Machine Building

Light curtain options for high-efficiency pallet handling

In goods handling, maximising throughput is paramount for profitable business - but efficiency can never come at the expense of personnel safety. Pallet loading and handling is an everyday, yet vital, process in any factory or warehouse where safety and productivity have to be kept in balance. Sick Product Specialist for Machinery Safety Dr Martin Kidman, FS Engineer (TUV Rheinland #13017/26) considers developments in light curtain technology that are delivering commercial benefits for automated palletising operations, while protecting workers and meeting machinery safety standards.

13th January 2017

Selling cloud manufacturing ERP internally

Once you have made the all-important decision that purchasing a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is the right move for your business, it's time to gain buy-in from the rest of the company. This part of the process is important for two reasons: first, it is essential to gain the support of other parties because it is usually them who hold the power over major purchases, and second, you will need to make sure the ERP system works for every department to address their particular set of challenges.

13th January 2017

Connectivity trends in the food industry

With the food processing industry under ever-growing pressure to reduce costs, boost quality, guarantee food safety and operate with smaller and smaller batch sizes, Jeremy Shinton of Mitsubishi Electric looks at how trends in connectivity are helping to address these requirements.

13th January 2017

EU Automation releases circular economy industry guide

EU Automation has published an industry guide for manufacturers interested in making their production method more sustainable by contributing to the circular economy. The guide can be downloaded, free of charge, from EU Automation's website, under the Industry Guides section.

11th January 2017

Springs and fasteners: making the right choice with Lee Spring

Chris Petts, Managing Director of Lee Spring UK explains the importance of selecting the correct fastener or spring to suit application requirements.

11th January 2017

Pacepacker forecasts the next packaging automation trends

In the last decade the packaging industry has profoundly altered. External market forces have projected robotics and automation into mainstream manufacturing, with labour efficiency and productivity, implicit in Pacepacker Services earlier work, continuing to be a key driver. The automation specialist's Commercial & Information Systems Manager, Paul Wilkinson looks back on recent packaging developments and shares his predictions for the next decade.

11th January 2017

Top tips for selecting the right grease

ExxonMobil offers a five-point plan for ensuring that the right grease is selected for each application.

11th January 2017

How CAE tools boost machine builders' profitability

Manufacturing companies are increasingly turning to automation to help them retain their competitive edge, which means there is strong demand for machines of all types. But the machines are almost always needed quickly and often have to be designed specifically. How can machine builders respond while maintaining their profitability? Ken Christie, Director of EPLAN UK, has some suggestions.

11th January 2017

Top 10 factors to consider when specifying linear systems

Bob Love, Business Development Manager at Schaeffler UK, outlines the top 10 factors engineers should consider when specifying linear modules for single- and multi-axis handling and positioning systems.

10th January 2017

Persistent security - protect your business from cyber attacks

Tim Ricketts, Director of M.A.C. Solutions provides some useful hints and tips for businesses looking to improve the security of their Industrial Control Systems and better protect their business from cyber attacks.

9th January 2017