Machine Building

Monitoring cask contents with a handheld infrared camera

Summer festival season, and for many, time for nothing better than a pint of real ale to quench the thirst. But when demand is high it's especially important for the busy bartender to know when the gravity fed cask is nearing empty.

25th June 2018

Connectors for areas with a high risk of explosion

In environments where there is a high explosion risk (known as Ex zones), connectors must fulfil special safety requirements. Harting offers a range of connectors - the Han Ex series - that meet the safety requirements for ignition protection in Ex zones 1 and 2. The use of such connectors, featuring innovative termination techniques supporting unskilled assembly and flexible hood and housing mating options, allows end users and installers more installed site flexibility and keeps costs down through time saving in various hazardous application areas including process automation in the petrochemical, chemical and mining sectors.

22nd June 2018

Custom springs maximise speed of slicing and packaging machine

It is amazing sometimes to consider what it takes to speed up a production line - it can simply come down to the performance of a single component. Essentially this is what the team at Thurne came to understand with their bacon slicer technology - and the solution came from close co-operation with Lee Spring as a long-term strategic supplier.

21st June 2018

Lasered Components increases output by 10-20%

Lasered Components Ltd, a specialist in laser-profiled sheet-metal parts, has installed three Trumpf TruLaser 5030 fibre machines, with the most recent arriving in March 2018. Replacing machines of a different make, the trio of Trumpf models are offering 10-20 per cent more speed across all materials, together with better machine reliability, ease-of-use and product consistency.

20th June 2018

Accurate and ergonomic machine control with elobau thumbwheel

James Heal is an international engineering company specialising in the design and production of Testing Instruments and Test Materials. Established in 1872 to serve the local woollen textile industry, it has evolved into one of the worldwide leading suppliers of user-intuitive and innovative products in the industry.

19th June 2018

Malt producer improves productivity by installing ABB drive

A production facility that turns barley into malt for use in beer and whisky production has eliminated machine stoppages, increased productivity, improved safety and cut maintenance costs by installing a new germination machine controlled by an ABB variable-speed drive (VSD).

18th June 2018

Switching to NSK bearings saves energy plant EUR134,000 per year

When a UK-based electricity producer was experiencing frequent breakdowns due to bearing failures in two industrial fan units, the plant requested the services of NSK to propose and implement a suitable solution. After performing an application review as part of NSK's AIP (Added Value Programme), a change of bearing and fixing arrangement led to significant cost savings.

14th June 2018

igus supports Carologistics team at RoboCup German Open 2018

They play football, master rescue missions and take over the logistics in a Smart Factory: robots from 14 countries that competed against each other at the RoboCup German Open 2018 in Magdeburg. In the logistics league, the Carologistics team from Aachen has become German champion - with the support of igus.

13th June 2018

Long-service motors tested after re-engineering

Specialist industrial motor manufacturer Solutions Engineering in Stoke on Trent is able to test the performance of its motors, having built a test station to its own specification based around a piezo electric torque transducer from Sensor Technology.

8th June 2018

Elesa handwheels specified by Power Jacks

The "˜go anywhere' performance of Elesa standard components is exemplified by their customer Power Jacks Ltd, who provide electro-mechanical linear motion, lifting and positioning systems.

8th June 2018