Machine Building

Motion plastics for medical applications

Whether in handling applications or in laboratory equipment, where there is movement, energy chains are widely used to protect and guide cables and hoses. In the medical industry, however, higher demands are placed on the components, which must all run very smoothly and quietly, be cleanroom-compatible, media-resistant and corrosion-free and of hygienic design. igus offers a range of energy chains and cables, iglidur plain bearings and drylin delta robots developed specifically for medical technology.

24th April 2020

NSK bearings save soft drinks producer over EUR10,000 per year

A UK manufacturer of soft drinks that was experiencing premature bearing failures on its automatic bottle sleeving machine resolved the issue by adopting non-contact, shielded, greased-for-life deep groove ball bearings from NSK. The move has increased the operational life of the bearings by a factor of 52, which in turn is generating annual savings of EUR10,874.

23rd April 2020

Fit and Forget actuators for low-maintenance demands of bakeries

In recent weeks, due to the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a spike in demand for bread far in excess than previously seen. Whereas many people usually buy a ready-made lunch every day, now they are buying bread and eating at home. The UK bakery market is one of the largest markets in the food industry, and not surprisingly, there is a high need for modern technology to rise up to market demands. To keep up with today's demand, the food processing industry needs to be efficient; this means most of the tasks need to be automated. But in every automated system, there are a host of smaller components that perform simple yet essential processes. Without these components, the automation could not take place.

22nd April 2020

Atlas Copco helps moulding specialist save 60 tonnes of CO2 p.a.

Midas Pattern Company is an award-winning, precision polyurethane moulding manufacturer who took a compressor system audit from an Atlas Copco distributor as part of its green initiative project, leading to an equipment upgrade. Not only did this move achieve substantial energy savings but, at the same time, the company's carbon footprint was reduced by some 60 tonnes per annum.

21st April 2020

Heavy-duty AGV incorporates Sick laser scanners and controller

MasterMover, a manufacturer of automated guided vehicles, has integrated Sick laser scanners in its latest heavy-duty AGV, making good use of Sick's Flexi Soft controller and EFI-Pro gateway.

17th April 2020

Mitsubishi SCARA robots used for high-speed testing of inhalers

A pharmaceutical manufacturer specialising in asthma inhalers has transformed its in-line testing operations thanks to an automated quality control system developed by Mitsubishi Electric and Optimal Industrial Automation. The innovative system uses two Selective Compliance Articulated Robot Arms (SCARA) and system-matched components, such as a MELSEC-iQ platform PLC and MAPS SCADA software. The fully automated quality control system increased leak detection rates for in-line pharmaceutical gas analysis during inhaler production by 30 times, significantly reducing manufacturing cost and waste generation.

16th April 2020

Sensonics helps Indian power sector to reduce emissions

Sensonics has been playing a key role in helping India to meet the increasingly tough emission standards applied to its installed power generation base. Coal remains central to India's power needs and today accounts for over 60 per cent of the countries power sector. As a consequence there is significant ongoing construction of coal fired power plants to meet the ever-growing energy demands and Sensonics Technologies India Pvt. Ltd, established in 2017, is well placed to offer sales, service and support to an ever-expanding customer base in the region.

7th April 2020

Engineering plastics for applications in the bottling industry

Although high-performance plastics used to be overlooked as suitable materials for machine components, they are now a standard feature in food and beverage processing equipment. But their potential has by no means been exhausted. igus supplies energy chains based on hygienic design guidelines and wear resistant plain bearing components for a wide range of applications.

3rd April 2020

TrimE905 cutting fluid used in ventilator components production

Brown and Hawthorne Engineering Ltd, a subcontract CNC machinist based in Coventry in the West Midlands, have started making tooling parts to allow two businesses - a well-known car manufacturer and a supplier and manufacturer of racing and road vehicle parts - to produce ventilators for the UK National Health Service (NHS).

1st April 2020

Ring guides used in high-precision optical measurement system

When it comes to rings and curved guides, it is impossible to overlook HepcoMotion. In the 50 years since its inception, the British company has developed its reputation as a specialist in all sorts of linear guides, successfully occupying a niche in this area.

31st March 2020