Machine Building

Automated optical measurement of automotive filter dimensions

Micro-Epsilon scanCONTROL laser profile scanners have been integrated within a testing machine for inspecting automotive filters to ensure proper functioning and prevent damage to other components during assembly.

24th October 2016

Güdel gantry robots for large, heavy or unusual applications

Robots manufacture many items that are part of our everyday life, ranging from the cars that we drive to kitchen appliances and vacuum cleaners. There are even robots manufacturing parts for robotic lawn mowers. Many of these robot systems are traditional 6 axis types of varying sizes and configurations, and these types of robot are well suited to the majority of "run of the mill" tasks. When, however, the work area needs to be large, the components to be handled are excessively heavy or the application requires a complete bespoke system, this is where Güdel's gantry robot systems come into their own.

22nd October 2016

The 3D printed house

A house made by a 3D printer? This is no longer just a dream"¦ the faÃ§ade of the "˜Europa-Haus' in the Amsterdam Marine Quarter, built for the duration of the Dutch Presidency of the EU, was partly constructed in this way. Based in Amsterdam, DUS Architects realised the idea of building entire houses in this way - with a mobile 3D printer in extra-extra-large (XXL) format, which is housed in a shipping container. For the construction of the building, the architects worked closely with igus.

21st October 2016

Mobil DTE 10 Excel 68 helps plastics manufacturer save energy

A manufacturer of durable plastics has realised significant savings at its production plant as a result of switching to Mobil DTE 10 Excel 68. The introduction of the high-performance hydraulic oil helped to enhance overall hydraulic efficiency, resulting in energy savings of 4.28 per cent.

19th October 2016

Hygienic lobe pumps help to smooth the sun cream process

Malibu Health Products is a private manufacturer of sun care and related products based in St Albans, Hertfordshire and well known for brands such as the sun cream "˜Malibu Sun'. Inoxpa Sanitary Lobe pumps, supplied by pumping specialists Michael Smith Engineers, have contributed towards improving manufacturing processes, reducing maintenance and downtime.

18th October 2016

Westermo switches in critical control networks at chemical plant

Unipetrol is a major refinery and petrochemical company in the Czech Republic. One of the company's biggest assets is the industrial premises Chempark ZÃ¡luÅ¾Ã which is the largest chemical production facility in the country. The facility is currently the seat of several dozens of important chemical and service companies and is a daily workplace for 6500 employees from 180 companies.

17th October 2016

Telsonic ultrasonics at heart of Audi cam-shaft cleaning cell

The use of ultrasonic technology within the Automotive sector has become widely recognised as an efficient, clean and environmentally friendly method of welding, joining and even trimming plastic components and sub assemblies. The capabilities of ultrasonics, however, extend far beyond these applications, and the technology is also used as a highly efficient method of cleaning the precision machined components which make up today's high-performance engines.

17th October 2016

MiniTec's aluminium profile system used as innovative camera rig

Whilst a significant part of MiniTec's modular aluminium profile systems are to be found in classic industrial applications such as machine guarding, conveyors, work stations and the like, the application possibilities extend to retail, sports and lifestyle projects as well. One could say that the possibilities are as limitless as the imagination is to construct a framework or structure out of metal parts - an industrial building set in fact.

14th October 2016

Direct drive and motion controllers for automated decoration

A fully servo-driven machine that can be used for various types of printing and lacquering. The machine has the capability to increase production whilst retaining high quality: today Todema meets the goal - thanks to CDDR direct drive motors and to the Kollmorgen AKD PDMM motion controller.

13th October 2016

Molex Polymicro Technologies optical fibre onboard ICESat-2

Molex's Polymicro Technologies optical fibre is being used to build NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2). The satellite, slated for launch in 2017 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, will measure changes in Earth features, from melting ice sheets and thinning sea ice to growing trees.