling Court Farm Manston Kent CT12 5AN

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November 2017 At the forefront of digital marketing, Engineering Update strives to bring its readers the latest in industrial engineering, in a format that provides the best usability and ease of use for it’s readers.

Every monthly issue of the publication brings the latest in news, event information, as well as extensive features that encompass every aspect of the engineering industry.

www.engineering-update.co.uk

02/03/2017 13:24

November 2017

AutoCoding Systems develops Version 2 of Loma TRACS TRACS Version 2 supports Loma’s full range of inspection equipment, offers better functionality with CSV export facility and improved user experience Following on from the success of Loma TRACS, AutoCoding Systems have continued to work with Loma Systems to develop Version 2 of the popular data reporting and analysis software.

Like its predecessor, TRACS 2 (TrendingReporting-Analysis-Capture-Software) runs over a customer’s factory network and provides real-time feedback across all lines in a central format for analysis and reporting of key measurements such as giveaway or metal count. It allows factory managers to see instant machine status, examine different trends between shifts or products and quickly identify and rectify inefficiencies rather than waiting for historical information to be reported.

Information relating to contaminant detection rates, weight and over-fill records can be compiled quickly and can be used to demonstrate compliance with current legislation.

TRACS 2 supports Loma’s full range of inspection equipment and features a completely redesigned architecture in line with AutoCoding’s latest platforms. There is a modern, easy to navigate user interface resulting in an improved user experience.

Other key features include printable batch reports and a CSV data export facility for batch and individual pack weight information.

Both metric and imperial measurements are supported and data is provided in a user friendly graphical format for quick and easy trend analysis.

The availability of real-time data from Loma CW3 checkweighers is of particular value in recording and tracking the cost of product giveaway per line. Line operators are able to adjust production processes quickly ensuring product giveaway is kept to a minimum and unit weight targets are achieved. This benefits food manufacturers’ cost centres and ensures compliance with the latest weights and measures legislation at the lowest weight possible.

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Mike Hughes, Managing Director at AutoCoding Systems, said “We are pleased to continue to work with Loma Systems to further enhance the TRACS product which now offers improved functionality for a wider range of Loma products. TRACS 2 has been developed as a result of feedback from Loma customers who identified the additional features they wanted to see in Version 2. The reporting facility has now been improved offering a PDF report function and a CSV data export facility, as well as the ability to gather data on batch and individual pack weights.”

Toby Kemp, Loma Systems’ Global Marketing Manager, commented “Both AutoCoding and ourselves are confident that TRACS will help factories build a culture of continuous improvement and increase productivity by highlighting efficiency opportunities. For example, it can help food companies understand speed loss and start-up issues, as well as better understand and control their processes.”

For further information, contact Janet Harrison janetharrison@autocodingsystems.com

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November 2017

Optimised Thermal Camera for Electronics Development and Testing FLIR Systems has announced the launch of the FLIR ETS320 thermal imaging solution for electronics testing in engineering benchtop environments. As the first FLIR camera designed specifically for benchtop work in testing and analyzing the thermal characteristics of electronic components and printed circuit boards (PCBs), the FLIR ETS320 aims to advance testing and diagnosis accuracy in the electronics industry.

The FLIR ETS320 combines a high-sensitivity thermal camera engineered for imaging PCBs and other electronics - with an adjustable, hands-free table stand to provide consistent, non-contact thermal testing through the entire electronics design, development and production process. By offering more than 76,000 points of temperature measurement,

the FLIR ETS320 offers the ability to monitor power consumption, detect hot spots, and identify potential points of failure during product development.

The camera’s high measurement accuracy and its ability to visualize small temperature differences helps evaluate thermal performance, ensure environmental compatibility, and troubleshoot problems for a wide range of electronic products.

“The FLIR ETS320 provides a critical thermal perspective in the design, development, and testing of electronics components and devices” said Andy Teich, President and CEO of FLIR Systems. “As electronics become increasingly smaller and more powerful, it is imperative to be able to view and understand the thermal performance of these systems. Now there is a purpose-built system for this community.”

FLIR designed the rechargeable, batterypowered unit for quick and easy setup, so product developers can have an immediate, real-time view into the thermal performance of their designs. The unit comes fully assembled and ready to connect to a PC running FLIR Tools software for detailed data analysis, recording, and reporting. The integrated test stand and sliding mount design allow for optimal flexibility when imaging both large and small electronic components.

The FLIR ETS320 is now available for purchase through established FLIR distribution partners. For more information, please visit www.flir.com/ETS320 or contact FLIR Systems at research@flir.com / +32-3665-5100.

Fast & Intrinsically Safe Storage Tank Monitoring The new application note describes how the GFx320 has eliminated the need to go through all the hassle of requesting a hot work permit which can be a time consuming and expensive process.

FLIR Systems has published an application note that describes how a Belgian storage tank inspection company are using the FLIR GFx320 optical gas imaging camera to monitor for fugitive emissions in hazardous locations.

Tank storage companies cannot afford to have chemical leaks as a result of ageing assets or corroding storage tanks. To allow them to meet increasing safety and environmental regulations and to avoid huge fines, Belgian storage company - Antwerp Distribution and Products Operations (ADPO) relies on third party inspection agencies like The Sniffers to monitor its facilities for unwanted fugitive emissions. By using the latest GFx320 optical gas imaging camera from FLIR, inspectors from The

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Sniffers can monitor the ADPO assets up to nine times faster than with traditional Toxic Vapour Analyser (TVA) probes. In addition, because of the remote detection methodology of the FLIR GFx320 optical gas imaging camera they can get to work immediately without going through the hassle of requesting a hot work permit.

The ADPO site in the port of Antwerp, Belgium has 276 storage tanks of varying sizes from 150m3 up to 5000m3 storing 150 different liquid oil additives, intermediates, commodities and fine chemicals. In hazardous areas like the ADPO plant, there is always the risk of leaking gas vapour collecting and igniting with a stray spark or hot surface. Working in these environments requires specialist equipment such as the intrinsically safe FLIR GFx320 optical gas imaging camera.

Operators at the Sniffers inspection agency report how the FLIR GFx320 is easy to carry and much more comfortable to work with than the usual TVA probe gear, especially when you are on site for an entire day. Using the GFx320 proprietary High Sensitivity Mode has allowed them to detect even smaller leaks very fast. In addition, the GFx320 is capable of measuring temperatures up to 350°C with an accuracy of ±1°C. This is critical for assessing thermal contrast between the gas compound and the background scene.

Overall using optical gas and visual images from the GFx320 has been an invaluable tool to clearly demonstrate the severity of a leak thereby enabling ADPO to assess which actions they need to take to fix the leaks and prevent further economic loss.

To download and read the application note in full please visit this web page. For more information on the GFx320, visit www.flir.com/ogi/gfx320 or contact FLIR Systems at gasimaging@flir.com / +323665-5100.

November 2017

Chell Instruments has launched the latest in its family of pressure scanners. The nanoDaq-LT is a new, smaller, more affordable pressure scanner.

The company has been supplying a range of high end pressure scanners to Formula One motor racing teams and the aerospace industry for over 30 years. Up until now, the precision required by these applications has priced other smaller potential users out of the market. However, with the launch of the nanoDaq-LT, a low cost multi-point pressure measurement scanner, Chell’s team of engineers have made a scanner that is instantly affordable to a much wider range of aerodynamic testing applications.

The pocket sized nanoDaq-LT weighs only 37g and measures 59.5mm x 27mm x 12.5mm (excluding tubulations) and is only one third of the cost of their top end instruments.

Its size and rugged construction means the pressure scanner is perfect for use in harsh environments.

The new scanner is ideal for many potential users from motorsport teams to motorcycle designers, trains and wind turbines. Reconfiguration of the port outlets allows measurements to be made more conveniently in tight spaces. There is also the option of having port plate connections rather than tubulations. The nanoDaq-LT makes aerodynamic pressure testing much more affordable and versatile.

Nick Broadley, MD at Chell commented “Our customers recognise us as the experts in this field. We are very proud to have developed a new product that can be used by many more organisations to collect and monitor data to improve their product’s effectiveness. When we launch a new product, people know we’ve done our research, and come up with a quality engineering solution.

The new pressure scanner can be used for anything from racing cars, to wind turbines, train development and even buildings.”

Nick explained the reasoning behind the launch of the new scanner.

“The current range of scanners only covers the high-performance end of the market where performance is the only real purchasing criteria. By producing a lower-cost device, we can open up this technology to many other

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applications where the cost would have been prohibitive, or the possibility of damage made the use of expensive scanners unwise.”

Over recent years, the company has had several customers expressing an interest in a lower cost device. They decided to use their engineering expertise to manufacture a scanner that was not only more affordable but smaller in size and so more versatile. The resulting nanoDaq-LT means many businesses and applications can take advantage of this latest technology in digital transducers.

If you’d like more information, please call Chell on +44 (0)1692 500555 or email info@chell.co.uk

November 2017

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November 2017

Cleanroomshop Drilling into the Cleanroom Maintenance Market Creator of the world’s first submersible drill, Nemo Power Tools, has partnered with Cleanroomshop to market its sealed Cleanroom Drill/Driver.

The tool uses technology from Nemo’s submersibles which were developed for the subsea market and are used in some of the world’s most prolific organisations such as Disney, NASA and the US Navy.

The cordless drill/driver, currently used by Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies, offers cleanroom, medical lab, and pharmaceutical professionals a completely sealed and sterilisable drill.

Regular power tools contain air vents, which allow air to pass over the tool’s internal components to cool the machine. Nemo Power Tools devised a technology that allows tools to be 100% sealed from the outside environment, which means no particle dispersal, allowing it to be used in clean rooms and other particle-free environments.

Using a tool that’s suited to sensitive environments translates into more efficient work, particularly in the plastics and manufacturing sectors, as well as with sophisticated electronics manufacturing and other types of cleanrooms.

Repairs can take place without compromising the room’s air quality or its clean room status.

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Due to its sealed design and construction, the drill/driver has extremely low particle generation. An airborne particle count statistical analysis conducted by an independent third-party laboratory found that the Nemo Clean Room Drill meets the particulate requirements of an ISO Class 7 cleanroom at 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 micrometer under operational conditions (based on the data collected and statistical analysis calculations derived from ISO 14644-1).

The unit is made from aluminum and its non-porous surface is specially-treated which means it can be sterilised, washed and cleaned with water, alcohol, various solvents and standard sterilisation solutions, as well as being submersible up to 5 meters.

This drill comes with a durable carrying case.

The Nemo Cleanroom Drill/Driver is available from stock at Cleanroomshop, with next day delivery and global shipping options.

November 2017

Connect 2 Cleanrooms Evolves Validations with Particles Plus Technology Since Connect 2 Cleanrooms’ Installation & Validation team has started using Particles Plus particle counters to provide particle counts for cleanroom validations, Mark Jackson, Installation & Validation Manager, reports increased efficiency during validations.

“The handheld Particles Plus units are easy to use, intuitive and robust”, says Jackson. “Our technicians are confident in programming them to perform the most efficient validation route”.

He gives the example of a cleanroom which needs counts at 9 validation locations.

Usually locations are numbered consecutively in rows, for example, locations: 1-3 (row 1), 4-6 (row 2), 7-9 (row 3). Particles Plus handheld particle counters allow you to change the location order to provide the quickest route through the cleanroom – increasing efficiency and reducing turbulence.

Auto advance allows the Validation Technician to progress automatically to the next programmed location and a delay can be configured to allow them time to move away from the unit once it is in position to prevent them contaminating the counts.

“Our technicians demonstrate these best practice methods to our clients, as ideally, organisations should use a particle counter to perform regular checks to ensure the cleanroom is performing to its ISO class parameters.”

Graphs are generated as a visual indication of the history of particles per second in a graph with p/s (y axis) against time (x axis). Spikes can be annoted and comments saved, i.e. ‘door opened’ or ‘identified broken seal’ for full transparency.

“If an unprecedented event occurs which causes counts to spike” continues Jackson, “operators can exclude data if they require. However in accordance with the ISO 14644 standard, only one exclusion can be made or the test will be validated to protect its integrity”.

It is the technology contained inside the Particles Plus units that really set them apart in the market. Upon entering a cleanroom’s cubic volume, the unit will calculate how many locations and the sample size which is required, to meet ISO 14644 requirements (GMP or Federal Standard can also be calculated), as well as suggesting the particle sizes to be considered.

Up to 50 user-defined recipes can be set, with different sample sizes, delays, location times, etc. For Connect

2 Cleanrooms, these are used for saving different locations for clients for whom validations are performed regularly.

There is also the choice of metric or imperial measurements for the raw data to be extrapolated to, giving them international appeal.

With a number of data extraction options, the data flow can be driven by organisation’s desired communication protocol, rather than limited to the capabilities of the device.

Modbus TCP/IP is available as standard, (Modbus 485 and 232 are optional extras), whereas only Particles Plus units offer wireless transfer through Wi-Fi (optional), as well as offering USB to PC or to USB memory stick.

The particle counters can hold 45,000 recorded data records simultaneously, which is enough for continuous particle counts (series of 1 minute samples taken with no break in between) to be run for 33 days without having to download data.

For its busy installation and validation team, this capacity means Connect 2 Cleanrooms’ client data is protected and not in danger of being over-written prior to it being downloaded. Data is time stamped to allow full traceability following extraction.

Patented technology offers concurrent interface sessions through the use of multi-core processors, which safeguards data logging, so there are no interruptions to sampling.

Also patented is the remote diagnostics and configuration technology, giving the option to provide quick fixes - such as machine data, pump data, laser run time, etc. - without the need to send the unit off. The performance of

the smart batteries can also be analysed through the remote diagnose tool, right down to individual cells and battery temperature.

Jackson says the Li-ion battery provides enough power for Technicians to confidently use the units all week without having to recharge. In fact, after a full charge, they can take 10.5 hours of continuous sampling. That is with the screen at full brightness, so with some power saving tactics, such as dimming the screen, it could run even longer. The unit illustrates how much additional battery life can be gained by making these changes. Welcome news for operatives reliant on battery power performance to prevent them from requiring a mid-validation power break.

The counters feature icon driven menus and a large colour 4.3” display with a touch screen interface that today’s users expect from devices. Jackson likes the way the icons are grouped intuitively and how items such as graphs can be expanded with a single click. The calibration date is also displayed at a touch, so Technicians can quickly check their unit is calibrated.

The comfortable handle, allows ergonomic control and the durable case features laser cut foam to protect the unit during frequent transit. It houses accessories such as the purge filter, which allows for the unit to be cleaned following use in dirty or toxic environments, and the temperature and humidity sensor.

An integrated HEPA filter on the extract ensures no particles are introduced back into the cleanroom during sampling.

Spot monitoring is facilitated through the Real-Time Meter™ feature, meaning if a broken seal or perforated filter is allowing contamination to be introduced into a cleanroom, the units help users to pinpoint contamination sources through a visual real-time graph with selectable sensitivity adjustment showing peaks of particle counts per second during sampling.

The handheld units can also be used as a continuous monitoring system, as you can connect them to a network and give them an IP address, which allows live data to be streamed to the PC desktop application or viewed remotely from any internet browser.

“This gives organisations the reassurance that its cleanrooms are still achieving the standards they are built to meet, in between validation visits” concludes Jackson.

Particles Plus Handheld Particle Counters start at just £2128 and can be purchased online through www.cleanroomshop.com.

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November 2017

Statii Software Develop a Solution for Business Management Software in Engineering Traditionally, to get a sense of where they stand businesses need to undertake some kind of self-audit - one that provides an up-to-date assessment of finances, workforce, output, and stock. This takes time and money, and often can’t be done immediately on demand. The knock-on effect of this is that they often don’t have the data you need on-hand to respond to immediate changes.

The business becomes inflexible, making it more likely to lag behind the competition and consequently rarely finds itself in a position to take advantage of immediate changes in the industry. In today’s fast-paced engineering industry, organisations need more than hard work and dedication to stay competitive intelligent software is needed to keep on-track and at optimal efficiency.

Statii Software from Mansfield, UK, have developed a solution. Statii Software designs software specifically for engineers, having been started and run by engineering manufacturers frustrated with the lack of options available. They recognised that the market lacked business management software both for engineering/ manufacturing companies and smaller operations, so they created their own, alongside a free “lite” version that lets smaller businesses experiment with its own capabilities. Additionally, they committed to providing it well below the average market price for competing software.

They have achieved this by streamlining the conventionally accepted features of business

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management systems down to those systems that are actually utilised by the end user, stripping away superfluous bells and whistles and building on the parts that engineers actually need. Most business management software helps by automating and monitoring the day-to-day actions of the company, providing constant access to the key information business operators need to make informed decisions. Instead of once every few weeks, the information is updated moment-to-moment, meaning outdated information is never relied on.

Accurate assessments of workload capacity and the exact capabilities of the business allow its services and products to be pitched with confidence, leaving nothing to guesswork or chance. It can also help to make predictions of future developments by tracking order histories, stock status and employee trends, helping to avoid pitfalls and shortages that would have been missed without the data gathered by the system. The only barriers are cost and specialisation. Firstly, most software providers put a huge

premium on their product, locking out all but the largest businesses from making cost-effective use of them.

Secondly, most of the software out there is made by software designers or business analysts, so they miss many of the unique challenges that engineers face. It’s critical that priority is placed upon finding a set of business management software that’s designed with engineering companies in mind, as well as one that’s suited to the size of the company in question.

Statii’s software is capable of controlling and tracking almost every part of the business, streamlining everything from work orders, finances, and inventory to personnel records and invoicing. This data can be monitored from a single dashboard, allowing business owners to get an immediate assessment of their business in seconds rather than weeks.

One of the requirements they set themselves was that the pricing model should reflect smaller businesses rather than solely large clients. As a result, while it has all the capabilities of more expensive business management systems, it doesn’t even approach them in terms of price.

November 2017

Non-corrosive cooling in all situations Eisele stainless steel push-in connectors also withstand deionised water

I

n applications with stringent requirements for corrosion resistance, stainless steel connectors of the Eisele INOXLINE are the perfect choice.

Especially in laser applications, which often use deionised water for cooling, they achieve very long life cycles and reduce maintenance intervals in comparison with alternative materials such as brass.

Laser cutting and laser welding processes not only generate heat, but also spatter and sparks, or the combustion gases and aerosols in the vicinity of the weld seam or kerf can affect the coolant connections. Stainless steel connectors of 17 and 17A series of the Eisele INOXLINE with a release sleeve are especially suitable for this application. The release ring used in conventional push-in connectors often becomes immovable by weld spatter. By contrast, the Eisele release sleeve leaves no

free space for such accumulations. This means that the connectors are still easy to open even after extended use. That is why Eisele connectors have long been used for welding applications in the automotive industry.

For the toughest cases: stainless steel Stainless steel 1.4301/07 features excellent protection against corrosion and is resistant to the vast majority of media, as well as high temperatures. Stainless steel connection components are therefore very durable and reliable. All components are machined from solid material and can easily be combined with all other materials. Due to the large range of high-quality sealing materials, including Viton and FFKM, suitably designed push-in connectors of the Eisele INOXLINE can be used at temperatures from -50 °C to +200 °C.

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November 2017

Titan Reports Supply of 600,000 Flowmeters to Beer Industry

Titan Enterprises reports on its long-standing working relationship with Vianet (formerly Brulines) for the development and supply of beer flowmeters. Over the last 20 years - Titan Enterprises has delivered over 600,000 of these flow measurement devices in various guises.

This close working relationship started when Brulines were developing a telemetry product to provide pub chain owners with data on their bar activity via an electronic point of sale (EPOS) system. After trialling several flowmeters, Brulines sought a solution to resolve flowmeter bearing lifespan problems and the unreliability of the optical detection method. Titan Enterprises proposed an adapted version of its 800-series turbine flowmeter as the design included durable sapphire bearings proven reliable for many thousand hours operation, and a Hall effect detector which was not subject to problems with discolouration inside the pipe. To ensure the flowmeter was ‘fit for purpose’, Titan additionally adapted the cable type as well as the body and increased the cable length to 10 metres. These adaptions enabled Brulines installations to be maintained in beer cellars with differing wire runs to the control panel without any junction boxes.

Following the widespread reliability and success of the original product, Vianet subsequently turned again to Titan Enterprises to develop an “intelligent” flowmeter (IFM) for their enhanced iDraught retail product. The specification for this IFM required that it should additionally measure temperature as well as determining the type of fluid in the line to detect line cleaning cycles which are essential for the dispense of a good pint. After development, trialling

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and testing, this new IFM was introduced and supplied to Vianet at the rate of up to 3500 units a week. Since this first IFM introduction, close collaboration between the 2 parties has resulted in 5 iterations of the product with revised features as end user requirements have evolved.

Mark Fewster, product manager at Vianet commented “Titan’s supply chain has always delivered to our quality and timescale needs”.

For further information on the 800-series turbine flowmeter please visit this web page or contact Titan Enterprises on +44-1935-812790 / sales@flowmeters.co.uk to discuss a potential OEM development project.

With over 40 years’ experience in flowmeter innovation and manufacture, Titan Enterprises philosophy of “pushing the envelope by trying to do things a “little different and better” has resulted in sales to over 40 countries worldwide and a repeat purchase rate of 95%.

Vianet is a leading provider of telemetry solutions to the vending industry. The company offers solutions to meet every requirement, from local and regional operators looking to manage operations more efficiently and save cost, to brands seeking to integrate point of purchase data into the planning process.

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November 2017

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November 2017

ION SCIENCE COMPLETES MOVE INTO NEW PURPOSE-BUILT £4.5 MILLION FACILITY Gas detection instrumentation specialist’s ultra-modern plant is open and geared to meet ambitious global growth plans for advanced VOC monitors

Ion Science (www.ionscience.com) – leading manufacturer of high performance gas detection instrumentation and sensors for global occupational health and environmental monitoring applications – has completed the move into its new stateof-the-art £4.5 million, 1500m² facility.

Located in the village of Fowlmere in Cambridgeshire, the flexible new plant has been purpose-built to meet current and short-term needs, as well as reflect the ongoing ambitions of the business, which continues to achieve 30% year-on-year growth.

Featuring a technologically advanced yet sympathetic design, which provides the effect of a cluster of smaller, low level agricultural type buildings, the facility has been specially constructed to achieve the highest possible hygiene, quality and environmental standards.

Duncan Johns, Managing Director at Ion Science comments: “Ion Science is excited to declare our new facility open and fully operational. This is a massive milestone in the company’s 27-year history and we’re looking forward to having the administration, sales and production capacity to achieve further expansion in both new and previously untapped markets and territories. We like to play hard as well as work hard at Ion Science so the building has been designed to offer a fantastic working environment with well-equipped break-out spaces, lovely landscaped gardens and other outside recreational areas for staff and visitors to enjoy.”

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Duncan adds: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank employees for their patience, dedication and hard work in helping get the plant operational within the allotted timeframe.

“The future for Ion Science and its staff, distributor network and offices in the USA, France and Italy looks extremely bright.

With the new facility, we’re now ideally positioned to focus on further expanding our presence in global occupational health and environmental monitoring applications,” Duncan concludes.”

Providing more light assembly, research and office space, the new plant boasts a range of exciting design features, including: •

Ground source heat pump which extracts heat from the ground via bore holes underneath the car park and provides heating and hot water for the building without burning fossil fuels.

•

Modular access flooring which provides flexibility in the distribution of building services and building layout

•

Building designed to maximise natural daylight using large windows, doors and rooflights

•

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) form main structural element of both walls and pitched roofs to provide a highly insulated and air tight building envelope and resistance to damp and cold problems

•

Internal layout and internal glazed screens provide a connection between areas and teams within the building

•

Fully designed landscaping scheme incorporates all the recommendations of an ecological survey to enhance the site, including an eco-friendly pond

As well as investment in the building itself, Ion Science has installed the latest cuttingedge production equipment including a Weiss Technik floor-standing temperature and climatic control chamber to ensure the on-going quality and safety of its handheld and fixed photoionisation detectors (PIDs).

To facilitate the in-house production of printed circuit boards (PCB), Ion Science has also installed an advanced iineo Europlacer SMT pick and place complete production line system. Offering a high level of flexibility and feeder count, it is widely configurable without the need to compromise on placement speed or component capability and delivers complete manufactured items without human intervention.

Contact details for the new Ion Science facility are: Ion Science Ltd, The Hive, Butts Lane, Fowlmere, Cambs. SG8 7SL

PTS Ltd have over 18 years experience managing a growing number of customer production lines on-site to ensure ‘just-intime’ delivery. We offer many variations of Direct Line Feed management to suit individual needs.

Plating We have the facilities to plate standard and special screws in most materials.

The most popular of these is our ‘Touch-Dry’ ChemiBlack process, currently used by an increasing number of customers in high-tech industries.

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November 2017

P

ROCENTEC ComBricks unites network components and offers permanent monitoring with industry leading features. It enables users to remotely monitor PROFIBUS installations from anywhere in the world and gives advance warning of any potential system faults, acting as a virtual maintenance professional.

ComBricks is a unique modular platform able to carry repeater and modules on a backplane. It is the only product with an integrated oscilloscope for permanent PROFIBUS monitoring.

The use of PROCENTEC ComBricks makes it possible to collect and store network diagnostic data to identify even intermittent network faults, which are usually the most difficult to diagnose and rectify. Based on a

set of personalized criteria, it gives an easy to interpret notification that can then be acted upon before a failure occurs. The system works with an integrated web browser which gives secure access to the units via a web connection.

Harsh environments The newest member of the successful ComBricks family is ComBricks HE+.

Because of its robust stainless steel housing, the device is ideal for the use in industrial, marine, and extreme conditions. It is ILAC-MRA vibration approved, which means the device is resistant to vibrations that may occur when the unit is used on trains, planes, boats and trucks. Furthermore, the device allows for a better temperature dissipation.

In comparison with the first ComBricks systems, no separate backplane is

needed. ComBricks HE+ is based on an internal backplane, up to two scope repeater modules can be added next to the head station, locked together with a metal clamp.

PROCENTEC Atlas The ComBricks system is the perfect solution for monitoring PROFIBUS networks. Recently, PROCENTEC launched a monitoring solution for Industrial Ethernet networks as well: PROCENTEC Atlas. This tool is perfect for preventing unexpected and expensive downtime in complex factory networks.

Are you interested in these innovative solutions? For more information, check out this web page. Or visit PROCENTEC at the SPS Nuremburg trade fair from November 28th until November 30th in Hall 10.0, stand 530.

Monitoring and networking in harsh environments made possible with PROCENTEC ComBricks HE+ PROCENTEC ComBricks has proven itself as the number one permanent monitoring tool for PROFIBUS networks for years. In addition to the ComBricks family, PROCENTEC recently launched the new robust ComBricks HE+, the perfect solution for use in harsh environments, making PROCENTEC ComBricks applicable in an even wider range of solutions.

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November 2017

Registration is now open for the second day of STEMMER IMAGING’s UK Vision Technology Forum at the Silverstone Wing Exhibition and Conference Centre, 15 -16 November 2017. Visitors can choose between the completely free standalone technology day on November 16th, which follows a similar format to the previous Forums, or a two-day package that also includes an in-depth 1-day training course, gala dinner with entertainment and overnight accommodation.

The UK Forum is part of five events being held across Europe. The free to attend Day 2 offers visitors a wide range of opportunities to learn more about machine vision. It is designed to appeal both to newcomers and the most experienced vision practitioners.

It combines a rich program of technical seminars, a new Integrator Zone showing real-life applications, hands-on practical taster sessions and a table-top exhibition to provide a unique learning environment.

Visitors can extend their knowledge on state of the art vision technology and the latest developments in machine vision within a very short time period.

The day will be packed with technical information and informative live demonstrations, as well as interesting conversations with some of the world’s leading experts in machine vision.

There will be opportunities to learn about current trends such as Industry 4.0 (IoT), Embedded Vision and Deep Learning and how those trends affect machine vision. It also offers an opportunity to see and find out more about Intel’s latest 400 series of RealSense™ 3D imaging technology for embedded applications.

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Registration open for free Day 2 of STEMMER IMAGING’s UK Vision Technology Forum The technical seminar program is as diverse as the STEMMER IMAGING product range, featuring more than 40 presentations across 6 parallel tracks.

The informative lectures contain content from leading international machine vision manufacturers and experts. The full seminar timetable is available on the STEMMER IMAGING website. This includes abstracts for each presentation to allow visitors to focus on the topics that are of interest and to create their personal seminar schedule for the day when they register.

For the first time the UK Forum features an Integrator Zone. This gives visitors a chance to see real-world applications in action and meet with experienced vision systems integrators. This is a perfect opportunity to explore the possibilities offered by fully integrated vision solutions.

The ever-popular hands-on practical taster sessions return. Early booking is recommended for these as places go quickly. This year, 3 sessions are available: 3D measurement using the LMI Gocator, ‘a Step by Step guide’; Creating machine vision applications

in Teledyne DALSA BOA smart cameras and How to create your first machine vision solution in Sherlock multi camera software.

During both days of the event, around 40 leading machine vision manufacturers will showcase their latest developments, solutions and products in a table-top exhibition.

This enables visitors to find out more about the latest innovations and discuss strategies and solutions with the exhibitors.

info@stemmer-imaging.co.uk

www.stemmer-imaging.co.uk

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November 2017

Commander ID 300, the new Leroy-Somer integrated drive Leroy-Somer has announced the launch of Commander ID300, a new integrated drive for the control of IMfinity® induction motors. This decentralized system brings together performance and reliability, offering customized solutions for process, manufacturing and intralogistics applications.

With the transition to Industry 4.0 under way, production is evolving in an increasingly complex and demanding environment. Consequently, companies require more and more quality, risk management, equipment performance and compliance to standards.

Commander ID300 has been designed to meet these strategic challenges, offering strong dynamic performance and outstanding efficiency levels.

The decentralized configuration offers greater flexibility in machine and plant design. Other advantages include space saving, as no cabinet is required, lower overall costs due to the elimination of cables between drive and motor, lower power losses and reduced emission interference…

Benefitting from IMfinity® motor’s proven mechanical construction, Commander ID300 is extremely robust.

This robustness is strengthened by the use of latest generation electronic components for power and control To offer a high level of the system performance, the auto calibration and drive setup are carried out at the factory, including optimized starting torque, high dynamics on fast transient load and operation at constant torque using flux vector control across the entire speed range.

For an advanced control of the machine, Commander ID300 is provided with features that add value to the application and simplify the system management: onboard PLC, fieldbus communication, extra input/output or preset configurations such as a pump program for pressure regulation (constant pressure / variable flow).

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Commander ID300 offers energy efficiency standards higher than system classification IES2 (EN 61800-9-2), enhancing energy savings. The drive also features a low power standby mode for applications with significant periods of idleness.

Safety remains paramount: to protect users and minimize machine operation downtime, the Commander ID302 variant integrates onboard safety functions for compliance with the highest safety standards SIL3 (Safety Integrity Level 3) and PLe (Performance Level e).

The motor is also protected against overloads thanks to thermal protection.

On top of this, the optional brake card enables full control of the brake sequencing and power supply.

Commander ID300 has been designed on a modular concept: the wide choice of options and adaptations enables configuration in line with machine

architecture. The system can also be combined with an FFB brake for dynamic braking and /or gears from the multiposition 3000 range, ensuring maximum adaptability.

Due to its large selection of features and options, Commander ID300 is an “easy-to-use” solution, ensuring quick and smooth operation. For instance, time can be saved during installation thanks to the multiple mechanical adaptations and connections that can be made at the factory. Also, to facilitate setup, configuration and diagnostics, the system delivers intuitive setup and pre-configured settings which are application dependent.

Designed for industrial environments as standard, the Commander ID300 all-in-one drive solution is part of the Express Availability offer, the premium Leroy-Somer Service which ensures rapid delivery while minimizing spare and stock requirements.

November 2017

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November 2017

Fulton heat transfer system helps to clean up at American Pan Leading heat transfer specialist, Fulton Limited, has supplied a skid-mounted horizontal boiler solution to American Pan UK, a leading supplier of industrial bakeware and pan maintenance services to Europe’s bakery market.

American Pan UK’s cleaning methods and coatings prolong baking pan life and restore optimal performance, with the company perfecting its process for cleaning and recoating baking pans over 40 years and serving some of the world’s largest and most demanding bakeries.

Baking pans are refurbished by supermarket bakeries and industrial bakeries but, over a period of use, they become caked in carbon and flour residue and the release qualities of the non-stick coating starts to diminish.

The American Pan UK process starts by soaking the pans for 12/24 hours in heated low volatility organic solvent.

From here, the soaked pans go through a series a hot and cold rinses and conditioning tanks, before a new nonstick is applied and the pans returned to the bakeries.

Following a heating mechanism fault within a single unit in American Pan UK’s original plant process line; solvent used for the cleaning process overheated and ignited, with the subsequent fire spreading throughout the facility.

While initially devastating for the company, it provided an opportunity for American Pan and its consultants, RE Architects, to completely re-think its operations, re-design its process lines and subsequently approach Fulton and order its horizontal, gas-fired RBC1500 boiler system.

Commenting for RE Architects, Richard Every says: “Because the unit was devastated by the fire, we couldn’t have easily brought American Pan UK’s processes back into line and, rather than wait and lose business from new and existing customers, we took the decision to reappoint an existing warehousing facility to a new process line. And, because this was a new line with new equipment, we were able to design an optimum layout with facilities and processes that would future-proof the company and enhance the cleaning process.”

While a decision on a new boiler system was considered, on advice from Fulton, a temporary, diesel-powered boiler was hired to provide steam for the new process line, which features a dedicated solvent cleaning tank line featuring two, three-cell tanks containing 45,000 litres

24|

of solution each. Additional 5,000 litre tanks are also used for supplementary cleaning and contain detergent and/or conditioning solutions and hot or cold water for the rinsing.

Because they had reconfigured and relocated the entire line, American Pan UK also had to consider how they were going to heat the process and, additionally, consider provisions for downtime, maintenance, etc. However, with the new process line using most of the available space within the new facility, American Pan took the decision to site the plant room for Fulton’s new steam boiler system outside.

Fulton’s skid-mounted heat transfer solution features a horizontal, gasfired RBC1500 boiler with NU-WAY gas burner and fully-modulating burner controls to provide a steam output of 2,393kg/h and maximum working pressure of 10.34barg. The skid also features ancillaries including automatic boiler controls, blowdown vessel, condensate return and feed tank and water treatment including water softener, chemical dosage sets and sample cooler.

The skid-mounted system was delivered to site and craned into position from a neighbouring car park and, once the Fulton solution was sited and installed, the plant room was built around it.

Following commissioning of the Fulton system, the temporary hire boiler was removed with its connecting pipework left in-situ should a requirement for additional steam be required in the future.

“Fulton’s heat transfer solution was chosen for a number reasons, with one main factor being the monitoring of the system, which doesn’t require 24/7 supervision.” says Richard. “This means the boiler can, at weekends for example, be left un-attended but operational for periods of time. This is vital for American Pan UK’s processes as it can take a long time from a cold start to heat the solvent and fluids in the various cleaning tanks.”

Steam from Fulton’s RBC1500 boiler system is now being used to heat water to 50 degrees for the pre-wash facility, for heating the solvent to 106 degrees for the deep clean cycle and for heating water for one of the two final cleaning cycles.

Thanks to the efficiency of the Fulton system, with the process heating the solvent to 106 degrees (approximately 10% hotter than the previous system), American Pan UK has been able to reduce the acidity content of their cleaning solution to make best use of the increase in cleaning performance from the solvent. The benefit for customers is that the pans enjoy a deeper clean with quicker turnaround times and, when combined with the company’s proprietary coatings, a reduction in the rate at which the tins carbonise in the bakery.

Fulton also provided on-site training, which included requirements for daily testing, boiler blowdown, etc., for several American Pan UK employees.

Summarising, Richard says that while other boiler options and suppliers were considered, Fulton proved competitive on price, the specification was clear from the outset and their knowledge and expertise from the team both onand off-site was second-to-none. This allowed American Pan UK to introduce a technology that not only improved the performance of its cleaning processes, but also totally removed the risk factors that contributed to the original fire.

For additional information about Fulton, please visit www.fulton.co.uk

November 2017

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November 2017

Power Jacks Boosts Client Connections with New Office in Heart of England Lifting and positioning specialist Power Jacks has established a Business Development Office in England to bolster its links to new and existing clients in a key market.

It has also appointed a Business Development Manager for the UK, Robert Stanley, who will operate from the company’s new Midlands office.

in a wide variety of industrial sectors across England. The establishment of this new office simply reinforces our capabilities in that respect.

The base, at Birmingham Business Park, not only positions Power Jacks to enhance its strategic service offering to clients across England but also adds fresh impetus to its longterm growth plans.

“We’re pleased that Robert has joined us to head up our UK-wide business development effort. He is a highly experienced industry professional with proven technical and commercial skills, and he shares our ambitions for the business and for our clients.”

“This is an important move by the business that significantly strengthens our presence in the wider UK market,” says Bruce Bultitude, Chairman and owner of Aberdeenshireheadquartered Power Jacks.

“We aim to capitalise on this investment by nurturing and growing existing business relationships as well as developing new ones in the Midlands and beyond.

“Critically, it also provides us with an ideal platform from where we can showcase the strength, precision and reliability of our diverse product portfolio – as well as the quality of our service provision – to an even wider industry audience.”

Power Jacks designs and manufactures quality industrial lifting and positioning equipment for clients internationally.

Managing director Keith Mackie says: “Power Jacks has a long track record of meeting client needs swiftly and efficiently,

26|

Robert, who was a Global Product Sales Manager with Renold Gears before joining Power Jacks, has nearly 40 years of experience in industries including power generation, aerospace and high performance vehicles.

The new Birmingham office will also act as a base for technical personnel from Power Jacks’ Ellon headquarters when supporting local clients.

It represents the second expansion move by Power Jacks in recent times – it established a dedicated sales office in Germany in January this year.

The base, in Wangen im Allgäu, Baden-Württemberg, represents Power Jacks’ first permanent presence on the European mainland.

Power Jacks also has a sales office in Shanghai and an extensive network of distributors and agents across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australasia.

New office address: Power Jacks BDO (Business Development Office) 4200 Waterside Centre, Solihull Parkway Birmingham Business Park Birmingham, B37 7YN Power Jacks Business Development Office is focused on providing best in class solutions for lifting and positioning applications using Screw Jacks, Linear Actuators, Bevel Gearboxes, Planetary Roller Screws and Jacking Systems.

About Power Jacks Power Jacks is a British design and manufacturing company, based in Aberdeenshire Scotland; specialising in electro-mechanical lifting and positioning solutions. The business has six complimentary areas of expertise including screw jacks, electric linear actuators, bevel gearboxes, planetary roller screws, load monitoring and jacking systems. Our products are engineered to the highest standards and deployed in a multitude of applications worldwide for a diverse range of industry sectors including energy, industrial automation, transport, civil and defence.

www.powerjacks.com

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November 2017

Kawasaki focus on compact design and energy saving Next year Kawasaki will celebrate its 50th anniversary of manufacturing high-performance industrial robots. Although 2018 will see a raft of new product introductions from Kawasaki Robotics, 2017 continues to see the introduction of innovative new designs.

New Compact Controller Space is increasingly at a premium in today’s manufacturing facilities and making its products more compact and energy saving is a core design objective for Kawasaki Robotics. Its latest robot controller, The F60, meets market demand with reduction in size of 77% over its existing range.

Measuring up at 300mm x 320mm and 130mm high, the F60 Controller can be mounted in a 19-inch rack or simply stacked allowing a variety of options to position it in available space. Weight is also reduced to just 8.3Kgs making the controller highly portable for ease of installation and, when required, removal for service.

Energy savings of approximately 10% can be expected with the F60 Controller which utilises regenerative energy from braking and by a redesign of components and control circuitry.

For users with global operations the controller now has common specifications supporting safety standards for Asia, The Americas and Europe making asset relocation more straight-forward.

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The compact design doesn’t stop the F60 from having significant power and capability together with expandability. As standard six axes control is available expandable to eight with the addition of a two axes external module. Input and outputs, 16 as standard, are also expandable.

Options include a Bluetooth module,

which allows system interrogation using a mobile phone or tablet; a facility to add Kawasaki’s Cubic S board for safety monitoring robot operation areas; and Kawasaki Vision Software which can be integrated through the controller without the need for an external PC.

November 2017

Easing the way for welding operations High performance is synonymous with the Kawasaki brand name and as a leading supplier to the automotive manufacturing sector, since the late 60s, its robotics division continually develops increasingly efficient products. Kawasaki Robotics UK, based in Warrington, has recently introduced its new range of welding robots and systems suitable for all tier levels in the automotive supply chain.

Two model ranges, new designs developed from the ground up, the BA range for arc welding and the BX range for spot welding offer ‘best in class’ performance and compactness.

A lightweight arm design and highoutput motors, provides best in-class re-orientation times between weld runs or spot locations. New antivibration control technology ensures smooth arm control for high speed short-pitch movements.

The common problem of snagged dress package cables, in crowded production cells, has been overcome by integrating the cable into the robots arm. The arm and wrist of the robot are hollow allowing the internal routing of welding wire and gas to pass from the dress package, normally mounted on the top of the arm, through to the wrist.

In addition to preventing in process cable snagging this speeds up on-site programming and eliminates ‘cable positioning variables’ to make offline programming more efficient and maintenance faster.

Kawasaki BX Series Spot Welding Robot

Kawasaki BX Series Spot Welding Robot

Using the latest Kawasaki controller the B-Series robots have highly accurate trajectory control and faster programming execution.

Programming of the robot and in process monitoring is enhanced by integrated welding software.

Supporting the robot’s small footprint the E01 controller also offers a compact design.

Additional axes control is available for applications requiring synchronised manipulation during the weld process.

Ian Hensman, Kawasaki Robotics’ sales manager explained, “Our welding robots are well established in the UK automotive sector at all

levels and we have great feedback from users that helps us to continually develop the product range. At all tier levels robots are essential to be able to maximise production efficiency and to exceed quality targets.

“We understand our robots and welding cells have to ‘hit the floor running’ so straight-forward installation and easy programming has seen the recent introduction of K-Arc and K-Spot welding cells designed to be virtually ‘plug ‘n play’.

Systems are delivered fully commissioned and fully assembled, and just require power and tooling.”

Visit our web site: www.kawasakirobot.co.uk |29

November 2017

Omron Releases Sysmac Studio Team Edition With Fully Integrated Open Source Distributed Version Control System (Git) Omron releases Sysmac Studio Team Edition, a major update of its machine development environment, providing machine developers with a fully integrated Open Source distributed version control system.

S

ysmac Studio integrates configuration, programming, simulation, and monitoring in a simple interface that allows engineers to manage vision, motion, control, safety, and robotics in one system.

project comparison and efficient handling of machine versions.

Omron has chosen Git, which is the most popular open source distributed control system, giving development teams the freedom to choose any Git-based cloud web repository.

The Team Edition implementation of Sysmac Studio incorporates a distributed version control system within the platform’s rich interface.

It allows multiple co-developers to work on same project, with easy

The version control system allows engineers to work on a local version of a project with full control over the project source code.

Improvements and modifications made to the code on the local

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version can then be merged with a remote server, so other teams can access the code.

By using this technique, projects are fully traceable. Changes to code can be identified and applied between projects easily and quickly. It reduces engineering hours, and costs, because engineers do not waste time solving the same problem multiple times.

“Team Edition of Sysmac Studio enables engineers to take control of their code,” said Josep Lario, Sofware PMM for EMEA. “With version control, comparison and management of machines and projects is simple. It boosts productivity by allowing cooperative and efficient co-development by teams working at different sites.” industrial.omron.eu.

November 2017

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November 2017

WHY WATER DOESN’T WORK PROPERLEY

The development of ultra-protective designer coatings

By Chris Roberts, Versaperm’s Technical Director info@versaperm.com

Water may be the staff of life – but it can cause havoc with virtually everything else. Water, and other vapours cause products to fail, machinery to jam, electronics to crash, seals to pass liquids, components to rust and food to spoil, they also slash the shelf life of pharmaceuticals, let liquids into sealed enclosures and even cause cornflakes to go soggy!

We are already very good at keeping liquids in their place (either in or out of things), wellington boots and oil cans rarely leak. The problem is that the vapours that come off all liquids can pass through just about any barrier.

For example, seals made from silicone, cellulose, EVOH or PVOH are great at keeping liquid water out, but are virtually useless where water vapour is concerned. One of the most effective answers is the new concept of designer coatings. Today, with the help of Versaperm’s fast permeability measuring technology, we have the ability to custom-design multi-layer coatings to give materials the specific characteristics you need.

These coatings dramatically improve the properties of many products and systems.

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Each layer can offer a different characteristic, such as tear-resistance, permeability to a specific gas or rust resistance.

Over the last few years the ability to understand and control vapours including hydrocarbons, aromas and water vapour, has become significantly more effective. Water vapour is, incidentally is the world’s most costly and damaging contaminant causing billions of pounds worth of problems every year.

The key lies in testing each layer along with each manufacturing process as techniques such as heating, and bending, can substantially increase a vapour’s ability to pass through both materials and coatings.

Versaperm’s latest generation of fast vapour permeability testing equipment gives an accuracy that is typically in the Parts Per Million (PPM) range, PPB for some gasses and materials.

The systems are ideal for both development work and quality control on single or multi-layer barriers, and even for finished manufactured

products and components. The systems are easy to use, accurate and fast.

Designer materials and coatings are the way of the future and will bring with them unprecedented new opportunities for both creating new products and improving existing ones.

They can prevent electronics from failing, rockets and computers from crashing, and vehicles from leaking petrol vapour. They can even stop your clothes from making you sweaty!

November 2017

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November 2017

beryllium (Cu-Be), making them both safe and suitable for use in hazardous environments. All NS tools in the range are produced according to the

Using Non-Sparking tools? Here’s some good advice from Bahco

B

ahco Non-Sparking tools are designed for use in potentially explosive environments, where conventional steel tools might create sparks in the presence of combustible or easily ignitable vapours, liquids and dust.

Because NS tools can’t reach the hardness of conventional tools their use has to be carried out with special care. The specialist Bahco team in the UK offers the following recommendations to users of NS tools: •

Avoid overstraining and heating; make frequent visual checks of each NS tool during use;

•

Don’t use both a steel tool and an NS tool at the same time;

•

Don’t use high copper content tools, such as Al-Br and CuBe tools, in direct contact with acetylene;

•

Always take considerable care when reworking copperberyllium (Cu-Be) tools as beryllium (Be) dust or vapour is toxic;

34|

international DIN and ISO standards in terms of dimensions, cutting capacity, and strength, with hardness being adapted to the purpose of the tool.

Tools used for striking applications, like slogging wrenches and hammers, are manufactured in aluminum-bronze (Al-Br), while tools that require a higher torque and precision performance, such as pliers, screwdrivers and adjustable wrenches, are manufactured in copper-beryllium (Cu-Be).

•

Cu-Be tools should be ground only when wet;

•

Do not inhale any dust and be sure to wear a face mask;

•

Make sure all NS tools are kept clean and free from ferrous or other contaminants which may hamper the properties of a nonsparking tool;

•

The tool’s surface temperature must not be higher than the present gases temperature;

•

Ensure that no objects which could cause a spark fall or are dropped within the working environment.

The Bahco range of NS tools includes hammers, pliers and screwdrivers, as well as other striking and construction tools. Its non-sparking adjustable wrenches, manufactured in copper beryllium, are die-forged, anti-magnetic and offer high resistance to corrosion.

They are produced according to ISO 6787. NS screwdrivers for use with slotted head, Phillips® or Posidriv® screws have been developed by Bahco using its scientific ERGO® process.

Reducing risk: Non-ferrous, softer materials such as brass, bronze, copper-aluminum alloys (aluminum bronze), or copper-beryllium alloys (beryllium bronze) greatly reduce the risk of producing ignitable sparks.

Bahco NS tools are manufactured in aluminum-bronze (Al-Br) or copper-

Made from copper beryllium they are cold rolled, anti-magnetic and corrosion resistant. Their handles are produced using anti-static plastics.

The range also includes NS pliers in several types, including combination, diagonal cutting, long nose and slip joint.

For more information on non-sparking tools visit www.bahco.com

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November 2017

Innovation for customised footswitch system: Herga Technology

launch modular base system for best-in-class multipedal footswitch selection By integrating standard medical or industrial grade electrical and BluetoothÂŽ foot and bellows switches with its new range of modular base units and accessories, Herga Technology has raised the bar for choice and flexibility. With each single modular base unit capable of supporting a footswitch and two bellows switches, the system can accommodate as many as twelve foot-operated machine tasks.

The new modular base system offers OEMs, end users and machine builders an attractive and ergonomic footswitch solution by combining the field proven 6225, 6226 and 6227 series footswitches with optional 6241 or the recently launched Haptic 6244 puck switches together with safety and functional accessories such as guards, lift bars, base plates and handles.

footswitch may be separated with a raised divider built into the joining strip, and steel base plates are available for added durability.

Herga have also introduced a range of standard variants that use the new modular base system to combine its most commonly specified medically approved 6226 series footswitch and single 6241 bellows, to offer a straightforward selection in eight combinations that span single footswitch to a 4x footswitch plus 4x bellows switch configuration.

A new datasheet is available at www.herga.com which includes reference dimensions and ordering information that helps users to specify the exact configuration requirements. Herga sales and applications staff are also on-hand to discuss specific requirements at sales@herga.com or by calling +44 (0)1284 701422.

For medical applications, IEC 60601/UL 60601 compliant footswitches can be selected and environmental protection includes options for EN60529 IPX2 to IPX7 with IPX8 on request.

The moulded thermoplastic base system comprises single or double base plinths joined by fixing strips with integral electrical connections that mechanically lock the assembly for 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-base unit configurations. Each single plinth can accommodate a footswitch as well as one or two bellows switches.

For most multiple footswitch applications, all electrical switching functions are via a single cable, making machine connection straightforward with stripped cable cores or a choice of connector if required. Multiple functioning footswitches with a single Bluetooth transmitter can be easily accommodated within the range.

Modular base system with single pedal

Electrical switching functions for the standard 6225, 6226 and 6227 series footswitches include SPST N/O, SPST N/C, SPDT momentary or latching at 1.75A at 24V AC/DC. The rating for the 6241 and 6244 bellows switches includes SPDT / DPDT at 0.1A, 30V DC – other switching voltages and contact configurations are available on request.

A wide range of modular accessories may be included with each order. These include tubular steel carrying handles and open guards or pressed steel closed guards. Each

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Modular base system with several safety and functional optional accessories

November 2017

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November 2017

Mydax Offers Liquid Chiller System Solutions for Industrial Temperature Control Needs Mydax stands apart from other chiller manufacturers by providing the elite chiller system on the market, utilizing Advanced Temperature Control Technology 0 to 100% proportional process cooling and heating control, rugged tubular steel frames and state of the art touchscreen controls. Expert use of flowmeters, pressure transducers, pulse width modulated valves and variable frequency drives allow precise temperature and fluid flow control.

Long term system performance is insured by incorporating high quality components and decades of experience. Thorough system testing and a dedicated support team utilize built in diagnostic and safety devices to keep all chiller systems performing to design specifications for years. Our wide temperature range industrial chillers, available ultra-precision temperature stability and our ability to utilize Multi Channel designs for a smaller footprint and an economical solution for multiple cooling loop applications where 1, 2, 3 or more temperature control loops are needed, makes Mydax a unique solution for your applications.

The Mydax CryoDax series of low temperature chiller systems can deliver process control fluid temperatures as low as -70°C and are utilized in applications including Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle fueling, Thermal Vacuum Chamber systems, Space Simulators, Environmental Test Chambers, Semiconductor Manufacturing / Testing, Pharmaceutical Biotech Protein Freeze / Thaw applications and Laser cooling.

Mydax’s proportional cooling chiller systems can also be utilized in applications requiring extreme temperature stabilities with the ability to maintain fluid temperatures to within ±0.05°C about set- point.

Mydax was chosen to supply chiller systems for the demanding synchrotron X-ray Compact Light Source where laboratory precision temperature stability is needed in a high powered industrial application.

When quality and reliability count, turn to Mydax. When your temperature control needs have special requirements, interfaces and demands, Mydax has the answers.

Mydax offers custom bespoke designs and manufactures every temperature control system to directly meet their customer’s needs, whether it’s a one of a kind custom chiller or 100+ OEM systems. Please call or visit Mydax online for more information.

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November 2017

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November 2017

New at FRAMOS:

SONY Brings IMX327 STARVIS Sensor with High Sensitivity for Better Surveillance

Sony Semiconductors releases its new STARVIS IMX327 sensor as a more sensitive successor to the IMX290. The 2.1 Megapixel sensor, with a 1/2.8 inch optical format, has a 1920 x 1080 pixel array utilizing a 2.9µm pixel size.

The IMX327 reaches a frame rate of 60fps at 12 bits. With its high sensitivity and very good low light performance, this reasonably priced sensor is a great fit for security and surveillance applications as well as for factory automation and industrial solutions. The sensor, along with additional support services, are available from global imaging expert FRAMOS. The IMX327 features the STARVIS technology brings a back-illuminated pixel to the CMOS sensor providing a sensitivity of 2376mV which is combined with an SNR1s of 0.18

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lux, making this sensor perfect for tracking and monitoring under low light conditions (SNR1s is a Sony proprietary index and is limited to their Security Sensors). The sensor delivers high image quality in the visible light and near infrared light spectrums. High sensitivity, low dark current noise and no smear are unique characteristics of this sensor that provide excellent image reproduction and, when combined with improved RGB color mosaic filters, excellent color reproduction with little to no additional processing.

These chips feature an electronic rolling shutter with variable chargeintegration time that allows more flexibility in capturing precisely illuminated snapshots.

a very low price to performance ratio making it ideal for many cost sensitive applications.”

Sibel Yorulmaz-Cokugur, Line Manager and sensor expert at FRAMOS, summarizes the IMX327 benefits: “The sensor comes with an exceptional sensitivity and low-light performance. Featuring the STARVIS technology, points of interest can be seen even in dark environments for increased analysis and detection.

In addition, this sensor provides

Industry and product experts at FRAMOS are available to support customers with the integration of these new sensors in their applications and projects. In addition, FRAMOS provides support services for development, customization, and logistics.

To further enhance the image quality provided by the IMX327, Sony includes a High Dynamic Range (HDR) feature, with multiple exposures and digital overlap HDR. An anti-reflective coating version is available to enhance light transmission through the sensor cover glass, achieving even higher performance with a sensitivity of 2519mV and SNR1s of 0.17lux. The sensor has low power consumption, supports I/O switching and provides LVDS or MIPI CSI-2 output interfaces.

Evaluation samples are now available from FRAMOS, with mass production planned for Q1 2018.

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November 2017

Engineering student helps famous scientist Stephen Hawking find his voice University of Huddersfield student Paweł Woźniak was on placement at Intel when the opportunity came to work on the devices that the famous physicist uses to communicate STEPHEN Hawking is the world’s most famous scientist, and a student at the University of Huddersfield has had the responsibility of making sure that he keeps his equally famous synthesised voice plus the ability to communicate his influential ideas.

Paweł Woźniak, who is completing his Bachelor of Engineering degree at the University, earned a coveted work placement year with computing and electronics giant Intel, at its Swindon base. He had a wide range of tasks and responsibilities and they included an assignment to visit the physicist in Cambridge in order to troubleshoot the devices he uses to communicate.

The devices include a “blink sensor” that the Professor uses to select words via an infrared switch mounted on his spectacles and the synthesiser that produces the famous voice. The history of the technology dates back to 1980s, but since the late 1990s, Intel has had the responsibility of maintaining Professor’s equipment, and the company wrote the program named ACAT that is now the Professor’s main computer interface.

“I got involved by offering my help with the blink sensor to one of the Intel engineers who provide technical support to the Professor,” explained Polish-born Paweł Woźniak. “He was kind enough to let me go with him, and then as our co-operation worked out pretty well it became a more regular thing.”

During his work-placement year, Paweł paid six visits to Stephen Hawking. He began by analysing and fixing problems that impacted the operation of the blink sensor, and he also provided a vital back-up system.

He dealt with some of the issues on

42|

site, but he also took some of the circuitry back to Swindon for testing and improvement.

“Meeting Stephen Hawking was one of the greatest experiences of my life, as I have a very strong interest in science in general – including maths, physics, and cosmology – and his work has always inspired me,” said Paweł.

“I enjoy projects that help people improve their lives.

It’s great to realise that modern technology has allowed the Professor to continue communicating his breakthrough discoveries to the world even after he lost almost all of his movement.”

Paweł’s University of Huddersfield degree course is in Electronic Engineering and Computer Systems, and his expertise in practical electronics – analogue and digital – has impressed his personal tutor, Dr Pavlos Lazaridis.

The Intel work placement was earned after a competitive process that included a day-long assessment. Then came a packed 13 months in which Paweł’s wide range of experiences included working in a lab with HighPerformance Computer Systems, but also working closely with customers and supporting various events, such as the HPE Discover London 2016.

Now back at the University of Huddersfield, Paweł has embarked on a final-year project that draws inspiration from his year at Intel.

November 2017

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Events

November 2017

Prepare for the best-ever LiftEx Organisers of LiftEx 2017 are putting the finishing touches to the most exciting package of visitor attractions in the event’s history.

Bringing together a compelling line-up of conference speakers, an action-packed exhibition hall, ‘handson’ engineering challenges and unique networking opportunities, this year’s show is designed to offer something for anyone with an interest in overhead lifting and work-at-height solutions.

Representing the UK’s only conference and exhibition dedicated to overhead lifting and work-at-height, LiftEx 2017 takes place on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th November at the International Centre Telford – right in the heart of England. The conference runs on the first day of the show, and will feature speakers drawn from the private sector, employer organisations and specialist training and engineering consultancies.

A truly eclectic mix of issues will be explored, encompassing the impact of Brexit, the challenges involved in creating a proactive safety culture, the design of moving structures, benefits and applications of magnetic wire rope testing, and the specific demands of safe, legal lifting in the entertainment sector. Delegate places can be booked online at www.liftex.org/conference Alongside the conference, admission to the two-day trade exhibition is free-of-charge. Here visitors will be able to see the latest offerings from around 100 leading suppliers. Lifting equipment inspectors can also find out how their skills measure up in LEEA’s new Proficiency Test Challenge. Meanwhile, in the Innovation Theatre on Thursday, suppliers have just ten minutes to pitch their latest products, services and applications. Contenders for the Innovation Fast Pitch Award this year include ground-breaking developments from Hydra-Slide, ROCOL, Van Beest, Sampson Rope and CMCO. Visitor registration is now open at www.liftex.org/register Bringing together hundreds of end users, suppliers and other stakeholders, LiftEx also creates unrivalled networking opportunities. Furthermore, for the very first time, non-members of LEEA, the organisers of LiftEx, will be able to attend the association’s drinks reception and dinner dance on the Wednesday evening. Advance booking for this ever-popular social event is essential, with full details at www.liftex.org/dinner-dance ”Everything is now in place for what promises to be the best LiftEx ever,” said Christine Littlewood, marketing manager for LEEA. “For all end users of lifting equipment, LiftEx quite simply represents the quickest and easiest way of staying up to date with the latest developments in this safety-critical industry sector.”

Full details of LiftEx 2017 can be found at www.liftex.org

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RAISING THE BAR JOIN US AT LIFTEX, THE MARKET LEADING ANNUAL EVENT FOR THE LIFTING INDUSTRY! If you work in the lifting and rigging industry or you want to learn about the latest solutions then why not visit LiftEx where you can network with other likeminded professionals, gaining advice on the latest regulations and best practice to save time and money.

REGISTER TODAY

Visit www.liftex.org and enter voucher code ‘EUAD2’ for free entry into the exhibition and a chance to win a Go Pro Camera!

TWO The International Centre Telford

Wed 29th November EXHIBITION 10am – 5pm

Thurs 30th November EXHIBITION 10am – 4pm

For more information Please visit our website www.liftex.org

CONFERENCE 10:30am – 5pm

INNOVATION FAST PITCH 10:30am – 2:30pm

Follow us @LiftEx2017 #LiftEx17 email: enquiries@liftex.org

DRINKS RECEPTION 7pm – 8pm DINNER DANCE 8pm – Midnight

AWARD CEREMONY 2:30pm – 3pm

www.liftex.org

Events

November 2017

MHEA ANNOUNCES ITS EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS AT SELL-OUT CELEBRATION DINNER There was cause for celebration at Eastwood Hall on the night of 18th October, at the second Materials Handling Engineers Association’ Excellence Awards 2017.

Now in their second year, the awards were conceived to recognise and reward the talent and creativity of the association’s members and the world class capabilities of its member companies.

The enjoyable evening was sold out, with more than 140 guests sitting down to dinner followed by the awards ceremony.

Hilarious after-dinner entertainment was provided by comedy hypnotist Ian Dee and game members of the audience.

Conveyortek won the Innovation Award for their High Performance Conveyor Metal Detector that can self-calibrate and work with steel cable conveyor belts.

Vortex Global scooped Supplier of the Year Award, having been nominated by LeBlansch Bulk Handling Equipment for its excellence in a recent collaborative project at a silica plant in The Netherlands.

The pneumatic conveying system supplied by Vortex was simultaneously engineered and constructed in just one and a half years while production continued as usual at the plant.

Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Adam Christie from Rotary Power.

Adam is an Apprenctice Service Engineer and won for his commitment and desire to learn and develop, passing his HNC in Mechatronics with distinction.

The hotly contested Project of the Year Award was presented to Telestack who impressed the judges with the scale and throughput achieved with their Titan T1600-8 Bulk Reception Feeder. The Harold Wright Lifetime

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Achievement Award was presented to Peter Webster, MHEA’s Secretary for his unerring commitment to the association through five decades. A prominent industry professional, Peter has worked with the MHEA since the beginning of his career in a number of roles including Vice President and President. He has held the post of Secretary since 2008 and announced his retirement at the dinner.

Former MHEA Executive Committee Member, Linda White from Fairport Engineering, was also presented with a rose bowl for her support and contribution to the association from 2006 to 2017.

Michael Kaye, outgoing President of the MHEA, said: “Once again, the MHEA Excellence Awards dinner was a huge success and provided us with a platform to highlight some of the fantastic achievements in bulk materials handling.

“The judges were very impressed with the standard of the entries – our congratulations go to all the winners.

In only their second year, the awards have attracted huge interest and competition and we feel certain that the accolades will become more and more coveted in the years to come.”

The Materials Handling Engineers Association works to support the interests of companies supplying bulk materials handling equipment worldwide.

The association is proud to support the technical and commercial interests of UK companies and offers businesses, suppliers and users of powder, bulk and handling equipment the opportunity to tap into a unique technical marketing knowledge base and share good practice.

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THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES

1- 3 MAY 2018 EXCEL, LONDON, UK www.infrarail.com

Events

November 2017

Biggest PPMA Show for 12 years demonstrates strength of UK manufacturing industry Once again, the PPMA Show highlighted why it’s the UK’s unmissable event for processing and packaging machinery, when it returned to Birmingham’s NEC between 26 and 28 September.

The 10,000sqm exhibition brought together 350 international exhibitors representing 1,500 brands under one roof, where 7,500 visitors – from the sectors of food, drinks, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and FMCG plus over 3,500 visitors from the co-located shows Interplas 2017, TCT Show 2017, Sensors and Instrumentation - descended on the show to seek out the latest innovations and discuss the industry’s hot topics.

Looking beyond the traditional manufacturing sector, the PPMA Show 2017 Learning Hub provided a new perspective on relevant trends and issues, as well as skills applicable across all industries.

Reflecting this expanded focus, the Football Association’s Martin Glenn officially opened the show and delivered the keynote address, where he discussed how he imparts his skills and knowledge gained during his 30-year experience in the FMCG sector to head up the FA. A platform for knowledge-sharing Alongside the transferrable skills shared

by Martin Glenn, visitors to the PPMA Show 2017 heard from TED speaker Peter Anderton. Anderton brought his strong corporate background and significant experience in training to enlighten visiting manufacturers and suppliers alike on how to maximize the efficiency of their employees.

The line-up also featured such industry thought leaders as Dr Forbes McDougall, Head of Circular Economy at Veolia.

McDougall covered everything from material recovery to ensuring supply chain security, all in the wider context of the circular economy. Robotics and the factory of the future were also on the agenda, with Dr Graham Deacon, Robotics Research Team Leader - Ocado Technology, explaining to PPMA Show visitors how the sensor guided robots of the future are using 3D point cloud cameras in order to pick and pack groceries to guarantee warehouse efficiency and offer a first class customer experience.

Danny Reed of PPMA BEST – the PPMA Group of Associations’ charitable initiative which aims to introduce new talent to the engineering sector in order to meet the

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demands on UK industry – also took to the stage.

Reed spoke about the charity’s plans to support PPMA, BARA and UKIVA member companies to engage with the next generation of engineering apprentices and graduates.

During his presentation, Reed also announced that PPMA BEST has partnered with the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry to host an interactive STEM day on Monday 13th November. The free event, organised by PPMA BEST and the Smallpeice Trust and supported by the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) and British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA), is designed to excite and inspire young people with a focus on the future of robotics.

Innovation on show The PPMA Show provided the platform for numerous product launches and UK debuts of innovations from across the processing and packaging machinery industry.

Print and apply labelling technology specialist Cobalt unveiled its new Nexus 20 range, which has impressed the likes of Heinz, Essential Cuisine and Unilever, alongside six innovations in pack, case and pallet labelling, which were demonstrated live.

Representatives from Unilever were in attendance at the exhibition, with Project Manager Barry Leaver commenting: “There’s a good, wide range of products on show. We came here looking for automation partners, which is where our company is headed.

We’ve visited the show a number of times and it always delivers good networking opportunities.”

For the first time in the UK, Omron demonstrated the company’s revolutionary new OKAO facial recognition and gesture control technology for machine access and control. Visitors to Omron’s stand could interact with an industrial robot using gesture control alone.

On the second day of the show Dan Rossek, UK Marketing Manager at Omron Europe, commented: “This year’s gone really, really well. We’ve been exhibiting at the show for 10

years and today we’ve had a record number of leads. It’s a great platform for engagement with the right quality of people.”

Omron also sponsored one of the show’s most popular areas – the RoboKeeper challenge. Hundreds of participants attempted to beat the computer-controlled goalkeeper, which uses cutting-edge robotics and vision technology to make it almost impossible to score, with only 26 managing to get the ball in the net!

The PPMA Show 2017 also had a number of first time exhibitors, including Mitsubishi Electric. The electrical equipment manufacturing giant Mitsubishi Electric previewed its highly sophisticated Linear Transfer System at the show, alongside its Smart Carriage Technology which offers precise handling and on-board data processing.

Chris Evans, Manager - Marketing & Operations Group, Mitsubishi Electric Automation Systems Division, commented: “We definitely had a successful show this year at PPMA, meeting with small SME companies right up to some of the largest brands and manufacturers in the world. We easily exceeded our target for sales leads.

Most of our visitors were from the UK and Ireland with a few visiting from mainland Europe. We were very happy with the quality of the enquiries we received and so it represented an excellent potential return on investment for us. In short - a good show, well attended and with good quality visitors, thank you PPMA!” Celebrating industry excellence Following a busy first day at the NEC, around 400 industry leaders descended on Birmingham’s National Motorcycle museum

Continue reading on engineering-update.co.uk

November 2017

Events

Visitors enjoy an action packed two days at Sensors & Instrumentation

S

ensors & Instrumentation 2017 closed on a high, with exhibitors commending the 8th edition of the event for the quality of its visitors.

With over 80 market-leading exhibitors showcasing latest products and services, a lively and informative seminar programme and an exciting range of feature areas, it was an action packed two days for buyers and decision-makers in the field of test, measurement and control.

Ian Ramage, director, Techni Measure, described Sensors & Instrumentation 2017 as “one of the best yet”. He said that while the event had always delivered in terms of audience, this year’s show rated particularly highly in terms of new business: “More than half of the people we met over the course of the last couple of days are new to us,” he said. “What more can you ask for from a show?”

Commenting on the success of the event, Bronkhorst UK’s area sales manager, Chris Foster said: “This is always a good show for us, but this year has been the best

yet – we’ve trebled the number of leads compared to last year! If we do an exhibition in 2018, Sensors & Instrumentation will definitely be top of the list.” Chris continued, “I particularly like the new pods, as some of the companies exhibiting there are potential buyers too.”

Speaking on behalf of DEWESoft UK, Andrew Champion was pleased to report “some good, interesting leads.”

The company’s data acquisition software helps to solve problems in a number of application areas, so it’s not hard to see why customers were keen to talk to him!

Mark Ingham, sales manager at Sensor Technology, said: “We’ve seen enough people to talk to and they all looked serious enough about buying. It’s been a good show.”

Wednesday saw the world’s first ever public demonstration of the Yuneec H520 Hexacopter in the Drone Zone demo area.

Crowds gathered to see the company give a full demonstration and were excited by the

interchangeable thermal camera, which means that if they wanted to, a forward-thinking company could put their own technology into it and sense for different materials.

Visitors also got to choose from 25+ seminar sessions led by industry experts and professional bodies in the Sensors & Instrumentation and Micro Nano MEMS seminar theatres; see live demos of gamechanging products on the new Connecting Industry LIVE! stage; complete a lap in the PR Electronics Forumula 1 car simulator and delve deeper into the field of robotics with Alfie, a humanoid robot ‘with a difference’.

The Innovation Showcase area meanwhile, provided a snapshot of the range of developments on show at the exhibition in the centre of the hall.

The UK’s only national sensors event will return to the NEC Birmingham on 25 & 26 September next year, when it comes together with country’s only national electronics exhibition, What’s New in Electronics Live (WNIE Live) to offer visitors a bumper engineering experience.

|49

Events

November 2017

PPMA BEST hosts STEM day to encourage next generation of engineers Manchester schools invited to explore future of robotics at the Museum of Science and Industry, in Manchester PPMA BEST (Business Education, Skills and Training), an independent charitable trust set up to encourage young people to discover the opportunities for a career in the engineering industries, has partnered with the Museum of Science and Industry, in Manchester, to host an interactive STEM day on Monday 13th November.

The STEM day, organised by PPMA BEST and national education charity The Smallpeice Trust and supported by the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) and British Automation and Robotics Association (BARA), is designed to excite and inspire young people with a focus on the future of robotics. Schools are invited to attend the free event, targeted at Year 11 students, where they will be encouraged to take part in an engineering task using LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 core set and system.

The activity will engage students in an exciting computing, technology, engineering and maths challenge. It will encourage them to build, program and test their solutions based on LEGO® building elements combined with real-world robotics technology. All participating schools will be in with a chance to win one of the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Education EV3 core sets, worth £370, which contains the EV3 Intelligent Brick, a compact and powerful programmable compute and intuitive icon-based programming and data logging software.

Following the workshop, students will be invited to explore the museum’s Robots exhibition and discover recent developments in robotic research. The exhibition includes a unique collection of over 100 robots, from a 17th century dancing wine goblet and animatronic baby to Maria from the 1927 film classic Metropolis and a news-reading android from Japan.

Speaking about the event, Laura Pickering, Education & Development Coordinator, Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), said: “The MTA strongly believes in inspiring the next generation of engineers, and is proud to be collaborating with BARA and PPMA BEST on this STEM day. We are also committed to closing engineering’s gender gap, so we welcome the fact that the young people taking part in this event will be an equal mix of boys and girls.”

STEM days are widely acknowledged to support the aim of the National Curriculum and schools agenda by linking the curriculum to the wider world and demonstrating the direct relevance of subjects taught in school with the world of work.

Danny Reed of PPMA BEST added: “Partnering with the Museum of Science and Industry presents a unique opportunity for PPMA BEST to work directly with Manchester schools to encourage their students to explore a career in the automation industries. The day is designed to inform students about the future career and education opportunities, while encouraging creative thinking and enterprise skills. The day will also challenge students to exercise their time-management, teamwork and problem-solving abilities. We’re excited to welcome students to the museum to hear from working engineers within the industry and discover a whole host of exciting career opportunities.”

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Sally MacDonald, Director of the Museum of Science and Industry, said: “We are committed to inspiring futures and encouraging young people into STEM careers. We are delighted to be working with PPMA BEST, BARA, and MTA on this exciting event which will help young people learn more about the opportunities available in the fascinating world of robotics – and give them the opportunity to see some of the latest advances in robot technology up close in our exhibition.”

PPMA BEST, established in 2014 by the PPMA Group of Associations, aims to encourage young people to enter and develop within the processing, packaging, automation and vision engineering industries. It offers a series of programmes including financial grants for engineering apprenticeships, match funded bursaries for engineering undergraduates and STEM days for secondary schools.

By addressing the on-going skills shortage and tackling short and longer-term recruitment needs, the charity aims to help the industry and its 500-member companies by growing the pool of next generation engineers through education and training.

The event is also supported by KUKA Robotics, Industrial Cadets, Siemens and Renishaw PLC, with further participating companies to be confirmed.

PPMA BEST partners comment on the upcoming STEM event: “KUKA will always embrace the opportunity to inspire, educate and nurture young minds; the engineers of tomorrow.

Robotics and automation is truly fascinating and captures the imagination of many, both young and old. Through supporting the BEST STEM event, KUKA hope to guide these young people and share best practice knowledge and experience in the field of robotics as they embark on their respective challenges. We wish each and every student the very best of luck and look forward to being part of this inspiring initiative.”

Katherine Johnson, Marketing Manager, KUKA UK “Renishaw are really pleased to be involved with the PPMA BEST STEM event at the Museum of Science and Industry. Appealing to the next generation of engineers is key to the sustainability of our business and, indeed, that of UK industry.”

Stewart Lane, Business Manager, Renishaw PLC “We are delighted to be supporting PPMA to offer a STEM day all about robotics at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry. The Smallpeice Trust is committed to helping young people imagine the possibilities of a career using STEM skills. We have invited students from across the Greater Manchester area to come along and learn about robotics and the future of automation, as well as take part in the fun engineering challenge we’ve devised to put their skills to the test!”

Dr. Kevin P. Stenson, CEO of The Smallpeice Trust For more information on the event, please contact Danny Reed on danny.reed@ppma.co.uk

www.ppmabest.org.uk

SMART EXPO The Digital Manufacturing Show

15–16 November 2017 Exhibition Centre Liverpool

Is your business prepared for a revolution in manufacturing agility, innovation and thinking?

Technology Zones - Smart Factory, Industrial Automation, Industrial Internet and Digital Transformation Mentor Clinics - Drop-in 15-minute consultations Innovation Alley - Showcasing manufacturing innovation Discover - The latest innovation in your industry Network - With over 4,000 of your peers Generate - Quality leads Source - Cutting edge products & services

“

Industry 4.0 is the future of our business: we have a good understanding of where we are going, but implementation will be difficult, and we know we have a long way to go.

“

Chairman, sub-£10 million engineering company

Brought to you by:

Register your place now www.tm smartfactoryexpo.com

November 2017

EPLAN Cogineer set to revolutionise automated engineering designs CAE solutions provider EPLAN has launched an innovative configurationbased automation software package, which simplifies the changeover to automated working methods by enabling design engineers to generate electrical and fluid schematics at the push of a button – without the need for expert knowledge, specialist programming ability or extensive training.

Intuitive, flexible and easy to use, EPLAN Cogineer can be a central part of the design workflow, whether you take a function-based or machine-based approach.

Your design method will not require any modification, it will simply become much faster.

Fully integrated into the EPLAN Platform, EPLAN Cogineer provides the support of expert knowledge from configuration onwards. A mechatronic rulebook and configuration interface can be put together intuitively and quickly, without requiring knowledge of any complex programming language.

“The 100% data continuity from one design project to the next allows users to work with EPLAN Cogineer in a very time-efficient manner,” explains Ken Christie, Director at EPLAN UK. “With EPLAN Cogineer, the design process is completely independent of the people involved, which means that consistency is guaranteed.

The significant benefits of EPLAN Cogineer are great time-savings through automatic schematic planning, and increased quality through effective error prevention”.

Complete electro-technical documentation can be created with EPLAN Cogineer at the push of a button.

This guarantees error-free implementation of the defined rules and models and ensures the production of

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high quality documentation.

Another added benefit of the new software is that it allows users to create more projects in the same time, thanks to its functionality for making use of preengineered macros.

EPLAN Cogineer is flexible and easy to use as it offers data continuity from product structuring to final project implementation and supports compliance with standards and directives. This ensures maximum accuracy and maximum efficiency.

Subscribing to EPLAN”s “Learning by doing” motto, Cogineer is very simple to work with for occasional as well as the experienced users, making it very easy for anyone to develop projects. It does not matter whether machines and plants are already structured by functional aspects or by hierarchies of plant-specific viewpoints. The EPLAN Cogineer solution offers a scalable configuration approach in terms of selected working methodology, by mixing classical working methods and configurations — for example, with manual and configurable subprojects — in order to meet customer requirements.

For further information please visit www.eplancogineer.co.uk.

Take your machinery safety knowledge to the next level ...

Whether you wish to deepen your knowledge in the field of safe mechanical and electrical engineering, optimise projects or acquire further qualifications in the field of machinery safety – with Pilz as your training partner, you’re sure to reach your goal.

Our 2018 schedule is now available on the Pilz website.

Courses include: • CMSE ® - Certified Machinery Safety Expert (TÜV certified) • City & Guilds 4 Day Machinery Safety Course • Safe Human-Robot Collaboration • Safety Design Incorporating EN ISO 13849-1

For futher infomation or to book onto one of our courses visit www.pilz.co.uk, webcode: 150535

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November 2017

Leroy-Somer partners the Highvolt project and is preparing tomorrow’s technology On the initiative of the IRT Saint Exupéry, one of the eight Technological Research Institutes in France certified under the Future Investment programme, on 29th June Leroy-Somer signed a multi-partner research project in the industry, aviation and transport sectors.

Under this programme, one of whose pillars is electrical machine insulation system lifetime and reliability control, Leroy-Somer will be providing its partners with its experience and know-how. In return, the company will benefit from the results of the work carried out in the aviation and automotive sectors to apply it to its own industrial products, making them even more robust and higher performing.

The increase in power density for rotating electric machines and the arrival on the market of new generation electronic components which significantly improve power electronic converter performance will generate new constraints for the winding insulation systems of these motors and alternators.

In this context, controlling their lifetime and reliability is vital. One of the objectives for the Saint Exupéry Technological Research Institute (IRT) in Toulouse is to assist technological breakthroughs by exploiting the major synergies which are appearing in the aviation, automotive, rail and industrial sectors, in order to prepare the robust, reliable and optimised technologies of tomorrow.

In particular, this is the case for the “E-Power Drive” project to optimise the whole machine, electronic converter and cables and the “Highvolt” project which is specifically geared towards controlling the lifetime and reliability of insulation systems, especially windings,

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for example by developing demonstrators and test platforms for more electric or hybrid propulsion planes.

“The work, which is being carried out in conjunction with the research laboratories, will enable us to better understand the physical phenomena such as partial discharge which lead to premature component and insulator ageing and to assist the development of new, better performing and more robust components and systems. This will produce design rules first of all, followed by standardisation”, specifies Ariel Sirat, the current Chief Exectutive of the IRT Saint Exupéry.

The Highvolt project officially started on 29th June 2017, with a budget of 10.6 million Euro over 4 years and industrial companies and laboratories sharing their skills.

So, Nidec Leroy-Somer is joining 11 industrial partners (major groups, SMEs and start-ups) Airbus, AKKA Technologies, Alstom, IVA ESSEX, LATelec (Latécoère group), Liebherr, Nawa Technologies, Radiall, Safran, Sogeti and Zodiac Aerospace and 2 academic partners with the Laplace and LSEE laboratories. Within six months, this panel will be boosted by new members from a range of backgrounds.

The methods, tools, databases and technological bricks developed in Highvolt will enable Leroy-Somer to prepare effectively the design of future electronic power converter systems, cables, connectors and electric machines. This research will be able to take advantage of unique simulation and characterisation technological platforms (partial discharge, electric arc study, insulation system stress and accelerated ageing) which will be in service for the project’s partners.

“Nidec Leroy-Somer’s active participation seeks to integrate the work produced by Highvolt as soon as possible into product design”, emphasises Cédric Plasse, VicePresident R&D / Engineering of Nidec Leroy-Somer. “This participation is mainly based on the provision from 2018 of two doctors of engineering who produced their thesis at the Laplace laboratory, specific test and characterisation resources and the involvement of experts from the project roadmap definition phase”.

“The innovations which will be generated by this programme will constitute a real step forward for Leroy-Somer’s customers and product users in terms of performance, the lifetime of their machines and the security of their manufacturing processes”, concludes Cédric Plasse.

November 2017

Manufacturer of High Quality

Anti Vibration Products

Email: sales@fibet.co.uk Visit: www.fibet.co.uk | Tel: 01282 878200

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November 2017

Study reveals Arc Flash knowledge gap could be putting lives at risk The UK’s leading Arc Flash Protection specialist, ProGARM, in conjunction with the British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF), has commissioned a new study into electrical safety across UK industry in a bid to shine a spotlight on the potentially life changing and threatening risks of Arc Flash. Alarmingly, it reveals not only a lack of awareness at every level to current safety standards governing Arc Flash, but an apparent failure from employers to properly educate staff about this high-risk threat.

The study sought views from 200 UK industry professionals across the rail, power generation, industrial electrical, utilities and petrochemical industries, and was commissioned to help ProGARM better support its customers and their industries when it comes to adopting often lifesaving health and safety best practice. It is thought to be the first national research exercise of its type ever conducted into Arc Flash, and sought views from not only site-based employees, but senior management and employers themselves.

High awareness and first-hand experience - There emerged both high levels of awareness to Arc Flash (84% claimed they understood the risks this type of electrical explosion poses) as well as an alarmingly high rate of first-hand experience, with 57% admitting they, or someone they work with, has suffered an Arc Flash strike themselves.

Calls for revised Government guidelines - Of those who were familiar with HSG47 (avoiding danger from underground services), four fifths (80%) believed it is far too ambiguous when it comes to recommending the appropriate safety clothing to protect staff.

Lack of employer support and education - But perhaps the study’s most worrying finding is the 25% of employers

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who believe it is the sole responsibility of the individual employee to protect themselves against Arc Flash. Not only that, but 50% consider it is the employee’s responsibility to self-educate about Arc Flash through a handbook or their own research – not their own responsibility as employer.

Tony Arnett, Managing Director at ProGARM, said: “Arc Flash is a very real health and safety issue affecting industry professionals globally. However, to-date there has been little research into the number of people suffering from Arc Flash strikes - with many miss-labelling Arc Flash incidents for an electrical shock. In addition, there isn’t a broad understanding or easily accessible resource providing knowledge into this potentially deadly electrical explosion - making it very difficult to get a clear picture into the size and scale of the problem. That’s what makes this research study so fascinating.

Alan Murray, CEO of BSIF, said: “Here at the BSIF we are aware of Arc Flash, and it’s something we know our members are also concerned by. We do all we can to promote safer working practices for UK industry, and that’s why we’re fully behind this survey.”

For more information on how you can protect your workforce and receive a free Arc PPE consultation, please visit www.progarm.com

November 2017

Intelligent systems that simply work StockSAVER A retrofit solution for FIFO flow racks to monitor stock movements and launch replenishment orders automatically - Kanban without cards.

Made in Germany

WERMA (UK) Ltd. email: uksales@werma.co.uk

Shop online at: www.werma.co.uk

BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. Balluff smart safety.

New: Safety over IO-Link Automation demands safety. Safety over IO-Link bridges the gap between the safety architecture and the standard automation bringing both systems together, further simplifying complexity of today‘s automation. Using state-of-the-art technology and quality that you come to expect from Balluff, Safety over IO-Link from Balluff significantly enhances the value of your investment.

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10/03/2017 10:06:33

November 2017

GKN Driveline Florence Replaces Traditional Production Processes Across Factory-Floor With 3D Printing To Improve Business Performance • Using customized 3D printed tools, plant reports 70% reduction in production time of certain tools, eliminating costly downtime of the production line and ensuring business continuity • Ability to 3D print one-off replacement parts for machinery across the production floor, ondemand, sees team reduce dependency on suppliers and accelerate part delivery to customers

S

tratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq:SSYS), a global leader in applied additive technology solutions, today announced that GKN Driveline Florence, a plant of leading global engineering company, GKN, is expanding the deployment of Stratasys 3D printing across the manufacturing floor to replace several traditional production processes, resulting in improved business performance.

The division has reported a reduction of almost 70% in lead times when 3D printing customized assembly tools in place of traditional plastic and several low-loaded metal tools – eliminating expensive downtimes of the production line and ensuring business continuity.

The team is also 3D printing replacement parts for manufacturing equipment, ondemand, reducing the dependency on suppliers and accelerating part delivery to customers.

Fueling Innovation GKN Driveline services over 90% of the world’s car manufacturers with its automotive driveline systems and solutions. As well as its work for the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Group, this also includes luxury vehicles from the likes of Maserati and Ferrari. As customer lead times continue to shorten, the division has identified several new factoryfloor applications where 3D printing can replace traditional manufacturing processes to increase productivity.

According to Carlo Cavallini, GKN Lead Process Engineer and Team Leader at the Florence plant, since the introduction of a Stratasys Fortus 450mc Production 3D Printer, his team can now produce complex assembly tools for the production line in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. This allows the plant to quickly undergo feasibility analysis of the tools and deploy them on the factory floor significantly faster, accelerating the entire production schedule.

This is exemplified by a recent project that saw the team redesign a greasing nozzle tool to eradicate oil spillages.

Cavallini explains: “Utilizing our 3D printer, we developed a tool that dramatically improves grease distribution

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and eradicates the need to clean up time-consuming spillages. This has been crucial to streamlining the production cycle of the half shaft, enabling us to provide customers with premium quality final parts.”

Geared for Customization To further improve efficiencies on the factory floor, the plant is also extending the use of 3D printing to produce customized replacement parts, on-demand.

The Florence plant recently 3D printed a missing cable bracket for a robot, saving at least one week versus the time it would have taken to receive the part from the supplier. This makes GKN Driveline Florence significantly more flexible to manufacturing and maintenance requirements across the production floor.

Using customized Stratasys 3D printed tools, GKN Driveline Florence has reduced tool production time from almost a week to under one day, enabling them to provide final parts to customers faster than ever

Utilizing its Stratasys Fortus 450mc Production 3D Printer, GKN Driveline Florence is testing a range of new tooling applications (like the end-of-arm tools above) to eliminate costly production downtimes

Continuing to innovate the manufacturing process with 3D printing, the team 3D printed a bespoke end-of-arm tool which moves individual components from one stage of the production line to another. Using high-performance ULTEM 9085 3D printing material, the tool is being successfully deployed on the assembly line and can endure prolonged use to match a traditional metal part. As a result, GKN Driveline Florence now 3D prints several customized end-ofarm tools across production, resulting in significant time-savings compared to its previous process.

“The ability to quickly 3D print tools and parts that are customized to a specific production need gives us a new level of flexibility and significantly reduces our supply chain. Considering that we produce several thousand individual parts a week, this ability to manufacture on-demand is crucial to ensuring our production line is always operational and maintains business continuity,” explains Cavallini.

“As we continue to design parts specifically for additive manufacturing, we are finding more and more applications that are delivering value. In the future, I believe that FDM 3D printing will become an integral part of our entire tool development cycle and help us further improve business performance,” he adds.

Andy Middleton, President, Stratasys EMEA, concludes: “GKN Driveline Florence is a prime example of how a growing number of future-ready companies are leveraging the capabilities of additive manufacturing to improve different areas of their business. We are committed to helping these customers identify traditional production processes that can be enhanced, or in some cases, replaced with our 3D printing solutions.

It’s this type of applied innovation across the manufacturing process that has seen GKN Driveline Florence accelerate product development, reduce costs and reinvent its supply chain.” www.stratasys.com

The IET / SynbiCITE

ENGINEERING BIOLOGY CONFERENCE

Transforming biotechnology - driving economic growth The IET and SynbiCITE, the UK’s National Industrial Translation Centre for Synthetic Biology, have teamed up again to bring you an inspirational conference in the revolutionary field of engineering biology.

So what is engineering biology and how can it work for you?

It’s already helping plants make their own fertiliser, reducing energy use and costs, supporting sustainable fish farming, and creating digital vaccines - the possibilities are endless!

Many big brand names are already investing in this exciting field, so don’t get left behind - join us to find out how it could help you.

Join in the conversation @IETevents @synbicite #IETengbio #synbio

Book your place www.theiet.org/engineering-biology IET Services Limited is registered in England. Registered Office: Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL. Registration number: 909719

Pumps & Valves

November 2017

FF Platform – Efficient and Effective KNF introduces two new OEM diaphragm pumps, the FF 12 and FF 20, for the transfer and aspiration of liquids and liquid/gas mixtures. The two models form the basis of a modular platform that allows countless customer-specific modifications. Depending on the respective model, the pumps transfer up to 230 ml/min and can operate with up to 3 bar pressure.

Equipped with high-quality brushless DC motors, the pumps require no maintenance and have a service life of up to 20,000 hours.

Models with brush-commutated DC motors are available for customer applications that do not require such a long service life.

Use of resistant materials enables aggressive media to be transferred and the welded head parts ensure absolute leak-tightness even with very volatile media.

With the tried and tested diaphragm technology from KNF, the medium is transferred extremely gently, which allows optimum handling of sensitive liquids.

There is no contamination from wear and tear, as is the case, for example, with gear pumps. The pumps are also dry-run proof and self-priming.

All of this guarantees the highest level of reliability in the customer’s application.

The two basic types cover a wide range of operations. At atmospheric pressure, the FF 12 transfers approximately 140 ml/min and can be operated continuously up to a pressure of 1 bar.

The FF 20, which has a similar design but is more powerful, transfers around 220 ml/min and can be used continuously at pressures up to 3 bar.

The easily adjustable brushless DC motors allow the transfer rate to be varied at a ratio of approximately 10:1.

The suction head of the pumps is not affected by this and, depending on the model, is 2 to 3.5 meters in a dry condition.

A mounting plate with click-on mechanism facilitates installation in and removal from the customer’s system, as it reduces the effort required for time-consuming tightening of screws.

A wide range of hydraulic connections and different motor types in the most common voltages allows alignment to the customer’s needs, which further simplifies integration into the system.

KNF UK has a dedicated team of experienced technical pump engineers.

At

our facilities in Witney, Oxfordshire we offer sales, full services capabilities, local stock, system builds and technical support.

We will be happy to discuss your requirements further.

Features and Benefits •

Modular platform design allows customerspecific modifications

•

Flow rate can be adjusted across a wide operating range

•

Mounting plate with click-on mechanism for efficient installation and removal of the pump

•

Absolute leak-tightness thanks to the welded head parts, even with volatile media

•

Self-priming and dry-run proof for reliable operation

•

Clean and gentle transfer of sensitive media

•

Resistant materials to transfer aggressive media

•

Expected service life of up to 20,000 hours with no maintenance

Application Examples •

Medical technology

•

Laboratory technology

•

Inkjet printing

•

Fuel cells

•

Semiconductor industry

•

And many more

Visit our website to see our range of pumps – www.knf.co.uk or call us 01993 778373 to discuss your application.

Contact: Kirsty Wilson, Marketing Manager, KNF Neuberger UK Ltd, Telephone: +44 (0) 1993 778373, E-mail: kirsty.wilson@knf.co.uk

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GAS PUMPS

LIQUID PUMPS

PROCESS PUMPS

DOSING PUMPS

MICRO GAS PUMPS

LAB EQUIPMENT

RELIABILITY YOU CAN TRUST KNF GAS AND LIQUID PUMPS KNF’s customer specific solutions perform demanding tasks reliably and precisely and are at the core of many global manufacturers’ systems. Our flexible cost effective modular manufacturing processes allows us to provide customised diaphragm pump technology for both small and large production volumes.

KNF - your partner for customised pumps and systems KNF Neuberger UK Ltd Ave 2, Station Lane Ind Est, Witney, Oxon, OX28 4FA info@knf.co.uk www.knf.co.uk

Pumps & Valves

November 2017

Dixon – Correct Valve Specification Choosing the correct design and specification of valve for a process can save costs, reduce downtimes and minimise product loss or contamination.

From choosing the most effective seat material, to the correct mounting considerations of an actuator, Dixon can advise on such factors which can affect the wear and tear on a valve and in turn create problems with contamination and reduce a valve’s life cycle.

Dixon’s entire range of high quality ball and butterfly valves can be actuated to customer specification with a range of stocked accessories that includes limit switches, solenoids and positioners.

All actuators have been typetested to 1,000,000 cycles.

Dixon supply a full range of valves including diaphragm, mixproof, check and seat valves for many hygienic applications

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Full technical and sales support is available from their qualified technical sales team to ensure specification of the most suitable valve for your process.

Dixon offers same day and next day delivery on most standard actuated valves and custom fabrications subject to customer requirements.

With on-site actuation shop, 3D design, full technical and sales back-up, and BSI approved manufacturing and engineering departments, Dixon can design and produce individual bespoke valves and fabricated configurations to quickly and efficiently solve customer problems.

Contact Gill Platt @ Dixon Group Europe Ltd T: +44 (0) 1772 323529 E: marketing@dixoneurope.co.uk

Your Right Connection For Hygienic Process Systems Dixon’s extensive hygienic and pharmaceutical range of products includes: fittings, tubing, hygienic unions, manual and automated valves, pumps, hose assemblies and a range of accessories.

Mixproof Valves

Sample Valves

Fittings & Tubing

Seat & Process Valves

Fabrications

Pumps

Dixon offers a full range of FDA approved hose and hose assemblies offering odourless and taste free properties suitable for the transfer of liquid foodstuffs.

Food Grade Rubber

Silicone

PTFE

Dixon Group Europe Limited Tel: +44 (0)1772 323529 Email: sales@dixoneurope.co.uk www.dixoneurope.co.uk

Pumps & Valves

November 2017

TF Automation working with manufacturers to provide bespoke process automation solutions TF Automation are specialist engineers, who design and manufacture process automation solutions as well as supplying pneumatic and industrial components.

Supporting a wide range of manufacturing industries from automotive, aerospace and pharmaceutical, to food and beverage, printing and packaging, we provide special purpose machinery, designed to clients bespoke requirements.

P

rojects range from full manufacturing units to specialist components all engineered to integrate fully with existing production lines. Our engineering and design expertise is extensive and ensures we offer the latest technology across a wide range of disciplines including pneumatics, robotics, automated assembly, inmould labelling, pick and place and leak testing, all with process automation as the core focus.

We have delivered numerous automation solutions for clients, from bench-top checking/gauging fixtures to multiple 6 Axis robotic pick & place systems. We have also developed particular expertise working with plastic components including assembly, machining and finishing, and in-mould labelling.

All projects are carried out in-house, including concept design created in Solidworks 3D CAD, CNC machining, manufacturing (mechanical and electrical), testing and commissioning and programming. Where we do bring in expertise and components, we work only with the most renowned and innovative brands, ensuring that all materials and components meet strict quality standards.

We work with some of the largest manufacturers in their respective fields, all requiring product handling and automation solutions to support some of the world’s leading brands particularly in the aerospace and automotive industries. Consistency, improved production efficiency and precision are our clients’ key drivers, with the majority of our projects concentrating on improving product handling and automating manual-handling processes.

Another area of focus is on traceability and we work with clients to incorporate and improve traceability into their manufacturing processes to meet quality standardisation and continuous improvement requirements.

With over 40 years’ experience, our strength is in our ability to assess and understand the needs of each project and client. We take the time to consider all possible solutions for clients, ensuring their expectations are met and the optimum solution provided.

Process automation and continuous improvement of manufacturing processes are central to all our projects at TF Automation and we strive to offer the most innovative and technologically advanced solutions for all our clients.

To find out more or to discuss your next automation project with our design team, contact us on 01274 308005, email us at info@tfautomation.co.uk or visit our website www.tfautomation.co.uk.

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Designed to Meet Your Needs, at Your Convenience Zero-cost valve industry updates at your premises Find new suppliers, products, technical solutions Hassle free, no down time

For more information and to register your interest please contact:

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November 2017

LG Motions expands its portfolio with new motion control products

Hexalift Industrial Lifter

Basingstoke based LG Motion design and manufactures a wide range of motion control products and systems.

The capability is complemented by close working relationships with a number of other international manufacturers of drive systems and components.

Now in 2017 the company has started to work closely with two German manufacturers of quite diverse motion control products which will bring an exciting new dimension to the capability of the company to provide a suitable motion control solution, whatever the requirements.

baumeister & schack – lifting devices Founded in 1980 the company which is located to the south of Stuttgart baumeister & schack design, develop and manufacture DC motor drive systems and actuation products for diverse applications in the automotive, medical, machine tool and furniture industries.

LG Motion’s Managing Director Gary Livingstone believes that the addition of this innovative range of telescopic lifters opens another opportunity to provide a complete and diverse range of solutions for industrial and scientific applications.

Steinmeyer – positioning technology Steinmeyer Mechatronics GmbH is a leading manufacturer of positioning technology products and operates from its factory in Dresden Germany where it has more than 120 employees. With a heritage stretching back over 140 years Steinmeyer is no new-comer to the industry and the development of its product range through well-proven manufacturing techniques is second to none.

The addition of the Steinmeyer range of products will extend the capability of LG Motion and enable it to provide more attractive options to mid-sized OEMs.

Vacuum Of particular interest are the products designed for applications in vacuum technology. Positioning items in a vacuum is a particular challenge.

Only certain materials, components and lubricants meet the requirements in terms of low gas emissions.

Often, it is not possible to use liquid lubricants.

The compact and high rated units play a very important part in improving the ergonomics of the workplace, mainly in manufacturing/workshop equipment but also in many other applications where ergonomic considerations are important.

The main highlight of the range is the industrial lifter Hexalift which is includes a wide range of telescopic lifters in different shapes and lifting capacities.

Another outstanding product is the slideway lifter which is unique on the market and can be customised to lengths of up to 2000mm.

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Vacuum multi axis system

The bake-out process also puts a great deal of pressure on the positioning system; the thermal stresses which occur at temperatures up to 140°C must be taken into account. All the parts produced by Steinmeyer are vacuum-compatible, cleaned separately after production and assembled in a clean room.

The choice of materials is restricted even further for nonmagnetic systems. If you would like more information about LG Motion and this exciting range of new products please get in touch: Tel: +44 (0) 1256 365600 info@lg-motion.co.uk www.lg-motion.co.uk

Printed from: Serif PagePlus 15,0,5,30 Copyright Š 1991-2010 Serif (Europe) Ltd. All Rights Reserved Printed on: 29/02/2016 12:32:24 Publication name: Half_Page_Advert_Eng_Update_130x190, Page: 1

November 2017

SHEAR simplicity for drive protection‌

Gear Coupling Spacer

DIN / SAE Spacer

Pin & Bush coupling

Chain coupling

Unique Wedge construction gives ZERO backlash FAST RESET - drive re-set in minutes Clamping screws give positive axial location so the shear neck cannot be displaced from the correct position between flanges.

Multiple pins gives a very high torque capacity within compact dimensions.

Shear necks are standardised and coded, giving safe, tamper proof repeatability and spares economy.

'Fail safe' under all conditions, the Wedgegard is not effected by changes in temperature or humidity. The ability to release is not dependent on mechanism lubrication.

Sprocket coupling

Rigid coupling

Email : sales@howdon.co.uk Web : www.howdon.co.uk Phone: 01453 750814

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November 2017

Safe blind lockout for the widest range of pipes Brady Corporation offers a new pipe blind lockout solution that can be applied to the widest range of pipes. By easily and temporarily locking pipe blinds in place, companies can improve safety by preventing the release of gas, steam and hazardous liquids while pipe maintenance is ongoing.

Increased safety and compliance The Pipe Blind Lockout can provide a very visual, physical barrier that acts as a deterrent for touching pipe blinds while maintenance is ongoing. When used with a properly installed pipe blind, the lockout device and a padlock reduces the risk of accidental release of pipe contents.

This enables companies to increase workplace safety and also improve compliance with EU Guidelines 89/655 and the European Norm 1037.

Non-sparking material The Pipe Blind Lockout has been UL tested for ISO 80079-36:2016 Explosive Atmospheres and falls within the parameters of the norm. The device is built out of a heavy duty 304 stainless steel with rugged, cast aluminium locking bars and a powder coated polyester finish.

Widest range of pipes With 3 sizes to choose from, Brady’s Pipe Blind Lockout is applicable on the widest range of pipes, including all pipe diameters from 13.2 mm to 1219.2 mm. The device’s extendable locking arm enables users to optionally lock not 1, but 2 pipe bolt sets for additional security. Up to 4 workers can apply a padlock directly on the device.

Get the free Lockout/Tagout guide book via www.bradyeurope.com/pipeblindlockout.

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> High flexibility, easy installation, multiple sizes > Products for low cost entry-level, electrical shielding and grounding to ultra high temperature environments > The ideal solution for bundling and protecting wires, hoses and cables in electronics, wire harnesses, power systems, automotive, white goods, medical and lighting applications

> Food Grade is FDA CFR 21, NSF 51 & ANSI 169 certified > Oil Resistant Grade maintains its flexibility while providing a high level of resistance > High Temperature conduit maintains its integrity at 145C to provide excellent mechanical protection

See all our cable protection ranges at: optimascomponents.com/products/cable-management.html OPTIMAS SOLUTIONS LTD - COMPONENTS DIVISION

November 2017

The Design Engineer’s Guide to Photo Chemical Etching – Part 2 Precision Micro is Europe’s leading photo etching specialist, and is at the forefront of the manufacture of complex metal parts and components for an array of OEMs across all industry sectors. When design engineers are looking at photo etching as the required manufacturing process, there are a number of considerations that they must be aware of, and there are also numerous opportunities that the process offers which can drive product innovation.

Part 1 of this article looked at the metal sheet sizes that can be accommodated by photo etching at Precision Micro, standard etching tolerances, issues relating to burrs and stress in metal processing technologies, and unique features that are possible through the use of photo etching.

- Albert Tsang — Technical Manager, Precision Micro As a precision sheet metal machining technology, photo etching achieves exacting tolerances, is highly repeatable and in many instances is the only technology that can cost-effectively manufacture precision metal components with the accuracy necessary in demanding and often safety critical applications. Once design engineers select photo etching as their preferred metalworking process, it is important that they fully appreciate not just its versatility, but also the specific aspects of the technology that can affect — and in many instances enhance — product design. This article analyses the key considerations that design engineers must appreciate in order to get the most from photo etching and benchmarks the process against other metal machining technologies.

Photo etching has many attributes that can truly stimulate innovation and ’stretch the boundaries’ with the inclusion of challenging product features, enhancements, complexity and efficiency.

It is vital that design engineers fully exploit its potential, and Precision Micro advocates that its customers view it as a product development partner – not just a sub-contract manufacturer – early in the design stage allowing OEMs to optimise the potentials that this versatile metal machining process can offer. Part 1 of this article reviewed sheet sizes, standard etching tolerances, and unique features

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that are possible through the use of photo etching.

There is more to consider, however, as detailed below.

Low-cost tooling and design iterations. For OEMs across all industry sectors looking for feature rich, complex and precise metal parts and components, photo etching is now the technology of choice as it not only copes well with difficult geometries, it also allows design engineers enormous flexibility, facilitating the adjustment of designs right up to the point of manufacture.

One major factor that allows for this is the use of digital tooling, which is inexpensive to produce, and therefore inexpensive to change even up to a few minutes before manufacturing commences. Unlike stamping, the cost of digital tooling does not increase with part complexity, which stimulates innovation, as designers focus on optimised part functionality rather than cost.

For traditional metal machining technologies, it is fair to say that increased part complexity equals increased cost, much of this being a product of the necessary costly and intricate tooling.

Costs also escalate when traditional technologies have to cope with nonstandard materials, thicknesses and grades, none of which have any effect on the cost of photo etching.

As photo etching does not use hard tools, distortion and stress are eliminated. Also, components produced are absolutely flat, with a clean surface and no burrs as the metal is dissolved away uniformly and evenly until the desired geometries are achieved.

Economical prototyping. With photo etching, you pay by the sheet, not by the part, which means components with different geometries can be processed at the same time from a single tool. This ability to produce many part types in one production run is the key to the enormous cost savings inherent in the process.

Photo etching can be applied to virtually any metal type, including those soft, hard or brittle. Aluminium is renowned for being difficult to stamp due to its soft nature, and laser cut due to its reflectively.

Equally, titanium’s hardness can prove challenging. Precision Micro has developed propriety processes for both of these specialist materials and is one of the few etching companies in the world with a standalone, accredited titanium etching facility.

Add into the mix the fact that photo etching is inherently speedy (for example tooling typically takes a day to produce not 16 weeks!), therefore, being measured in days not months, and the rationale behind the exponential growth in uptake of this technology in recent years is obvious.

Conclusion Design engineers are increasingly turning to photo etching as they are under pressure to create smaller and increasingly complex precision metal components. As with any process selection, designers need to be aware of the specific attributes of the chosen manufacturing technology when looking at design attributes and parameters. The versatility of photo etching and its unique advantages as a precision sheet metal machining technology makes it an engine for design innovation, and can truly be used to manufacture parts that would be deemed impossible if using alternative metalworking technologies.

Albert Tsang is the Technical Manager at Precision Micro, Birmingham, UK, with over 16 years’ service. For over 50 years, Precision Micro has pioneered photo etching, a manufacturing technology using subtractive chemical erosion to produce burr- and stress-free precision metal components. The company creates highly innovative solutions to a wide range of engineering challenges using a 2-D process to create 3-D components that cannot be created with other technologies and, often, by any other competitor. That is why Precision Micro has won a reputation as an industry innovator, trusted to deliver by major global manufacturing concerns across multiple markets.

We stretch the boundaries of possibility Photo etching delivers metal parts other manufacturers can’t, thanks to Precision Micro Where our competitors fail, we excel; developing new production methodologies in partnership with our global customer base to ease manufacturing and ultimately reduce their cost. ...and we do it to exacting tolerances, often not achievable with conventional machining.

To create even smaller, even finer components, we combine photo etching with laser direct imaging, additive layer techniques and fine-wire EDM.

This means ultra-light and complex, burr and stress-free components to 20μm accuracy — from virtually any metal.

Using digital tooling, design iterations are possible in days, not weeks, without incurring excessive cost.

Once the perfect prototype has been developed, we have the capacity to move seamlessly from development to true high volume production — and all from the very same tooling.

Think big with Precision Micro.

+44 (0)121 380 0100 www.precisionmicro.com

Photo-etched titanium medical implant

November 2017

WERMA Launches Two New Intelligent Systems For Process Improvement in Warehousing and Logistics Operations 1. StockSAVER innovative intelligent stock movement/replenishment monitoring system – Kanban without cards Few Kanban systems are completely free from errors and weak spots: the processing of Kanban cards can be delayed; cards can sometimes be mislaid leading to very little transparency in the operation.

The introduction of scanners provides only partial relief to some of these issues, not least of all because often staff will “forget” to scan leading to incorrect bookings being made and shelves being incorrectly replenished.

The solution: Third generation Kanban With the help of WERMA’s StockSAVER many of the traditional Kanban issues can

be resolved: stock withdrawals no longer have to be scanned and arithmetically calculated stock levels errors are removed.

Intelligent sensors on the FIFO racking give total transparency of stock levels and, thanks to the automatic call for replenishment, stock-outs and incorrect stock replenishment is excluded.

The objective of the system is to halve the level of stock held line-side by reducing the traditional amount of safety stock being held there.

Human errors in calling up for new material or the incorrect filling of shelves is eliminated.

By using StockSAVER you can halve the number of FIFO racks and space required on the shop-floor. This can free up valuable floor space for other value adding activities and of course cash flow will be improved through reduced stock.

What will StockSAVER do for you?

Sensors can be fitted simply and quickly to any FIFO flow racking system to detect the passage of all sizes of commonly used bins.

Bin movements and the requests for replenishment are automatically transmitted wirelessly giving a transparency to the stock levels in the FIFO racks.

This will enable a significant reduction in the requirement for safety stocks to be held there.

StockSAVER is simple to install and is easy to extend.

Clear and simple Kanban displays keep Production and Logistics informed and enables the process to become more robust and less susceptible to errors.

2. AndonSPEED: a unique system for optimising warehouse logistics processes Since 2016 AndonSPEED has been playing its part in optimising processes on manual workstations and in warehouse operations.

The system is a unique and innovative intelligent monitoring and call-foraction system.

Unlike traditional andon light systems AndonSPEED not only gives a clear local visual signal of a disruption or change in status on the line or workstation, but also documents and analyses downtime.

The wirelessly connected system passes information to a control station display on a PC or screen and can also despatch call for action e-mails automatically to personnel required to intervene and resolve a problem.

WERMA UK Ltd, Tel: 01536 486930 www.werma.co.uk, uksales@werma.co.uk

November 2017

Book, Second

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For more information please contact: +44(0)1788 534470 or sales@icheme.org www.icheme.org/foc Are you are getting ready to prepare, tender or manage a contract using one of these forms?

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Global engineering, manufacturer and distributor of industrial fastenings and Cat C products.

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www.trfastenings.com The go-to place for Engineers, Designers & Buyers T: 08454 811 800 | E: sales@trfastenings.com

|73

November 2017

Process engineering firm expands with trio of appointments BPE has appointed three new members of staff as it continues its ambitious growth plans.

The chemical and biochemical engineering design firm, based in Hampshire, has taken on John Aspinall as a senior project manager.

John, a member of IChemE, has more than 30 years’ experience of delivering technically complex and highly serviced projects in both the public and private sector.

During his career he has led a plethora of multi-million pound projects within the life science and pharmaceutical sectors.

John said: “BPE is doing some really ground-breaking work, taking new approaches to solving process engineering challenges. That different way of working and willingness to challenge the status quo appealed to me and I’m excited to be joining such a progressive business.”

Mike Brown, managing director, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome John to the team. His specialisms

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in biotechnology, life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors, reflect the make-up of our client base and will be of real benefit to the businesses we work with.”

BPE has also brought on board a new graduate chemical engineer in the form of Sam Fass.

Sam, from London, studied chemical engineering at Imperial College London and will be based at BPE’s headquarters in Colden Common, near Winchester.

Sam said: “The design project was by far my favourite part of my degree so I’m excited to be working with one of the best process design companies in the UK. BPE has a brilliant reputation and I’m proud to call myself a part of the team.”

Completing the hattrick of new recruits is Antonios Gourdouparis, who joins as a graduate electrical engineer.

Originally hailing from Greece,

Antonios came to the UK to study a degree in electronic and electrical engineering at Brunel University London. He went on to complete a masters in Nanotechnology and Renewable Energy and is looking forward to broadening his skill base even further with BPE. Antonios, a member of IET, said: “One of the reasons I wanted to work with BPE was the fact that this role involved so much continued professional development. I’m excited to be widening my knowledge even further and working alongside a wellrespected team.”

BPE is currently undertaking an ambitious five-year growth strategy.

Last year it opened a new office in the North of England and several new appointments have been made in 2017, expanding its team of established experts.

To find out more about BPE visit www.bpe-ds.com

Street

November 2017

CURTISS-WRIGHT EXTENDS PADDLE JOYSTICK FAMILY New JC1210 extends range with latching and overpress functions Curtiss-Wright Industrial division has announced the launch of the JC1210, a single-axis paddle joystick that extends the company’s recently-introduced JC1200 family by incorporating latching and overpress functionalities and offering multiple mounting solutions in a single body. This makes the new joystick controller ideal for use in control panels and armrest assemblies found in material handling vehicles, industrial trucks, agricultural equipment and construction machinery, where cost-effective, long-life operator controls are essential.

D

eveloped by Curtiss-Wright’s brand family of Penny & Giles, the JC1210 paddle joystick features an additional 10 degrees of travel at both ends of the axis, which can be specified by machine designers and end users for either latching or overpress functions – or a combination of both – to meet system requirements to hold functions at full speed/float.

By using a long-life bearing system and non-contacting Hall-effect sensing technology, the JC1210 has already been rated to 5 million cycles (to start of overpress/ latching) while providing functionality that is smooth and easy to operate. A soft-touch colored insert area of the paddle – which has a choice of nine colors – increases operator comfort and decreases the likelihood of fingerslip during operation.

Key features of the JC1210 include: • An under-panel depth of 9mm, requiring minimal installation space • A spring-loaded return-tocenter paddle movement • Colored ergonomic soft-touch grip • IP67 protection of internal electronics and joystick-to-panel • Two mounting-panel fixing variations (center line or corners) in one body Like the JC1200, the JC1210 paddle joystick launches with a 5Vdc supply voltage and the

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option for factory-programmable electronics configured to one of two analog voltage output ranges (0.5-4.5V or 1.0-4.0V). The three electrical termination options include an integrated Molex connector, a flying lead with Molex connector or header pins.

The option of paddle overpress and/or latch, electrical terminations, output sense, output voltages and paddle soft-touch colors means the JC1210 paddle joystick will be launched with over 600 variations.

Sales Inquiries: Please forward all sales and reader service inquiries to cwig.uk@curtisswright.com.

For more information on Curtiss-Wright Industrial products, visit www.cw-industrialgroup.com or call +44.1202.034000

Printed from: Serif PagePlus 15,0,5,30 Copyright Š 1991-2010 Serif (Europe) Ltd. All Rights Reserved Printed on: 29/02/2016 12:32:24 Publication name: Half_Page_Advert_Eng_Update_130x190, Page: 1

November 2017

SHEAR simplicity for drive protection‌

Gear Coupling Spacer

DIN / SAE Spacer

Pin & Bush coupling

Chain coupling

Unique Wedge construction gives ZERO backlash FAST RESET - drive re-set in minutes Clamping screws give positive axial location so the shear neck cannot be displaced from the correct position between flanges.

Multiple pins gives a very high torque capacity within compact dimensions.

Shear necks are standardised and coded, giving safe, tamper proof repeatability and spares economy.

'Fail safe' under all conditions, the Wedgegard is not effected by changes in temperature or humidity. The ability to release is not dependent on mechanism lubrication.

Sprocket coupling

Rigid coupling

Email : sales@howdon.co.uk Web : www.howdon.co.uk Phone: 01453 750814

Surface Technologies

Improving component life and performance l Controlled Shot Peening l Laser Shock Peening l Thermal Spray Coatings l Dry Film Lubricants l Organic and Inorganic Coatings l Parylene Ultra-thin Conformal Coatings l Superfinishing l On-site Processing l Material Testing and Analysis l NADCAP, ISO 9001:2008, ISO 13485, AS9100 Rev C

www.cwst.co.uk CWST will be exhibiting at Advance Engineering Show Nov 2017, Stand L83 |77

November 2017

Gresham Power Electronics Gears Up for major sales growth in 2018 Amos Kohn, Coolisys Technologies President & CEO adds, “Gresham has been a member of our group for almost 20 years and we are delighted that it will participate with us in this next exciting phase of our growth.”

Gresham Power already offers industrial, medical, CompactPCI, rail, transportation, test and laboratory power solutions from world class manufacturers. The present market leading and cost competitive open frame power supplies, modular configurable and encapsulated power supplies, programmable power supplies, electronic loads and DC:DC converters will now be rapidly expanded upon by leveraging the access to products of our new Power Solutions Group partners.

Gresham

Power

Electronics

the Salisbury based Defence and Commercial power conversion specialist, is embarking on major development plans to expand their global power supply sourcing platform stemming from based on their joining the Power Solutions Group of Coolisys Technologies formed after recent international acquisitions by its US holding Company.

In 2018 Gresham will be able to take advantage of the expertise and synergies of a new ensemble of companies including Microphase Corporation and Power-Plus, who specialise in providing value-added power system solutions, in addition to having continued access to the products and engineering base of its California based partner company Digital Power Corporation.

Inward investment in Salisbury based Gresham Power will include recruitment of additional sales and engineering resources, expanded product offering and increased distribution channels. An immediate expansion of a mature product portfolio will include a recently released range of Ultra High Density

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(UHD) AC/DC Power Supply Series designed to meet international safety requirements serving medical, industrial and commercial applications.

Gresham’s vast experience of designing and manufacturing defence power systems is available to customers to provide modified standard or full custom power supply designs when required.

Expansion of in house capabilities includes custom design and modification, value-added technical support will stem from synergies within the globally staffed Power Solutions Group for Coolisys Technologies

Gresham can also supply a new range of defence power products for land based and vehicle applications to complement its world-class naval power systems that are utilised by over 20 different countries throughout the world.

Jake Moir, Managing Director of Gresham Power, comments, “We have recently made some excellent strategic business acquisitions which will widen our technology base and increase our product offering and presence in these markets in this coming year. We are planning a hugely increased focus to grow commercial sector sales as part of the expanded Power Solutions Group which will become a global resource that benefits our customers.

We have over 60 years’ experience of manufacturing power conversion products, our defence markets are performing well and our increased commercial product offerings and investment in people will make 2018 a standout year.”

The full Gresham Power Electronics product range includes; OEM and external power supplies for advanced multi-media applications, medical, industrial, defence, communications, broadcast systems and LED lighting but to name a few.

Hot-swap power shelves and products for telecoms as well as static frequency converters, DC UPS, distributed power systems and DC:AC inverters for Naval Defence markets.

For more information: visit www.greshampower.com call +44 (0)1722 413060 email sales@greshampower.com or download the latest catalogue.

Gases are everywhere and you may be surprised just how many items you use daily, that have been manufactured under controlled gas environments.

After all, the difference between having the latest smart phone and a great sandwich comes down to the correctly measured gases used to help create and package them.

At Cambridge Sensotec we dedicate ourselves to finding the solutions to your gas analysis requirement, whether it be securing your manufacturing processes or ensuring quality control within your food factory, we’ve established a wealth of knowledge whilst operating over the last 17 years.

With over 7 core models and many variations, be assured that reliability and accuracy are at the forefront of our customer philosophy. Experts in oxygen analysis, Cambridge Sensotec also specialise in biogas, syngas, multigas and SF6 gas analysis instruments.

Contact us today to discuss your gas analysis requirements.

www.cambridge-sensotec.co.uk sales@cambridge-sensotec.co.uk +44 (0)1480 462142

Directory

T&D Corporation Mr Minoru Ito European Sales Office Gronauer Straße 1 61194 Niddatal Germany

Polyformes Ltd Cherrycourt Way Leighton Buzzard Bedfordshire LU7 4UH

0049 (0)6034 930970 europe.office@tandd.de www.tandd.com

T: +44 (0)1525 852 444 E: sales@polyformes.co.uk

ECi Software Solutions Si One, St Ives Business Park, Parsons Green, St Ives, PE27 4AA Tel: +44 (0) 333 123 0333

Star Hydraulics Ltd Severn Drive Tewkesbury Business Park Tewkesbury Gloucestershire GL20 8SF England (U.K.)

Website: www.eci.eu Email: eu-sales@ecisolutions.com

P: 01684 296176 www.star-hydraulics.co.uk

Man and Machine Ltd Unit 8 Thame 40 Jane Morbey Road Thame Oxfordshire OX9 3RR www.manandmachine.co.uk marketing@manandmachine.co.uk

Weber Marking Systems UK Macmerry Industrial Estate, Tranent, East Lothian EH33 1HD, United Kingdom Tel: +44.18.7561.1111 E-mail: sales@weber.co.uk www.weber.co.uk 80|

November 2017

Hone-All Cherrycourt Way, Leighton Buzzard. LU7 4UH. Tel: 0845 5555 111 E-mail: sales@hone-all.co.uk www.hone-all.co.uk

Ecopac (UK) Power Ltd Unit 4, Ridgeway, Crendon Industrial Area, Long Crendon, Bucks, HP18 9BF Tel: +44 1844204420 www.ecopacpower.co.uk

Designed to Meet Your Needs, at Your Convenience Zero-cost valve industry updates at your premises Find new suppliers, products, technical solutions Hassle free, no down time

For more information and to register your interest please contact:

www.bvaa.org.uk/exhibitions.asp