Machine Building

How to identify the most appropriate motor starting method

The mains supply is coming under growing strain as industry regains momentum, so the chances of motor starting corrupting it are increasing. Various techniques for reduced voltage during starting are available and Jerry Hodek of motor maker Marathon Electric, explores which is best for different applications.

23rd September 2014

Expanding on ESOS regulations for compressed air energy savings

The clock has begun ticking towards December 2015. That is the date by which all UK companies with 250 or more employees, or annual turnover in excess of £42m, must have completed a comprehensive audit of their energy use. The countdown has already been heeded by some firms but others remain unaware of the requirement, which has been introduced by the government under the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) in response to the EU's efficiency directive.

20th September 2014

Mobile harbour equipment automatically generates commercial data

Harbour sides are busy places, with ships docking, unloading one cargo, loading another and departing again as quickly as possible. Keeping track of all this activity and of their various and valuable cargoes is demanding yet vital, so it is best to automate as much as possible. Mark Ingham of Sensor Technology Ltd in the UK explains how the drive shafts of the various machines and mobile plant can instantly generate much of the information needed.

15th September 2014

Making the grade - achieving compliance with food standards

The International Featured Standard (IFS) Food is an internationally recognised certification which is intended to encourage consumer confidence and enhance the brand perception of companies involved in food production. It is argued that achieving the required standard can improve food safety and quality while also streamlining processes and improving efficiency. Marc Klingler, Segment Manager for Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, looks at the areas which may require specialist attention.

15th September 2014

Is a drill guard necessary or can you rely on operator skill?

Jeremy Procter, Managing Director of Procter Machine Guarding, a Member of BSI's MCE/3 committee, and former Convenor of the European Standards Committee responsible for Machine Guards (CEN TC114 WG11), draws on recent HSE reports of accidents and prosecutions to show how important it is for drilling machines to be adequately safeguarded.

5th September 2014

Tribo makes all the difference in plastic bearings

Rob Dumayne, Director at igus, reviews developments in plastic bearings, and how industrial manufacturers can use them to produce cost savings while increasing their environmental credentials.

5th September 2014

Calibrating crimp tools, torque wrenches and weighing scales

All instruments and measurement tools drift over time and will need calibration. Standards and traceability are closely related. The latter refers to procedures and records demonstrating that calibrations accurately represent the measurements explain Ibrahim Ibrahim and Eddy Jones of calibrate.co.uk.

3rd September 2014

Thermal imaging and dimensional measurement of microelectronics

Chris Jones, Managing Director at Micro-Epsilon UK, discusses how the latest thermal imaging cameras and confocal displacement sensors are helping companies inspect a variety of electronic devices, circuit boards and MEMS.

3rd September 2014

Industry 4.0 unplugged

Industry 4.0 is a big concept and a hugely popular buzzword across manufacturing. It originated at the Hanover Messe a couple of years ago, when Siemens defined it as the computerisation of manufacturing, including transition to higher levels of interconnectivity, smarter plants and communication between equipment.

21st August 2014

Gearing up - making the right choice for gearbox design

Selecting the correct design of gearbox for your application can be a crucial decision that will affect performance, efficiency, reliability and cost. So, having a good understanding of the basic principles and suitable applications is essential. Dave Brown, Sales Manager at Brevini, offers some technical guidance.

19th August 2014