Machine Building

Isolating medical devices

The increased complexity of medical device setups is causing concern in the medical industry. As more and more healthcare professionals use a variety of electrical equipment as part of their diagnosis and measurement regime, there is a knock-on effect on the stability of the mains power supply. Here, Steve Hughes, managing director at REO UK, explains the importance of electrical isolation and good product design.

8th May 2015

Filling pallets - it's not always as easy as it looks!

If you are currently stacking pallets by hand, have you analysed the manual handling aspects of the people performing this vital function? How high can they reach (safely), how many times do they have to twist, how heavy is each case or sack - is the finished stack ideal for transportation? Paul Wilkinson, Business Development Manager, Pacepacker Services, discusses optimising palletisation.

7th May 2015

Industry 4.0: realising the revolution, cables and energy chains

Again this year Industry 4.0 will be the focus topic of many a seminar, conference and exhibition. Justin Leonard, director, igus asks: "Will the "˜smart factory' concept ever become reality?"

7th May 2015

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