Machine Building

Cyber-security: a journey, not a destination

Cyber-security has been a hot topic since the Stuxnet incident of a few years ago. Previously it was thought that securing the "˜top end' of an organisation was adequate, but this incident and others like it completely changed the security landscape and highlighted vulnerabilities in the de-facto automation architecture that previously had not been considered. Chris Evans, Marketing & Operations Group Manager at Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. Automation Systems Division, explains.

1st May 2015

Ditch the upgrade, source the obsolete part

Upgrades are a normal part of all aspects of life. Everything from phones, computers and hardware to software, cars and even partners can fall victim to the upgrade cycle. Should they be deemed to be in need of a refresh, there is always a simple way of doing it; whether that's clicking a button, buying online or hanging out in trendy bars... However, if the process wasn't so easy, would we be so willing to change?

1st May 2015

Strong demand for uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

Frost & Sullivan's new research into the strong demand for uninterruptible power supply (UPS), as industries in Europe are losing EUR150 billion due to power issues, raises some interesting points, especially in terms of manufacturers needing to introduce energy-efficient UPS systems.

29th April 2015

How accurate are your radiometric readings?

A thermal imaging camera only reads the electromagnetic radiation it receives in a specific range of wavelengths. To display this reading the camera makes several calculations to convert data into actual temperature and one that is vitally important is emissivity.

28th April 2015

Robotic units in the bakery sector

Chris Sumner, MD of FANUC UK, considers why robotic uptake within the bakery sector has been lower than that in other manufacturing sectors.

21st April 2015

Meeting the new efficiency standards for power drive systems

Improving the efficiency of electric motors has been an on-going objective across the world, with several standards now in place to help achieve this goal. However, it is generally recognised that a broader view is needed to fully maximise the efficiency of the entire drive train. This requires engineers to take account of the efficiencies of the starter systems, as well as the equipment attached to the motor; which has led to the introduction of a new standard, EN50598. Yasar Yüce, Product Manager at Bauer Gear Motor, looks at the reasoning for the new standard as well as the implications for manufacturers and end users.

14th April 2015

Coupling options in metal manufacture

Selecting rubber-in-compression couplings as a cure for vibration and shock loading on arduous applications in the metal manufacturing industries can not only cut maintenance and downtime but also reduce operating costs and extend the life of the machinery and equipment to which the couplings have been fitted.

10th April 2015

Maintenance: how much is too much? Too little?

Dan Miklovic, a Principal Analyst with LNS Research, discusses how asset performance management (APM) can be used to optimise maintenance intervals, thereby increasing equipment availability and reliability while simultaneously minimising risk and costs.

7th April 2015

Efficiency clarifications: motors and VSDs

In 2014, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) released a preparatory study that identified the environmental improvement potential for products outside the scope of Regulation 640/2009 of the Ecodesign Directive. This study is called Lot 30 and refers to special motors and variable speed drives (VSDs).

7th April 2015

Are we ready for a cableless future?

Did you know that until the 1960s, Boeing aircraft manufacturers used ferrets to carry cables to inaccessible areas? The animals were eventually retired because of a tendency to give up their task... or fall asleep. Here Darren Halford, European Automation"˜s group sales manager discusses the role of the humble cable in today's industrial applications.

31st March 2015