Machine Building

The business case for Industry 4.0 - convincing stakeholders

Much noise has been made about Industry 4.0 and the global movement towards connected factories, but the reality is that here in the UK, things are moving a lot slower - and rightly so. For Bosch Rexroth, the fourth industrial revolution is not actually a revolution, but rather a period of logical and essential evolution - and evolutions do not happen overnight. Andrew Minturn, Strategic Product Manager at Bosch Rexroth, explores the first, most critical phase of transitioning towards a connected facility: stakeholder engagement.

21st March 2019

Energy efficiency and cost savings in mines and quarries

Most mines and quarries contain a proliferation of electric motors, powering fans, pumps, conveyors, crushers, winches, hydraulic power packs etc. They vary in size and importance from large machines that are critical to site safety and operations to smaller examples that enable basic plant processes such as dust suppression and surface water control. Each one is drawing electricity and unless it is already part of a smart control system, it could be contributing more towards energy and general cost saving.

20th March 2019

IT/OT convergence and the end of the automation pyramid

With structures of over four thousand years old, Egypt boasts some the oldest pyramids in existence. The history of automation's pyramid however, a diagram representing the integration of technologies in industry, dwarfs in comparison. Could this engineering concept be coming to an end? Here, Stefan Reuther Chief Sales Officer at COPA-DATA, explains why IT/OT convergence will lead to the collapse of the automation pyramid.

18th March 2019

What is dual channel technology for sensors?

The rise of digitisation also means that known processes and procedures are subject to change. Standards that have been valid and established thus far are now under examination, done away with entirely, or may need to be adapted. In many regards, there is a sense that the world is becoming increasingly complex, thus requiring a new level of expertise and strategies to successfully master the challenges of the future. For this reason, Leuze electronic is developing smart sensors to optimise the production processes of its customers and increase the productivity of their systems and machines.

11th March 2019

Standard and custom spring specification - what to consider

Chris Petts, Managing Director of Lee Spring, explains what factors should be considered when selecting a catalogue spring or specifying a custom product.

8th March 2019

Innovations in moving-coil actuator technology

In this second technical note on moving-coil actuators, Ed Neff, President of SMAC Moving Coil Actuators (MCA), describes how moving-coil technology is evolving rapidly and offering a competitive alternative to pneumatic drives and moving-magnet rotary motors.

7th March 2019

Motor controllers: options for modification and customisation

Amir Janjua, Technical Engineer at maxon motor UK & Ireland, outlines the options that are available for customers wanting a modified or custom motor controller.

6th March 2019

How to select the right stock spring from a range of over 25,000

As market leaders in ex-stock industrial springs, Lee Spring offer some guidance to engineers who are either designing assemblies, developing for production or concerned with installation/maintenance.

5th March 2019

The smart, efficient option for driving horizontal conveyors

This technical article explains how Lenze Smart drives for horizontal conveying systems can simultaneously optimise requirements for torque, energy efficiency and starting torque, which is not possible with conventional technologies. Furthermore, the smart drives also reduce the number of variants and engineering effort required in control cabinets and cabling.

28th February 2019

How better guard switches improve safety and reduce downtime

Chris Best, Sales Director, and Mabruk Farrah, Managing Director of Mechan Controls, explain the benefits of replacing traditional magnetic reed-type safety switches with coded magnetic, solid-state safety switches, and how easy it is to perform the upgrade.

28th February 2019