Machine Building

Lee Spring innovations meet environmental standards

Environmental thinking at Lee Spring runs through the whole design production process with a focus on quality in all aspects where higher quality connects to greater reliability and reduced replacements. Similarly, in design details like the choice to offer round wire die springs in place of older style square sections with resulting lower energy costs.

23rd November 2016

Systems integration for Industry 4.0

Our world is getting smaller every day. Never before have remote locations been more accessible thanks to communications technology, smartphones and the internet. Connected devices have infiltrated every aspect of our lives, including the most traditional industry sectors. Here, Nick Boughton, sales manager of Boulting Technology, discusses the challenges connectivity poses for industry, particularly with regard to systems integration and the water industry.

22nd November 2016

Industrial automation technologies for 2017

Innovation is the driver of progress in industrial automation. From the conception of the programmable logic controller (PLC) in 1968 to the introduction of the collaborative robots we see in industry today, technological developments continuously shape the industrial automation landscape. Here, Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of obsolete equipment supplier EU Automation discusses a few key technologies that will shape industrial automation in the year ahead.

22nd November 2016

Steam control valves: getting the most from this vital component

Process control in hygienic applications, such as the food and beverage sector, demands a great deal from the components that are used to manage the manufacturing and cleaning processes. Choosing the right steam control valve can bring a number of benefits including precision, reliability, minimal maintenance and durability in challenging environments. Mark Lilley, Field Segment Manager, Hygienic Food & Beverage at Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, explains the benefits of making an informed decision when it comes to general purpose steam control valves.

21st November 2016

What changed in BS EN ISO 13849-1:2015?

David Collier of Pilz Automation Technology explains the changes that were introduced in the third edition of BS EN ISO 13849-1, published in December 2015, which is identical to international standard ISO 13849-1:2015 and European harmonised standard EN ISO 13849-1:2015. He also shares his observations of the impact these changes will have.

21st November 2016

Thermal stability and non-contact displacement sensor accuracy

In non-contact displacement measurement applications, engineers often overlook the effects of temperature variations on the measurement accuracy of the sensor. It is therefore critical to check supplier datasheets, says Chris Jones of Micro-Epsilon.

18th November 2016

A simple guide to robot safety

Andrew Armstrong, FANUC UK Sales & Marketing Manager, presents a simple guide to robot safety, including the new generation of collaborative robots (cobots) that are designed for use alongside humans without the physical guards that prevent conventional industrial robots from coming into accidental contact with people.

17th November 2016

Introduction to infrared imaging for mechanical applications

For plant or maintenance engineers considering the use of infrared imaging as a potential diagnostic tool in mechanical applications, FLIR is offering the following useful guide to getting started.

16th November 2016

Strict but supple - biopharmaceuticals manufacturing

Despite producing innovative drugs that save millions of lives, the pharmaceutical sector is one of the most conservative areas of industry. This cautious approach to new technologies is particularly clear in pharma's less matured subsectors, including biopharmaceuticals. Here, Robert Harrison, pharmaceutical industry manager of COPA-DATA, explains how industrial automation systems could change the face of biopharmaceutical manufacturing in the years to come.

16th November 2016

Top tips for choosing the right harmonic filter

In 1976, it was discovered that the bacteria causing Legionnaires disease, an atypical strain of pneumonia, had always been present in water, but it was the precise temperature of the water in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems that facilitated the bacteria's maximum reproduction levels. This is just one example of the unintended consequences of technology. A similar and more recent story comes from the world of industry and features the growing problem of harmonic currents and utility level voltage distortion, as a result an increasing number of non-linear loads in industrial and commercial environments. Here, John Mitchell, global business development manager of CP Automation, shares his top tips for companies that want to commission or replace harmonic filters.

16th November 2016