Machine Building

Plastic energy chains last four times longer than steel

Kronopol has installed Igus E4/4 system series 5050 plastic energy chains on its machines producing timber products; compared with the steel energy chains that had to be replaced every six months, the Igus energy chains have been in operation for over four years without any failures.

11th June 2009

Laser profile sensor selected for pipe weld inspection tool

Optical Metrology Services is using non-contact laser profile displacement sensors from Micro-Epsilon in a new system for inspecting the internal size and shape of girth welds on pipes destined for subsea oil and gas applications.

10th June 2009

Displacement sensors operate at extremely low temperatures

Attocube Systems AG is using non-contact capacitive displacement sensors from Micro-Epsilon to measure the travel of test items down to nanometre resolution. The sensors also have to operate in extreme conditions, with ambient temperatures of -270degC and in an ultra-high vacuum.

10th June 2009

Screw jacks meet the needs of nuclear waste plant

Power Jacks' stainless steel screw jacks were deemed to be the best such products available for an application at the Dounreay nuclear waste reprocessing plant due to their high reliability, good control characteristics and low maintenance.

29th May 2009

Stainless steel screw jacks chosen for nuclear waste plant

Power Jacks has supplied stainless steel translating machine screw jacks, a stainless steel drive shaft and geared couplings for new Drum Posting Equipment installed at the Dounreay nuclear reprocessing plant.

29th May 2009

Suprarex machine cuts steel plate 125% faster

Automated profile cutting machines from ESAB Cutting Systems have helped Fintec Crushing and Screening to streamline its production processes and eliminate errors.

27th May 2009

IP65 inverters eliminate dust-related failures in food factory

Lenze SMV inverters, which are protected to IP65, have eliminated problems at a biscuit factory where IP20 drives had previously failed prematurely due to the ingress of dust.

27th May 2009

Powerlink provides machine with speed, accuracy and flexibility

Baldor has supplied Ethernet Powerlink technology and servo motors to Modra Technology, enabling the company's carpet sample machines to produce samples in 20 minutes rather than a day or more.

27th May 2009

Festo unveils bionic penguins and BionicTripod

With a view to future industrial applications for autonomous, self-regulating processes, Festo has created two colonies of 'bionic penguins' and a BionicTripod that integrates a gripper with a three-axis positioning system.

13th May 2009

Test Drive Igus Energy Chains and Chainflex cables

Igus (UK) is giving away free samples of its Energy Chain cable carriers and Chainflex continuous-flex cables as part of its newly-launched Sample Test Drive Programme.

30th April 2009