Machine Building

Oil contamination is a major cause of machinery failure

Between 70 and 80 per cent of all hydraulic failures, which can lead to machinery failure, can be traced back to contaminated oil, according Bosch Rexroth.

23rd June 2014

New opportunities and engineering services for machine builders

Jon Severn, editor of MachineBuilding.net, recently met John Renard, President of Cyient for the EMEA region, to find out what his company can offer UK machine builders.

23rd June 2014

Industrial Ethernet connects systems, improves energy efficiency

The drive to improve energy management has become so urgent that efficient installation and reliable operation have become imperative. Fortunately, there are many well-publicised technologies available to help. Here John Browett, General Manager (Europe) of the CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) explains how Industrial Ethernet is playing a key role in providing efficient and reliable solutions.

17th June 2014

Safety networks: The route from zero accidents to zero risk

As global competition continues to increase, how can you meet ever more stringent safety standards and still optimise productivity? As John Browett of CLPA explains, modern safety networks can hold the key.

11th June 2014

Mitsubishi's M2M system opens up new world of communications

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications holds the key to a new paradigm of industrial automation and production. Jeremy Shinton, Product Manager - Business Solutions & Software for Mitsubishi Electric, explains how.

10th June 2014

Design and components for pneumatic control automation systems

The use of pneumatic process control systems has been adopted by a wide variety of industries and as the complexity of these control systems grows, so it becomes even more important to ensure high levels of reliability and integrity. However, not every system requires a huge valve island or bus communication to achieve the required level of automation. Neil Saunders, General Manager at Bürkert Fluid Control Systems looks at the common components and processes involved; from the most basic design to a complete production line.

10th June 2014

The barrier to tidal energy is not a mechanical one

The cost of energy generated by tidal power generation is, at this stage of device development, still more expensive than that offered by offshore and onshore wind, and solar arrays in sunnier climes; however, fossil fuels will not last forever and investment is still going into accessing tidal power, one of the most reliable and predictable of renewable energy sources. Anthony George, from the Heavy Duty Clutch and Brake (HDCB) Division of Altra Industrial Motion has been involved in engineering a number of offshore energy projects and offers some analysis on the real-world viability of these schemes.

4th June 2014

Disc coupling range to suit all applications

Applications requiring disc couplings are found throughout industry, wherever the transfer of torque from driving to driven equipment is necessary. Typical applications include pumps, compressors, machine tools, engine driving equipment, food processing equipment, blowers and fans, covering a wide range of power requirements.

4th June 2014

Heat Pipes - Theory, Design and Applications, book review

Jon Severn, the Editor of MachineBuilding.net, reviews Heat Pipes - Theory, Design and Applications, sixth edition, by David Reay, Peter Kew and Ryan McGlen.}

4th June 2014

Alarm management systems: the benefits of third party software

When it comes to selecting an enterprise-wide alarm management system, businesses should consider the pros and cons of a third party specific alarm management tool over a DCS vendor's offering, says Jason Cook, Product Manager at MAC Solutions.

23rd May 2014