Mepca january 2014 lr

www.mepca-engineering.com

January 2014

Photoelectric sensor Time of ight measurement

The Game is Changing

Man and Machine Training Academy

Man and Machine offer an extensive range of Autodesk 2014 training courses

Man and Machine specialise in Autodesk training for Manufacturers, Engineers, Architects & Product Designers.

All courses are taught with the official Autodesk courseware and includes one month’s free post training support.

Autodesk AutoCAD courses include: • • • • •

AutoCAD Essentials AutoCAD Electrical Fundamentals AutoCAD Advanced AutoCAD 3D Drawing & Modelling AutoCAD Mechanical Essentials

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Connect onnect with u us

contents Editor Jess Unwin – editor@mepca.com 07903 399150 Publication manager Sean French – sean@mepca.com 01795 509105 Fax: 01795 591065 Account executive Sean Elliott – seanelliott@mepca.com 01795 509105 Studio manager Paula Smith – paula@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509107 Design and production Grant Waters – grant@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509108 James Taylor – james@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509108 Credit facilities manager Vickie Crawford – vickie@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509103 Fax: 01795 591065 Chief executive John Denning jdenning@cimltd.co.uk 01795 509100

roviding our audience with something interesting to read that also contains possible solutions for manufacturing and engineering environments is our aim, so in 2014 we’re presenting three special focus topics in each edition.

Our first subject is the foundation for manufacturing – literally – the flooring that is under our feet in factories, processing plants and laboratories (pages 10, 12, 14).

There’s lots to learn about pumps, valves, fliters & actuators (pages 18, 20, 22) and our third special focus spotlights the always important matter of health and safety (pages 26, 28, 30).

We’re all hoping 2014 will be a good year for manufacturing, but there are challenges too.

A theme in this edition is one of those challenges: ensuring children – and particularly girls – consider engineering as a career (pages 4 and 16).

Jess Unwin, Editor

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© 2014 CIM Online Limited, The Goods Shed, Jubilee Way, Whitstable Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8GD. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form – electronic, mechanical or physical – without express prior permission and written consent of the publisher. Contributions are invited and when not accepted will be returned only if accompanied by a fully stamped and addressed envelope. Manuscripts should be typewritten. No responsibility can be taken for drawings, photographs or literary contributions during transmission or in the editor’s hands. In the absence of an agreement the copyright of all contributions, literary, photographic or artistic, belongs to CIM Online Limited. The publisher accepts no responsibility in respect of advertisements appearing in the magazine and the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher.

The publisher cannot accept liability for any loss arising from the late appearance or non-publication of any advertisement.

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News & diary dates 2014’s opportunities and challenges, an award-winning space engineer and upcoming events

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News Variable-speed drives help provide a recipe for success at the UK’s largest chip factory

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@MEPCA1

Special focus: flooring Eliminate rocking floor slabs plus Tips to eliminate rocking floor slabs; learn how a special resin surface was installed at a Walkers factory and sweep easy with Kärcher

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Special focus: pumps, valves, fliters & actuators A solution to leaking pump seals, learn about the chemical resistance properties of valves plus much more

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Special focus: health & safety HSE chief says there’s still room for improvements, rule changes for hazardous waste packaging and accessing machinery safely

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Logistics Flexible AGVs are the future for material-handling, says Thomas R Cutler

www.mepca-engineering.com

January 2014

Photoelectric sensor Time of flight measurement

The Game is Changing

To subscribe to MEPCA visit our website www.mepca.com/subscribe/ or simply scan the QR code.

www.mepca-engineering.com | 3

news 2014 prospects good but challenges ahead, MTA told

FutureLearn tie-up is a boost for engineering skills Left: Abbie Hutty is presented with her IET award

by Professor Alice Roberts

utureLearn, the first UK-led provider of massive open online courses (MOOCs), has signed up the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) as its latest business sponsor of MOOCs aimed at furthering professional development.

Available from 2014, the free courses created through the alliance with FutureLearn will provide industry professionals, engineers and technicians worldwide with knowledge that will help develop their careers.

Nigel Fine, IET Chief Executive, said: “The IET is a trusted source of essential engineering intelligence.

This partnership with FutureLearn means we can give even better access to technical training to our members and the wider engineering community.”

A space engineer from

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DIARY DATES

Hertfordshire was the overall winner at the 2013 IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year awards.

Twenty-six year-old Abbie Hutty from Hitchin was named the Young Woman Engineer of the Year, from a shortlist of 10 high-calibre candidates.

Abbie is a spacecraft structures engineer at Astrium, and is currently working on the ExoMars Rover mission, Europe’s first rover mission to Mars.

Abbie said: “Hopefully this award will highlight the exciting reality of a career in engineering and encourage further investment in the talents of female engineers for years to come.”

The IET is one of the world’s largest organisations for engineers and technicians, with 160,000 members in 127 countries around the world. theiet.org

Right: Pictured (left to right) are MTA Director General Graham Dewhurst, Head of the Institute for Manufacturing at Cambridge University Professor Sir Mike Gregory and MTA President Mark Ridgway OBE

rospects for UK manufacturing are stronger than for many years but companies must think globally and help shape the government’s initiatives for the sector.

That was the message from Professor Sir Mike Gregory, Head of the Institute for Manufacturing at Cambridge University, guest speaker at a recent Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) event. Addressing the challenges manufacturing faces in the 21st century, Professor Gregory identified the importance of encouraging young people to take up a career in engineering and ensuring a proper balance between the manufacturing and service sectors in the UK. At the same event, the MTA’s AGM, it was announced that Tony Bowkett, MD of Nikken Kosakusho Europe Ltd, has been nominated by the MTA board as the successor to Mark Ridgway as president. Tony will support the president over the next 12 months and will stand down as the MTA’s honorary treasurer as soon as a replacement is found. mta.org.uk

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Event

Venue

Date

Website

Southern Manufacturing show

FIVE, Farnborough, UK

12-13 Feb

industrysouth.co.uk

Resource

ExCeL centre, London

4-6 March

resource-event.com

The Health & Safety Event

NEC, Birmingham, UK

11-13 March

britsafe.org

Maintech

NEC, Birmingham, UK

11-13 March

easyfairs.com

Facilities Management

NEC, Birmingham, UK

11-13 March

easyfairs.com

MACH 2014

NEC, Birmingham, UK

7-11 April

machexhibition.com

Subcon Show

NEC, Birmingham, UK

3-5 June

subconshow.co.uk

Plastics Design and Moulding Exhibition and Conference

Telford International Centre, UK

18-19 June

pdmevent.com

4 | www.mepca-engineering.com

news Renishaw hosts Royal visitor for double celebration

Recipe for success at chip factory drives. The competitors’ drives at the time all used large filters to deal with the harmonics generated by their drives.”

In a conventional frequency converter, with a six-pulse diode bridge as a rectifier, the network side current is not sinusoidal and has significant harmonic content, especially fifth and seventh harmonics. Typical ne of the UK’s leading current distortion can range from manufacturers of frozen 30 to 50% in total. In an ABB low foods is using ABB low harmonic drive, the use of the harmonic variable-speed drives to cut its site load from 7 MW to 6 MW. motor control platform, direct torque control (DTC), together with a low The McCain Foods plant at Whittlesey, Peterborough is the UK’s pass filter, suppresses the current harmonic content, giving a distortion largest chip factory, producing 30 of less than 5%. The resulting clean tonnes of frozen chips an hour. sinusoidal current will therefore The company was looking for cause little or no distortion on the further ways to reduce its energy network voltage waveform. consumption and costs at the Benefits include direct connection factory and wanted to replace its old refrigeration facility with modern to the network, with no complex multi-winding transformer required, equipment. The on-site cold store, which operates 24/7, accounted for and no need for external filter equipment. The drives exceed the 60% of the site electrical loading. requirements of EN 61000-3-12 The company also wanted to get and IEEE519 and offer genuine unity better control of the refrigeration power factor with no compensation plant and reduce the potential needed. impact of harmonics.

The new refrigeration plant cut Paul Derbyshire, McCain’s the number of compressors from 20 Electrical, Control and Automation to seven. To run the compressors, engineer for McCain Central ABB installed seven variable-speed Engineering GB, reveals the project drives, with ratings ranging from team looked into using variable350 to 650 kW. Overall, the new speed drives to control the new refrigeration plant using ABB drives plant. “We were looking for the cut the site loading by around 1 best drive for this application and investigated several solutions from a MW. “They also give us the ability to over speed the motor to get number of manufacturers. more refrigeration capacity, which “We found that nothing gave we cannot do with traditionally the same performance as ABB controlled refrigeration plant,” says active front-end variable-speed Paul. “ABB drives are also very drives. With ABB drives, there is no reliable compared to others – they interference on the line and they do not need filters to cut harmonics, as are good workhorses.”

ABB drives have also been other drives do.

“Although we had no known issue installed at many other McCain Food plants globally and the company is with harmonics on site before the looking for other applications where project, one of our main motivators ABB drives could bring benefits. was not to generate any harmonics abb.com from the installation of such large

Left: McCain is using ABB low harmonic variable-speed drives to cut its refrigeration costs

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Right: Sir David McMurtry and Ben Taylor show HRH The Earl of Wessex a demonstration of REVO measuring an aero-engine component

he Earl of Wessex visited Renishaw to present the company with its 16th Queen’s Award and to make a special 40th anniversary presentation to its co-founders, Sir David McMurtry and John Deer.

During his visit, Prince Edward received demonstrations of Renishaw’s advanced engineering technologies, saw progress on a new 145,000 sq ft building, met some of Renishaw’s 111 apprentices and was also presented with a 3D-printed titanium gift.

His Royal Highness presented the company with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2013 in the Innovations category for its revolutionary REVO® five-axis multi-sensor probing system. The system is used on co-ordinate measuring machines to significantly improve accuracy and throughput when inspecting complex parts including aero-engine blades, automotive cylinder blocks and many types of gears.

Ahead of the formal presentation, HRH The Earl of Wessex was welcomed to Renishaw’s New Mills headquarters site in Gloucestershire

by Sir David McMurtry, Chairman and Chief Executive, and John Deer, Deputy Chairman, who formed the company in 1973.

The Earl of Wessex was also shown active demonstrations of REVO rapidly measuring complex components for aero-engines, highlighting the system’s unique ability to simultaneously control the motion of three machine and two head axes while collecting data from the machined part using its range of 2D, 3D and surface roughness measurement probes. renishaw.com

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Events

Plans to build on success of record-breaking events After 30% increase in attendance figures, organisers of advanced engineering showcase confirm new dates and are set to announce details of ‘further development’ oasting a record total attendance of 12,000, coming from all tiers and parts of the advanced engineering supply chain, the recent Advanced Engineering UK group of events achieved a massive 30% attendance increase. Buoyed by that success, event organisers UK Tech Events have confirmed dates for this year – 11 and 12 November. The venue will be Birmingham’s NEC again, and there are plans, to be announced shortly, for further development of the group of events portfolio.

Ian Stone, Managing Director of UK Tech Events, is bullish about plans for the show moving forward: “The UK has established a significant global position in high-value engineering and

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manufacturing, which it can now further strengthen.

“The complex interweaving of commercial companies, industry bodies, government, academia and supply chain communities requires channels and opportunities for communication and collaboration.

This key annual group of events will continue to provide a vital one-stop shop where interlinked advanced engineering sectors can do business through networking, sourcing capability, transferring technology and best practice.”

Already one of Europe’s most important annual advanced engineering sector showcases for technology innovation, processes and industry supply chain capability, the Advanced Engineering UK 2013

Above: The unique concentration of high-value, high-skilled and high-intensity engineering sectors under one common roof has made the show a must-attend annual fixture

group of events brought together five interlinked shows representing priority UK high-value engineering and technology sectors, creating a hugely exciting integrated UK technology transfer and business development opportunity.

Ian comments: “Last year the event saw its biggest ever turnout from all points across the UK’s advanced engineering and technology sectors. With UK industry more upbeat than ever about growth opportunities in these high-value industries, supported by the continuing prioritisation from industry, government and academia, the co-locating events have rapidly become a must-attend annual calendar fixture given their unique concentration of multiple

Events high-value, high-skilled and highintensity engineering sectors under one common roof. These key sectors are the vanguard for delivering UK ambitions to rebalance the economy and represent already outstanding examples of where the UK is striving to take an international lead, reflecting its unique and comprehensive value chain capability and competitiveness.”

The show floor played host to a record 650 specialist exhibiting organisations providing engineering technology, equipment, components and specialist services, spanning the five interlinked show zones, under the one giant canopy of NEC’s 200m-long Hall 5. With advanced materials, digital engineering solutions, design, testing, manufacturing supply chain partners, specialist subcontractors and much more, attendees were spoilt for choice with the diversity of technology, capability and engineering services on display, backed by the event’s most ambitious free-to-attend open conference programme.

Hosted across parallel showfloor-based auditoria, the open conference programme was a stunning success, with standing room only for many of the sessions.

Over 200 expert speakers contributed to a sum total of some 60 hours of high-quality industry supply chain intelligence, insight into latest research, industry case

studies, and latest technology and process innovations.

Dr Neil Calder, Conference Director for the parallel speaker programmes, summarises the approach as “a carefully and deliberately constructed programme, with the assistance of key infrastructure organisations, providing a combination of strategic landscaping and tactical information, in the format of a series of rapid-fire briefings with easy and open access to all attendee groups”.

He adds: “Programmes provide a vital opportunity to both keep up with the very latest ‘intel’ from within each individual sector stream and at the same time provide a useful opportunity to look over the shoulder of adjacent high-value engineering sectors and see how they are responding to the current technical and industrial challenges.

Dedicated aerospace, composites, automotive and electronics sessions were this year supplemented with a host of general sessions addressing such key areas as regional initiatives for advanced engineering growth, quality management, intellectual property, recruitment strategy, R&D tax breaks and much more.”

The open conference programmes were supported with a record level of contributions from leading industry associations, technical and industry bodies plus centres of excellence, including High Value Manufacturing Catapult,

‘This key annual group of events will continue to provide a vital one-stop shop where interlinked advanced engineering sectors can do business through networking, sourcing capability, transferring technology and best practice.’

– Ian Stone, Managing Director of UK Tech Events

ADS, AMRC , NetComposites, EEF, CompositesUK, National Composites Centre, North West Aerospace Alliance, UK Aerodynamics Centre, Composites Skills Alliance, UKTI, WMG, Aerospace Growth Partnership, GTMA, Royal Aeronautical Society, RAPRA, Industry Wales, Aluminium Federation, Technology Strategy Board, Motorsport Industry Assoc, Composites Leadership Forum, Niche Vehicle Network, EPSRC CIMComp, NGCC, MIRA, IDTechX, Black Country LEP, Electronics Technology Network, Engineering Integrity Society, Plastic Electronics Leadership Group, Materials KTN, BiNDT, Electronics Systems Community Leadership Council, Centre for Process Innovation, Performance Review Institute.

Headline OEM and Tier 1 contributions came from the likes of Jaguar Land Rover, GKN Aerospace, Safran Group’s Messier-Bugatti-Dowty and Briggs Automotive Company, who all additionally featured latest technology exhibits in on the show floor, including A350 XWB and B787 Dreamliner main landing gear, Jaguar F-Type and latest Range Rover vehicles, Airbus A350 carbon fibre rear wing spar section and the BAC Mono – UK-built single-seater road-legal production car.

Centrepiece of the integrated show floor was the Advanced Engineering in Action display, hosted by High Value Manufacturing Catapult. advancedengineeringuk.com www.mepca-engineering.com | 7

product news

Are you sure your ATEX 3D sensors are up to scratch? ifm electronic offers ATEX 3D-compliant inductive and capacitive proximity sensors in a variety of sizes

because the device must be exposed to a temperature 20 K above its maximum operating temperature, at 90% relative humidity, for a period of four weeks.

Should there be failures, it’s back to the drawing board!

Plastics requirements

ven late into the last century less was known about dust explosions than those caused by gases and vapours.

It’s a subject that’s received more attention in recent years and now, under ATEX, the hazards and the means of avoiding ignition are much better defined.

The standards relating to hazardous area equipment are constantly reviewed. One such change is when a position-sensing device, such as an inductive or capacitive proximity sensor, is required to operate in a low-level dust risk environment, known as a Zone 22 designated area. These devices should now comply with IEC60079-31, which specifies the standards for enclosure, intrinsic safety, encapsulation and pressurisation.

Since the enhanced requirements became known, at least one manufacturer, ifm electronic, has been at work to ensure compliance, and offers ATEX 3D-compliant inductive and capacitive proximity sensors in a variety of sizes, for

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AC as well as DC operation, complemented by M12 connectors, which also comply with the most recent standards.

Impact The most obvious impact of the new IEC60079-31 is the requirement for the sensor housing to withstand a much greater impact force.

Previously, a sensor was required to survive an impact of 0.5 joule (equivalent to a 1kg weight falling from 500mm). Now, the device must withstand 7 joule. For a small electronic device this is almost impossible. This can be alleviated if the certification and sensor marking include ‘X’ (to denote special conditions), but still the sensor must withstand 4 joule. The ‘special conditions’ then require the user to fit it in such a way as to avoid heavier impact.

Conditioning The housing must pass the 4 joule test after the housing materials have been conditioned, or ‘aged’. This can be a long, drawn-out process,

Where plastics are used for the housings, these must also meet certain requirements with respect to the TI (temperature index – the defined thermal characteristic of the plastic) and RTI (relative thermal index – the UL-standard defined changes in the thermal characteristic of the plastic over temperature range) of the material.

Rugged Different strategies have been adopted to meet the new standards.

One technique is to manufacture a sensor entirely in stainless steel.

Other methods include adding additional protective parts to the device, or re-engineering housings completely using new materials.

It should perhaps be noted at this point that the purpose of the impact tests is simply to ensure the integrity of the housing. The sensor is not expected to survive after a 4 joule impact, but must not become an ignition source.

Check the information that you have from your existing suppliers that the products you use comply.

Are they supplying outdated equipment? ifm.com/uk

The game is changing...

The groundbreaking O5D and OID for sensing at longer ranges than conventional photocells, but at similar price levels. Ranges up to 2m with background suppression irrespective of the surface characteristics and colour.

Sensing from any position and even oblique angles to the object. No reflector needed across a conveyor.

www.ifm.com/uk/oid www.ifm.com/uk/o5d ifm Telephone 020 8213 2222

special focus: flooring

Specialist resin flooring is solution for Walkers factory

n different food and drink environments it is vital that the correct flooring is chosen for maximum safety and efficiency around the workplace. The main flooring requirements in the food and drink industry are a balance of durability, cleanability, chemical resistance and anti-slip profile, which all contribute to a safe and hygienic environment.

John Lord has an extensive range of specialist flooring for many different industries. The Uragard polyurethane resin flooring range is ideal for the food and drink industry – each one with particular properties to provide the important solution.

In environments where meats, fats and grease is present, the logical choice from the Uragard range is our most aggressive grade of flooring; Uragard HTAS. Providing a high anti-slip profile with chemical and abrasion resistance properties, the Uragard HTAS is ideal for slippery

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and high-trafficked areas.

In other environments where daily operations are mostly dry with occasional wet areas, the logical choices from the Uragard range are Uragard HT62W and HT120W – providing excellent cleanability and an anti-slip profile.

Recently, John Lord was commissioned to manufacture and install suitable flooring throughout the Walkers snack food factory in Coventry. The factory environments differed from room to room where liquids were present and spillages occurred to the dry packaging areas. With this in mind, John Lord decided the best flooring to use was Uragard HT62W, which was backrolled to provide a compromise between the anti-slip profile and the cleanability of the floor.

Using a number of floor colours throughout the factory, John Lord installed the resin flooring to create colour-coded walkways

John Lord has a range of flooring for different environments

Colour-coded flooring was installed to differentiate between walkways and operational areas

and operational areas for staff and visitors to navigate around the factory with safety under foot.

British manufactured and installed throughout the UK and abroad by their installation teams, John Lord provide the ‘Total Responsibility Package’ as the only company you need to turn to. The technical sales team are ready to start working with your specialist flooring project.

Call 0161 764 4617, or email enquiries@john-lord.co.uk. john-lord.co.uk

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special focus: flooring

Eliminate rocking floor slabs Alan Yuill, Director of CG Flooring Systems, looks at problems with concrete floor slabs that support materials handling equipment (MHE) and the available repair options The joint stabiliser option is less disruptive than any other repair method and is usually more cost-effective

rocking floor slab will become apparent at a loose floor joint, where the concrete slabs on either side of the joint move up and down independently of one another. This is generally noticeable when a dynamic load, such as a moving forklift truck, passes over the slab and exposes the joint arris (edge) to impact damage from the MHE. A clue to this could be the thudding sound heard as the truck drives over the joint. The resultant spalling and chipping of the joint arris can cause problems for forklift drivers and operational efficiency.

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What is the cause?

There are a few possible causes of a loose floor joint, but the main reason is a lack of effective load transfer across the joint. When the MHE drives over a well-designed floor joint the concrete floor should move as one. In contrast, a loose or rocking joint has little or no effective load-transfer capability.

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Repair options It is essential that the vertical movement at the loose joint is arrested. You can measure the amount of vertical deflective movement in the slab using a dipstick, an instrument used to measure floor flatness and levelness, and a forklift truck, preferably loaded. Simply set the dipstick across the joint, drive the forklift over the joint (passing close to the measuring device) and note the readings on the dipstick just before and after the truck rolls across the joint. A reading of zero indicates perfect load transfer; a reading above zero will mean stabilising the floor joints should be considered.

Once you know which floor joints need attention there are five repair options: • total slab replacement • sub-slab grout injection • retrofit dowel bars • full-depth joint replacement • joint stabiliser.

Total slab replacement and fulldepth joint replacement are expensive and extremely disruptive.

Sub-slab grout injection doesn’t address the root problem and therefore isn’t a long-term fix.

A retrofit dowel is a solution which involves saw cuts being made in the slab across the joint, generally at 300mm centres, cutting approximately halfway through the slab thickness. The dowel bars are placed in the slots and locked in place with a strong mortar.

Getting the details right is essential, but when done well this method provides very effective load transfer.

The CoGri Joint Stabiliser is a mechanical device that provides similar results to those from dowel bars. It is an aluminium cylinder, 76mm in diameter, split lengthwise, that is installed vertically into a core hole. An internal mechanism pushes the two sides apart with around 115MPa of force, locking the stabiliser into the concrete slabs and effectively bridging the joint.

Internal springs enable the stabiliser to maintain the connection with the slabs as the joint opens and closes.

Spaced approximately 1m apart, the joint stabilisers can reduce vertical differential movement to less than a fraction of a millimetre. The joint stabiliser is less disruptive than any other repair method and is usually more cost-effective.

The solution A rocking floor slab is specific to each company and there are a number of fixes available that work to varying degrees of success.

However, the CoGri Joint Stabiliser is a proven device tailored to each repair that allows clients to maintain production with minimum disruption at a reasonable cost. Companies should contact floor specialists for advice on the most appropriate solution to suit their needs. cg-flooring.com

ACC Flooring Ltd The Specialists in Advanced Resin Floors

Safe Floors?

Are Yours? s 0UMADUR 0UMAmOR AND 0UMATHANE Specialist Resin Flooring Systems s 3EALANTS AND #OATINGS s 3ELF LEVELLING &LOW !PPLICATIONS • Have you got resin oor systems that are in need of refurbishment? • Are your oors posing a slip risk to pedestrians and Forklift trucks? • Is downtime an issue, we can transform your factory oor in 2 days. • Fast Curing Resins = Less Time Lost • Solvent Free = No Need to Clear Areas. • Recycling = Up to 100% of all the waste is recycled. • From Coatings to Screeds, we install it all.

s (EAVY $UTY 3CREEDS s $ECORATIVE 1UARTZ 4ERRAZZO Systems s #AR 0ARK $ECKING s 7ALL 2ENDERS #OVING s !NCILLARY -AINTENANCE 0RODUCTS

All our oor-layers are fully trained to NVQ Level 2 and we operate on a national basis. All our systems are solvent free to ensure that we can work in all industries. All our staff have at some stage received MOD and Home OfďŹ ce clearance, again providing solid references.

Now the bonus part, we not only install sustainable ooring, we actually remove all the waste and recycle up to 100% of it.

If you have a requirement for resin ooring, let your next choice be the right choice, choose ACC Flooring Limited, the current Contractor of the Year, voted for by FeRFA, Federation for the Resin ooring Association.

Check out our website www.accooring.co.uk

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www.resdev.co.uk RESDEV LTD, Pumaor House, Ainleys Industrial Estate Elland, West Yorkshire, HX5 9JP Tel: 01422 379131 Fax: 01422 370943 Email: info@resdev.co.uk

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www.mepca-engineering.com | 13

special focus: flooring

Make sure you can sweep easy with Kärcher Whatever your requirement, Kärcher has the right sweeping machine for you

eeping your factory floors, warehouses and yards clear of dirt, debris, litter and leaves doesn’t just create a nicer environment for visitors and staff; although it is true that a clean workplace is a happy workplace.

Dirt and dust kicked up by feet or carried by forklift trucks can easily transfer onto sensitive machinery, production lines and product packaging – potentially damaging expensive equipment, slowing

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Kärcher sweepers offer you a productivity or creating a negative simple and first impression for your customers. highly effective Kärcher sweepers combine ease solution for of use, clever ergonomics and cleaning your optimal efficiency to make light work business of keeping floors clean and tidy.

From compact, lightweight push sweepers through to fully hydraulic ride-on machines with 600-litre capacity, Kärcher sweepers offer you a simple and highly effective solution for cleaning your business.

For fast, regular clearing of

pathways, patios, car parks and indoor areas, simple push sweepers like the KM 70/20 C make life easy – sweeping many times faster and collecting more dust than a broom, and with considerably less physical effort. For medium to large indoor or outdoor areas, powered sweepers like the KM 75/40 W are a great choice, thanks to their battery or petrol power and neat features like the litter flap. And Kärcher’s innovative KM 80 W is a compact petrol-powered sweeper that doubles up as a snow mover, giving you year-round value.

For daily sweeping or larger areas, ride-on sweepers like the KM 90/60 R Adv include all the great features of a walk-behind sweeper, but with greater capacity, a comfortable seated driving position and the ability to carry accessories like sweeping brooms and litter bags on the machine.

Whatever your requirement, Kärcher has the right sweeping machine for you, all available with interest-free finance (subject to status) and supported by the UK’s largest network of distributors and service agents.

For more information call 01295 752142 or visit the website address below. sweepeasy.co.uk

Sweep Easy.

Finance available on all Kärcher sweepers*.

To find out more visit www.sweepeasy.co.uk, call 01295 752142 or email cleaning@karcher.co.uk

Kärcher sweepers combine ease of use, clever ergonomics and optimal efficiency to offer you a simple and highly effective solution for cleaning your business.

From push sweepers to ride-on sweepers, Kärcher’s state-of-the-art machines work both indoors and outdoors; removing dirt, dust and debris with ease.

Whatever your sweeping needs, Kärcher has a sweeper to match your requirements.

www.sweepeasy.co.uk *All offers of credit are subject to underwriting and approval by Kennet Equipment Leasing Ltd. Please ask your Kärcher dealer for more information.

engineering

Jennifer hopes she will help inspire other women A career in engineering is something girls who have a talent for maths or science should definitely consider, says consultant engineer working on world-class research facility ‘It would be fantastic to see more females pursue a career in the industry.’

– consultant engineer Jennifer Allen

ennifer Allen is keen to encourage more women into the engineering industry having relished her time contributing to a soon-to-be-completed landmark project.

The 25-year-old works at the Cambridge arm of engineering consultancy AECOM and says being involved with the Centrum building at Norwich Research Park has been a great experience.

One of the only females at the engineering consultancy working on the project, she explains that having enjoyed the job so much, she’d now like to inspire other women to follow suit.

“I would really love to see more

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women get into engineering. It’s not something many girls think of going into when they’re at school, or fall into easily, but working on the Centrum project has been such a rewarding and challenging role.”

Jennifer goes on to stress that she’s quickly adapted to the mainly male environment and doesn’t find it an issue. “I haven’t experienced any prejudice in the job and feel I am respected by my colleagues.

“My role also involves working with a range of different people outside of the company, which gives me the opportunity to interact with everyone from clients to architects and construction workers.”

Day to day, Jennifer explains her

job consists of lots of calculations, drawings and detailed designs.

“I basically make the client’s or architect’s vision come to life and translate concept to construction.

There’s also a lot of meetings, liaising and managing expectations, creating a happy medium with the client and design team,” she says.

“I had to analyse and check over all the plans to a very strict deadline to get the project delivered on schedule. But when I saw the whole building go up and the space transformed, it was one of the most rewarding parts of my career so far. It’s great seeing something that you’ve been a part of designing and making become real.”

With a father who is also an engineer, interest in the industry clearly runs in the family for Jennifer, but for young women who have never considered a career in engineering, she couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

“At school I was one of the few girls to really get into maths and science early on. I took maths, physics, German and art at A-level and am certainly reaping the rewards now. So my advice for any girls with a talent for maths or science would definitely be to give engineering a thought. It would be fantastic to see more females pursue a career in the industry.”

Designed to be a world-class facility, the new £11.5 million building will provide commercial research and development accommodation at the Norwich Research Park and is to open this spring. The two upper floors of the building comprise 20,000 sq ft of highly flexible and customisable laboratory and office suites. aecom.com norwichresearchpark.com

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special focus: pumps, valves, filters & actuators

An end to your problems with leaking pump seals

leading manufacturer is offering a solution to leaking pump seals – the Hydra-Cell seal-less pump.

Dynamic seals in pumps can be basic or works of great ingenuity.

However, since almost all seals

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utilise the process liquid to lubricate the seal faces, they are fundamentally designed to leak.

Torque to overcome a dry running seal is two to three times that of a lubricated seal.

Even the best-designed and fitted seal is prone to wear and eventually will need to be replaced.

The fact is that in excess of 85% of mechanical seals fail prematurely because of abrasive particles, shaft vibration, pipe strain, misalignment and so on.

Replacing a seal will often bring respite but it seldom provides a long-term cure to a leak problem.

Wanner International’s Hydra-Cell pumps have no dynamic seals in contact with the pumped liquid – totally eliminating the need for seal maintenance

Wanner International’s HydraCell pumps are high-efficiency, hydraulically balanced diaphragm pumps that have no dynamic seals in contact with the pumped liquid – totally eliminating the need for seal maintenance.

Many Hydra-Cell models can operate at pressures in excess of 140bar, offering 100% safe containment of corrosive, aggressive and abrasive liquids.

Pump manufacturers make claims about the time taken to replace shaft seals but any time taken in seal maintenance is downtime for the pump and potentially for the process.

In terms of parts and labour this can certainly be costly, but in terms of lost production this can be absolutely disastrous.

Users of Hydra-Cell pumps don’t have such problems. hydra-cell.eu

Sales of digital valve controller reach 1.5m units he process industry’s use of Emerson Process Management’s Fisher FIELDVUE digital valve controller continues to grow as aggregate sales jumped to over 1.5 million shipped worldwide.

Introduced in 1994, the FIELDVUE product line, with its innovative digital communication and diagnostic capabilities, has helped accelerate the process industry’s move to valve-related digital instrumentation.

FIELDVUE digital valve controllers prove highly suited to a wide variety of industries and applications where they provide reliable, unmatched valve operation.

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FIELDVUE instruments provide consistent information on valve assembly performance and condition, helping operators improve plant performance.

“FIELDVUE instruments have become the industry standard and have made Emerson the market leader in the digital control of valve operation, diagnostics and predictive maintenance,” says Bruce Grumstrup, Emerson’s vice president for FIELDVUE and positioning instruments.

“Today, the capabilities of the FIELDVUE family of instruments have become extremely diverse, including nuclear-certified, natural gas-approved, remote mount and safety-instrumented systems. The more we build into the instrument, the greater the application flexibility and customer interest we generate.”

Emerson was the first in the industry to introduce a loop-powered, digital valve controller with advanced

FIELDVUE digital valve controllers prove highly suited to a wide variety of industries and applications

control and diagnostic capabilities.

Continued product development and increasing capabilities have contributed to increasingly widespread application.

The latest generation of the FIELDVUE instrument line, the DVC6200 digital valve controller, features linkage-less, non-contact feedback technology that greatly extends system operating life by withstanding high levels of vibration, corrosion or material entrapment.

Benefits include the availability of equipment alerts, automated configuration, calibration and tuning, and access to advanced valve assembly diagnostics. With the self-diagnostic capability of the FIELDVUE digital valve controller, questions about valve performance can be answered without pulling the valve from the line.

The DVC6200 is offered with ATEX, CSA, IECEx, and FM hazardous area approvals. It is also listed in the Lloyd’s Register for industrial, marine and offshore use.

FIELDVUE.com

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www.mepca-engineering.com | 19

special focus: pumps, valves, filters & actuators Tried and tested valve design nears 50 years of reliable service

Does your valve have the correct chemical resistance properties?

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Michael Hannig, Product Manager for Solenoid Valves at Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, looks at what to consider to ensure best performance he right selection of valves within any process control system is key to ensuring performance and reliability.

One critical aspect is the chemical resistance property of the valve housing and the gasket materials in relation to the substances which it is expected to control. In the case of a simple solenoid valve, many of the components are exposed to the media. Therefore, information on the chemical compounds, temperature and pressure are all necessary to make an informed material selection.

If the production process involves liquid food, the plastics and elastomers used should conform to food and hygiene regulations.

Mechanical loading, increased temperatures and chemical concentrations all affect components, which can be manufactured from a range of materials. In general, valve bodies are either brass or stainless steel, with some being polyamide.

The type of valve for each application is governed by a number of factors but, usually, plungertype direct-acting valves are best suited to neutral and clean fluids, while pivoted armature valves offer improved reliability by employing a media-separating membrane to control corrosive, contaminated or aggressive fluids.

Below are some of the options for sealing and separating membranes.

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is almost insoluble and chemically inert. It has a high temperature resistance and PTFE ball valve seats require no lubrication. PTFE diaphragms and flange gaskets are used in the most severe chemical resistance applications.

EPDM (ethylene propylene

Left: The chemical resistance properties of the valve housing and the gasket materials are critical

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20 | www.mepca-engineering.com

terpolymer) is the standard for many valves. An economical choice, it has chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, salts and others at up to 90°C. It is not suitable for oils, petrochemicals and concentrated acids.

NBR (nitrile rubber) has a high resistance to oil and petroleum but is weak with acids. Nitrile also has excellent abrasion resistance.

FKM (fluorinated elastomer) and FFKM (perfluoro-elastomer) are more expensive because they provide additional temperature and chemical resistance. Some grades of FFKM can perform at temperatures above 200°C. PPS (polyphenyl sulphide) is a high-performance thermoplastic used in many engineering applications. Able to perform above 200°C and with resistance to acids and alkalis as well as abrasion.

PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) is resistant to solvents, acids and bases, making it ideal for a valve body when high temperature resistance is not required. It can be injected, moulded and welded, making for easier manufacture.

PEEK (polyether ether ketone) has excellent properties but is susceptible to high concentrations of sulphuric and nitric acid.

Bürkert has released a chemical resistance chart, available from its website at the address below. burkert.co.uk/ENG/literatur.php

s a design concept, the pivoted armature solenoid valve has withstood the test of time. Originally designed by Christian Bürkert nearly 50 years ago, it continues to be a bestseller for Bürkert Fluid Control Systems.

Available to suit an array of applications, the pivoted armature solenoid valve provides a costeffective, reliable process control solution. Compared to the plungertype versions, pivoted armature valves from Bürkert have all three port connections integrated in the body of the valve, which places them all in the same plane, making connection design easier.

The valves are equipped with a lockable manual override as standard and have the option of a visual position indicator or an electrical feedback. Available in 2/2 or 3/2 way configuration, the design uses an isolating diaphragm, which ensures that no fluid is allowed to enter the armature chamber.

This innovative solution makes the pivoted armature valve more resistant to contamination than the plunger-type valve as well as offering a higher resistance against aggressive fluids and providing a longer service life, even in non-lube conditions.

Body and seal materials are chosen to optimise functional reliability, fluid compatibility, service life and cost. Additional options are available with regard to material specification depending of the application and can be discussed with the engineers at Bürkert.

Right: Pivoted armature valves are more resistant to contamination than the plunger-type valves

Another NEW addition worth closer inspection.

Introducing the new Albion Solenoid valve.

Albion’s new Solenoid valves are just the latest addition to our ever-expanding industrial valve range. Brass, Stainless Steel and high temperature options come as standard and, like all of our products, they have been designed and manufactured to deliver optimum performance time after time. All of which is worth checking out, even before you check out the price.

But don’t take our word for it - ask your local distributor for Albion and see for yourself.

Ask your local independent distributor for more details or visit

www.albionvalvesuk.com

www.mepca-engineering.com | 21

special focus: pumps, valves, filters & actuators Incentive scheme news means more choice of renewable heat technologies

Mag-drive pumps solve problem Left: C-MAG P series pumps provide an ideal solution to pumping aggressive, corrosive or high-purity liquids

he successful application of magnetically coupled centrifugal pumps supplied

by Michael Smith Engineers has helped a leading electronics manufacturer cut downtime and repair costs, while contributing to a safer working environment.

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The benefits

The combination of the magnetically coupled design and PVDF pump head ensures optimum corrosion resistance and effective containment of the waste acids and alkalis.

There are no seals to fail, so leakfree pumping is assured and the manufacturing plant benefits from reduced chemical and environmental The application hazards. The extended pump Semiconductors are an essential operation between servicing also component in a wide range of means reduced downtime. products, such as computers, Commenting on the vehicles, consumer electronics, performance of the M Pumps at general appliances and defence the semiconductor factory, Gareth systems. Waste acids and alkalis Scully, Water Treatment Engineer are unavoidable by-products in the at General Waters UK, says: manufacturing process and these “We installed these pumps into liquids require treatment to comply with emissions laws and regulations. our effluent treatment system for pumping effluent dilute acidic waste, replacing mechanical seal pumps The problem and have found them to be very Previously, mechanically sealed effective and reliable.” centrifugal pumps were being C-MAG P series pumps are one of used to transfer the waste into a wide range of mag-drive, seal-less a treatment system. However, pumps available from Michael Smith seal leakages meant excessive downtime, plus expensive repair and Engineers that provide an ideal solution to pumping aggressive, clean-up bills. corrosive or high-purity liquids.

These compact, close-coupled The solution pumps are designed for handling The C MAG-P100 pump, in PVDF, flow rates up to 140 mc/hr, at heads available from Michael Smith Engineers, was selected by General up to 44 metres and maximum system pressures of 6 bar. They are Waters UK, the filtration and water suitable for liquids with maximum purification specialist that assists viscosity of 200 cSt and can operate a semiconductor manufacturer in at -30ºC to +90ºC. meeting its effluent targets at its michael-smith-engineers.co.uk South Wales manufacturing plant.

22 | www.mepca-engineering.com

Right: Peter Verkempynck, Managing Director at Daikin UK

eter Verkempynck, Managing Director at Daikin UK, has welcomed yesterday’s announcement that from air-towater heat pumps are included in the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

Installations of air-to-water heat pumps (AWHP) are now eligible for a tariff of 2.5p/kWh. The new tariff will apply to AWHPs, regardless of size, which now means building owners have a greater choice of renewable heating technologies supported by the RHI. “As a supplier of Daikin Altherma air-to-water heat pumps, this is excellent news which will help stimulate growth in the renewable heating sector and help the government meet its 2020 renewable energy targets,” Verkempynck said.

In his statement to parliament, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “The scheme is designed to bridge the gap between the cost of fossil fuel heat sources and renewable heat alternatives.”

He added: “It is vital that we get the level of support right so that the market can invest with confidence.”

The announcement recognises that AWHPs have an important role to play in decarbonising heating, particularly in the retrofit market.

“By recognising air-to-water heat pumps as a viable alternative to fossil fuel systems, this helps ensure parity with other renewable technologies and gives commercial building owners a full range of options to reduce their running costs,” Verkempynck added. daikin.co.uk

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Introducing the CMA Compact Modulating Actuator for control valve automation The new CMA compact modulating actuator joins the CVA range of electric process control actuators, providing core functionality, compact light weight and dependable accuracy. CMA is the economical choice for process control.

Compact, robust and reliable.

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Rotork process control actuators eliminate the costs and maintenance requirements of instrument air, delivering consistent high control performance even in extreme environments.

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www.mepca-engineering.com | 23

product news

New Fluke pressure calibration tools provide new solutions, new features and functionality

luke has introduced new pressure calibration tools to its extensive range, including new solutions to measurement that were not met previously.

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Ideal for instrument, process and plant maintenance technicians in the process industries, these tools include the Fluke 719Pro Electric Pressure Calibrator, featuring an on-board electric pump and now offering up to 20bar, the Fluke 721 Dual Range Pressure Calibrator and a host of pressure gauge range additions to the Fluke 700G Pressure Test Gauge Series. All come with a three-year warranty.

The rugged Fluke 719Pro Electric

All Fluke pressure calibration tools come with a three-year warranty

Pressure Calibrator features a backlit display and offers high accuracy pressure measurements (with ±0.025% uncertainty) and an onboard electric pump that can generate up to 20bar, eliminating the need for an external hand pump. It also measures, simulates and sources 4-20mA loop current signals (with ±0.015% accuracy) and can measure up to 30V DC. An internal 24V loop power supply can power a transmitter under test, eliminating the need to carry an extra tool. Models are available for 2bar, 10bar and 20bar pressure ranges, with extension possible via optional Fluke 700 Pxx Series Pressure Modules. Precision temperature measurement is also possible with an optional RTD probe, displayed simultaneously with pressure and electrical parameters. fluke.co.uk

MICO+ improves your energy balance by switching off machine parts no longer needed for production ICO is an intelligent power distribution system for the 24 V DC range. It monitors output current and will shut off the output channel affected by the error quickly and in a targeted way. MICO+, the newest member of the MICO family, additionally helps to improve the energy balance.

When loads are switched on, they need energy. Often current is already flowing, even though no productive activity is being carried out. For example, during pause times 60% of the energy is consumed as standby power – pumps are running, displays lighten, loads are heating.

With MICO+ you can switch off machine parts that are no longer needed for current production processes. Like with assembly lines that do not operate 24 hours a day but only occasionally transport parts. A signal from the control is enough to put the module into a

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non-operating state. This saves MICO+ helps energy and reduces the costs. to improve the With MICO+ you can reactivate energy balance the machine part quickly when it is needed again.

MICO’s 90% visual warning is a perfect tool for setting up machines and systems. If channels are near the limit, the LED starts blinking.

Often the total current needed increases during operation. This happens because valves and motors wear out, for example. To solve this problem, the MICO+ 90% warning is additionally available as digital signal. The signal is transferred to the control, the control sets off the alarm – and countermeasures can be taken immediately.

Two connection options are available per channel. You can connect twice as many loads as with the previous solutions. It’s also easy to create features such as single channel monitoring: one wire

to the load, the other wire to the control’s input – there is no easier way!

All devices feature a rotary switch to adjust the channel-specific maximum output current that has to be monitored. Depending on the MICO model, devices are available with current ranges from 1…4A, 1…6A and 4…10A. This reduces the number of different models to stock. More info at the URL below. murrelektronik.co.uk

www.mepca-engineering.com | 25

special focus: health & safety

More still to do, says HSE chief drop in the number of workers killed and seriously injured at work has been revealed in the annual statistics report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Provisional figures from the HSE show that 148 workers were fatally injured between April 2012 and March 2013 in the UK, compared with 172 in the previous year.

However, HSE’s chair Judith Hackitt believes many more of the deaths and serious injuries could have been prevented by simple safety measures.

The British Safety Council’s chief executive Alex Botha welcomes the news but also agrees much more needs to be done. “The British Safety Council and its member organisations firmly believe that our regulatory framework governing workplace health and safety is effective in helping to control the risk of injury and ill health in the

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workplace. But we all have a role to play in ensuring risks are properly controlled to prevent harm in the workplace. Workplace injury and work-related ill-health have a damaging impact on individuals, business, government and wider society.

“By working together we can prevent unnecessary harm to thousands of people and help cut the cost to society – an estimated £13.8 billion a year.”

Judith Hackitt has called for a change in the mindset and culture at the very top of organisations towards process safety, starting with the boardroom.

Speaking recently in her role as president of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, she said: “All high-hazard industries have to make a commitment to leadership in process safety. Society is becoming less and less tolerant of mistakes...

We are not yet at the point where

Judith Hackitt, who is HSE chair and president of IchemE

process safety is part of the DNA of running a major hazards business.”

Judith Hackitt also paid tribute to safety pioneer Trevor Kletz, who passed away recently at the age of 91, describing his impact as an industry safety advisor as “striking”. hse.gov.uk britsafe.org icheme.org

Working to raise awareness and provide guidance

eaming up with the HSE and other organisations, the British Safety Industry

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Federation (BSIF) continues to raise awareness and provide guidance on a range of safety issues.

One of its initiatives is the BSIF Registered Safety Supplier Scheme (RSS), which is aimed at tackling the rising use of personal protective equipment (PPE) that has not been correctly tested and certified to meet the appropriate European standard.

Companies displaying the RSS scheme’s logo have signed a binding declaration that the safety equipment they offer meets the appropriate standards, fully complies with the PPE regulations and is appropriately CE marked.

It’s in Your Hands is a campaign providing information on how to protect people from work-related skin disease

All Registered Safety Suppliers are independently audited to confirm compliance with the scheme’s requirements.

The Clean Air? – Take Care! campaign is a joint initiative with the HSE to reduce occupational respiratory disease. The initiative is centred on a range of national activities and educational seminars designed to raise awareness among respiratory protective equipment (RPE) users, employers, fit testers and advisors on the correct selection, deployment, use, maintenance and storage of RPE. And It’s in Your Hands is a campaign providing information on how to protect people from workrelated skin disease. These illnesses are preventable yet 40,000 new cases are recorded every year by the HSE. There’s more information and guidance on this that is free to download at http://www. itsinyourhands.org bsif.co.uk

special focus: health & safety

Tracking technology can keep drivers safe

Regulations change for hazardous waste packaging ew rules, which have added contaminated packaging to the list of materials classified as hazardous waste, mean companies now have to be extra careful when it comes to storage and disposal of different materials.

Chris Edwards, Technical Manager at Grundon Waste Management, says the latest Environment Agency (EA) Technical Guidance adds to the challenges faced by facilities managers.

The most significant change is to contaminated packaging. Previously, if packaging such as drums or paint tins contained a small amount of residue which was classed as dangerous substances, the container could still fall below hazard property threshold limits.

Now, all chemically contaminated packaging has been classified as hazardous waste, irrespective of the concentration of the contaminant.

Chris says: “Hazardous waste of one form or another is present in almost all manufacturing and engineering environments, so the new EA guidance is something that can’t be ignored. Correct storage and disposal of these materials

Hazardous waste is present in almost all manufacturing and engineering environments, so new EA guidance can’t be ignored

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is critical; businesses need to demonstrate compliance in order to meet technical and health and safety criteria, and demonstrate an audit trail to the relevant authorities.

Grundon’s technical team advises on managing hazardous waste and guides companies through “the maze of regulations”, adds Chris.

Hazardous waste collected by Grundon goes to its dedicated Hazardous Waste Transfer Station, where it is screened for chemicals, segregated, reprocessed and repackaged for recycling, treatment or disposal. grundon.com

3M takes the weight off welders with upgraded powered air respirator elders can now feel even more comfortable while remaining fully protected as the Personal Safety Division of 3M has upgraded the Adflo Powered Air Respirator by introducing a new battery, making the whole system around 17 per cent lighter.

The current NiMH batteries in the Adflo Powered Air Respirator from 3M have been replaced with Lithium Ion batteries to provide a significant weight saving.

Robert Brill of 3M explains: “We have made these updates to the Adflo Powered Air Respirator on the basis that a lighter product is more

Left: The Adflo Powered Air Respirator is more comfortable

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likely to be comfortable, especially over a long period of time. By being comfortable, our aim is that welders stay protected, as well as being happier in their environment, which could lead to other benefits such as an increase in productivity or efficiency.”

3M.co.uk/safety

Right: Vehicle tracking can help to keep drivers safe

racking technology used to monitor the movement of vehicles carrying raw materials and finished products to and from industrial destinations can also be used to safeguard the safety of drivers.

Chris McClellan, Director at RAM Tracking, explains: “Fleets can use the intelligence sourced from tracking technology to instantly recognise any employee safety concerns including breakdowns, accidents or if a lone driver has been at a customer location longer than expected.

“The introduction of a telematics system to a motor vehicle can reduce accidents by between 30% and 90% (depending on which stats you read), not only safeguarding drivers but also reducing insurance costs.

“We often hear from companies concerned about how their employees will react to the use of vehicle tracking so it’s important to stress that rather than Big Brother scrutinisation, it’s more of a ‘big mother’ approach to take care of them.

“Employers have a duty of care obligation to monitor the behaviour of their assets. If habitual careless or dangerous driving is identified, this information can be shared with drivers to help educate them and improve their performance. In more severe circumstances drivers may be presented with formal warnings or even dismissed.

“Vehicle tracking provides total visibility of a mobile workforce, giving office staff the tools they need to ensure the safety of both their drivers and vehicles.” ramtracking.com

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special focus: health & safety

Safety switch is key to allowing access to hazardous machinery and equipment while protecting employees The new SR unit from Fortress Interlocks is a compact safety key switch that is ideal for isolating power to machinery

azardous machinery and equipment is a constant challenge to health and safety in the workplace.

Fortress Interlocks designs and manufactures a range of safety access and control systems so employees are safeguarded from injury and plant is protected from damage.

The new SR unit is a compact safety key switch that is ideal for isolating power to machinery. For example, when the key is trapped inside the SR unit the power to machinery is on, and when the key is free, power is off. This allows

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the person carrying the freed key to enter the machinery or guarded area safely and power is not resumed until the key is returned.

This is a typical sequence and other sequences can be specified.

The key switch is heavy duty, housed in a metal enclosure that is IP rated 65/66/67. Its compact design allows the customer plenty of space for wiring, a feature not available in previous switch offerings. The switch current is 20A. The SR key switch is part of the Fortress mGard range of modular trapped key products that are used to safeguard dangerous machines

and hazardous processes.

Fortress Interlocks also offers tGard as a new approach to controlling access to hazardous machinery and equipment. The compact, metal-bodied safety system enables the configuration of various safety products including electrical safety gate switches (with or without guard locking), mechanical trapped key interlocks and electrical operator controls, either as separate devices or integrated into one device. For more information call the company’s Wolverhampton regional sales office on 01902 349 000. fortressinterlocks.com

tGard is a compact, metal-bodied safety system that enables the configuration of various safety products

Portable valve-operating system will reduce risk of danger when working with paper and pulp plant

arge valves used in the paper and pulp industries can be safely operated with Smith Flow Control’s EasiDrive portable valve-operating system.

EasiDrive’s reaction device

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transmits torque onto the valve body and away from the operator, making it one of the safest valve-operating systems available.

EasiDrive is a cost-effective alternative to a dedicated valve actuator. Paper and pulp plants often use manually operated valves with high operating torques.

These can require hundreds

Unlike an impact wrench that can damage a valve, the EasiDrive is a continuous drive system

of hand wheel turns to open and close or are just difficult to operate.

Unlike an impact wrench that can damage a valve, the EasiDrive is a continuous drive system.

Typical pulp and paper applications can include large sluice gate valves, valves with stem extensions and valves operated by gear boxes with a high number of turns.

To request a site demonstration or to find out more, call 01376 517901, go to the website below or email sales@smithflowcontrol.com. smithflowcontrol.com

Risk Management Specialists Health and Safety Employment Law Environmental Compliance ISO Accreditations THSP provide documentation, training, site inspections, audits and advice to all sizes and types of businesses throughout the UK.

The complete solution to all your business compliance issues!

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innovation CERN technology to help foster new companies

Helping to get Flying Fish turnover to really take off British Hovercraft manufacturer has nearly tripled turnover and production has increased by 50% – winning praise from Business Secretary Vince Cable.

Flying Fish is Europe’s largest manufacturer of recreational, cruising and light utility craft and was formed in 2001 by Ivan Pullen, a hovercraft designer. Four models of small hovercraft are produced from their factory in Sandwich, Kent.

However, as Managing Director Emma Pullen explains, the company’s challenge has never been sales but instead a need to reduce lead times of 6-8 weeks. So Flying Fish called in the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) to help it focus on improvements. As a result, Flying Fish went from producing 70 hovercraft in 2012 to 105 units in 2013 – a performance that impressed Mr Cable at a showcase event for manufacturing innovation.

Admits Emma: “I didn’t really have much faith in managerial practices and strategies before I worked with MAS – the advice and hands-on

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he UK is leading the way in taking technologies developed at CERN, home to the Large Hadron Collider experiment, and translating those ideas and products into successful, profit-making companies.

To bridge the gap between science and industry, the STFC help has been absolutely invaluable CERN Business Incubation Centre to our business. Before I used to will nurture companies like Croft say, well, I can’t afford it, now I say Additive Manufacturing Ltd – which you can’t afford not to do it!” develops so-called 3D printing Ian Pateman, MAS Advisor, says: technology to produce highly “Flying Fish has an interesting specialised metal filters applicable to product but they were experiencing all industries. supply/demand issues. Whilst The centre offers UK businesses essentially this is a nice problem to access to the unique expertise of have; if it is not addressed it can CERN – which has so far produced severely hamper growth and lead to spin-off technologies like the world unhappy customers. After the initial wide web – and the Science and meetings to assess their needs they Technology Facilities Council (STFC). chose the most suitable registered Dr Sergio Bertolucci, Director of consultant for the job and we were Research and Scientific Computing able to move forward quickly. The at CERN, says: “This is the first results speak for themselves and time that CERN has been involved we’re proud to showcase Flying Fish in a dedicated business incubation as a great example of how MAS can initiative. The BIC builds a bridge work with small to medium-sized between our technical experts and manufacturing businesses.” entrepreneurs in the UK.” flyingfishhovercraft.co.uk Located within the Sci-Tech mymas.org Daresbury campus in Cheshire, the centre will nurture up to 10 companies over the next two years. Professor John Womersley, Chief Executive for STFC, reveals: “UK companies already secure more than £15m each year in Ivo Erren contracts with CERN, and this new (left), DuPont initiative provides further potential Chemicals & Fluoroproducts, to generate major economic and societal rewards for the UK with Russ Currie (centre), economy, particularly in terms of innovation, job creation and inventor of economic growth.” the FRG, and Neil Burns, director at Croft Mark Horton, This eliminates the need for any Additive Manufacturing, explains: Managing costly machining of flange faces or “The successful application of Director of replacing complete flanges. additive manufacturing (AM) Flexitallic DuPont’s Sylvie Gallou believes techniques in filter manufacturing the “innovation potential” of PTFE, demonstrates the potential wider which became known under industry benefits of AM production the DuPont Teflon® trademark, across multiple sectors.” underlines the statement of Dr Roy Small businesses and individuals Plunkett, who discovered the first wishing to find out more details fluoroplastic, that the use of Teflon® can use the email address below. is only limited by imagination. enquiries@stfc-cern-bic.org.uk flexitallic.eu

Award-winning pipeline innovation is boost for the oil and gas industry UK company has won high praise in the DuPont Plunkett Awards, which recognize innovative use of fluoropolymers. First prize in the awards went to Flexitallic, of Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire, for its Flange Rescue Gaskets (FRG), which enable damaged flange gaskets for pipelines in the oil and gas industry to be replaced easily and cost-effectively.

This patented system has a precision-manufactured metal body coated with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The high compressibility of the PTFE type used ensures that the FRG conforms even to highly corroded and damaged flange surfaces.

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Flying Fish Managing Director Emma Pullen and one of the company’s hovercrafts

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product news

KUKA’s new loan deal shows financial partners’ faith in company

Rockwell Automation launches updated website for UK audience

UKA has concluded a syndicated loan agreement with a volume of ¼160 million and a five-year term.

Given the significant improvements in the company’s financial situation, KUKA refinanced the secured syndicated loan it had concluded in 2010 prematurely, replacing it with an unsecured loan and for significantly better conditions.

The leading banks Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank were able to successfully place the new loan among the robotics and plant engineering manufacturer’s closest key banks. KUKA was very satisfied with the syndication process, also called the Club Deal. Peter Mohnen, CFO of KUKA AG, says: “We see the conclusion of this agreement as a clear indication of our financial partners’ faith in our company and as confirmation of the positive developments at KUKA.” KUKA is a global corporation with sales of approximately ¼1.7 billion. The company focuses on robot-supported automation for industrial manufacturing processes and is one of the world’s leading suppliers of robotics systems and plant engineering services. KUKA’s business model is based on two business units: the Systems division, which designs and builds automated systems, and the Robotics division, which supplies industrial robots, the core component of automated systems. kuka.com

ockwell Automation has launched an updated version of its UK website that offers improved access to information, news and resources relevant to industrial automation.

The site features revamped navigation that’s designed around the way users access the site and brings forward UK-specific content.

UK Director Gareth Dean is enthusiastic about the improvements: “A lot of work has gone into the back-end of the refreshed UK website to ensure it has local relevance to our UK users as part of a global resource and we’re thrilled with the results, which have made the site richer in content and simpler to use.

“It will provide a perfect platform for Rockwell Automation solutions in an ever-expanding digital environment.”

The new site provides easy access to the full suite of Rockwell Automation products and technologies, its solutions, services, training, events, qualifications and strategic partnerships.

It also features an expanded news and innovation section and a growing catalogue of downloadable guides, resources and customer case studies. rockwellautomation.co.uk

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Litre Meter ships significant VFF order to Azerbaijan

K flowmeter specialist Litre Meter has shipped 65 customised VFF positive displacement flowmeters with spares to Azerbaijan for use in chemical injection applications in the former soviet socialist republic.

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It is one of the company’s largest-ever orders and was won because meters using competing Coriolis technology could not meet the demanding specification. The VFF MF30 rotary piston flowmeters are to be used to measure the flow of methanol at high pressure (430bar) in subsea gas exploration on fields in the Caspian Sea. ‘Antifreeze’ fluids like methanol are used as thermodynamic inhibitors, which lower the freezing point of gas hydrate. They are injected at high pressure into pipelines where there is a risk of hydrates (dew) forming then freezing at low temperature.

Litre Meter VFF positive displacement flowmeters help prevent blocked pipelines

Under conditions of low temperature and high pressure, gas hydrates can solidify as crystals that may block the pipeline. This can result in a shutdown and the risk of explosion or unintended release of hydrocarbons into the environment. Litre Meter VFF positive displacement flowmeters measure the correct amount of methanol needed to prevent hydrate formation.

The VFF MF30 flowmeter is suitable for measuring liquids at pressure ratings up to 4,000 bar (60,000 psi) and flow rates from 0-90 l/hr. It covers a viscosity range between 0.8 and 2,000 centistokes (cSt).

These meters are of intrinsically safe design and manufactured to operate reliably at temperatures ranging from -40 to 150°C. They are constructed in 316 stainless steel with Swagelok end fittings and Kalrez seals. litremeter.com

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logistics

Flexible AGVs are the future for material-handling machines working 24 hours, seven days a week. He believes that with traditional AGVs “the cost of labour and the amount of labour needed is always a pain point”.

There is a “thirst for newer, easier technology that doesn’t require the infrastructure costs” – and he is also critical of the “limited flexibility” of traditional AGVs. Having solidified the new flexible AGV role in North America, Seegrid is quickly on pace to capture significant UK and European market share. The flexible AGVs are specifically designed automation solutions to address opportunities and challenges that exist in the materials-handling industry through a straightforward modification of a standard manually driven industrial vehicle, transforming it into an unmanned vision-guided automated guided vehicle.

In a partnership with Linde Material Handling – Europe’s leading utomated Guided Vehicles industrial truck manufacturer – (AGVs) have long been Seegrid robotic technology is now considered one of the connected to the Linde forklift truck ways to work more efficiently – technology. Implemented simply but recently there’s been a closer and easily without the high up-front examination of those efficiencies time and investment, these new because many traditional AGVs take too long to justify the return on robotic industrial trucks avoid the short-term loss of productivity that investment. Newer solutions and characterises the introduction of technologies are now part of the conversation in the material-handling legacy automation systems.

Legacy automation solutions, sector, writes Thomas R Cutler. such as traditional AGVs, do Steve Long, Corporate Account not provide a compelling value Manager for Linde Material proposition for most manufacturers Handling UK, agrees: “There is a because of high capital expenditure trend to explore new technologies, requirement, complexity and especially ones that improve time spent planning, cost of efficiency.” Steve’s responsibility implementation and maintenance, is full management of a large UK and partial or full shut-down for automotive company with a forklift installation, including modifications truck fleet size of more than 1,700

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Left: The Seegrid unmanned GT45 Tow Tractor, the newest technology in flexible, vision-guided solutions.

Photo ©2013 Seegrid

to the floor, walls and ceiling of a facility.

Traditional vehicle automation systems simply have long investment payback periods.

Cost-effective automation solutions must ensure minimal disruption to operations, reduced labour hours, improved operating efficiency and a safe work environment.

Compared to manually driven industrial vehicles, operating costs can be reduced 70%-90%, depending on local labour rates and associated benefits, which provides vehicle payback and ROI in less than one year.

With decreased costs for training, maintenance, direct labour and accidents, the result of these newer flexible AGVs is a significantly lower total cost of ownership.

State-of-the-art technology in material-handling must remain simple to use. Rapid, effective deployment within hours instead of days has the ability to change routes quickly and easily. These new robotic industrial trucks operate safely with workers and equipment, and provide the most operational flexibility for the automation of internal material flow in warehouse and manufacturing facilities. seegrid.com Thomas R Cutler is the President & CEO of Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based, TR Cutler, Inc, (www.trcutlerinc.com).

He is the founder of the Manufacturing Media Consortium, which includes more than 5,000 journalists, editors and economists writing about trends in manufacturing, industry, material handling and process improvement.

He authors more than 500 feature articles annually regarding the manufacturing sector and is the most published freelance industrial journalist worldwide. Contact him at trcutler@trcutlerinc.com or follow him on Twitter – @ThomasRCutler.

Design solutions for design engineers DIN rail ac-dc power supplies Relec Electronics can supply DIN Rail power supplies from 10 to 960W in output power from stock and at extremely attractive prices.

Units are available in single phase, 3-phase and dc input versions with output voltages of 5V, 12V, 24V and 48V as standard. Low profile versions are available that are only 56mm deep (AMR Series) in power ratings of 10W, 24W, 36W, 60W and 100W.

DIN rail dc-dc power supplies A range of DIN rail brackets and accessories for standard dc-dc converters as well as a range of chassis mounting dc-dc converters with a DIN rail mounting accessory bracket. Special mounting brackets have been developed to accept a wide range of standard regulated dc-dc converters with 1 or 2 isolated outputs up to 30W for applications requiring DIN rail mounting where a bespoke circuit board is not available.

DIN rail battery chargers A range of DIN rail mounted battery chargers for industrial applications, available with both ac & dc inputs for 12V, 24V, 36V & 48V systems.

These provide a low cost solution where battery back-up is required and have all of the features to add external low voltage disconnect relays and contactors to protect your battery.

DIN rail mounting RFI filters Relec Electronics offer a range of single phase and 3-phase EMC filters designed for DIN rail Mounting. These EMC filters are designed specifically for mounting on TS35 DIN rails in industrial control systems. The FMAB (1-stage) and FMBB (2-stage - high attenuation) are suitable for single phase systems, the FMAC (1-stage) for 3-phase systems and the FMAD series (1-stage) for 3-phase systems with a neutral conductor.

Relec Electronics Ltd Tel: +44 1929 555700 Fax: +44 1929 555701 e-mail: sales@relec.co.uk

www.relec.co.uk www.mepca-engineering.com | 37

Process control & automation

American gas utility company opts for UK outfit’s ProcessVue® alarm management software major US-based natural gas distribution utility company has selected UK-based MAC Solutions’ ProcessVue® software suite to manage and report on process alarms across its operation.

Initially, ProcessVue® will interface with the gas utility company’s legacy control system, which is being upgraded over the next 12 months.

The gas utility company provides natural gas services to more than 150,000 customers.

There were two primary reasons why the customer selected ProcessVue. The company’s existing alarm management software meets the criteria for Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration but couldn’t supply the reporting needs that the customer requires. The system could pull raw data and categorise this but lacked the proper analysis, report generation, automation and a means of transferring the

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actions taken back into the main SCADA database. The customer did consider other alarm management software solutions but ProcessVue® was the most cost-effective in terms of implementation and support.

ProcessVue® is a suite of software from MAC Solutions that provides clear, relevant and prioritised information to plant operators, supervisors and managers, enabling them to make better-informed decisions about their processes and plant safety.

The software combines the latest communication, data logging and reporting technologies. ProcessVue can be used as a standalone application or to bring together multiple disparate systems onto one common platform.

Tim Ricketts, Director at MAC Solutions, comments: “We are delighted that another overseas customer has chosen to implement ProcessVue®. Whilst other alarm management software providers

The software provides clear and prioritised information, enabling better-informed decisions about processes and safety are withdrawing support of their existing products, MAC Solutions is continuing to invest in new features, functionality and support services for ProcessVue®.”

MAC Solutions is a maintenance, automation and control systems provider and technical service and support company that specialises in helping customers select and source appropriate systems to help leverage their production machine and process data from existing plant control and automation systems, up to enterprise business level systems. mac-solutions.co.uk

New process monitoring software for Equator gauge

process monitoring window is now part of the shop-floor user interface for Renishaw’s Equator™ gauging system.

This allows instant display of measurement results of inspected features to the operator on a bargraph display. It also shows the history of measurement on each feature so that process trends

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can be seen.

The system’s re-mastering process can now be managed based on temperature limits, number of parts or time since last master.

The monitoring window is included with all Equator systems, giving engineers a range of software tools for monitoring their process.

Equator is a radical alternative to traditional dedicated gauging, filling a gap in the market never before addressed. The patented low-cost design, unique in construction and method of operation, is capable of high-speed comparative gauging for inspection of high-volume

Equator is a radical alternative to traditional dedicated gauging

manufactured parts. Equator is a lightweight, fast and highly repeatable gauge that operators can use with ‘push-button’ simplicity.

Equator can switch between parts in seconds, perfect for flexible manufacturing processes or accepting parts from multiple machines.

Supported by a turnkey installation service and global support network, Equator systems have been installed in multiple automotive, aerospace, medical and electronic companies across the world. Users have been attracted by the reduced purchase, maintenance and fixture costs compared to traditional gauges, plus the ability to gauge multiple parts and to reprogramme for design changes.

More information about Renishaw gauging products can be found at the address below. renishaw.com/gauging

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024 7669 2066 www.mepca-engineering.com | 39

innovation Zettlex expands UK production to meet rising export demand

Scientists and engineers to reveal secrets of universe

cientists and engineers from the UK and around the world, together with industry partners, are participating in the development for what will soon be the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope – the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

The SKA project is driving technology development in antennas, data transport, software and computing and power. The designs, construction and operation of the SKA have the potential to impact skills development, employment and economic growth in science, engineering and associated industries.

SKA will revolutionise our understanding of the universe by detecting radio waves with unprecedented sensitivity and image fidelity. SKA will consist of thousands of dishes and literally millions of linked radio wave receptors located in Australia and in southern Africa, and their combined signals will create a telescope with a collecting area equivalent to a dish of about one square kilometre.

Dr Andrew Faulkner, of

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the University of Cambridge, explains: “The low-frequency antennas are going to do the most exciting science of the first phase of the SKA. These antennas will be used to measure the very faint signals from the Expoch of Reionisation, back from the dawn of the universe, when the first stars were switching on and beginning to ionise the hydrogen gas surrounding the galaxies. We can see the different states of the gas and use this information to constrain our models of the early universe.”

As with other global research projects of this magnitude, such as the development of the Large Hadron Collider, SKA has been broken down into various modules called ‘work packages’. These range from developing the new dishes and other antennas for the telescope to the immense computing and software systems and the basic infrastructure needed to operate what will be one of the largest science facilities ever constructed.

Tendering for construction of the first phase is planned for 2017. Says Professor Michael Jones, principal investigator of SKA at the University of Oxford: “In a few years this amazing scientific instrument will no longer be the stuff of dreams but will start to become a reality.”

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is providing funding for the UK’s involvement in the project’s detailed design phase.

The STFC works with the academic and industrial communities to share their expertise. stfc.ac.uk

Left: Work is underway on the world’s largest radio telescope

Right: Zettlex sales have risen in South Korea, Turkey, Germany, North America and Belgium

ncreased demand from export markets for its high-precision speed and position sensors has prompted Zettlex Ltd to expand its production facilities in Newton, Cambridgeshire by an extra 6,000 square feet.

Mark Howard, Zettlex General Manager, comments: “Due to increased sales of our IncOder range of high-precision angle encoders, particularly from countries such as South Korea, Turkey, Germany, North America and Belgium, we’ve had to expand our UK production facilities.

“We also recruited additional production and engineering staff to help meet this increased demand.

The existing production space at Newton will be converted to R&D, new product development and prototyping facilities.”

The IncOder is a noncontact, high-precision absolute angle encoder, designed and manufactured by Zettlex. The measurement performance of the device is unaffected by humidity, moisture, condensation or dust and so is ideal for use in harsh environments where electrical contacts, optical encoders or capacitive devices may be unreliable. The IncOder range now includes more than 50,000 product variants.

Zettlex manufactures sensors that have no contacts, no bearings, no delicate parts and zero maintenance. It sells directly to OEMs and system integrators across a broad range of industry sectors. zettlex.com

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product news

Miniaturised RFID labelling opens door to traceability FID – radio frequency identification – labelling is in the process of revolutionising the world of marking and traceability as it becomes more widely specified and used by a manufacturers and retailers.

RFID labels and tags allow individual products or shipping cartons to be quickly and easily identified in a reliable, error-free manner – even under adverse environmental conditions. At the heart of the RFID system is the transponder, a tiny computer chip with a built-in antenna. This chip stores a globally unique serial number known as the EPC (electronic product code).

Applications that require the storage of larger amounts of data, such as individual article or serial numbers, use-by dates or lot numbers, are also possible using this technology.

With the range of applications for RFID continually growing, Weber Marking has maintained its philosophy of ongoing product development by further enhancing its range of RFID-enabled units.

Weber’s new Spine Tag RFID print and apply system offers a reliable marking solution for particularly narrow or flat components and parts with grooves or milled slots that must retain their unique identity and be identifiable years after installation or processing. This new system can, for instance, be used in window and door manufacture, in the building, furniture or electrical industries and even within the automotive and aerospace industries.

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Weber RFID tags in the groove In one innovative application example, the new Spine Tag RFID print and apply systems is used by a Scandinavian door manufacturer to enable 42 | www.mepca-engineering.com

unique identification and traceability of their products both internally and externally. In this instance, Weber’s RFID print and apply system prints the serial number, product data and company details on a narrow 4mm-wide Smart Label, which it then accurately applies to an equally narrow groove with a tolerance of +/- 0.8mm.

Using the narrow Smart Label in a concealed position ensures that the aesthetic appearance of the product is unchanged whilst at the same time the RFID transponder benefits from added protection against damage or debris. The uniquely identifiable door is then processed as required to be drilled, milled, planed, sanded or coated with the RFID tag being read at each of the manufacturing steps to ensure that the correct operations are performed. This particular manufacturer produces around 50,000 doors per week, with each of these incorporating a RFID Smart Label. The Weber system, however, is capable of processing up to 10 times more labels than is currently required for this application.

With many Weber Marking Systems products already RFIDcompatible, customers can take advantage of the benefits of this highly efficient and flexible technology The Scandinavian installation comprises a Weber Legi-Air 4050 E label print and apply system with an integrated RFID printing module.

The RFID printer handles the printing of images, text and barcodes on the surface of the label and is also capable of reading and writing to the transponder, which is integrated within the label.

In this example the tags are applied using the gentle tamp-blow procedure. The label is peeled from the backing paper, slid over the tamp pad and held down by vacuum. In the next step the applicator arm moves towards the product and blows the label into position with a pulse of air. This all happens in seconds and without touching or damaging the product surface. A ‘Bad Tag’ reject unit ensures only readable tags are applied to product and any faulty tags are rejected from the system. A further benefit of RFID is that, unlike traditional bar codes or 2D matrix codes, the process of reading the data does not require line-of-sight contact between reader and storage unit; also multiple RFID units can be read in a single sweep.

With many Weber Marking Systems products already RFIDcompatible, customers can take advantage of the production and logistics benefits of this highly efficient and flexible technology. weber.co.uk

Weber Packaging Solutions UK: Macmerry Industrial Estate, Tranent, East Lothian EH33 1HD Tel: +44 1875 611111 • Fax: +44 1875 613310 • sales@weber.co.uk • www.weber.co.uk Weber Packaging Solutions Ireland: Kilcannon Ind. Est., Old Dublin Road, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland Tel: +353 53 9233778 • Fax: +353 53 9233284 • sales@weberireland.com • www.webermarking.ie

fluid & gas handling Gas clean-up technology triumphs at IChemE Awards

Thermal fluid return programme averts disposal problems lobal Heat Transfer has launched a thermal fluid return programme to help customers that have condemned thermal fluids that need to be discarded as waste. As a result, the company’s clients don’t need to manage waste fluid or discard waste fluid on-site. Global Heat Transfer is licensed to manage waste thermal fluids and assists with the drainage of condemned fluids, transportation of fluids and ultimately their disposal.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has estimated the UK generates 290 million tonnes of waste per year. Moreover, DEFRA reports that around 52% of all commercial and industrial waste was recycled or reused. This leaves 48% that still needs to be managed as waste.

Global Heat Transfer focuses on the lifecycle management of its client’s thermal fluids: from the procurement and delivery of highly efficient fluids to the on-going management to extend the usable life of the fluids as far as possible – right through to their latter years when they need to be disposed of in an appropriate manner.

When a synthetic thermal fluid has reached the end of its usable life, Global Heat Transfer will remove

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the old thermal fluid free of charge, subject to exact location, condition, volume and certification costs.

Moreover, they will remove used synthetic thermal fluid regardless of whether or not the original supply was bought from them.

Dr Chris Wright, group head of R&D at Global Heat Transfer, says: “The planned, preventative maintenance of thermal fluids is imperative to sustaining a company’s production.

“But thermal fluids will one day need to be replenished. In such cases it is just as imperative that a company’s fluid is drained and removed from site as quickly as possible to get production back up and running. Global Heat Transfer’s 24/7 service and expertise in the lifecycle management of thermal fluids means that the client’s production needs are at the heart of everything we do on a day-to-day basis.” globalheattransfer.co.uk

‘The planned, preventative maintenance of thermal fluids is imperative to sustaining a company’s production’ – Dr Chris Wright, group head of R&D at Global Heat Transfer

Inexpensive metering of flow rate in larger diameter pipes itan Enterprises offers a range of insertion turbine liquid flow measurement systems, for permanent or portable installation in larger diameter pipelines – from 40mm to 900mm.

Insertion flowmeters measure the point velocity of the liquid in a pipe. Due to the relatively small disturbance the insertion turbine metering head introduces to a pipe, pressure losses for this type of flowmeter are very low, thereby producing energy savings by reducing pumping costs. Typical

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Left: Titan’s new meters cut costs

Right: IChemE award-winners applications for insertion turbine flowmeters include water distribution mains, fire hydrant monitoring, boiler feed measurement, irrigation systems, district heating and HVAC systems. flowmeters.co.uk/insertion_ turbine.htm.

ew technology which removes toxic mercury from natural gas more efficiently was the major winner at this year’s Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Annual Awards and Dinner to celebrate excellence, innovation and achievement in the chemical and process industries.

The Queen’s University Ionic Liquid Laboratories Research Centre (QUILL), UK, in partnership with PETRONAS, Malaysia, collected three awards for their new technology – the world’s first solid-supported ionic liquid mercury removal unit – which was developed in record time and is up to six times more efficient than current methods.

In addition to collecting the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chemical and Process Engineering, QUILL and PETRONAS were presented with the Sustainable Technology Award and Chemical Engineering Project of the Year Award.

Dr David Brown, IChemE’s chief executive, said: “A quick scan of this year’s entries shows just why chemical engineering matters to the world we live in.

“From reducing the cost of carbon capture to improving safety, cleaning up the environment, advancing medical science and healthcare, reducing waste, improving efficiency and the development of new technologies such as the QUILL and PETRONAS mercury removal unit to clean-up natural gas – they all demonstrate the impact and importance of the work we do.”

Quill.qub.ac.uk icheme.org

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Drives & Controls

Level & Flow Instrumentation

Magnetrol International UK Magnetrol is a manufacturer of high quality industrial instrumentation for level and flow measurement of liquids and gases. Magnetrol is active in the following industries: petrochemical, chemical, power, water/waste water, pharma, and food & beverage Regent Business Centre, Jubilee Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9TL T: 01444 871313 E: sales@magnetrol.co.uk

Mixers & Agitators

Euromixers Euromixers manufacture Industrial Fluid Mixers for a wide range of applications from general chemicals, food & beverages to pharmaceuticals – please visit our web site for further details or contact our office, we will be pleased to help.

T: + 44 (0) 161 449 8559 E: sales@euromixers.co.uk W: www.euromixers.co.uk

Rapid Manufacturing Bureau Service

Machine Vision AllDrives & Controls Ltd High speed-precise control, with Unitronics PLC’s/HMI, Nanotec stepper motors, WEG & Engel gear motors T: 01543 271899 E: sales@alldrivesandcontrols. co.uk W: www.alldrivesandcontrols. co.uk

Industrial Drum Heaters & Jacket

Alrad Instruments Alrad offers range of CCD and CMOS cameras for use in Machine Vision applications as well as suitable illumination systems. Also a range of low power laser modules incl. spot & line emitters and structured light lasers, offered in a variety of wavelengths and output powers to suit the application.

T: 01635 30345 E: sales@alrad.co.uk W: www.alrad.co.uk

Laser Lines Ltd Specialists in offering rapid manufacturing solutions for low volume production parts typically 100-off or less, eliminating the need for expensive mould tools and long lead times. We offer a cost effective and rapid turnaround of parts.

T: +44 (0) 1295 672500 E: parts@laserlines.co.uk W: www.laserlines.co.uk

Resin Flooring

Maintenance Software

Laser Equipment Supplies

Cayman Venture Limited Multi–tool maintenance solutions Centre for Advanced Industry Coble Dene, Royal Quays North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 6DE T: 0191 296 3816 F: 0191 296 3856 E: info@cayman.co.uk W: www.cayman.co.uk

Measurement Instrumentation

TLM Laser Ltd For a solution that’s tailored to meet your laser equipment needs, just contact TLM Laser.

T: +44 (0) 845 260 2220 F: +44 (0) 845 260 2221 E: info@tlm-laser.com W: www.tlm-laser.com

Castle Group Ltd You will spend so much time measuring and monitoring that you don’t want to be spending more time searching for the equipment. At the castleshop. co.uk we have a broad range of measuring and monitoring equipment to keep you on track.

T: +44 1723 584250 E: enquiries@castlegroup.co.uk W: www.castlegroup.co.uk

46 | www.mepca-engineering.com

ACC Flooring Ltd Safe fl oors?

Are yours?

Have you got resin floor systems that are in need of refurbishment?

Are your floors posing a slip risk to pedestrians and forklift trucks?

Is down time an issue?

We can transform your factory floor in 2 days!

T: 01484 715400 W: www.accflooring.co.uk

Resin Flooring

Resdev Limited We manufacture specialist seamless, hygienic, epoxy and polyurethane resin floor, wall and car park decking systems for application throughout the world.

Resdev has the ideal complete resin flooring solution.

T: +44(0)1422379131 E: info@resdev.co.uk W: www.resdev.co.uk

Safety Flooring DeckSafe Solutions Ltd Decksafe Solutions has over 20 years experience as one of the UK’s leading distributors of moulded fibreglass grating panels, constructed using continuous glass fibre strands cured with industry approved polyester resins, and anti-slip safety products, tested in accordance with BS 7976 – 2, suited to all industries.

T: 01206 395 465 E: sales@deck-safe.co.uk W: www.deck-safe.co.uk

Valves - Actuated & Manual

Dixon Dixon offers manual and custom actuated valve packages with accessories. Dixon actuators are 1 million cycle tested. On-site 3D design and applications engineer.

Full Hygienic Products Catalogue available.

T: +44 (0)1772 323529 E: sales@dixoneurope.co.uk W: www.dixoneurope.co.uk

Water & Chemical Storage

Drayton Tank & Accessories Ltd GRP and plastic water tanks, WRAS Approved, 45 – 100,000 ltr. One piece & two piece tanks, fittings and connections.

T: 0871 288 4213 E: enquiries@draytontank.co.uk W: www.draytontank.co.uk

You Need New Customers Oxford Translations Find new customers in the up and coming countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China – Tell them about your products and services in their own language.

Oxford Translation Ltd, John Eccles House, Robert Robinson Avenue, The Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GP T: 0330 332 6000 (in UK) T: 44 (0)1869 240 560 E: info@oxtran.com W: www.oxtran.com

SO MUCH MORE …

FROM ONE MANUFACTURER Electronics in the control cabinet Interfaces

MICO+ INTELLIGENTLY SECURED

MICO+ protects 24 V DC systems Save energy: switch off all channels

with a control signal

I/O systems

React before the error occurs:

a digital signal will go off when 90 % of the set current is reached

Connection Technology

Connect two loads per channel:

with double terminals

M I CO +

now ava ilable for 48 V DC systems

Murrelektronik Ltd 5 Albion St, Pendlebury Ind. Estate Swinton, Manchester, GB M27 4FG

Phone 0161 728 3133 www.murrelektronik.co.uk sales@murrelektronik.co.uk