Machine Building

Powering cathodic protection

Often dubbed the inconspicuous killer, rust costs the global economy $2.2 trillion dollars every year. It accounts for anywhere between 3.5 to 4.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and is responsible for the structural failure of steel frames around the world. From bridges and cars, transcontinental and marine pipelines, to industrial machinery, tools and parts, rust contributes significantly to plant downtime the world over.

12th August 2015

Wireless standard harmonisation creates a new problem

As more and more wireless devices come to the market, concerns have emerged within the standards body responsible for managing the radio spectrum allocation and wireless device conformance that more guidance is needed to help ensure spectrum sharing. Tony Ingham of Sensor Technology Ltd reviews the situation.

12th August 2015

Changes in the network security landscape

Until a few years ago network security focused on enterprise systems and relied on firewalls to prevent viruses from arriving electronically. Now there is increasing realisation that the production control systems need to be protected too, and that viruses can be uploaded by many means. Industries as diverse as manufacturing, processing, refining, power generation, and food and drink processing are all considering ways to improve the security of their plant and control systems. John Browett of CLPA (CC-Link Partners Association) considers the current position and looks at how to mitigate potential threats.

12th August 2015

Predictive maintenance of rail traction motors: depot-based CM

A series of studies have shown that depot-based condition monitoring of railway traction motors using underfloor wheel lathes can be implemented at a fraction of the cost of Remote Condition Monitoring, says Dr Steve Lacey, Engineering Manager at Schaeffler UK.

5th August 2015

Bearings contamination identified through NSK's AIP analysis

Combating contamination in bearings is one of the single most effective ways to extend bearing life and consequentially to reduce the maintenance requirement of the machinery they are fitted to. When band saw manufacturer Prosaw found that bearings were regularly failing on automated saws that had been supplied to a prominent manufacturer of building insulation, both Prosaw and the end user needed a solution quickly.

28th July 2015

PI technologies enable innovation for Industry 4.0

In the Industry 4.0, Internet of Things and Big Data environment, industrial communication is of central importance. The close networking of automation components, machines, systems, and IT systems needed for this, including across locations or even between different companies, is only possible with standardised and integrated communication. In recent years, Profibus & Profinet International (PI) has brought about numerous developments that meet these requirements.

28th July 2015

High-precision bearings for printing machinery

In order to ensure high print quality, bearings for printing machines must be carefully matched to each customer application. In this article, Dr Steve Lacey, Engineering Manager at Schaeffler UK, outlines the factors to consider when specifying bearings for sheet-fed and web-fed printing machines.

28th July 2015

Connectors for tomorrow's system integrators

Amy Wells, marketing manager of industrial connector specialist Electroustic, explains current trends in systems integration.

26th July 2015

Metal detectors: inspecting snacks for contaminants

Midnight cereal snacks, energy sports bars and on-the-go breakfast replacements are shaping the snacks market, with UK consumption expected to reach £3.8bn by 2016. Given this increasing demand for healthy convenience, snacks producers are turning to efficiency driven automation to deliver consumer satisfaction and maintain safe, high-quality snacks. Sarah Ketchin, managing director at Fortress Technology, explores the varied challenges of inspecting for contaminants and the options available.

26th July 2015

Don't neglect palletising when automating lines

There are many different reasons for adopting robotic palletisation - usually the very last process on a packing line. It may be that you want to increase the speed of your operation, or improve the quality of the finished product. Other drivers might include overhead reduction or manual handling considerations, while in some cases staff turn around and training makes the idea of having the consistency and flexibility of a robot very appealing. Chris Sumner, Managing Director FANUC UK and Vice President of FEC (FANUC Europe Corporation), offers his thoughts on robotic palletisation.

24th July 2015