Whether it’s effortlessly operating the seatback and tray table on an airline flight, or just slightly adjusting the card reader terminal at a convenience store checkout, small access hardware mechanisms from Southco play a vital role in how the commonplace tools and devices we interact with every day operate in a smooth but functional manner.

Kirk Lyons, national sales manager for low pressure at Atlas Copco Compressors, details the different low-pressure blower technologies available for water and wastewater treatment plants, and explains how to select the right blower to deal with specific application process requirements.

Kieran Bennett, Bürkert’s industry manager for food, beverage, chemical and petrochemical, explains why the transition to digital communications is easier than you think.

Greg Wainhouse, industry account manager for the water industry at Burkert, looks at the ways in which manufacturers of process control equipment are making life easier for the plant operators and maintenance technicians.

Locks and latches with visible safety indicators can improve application secure and ensure end-user safety, as the experts at Southco explain.

The difference between flexible shaft couplings and rigid shaft couplings is not just in the terminology but in adsorption of torque on the driver and driven shafts, as the experts at jbj Techniques explain.

Recent advances in eddy current sensor design, integration, packaging and overall cost reduction have made these sensors an attractive option where high linearity, high speed measurements and high resolution are critical requirements, says Glenn Wedgbrow, business development manager at Micro-Epsilon UK.

Pneumatic cylinders are an efficient, reliable and clean solution for moving loads in a linear direction (back and forth or up and down), with good levels of force and speed. Japh Humphries, UK sales and commercial manager at Matara UK, looks at the specification considerations in harsh environment applications.

Using its unique experience of compressed air systems as a supplier, manufacturer, auditor and trainer, industrial automation specialist Festo offers five practical measures for reducing compressed air energy consumption in the food production environment.

Getting the most out of your machinery often depends on close integration between all components, with the correct specification of couplings between them to ensure proper shaft alignment, optimise performance and minimise wear. The experts at jbj Techniques guide us through the design considerations for hydraulic adapters to couple hydraulic pumps to prime movers.