Machine Building

Precision dispensing system improves quality and reduces rejects

The automobile manufacturing industry places high demands on suppliers with regard to process reliability, quality and efficiency. To meet these challenges, a preeflow customer had to optimise his application of a two-part sealant to make a form-in-place (FIP) gasket.

27th July 2018

Solar-powered buggy benefits from igus cables

Since the beginning of 2016, 16 students from the University of Bochum in Germany have been developing and constructing a solar-powered off-road vehicle. The team wants its SolarBuggy, called Froggee, to be completely self-sufficient while ensuring that it can cope with the toughest conditions without problems.

25th July 2018

ESAB Aristo 1000 submerged arc welding systems used by FAI

ESAB has supplied a total of six submerged arc welding systems including Aristo 1000 ACDC Inverter to FAI Officine Di Carvico S.p.a. for fabricating high-pressure spools that are used in hydrocarbon flow lines. FAI specialises in the production of high-pressure vessels, pipeline components, sea water intake screening systems, reactors, and shell and tube heat exchangers. In addition to producing new fabrications, the company also undertakes repairs. Given the nature of its work, FAI requires reliable welding systems that achieve high productivity and high quality, yet are sufficiently versatile to cope with a wide variety of base materials.

20th July 2018

ABB motors and drive aid automated clearance of landmines

ABB has supplied motors and a variable speed drive (VSD) for an anti-personnel landmine clearance rig. The machine, which is the outcome of five years of R&D by MMD (Mining Machinery Developments) was donated to The HALO Trust charity at Hillhead 2018, the UK's leading quarrying and construction industry event.

19th July 2018

Decentralised frequency inverters for synchronised movement

Nord Drivesystems offers decentralised drives with which even demanding applications, such as synchronised movement and flying saw (flying shear) arrangements, can be implemented easily. An integrated PLC and position control within the frequency inverters enables the synchronisation of several drives in master/slave operation. As a result, functions such as synchronised movement and flying saw can be implemented decentrally. This is especially useful in applications that require synchronous interaction of different drive axes.

18th July 2018

OEM peristaltic pump selected for colonoscope

Invendo Medical, a developer of sterile single-use high-definition endoscopy products in the field of gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, is using OEM peristaltic pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) to continually rinse the integral camera lens during examinations. The pumps deliver the supply pressure needed for cleaning, as well as impressive reliability and ease of handling.

18th July 2018

Enclosures ensures lift passengers can make emergency calls

The UK's premier supplier of passenger lift controls has adopted Spelsberg TK enclosures as the housing for one of its latest products, thus ensuring it is well protected against environmental conditions and physical damage.

16th July 2018

Production control software key to Tefloturn's expansion

Having relocated from Flitcham to larger premises in King's Lynn, Tefloturn Limited has been able to take on more staff and, as a result, more work. The company is also looking to greatly increase its capacity by adding a 32mm sliding head lathe to complement their current Star sliding head and XYZ turning and milling machines. These investments are being made on the back of existing PSL Datatrack production control software which continues to give Tefloturn far reaching benefits in its business administration and production control.

13th July 2018

Electric bike uses high-performance 3D printed triboplastics

The bicycle has, in recent years, developed from a mere commodity to a weight-optimised "˜lifestyle apparatus'. Most recently, electrification has contributed significantly to this trend. According to the German bicycle industry association "˜Zweirad-Industrie-Verband' (ZIV) sales of e-bikes in the country increased by 19 per cent last year to a total of 720,000 units.

12th July 2018

3D printed dragons adorn Kew's 18th century Great Pagoda

3D Systems has undertaken a large project that has seen 72 ornate dragons designed, 3D printed, painted and attached to The Great Pagoda, a UNESCO World Heritage site owned by Historic Royal Palaces in Kew Gardens.

11th July 2018