Engineering Update - August 2015

ENGINEERING UPDATE WWW.ENGINEERING-UPDATE.CO.UK

29 September – 1 October NEC, Birmingham

AUGUST 2015

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EVERYONE’S GOING – ARE YOU?

Register now at www.ppmashow.co.uk

Man and Machine Training Academy

Man and Machine offer an extensive range of Autodesk 2015 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

E: marketing@manandmachine.co.uk W: www.manandmachine.co.uk T: 01844 263 700

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August 2015

CONTENTS Editorial Assistant Jenna Burridge 01843 448 443

Publishing Director

Tony Little 01843 448 443 tony@engineering-update.co.uk

Publication Manager

Tim Johnston 01843 448 443 tim@engineering-update.co.uk

Publishing House Jet Digital Media Ltd The Mill Spratling Court Office Spratling Court Farm Manston Kent CT12 5AN

At the forefront of digital marketing, Engineering Update strives to bring its readers the latest in industrial engineering, in a format that provides the best usability and ease of use for it’s readers.

Every monthly issue of the publication brings the latest in news, event information, as well as extensive features that encompass every aspect of the engineering industry.

4 News 8 Editors Choice 24 PPMA Preview 46 Sensors 54 Events www.engineering-update.co.uk

News

August 2015

THE FLOORING SHOW 2015

POWERING AHEAD

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ith around 160 exhibitors booked, the 2015 Flooring Show – the 53rd in the series – will be the biggest for many years, and the flooring industry is starting to gear up for an exciting and vibrant event. The show will be held at its habitual home in Harrogate from 20-22 September.

Event Director Wendy Adams comments: “We’ve worked hard over the past few years to bring back some big names to Harrogate, and it’s fantastic we now have a great mix of familiar faces and exciting new brands – I’m sure 2015 will be a great year for the show.”

The event is relevant to specifiers, architects, facilities managers, designers, flooring contractors and flooring retailers In addition to favourites including Cormar Carpets, Abingdon Flooring, F Ball & Co, Lano, Lifestyle Floors and many others, the 2015 show welcomes a host of new and returning names including IVC Group, Asiatic Carpets & Rugs, Uzin, Whitestone Weavers, Hugh Mackay, Windmoeller, Jaymart and Ultimate Rugs.

The 2014 show introduced ‘The Wool Trends Centre’ in conjunction with the British Wool Marketing Board and the Campaign for Wool; this popular area will return in 2015 in expanded format, and includes key manufacturers Brockway, Cavalier, Westex, Axminster, Brintons, Adams, Bronte and Ulster – all exhibiting.

The ever popular Demo Areas run by NICF, FITA and CFA will return – the full three day programme is available on the show website.

This year the Trends Hub team will create a ‘flooring retail shop of the future’, in conjunction with a seminar explaining the key points about the shop concept on the Sunday morning. The idea is to provide some ideas and food for thought, primarily for independent flooring retailers to take home and make some positive changes to their business. This project is being supported by Adam Carpets, Interfloor, Interface, Concept Handtufting, British Ceramic Tile and The Stocklist with their brand new ‘Vizifloor’ consumer product.

The seminar programmes in the Business Enrichment Theatre will include sessions from HOUZZ – the fastest growing website in its category in the world; and Vanessa Brady of the SBID, newly appointed OBE for her outstanding services to the design industry.

Full information can be found at www.theflooringshow.com, where visitors can register to visit the show free of charge.

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Street

News

August 2015

Did you know it is possible to save 90% on your building cooling costs?

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n EcoCooling direct evaporative cooling can be used as a carbon friendly alternative to air conditioning to provide up to 90% energy savings at a fraction of the capital cost of a traditional air conditioning or ventilation system.

A simple system of just one unit can provide up to 30kW of cooling from just 1kW of electricity and can cover an area of 250sqm or a 15m diameter circle in a typical manufacturing or logistics operation. The only service requirements are 240v electricity and a mains water supply. Alternative products and bespoke control systems are available to suit various installation requirements.

EcoCooling evaporative coolers offer many advantages over traditional systems They are safe, cost effective and require only simple maintenance. Their low power usage has little impact on the site maximum demand and can release power availability if it is used to replace refrigeration. Advanced control systems connect to any existing BMS system.

There are no refrigerants and the installation cost can be up to a quarter of the cost of traditional systems.

Installation in most cases is quick and entails minimum, if any, disruption to production. EcoCoolers can also provide air flow through the side or top, allowing installation to be flexible and cheaper when roof penetration is not an option.

which are the most efficient available.

Further efficiency is gained by speed control.

Operating the EcoCooling system at half speed reduces the fan energy use by over 85%. This permits extremely high cooling efficiencies at part population of data centres or server rooms.

Data centres and server room cooling

Installations

Do you have a datacentre or server room that needs cooling? The EcoCooling CREC solution has been adopted by over 350 data centres in the UK and they are achieving PUEs of below 1.1. CRECs use Electrically Commutated (EC) fans

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Legionnaires disease evaporative coolers

and

The EcoCooling range of evaporative coolers maintain hygienic operation and fully comply with all legionella control regulations.

Ecocooling now have over 3500 installations both in the industrial and IT sectors in the UK including Cummins Diesel, Net-a-Porter, RPC, Cott Beverages, Premier Foods, Cambridge University, Unum and Humberside Police.

Contact Details: EcoCooling Ltd. sales@ecocooling.org 01284810586 @EcoCooling1

www.ecocooling.org

News

August 2015

Dura 190x133mm ad_new2.qxd:Layout 1 07/05/2015 09:24 Page 1

Dura Platform Composite Structural Station Platforms AVY DUTY HE

Spans up to 3.4m @ 5kN/m2

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Concealed Fixing System Fast Install Minimises Track Time

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+44 (0)1255 423601 enquiries@duracomposites.com www.duracomposites.com

Incorporates Fall for Drainage

Install by Hammond (ECS) Ltd at Needham Market

A Y DR INAG AS

Welcome to the game changing rail plaform solution designed to save time and money throughout the supply chain. The unique patented design provides contractors with a system that overcomes many of today’s challenges such as drainage, surface mounted fixings, irregular lines, colour fade, cable management and most of all station disruption.

...designed for the future Industrial Rail Marine Landscaping Architectural Dura Grating 138x100mm DABS_Layout 1 13/07/2015 10:55 Page 1

Dura Grating Fibreglass Floor Riser Decking NO

CORROS I

LIP SURFA IS

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+44 (0)1255 423601 enquiries@duracomposites.com www.duracomposites.com

Can be cut on-site Gritted surface prevents slips, trips & falls Quick & easy to lift and install No hot works permits required

Permanent Riser shaft installation

SPARKIN ON

The leading choice for Floor Riser safety, Dura Grating is an easy to install and lightweight riser solution. Dura Grating Risers are made from high-strength composite fibreglass and can be installed at any multi-storey construction as permanent service riser shaft decks or as temporary lift shaft deck covers. They can be cut to suit on-site and are safe, lightweight, anti-slip and nonsparking, reducing the need for hot works permits

...designed for the future Industrial

Rail

Marine

Landscaping

Architectural

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Editors Choice

August 2015

J D NEUHAUS OFFERS PROVEN PERFORMANCE BASED ON 270 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE 9 September 2015 marks 270 years of manufacturing for the German based hoist and crane manufacturer J D Neuhaus, and after seven generations, the company is still managed by a descendant of the original owner. Load handling equipment supplied by J D Neuhaus is now utilised throughout the world, from small engineering workshops up to large organisations and including some of the heaviest and most demanding handling operations, even under extreme operating conditions. Their world market leader status is backed-up with a service and supply organisation established in more than 90 countries together with over 70 branches.

potentially dangerous working conditions and explosive atmospheres exist.

Lifting equipment has been the backbone of the manufacturing dynasty, with their first wooden shaft winch being produced in 1745. Winches were also initially produced for waterway locks, controlling a growing traffic of horse-drawn barges on the Ruhr river. Business developed to include lifting and handling of railway carriages, the general loading of goods and a widespread use of JDN products in the coal mines of the German Ruhr. Over time their winches became progressively more powerful so that by the 1880’s they had the capability of moving individual loads of up to 7,500kg.

Hoists with optional power supplies of either compressed air or hydraulics are also now available in the JDN range. Most of the hoists are designed for top hook suspension, with optional trolleys also available to accommodate overhead rail mountings. Monorail hoists have also been further developed for specialised industry applications, particularly where loads have to be moved within areas of reduced space or where low headroom conditions exist.

More recent product developments also include major redevelopments of some hoists in their Profi range which offer up to 50% savings in energy consumption, with increased lift/lower speeds. Appreciable reductions in hoist overall sizes, weights, and operating sound levels have also been achieved.

Improvements in the quality of materials, coupled to an ongoing development program meant that JDN products became progressively more compact as well as providing enhanced safety and performance capacities. A major step was also taken by the company with the introduction in 1952 of hoists powered by compressed air, which operated a rugged vane motor encapsulated within each hoist. This proved to be a positive advance for their principal customers at that time, being the coal mining industry, enabling them to operate more effectively, with greater economy and at higher levels of safety when working underground in dust laden, explosive conditions. In 1966 the first JDN air operated hoists for applications outside underground mining were launched into the market, covering lift capacities of 250 to 1000kg. Further product developments also ensured that JDN hoists were equally successful in other potentially dangerous working conditions as typically experienced in tunnelling, foundries, the chemicals industries, cement manufacture, steelworks and shipbuilding, together with oil and gas industries both on land and offshore. In fact any industries where heavy loads and

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Over the years the JDN product range has been developed to incorporate hoists with ever-increasing lifting capacities, providing a product range suitable for applications right across the engineering spectrum.

1979 was highlighted by the introduction of the Profi 100 TI unit, the first air hoist worldwide having a capacity of 100 tonnes.

In the same year, JDN also introduced monorail hoists, specially developed for BOP handling in the offshore industry.

Parallel developments also culminated with the plant construction business unit being founded in 2011.

The manufacture of special purpose hoists has also been undertaken over the years including big-bag handling units where workloads comprising powdered, granular or small component materials are involved. These hoists are often utilised with cruciform lifting beams. BOP handling systems have also been supplied suitable for both land based and offshore oil and gas exploration, including both jack-up and semi-submersible drilling platforms.

Hoists have been linked together for these operations to handle individual BOP loads of up to 200 tonnes.

The utilisation of JDN hoists for interesting civil construction projects includes the new Las Vegas High Roller Observation Wheel at 550 feet high. This can carry 1100 visitors in 28 suspended pods offering exciting views over the Las Vegas Strip.

Air and hydraulically operated hoist products are also incorporated into the JDN crane systems which have developed into a major market for the company. The

explosion-proof aspect of the equipment is a major feature of standard or special purpose overhead travelling cranes including both top and under-hung variations, as well as the JDN jib cranes.

The provision of handling products for niche markets has been a growing major output for the company, to the extent that JDN promotion material now proudly states that our products are ‘engineered for extremes’ which includes an 80% of the market share being exports. Products in this category include both air and hydraulically operated hoists designed for underwater operation down to a depth of 70 metres.

Oblique pulling as well as vertical lifting is provided to cover a wide range of subsea tasks. Hoist operations in arctic conditions have also been accommodated with a hydraulic unit, for operation at ambient conditions as low as -45°C. The company are geared up for forthcoming specialised markets including land-based fracking operations, and the development and construction of specialised turnkey handling systems.

Quality, environmental protection, employee orientation and highly effective processes play a key role in the production and operation of Neuhaus products. The company’s environment management system was certified by the TŨV Rheinland Technical Control Association in 2009.

JDN has been reviewing its quality management system on a regular basis since 1991.

Methods such as Kaizen, CIP, Kanban, Lean Production and ERP serve as a basis for the whole JDN Group, which achieved a Group turnover of around 50 million euros in 2014. Annual production amounts to 6,000 to 8,000 hoists. At present, J D Neuhaus employs a workforce of 215, of which 160 work at the production site in Witten, Germany.

Further information is available on request to: J D Neuhaus GmbH & Co. KG, 58449, Witten-Heven, Germany Telephone: +49 2302 208-219 Fax: +49 2302 208-286 e-mail: info@jdngroup.com www.jdngroup.com

August 2015

About Ideal Power Ideal Power are specialists in power conversion, using expert knowledge to specify, source and purchase power supply products for use in any application and across all industries.

The Ideal Power expert team has over 40 years industry experience and occupies two locations in the UK. The centrally based headoffice in Peterborough provides marketing, sales and technical support to provide the optimum product for a wide range of applications and industries including computing, communications, transportation, security, industrial, defence and medical. The proficient warehouse facility near Barnstaple in North Devon holds large amounts of stock for call-off, providing an extra, yet essential service that accommodates delivery requirements set by customers. This brings logistics, convenience and cash flow benefits whilst achieving synergy with all business models.

For further information contact; +44 (0)845 260 3400 sales@idealpower.co.uk www.idealpower.co.uk

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Ideal Power Move to Larger Facility as Sales Continue to Grow Power conversion specialists Ideal Power Ltd have moved to a larger facility to ensure continued high levels of customer support as the company’s sales grow and to accommodate their expanding telesales team. `

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ocated in Peterborough, Ideal Power’s Sales and Marketing Centre now occupies its own 2200 square foot facility while continuing to provide distribution and logistics services from their long established base in Barnstaple, Devon.

With a growing range of market leading power supplies from principles including EOS and Glary, Ideal Power offers open frame, encapsulated, DIN Rail and LED lighting power supplies, external power supplies and adaptors and DC:DC converters. Ideal Power also distributes a market leading range of battery chargers for industrial and leisure markets.

Typical applications for Ideal Power products include consumer, industrial, computing, medical, communications and security.

Ideal Power’s UK based IP Support Engineering Team are available to work with customer’s design engineers to create modifiedstandard and full custom designs for quantities from 100 pieces upwards.

The Ideal Power IP Support team has over 40 years of experience in the power supply industry and provides local assistance throughout the whole design process from concept, design, quotations, samples and testing to approvals and standards compliance, shipping, stock-holding and aftersales service.

Jon Vallis, Sales and Marketing Manager of Ideal Power, comments, “Our very wide, high quality product range and bespoke engineering support provides our customers with unparalleled levels of service which underpins our continued sales growth.

Our new premises will not only ensure we continue to provide very high levels of service but also enables us to grow our sales operation for both distribution and custom power solutions.”

To contact the Ideal Power sales or IP Support Engineering Team please call +44 (0)845 260 3400, email sales@idealpower.co.uk or visit www.idealpower.co.uk

Ideal product, Ideal Price, Ideal Delivery, Ideal Power – who else!

Delivering Ideal Power solutions for your business, from stocked to bespoke products that meet your technical and commercial needs.

INTERCHANGEABLE AC DC PLUG TOP POWER SUPPLIES Over 30 models delivering 5V to 24V and from 6W to 30W which can be used in either Desk Top or Plug-in applications and compliant to ErP 2 requirements

 See part nos: PW02986 to PW03011 & PW02032 to PW02046

ErP 2

✓ 40 years of combined expertise ✓ Huge reserves of stock ✓ UK customer service centre LEAD ACID BATTERY CHARGERS

friendly power supplies (LOWEST STAND-BY CURRENT)

3-stage Automatic charging control (Fast/Normal/Float) for 3AH500AH Lead Acid 12V or 24V Batteries. Full protection against short circuit and reverse polarity connection. LED Charge Status Indicators.

Compliant to RoHS and Safety Standards including CE

 See part nos: BT03794 to BT03809

eco friendly power supplies

(LOWEST STAND-BY CURRENT)

eco friendly power supplies

(LOWEST STAND-BY CURRENT)

EXTERNAL DESK TOP POWER SUPPLIES 100% Burn-in Universal input 90~264V AC 50/60Hz Over Voltage & Short Circuit Protected Approvals to UL, TUV, CB, CE, RoHS & CEC V/ErP 2 compliant 0~40°C Operating Temperature range

 See part nos: PW01485, PW02416 to PW02434

ErP 2 Available with a wide variety of output connectors

HIGH EFFICIENCY DC/DC CONVERTER MODULES Industry Standard 2”x1” package and Pin-Out • I/P Voltage: 2:1 and 4:1 • Max Output Power: 40W/50Win³ • Max Output Current: 10A • Remote On/Off • Positive or Negative enable options • EN55022 Class B • Highest Efficiency 93% • MTBF>7.6Mhrs • Operating Temperature: -40°C to +110°C

 To discuss your power requirements call us on

0845 260 3400 or visit www.idealpower.co.uk

IDEAL POWER LTD Ideal House, Tree Beech Enterprise Park, Gunn, Barnstaple, Devon, ENGLAND EX32 7NZ

August 2015

In2Connect UK Ltd are the UK distributor for ept of Germany who have just re-launched their website www.ept.de ept stand for electronic precision technology at the highest level. As a family owned company ept are a long established, competent, highly automated and efficient partner in the development and production of PCB and Backplane connectors for the global embedded computing market.

Standardisation of connectors is a pre-requisite for open systems, where users expect components from different suppliers to operate together; ept connectors are therefore fully intermateable with all other similarly compliant products from manufacturers like Harting, Erni, Hirose and Tyco, etc.

The new look website now offers the latest information about ept and it’s new products A range of component data that can be downloaded in 3D format (3D PDF, IGES, STEP) and 2D format (PDF, DXF) A product finder for choosing connectors based on your individual requirements Technical information and recommendations for product processing Optimal website display on your tablet or smartphone With bulk ex works deliveries at an average 2 to 3 weeks on all the following, what are you waiting for?

Colibri 5Gbps HS connectors Micro TCA connectors Advanced TCA connectors Velox connectors DIN 41612 - 2 part PCB connectors Flexlink board to board jumpers VarPol pin headers and sockets PC/104 connectors for embedded computing hm 2.0 Hardmetric connectors PCB Power terminals

Com Express PICMG VITA 46 IEC 60603-2 PC/104 - Plus

Go to www.ept.de or www.in2connect.uk.com/ept_connectors.html and discover our new look and feel. We look forward to your visit!

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T +49 2961 7405-0 T +44 1234 783366

Made in Germany

Your Specialist for

Š REMBE | All rights reserved

EXPLOSION PROTECTION AND PROCESS SAFETY

Consulting. Engineering. Products. Service.

Ltd. Gallbergweg 21 | 59929 Brilon, Germany F +49 2961 50714 | info@rembe.de | www.rembe.de

Colworth Science Park | Sharnbrook | Bedfordshire | MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom F +44 1234 783367 | info@rembe.co.uk | www.rembe.co.uk

August 2015

EPLAN’s Pro Panel cuts wiring time by 75% The Pro Panel engineering software from EPLAN enables companies to achieve savings of up to 75% on wiring time, 50% time savings on layout and mounting and up to 50% increase in overall productivity.

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ith EPLAN Pro Panel, engineers can design and construct threedimensional control cabinets and switchgear systems easily and without expensive errors and rework. The software features include 3D mounting layout, wiring and design, modification and adjustment of copper busbars.

Designed with flexibility in mind, Pro Panel allows the user to choose their preferred approach whether it is based on equipment lists, connection lists, or circuit diagrams.

All necessary components can be easily entered and positioned on the 3D layout, thanks to the innovative eTouch technology.

The virtual 3D model of the control cabinet switchgear system helps designers make best use of the valuable control panel space available. Integrated planning aids such as collision testing, adherence to manufacturer installation guidelines, minimum clearances and bending radii, allow quick and optimum positioning and installation.

As an added benefit, error detection and other aspects of consistent quality control are predefined at the development stage, considerably reducing rework efforts and thus speeding time to market.

For correct wiring of control systems, EPLAN’s new software utilises 3D mounting layout

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Watch the EPLAN Pro Panel Video here. Visit the Pro Panel web page.

Recorded webinar

August 2015

and schematic. Based on a combination of the exact position of the component in the mounting layout and the connection information from the schematic, the control cabinet can be wired virtually.

The system works out the optimum conductor and cable routing and all the resulting connection lengths at the touch of a button. The result of the optimised wiring can then be used to optimise the schematic.

Another functionality of Pro Panel is project reports, drawings relating to production and mounting, as well as data required for machine control, can be generated directly from the software.

The copper extension module allows individual busbar systems, including the copper rails that are to be bent and the relevant connection to be configured and adapted to the installation. All the necessary data on drill holes, punching, bending angles and radiuses is provided in the form of drawings and machine data

for NC-based production – the new dimension in design, production and mounting.

customer requirements.

EPLAN Pro Panel is part of EPLAN’s CAE software platform that enables engineers to conform to international standards and directives and get consistent, quality designs that suit

www.eplan.co.uk

EPLAN 01709 704 100 info@eplan.co.uk

Your Gateway to Greater Efficiency EPLAN Software & Service · EPLAN Competence Centre · Rittal Ltd · Braithwell Way · Hellaby Industrial Estate · Hellaby · Rotherham S66 8QY +44 (0)1709 704100 · info@eplanexperience.co.uk · www.eplanexperience.co.uk

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August 2015

The courses are ideal for those who specify or purchase valves

Aberdeen Valve Training The British Valve and Actuator Association (BVAA), the valve industry’s voice, trade body and leading provider of valve and actuator training, is brining two of its most popular training courses to Aberdeen.

Delegates at the courses, Introduction to Valves and Valves, Advanced Level, will benefit from the independent delivery which BVAA can offer. There is no sales pitch at the end of a BVAA training course, as the BVAA are obliged as a not-for-profit industry body to give a fair and balanced view of the subject matter.

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The courses are one day each in duration, and cover a variety of topics. These range from the basic principles of valves and valve types for the introduction course – to design requirements and testing/ inspection on the advanced level courses.

from independent experts. We’ve spent over 75 years helping professionals get the best from the British valve industry, and we are delighted to continue our close relationship with the oil and gas industry in Aberdeen’ said Jimmy Phillips, of BVAA.

The training will be delivered

by Martin Greenhalgh, a valve industry veteran of some 30+ years. Martin is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and has been an Assessor for the Institution’s prestigious Manufacturing Excellence Award Scheme for five years. He is the author of BVAA’s Valve and Actuator Users’ Manual.

The courses are to be held at the KPMD Business Centre in Aberdeen on the 4th and 5th of November. Bookings can be made via bvaa.org.uk/training or 01295 221270. The price per delegate is £390+VAT, or £260+VAT for BVAA members.

‘This is one of the first opportunities for oil and gas professionals in Aberdeen to gain valve training

More information on course content, plus details of the dates of these and other courses which are held at venues South of the border, can be found on the BVAA website.

August 2015

THE POWER TO REALISE YOUR VISION NVIDIA® QUADRO® K6000

Combining breakthrough performance the Quadro K6000 GPU enables leadings organisations such as Pixar and Nissan to tackle visualisation and analysis workloads of unprecedented size and scope.

With Quadro K6000’s 12 GB of memory, I am now able to load nearly complete vehicle models in RTT Deltagen and have stunning photorealism almost instantly.

“

“

Dennis Malone, Associate Engineer, Nissan North America Elmtec is a distributor of NVIDIA graphics in the UK. Contact us now to find out where to buy

E: sales@elmtec.co.uk

T: 01844 263750

W: www.elmtec.co.uk

Elmtec is a trading division of

Did you know?

Not only is the UK home to eight Formula One teams but there are around 2,350 component manufacturers actively involved in the UK Automotive supply chain.

Man and Machine offer CAD solutions including training, consultancy, support and software for design engineers across the whole Automotive manufacturing industry.

Software includes: Alias

VRED

Get in touch today for more information.

3dsMax

Showcase

Inventor

Product Design Suite

E: training@manandmachine.co.uk W: www.manandmachine.co.uk/training T: 01844 263 700

Connect with us

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August 2015

Trotec Laser Launch New Engraving Materials Range Through the acquisition of ILC, the expert for laminated plastics, Trotec now offer a full range of consumables Engraving materials with proven quality

Trotec consumables available globally

Trotec has worked with ILC, who have a wealth of experience in producing plastics and laminates, for a number of years.

With ILC becoming part of the Trotec group, Trotec is now focused on offering a complete solution to meet the needs of laser users around the globe. From first class laser systems to an extensive range of engraving materials, complimented by a full cut to size service, as well as expert after sales service and support, Trotec offer a one stop shop for engravers.

Following extensive independent trials, customer feedback expressed an appreciation of reduced residue (produced during engraving), non-sticky edging when laser-cut and the necessity for fewer passes when engraving. This significant reduction to the finishing process provides fast, superior engraving, requiring fewer labour costs, saving customers valuable time and money.

Central UK warehouse In order to provide a next day* delivery service for customers in the UK, the range is housed in an extensive warehouse, located in Washington Tyne & Wear supported by a central European warehouse in Austria.

This multi-warehouse facility ensures stock availability, fast delivery and the highest level of service for customers.

Joining forces in the consumables sector Trotec has a long history of supplying consumables for use with laser and rotary machines and is already one of the major players in the consumables market in the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Germany and South Africa. With the acquisition of ILC, Trotec has now joined forces with a market leading manufacturer of laminated plastics, enhancing their customer focus.

Visit www.engraving-supplies.co.uk to download the new catalogue. *in stock items only, conditions apply.

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August 2015

Power & Energy Monitoring made simple with Fluke’s latest Three-Phase Energy Logger.

Key Features • Fast and easy recording of key power and energy variables such as voltage, current, power factor plus active, reactive and apparent power.

• Simple to use and set up with clear bright touch screen display for convenient infield assessments of live and recorded information.

• Comprehensive logging of all measurement values with the ability to store up to 20 separate logging sessions.

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he Fluke 1730 Three-Phase Energy Logger simplifies power and energy monitoring and enables you to produce simple load studies for your company’s complete facility, individual pieces of industrial plant or office departments. Simple energy surveys can be produce before and after energy saving equipment or methods have been introduced. If you are looking for support with your energy monitoring requirements then please contact our Power & Energy experts at the Test Tools Shop.

Read our expert review.

What the Power & Energy Test Tool Team like about the Fluke 1730 Three-Phase Energy Logger.

If you are looking for an easy to use solution for logging energy consumption and other power measurements then the Fluke 1730 Three-Phase Energy Logger is the perfect choice. Measurements and trends are displayed on the ‘Meter’ screen and from here using the touch-screen you can quickly verify the connection are correct before logging commences.

The ‘Power’ screen turns the Fluke 1730 into a three phase power meter for instantaneous values or live load profiles.

Finally the ‘Logger’ screen introduces an option to log voltage, current, frequency, total harmonic distortion plus power measurements, you can also apply an energy cost function to display energy consumed in real money! Data can be downloaded directly to a PC using the USB lead supplied alternatively when a USB stick is connected the unit prompts the user to transfer data to the memory stick. The software is supplied with the unit on a USB stick or alternatively it can be downloaded from the Fluke website

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• Simple user interface and intelligent verification functions indicates correct connections and set up before logging begins. Setup is simple to configure on site via the front panel controls. and it’s easy to install! The software allows you to investigate measurements more closely and produce simple test reports that can be customized with your company details or logo and then saved in pdf format.

Do you have a few questions that you would like to ask the Power and Energy experts from the Test Tool Team?

Simply click here and post your question, a Test Tools Team expert will get right back to you.

The Fluke 1730 Three-Phase Energy Logger introduces a new simpler way to monitor and understand electrical energy consumption. Discover when and where in your facility energy is being consumed, from the service entrance to individual circuits. Profiling energy usage across your facility helps you identify opportunities for energy savings, and provides you with the consumption data required. Fluke’s new Energy Analyze software package allows you to compare multiple data points over time to build a complete picture of energy usage, which is the first step to reducing your energy costs.

The Fluke 1730 Three-Phase Energy Logger is also very versatile and easy to connect to the mains power with the power lead supplied or alternatively its operating power can be derived directly from the measured supply. The unit’s power pack clips neatly to the back of the case but can be removed if space is a premium and re-connected via extension cables supplied. There are four voltage terminals to accommodate various systems from single to three phase & neutral, and three i1730-flex 1500 Thin Flexi Current Probes are also supplied and these are powered directly from the Fluke 1730.

• Two power option include DC power pack with connection to mains via supplied power cord (100V to 240V AC) or via the measured circuit (100V to 500V AC) using safety piggy back leads supplied with the unit for connection to AC power port on DC power pack and measurement connections.

• Two USB ports one for connection to PC and the other for connecting USB devices for fast, simple download of recorded data.

• Compact size able to fit in tight storage spaces for long term monitoring, supported by specially designed flat voltage cables and thin flexible current probes powered by the unit all help to make the installation so much easier.

• Fluke’s new Energy Analyze application software is simple to use and allows you to produce simple energy reports.

• Complies with EN61010 Safety Standard.

• Highest Measurement Safety Category CAT IV 600V/CAT III 1000V.

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PPMA Preview

August 2015

Manufacturing and Engineering giants gather at NEC for PPMA Show 2015 29th September – 1st October, NEC, Birmingham

A

s growth in the UK’s manufacturing sector continues to accelerate, with manufacturers reporting a rise in sales and indicating plans for expansion , industry professionals are gearing up to visit the PPMA Show 2015, the UK’s premier, free-to-attend complete production line event for processing and packaging machinery – set to be the largest of its kind in recent years.

Results from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Annual Barometer revealed that over 95 percent of manufacturers expect to maintain or increase their investment on machinery, premises and new technology, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and making the PPMA show the ideal place for processing and packaging professions to discover the latest technologies and product launches from across the UK’s manufacturing industries.

Returning to the NEC, Birmingham, the show will run over three days (29th September – 1st October) and will be opened by Lord Digby Jones, former director General of the CBI and Trade and Investment Minister. With exhibitor space up by more than 20 percent compared to preparations for the 2014 show, this time last year, the event is quickly becoming the processing and packaging show that must be not be missed.

“Having seen the event return to the sole ownership and management of the PPMA Group last year, we were absolutely delighted with how successful the show was,” said Grant Collier, head of marketing for the PPMA Group. “The event has always benefited from the community atmosphere associated with British manufacturing and provides an ideal meeting place for decision makers from across a range of industries

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to network with key manufacturers and distributions, all set against a back drop of innovation and industry expertise.”

Robotic and Industrial Vision zone showcases potential for automation New features to the 2015 exhibition include a Robotics and Industrial Vision zone which will showcase the latest inventive and quirky uses of robotic technology including robots that can dance, pour drinks and even play snooker.

Highlighting just how robotics and automation has come since the first industrial robotic arms were integrated into production lines, Rich Walker, Managing Director for the Shadow Robot company will demonstrate the ‘Moley robotic kitchen’ – capable of cooking chef quality meals using a normal kitchen. Walker will also speak as part of this year’s seminar line-up to reveal what robotics could hold for the future of food manufacturing.

“Robots are smarter than ever, easier to configure and versatile.

They will be able to cope with a wider range of tasks and will be easier to modify to undertake new tasks,” explained Walker. “The use of robotics could be cost effective on short run production lines that have as little as a six month payback period, because a versatile robot allows a manufacturer to redeploy the robot to multiple successive production lines. Robots will no longer be seen as instruments for speciality tasks – easily adapted, robots will be universally used across the food industry. I’m hoping to have some really profitable conversations with industry professionals and finding out how they feel robotics can benefit their business as well as identifying potential solutions to any problems they may have.”

August 2015

Manufacturing skills gap under the spotlight The topic of the current manufacturing skills gap will be addressed in more detail at this year’s seminar theatre following the launch of the PPMA BEST initiative, a new charitable trust aimed at recruiting more young people in the industry. The new division will highlight and promote the benefits of apprenticeships throughout the industry, highlighting how the skills shortage can be resolved through improved engagement between the industry and the UK’s academia.

Justin King to take centre stage Addressing the ingredients for success and highlight the at seminar theatre A leading figure in the FMCG and Grocery retailing sectors, Justin King CBE is set to headline this year’s PPMA Show seminar theatre. Taking to the stage, Justin will discuss the future for multiple retailers, how the growing market shares of discount retailers will affect the supply chain and how the continued emergence of supermarket convenience outlets is shaping the market. Also confirmed for the 2015 exhibition; Keith Thornhill, Business Manager for Food & Beverage at Siemens will present the case for technology and data analytics for the digital factory of the future; Peter Evans, Compliance Engineer at the CE Marking Association will help visitors understand the CE mark; Rhys Herbert, Senior Economist at Lloyds Banking Group will explore what’s in store for the manufacturing sector including its ambitions, opportunities and challenges.

opportunities for an engineering future in food and drink, Sam Kelly, Electrical Engineering Apprentice for PepsiCo and Hannah Whall, Graduate Project Engineer for Nestle will provide an upto-date insight into the opportunity in engineering in the largest industry in the UK. Representing two of the routes open to young people, including apprenticeships and graduate schemes, Sam and Hannah will share their personal stories as their build a career in the UK’s food and drink manufacturing industries.

Speaking about the industry, Sam Kelly, said: “The FMCG environment is a diverse industry and there are a wide variety of exciting prospects.

It is this variety across the industry that is attractive with businesses working in a number of different

PPMA Preview fields which means that everyday your skills are being tested in a new way. It is a challenging but also a rewarding industry, as young people and graduates can expect a good level of responsibility from the off and personally, it is this responsibility that has been a huge confidence builder for me. I have developed not only as an engineer but also as a person.”

Highlighting the obstacles stopping young people from recognising these opportunities, Hannah Whall added: “There is a lack of awareness of the manufacturing and packaging industries in schools currently and young people are either unaware or uninformed of the opportunities it presents. More should be done to let young people realise the opportunities available to them.

Ensuring that young people have a full picture of the opportunities on offer is crucial and should start with teachers talking to pupils.”

In an effort to further encourage young engineers into the sector, the PPMA Show will also welcome the return of the Ones to Watch Awards which recognises the contributions of processing and packaging professionals under the age of 35.

Sponsored by Festo, the awards are chosen by a select group of industry specialists from the PPMA Group Industry awards judging panel, with colleagues being urged to nominate outstanding candidates to the PPMA Show press office.

Also appearing at the show, Mike Crosby, Finance Director for Burts Potato Chips will examine how sales targets and profitability have soared thanks to continued factory investment and new technology.

Speaking about his appearance at the show, Mike commented: “At Burts Chips we strive to produce quality snacks for our customers that always deliver on taste and crunch. We recognise that continued investment in new technology and the factory is essential to continue the path of growth and enable us to innovate the competitive snacks sector.”

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PPMA Preview Demonstrating the future trends in manufacturing Attendees at the NEC in September can also find out more about the latest trends and innovations taking the industry by storm. “Since the PPMA show last year, the term ‘Industry 4.0’ has worked its way through the entire supply chain,” said Dan Rossek, Marketing Manager for Omron. “We are anticipating that the increased demand for ‘big data’ integration between the factory shop floor and top floor will draw more food and pharmaceutical manufacturers to the show this year.”

With the productivity puzzle still proving an issue for four fifths of the UK’s smaller manufacturers, visitors can visit stand E90 where Festo, the innovation leader in pneumatic and electric drive technology will be showcasing a number of its exciting new developments, concepts and solutions for the food and beverage sector. Visitors to the stand will be able to discuss how they can increase productivity in different ways by considering efficiency, simplicity, security as well as accessing Festo’s key competencies.

Attendees can also pop along to stand C50 to see FANUC Robotics new M-710iC/45m, a mid-sized, high speed robot with a long reach which provides efficiency gains for shelfready case loading. Launching at PPMA 2015, this is one of four FANUC robots completing picking, collating,

August 2015 packaging and palletising tasks live at the NEC in September. Fortress Technology on stand B01 will also reveal a range of sustainable metal detectors for food manufacturers and packers which guarantees an exceptional return on investment (ROI).

Also exhibiting at the NEC, Peebles-based Evolution Bottling & Packaging will demonstrate Logics & Controls’ pioneering LOGILOOK inspection machine which can fully inspect label quality using a single camera, regardless of the way the bottle is facing. The technology eliminates the common problem of merging multiple images as it is capable of capturing a clear view of the bottle in a single clear image.

Other confirmed exhibitors include the likes of the RM Group with ABB Limited, Yorkshire Packaging, SMC Pneumatics, SICK UK and Stemmer Imaging.

Finally, the team at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking (stand F40) will once again have a dedicated stand at the show where its team of specialists will be offering advice ranging from day-to-day banking requirements to funding for expansion to exporting.

Lloyds return as headline sponsors highlights the company’s confidence in UK manufacturing and in particular, Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

The team, made up of 13 dedicated sector teams, have the autonomy to make local lending decisions up to £1m – on a case-by-case basis. They

will once again have a dedicated stand at the show, the team will also be taking to the show floor to discuss banking opportunities with exhibitors and visits alike, following its 2014 commitment to provide lending facilities to the manufacturing sector of £1bn per annum every year until 2017.

Speaking about returning as sponsors of the PPMA Show, David Atkinson, Head of Manufacturing for Lloyds Bank SME Commercial Banking, said: “One of the common challenges for the manufacturing sector is the perception, and availability, of finance. We know that the manufacturing industry has a unique set of banking needs.

Whether it’s assisting with cash flow, financing growth to help firms enter new supply chains, improving efficiency, automating processes or helping to penetrate new markets, we have trained our dedicated managers through a Warwick University Accredited course at the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) to support manufacturing businesses.

“With the sheer volume of PPMA members serving the industry, we knew that this would be the event to profile our support for the sector and raise awareness for the finance and support available to the UK’s manufacturing industries.”

To register your attendance at the show please visit: http://bit.ly/PPMA2015. For more information on the PPMA Show 2015, please visit www.ppmashow.co.uk or join the conversation on twitter (@PPMAshow #PPMAShow or the PPMA Show LinkedIn group.)

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PPMA Preview

August 2015

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PPMA Preview

August 2015

Innovation, automation and skills gap at the forefront of PPMA Show 2015 Seminar Programme The PPMA Show 2015 will play host to an extensive seminar programme at this year’s show with visitors invited to join the likes of Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, Nestle, PepsiCo and Siemens who will speak about the latest industry trends and hottest issues impacting processing and packaging professionals.

Headlining the 2015 seminar programme, former Sainsbury’s CEO and leading figure in the FMCG and Grocery retailing sectors, Justin King CBE will discuss the future of multiple retailers, how the growing market shares of discount retailers will impact the supply chain and how the continued emergence of supermarket convenience outlets is shaping the market.

Demonstrating the future trends in manufacturing Reflecting one of the key themes of the 2015 exhibition, Rich Walker, Managing Director for Shadow Robot Company, will take to the stage to highlight future uses of robotics including the innovative ‘Moley robotic kitchen’ – capable of cooking chef quality meals in a normal kitchen.

Speaking about the future of robotics in the manufacturing industry, Rich Walker said: “The influence that robotics could have on the industry could potentially rip up way in which the supply chain currently operates and totally rebuild it. We have all of the tricks and toys necessary to offer an increased level of automation across the industry. By speaking at the PPMA, I’m looking forward to speaking with industry professionals about how robotics can benefit their businesses and offer solutions to problems they’re currently experiencing on their production lines.”

Mike Crosby, Finance Director for Burts Potato Chips also joins the line-up to discuss how food manufacturers can increase profitability through technological investment.

Speaking about his appearance, Mike said, “At Burts Chips, we recognise

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that continued investment in new technology and the factory is essential to continue the path of growth and enable us to innovate the competitive snacks sector. We look forward to sharing our insight and experience with visitors at the show.”

Additional speakers confirmed for the 2015 exhibition include Keith Thornhill, Business Manager for Food & Beverage at Siemens who will present the case for technology and data analytics for the digital factory of the future. Keith will be joined by Peter Evans, Compliance Engineer at the CE Marking Association who will discuss the CE mark while Chris Hurst, Head of Compliance & Operational Engineering at GlaxoSmithKline will explore overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Also set to speak at the show, Andrew Manly, Communications Director for the Active & Intelligent Packaging Industry Association (AIPIA) will reveal the industry’s latest packaging technologies.

Manufacturing skills gap under the spotlight In addition to the latest technological innovations, the seminar sessions will offer insight into the opportunities for a successful career in engineering.

Leading the discussion, Sam Kelly, Electrical Engineering Apprentice for PepsiCo and Hannah Whall, Graduate Project Engineer for Nestlé will share their thoughts on what the industry can do to inspire a new generation of engineers.

Speaking about the importance of combating the skills gap, Hannah Whall said ‘I’m looking forward to speaking at the PPMA Show to help raise awareness of the opportunities that the FMCG sector has for young and prospective engineers. I hope

to be able to answer questions and offer advice to those thinking about starting a career in the manufacturing industry.”

For visitors at the NEC in September, the seminar programme will also explore the current economic climate in the UK with Rhys Herbert, Senior Economist at Lloyds Banking Group revealing what’s in store for the manufacturing sector and how the UK economy is shaping up against its competitors. Lloyds Banking Group will also be returning as the headline sponsor for the 2015 show, highlighting the company’s confidence in UK manufacturing and in particular, Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Speaking about the seminar line-up, Grant Collier, head of marketing for the PPMA Group, said: “This year’s seminar programme really is an exciting line-up, with a diverse array of high calibre speakers, which we believe visitors and exhibitors alike will find of great interest. We can’t wait to return to the NEC and welcome our members and non-members to join us and discover the latest industry trends all under one roof.”

The full seminar schedule is now available online, including speakers from Campden BRI, Be4ward Ltd and Portalis Limited. Please visit http:// bit.ly/PPMAShow2015-Seminars to read more about the speakers and the topics set to be discussed at the show in September.

To register your attendance at the show please visit: http://bit.ly/ PPMA2015. For more information on the PPMA Show 2015, please visit www.ppmashow.co.uk or join the conversation on twitter (@PPMAshow #PPMAShow or the PPMA Show LinkedIn group.)

PPMA Preview

August 2015

Now for something completely different Ground-breaking smart encoders from ifm electronic New incremental encoders from ifm electronic truly break the mould: not only are they programmable, they have switched outputs for a pre-set count or speed but the real innovation is the builtin display of, for example, count or speed.

For further information, contact Gemma Anderson, ifm electronic Ltd., efector House, Kingsway Business Park, Oldfield Road, Hampton, Middlesex, TW12 2HD. Tel: 020 8213-0000.

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Easy programming: setting the resolution and the many other functions is simply done using the intuitive pushbuttons on the encoder. Of course remote setting is also possible, and for this ifm electronic chose the IO-Link open standard, so the user is not tied to proprietary software but can instead use standard PLC’s or HMI’s because IO-Link is supported by major manufacturers.

Stock reduction: machine builders and incremental encoder users can now select the housing they require, choosing 6mm or 10mm diameter solid shafts, or 12mm semi-hollow, and that is all they need to stock, programming the resolution as required. The smart encoders also offer selectable 5V or 24V

outputs.

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PPMA Preview

August 2015

tamper resistant packaging PPMA Show set to demonstrate latest anti-counterfeit and tamper resistant packaging for pharmaceutical professionals The organisers of the PPMA show, the UK’s premier free-to-attend complete production line event for processing and packaging machinery, have announced details of the latest packaging and processing solutions set to be revealed at the show in September for professionals in the pharmaceutical industry.

Returning to the NEC, Birmingham, the show runs over three days (29th September – 1st October), and will see more than 300 exhibitors display the latest technologies and product launches from across the UK’s manufacturing industries.

Featuring live machinery demonstrations and strong seminar content with insights from industry leaders, professionals in the pharmaceutical industries can gain insight into new product innovations from RAUPACK’s (stand J24) latest counting and bottle solutions, Conveyor Systems’ (stand D12) conveying solutions for the packing of pharmaceutical canisters or Excel Packaging Machinery’s (stand D40) Excel e liquid filling machines ideal for the pharmaceutical, toiletries and cosmetics industries.

Also on show at the NEC in September, Atwell Self-Adhesive Labellers, Excel Packaging Machinery, Holmach and Ilpra (UK) will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss their latest product innovations alongside Farleygreene, suppliers of sieving and separation machinery, experts in lifting and power handling solutions.

Palamatic Limited and Kecol Pumping Systems.

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Anti-counterfeit and tamperresistant packaging key to consumer safety Visitors can also join a wide range of leading figures from the industry to discuss key topics facing pharmaceutical professionals in the packaging and processing industries.

Confirmed speakers include Andrew Love, Vice President at Be4ward Ltd, who will discuss the latest developments, technologies and strategies in pharmaceutical anti-counterfeit and tamper-resistant packaging. Andrew will also provide insight into how these packaging materials can be used to counter the threat posed to consumers by the counterfeit drugs black market.

Also taking to the stage will be Chris Hurst, who has worked with the GSK group of companies for over 30 years. Chris will explore how overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) has been an effective tool to benchmark, analyse and improve production processes in many sectors for decades and now the pharmaceutical sector is catching up. Chris will be on hand to advise visitors on how to set OEE targets as well as systematically improving on site processes using easy-to-obtain measurements.

Spotlight on the manufacturing skills gap With the PPMA Group committed to finding solutions to deal with the

current manufacturing skills gap experienced by the processing and packaging industries, this year’s Seminar Theatre will also include specific presentations as part of the PPMA Best initiative, a new charitable trust aimed at recruiting more young people in the industry. It will also see the return of the Ones to Watch Award which recognises the contributions of processing and packaging professionals under the age of 35.

Sponsored by Festo, the Ones to Watch awards are chosen by a select group from the PPMA Group Industry awards judging panel, with colleagues being urged to nominate outstanding candidates to the PPMA Show press office.

The show will also welcome back last year’s headline sponsor, Lloyds Bank, who will be on hand to offer visitors guidance on the financial services available to those companies operating in the manufacturing sector. Lloyds Bank has pledged to lend an additional £1bn each year until 2017 to the manufacturing sector. The bank is also behind the Manufacturing Technology Centre’s new training hub, which is due to launch in September, and will support 1,000 new apprentices in high-value manufacturing roles.

For more information on the PPMA Show 2015, please visit f or join the conversation on twitter (@PPMAshow #PPMA15) or the PPMA Show LinkedIn group.

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PPMA Preview

August 2015

New FANUC robot promises efficiency gains for shelf-ready case loading Debut at PPMA 2015, stand C50

F

ANUC UK has expanded its M-710iC series of industrial robots with the introduction of the M-710iC/45M, a mid-sized, high speed robot with a long reach. With a 45kg payload and reach of over 2.6 metres, the M-710iC/45M presents a smaller and more cost effective alternative to many large palletising robots – potentially in the order of 12%-15% reduction in robot price. The robot’s application space also extends to product handling and pick and place tasks, where its long reach renders it the ideal choice for produce collation functions bridging between out-feed and packing conveyors. Launched at PPMA 2015, this is one of four FANUC robots completing picking, collating, packing and palletising tasks on stand C50.

“Historically, there has always been a tradeoff between payload and reach, with packaging and processing industry users having to go for a bigger robot if they wanted long reach capabilities. The M-710iC/45M opens up new opportunities for more efficient pick and place or palletising tasks, with its extended reach and stack height capability. In conjunction with high speed operation, this enables one single M-710iC/45M to service up to six euro pallets for highest return on investment and fastest payback,and as with all FANUC robots can be equipped with line tracking and vision for on-the-fly picking and product identification” says John Rainer, regional sales manager at FANUC UK. At PPMA 2015 the new M-710iC/45M robot will collate shingle-fed produce packs and load them into a shelfready carton. The system will feature a unique tilted end effector handling packs of noodles. To show how packs

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can be taken from a horizontal to a vertical shelf-ready position, the packs will shoot off the end of a conveyor into the end effector which lowers until several packs are stacked one on top of the other. The end effector then moves to a horizontal position, presenting the packs in an upright collation for loading into a box or shelf-ready tray.

Palletising and depalletising are also expected to be massive application areas for the M-710iC/45M, owing

to the space and cost saving potential that arises from a medium payload coupled with extended reach and high cycle speeds (1350/hour). In designing the M-710iC/45M, FANUC’s engineers have built a six-axis, IP67 certified, articulated arm with best in class reach and the ability to stack pallets as high as 1.89m - all on a compact 535x550mm footprint. Floor, wall, angle and ceiling mounting options add to its flexibility.

PPMA Preview

August 2015

FANUC UNVEILS WORLD’S HIGHEST PAYLOAD COLLABORATIVE ROBOT FANUC Robotics UK has extended the application field for collaborative robots with the launch of a game-changing system that has a higher payload than any other on the market. The human-safe CR-35iA has a 35kg payload, opening up applications that have previously been off limits for both traditional industrial robots and lighter duty collaborative robots.

Over the last couple of years, the first generation of collaborative robots or ‘cobots’ has been revolutionising the way in which robots and humans work together. In contrast to traditional robots, which cannot operate in an operatoroccupied workspace without safety fencing, these cage-free robots can work side by side with humans on shared or separate tasks.

To date, this nascent technology has been concentrated on the 5-15kg light duty ‘universal robot’ realm. Now FANUC has taken the collaborative approach into the previously unchartered heavy payload territory. The TÜV certified CR-35iA can assist with high payload handling, assembly, component feeding and workpiece loading and unloading tasks that have historically had to be carried out manually. Key target areas include - but are by no means limited to automation assembly lines, metalworking and packaging.

John Rainer, regional sales manager at FANUC UK comments “We are extremely excited about the potential applications that this breakthrough collaborative robot will unlock. Whilst it is still very early days for collaborative robots, FANUC expects to be building more than 100 units per year in Europe - very soon”.

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16/07/2014 17:33:14

PPMA Preview

August 2015

Pacepacker launches FastPac line for high speed, versatile bulk bagging – PPMA Hall 5 Stand C50 Customer demand for faster, more-versatile bulk bagging has inspired Pacepacker Services to launch a new high-speed bagging line called FastPac. The company has chosen this year’s PPMA exhibition to unveil the first of the machines in the FastPac range – an upgraded sack placer that can help boost the number of bags packed per minute by up to 20%, offering a new top speed of 16-17 bpm.

What’s more, the benefits of the newly enhanced FastPac sack placer don’t end there. It can also handle an unprecedented range of sacks, including those made from difficult-to-pick-up materials such as hessian and net. This follows a growth in demand for these bags, in particular from its European customers and UK exporters packing bags of produce, pulses, rice and coffee beans in bags weighing 25kg and over.

The added versatility and speed makes the FastPac range ideal for bulk solids handling, food packers and contract packers alike. Sack placers take flat bags from a stack and position them ready to be held in place for filling. Most conventional machines rely on suction cups to pick up the bags, but that rules out the use of very porous bag materials such as hessian and net. The newly enhanced sack placer has an option for a system of mechanical grippers so it can handle porous materials in addition to paper and plastics.

The FastPac range of sack placers also manoeuvre the sacks in a different way from most of the range, picking them up by the bottom and peeling them off the stack, rather than picking up the top of the bag.

This ensures that bags which have a tendency to stick together can be handled more effectively.

With this in mind, Pacepacker Services is also upgrading other bagging steps to optimise the overall speed of FastPac lines. For instance, the company can already

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offer an upgraded Total Bag Control (TBC) system to match the faster speed of the enhanced sack placers.

TBCs receive the sacks from the sack placer, holding the top of the bag closed while feeding them into a belt feeder ready for sealing.

Pacepacker TBCs use inverters to control the unit’s motors and match their speed precisely. Faster speeds and bigger throughputs make accurate weighing more essential than ever in order to reduce giveaway, so Pacepacker is also using the PPMA show to highlight its allegiance with Dutch weighing specialist PIM. The rewards associated with greater accuracy vary widely depending on the application. However, in one recent project, integrating a multihead weigher from PIM into a new Pacepacker potato packing line helped the client reduce giveaway from around 0.75kg to just 2-3g per sack.

“Our new FastPac range opens up the possibility of automating many bulk bagging operations that have traditionally remained manual or required more expensive, nonstandard sacks to enable the use of suction cups.” Explains Paul Wilkinson, Pacepacker’s Business Development Manager.

“The possibilities are interminable - from agricultural products that are netted, like seed potatoes, carrots and onions to those bagged in hessian such as rice and coffee. The PPMA Show provides the perfect platform to launch this new FastPac range.”

Targeting bulk handlers Pacepacker will launch the first in its new FastPac range, a GT Sack Placer, at the forthcoming PPMA Show

The overall speed of each FastPac line will depend on the other steps in the packing process and the handling characteristics of the products being packed.

August 2015

PPMA Preview

OMRON ROBOTS AUTOMATE SWAB MANUFACTURE To eliminate tedious manual handling in the manufacturing process for water-testing swabs, manufacturing automation expert Secure Technologies Ltd has developed an efficient and costeffective solution based on an Omron SCARA robot.

The swabs, which are manufactured by one of the world’s leading healthcare suppliers, resemble cotton buds with a specially formed end and are first dipped into a liquid reagent, and then allowed to dry for several hours.

After the drying process is complete, each swab is placed in its own test tube. Until recently, the process was extremely manual, which is not only time consuming, but also repetitive and boring.

“Industrial robots are often thought of as expensive and complicated,” said Steve Badger, a director of Secure Technologies, “but the truth is that robots provide exceptional flexibility in complex handling operations at very reasonable cost.”

Swabs emerging from the production line fall onto a conveyor where their position is determined. The robot then picks up each swab and transfers it to a 500-compartment tray, ready for dipping.

When the tray is full – a process that now takes just eight minutes compared with the 30 minutes or more needed for manual loading – the robot dips it into the liquid reagent and then transfers it to the drying shelves. At the end of the drying period, the same robot retrieves the trays of swabs and unloads them one row at a time, each row being made up of ten swabs. Finally, the robot transfers the swabs to a vibratory feeder that conveys them to the test tubes.

Between processes, the robot automatically changes the end effector that it uses to pick up the swabs from a type that handles swabs individually to a type that handles ten swabs simultaneously. This is an excellent example of the versatility and flexibility that can be achieved easily and economically with robot-based solutions.

A touch screen operator interface unit is utilised to display real time performance information, and also allows access to historical operational statistics. The screen is also used as the front end for a sophisticated engineering diagnostics and programming toolkit.

Before it was delivered to the end user’s site, the performance of the new system was carefully evaluated using product samples – 10,000 swabs were processed and the results 100% checked.

The result was remarkable; not even a single defect was detected. A further target for the system was that it should require a no more than one manual intervention per 1,500 swabs handled. It is easily exceeding this target – on average, only one manual intervention is needed per 16,500 swabs.

“While it would have been possible to develop a handling system that didn’t use robots for this application,” said Steve Badger, “it would have been bulkier, less flexible, more complicated and more expensive.

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The brand of choice for vibration control Manufacturing expertise for over 60 years

The History….

For over 60 years, TICO has been the brand of choice for vibration control. From our Manufacturing site in Cornwall, we have been supplying elastomeric Vibration attenuation solutions across the world. With an on-site laboratory, technical unit and research team, we have been offering unparalleled service and tailored engineered solutions to all aspects of industry.

TICO is the generic brand name for a range of products that are used for a variety of purposes including: Machinery Mounting, Vibration Attenuation, Plant Levelling, Pipe Supports, Movement Joints, Low Friction Supports and Impact Absorption. With a wide range of off-theshelf and bespoke manufactured solutions, all backed with technical excellence and an assurance of quality, we are able to make recommendations on all Vibration and related problems.

The Science ….

TICO is a rubber bonded cork compound that is vulcanised to create three dimensional bonds. This procedure delivers greater strength and toughness, compared to glued rubber crumb products or air filled elastomers and also gives a higher resistance to break up during the life of the products.

The rubber bonded cork compound has a key benefit, our pure elastomers having a high compression set that occurs within its own volume. This means the product under compression maintains its foot print and does not creep or bulge outside of the load area.

TICO is only manufactured in the UK at the Tiflex facility, where it has a quality controlled production process and end of line testing. This testing verifies performance against product data sheets, giving confidence of product reliability and consistency. Over 60 years of reliability in many diverse applications, validates the TICO brand name, heritage and recognition all over the world.

TICO products are designed to operate in harsh environments with its closed cell structure, providing resistance to absorption of oils & water. The product maintains it’s original performance structure through a wide temperature range, beyond that of many competitive materials.

With a wide range of off-the-shelf and bespoke manufactured solutions For more information please contact Tiflex Limited Email: tico@tiflex.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1579 320808 Web: www.tiflex.co.uk/tico/

Anti-Vibration & Noise Isolation Solutions Tailoring solutions to engineering needs

Pipe Support Systems

Low Frequency Isolation

Load Bearing / Impact Attenuates airborne & structural noise

Manufactured in the U.K.

Industry leading products delivering technical excellence

Tailored solutions specific to engineering needs

Machinery Mounting Solutions Manufactured and developed by

Structural Bearing Solutions

Pipe Support Solutions

Sliding Bearing Solutions

High Duty Resilient Seatings

For more information please contact Tiflex Limited Email: tico@tiflex.co.uk Tel: +44 (0) 1579 320808 Web: www.tiflex.co.uk/tico/

August 2015

Specialist Power Screw Products Ex stock power screws & nuts Precision-machined components Self-reversing screws and followers Accredited by Aerospace, Nuclear & Chemical customers Specialist leadscrew & power screw products

Call 01482 325676 Kingston Engineering Co (Hull) Ltd, Pennington Street, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU8 7LD, UK Fax 01482 216438 Email: sales@kingston-engineering.co.uk

www.kingston-engineering.co.uk

PROCESS EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR HYGIENIC APPLICATIONS • Hygienic Fittings & Adapters • Manual & Actuated Valves • Food & Brewery Hose Assemblies • Washdown & Steam Hose Assemblies • Bespoke Design and Fabrication • Full Hygienic Products Catalogue Available

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

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August 2015

THE NEXT GENERATION OF LOAD CELL FOR DYNAMIC WEIGHING AT THE SENSORS & INSTRUMENTATION SHOW, NEC – 30TH SEPT & 1ST OCT HBM is pleased to announce the new FIT7A Digital Load Cell, specifically designed to meet the needs of demanding requirements of weighing in modern manufacturing lines.

Suitable for use in a very wide range of production environments which require dynamic weighing, sorting, filling and dosing, the robust FIT7A load cell offers manufacturers high precision and processing speed.

Based on the very latest HBM strain gauge technology, the innovative new sensor features class C4 accuracy per OIML R60 and a maximum scale division Y of up to 25,000 and addresses the problem of bottlenecks, which can often slow down production rates.

Sophisticated new technology incorporated within the FIT7A means that it is now possible to

perform 180 weighings per minute, therefore dramatically increasing production speed and reducing costs without losing accuracy.

The FIT7A offers increased precision and can perform accurate measurements under temperature fluctuations and in dynamic applications which means load cells can be installed on multiple production machines in a variety of production environments.

More economical than existing sensors, which are based on Electromagnetic Force Compensation (EFC), the new FIT7A from HBM is expanding the market for machine manufacturers by enabling them to develop

completely new machine types and new market segments.

This is particularly important for sensitive markets with a necessity for precision and a growing need to achieve the lowest possible overfilling in product packaging.

The FIT7A load cell will be on show on the HBM stand E26, at the Sensors & Instrumentation show, NEC on 30th September & 1st October, which is co-located with PPMA. For more information, please contact HBM on +44 (0) 208 515 6000 or visit www.hbm.com

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August 2015

Bringing new efficiencies to wastewater Hard water affects 65% of the UK, costing millions in preventing the build up calcium carbonate and limescale. Environmental Treatment Concepts Ltd has pioneered a chemical-free, non-invasive electronic conditioning system for scaling problems in companies. Now, with the help of Innovate UK's Smart competition, the company has successfully turned its sights to descaling in the wastewater treatment sector.

John Thomson, CEO of Environmental Treatment Concepts, launched the company in 1989. "I was fortunate to come across a revolutionary way of treating limescale build-up in pipelines using a pulsating frequency signal," he said. "Today, our 'Enigma' product is installed in commercial and industrial establishments across the country."

Facing the wastewater challenge By working with wastewater companies, John and his team found that anaerobic digestion – a process used to clean water and produce energy – caused aggressive scaling in pipes and equipment. Scaling reduces methane production by up to 25% and loses each anaerobic digestion facility around £490,000 a year.

What's more, the traditional approach of using polymers to thicken wastewater costs water companies £1.5 million a year in additional transport costs. Firms also typically use chemicals and machinery to descale pipework and equipment. These approaches are expensive and damaging – and even cause rapid re-scaling.

Changing the properties of wastewater Environmental Treatment Concepts had the answer. 'Paradox' uses frequency-modulated energy to change the properties of wastewater, creating coagulation and removing scale build-up without resorting to chemicals. The result? Big cost reductions and efficiency increases. However, the team needed to prove it. "To persuade companies to invest in Paradox, we needed to develop prototypes and secure independent evidence of its efficiency and cost-saving potential."

The proof came thanks to Smart's 'Development of Prototype' funding. "Through the Smart grant, we developed partnerships with Anglian Water and University of Portsmouth, and installed prototypes in several sewage treatment works," said John. "We're engaging partners, collaborating with trade associations and working hard to ensure Paradox becomes the product of choice for treating scaling in wastewater treatment plants."

For more informationation on Innovate UK. Click Here 44|

iX HMI Rugged

Rugged iX HMI Proven to the extremes

Ne w ch 7 in

Rugged 15“ und 7“ panels, fully certified and loaded with iX HMI software FOUNDED 1862

Operating in extreme environments is tough stuff. So we designed our rugged iX HMI operator panels to give you a long service life, no matter how rough it gets. They run smoothly in wind, snow and rain, on motors in remote locations, or in a steamy offshore engine room. They’re proven to the extremes, to give you confidence to perform in the field. beijerelectronics.com/rugged +44 (0) 845 519 5430 info.uk@beijerelectronics.com

Sensors

August 2015

Mass Flow metering of compressed air and gases.

Compressed air is the most expensive form of energy in production plants !

Many companies are not aware of the fact that the generation of compressed air can account for up to 2O % of their overall energy costs. Measurement of compressed air consumption is the first important step towards cost conscious handling of expensive compressed air. Detailed knowledge of the actual compressed air consumption can make a significant contribution to reducing energy costs.

Thermal Mass Flow Meters manufactured by E+E Elektronik GmbH, provide the best means of measuring consumption in compressed air networks. They operate in accordance with the principles of hot wire anemometry and measure mass flow or standard volumetric flow irrespective of temperature or pressure.

Gases like oxygen, nitrogen, CO2, or helium , can also be measured. A range of three instruments cover most applications; EE771 Inline Flowmeter for DN15 to DN50 For maximum pressures of 16 BAR, and sensor exchange under pressure with short flow interruption.

Compact and flexible, the unit is ideal for installations where space is at a premium.

High measurement accuracy through exact and reproducible positioning in the pipe.

EE772 Inline Flowmeter for DN40 to DN80 For maximum pressures of 40 BAR, and sensor exchange under pressure without flow interruption.

Onboard counter offers the user the facility to totalise the consumption of air or gases in the system.

Switched, analogue, or digital outputs available.

EE776 Inline Flowmeter for DN50 to DN700 For pressure range up to 16 BAR. Patented non-return protection for probe. Accuracy from 1.5% of reading.

Range up to 0.2 to 200 Nm/s

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www.sensorsandtransmitters.com

August 2015

Sensors

Dewpoint Monitoring of Compressed Air Reliable dewpoint monitoring also plays an important part in avoiding unnecessary costs from compressed air systems with a refrigeration dryer.

The EE354 dew point transmitter from E+E Elektronik has been designed specifically for monitoring the dewpoint of refrigeration dryers. The EE354 has a very small and compact design, and can be easily installed in tight confined spaces.

The measurement range of the EE354 is -20 to +50 Deg C Td, and the unit is pressure tight up to 20 BAR. We can also offer 4 to 20mA Analog outputs, or MODBUS RTU digital interface.

Drying processes and air pressure pipelines can have a requirement for precise dew point measurement. More exact monitoring is increasingly requested in many industrial applications, and for these purposes the multifunctional EE35 transmitter series offers the ideal features. The EE35 Series has a functional, user-friendly, housing concept.

A specially developed autocalibration process enables measurements in a measurement range of -60...+60 degC Td with a Td measurement accuracy of Âą2 degC. Two freely configurable and scaleable analogue outputs are available for the two measurement values (Td, T).

An optional hygrostat output, which can be set by means of a potentiometer, provides an alarm signal in a simple way when a threshold of the permitted dewpoint is exceeded.

An optional display for the measurement values and the associated MIN/MAX values allows a quick overview of the current situation. |47

Sensors

August 2015

Ginetta Cars

upgrade dynamometer rig with Variohm EGT sensors

Ginetta G55 GT3 on the race track

F

or more than five decades Ginetta Cars has graced the British and international motorsports scene and today the Leeds based company continues to build upon its global reputation as a premier designer and manufacturer of high performance road and race track cars as well as co-promoting numerous single-make race competitions all over the world.

Variohm has worked with Ginetta for a number of years, supplying sensors to monitor pressure and temperature for a variety of applications on engine development projects as well as being fully utilised as part of engine control unit and data logging systems for race cars that are produced at the Leeds factory.

Ginetta has recently embarked on a new project to convert a Schenck 750 kW water brake dynamometer which will be fully utilised in a development project for a new Nissan V8 engine which now powers its G55 GT3 - a latest evolution endurance racing car that has enjoyed fantastic success across national and international single-make race competitions. The ex-Formula 1 dynamometer will be fully overhauled, with many of its component parts being upgraded to ensure it’s up to the job for endurance testing the GT3 engine.

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An important part of the upgrade and already used across the GT3 engine production programme will include fitting EGT series exhaust gas pressure sensors which are supplied

by Variohm through its exclusive UK, Ireland and European distribution and support service for the leading USA thermal measurement specialist, Zip Sensors, Inc. These premium quality Type K sensors have a very high reliability and durability reputation across a broad range of exhaust gas monitoring applications with variants for diesel, petrol, methanol and nitro exhausts with special models for bikes and dynamometers.

The range is aimed at serious enthusiast and professional race teams alike and includes the entry level Sportsmen’s Series with exposed tip sensing in stainless steel and Teflon® insulated conductors, and the Pro Series featuring grounded enclosed tip sensing in Inconel® stainless steel

with optional ceramic fibre insulation with stainless protective braid.

In addition to the the Zip Sensor range, Variohm supplies its own manufactured brand EPT3100 series pressure sensors to Ginetta to monitor oil, fuel and water pressure across all of its G50 series race cars.

Variohm EuroSensor works closely with customers across motorsports including Formula 1, A1GP, WTCC, GP2, Champ, NASCAR, ALMS, Superbike, and many others. The complete range includes pressure and temperature sensor solutions for fuel, oil, coolant and brakes as well as force, torque and position measurement sensors for suspension travel, throttle and gearbox. Laser and infrared technologies are also supplied for ride height position and tyre condition.

Email: graham@variohm.com Website: www.variohm.com

The GT3 engine production programme will include fitting EGT series exhaust gas pressure sensors from Variohm

Sensors

August 2015

Sensor-Technik UK Ltd. Mobile Controllers and Measurement Technologies

A08 Pressure Sensor

Sensor-Technik UK Pressure Sensors

Delivering An Integrated Solution

> Measuring up to 3,000 bar

> Sensor & Measuring Systems

> Versatile, low failure rates

> Controllers & HMIs

> Thin-film, ceramic or silicon available

> Complete Engineering Lifecycle

NGS2 Inclination/Gyrosensor

M01 Pressure Sensor

L03 Pressure Sensor

> Varied media compatibility

> Measuring Range ¹180°

> Off-highway vehicles

> Food Industry

> 0-1000 Bar Range

> CANopen Output Signal

> 0-800 Bar Range

> 0-20 bar range

www.sensor-technik.co.uk sales@sensor-technik.co.uk Sensor-Technik UK Unit 21M, Bedford Heights, Bedford, MK41 7PH Tel: 01234 270770 | Fax: 01234 348803

Your Ideas. Realised

Your Ideas. Realised

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Sensors

Shedding new light on production Updated vision sensor from ifm electronic A new version of the dualis vision sensor has just been released by sensor specialists ifm electronic. When it was first launched the dualis was groundbreaking in its size and capability, especially considering that less capable devices are still offered at twice the price. ifm electronic knows a thing or two about industrial vision, and this latest version, designated O2V, still incorporates the critical illumination and evaluation in one stand-alone unit built into a robust, industrially-compatible IP 67 housing for use in the temperature range of -10...60º C. Now the O2V is launched in six new versions using built-in infrared illumination. The parameter setting is as easy to use as before and the software is still free. The additional features of the new model are less tangible, but none the less useful.

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August 2015

Now the device offers more ways of identifying and comparing the object. For example, where some devices look for an outline, the new O2V uses the aptly-named ‘blob analysis’ to determine the selected characteristics of objects. This can check not only the presence, but also size, position or completeness of the object or objects. Length, curvature of lines, relative size of dark areas, roundness of objects - these are just a few examples of the numerous ways that the O2V has of quickly evaluating a scene.

The dualis O2V will still provide a simple ‘OK’ signal if the object passes the test, but the process interface has been expanded for those wishing to get more from the device.

The ethernet interface (ethernet IP or TCP/IP) also provides remote maintenance with storage of error images and evaluation data, an update option for the sensors as well as the process image for the connection to programmable logic controllers. ifm is committed to working closely with its customers to develop products which precisely match their needs, and the company provides expert, readily accessible technical support to help users maximise the benefits they gain from ifm products.

For further information, contact Gemma Castle, ifm electronic Ltd., Efector House, Kingsway Business Park, Oldfield Road, Hampton, Middlesex, TW12 2HD. Telephone: 020 8213-0000. Fax: 020 8213-2228.

E-mail – gemma.castle@ifm.com www.ifm.com

Best sensor for wet areas All new O6 series photocells optimised for harsh, hot and wet environments such as food production. Superb optical performance even in water spray or with shiny backgrounds and up to 80째C. Compact and robust, IP69K stainless steel housings, with 25.4mm hole centres. Eye-catching innovation from ifm.

www.ifm.com /uk/o6 www.ifm.com/uk/o6 ifm Telephone 020 8213 2222

Sensors

August 2015

www.sensors.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)1869 238400

Chemical engineers talk sense about mixer efficiencies Manchester University’s School of Chemical Engineering is leading energy efficiency developments in the process industries by incorporating TorqSense transducers into a test rig for analysing losses in inline mixers. The energy consumption involved in in-tank mixing is well understood, but with in-line rotorstator mixers the flow is often controlled independently of the rotor speed and collecting sufficient data to accurately model the process requires a large number of experiments. Now researcher Dr Mike Cooke has developed a method for obtaining the necessary information using torque measurement.

Dr Cooke explains that high shear rotor-stator mixers are widely used in process industries, providing a delivery of energy, power and shear to accelerate physical processes such as mixing, dissolution, emulsification and deagglomeration. “To scale-up from laboratory to industrial we need to understand the relationship between rotor speed, flow rate and the energy dissipated,” he says.

“The first step is to link the energy dissipation rate to desired process results.” Sensor Technology’s TorqSense in-line torque meter measured the torque. TorqSense proved a good choice for this work because of its non-contact operation. It uses two piezo-electric combs glued to the drive shaft at right angles to one another. Applying torque deforms the combs changing their piezosignature. This change is measured wirelessly by a radio frequency pick up and data is sent to a PC which uses graphics to aid instant interpretations and also logs data for later analysis.

Manchester University is a major user of TorqSense, having many installed on permanent teaching aids and various research rigs. “The students like the readout displays, which look no more complicated that a car’s dashboard,” says Dr Cooke. “For us researchers, the ease with which they can be mounted and removed is a Godsend in experiments where you are constantly reconfiguring the rig.”

The conclusion from Dr Cooke’s experiments is that the performance characteristics of in-line mixers can be easily modelled. This lets industrial users calculate their optimum energy consumption and tune their mixer drives accordingly.

Cost savings will accrue during the whole production period, making a valuable contribution to the company’s bottom line and green credentials.

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Sensors

August 2015

ROTARY TORQUE TRANSDUCERS Non-Contact Digital Technology High Resolution High Accuracy High Reliability Integral Electronics Voltage & Current Outputs USB, RS232 & CANbus Outputs Suitable for OEM applications

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Wireless, easy to install/remove Transmits data up to a distance of 100M Transmits data at up to 10 times a second Internal Memory for up to 280 hours of data 11 to 28V external supply chargeable Connect to PC via USB Flexible automatic shutdown to conserve battery Dual ruggedised internal antennas FCC Part 15

SENSOR TECHNOLOGY

Apollo Park, Ironstone Lane, Wroxton, Banbury, OX15 6AY. Tel: +44 (0)1869 238400 Fax: +44 (0)1869 238401 Email: info@sensors.co.uk Web: www.sensors.co.uk/eu0914

Your One-Stop Source for Process Measurement and Control > 100,000 products online > Easy online ordering > Same day shipping on instock items

G IN PP I SH RSly EE FFE ’s App FR O T & C omega.co.uk 0800-488-488

sales@omega.co.uk Temperature

Pressure

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Heaters

© COPYRIGHT 2015 OMEGA ENGINEERING,LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Best-in-class sensors by HBM HBM is a world leader in developing and producing sensors and transducers to meet your specific needs. n■

Strain gauges are available for widely differing applications and at short notice

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Load cells and force transducers measure static and dynamic tensile and compressive loads - with virtually no displacement

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Torque sensors and transducers measure torque precisely

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Pressure transducers can be used in hydraulic and pneumatic equipment

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Displacement transducers measure precisely in the µm range and allow simple displacement monitoring

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Strain transducers measure high forces

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In addition: We develop and manufacture customized transducers that meet your specifications

Measure and predict with confidence. This is what we stand for.

Further information: www.hbm.com/pe-sensors

n Tel. n 803-9100 n www.hbm.com United Kingdom Ltd 0208 info@uk.hbm.com n Tel. + n 515 n info@hbm.com n www.hbm.com HBM Test andHBM Measurement 49 6151 803-0 Fax 6000 +49 6151

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Events

August 2015

Speakers announced for

BULKEX 2015 Harrogate International Conference Centre 21-22 October 2015 In October the Materials Handling Engineers Association (MHEA) is debuting BULKEX 2015, the combined exhibition and conference for the bulk and materials handling industry. The MHEA has now announced the first industry presenters for the seminar sessions at the Harrogate International Conference Centre on 21-22 October.

Speakers • Mike Bradley, Director, The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology • Dean Thornewell, President, Joy Global Eurasia • Edwin Trout, Secretary, Cement Industry Suppliers’ Forum, The Concrete Society • Finnbarr Dowling, Project Director, Siemens Wind Turbine Assembly • Sid Brady, Mechanical Engineer Operations, Sirius Minerals • Kevin Sabin, Operations and Development Director, Hargreaves Mining (India) • John Sinclair, Partner, UYE UK (Ltd) • Dr Richard Maslen, Process Engineer, Fairport Engineering Ltd • Martin Ouwerkerk MSc, Business Manager Dry Bulk & Energy, Port of Rotterdam • Charlie Northfield, Process Plant Manager, Wolf Minerals • Nigel Chudley, Engineering Director, SSI UK (Sahaviriya Steel Industries)

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The full programme for the seminar sessions will be published shortly and will cover areas relevant to the materials handling engineering sector, including commercial and technical case studies from power, cement, ports, mining, aggregates, recycling and building products.

“We are very pleased to announce the first set of speakers for BULKEX 2015,” said Mike Redmond, MHEA Chairman.

“The amount of experience and diversity of content offered by these representatives and their organisations is already attracting delegates and exhibitors from all aspects of bulk and materials handling, from users to manufacturers to distributors.

“Delegates are registering to attend BULKEX not only to hear from these

highly-regarded professionals that influence our industry, but to also visit an exhibition that will include leading suppliers of the technical services and products our industry demands. We can expect more speakers to be added to the list in the coming months leading to the event.”

More than 50 exhibitors covering a wide range of disciplines will showcase their products and services to industry colleagues.

A list of exhibitors is available at: mhea.co.uk/bulkex-2015/ exhibitors-index/.

BULKEX 2015 will be free to attend for visitors, meanwhile companies wishing to exhibit at the event can call Julie Claus on 01787 226 995

BULKEX 2

0

1

5

THE UK’S MATERIALS HANDLING EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE

HARROGATE CONFERENCE CENTRE

21-22 OCTOBER 2015

ATTENDING BULKEX • Free to attend conference and exhibition

• More than 50 exhibitors showcasing products and innovations

• Two days of technical seminars from senior figures from all aspects of bulk and materials handling

• Networking opportunities with industry colleagues and clients • Smartphone app to plan your time at BULKEX effectively

The first set of speakers is announced and the full conference programme will be published shortly. Topics include commercial and technical case studies from: • Power • Cement • Ports • Mining • Aggregates • Recycling • Building Products

Contact Julie Claus on 01787 226 995 or visit the website for more information www.mhea.co.uk/bulkex-2015/ Follow us on Twitter @BULKEX15 #BULKEX15 ORGANISED BY THE MATERIALS HANDLING ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION

11th & 12th November 2015 | Exhibition Centre Liverpool

VISITOR REGISTRATION IS NOW LIVE go to www.liftex2015.eventbrite.co.uk to register!

Now in its 11th year, LiftEx has grown to become the UK’s leading exhibition for the lifting industry, returning to its successful stand-alone format over 2 full days.

New to LiftEx! LiftEx Industry Conference programme confirmed - book your seat now!

Confirmed speakers include:-

Ian Simpson, HM Principal Specialist Inspector of Health & Safety, Mechanical Engineering, Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

Ingo Rühl, Group Leader of the Handling Engineering group within the Engineering Department at the Accelerator and Technology Sector, CERN Nick Moriarty, Operations Director, Zip World / Treetop Trek and Ropes Course Developments Ltd. Tom Coyle, Managing Director, DT Engineering North West Ltd

Gerry Weston, Electrical Operations Director, DT Engineering North West Ltd Bryan Cronie, Industry Expert

Oliver Auston, Technical Committee Chairman / Vice Chairman, and E&Q Committee Chairman, Working at Height Safety Association (WAHSA) / LEEA John Jones, Managing Director, Lift Turn Move Peter Abraham, Director, Adlib Lighting Paul Jordan, Director, Hoist UK

Richard Howes, Director, Bridger Howes Limited Geoff Holden, Chief Executive, LEEA

ONLY 25% OF EXHIBITION SPACE REMAINING - DON’T MISS OUT! To secure a stand or one of our few remaining sponsorship opportunities Contact Leah Phelps on +44 7795 110646 or email www.liftex.org

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

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INTERNATIONAL

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Events

August 2015

Industrial vision technologies are featured at Vision UK.

The VISION UK showcase, annually held and sharing the exhibition hall with PHOTONEX 2015, is dedicated to vision/imaging and laser technology for research, science, industry and factory automation. It will be held on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th October at Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

What’s it all about?

KEYNOTE EVENT

Vision UK includes the majority of the UK suppliers of components, instruments, systems and software for vision and imaging technology for research, science, industry and factory automation. The organisers are emphasising how this is an event where you can solve your industrial vision problems and learn how to utilise vision in your factory. Amongst the exhibitors there is someone to answer any vision, sensing, remote sensing or light based technology question relating to your process or your production line.

Cutting edge advances in industrial vision and machine vision will be featured in the UKIVA’s “Vision in Action” seminar and master class programme.

What technique will be suitable for your application?

Great components and effective system integration is essential to the development of a successful vision system for your process. At Vision UK you will be able to discover the difference in the various techniques and the companies that supply these systems.

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The programme is headlined by Dr Will Maddern, Postdoctoral RA, Mobile Robotics Group at the Department of Engineering at The University of Oxford will give a fascinating talk on the challenges in using vison to control a car. See more at www.robotcar.org.uk. Much can be learnt from the huge amount of research that is going on in the automotive industry leading to advances that are being utilised in industry.

SWIR applications including online inspection, With InGaAs sensors you get a different image seeing beyond the human eye range, The Rise of the CMOS Sensor, 3D Robot Vision, INDUSTRY4.0 & Big Data, Direct Part Marking – the evolution of using “Indestructible Barcodes” in manufacturing, Vision system integration and labelling, Planning ideas for MV Applications.

WHY YOU ATTEND?

SHOULD

It will be a great use of your time.

Discover the difference: On the internet one product can seem just like another. But it is getting down to the in depth detail faceto-face with a specialist which will enable you to make a better informed purchasing decision.

Readers of this article are encouraged to visit the website to register to attend, to subscribe to receive enewsletter updates and to find out more.

More details at

www.vision-uk.org

or call 01372 750555 for free invitations.

Events

August 2015

Exhibitors Flock to UK’s Biggest Lab Show More than 100 industry leading suppliers have already booked stands for Lab Innovations 2015, which returns to Birmingham’s NEC on 4 & 5 November 2015. These suppliers have been quick to show support for the UK’s only show dedicated to the latest laboratory technology and consumables, analytics and biotech equipment.

Those registered for the show include an array of first time exhibitors, including Scientific Laboratory Supplies, Bambi Air Compressors, Falcon Scientific, Radleys, Ohaus and Zinsser Analytic. These will join major returning names such as Anton Paar, Buchi UK, Mettler Toledo, Oxford Biosystems Cadama, Retsch UK, Sympatec and Vacuubrand.

Innovation will take centre stage, with numerous exhibitors using the show to launch new products and services to the laboratory market. For instance Asynt will be showcasing its Asynt CondenSyn, which is its new high performance air

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condenser. It is designed specifically for synthetic chemistry experiments and requires no cooling water. The robust design uses a new borosilicate glass manufacturing technique, together with a proprietary multiple hyperbolic profile, ensuring optimum heat removal as vapours pass along its length.

More than just an exhibition, Lab Innovations 2015 will boast the return of the hotly anticipated Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) conference, which will focus on the critical industry themes, including 3D Printing, Science in Space, Laboratory Safety, Best Practices and Tax Reliefs.

Dr Geraint Morgan, Project Officer within the Faculty of Science at The Open University, will be taking to the stage on day one of the show to present ‘Down to Earth’. During his talk Dr Morgan will look at the first ever landing of a space craft on a comet. He will explore how the European Space Agency’s

probe, Rosetta, deployed its landing craft Philae in November last year, analysing some of the statistics it has unearthed. He will share some of the initial findings and offer a whole new perspective on the properties and formation of comets and the award winning applications they have developed for use on Earth during the 10 year, four billion mile journey chasing the comet.

Running alongside the RSC will be Campden BRI, the UK’s largest independent food and drink research body, who will return to carry out its practical workshops and host its own paid-for conference.

Lab Innovations 2015 will be held on the 4 & 5 November 2015 at Birmingham’s NEC. For more information please visit www.lab-innovations.com or to find out about exhibiting contact please contact Mauricio Montes on 020 8843 8829 or email mauricio.montes@easyfairs.com.

Events

August 2015

Tackling the industry’s technical and people challenges With less than two months before the free-to-attend SPE Offshore Europe 2015 opens its doors in Aberdeen, the industry is looking forward to welcoming visitors from all over the globe to discuss and debate both the technical and people challenges facing the oil and gas business today.

Over the four days, from 8-11 September, there will be a series of keynote sessions, technical sessions, topical lunches and breakfast briefings. The keynote programme, chaired by Michael Engell-Jensen, Executive Director of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP), will offer 11 sessions focusing on the basic challenge of meeting energy demand while balancing concerns over climate change, security of supply and consumer affordability.

Topics to be addressed include: health; the safety and security of people and assets; well intervention; financing investments; oil spill response; and inspiring the next generation to join the industry.

The technical programme, chaired by Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive Officer, Expro, will present more than 75 SPE papers, demonstrating that the industry’s engineering, manufacturing and technology excellence is set to assure a long-term sustainable future.

Speakers drawn from all over the world will discuss topics such as asset and well integrity, maximising economic recovery, smarter field development, pipelines and risers, subsea processing, talent development, unconventional gas development, process safety, and decommissioning.

The exciting breakfast briefings and topical lunches are bound to sell out fast. BP’s Bernard Looney, Chief

Operating Officer, Production, is the confirmed lunch speaker on Tuesday 8 September. And on Thursday 10 September, the lunch session will be given over to a small operators’ panel chaired by Neil McCulloch, President, North Sea, EnQuest.

Meanwhile on the show floor, exhibitors will represent the complete supply chain of companies, consolidating Aberdeen’s established reputation as a supplier of services and products to global projects. Around 1500 organisations are expected this year, including at least 300 companies – small and large – exhibiting for the first time at the show. Reflective of the global nature of the industry as a whole there will be a chance to connect with exhibitors from 44 countries. UK Trade & Investment commercial officers from around the world will also be available to discuss the opportunities that exist in each of their respective markets.

Taking over an entire hall, the dedicated Deepwater Zone will comprise its own conference and exhibition programme.

And, for the first time, the event will include a series of workshops and meetings to connect entrepreneurs and investors. An ambitious ‘Inspire’ programme aimed at the younger generation will feature as well.

Visit www.offshore-europe.co.uk for more information and to register.

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Events

August 2015

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF ENERGY With the current dropping oil price , companies can decide to freeze or drop existing projects, which would hit offshore contractors hard and deter investors. This potential domino effect makes 2015 a sink or swim year. Offshore Energy 2015 will focus on what the future will look like. And especially how developments and opportunities can be improved upon efficiently.

On 13 and 14 October 2015 the Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference (OEEC) will take place in Amsterdam RAI. More than 13,500 unique visitors and 650 exhibitors from over 80 different countries will dive into the developments and changes in the offshore industry. “We want to update the industry on the various possibilities and innovations available,” says Femke Perlot-Hoogeveen, Offshore Energy Conference Manager. “This is why we have chosen the theme Investing in the future of energy.”

The recent developments in the industry deserve a fitting program. A new conference theme this year is HPHT developments. This session will discuss technology developments in high-pressure, high temperature (HPHT) drilling operations. Operators are investing in this challenging new game which is generally seen as offering new potential, including in mature areas such as the North Sea. Another topic will be the effects of poor data management. In a technical session, presented by Michael Nord from Shell, we will discuss how technical data management can lead to better informed business decisions in oil and gas, with a particular focus on offshore. Other new themes on Offshore Energy 2015 will be Marine Energy and Well Intervention Vessels. Moreover Decommissioning and Subsea Processing are back on the agenda.

Conference Advisory Board This year OEEC has established a special Conference Advisory Board. Composed of a diverse group of offshore professionals who have a unique knowledge about how the industry works. The Board assists the OEEC organization in identifying the key challenges and issues in the offshore sector.

Guido van den Bos from NOV is looking forward to participating in the Advisory Board: “I expect to lift the conference to an even higher level by suggesting current topics and difficulties in the industry, and to provide an effective, safe, and cost efficient solution.”

History teaches us the oil, gas, and energy industry has always shown great resilience. It’s remarkable how the industry has maintained its ability to adapt to changes and developments. In the meantime organizations must continue to focus on improvements on efficiency, strategy and operations. Offshore Energy 2015 intends to tackle these issues and provide clear answers.

Click here for the full program

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Calibration

March 2015

Conveniently Calibrate Plant Vacuum Gauges Why do vacuum gauges need to be calibrated?

The development of a technique

The largest uncertainty when using vacuum gauges on a process plant is knowing when the process has caused drift or shifts of calibration. Many processes handle vapours and, if any condensation or deposition happens, the chances are it will also happen in the vacuum gauge. Many such gauges Pirani, cold cathose and ion gauges - use thermal or ionisation cross-section measurements to infer the level of vacuum being experienced and they have filaments, cathodes and other hardware, all of which may be coated with by-products from the process.

Having its own ISO IEC 17025:2005 accredited UKAS laboratory with the lowest uncertainties for Vacuum in the UK, Chell are well placed to prepare CalCube for on-site gauge calibrations. The Transfer Standards fitted to CalCube are calibrated in the laboratory both before and after an on-site calibration job so that the confidence level of the calibration is the highest possible.

Even more rugged gauges such as capacitance manometers will be affected by depositions or particulates because any deposition will have mass and the gauge will weigh it, especially if it has a low range and therefore a very thin diaphragm.

As processes move away from their design parameter due to gauge “drift”, little about the quality of the process can be inferred from the instrumentation readings, so diagnosis is down to a skilled operator recognising when a batch of product does not conform.

This is too late! If the process is sensitive to the level of vacuum being achieved, then the cost of losing a batch could be astronomical - many times the cost of maintaining the plant properly in many cases.

With the inherent lack of ruggedness of many vacuum gauges, it is imperative that plant gauges are regularly calibrated and that the operator has spare, calibrated gauges ready to substitute as soon as he fears the process may have drifted away from specification.

The difficulties of calibrating vacuum in-situ Unfortunately, it is very difficult to carry out in-situ vacuum calibrations due to the amount of hardware needed to establish a suitable level of vacuum in a situation where a calibration standard gauge may be compared. Not the least of concerns is the possible cross-contamination of the standard by a contaminated sensor under test. Another is the difficulty of access to many on-plant gauges. So it has become tradition for gauges to be removed regularly from the plant and shipped to an external calibration laboratory for re-calibration and, in many cases, adjustment to compensate for the effects of contamination.

With the development of Chell’s on-site UKAS calibration service, they have developed CalCube both as a portable vacuum calibration system with which to offer an on-site service but, for customers who would prefer their own facility, a convenient, tried and tested system.

CalCube complies with BS ISO3567:2011 which specifically covers the design and use of vacuum calibration systems and incorporates an ISO/Dis stainless steel calibration chamber with geometry optimised to ensure that all gauges connected see the same level of vacuum so that comparisons may be made.

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CalCube is constructed within a rugged, wheeled flight-case type enclosure having just a 13A mains plug yet containing dry diaphragm backing and turbomolecular pumps with high vacuum isolation valves. Over 40 year’s experience of calibrating vacuum gauges have gone into CalCube’s design, which includes such capabilities as calibrating both rising and falling pressures very accurately using a pair of ultra-fine Chell CMF valves.

Fitting easily into almost any estate car, CalCube comes with lifting handles to aid safe removal from a vehicle or lifting up steps, etc. A removable side panel is foam lined with cut-outs to hold all the common mating vacuum connector systems - of course, custom connectors may be purchased and housed for specific applications.

Choice of vacuum Transfer Standards will be an important decision, which is aided by Chell’s years of experience. These standards, when not fitted to CalCube are housed in another, matching flight-case, ready for convenient return to Chell’s calibration lab. for scheduled UKAS calibration. Chell’s in-house vacuum standards consist of three high-accuracy capacitance manometers having 20 years of continuous calibration history at national Standard level and these are monitored on a daily basis by a Spinning Rotor Gauge whose ball-flange assembly is also calibrated annually at National Standard level. At the atmospheric pressure end of the scale, the vacuum straight line generated by the capacitance manometers is calibrated against our 32” Schwien Merco-Master manometer giving us the lowest uncertainties in that pressure regime.

Chell’s customers thus enjoy the accumulated vacuum calibration skills of over 40 years and, should they have specific different requirements, Chell has the skills to customise CalCube to suit.

For more information contact:Tel: 01692 500555 e-mail: info@chell.co.uk Website: www.chell.co.uk

New possibilities with Beamex workshop

ex at m a e 5 B Meet Europe201 re r Offsho Septembe 201 8-11 stand 3B l 3 on in Hal

The Beamex MCS200 Workshop offers a controlled environment enabling very accurate calibration and ergonomic ready-to-use equipment. Beamex has recently launched the product, MC6 Workstation, an advanced panel mounted documenting calibrator and communicator. MC6 Workstation offers calibration capabilities for pressure, temperature and various electrical signals. Full fieldbus communication for HART, FOUNDATION Fieldbus and Profibus PA instruments is available. MC6 Workstation communicates with pressure controllers and temperature blocks, enabling fully automatic calibration.

www.beamex.com info@beamex.com

August 2015

Meeting the Evolving Demands for Precision Tubing in the Oil and Gas Industry Leading precision tube manufacturers Fine Tubes (United Kingdom) and Superior Tube (United States) have been at the forefront of developing and supplying high-quality, advanced alloy tubing solutions for the most demanding oil and gas applications.

The oil and gas industry has seen a drive to exploit fields in increasingly hostile environments, from the first subsea drilling in the 1970s through to the deepwater challenges of the present day, where seawater and sour crude oil can make extraction

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particularly hazardous. Moreover, with the recent slump in oil prices, operators are looking not only for solutions to new technological problems but also for products that deliver the most cost-effective use of resources.

From the early days of North Sea oil production, Fine Tubes and Superior Tube have met the needs of their customers by manufacturing corrosionresistant tubing with tight tolerances that minimise the risk of production downtime resulting from the need

August 2015 to install replacements. In addition to North Sea projects, Fine Tubes recently has supplied specialist tubing for the development of fields in Norway, Nigeria, Australia and a number of Middle East countries.

A key approach to meeting operational requirements is the use of exotic alloys, including austenitic, super austenitic, duplex and super duplex stainless steels; titanium grades; and nickel alloys to produce tubes that can withstand operating pressures of up to 60,000psi.

Both Fine Tubes and Superior Tubes regularly supply precision tubing in stainless steels 904L (UNS N08904) and 6Moly (UNS S31254), as well as nickel alloy 625 (UNS N06625) and alloy 825 (UNS N08825) for global offshore and onshore projects. With tensile strengths greater than 220ksi (1,515 MPa), the tubing can be manufactured in sizes from 1.6mm (0.063”) OD up to 63mm (2.475”) OD.

Seamless, welded and welded and redrawn tubing are produced in straight lengths for instrumentation equipment, onshore control panels, topside processing facilities, offshore subsea manifolds and templates up to 2,000m under the sea. Coiled tubing is produced for downhole hydraulic control and chemical injection lines, subsea hydraulic power, and smoothbore control lines used in fibre optic applications in lengths up to 13,500m (45,000ft).

In addition to company approvals from, such as Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, PDO and NPCC that further strengthening its position in the Middle East, Fine Tubes recently has been approved as a vendor by the Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) for the supply of ferrous and non-ferrous tubing for its refineries.

Along with the KNPC approval, Fine Tubes recently received NORSOK approval to supply the oil and gas

industry with tubes in super duplex UNS S32750 after having previously received NORSOK approval for the 6Mo alloy. The qualification brings Fine Tubes into the global supply chain for all One Subsea sites and ensures that the company has a full range of suitably qualified alloys to supply the industry.

As a leading supplier to the oil and gas industry, Fine Tubes also is a major contributing member to the highly influential Advanced Well Equipments Standardization Group (AWES), helping to set industry standards for a new recommended practice for the manufacture of tubing encased conductor (TEC) cables and control lines. The new standards are set to be published in August 2015.

Continuing to innovate in the oil and gas arena, development plans for Fine Tubes and Superior Tube include: • An evolution of the alloy 825 grade for control line tubing with higher corrosion resistance and mechanical properties.

• New capabilities in 1/8” fibre armouring for Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) systems monitoring in shale gas applications, complementing a portfolio of ¼” tubing encased conductor (TEC) and tube encased fibre (TEF) cables.

• Continued development of up to ½” diameter armouring for Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) heater cables and possible ‘hybrid’ lines containing both copper signal and fibre optic components.

“Our engineers work closely with major oil and gas companies across the globe to develop specifications for innovative new products and help customers solve their technical challenges. We encourage customers to reach out with their needs, wherever in the world precision tubing is required,” concludes Mark Ayers, Director, Oil & Gas Products.

Fine Tubes and Superior Tube are collectively a unit of AMETEK Specialty Metal Products, a division of AMETEK, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices.

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August 2015

BSRIA PRINCIPAL RESEARCH ENGINEER APPOINTED JUDGE FOR HVR AWARDS 2015 BSRIA Principal Research Engineer Dr Arnold Teekaram has been appointed a judge for the HVR Awards 2015.

The judging panel is made up of the leading figures from the building services industry. The judges will draw up a shortlist for each category and the winners will be announced at the prestigious awards ceremony on Thursday 15th October.

The awards ceremony will be staged at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel with stand-up comedian and ITV’s The Chase star, Paul Sinha, as the evening’s guest speaker.

The awards close at the end of July and act as an independent endorsement of a company’s achievements, giving the chance to: raise your profile; enhance your reputation as an exceptional operator within the HVAC sector; open the doors to new suppliers, customers, investors and partners; motivate employees and boost productivity; win significant media exposure to increase brand awareness.

The award categories are: • • • • • • • •

Commercial Ventilation Product of the Year Commercial Heating Product of the Year Air Conditioning Product of the Year Sustainable Product of the Year Sustainable Project of the Year Contractor of the Year Consultant of the Year Customer Service Person of the Year

Heather Ramsden, Editor, Heating & Ventilating Review said: "We are delighted to welcome BSRIA principal research engineer Dr Arnold Teekaram to the judging panel. The HVR Awards reward innovation within the HVAC sector but in order to select the right winners, we need the right partner. We believe BSRIA with its wide range of independent services aimed at helping building operators run their facilities more efficiently, makes it a perfect fit for the HVR Awards.”

To find out more information about how to enter the awards – or attend the exclusive gala dinner – please contact sholloway@datateam.co.uk or call 01622 699 166.

Click HERE to enter an award.

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N ew

High Precision MEMS DMU10 low-cost IMU

Silicon Sensing System’s latest precision MEMS IMU for high accuracy applications requiring a small and affordable, yet powerful, 6-DOF inertial engine. DMU10 incorporates Silicon Sensing’s discrete VSG5 PZT vibrating ring gyroscopes and capacitive accelerometers to give best-in-class bias stability. Available in OEM or chassis fit module options.

Tel +44 (0) 1752 723330 www.siliconsensing.com sales@siliconsensing.com

August 2015

Showing the way:

Robot builder provides career signpost to STEM students Fourteen secondary students from two schools in Colchester - Stanway and Thomas Lord Audley - got the chance to showcase their robotic skills during a recent open day hosted at packing automation designer and manufacturer Pacepacker Services. During a tour of the Essex-based factory on the 14th July, the students were encouraged to investigate the exciting range of career opportunities that STEM study opens up to them. And with senior people from three of the UK’s top robotic engineering companies in attendance - including Pacepacker’s collaborators Festo and FANUC - they were able to get a varied perspective on engineering career pathways within the packing industry.

The eager pupils, who made this year’s VEX Robotics competition shortlist, built their own circuit controls and used a robot to hold their mobile phones and take photographs and videos of themselves exploring the work environment.

With the global advanced manufacturing market predicted to double in size to £750 billion by 2020, largely driven by developments in robotics and 3D printing, the ability to translate digital design into real-world production are set to be some of the most important skills in the future according to a 2015 report by UKCES. Like many in the sector, Pacepacker is keen to demonstrate the ladders of opportunity and the types of roles that will be in demand.

Pacepacker’s very own award-winning apprentice success story Andrew Lufkin explained to the captive audience why he chose ‘on-the-job’ training with Pacepacker over soaring university fees. “Apprenticeships are an eye opener to the working world: it’s taught me discipline, punctuality, how to prioritise and accountability.” They were also able to quiz graduate and Mechanical Design Engineer Andrew Westrop who took the university pathway. “It’s exciting to be part of such an innovative engineering team and I enjoyed sharing my experiences with the students,” said Andrew.

“The organisation of the day was great and kept the students interested and motivated to find out more about the companies and they were enlightened as to how engineering could be relevant to their careers,” reflects Claire Fisher, STEM co-ordinator at Thomas Lord Audley School. “They particularly

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enjoyed the hands on activities and the talk from Pacepacker’s graduate and apprentice for inspiring them to look into different Post-16 options in the future. We have closed the end of term on a real high, full of enthusiasm for the STEM projects in the next academic year.”

Dr Helen Marr, STEM coordinator at The Stanway School concludes: “The students were very excited to see the design software and how it could be used to design their VEX robots.

This tool will allow them to see their designs in 3D and how each section will work before building them and will definitely improve the depth and quality of their design notebooks.”

Students experiment with the next generation of end effectors – the robotic hands

Throughout the day the students were encouraged to get hands on with some of the newest technology, including operating a FANUC robot arm, Festo end effectors (the robot’s hand) and a Pacepacker Blu-Robot (a second-user reconditioned unit).

The students get to grips with robotics controls at Pacepacker

Commenting on the success of the day, host Dennis Allison, Managing Director of Pacepacker emphasised: “Everything starts with an idea and STEM subjects are used throughout the entire process, from design through to installation. It was a pleasure to see how inquisitive these young students’ minds are and how fast their skills are developing. For a growing company like ours it’s reassuring to see so much fresh engineering talent in the pipeline.”

As part of the experience Pacepacker introduced the students to Solidworks software which the company uses to create prototype robot designs.

An alternative to CAD software currently used by the students, Solidworks enables designers to be more innovative whilst also applying their STEM skills. Seeing how swiftly the students took to the technology, Pacepacker on the spot agreed to sponsor the first year’s Solidworks license for both school’s robotic groups.

Cllr Penny Channer, Essex County Council Deputy Cabinet member for Economic Growth and Infrastructure thanked Pacepacker and its robotic partners Festo and FANUC for supporting the initiative: “This exciting day of robotics was sparked by the work of Essex Employment and Skills Board Education and Industry STEM programme. It’s one of many fantastic events aimed at encouraging young people into engineering so that we have a workforce in the future with the skills our industry needs.”

August 2015

THE ENGINEERS CHOICE

www.tfc.eu.com

Reduce spring height by 50% Contact TFC: +44 (0)1435 866011

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Directory Directory

Street Crane Co Ltd Chapel-en-le-Frith High Peak SK23 0PH Tel: +44 (0) 1298 812456 www.streetcrane.co.uk email: sales@streetcrane.co.uk

ECi Software Solutions Si One, St Ives Business Park, Parsons Green, St Ives, PE27 4AA Tel: +44 (0) 333 123 0333 Website: www.eci.eu Email: eu-sales@ecisolutions.com

Man and Machine Ltd Unit 8 Thame 40 Jane Morbey Road Thame Oxfordshire OX9 3RR www.manandmachine.co.uk marketing@manandmachine.co.uk

Weber Marking Systems UK Macmerry Industrial Estate, Tranent, East Lothian EH33 1HD, United Kingdom

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Tel: +44.18.7561.1111 E-mail: sales@weber.co.uk www.weber.co.uk

August 2015 June 2015

Quantum Controls 6a Dukes Way Low Prudhoe Northumberland NE42 69Q

0330 9000 247 sales@quantum-controls.co.uk

Fraser Anti-Static Techniques Ltd Scotts Business Park Bampton, Devon EX16 9DN www.fraser-antistatic.co.uk sales@fraser-antistatic.co.uk +44 (0)1398331114

Hone-All Cherrycourt Way, Leighton Buzzard. LU7 4UH. Tel: 0845 5555 111 E-mail: sales@hone-all.co.uk www.hone-all.co.uk

Ecopac (UK) Power Ltd Unit 4, Ridgeway, Crendon Industrial Area, Long Crendon, Bucks, HP18 9BF Tel: +44 1844204420 www.ecopacpower.co.uk



Insulation Monitoring

 Residual Current Monitoring  Insulation Fault Location  Power Quality Management  ATICS Changeover Devices

www.bender-uk.com

BENDER UK Low Mill Business Park, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 9EE

Tel: 44(0) 1229 480123

Register online at: www.prosafe-europe.com October 19-21 , 2015 - London, UK

ProSafe Europe 2015 Commit to Process Safety – Identify and Control Risks – Learn from Experience

HEAR REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES, DISCOVER BEST PRACTICES AND TAKEAWAY KEY INFORMATION ON: » Explaining the business benefits of process safety management » Analysing trends in major losses across the energy sector » Establishing leadership commitment and responsibility » Identifying technical, operational and human barriers » Effective processes for learning from accidents, near misses and system deficiencies » Working towards making process safety education a reality » Mapping enterprise wide risk management » Achieving successful and effective asset integrity risk management » Maintaining the focus on process safety

Contact Us: If you are interested in registering for the conference or would like to find out more, please contact a member of the T.A. Cook team on +44 (0)121 200 3810 or info@tacook.com.

Hear Case Studies From: BASF Centrica Energy Dong Energy E.ON Maersk Drilling Nestlé Sanofi Scottish Power Syngenta TOTAL Refining & Chemicals Exhibitor: