AMP Magazine - June 2016

June 2016

Create the Perfect Impression

WWW.FINECUT.CO.UK

,ABELS .AMEPLATES s %NGRAVING -ARKING s !DVANCED %NGINEERING s "OOKBINDING %QUIPMENT

Leade calibrati

As Chell app of designing

and calibratio

ready to des

production ca

Pressure,

Automate

All Cal. Sta

All Design

Ask your eng

June 2016

CONTENTS 36 Channel Smart Gas Meter Calibration System

almost certain

Chell Instruments Ltd www.chell.co.uk . info@ch +44 (0) 1692 500555

AMP Magazine is an engaging, editorially led publication & directory giving the reader news and updates on innovative products and services to our ever progressing industry.

4 10 14 20

Industry News Editor’s Choice Events Sensors & Controls

Publishing House Jet Digital Media Ltd, The Forge, Spratling Court Offices, Spratling Court Farm, Manston, Kent, CT12 5AN Publication Manager Keiren Rogers 01843 580460 keiren@amp-magazine.co.uk

Sales Executive Emily Maclean 01843 580460 emily@amp-magazine.co.uk

Editor Tina Curtis 01843 580460 tina@amp-magazine.co.uk

U.S., Germany and the Advanced Manufacturing Future The launch of Hannover Messe 2016, the first time in the trade fair’s history in which the U.S. appeared as the event’s partner country, was highlighted by a visit from U.S. President Barack Obama—the first time a U.S. president has ever visited the event.

Some 350 U.S. companies are participating in this year’s Hannover Messe, including 200 small to medium-sized companies.

strong that it drew more than 30,000 protestors to central Hannover the day before the Hannover Messe opening ceremony (see BBC coverage of the protests). Making the case for TTIP, Pritzker said the “economic imperative is clear” and the agreement would “make exporting easier for companies of all sizes” because it would simplify regulations.

“To us, Hannover Messe is more than a traditional trade fair and Obama’s participation is a reflection of how much we value the U.S./German relationship,” said Penny Pritzker, U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

She added that TTIP “incentivizes participating countries to pay a fair wage while also requiring that they ensure safety and follow environmental rules.”

“We build together, trade together and promote democracy around the world together,” she said, before adding, “advanced manufacturing is the engine driving the future of both our economies.”

Pritzker noted that, in addition to all the positive aspects of Industry 4.0 and digital manufacturing, it cannot be denied that such technological advances are disrupting industry worldwide.

“It’s changing the products in our pockets and homes and the nature of our work,” she said, pointing out that the disruption cause by advanced manufacturing technologies will require the modernization of social policies that have been in place for decades. “To realize the full economic promise” of advanced manufacturing, “public policy needs to support free flow of information, products and services. The United States and Germany are well suited for this because of our shared core values.”

Trade Agreement

At the center of the current U.S./German trade relationship is TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) — a trade agreement under development between the U.S and European Union to boost U.S. and EU economies via the removal or reduction of current barriers to trade and foreign investment between the two.

TTIP is currently under development, but feelings about it are so

President Obama noted that “people are unsettled by globalization,” despite evidence of job creation and wage growth. “Its easy to point to plant closings” due to competition with low-wage labor in other parts of the world as a cause for concern about globalization.

“This drives distrust of agreements like TTIP,” he said, “but it’s indisputable that free global trade has made our economies stronger.”

Acknowledging that trade agreement passage is always tougher in election years, despite surveys showing that “most people favor free trade,” Obama said he does not “anticipate ratification of TTIP by the end of year,” but does expect completion of the agreement by then. Once the TTIP agreement is complete, people will be able to see why “TTIP will be good for [U.S. and EU].”

Pointing out some of the leading examples of U.S./German cooperation around advanced manufacturing technologies, Ulrich Grillo, president of the German Federation of Industries, pointed to Tesla’s use of Kuka robots and the development of electric cars by a “California company” using German car technology.

The latter reference could be related to Apple’s Project Titan work in Berlin or Google’s custom driverless vehicle which uses equipment from Bosch, ZF Friederischshafen and Continental AG.

Leaders in bespoke calibration & test systems As Chell approaches 40 years experience of designing and building high integrity test and calibration systems, our engineers are ready to design complete solutions for your production calibration needs.

Pressure, Vacuum & Gas Flow Automated Product Calibration All Cal. Standards to ISO17025 All Design & Build to ISO9001 Ask your engineers to call our engineers, they almost certainly speak the same language.

36 Channel Smart Gas Meter Calibration System

AMP Magazine | 04 June 2016

Chell Instruments Ltd www.chell.co.uk . info@chell.co.uk +44 (0) 1692 500555

Industry News

Testing the FDT Technology Waters With more intelligent field devices populating the plant floor and a control system architecture that usually includes heterogeneous systems from different suppliers, the need for seamless integration and communication across the network is critical to future productivity.

FDT Group, an independent, international, not-for-profit industry association, has been developing technology to provide an open standardized interface for the integration of field devices with engineering, automation and asset management systems. The FDT (Field Device Technology) specification provides a common platform for data exchange for all available device drivers also known as Device Type Managers (DTMs) and FDT Frame Applications— both of which are software components whose functions are performed together. Suppliers add DTM software to their products, and compliant Frame Applications communicate via DTMs using digital protocols with each device. Any FDT-compliant device can be configured, operated, and maintained through a standardized user interface – regardless of supplier, type or communication protocol.

As with any spec, there are upgrades. The latest for FDT Technology is FDT2, introduced in 2012, which uses the scope of functions in Microsoft.

NET and Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and WinForms. Interoperability between DTM and Frame Applications are optimized, as well.

To help companies ensure compliance with FDT2, this week the group released dtmINSPECTOR4, a software tool designed to automate testing of DTMs. The updated dtmINSPECTOR enables manufacturers of field devices for process, hybrid and factory automation to optimize their testing and certification procedures based on the current FDT2 specification.

According to Glenn Schulz, managing director of the FDT Group, the release of this new testing tool opens the door to wider implementation of FDT2, including features for enhanced security and support of modern automation platforms. “The use of dtmINSPECTOR4 as part of a comprehensive test program will help meet market demand for FDT Technology and certified FDT2 DTMs on a wide range of automation projects,” Schulz said. “Our testing solution enables interoperability between automation systems and field devices, and provides end users with greater peace of mind.”

The dtmINSPECTOR4 software aligns with FDT Group’s Common Components toolkit, which provides developers with pre-written and pre-tested FDT specification requirements to speed product development, testing and certification processes. In addition, the testing software tool determines the conformance of all types of DTMs (communication, device and gateway), including test cases that ensure compliance with the FDT specification, Common Components and the Style Guide maximizing interoperability success.

Once the testing sequence is completed for a DTM with “passing results” by an FDT accredited test site, test results are sent to the FDT Group certification office where the DTM receives the official electronic certification mark acknowledging specification compliance.

The new dtmINSPECTOR4 tool is available to all FDT Group members for pre-testing DTMs during development and available on a no-charge basis with only an annual maintenance fee to provide for ongoing support of the tool.

Siemens Brings IPC Assembly to the U.S. In the cover story for this month’s print issue of Automation World, we focus on the move to bring more manufacturing to the U.S. The article cites a recent Boston Consulting Group survey which reports that 31 percent of executives at companies with annual revenues of $1 billion and above planned to increase U.S.-based manufacturing over the next five years for goods to be sold in the U.S. Only 20 percent of companies this size said they planned to ramp up production in China for such products.

Further highlighting this move to bring more manufacturing to the U.S. is Siemens’ recent announcement that it will begin assembling several of its industrial PC products in its Lebanon, Ohio, facility.

The first IPCs to be assembled in Ohio include Siemens Simatic 427D Microbox IPC and Panel IPC477D. Later this year, Siemens will add assembly of its Nanobox IPC227E, Nanopanel IPC277E, Microbox IPC427E, and Micropanel IPC477E at this facility. By the spring of 2017, the company says it also plans to bring assembly of its IPC547G Rack PC to the Ohio facility.

The IPCs to be assembled in this Siemens facility will reportedly be built following the same standards as IPCs produced in Germany.

Siemens standard assembly measures for these products include conducting more than 50 tests on the IPCs, including a 36-hour burn-in test.

The models selected for assembly in the U.S. were chosen because they “represent our most popular IPC configurations in the U.S.,” says Wolfgang Rubrecht, Siemens vice president, Digital Factory, Factory Automation U.S. He adds that producing the units in the U.S. will reduce delivery lead times for U.S. customers by 40 percent.

Industry News

05 | AMP Magazine June 2016

Industrial Robot News Heats Up With all the coverage in the news about driverless cars and humanoid robots, the advance of industrial robotics sometimes gets lost in the mix. But steady advances are being made in the industrial robotic sector—increasingly via multi-company collaborations. Evidence of this can be seen in recent announcements from Mitsubishi Electric and Yaskawa.

Through a partnership with Codian Robotics, Mitsubishi Electric’s MELFA range of compact SCARA and articulated arm robots is being extended by the addition of Codian Robotics’ new delta style robots. These delta robots are designed for lightweight pick-and-place tasks and can work autonomously using servo control or integrated into a Mitsubishi Electric automation environment.

This collaboration between Codian Robotics and Mitsubishi Electric developed as a result of the e-F@ctory Alliance partnership, a Mitsubishi Electric initiative where companies work together to create automation solutions.

Codian Robotics’ delta robots are constructed using materials such as carbon fiber, titanium, anodized aluminum, 316 stainless steel and plastics to make them lightweight and easy to use in the packaging and manufacturing industries. Mitsubishi Electric points out that these delta robots are best suited for common 3-axis top-loading packaging applications and push-fit assembly operations. A waterproof model made of hygienically approved materials is available for wash-down environments such as food & beverage, cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications.

In other industrial robotic collaboration news, Yaskawa and Clearpath have partnered to combine the capabilities of the Motoman MH12 robot equipped with end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) and vision system and Clearpath’s Otto 1500 self-driving vehicle. This combination of products is designed for mobile machine tending and material movement in shop floor environments.

The MH12 robot features a 12 kg payload capacity, hollow wrist for EOAT cable management and a 1,440 mm horizontal reach. Its design reportedly provides higher speed, longer reach and increased payload over current mobile manipulator products offered by competitors.

The Need for an Always-On Infrastructure With so many technologies and trends converging to create the industrial automation space of the future, it seems that more companies are popping up daily—not only to take advantage of the hype surrounding the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), but also to help figure out how to deal with all the complexity.

a shop floor or offshore oil rig—and immediately fails over if any component in the system fails. “As SCADA and sensor systems increase in complexity and their data rates move to millisecond intervals, the need for reliability and availability increases even more,” Andersen said.

Stratus Technologies aims to ensure data integrity that’s needed for successful IIoT implementation, and also tackle the complex relationship between IT and OT. The Stratus Always-On Infrastructure for IIoT combines the company’s ftServer technology with VMware vSphere 6.0, plus application monitoring and OPC integration.

Another key aspect of the technology is the operationally simple platform. With continued adoption of virtualization by IT, Stratus has reduced complexity for OT customers by integrating the ftServer platform with VMware. “More and more people are asking for that,” Andersen said. “By and large our biggest fan is the operational technology person. Our partners spend a lot of their time with OT folks, and we’re trying to help them bridge the gap with IT.”

Learn more about IIoT and digital manufacturing at the Automation Conference & Expo in Chicago, May 24-25 » Unlike many of the new names we’re hearing in the IIoT space, Stratus is a company that has actually been around a while—for about 35 years. Stratus made its mark offering fault-tolerant and redundant hardware, particularly embedded in the financial services and telecom markets. The company has been working on its industrial game for more than a decade now, and in the past few years has been building out partnerships with automation suppliers like Rockwell Automation and Schneider Electric, said Jason Andersen, Stratus’ vice president of business line management. Now it’s finally time to make a little noise about the product lines it’s been building around manufacturing and energy industries, going to market with what Andersen said is more of a solution-style play to define what a resilient infrastructure looks like for the industrial automation world.

Part of what that means is a system that is, at its core, fully redundant. In working with partners like Rockwell Automation, Stratus’ system is most often deployed on SCADA systems and historians, which are going through a transformation in importance, Andersen said, as data collection becomes a more vital aspect of production.

The ftServer plugs into the manufacturing environment—whether

AMP Magazine | 06 June 2016

By consolidating traditionally disparate systems, ftServer Gen8 for VMware streamlines the management of different devices, such as servers, management consoles and external storage, into a single solution for industrial automation teams with limited IT resources.

The OPC server enables ftServer to be plugged into an operational environment, where OT personnel are able to see and monitor the server, Andersen said, noting that the integration of Sightline Assure “allows the IT guys to see in a very detailed way what’s going on. They can monitor the performance of the applications, as well as the hardware underneath, and get very granular visibility of what’s going on.”

Stratus delivers these solutions primarily through its automation partners for the industrial space, where demand has increased for redundancy and simplicity as manufacturers upgrade their systems to prepare for IIoT. “It’s been very pronounced in the last few years,” Andersen said. “There’s a heavy compliance and regulatory component to it, so the areas where we’re strongest are areas where they absolutely need to not lose any data, like in food or energy.”

Industry News

Adapting ERP to Manufacturing Operations Because manufacturers have been saddled with legacy systems for so many years, we hear a lot these days about “future-proofing” the operations environment. There are some key elements to consider when developing a sustainable system including scalability, standardization, integration, and a dynamic user interface. And, sometimes the best way to deliver this functionality is through the cloud.

Being able to adapt to changing conditions on the factory floor and the supply chain is why manufacturing enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendor QAD has been working on developing a modern architecture and user experience for its QAD Cloud ERP product. The initiative, dubbed Project Channel Islands, is focused on delivering an individually adaptable and device-independent user experience that is personalized to the user to increase efficiency and provide insight for decision-making.

The first phase of the project, internally called Anacapa, was unveiled last year and included a complete rewrite of the underlying architecture using standardized application program interfaces (APIs).

“We didn’t change the business logic at all, we just changed the way we present the logic so that customers have more flexibility in the future as to how they interact and connect with third party software,” said Sharon Ward, senior director solutions marketing at QAD.

Industry News

A new user interface allows for direct connection to machines, equipment and sensors, which mean the QAD applications are designed to work seamlessly with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Ward said.

Yesterday, the second phase—which the company calls the “Santa Cruz” part of Project Channel Islands—was released. Santa Cruz brings in an activity feed that allows people to have conversations around anything in the system, such as a customer or supplier order or invoice, to help explain why decisions were made and what actions were taken. As a subscriber, a person can receive notifications for any updates to information or activities that are of value to him.

In addition, role-based dashboards with real-time metrics help managers make factbased decisions. Part of this new user experience includes contextual insight, which automatically knows what is important to you and draws your attention to it on the screen.

For example, a late order may be flashing on the interface or represented in a different color.

Also included in the new release is the ability to do requisition approvals from a mobile device, as well as an application builder that allows a company to upgrade pieces of the ERP suite without having to do any integration work.

07 | AMP Magazine June 2016

Automation Suppliers Collaborate to Benefit Users For decades, many automation technology suppliers have used a “closed shop” strategy to protect their proprietary technologies and customer base. Under this strategy, however, the customer—and industry as a whole—takes a major efficiency hit when it comes to integrating devices from different vendors. Seeing the relative ease of interoperability across consumer devices (phones, printers, etc.), manufacturers are increasingly looking for the same level of interoperability among the automation systems, devices and networks in their plants.

A new program, created by Endress+Hauser, known as the Open Integration partner program, is designed to support and protect open innovation while also meeting end user interoperability demands. The program is meant to foster collaboration between vendors by making it easier for plant operators to integrate field devices and system components for process automation.

Despite the comprehensive conformity and interoperability testing that many vendors already perform, integration problems often arise once onsite projects start. “It doesn’t matter if you go for one-stop-shopping or combine the best-of-breed— whenever you have to integrate a variety of infrastructure, components and software, you may run into issues. That is what we sought to improve,” says Joerg Reinkensmeier, marketing manager, Open Integration, at Endress+Hauser Process Solutions AG. “We started to invite companies roughly one year ago,” Reinkensmeier says, beginning with system vendors, as they are at the core of any automation topology. “Working on automation projects, we always interface with a variety of vendors for systems, infrastructure and field devices. So our selection process for the partner program is mainly project-driven, based on who our customers are working with.”

To date, eight automation manufacturers have joined the Open Integration partner program: Auma Riester, Hima Paul Hildebrandt, Honeywell Process Solutions, Mitsubishi Electric, Pepperl+Fuchs, Rockwell Automation, R. Stahl and Schneider Electric. To ensure that the most relevant set of automation products can be easily combined and integrated, the partners work together using open communication standards (such as HART, Profibus/Profinet, Foundation Fieldbus, EtherNet/IP) and open integration standards (e.g., FDT, EDD and FDI).

The partners collaborate on reference topologies, mapping the various elements and how they fit together in customers’ systems as a whole. Each topology is tailored to a specific application and the applied field communication technologies. “Depending on the industrial segment and market, the focus will be on typical requirements such as availability, redundancy or explosion protection, followed by the selection of system components and field instruments,” says Christine Schmalz, communication manager at Endress+Hauser. “This exact combination [of AMP Magazine | 08 June 2016

products] will then be tested and documented before it is published as a joint recommendation, giving customers concrete and successfully validated suggestions for automating their plant.”

The partnership is still too new to have installation examples, but topology documentation has been available for a few months. So far, the Open Integration partner program has released two tested reference topologies. The first was a Profibus application for water and wastewater treatment processes developed with Mitsubishi Electric, while the second was developed with Schneider Electric for the metals industries.

The program has five more tests in the works with partners including Honeywell Process Solutions and Rockwell Automation, and will deliver more recommended topologies this year. Partners are able to use these in the qualification or acquisition phases of projects to ensure they can fulfill customer needs.

Though some suppliers still feel that, without proprietary systems, they could not survive, the Open Integration partner program’s strategy hinges on openness and cooperation between vendors. “We are 100 percent committed to the open standards game,” explains Reinkensmeier. “Customers clearly communicate that they dislike the closed shop approach and that they would like to maintain their freedom of choice.”

The partnership is currently in talks with potential new partners, though some other vendors are not yet willing to join. “It’s an added investment for companies to do this additional testing. A few are reluctant,” says Reinkensmeier. “But as customers become aware and ask for proactive support, even those [companies] may change their opinion later on.”

Ultimately, the partnership is about maintaining customer satisfaction. “We want to cooperate in the interest of our customers,” concludes Reinkensmeier. “We’re willing to do more if it means making customers even happier, and we’re inviting all relevant companies to join.”

Industry News

Thermaset looks to the future Staffordshire-based Thermaset is one of the UK’s best known companies for the formulation and manufacture of powder coatings.

This family run business has one of the country’s biggest ranges of stock powders available for next day delivery across the UK. At the heart of the business is a drive for efficiency through the use of recognised Kaizen techniques.

This Japanese philosophy is based on continuous development to improve all aspects of the running of a company from administration through to manufacturing efficiency, product development, and supply chain management and the meeting of tight delivery schedules.

Commercial Manager Nigel Crane comments: “Paying attention to detail and continuously looking for efficiency savings and improvement is at the heart of the Kaisen philosophy and it is a practice used in best in class in business.

Thermaset, which has Qualicoat Accreditation, is working towards the international standard ISO 14001 Certification, and is therefore putting environmental management at the heart of its business “We have instilled such a business culture at Thermaset and both management and staff look for

efficiencies as part of their everyday remit,” says Nigel Crane. “It’s a question of not necessarily making substantial changes to operational day-to-day running procedures, but to identify where small changes can be made to squeeze out even a 1% cost saving or efficiency benefit.

“As part of our commitment to continuous improvement we have recently installed a £90,000 grinder which will not only increase capacity but also efficiency. This year is going to be a very significant one for us with substantial expansion plans in the pipeline including the redevelopment of our existing research and development facilities and also build a training school and showroom. This will allow us to show the latest products and innovations within the powder coating industry and enhance the overall experience of our customers.”

“In addition, Thermaset is initiating ‘collaborations’ with top universities – again part of a process to enhance our competitiveness and enable us to penetrate new markets through the introduction of additional products and technology.

“When you are very busy it’s hard to stand back and think about ways of improving procedures, but by making time to do so it is possible to improve productivity,” he added.

Thermaset has over 600 stock colours and our technical department provides advice on selecting the most suitable product for a given application. There is no colour that can’t be matched and no special requirement that can’t be met – whether it is BS, RAL, custom or match. Thermaset can meet customer needs from a few kilograms of powder coating - for a special order - through to tonnes for a long-term contract.

Powder coatings are used extensively in manufacturing and Thermaset’s customers include: automotive manufacturers, architects, furniture and household goods, garden equipment suppliers and sports equipment manufacturers.

To find out more about powder coatings please contact Ben Jennens at Thermaset on: 01827 55777 or email: ben@thermaset.co.uk

www.thermaset.co.uk

"Hose, Valve and Connection Solutions". Through the use of Solidworks we can simulate and offer a wide range of Technical, Application and Engineering Services. Including: 8 Produce 2D drawings from supplied 3D models 8 Produce 3D models of complex assemblies to allow our customers to better visualise their end products 8 Generate 3D printed prototypes directly from CAD drawings 8 Render models, resulting in true-to-life representations

Dixon Group Europe Limited 350 Walton Summit Centre, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 8AS Telephone: +44 (0)1772 323529 Fax: +44 (0)1772 314664 marketing@dixoneurope.co.uk

www.dixoneurope.co.uk

We have the tools and capabilities that will enable Dixon Group Europe to help you realise your requirements.

For further information please contact us now on:

01772 323 529

01903 751666

info@finecut.co.uk

www.finecut.co.uk

46 Marlborough Road, Lancing Business Park, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8UF

AMP Magazine | 10 June 2016

Editor’s Choice

Fine Cut distinguishes its specialist manufacturing divisions with new brand Fine Cut Graphic Imaging Ltd, a well-respected multi-service manufacturing company, launch their new brand in response to continued business growth and to illustrate the company’s specialist divisions.

Recognised as one of the UK’s leading graphics & engineering manufacturers, Fine Cut offer a huge range of advanced print, engraving and engineering solutions to the industrial, medical and electronic industries. Operating from state-of-the-art production facilities with the capabilities to manufacture a diverse range of specialist products including labels, graphic overlays, nameplates, laser marked products and even 5 Axis machined components to name but a few – understandably the line had become blurred as to what exactly they offered and where their specialism lay.

Following continued growth across all divisions and industry sectors, the decision was made that the company needed to realign its position and illustrate to the market that each division is a specialist within their respective field – hence the birth of Fine Cut Group.

The rebrand and new website, was not a decision taken lightly as the history behind the brand and it’s evolution to what it is today could not be overlooked. With this in mind a striking new brand was conceived along with individual sub-brands for each division, complimented with the development of a new corporate website to illustrate the specialist services each division offers to the market.

With a commitment to innovation, quality and dependable service combined with a capability to blend cutting edge manufacturing technology with honed craftsmanship skills, the new Fine Cut Group brand truly stands apart from their business contemporaries.

Find out more…

Website: www.finecut.co.uk Email: info@finecut.co.uk Phone: 01903 751666 Engineering News

43

This hose or ThaT hose InDuSTRIAl HoSe, In geneRAl, IS cApABle of MAnY uSeS. THeY conveY AIR, STeAM, WATeR, BeveRAgeS, cHeMIcAlS AnD An AlMoST unlIMITeD ASSoRTMenT of oTHeR pRoDucTS fRoM A To B. SoMeTIMeS TRAnSpoRTeD SuBSTAnceS Move unDeR gReAT pReSSuRe AnD TRAvel gReAT DISTAnceS.

W

hen industrial hose and couplings are properly specified for the task, these assemblies perform their function flawlessly. However the potential hazards of hose assemblies are very real. When we try to get them to do things they were never designed to do, such as running steam through a chemical hose or using cam and groove couplings for air, they fail miserably with sometimes catastrophic results. To avoid potential harm to personnel, site and equipment; and to prevent product loss, Dixon stresses the importance of inspecting all hose assemblies prior to each use.

Hose failures, damaged end fittings and correct hose specification are just a few of the factors an onsite maintenance engineer might have to address on a day to day basis. Whether it’s the correct hose required or the right type of coupling for the application, it is often a minefield when it comes to finding a solutions provider with the correct experience you can trust.

As a company with 100 years in the industry and with a current staff hose experience measured over half a millennium, Dixon are often asked the question; “Which hose? This hose or that hose?”

Believe it or not these customers are the smart ones as they at least question which hose to procure. Many will continue to buy what they always bought without thinking if it is the right hose for the application. Recently Dixon recommended a customer changed from using a Hygienic Rubber Hose to a Silicone hose, the result? the silicone hose was 50% more expensive but while the rubber hose needed to be changed every other month, the

silicone hose has been in use for over 8 months! A cost saving for the customer, both in terms of downtime and price over the period.

So where to start with finding out if you need “This hose” or “That Hose”?

To answer what hose to specify we always need to start with answering Dixon’s acronym S.T.A.M.P.E.D Size: What size and length hose do you require?

Temperature: What is the temperature of the media/process?

Application: What industry is used in? Is it used for suction and delivery?

Media: What is the media going through the hose?

Pressure: What is the pressure of the media?

Ends: What end connections do you require?

Dixon: Your number 1 choice for hose!

With a hose range which covers a broad spectrum of application and a team of experienced and technical sales personnel, Dixon can offer you a complete service advising on the most appropriate solutions for your application.

contact gill platt @ Dixon group europe ltd T: +44 (0) 1772 323529 e: marketing@dixoneurope.co.uk AMP Magazine | 12 June 2016

A Dixon Solution to Save Pipework and Product

Dixon Europe are pleased to be launching a new product, the Dixon Hygienic Breakaway Check Valve, which is proving to be ‘the right connection’, potentially saving companies thousands.

At a recent trade show, an engineer from a well-known uK dairy company explained how a milk tanker had driven away from the loading bay before disconnecting the delivery hose costing thousands in replacement piping and install cost.

Dixon’s Hygienic Breakaway coupling is a solution this problem. In such instance the coupling will break in two, separating the tanker from the loading bay. The 13kn break load bolts are the only items that will need replacing.

The new Dixon Breakaway check valve is an innovative solution that is designed to eliminate product loss too. It incorporates the Breakaway coupling and a Hygienic check valve. It acts as a single unit that has a diverted breaking point which will break at a determined breakload. Then the check valve will close protecting the loading bay pipe system AnD avoiding product spillage.

Designed with hygienic processing in mind, you can be assured that the breakaway conforms to fDA standards and is cIp capable; but, without the intricate workings and associated cost of similar products on the market.

Editor’s Choice

Book your free !ckets today www.u!lityweeklive.co.uk

The Pumping Station: Organised in association with the British Pump Manufacturers Association, Utility Week Live 2016 will be showcasing best practice and innovation in pumps, with practical knowhow, live demonstrations and interactive seminars. There will be a dedicated display area and workshop, with practical sessions running through the day.

Water Dragons: Hosted within The Pumping Station, at 10.30am on Tuesday 17th, will be a Heat of Water Dragons, the Dragon’s Den-themed innovation competition organised by the Future Water Association (Stand B34). Come along to see a panel of water industry experts assess the pitches of four shortlisted companies presenting their innovations for consideration.

AMP Magazine | 14 June 2016

The Network: Planned and delivered by the team behind Network magazine – the new monthly title for gas, power and heat networks – this area of the exhibition floor features essential technical talks, insightful seminars, demos, product launches and live pitches engineered to meet the procurement and specifying needs of today’s time pressed utilities industries professional. Highlights will include Westbase’s Technology’s launch of a white paper on the Internet of Things (Stand C48, 10.30am, Tues 17th) and an introduction to IP camera technology from SeSys (Stand C2, 11.30am, Tues 17th). The launch of Network magazine will be celebrated at the show with a panel discussion on cybercrime and risk (2pm, Wednesday 18th) followed by a VIP drinks reception at 3pm.

Events

UK Manufacturing Heavyweights return to PPMA Total 2016

27 – 29 September 2016, NEC, Birmingham Showcasing the UK’s latest innovations in processing and packaging machinery, materials, containers and packaging design, the PPMA Total Show 2016 is set to return to the Birmingham NEC this September for the first time in its history, moving from its usual spring slot – with over 300 exhibitors already signed up to exhibit at the 2016 event.

The likes of Loma Systems, Rotech, Bosch and Schubert UK have already confirmed to exhibit at the PPMA Total Show 2016, which will be the first under the sole ownership of the PPMA for over a decade. Incorporating PPMA, Pakex and Interphex, the show aims to provide businesses across the processing, packaging design and materials and pharmaceutical sectors with an unrivalled opportunity to reach the right decision makers and showcase precisely how their solutions can address a number of particular packaging and processing challenges.

Speaking about the exhibition ahead of its return to the PPMA Total Show 2016, Toby Kemp, ‎Global Marketing Manager at Loma Systems & Lock Inspection, commented: “Loma Systems has generally exhibited every year at the PPMA show, as it is a great place to meet up with both existing and potential customers involved in the packaging and processing industries.

At the 2016 PPMA Total show we will be showcasing a selection of our latest, advanced product inspection developments and giving customers the opportunity to meet with our technical and application experts.

“The show is good business platform that offers networking opportunities and provides a platform for the latest industry developments and trends, including new machinery and technology. It offers a key meeting place for the processing and packaging industries as a whole, allowing visitors to see the most up to date equipment innovations.”

AMP Magazine | 16 June 2016

Also returning to the PPMA Total Show 2016, Rotech, designer and manufacturer of offline advanced carton feeding systems, will be launching two new products. Speaking about the decision to return, Richard Pether, Director at Rotech said: “We’ve decided to return to the PPMA Total show again this year, because we can see that the event is “on the up” once more and its annual slot at the end of September makes perfect sense.

“We have two product launches planned for the 2016 show, which is a key milestone on the project plan.

The exposure that the show gives us, with both the visitors that come onto our stand and the media interest in the show, means that it’s a key method for promoting our product range.”

dynamic exhibitions of the latest processing and packaging machinery, materials, industrial automation and vision innovations. What’s more as a trade association we have been able to keep stand space pricing as competitive as possible, offering the very best value to members and nonMark Stepney, Managing Director members alike. Attended by thousands of Schubert UK, also highlighted the of quality buyers and industry experts, benefits of exhibiting at the PPMA this event is not to be missed.”

Total show: “The show gives us an opportunity to reach an audience who New PPMA Group CEO, Andrew Mint, know nothing of or have pigeon holed who joined the association on the 1st Schubert. We are seen as a specialist February 2016, said: “I am delighted high end supplier. Whilst the quality to join the PPMA Group ahead of The and performance is high end, the PPMA Total Show 2016. The show is a technology on offer is available for great opportunity for businesses to get smaller, lower throughput applications. their brand, products and equipment The show gives us a barometer of the in front of a high profile audience current state of the industry, not only and celebrate the innovation that the with the size, but also by the various industry has to offer.” trends highlighted either on the stands or in seminar theatres.”

For more information on the PPMA Total Show 2016, or for details on exhibiting Speaking about its return, Grant please visit www.ppmatotalshow.co.uk, Jamieson, Chairman, PPMA Group of call +44 (0) 20 8773 8111 or email Associations, said: “The PPMA Total totalshow@ppma.co.uk.

Show brings together buyers and sellers at one of the most visually Events

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR PLASTICS MOULDING EXPLORED IN FREE PDM EVENT CONFERENCE

T

his year’s PDM Event (14th to 15th June, Telford International Centre) will feature a free-to-attend conference covering injection moulding, rotational moulding, energy efficient equipment and 3D mould tool design, while around the exhibition new machinery will be unveiled. The results of two new industry surveys – Best Places to Work in UK Plastics and Most Influential People in the UK Plastics – will also be announced.

Free PDM Conference Injection moulding will be covered in depth on Day One by speakers and panellists from British Plastics Federation (BPF), Engel, Helix Polymer Technology Ltd, Stratasys, Arburg and Amtek Plastics. Delegates will also be given advice on patenting strategies. Rotomoulding will then become the focus, with a session on alternative materials presented by Matrix Polymers, and advice on preventing “creep” – a cause of plastic product failure – presented by Dr Nick Henwood, Rotational Moulding Expert, AMP Magazine | 18 June 2016

Rotomotive. Other key sessions on Day One include a session on Industry 4.0 (an industrial revolution in automation, data exchange and market trends), and an overview of energy efficient equipment, which promises to show delegates the real savings that can be achieved by updating or replacing existing machinery.

Day Two opens with a number of new perspectives on design including a presentation showing what can be achieved when design is used as a tool for integrating different processes, led

by Les Stokes, Director, LA Design.

Technological developments covered in the conference include 3D CAD software for the automation of routine operations and PREVIEW – a predictive system to recommend injection mould set up with process optimisation in wireless sensor networks.

Exhibition Highlights Renmar will show one of its range of 17 Marse hopper loaders for the first time, while the new Golden Electric 100

tonne machine will make its UK debut on the Arburg stand. Negri Bossi will be exhibiting an EOS E70-185 ST machine featuring the latest user friendly Tactus B&R based ‘single touch’ interface and Bosch Rexroth GH4 pumps.

Other leading industry names who have booked stands include Meusburger, Branson Ultrasonics, Zimmer Group, Piovan, Plastribution, Hasco Internorm, Plastech Solutions, Telesonics, Ewikon and Thermoplay.

New exhibitors include Connect 2 Cleanrooms (offering mouldshop solutions to prevent contamination), Staubli Connectors (hydraulic and electrical connectors), CRC Industries (global supplier of chemical products including purge agents and mould lubricants), Plunkett Associates (low volume prototyping), BOC (industrial gases and cleaning solutions) and Petlon Polymers Ltd (polymer compounding and recovery).

Register now for free entry on www.pdmevent.com Events

Food and Beverage Processes

The production and processing of food and beverages is governed by a rigorous network of laws, regulations, codes of practice and guidance. The aim of these rules and guidelines are to minimise possible risks to the consumer from potentially harmful products that result from the presence of foreign bodies or bacteria. The use of pressure instrumentation is an essential part of safe food production.

Pressure and level measurement in the food, dairy, beverage and processing industries is required in piping, filters and tanks. Pressure instruments must be accurate, immune to vibrations, able to withstand the temperatures and stresses generated by cleaning processes, and have specialised wetted parts. Applications include balance tanks, silos, storage tanks, mixing processes, flavour systems, pasteurisation, emulsifying, filling machines and homogenisation.

The PR3800 range from ESI Technology includes a range of flush diaphragm transmitters that have been designed to meet the requirements of the majority of industrial food and beverage applications.

Robustly constructed from stainless steel, this range of pressure transmitters offer excellent stability and accuracy over a long service life.

The flush membrane are suitable for CIP and seals are available in a variety of forms that can be installed directly to the process or remotely via stainless steel capillary. For very high temperature processes the PR3860 version of this product is suitable for use with media temperature up to 250ºC. If flammable liquids and dust are present, the ESI range of flush diaphragm, hydrostatic and differential products are available with ATEX/IECEx approved options. Please don’t hesitate to contact the sales team for more information, or visit our website www.esi-tec.com

The majority of electrical pressure transmitters use a flexible diaphragm as the pressure transmitting element. By using the appropriate process connection, it is possible to produce flush mounted pressure transmitters that have no cavities and are easy to clean.

CIP (Clean In Place) cleaning is utilized to clean the interior surfaces of pipelines and tanks of liquid and semi-liquid food and beverage processing equipment.

This type of cleaning is generally done with large tanks, kettles or piping systems where there are smooth surfaces. The “wetted part” of a pressure transmitter is the diaphragm which is in contact with the medium being measured and must be able to withstand the forces and temperatures generated during CIP cleaning and sterilisation procedures. Regular cleaning and gap free design reduce risk of contamination, but the finish of the wetted parts must also have smooth contours and clean welding with no nooks and crannies that may cause the media to gather and rot. Usually components are made from stainless steel to prevent media from sticking.

AMP Magazine | 20 June 2016

Sensors & Controls

High Precision MEMS Inertial Sensors and Systems Recent developments mean that Silicon Sensing can now provide high precision MEMS IMUs, gyroscopes and accelerometers with low output noise and bias instability able to meet the accuracy requirements for all applications.

High accuracy

Excellent bias stability

Low output noise

Robust and reliable

www.siliconsensing.com sales@siliconsensing.com

WILL FACTORY FLOOR AUTOMATION GET RID OF ALL MY PAPERWORK… ..and will it allow me to see on any computer screen the current status of each production line? No, not necessarily.

W

hen factory floor automation is done really well, the whole process is not just automated but also fully integrated, making trended and real time information instantly available across the Company’s Intranet and thereby providing the best opportunity to drive performance improvement.

More frequently, however, automation is done in a very piecemeal manner, without the all-important long term vision of the final and ideal integrated solution. It’s not uncommon for us to find that one department has an automation project for a particular aspect of control, whilst another department has a different automation project and that these projects are totally unconnected and sometimes the different departments are unaware that such projects are going on in other departments.

Even more concerning is that some independent projects cannot be integrated usually due either to unwillingness on the part of one of the suppliers or that they want an unrealistic amount of money to provide the interconnection protocol information. One in-line checkweigher manufacturer, for example, flatly refused to provide connectivity information to a third party integrator as they wanted to obtain the order themselves, even though they knew this would only mean that their checkweighers could be linked to a central database with no connectivity to any other make of checkweigher or to any other automated system. Another wanted such a huge amount of money, in order to provide the connectivity info, that the project became impossible to justify.

Fortunately this is not the norm.

Most system/instrument suppliers now recognise the value of the part they play within the bigger picture and that co-operation with other suppliers/ manufacturers enhances their future sales prospects rather than detracts from them as the value of full factory floor integrated automation becomes increasingly recognised.

AMP Magazine | 22 June 2016

I apologise to any readers who understandably respond with ‘tell us something we don’t know’, as ‘stand alone’ automation is more prevalent than fully integrated automated projects involving the whole manufacturing process.

This is not to criticise any individual project which in itself may have been well founded and well-funded, but such independent project improvement initiatives do tend to build up silos of separated information, which could, and probably should, be instantly available to other departments.

What’s often overlooked, in chasing optimum control amongst ever increasing variables on the factory floor, is that all manufacturing processes have a few things in common. Obviously the Technical Department, the Quality Department, the Production Department, Engineering, etc. will have their separate procedures and priorities for dealing with the consequences of complexity, but in the end, the business has only two things which it can control, amidst all this complexity, and that is raw materials utilisation (with minimisation of waste) and labour utilisation.

If a system is, therefore, to provide optimum control of the factory floor, then we believe, and have found from experience, that information, instantly available and shared across all departments, allows a more comprehensive approach to tackling problems and to continuously improving overall performance.

Our system has been specifically designed to meet these needs and though, much of our experience to date has been in the food and drink industry, the tools and techniques are instantly transferable to any and all manufacturing operations. Not only does the system combine the benefits of materials utilisation, weight control, quality control/assurance, line efficiency/OEE and automated on-line component matching (possibly using machine vision), but it brings all this together, analyses, priorities and distributes the information across the factory’s Intranet so that everybody who needs to know, does now. We even provide this information on computer tablets and smart phones so that individuals can still find out what’s happening when they are off-site.

Sensors & Controls

DO YOU WANT YOUR AUTOMATION INVESTMENTS TO REALLY FLY?

Call today for your free site audit

Partnering with Harford radically enhances the value of your factory floor automation investments Harford’s integrated Management Information System gives you instant usable information on all your production line KPIs allowing you to spot problems & bottlenecks when they occur & giving you the best chance to take advantage of improvement opportunities D Automated Line Efficiency & OEE D Autocoding D Paperless Quality Assurance D Average Quantity Control

D In-line Vision D Automated Short Interval Control D Materials optimisation D Labour utilisation

helping you to improve efficiencies, reduce wastage & add profit to your bottom line, like no other Partner can Harford… keeping you compliant, saving you money… without the paperchase… and helping you to get the very best from your automation investments

T: +44 (01225) 764461

W: www.harfordcontrol.com

AMP Magazine | 24 June 2016

Editor’s Choice

Interior installation

— quick and with

A lot of space on two levels The TS 8 modular enclosure system from Rittal offers many well thought-out solutions that are not available elsewhere. The central element is the frame section of the TS 8 with its uniform 25-mm pitch pattern.

Equipment can be installed very flexibly and “wasted space” due to the limitations of the mounting options is practically non-existent. In addition to the frame section, two mounting levels are available that are used for installation. By using the external mounting level, up to 15 percent more space is available in the enclosure than with a single-level alternative.

Taking full advantage of the gaps The space between the bayed enclosures can also be effectively employed. A mounting plate infill can be inserted between two TS 8 bayed enclosures, creating a continuous mounting plate across both that can be freely populated. Or, the intermediate space can be optimally used for a cable duct. That allows more room for other components on the mounting plate which solves the problem of increasing packing densities in the enclosure.

Well thought-out installation concepts save time Rapid installation pays off in two ways. Apart from the

High packing densities in enclosures and very short project times are just two of the challenges that switchgear manufacturers have to face today. From a commercial point of view, the interior of the enclosure must be fitted out as quickly as possible, while, at the same time, as many components as possible must be fitted into the enclosure.

In order to meet these requirements, users need an enclosure system that offers a great deal of space and freedom for interior installation.

In any electrical engineering company where enclosures are used, it’s understood that once the enclosure has been selected the next step is installing the necessary components (power distribution systems, switchgear, automation components, clamps etc) and wiring them up. All these components need to be arranged logically to make the switchgear or automation solution easy to follow.

At the same time, the relevant standards and the component manufacturers’ installation instructions have to be taken into account. But the time pressures are considerable; the interior fit-out must be completed as quickly as possible, and for switchgear manufacturers in particular, both time and cost pressures can be very high in many projects.

Box smarter with Rittal

Superior quality Extensive size range Comprehensive product options Instant availability Competitive pricing

ENCLOSURES

26 - AMP June 2016

POWER DISTRIBUTION

CLIMATE CONTROL

plenty of space fact that a system can be completed more quickly, fewer staff are also needed, which therefore lowers costs.

Many systems require two people to install them (for example, to mount the side panel of the enclosure).

But with the TS 8, the side panel can first be suspended from the enclosure. It then remains in position without having to be held by a second person before it is screwed tight. Other TS 8 assembly steps (for example, changing the door hinges from one side to the other) are follow the same principle meaning it can be installed by one individual.

Meanwhile, dispensing with tools will also speed up installation.

For example, one feature of the TS 8 is the Flex-Block base, the panels of which can be simply clipped on. The entire base has been assembled in less than a minute during installation workshops at Rittal. With such well thought-out solutions, Rittal is supporting enclosure manufacturers in building space-saving switchgear that is quick to assemble.

In Summary: The TS 8 Assembly Benefits: •

Two mounting levels lower the use of space by 15%

•

Optimum use of space between bayed enclosures by means of mounting plates and cable ducts

•

Side panels can be assembled quickly and by just one individual

•

The base system can be installed without using any tools

IT INFRASTRUCTURE

SOFTWARE & SERVICES

www.rittal.co.uk

AMP - 27 June 2016

A direct ApproAch to electroless nickel quAlity control

E

lectroless nickel plating processes, commonly used in the automotive, aerospace and printed circuit board industries, are controlled for both thickness and composition. The preferred method for analysing electroless nickel properties is X-ray fluorescence (XRF). This is because it is quick – on the order of seconds, nondestructive, requires no chemicals or gases, involves little or no sample preparation and is straightforward enough to be performed by minimally trained production staff. XRF instruments have been employed widely for many years to determine elemental composition and coating thickness, and are becoming increasingly advanced to address more demanding analytical requirements. XRF instruments are available in many different forms but two are considered most appropriate for measuring electroless nickel plating: microspot and handheld.

Microspot analysers, such as the Oxford Instruments MAXXI 6, are high-power benchtop instruments which mechanically reduce the output from an X-ray source down to the micrometer range in order to measure small features or small components. Handheld analysers, such as the Oxford Instruments X-MET8000, are miniaturised versions of benchtop equipment, consisting of the same critical components. Whilst the measurement area of handheld instruments is typically larger than their microspot counterparts, they have an advantage in portability, allowing the user to measure parts anywhere the instrument can be carried.

Both types of analysers have been commercially available for many years; however they traditionally had a limitation in that they could not directly measure the composition of the electroless nickel. The reason for this is that electroless nickel AMP Magazine | 28 June 2016

is comprised of nickel, a relatively easy element for XRF to detect, and phosphorus, which has relatively low X-ray energy. Without specialised hardware, XRF instruments cannot “see” phosphorus, and therefore relied on mathematical modeling to determine coating thickness only, without a way to quantify composition.

Advances in XRF technology such as high-definition Silicon Drift Detectors (SDD) now make it possible to measure both nickel and phosphorous content directly, allowing for both the coating thickness and composition to be determined simultaneously.

Current generations of microspot and handheld XRF analysers use a suitable combination of X-ray tube (optimised to excite phosphorus) and detector (sensitive enough to detect lowenergy elements), as well as geometry that minimises the distance between the tube, sample and detector to ensure maximum transmission of the phosphorus X-rays.

As the hardware has improved, so has the analytical software.

Operators with little training can confidently obtain the same results as expert technical staff.

Taking advantage of this optimised hardware enables XRF to provide critical analysis for quality control throughout the electroless nickel plating process, providing accurate and precise measurement of the deposited thickness and composition of the coating in varying ratios. Over a range of substrates including aluminium, steel, and copper alloys, choose microspot or handheld XRF analysers to ensure electroless nickel coatings are applied at the right thickness and composition to achieve desired metallurgical properties while minimising costs from over-plating.

Matt Kreiner Product Manager Oxford Instruments

Editor’s Choice

The eMC behaviour of Shielded daTa CableS for induSTrial appliCaTionS iDaC Solutions, formerly Datwyler UK, are the specialists in shielded / screened cabling systems - particularly for harsh environments, like those found in manufacturing facilities.

This White Paper explains the relationship between effective cable construction processes and EMC performance – as well as other benefits.

Datwyler has been producing high-grade data cables for decades. As a pioneer in the development and fabrication of shielded copper data cables for LANs, data centres and industrial environments we established the importance of EMC as a focus of product development back in the early days. Good EMC characteristics help to consolidate in-house network security; suppress a variety of electromagnetic interference, which can occur in the form of regular radio services; and create additional system head-room (for long-term application support).

They also ensure that the cabling doesn’t generate its own electromagnetic interference.

Argument in fAvour of brAided shielding (s/ftP) Braided shielding, which is applied to the Datwyler cables in a complex production process, is especially significant from an engineering point of view when compared with foil shielded cables. It not only noticeably improves the attenuation characteristics of the cable, but has other positive effects as well.

For example, it results in the current load capacity of the cable shielding being boosted significantly, which means that the cable contributes to better segmentation of the intermeshed equipotential bonding system in AmP magazine | 30 June 2016

the building. The cable itself is also much more resistant to any shield currents which may occur due to lightning or other imponderables.

When assembling connection components the shield contact effected with braided shielding is considerably simpler, safer, more durable and hence better than would be possible with a cable having only a foil shield. relevAnce of couPling AttenuAtion When constructing an S/FTP cable a cable manufacturer is able to control coupling attenuation and shielding attenuation by means of the braided shielding coverage, thereby achieving better EMC characteristics. However this relationship is not incremental, meaning that a cable with a higher degree of coverage does not automatically have better coupling and shielding attenuation than a cable with a lower degree of coverage. This is also why coupling attenuation was primarily specified as the relevant parameter for EMC behaviour in the cable standards.

The corresponding technical parameters for Category 7A cables are found in Standard EN 50288-9-1 “Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –

Part 9-1: Sectional specification for screened cables characterised up to 1000 MHz – horizontal and building backbone cables“.

This standard defines two levels of quality performance for the coupling attenuation of shielded data cables: A coupling attenuation of at least 85 decibels (dB) is stipulated for Type I. Type Ib cables need to meet a slightly lower standard of 70 dB. The structure of Datwyler’s S/FTP copper data cables complies with the higher spec Type 1 requirements, and the resulting performance far exceeds the figures for comparable products by other manufacturers.

Contact iDaCs on 02380 279999 or info@idacs.uk.com for more information.

iDaC Solutions editor’s choice

Complete Cabling Solutions for Manufacturing A high performance cabling infrastructure will improve process efficiency and increase productivity across your plant At iDaC Solutions we specialise in high quality screened cabling products and accessories for industrial applications Automation & Control Cables

Clean-room qualified cables Industrial Ethernet IP67Connectivity Splash Zone outlets & Enclosures Containerised Mobile Data Centres

We partner exclusively with industry leaders, like Swiss-based cable manufacturer Datwyler (est. 1915), to ensure our screened cabling products provide superior physical protection and EMC properties; and deliver Improved system reliability for our customers.

Whether you're looking for industrial grade control cables or Industrial Ethernet data network systems, we have a solution to meet your needs.

Contact us today to find out more about our unique products and services for manufacturing.

FOR ALL YOUR CABLING NEEDS +44 (0) 2380 279 999

info@idacs.uk.com

www.idacs.uk.com

Not your average connector manufacturer The Company - for more than 75 years, ODU has been a problem-solving designer of premium connectors. From magnetic resonance tomography to kitchen utensils to submarines, the connector systems developed and manufactured by ODU are found in all industry sectors and all around the world. Head¬quartered in Mühldorf Germany, the ODU Group has an international production and distribution network throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.

History - in 1937, Otto Dunkel built the first ionospheric transmitters, broadcasting messages into the atmosphere, to be reflected and then received in another location. These transmission presented many challenges, particularly with the plug contacts of the broadcasting system. Looking out his window one day, Dunkel saw a man with a twig-broom sweeping up leaves and this gave him the idea for an entirely new type of contact – the springwire contact.

A year later Dunkel patented his invention: The deflecting pin contact - now known around the world as ODU SPRINGTAC. Multiple, individually-operating, springwires are incorporated into each contact [even the smallest 0.76mm dia contact has 15 springwires] - each springwire is in contact with the pin, ensuring an extremely high number of mating cycles and stable low contact resistance.

Markets - connectors from ODU ensure reliable transmission of power, signals, data, and media in numerous demanding applications in the growth markets of medical, military & security and energy, as well as in established sectors such as industrial electronics, test & measurement, and automotive.

Modular Product – for the industrial equipment OEM, the the rectan-

gular connector system, ODU-MAC, offers nearly limitless configurations due to a flexible modular build.

Reliable and compact, most ODU-MAC modules are based on ODU SPRINGTAC contacts with springwire technology, ensuring the highest level of contact stability even under increased vibration.

The ODU-MAC is available in two formats – in a DIN housing for manual operation and in an aluminium frame for automatic docking.

Contacts can be added and varied by the customer using an on-line configurator, backed-up by technical support.

Whether in connector technology for the Finnish state railway, as an interface with the analysis unit of heart catheter systems, or in pick-and-place machines, the ODU-MAC ensures reliable safety, quick trans¬mission, and a high number of mating cycles.

Customers report no failures in the aluminium docking frame version of the ODU-MAC even after more than one million mating cycles.

So, what’s new?

ODU has developed a new interface housing for the ODU-MAC, an add-on solution created specifically to provide optimal strain relief and also allow for the inclusion of additional circuit-boards and components.

The new housing is available for all six docking frames, which are especially designed to tackle the challenges of automatic docking situations.

ODU can deliver complete system solutions to its clients from a single source, including the connector, matching interface housing and, if needed, the complete cable assembly.

For perfect connections and to find out more about ODU and the ODUMAC modular rectangular connector – get in touch:- ODU UK Ltd tel: 01509 266433 email: sales@odu-uk.co.uk www.odu-uk.co.uk AMP Magazine | 32 June 2016

Editors’ Choice

ODU-MAC

ÂŽ Compact modular connector system

THE ALL-ROUND SOLUTION FOR MANUAL MATING AND AUTOMATIC DOCKING The intelligent path to individual connection: ODU-MAC – our versatile modular connector solution enables signals, power, high current, high voltage, coax, high-speed data transmission, fibre optic and other media such as air or fluid. For your individual connection.

Fail-safe performance thanks to high level of contact reliability

30 different high-speed inserts in the field of data technology

6 standard docking solutions

> 100,000 mating cycles

High packing density

Stable low contact resistances

ODU-UK Ltd. Phone: +44 1509 266433 sales@odu-uk.co.uk www.odu-uk.co.uk

Company BaCkground AMP Magazine | 34 June 2016

S

chwer Fittings Ltd started in Warrington in 1994, twenty years later as an established and still growing company, the UK branch continues to improve, innovate and, most importantly, manufacture.

Recent improvements include expanding into the adjacent building, provision of an updated trade counter, purchase of new CNC machinery and a bending machine.

Investment in a test bench and hose swaging machinery, means that Schwer can now provide compatibility testing of hoses and fittings. The new training facilities are being used for BFPA courses, available to individuals and companies.

Having been involved in the manufacture of stainless steel fittings for over 40 years, this German based company has an ongoing goal of producing high quality, precise, stainless steel, tube and hose connectors and adapters, whilst ongoing developments and improvements keep it at the fore front of the marketplace.

Products Specialists in stainless steel connection technology, Schwer offers a wide range of fittings, including single and twin ferrule compression fittings, hose end fittings, including interlock, (BSP, NPT, metric, ORFS & JIC), hydraulic adapters (BSP, NPT metric & JIC), screwed fittings and valves.

Increased stock in the UK allows for next day delivery for most items, with a further, short-lead time, service available from German stock.

The u2-Lok range of twin ferrule fittings is uniquely, European Manufactured, using NACE & NORSOK approved material, DNV certified and laser marked ensuring 3.1b material certification and traceability

QuAlity MAnAgeMent Uniquely, all Schwer products are laser marked, this number allows for complete traceability from the raw material, to the machine used for production. Item specific 3.1b certificates and test reports, may be supplied up to ten years after manufacture.

Schwer holds many quality certificates including ISO 9001 & 14001, Lloyds, DNV, ABS and DVGW. Combing a highly skilled workforce and cutting edge CAD design with the newest machine technology, Schwer produces the highest quality products, all of which are subjected to rigorous testing from raw material through production, to despatch.

exPertise And technicAl suPPort A technically trained team in the UK with many years’ experience and knowledge is equipped to provide a continuously improving service, both over the phone and on site.

Schwer’s new web site now offers product search, downloadable certificates and technical information, whilst paper catalogues are also available from the Warrington office. We look forward to hear from you. Alternatively we will meet you next at PPMA Total Show 2016.

35 | AMP Magazine June 2016

Implementing a calibration system?

Our calibration and IT expertise helps you face calibration process improvement projects that are typically complex and consume a lot of time and resources.

Only 20% to 30% of a calibration system upgrade is tools and technology, the rest is business culture and process. Therefore, the success of a new calibration system depends especially on the implementation of the system and the ability to define and adopt a new calibration process. We are the experts in both technology and implementation, so you can focus on the opportunities, while we support and guide you in the evolution of your calibration system and successful implementation of the calibration process change.

Learn more at: beamex.com/CalibrationProcessImprovements

www.beamex.com info@beamex.com

Revolutionary MX-Series Oval Gear Flow Meters M-Lock mounting systems for easy installation of outputs

www.bellflowsystems.co.uk sales@bellflowsystems.co.uk sales@bellflowsystems.co.uk

New TC Model t 500 - 2000kg/hr t Touch control screen t Full modulation feature 50-100% firing t Natural Gas, Light Oil, LPG and Bio Fuel t Automatic facility option t PM5 Facility option t Pressure range up to 32 barG t >98% Efficiency * t Remote compatible with Profibus/ CANbus etc. t Steam in 3 minutes t Compact construction t Lightweight t Suitable for mezzanine floors t Factory tested prior to dispatch to site t NOx Gas reduction option t Dual fuel option

SC Range t 80 - 2000kg/hr t Natural Gas, Light Oil, LPG and Bio Fuel t Automatic facility option t PM5 Facility option t Pressure range up to 32 barG t >98% Efficiency * t Steam in 3 minutes t Compact construction t Lightweight t Suitable for mezzanine floors t Factory tested prior to dispatch to site t NOx Gas reduction option

Electrical Range t Compact t 8 - 160kg/hr Steam output t Modulating ouput t Skid mountable t Steam in 3 minutes t Automatic facility option

CERTUSS (UK) Limited Unit 45 Gravelly Industrial Park Tyburn Road Birmingham B24 8TG

Tel: 0121 327 5362 Fax: 0121 328 2934 sales@certuss.co.uk www.certuss.co.uk

Duty Standby with CVE Package Plant

CVE Package Plant t compact t Pre-pied, Pre-Wired t Skid mounted t Fully factory tested t Lightweight t Easily maintained

Containerised Plant t Easily relocated t Self contained plant room t Full lighting and heating t Fast site connection

Raspberry Pi gets a new home Industrial automation with Raspberry Pi just got easier The new RPI-BC enclosure is desgined specifically to accomodate Raspberry Pi computers. The DIN rail or wall mountable enclosure provides access to all ports, GPIO pins and SD card without removing the lid. Ideal for all industrial automation projects.

For additional information call 0845 881 2222 or visit phoenixcontact.co.uk

XXX00-00.000.X0 Š PHOENIX CONTACT 2016