Engineering Update - March 2020 by Jet Digital Media Ltd

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March 2020

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March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

LASER DISTANCE SENSORS COMBINE OUTSTANDING ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY WITH OPTIMAL CONNECTIVITY The latest range of OM70 laser distance sensors available from sensing and instrumentation specialists BAUMER are designed to provide reliable and precise inline measurements, even on more ‘challenging’ and inconsistent structured surfaces and materials. They also include the very latest connectivity options for outstanding usability and fast analysis for quick and easy sensor adjustment via the intuitive Baumer web interface feature.

OM70 sensors feature one of the thinnest beam shapes compared to other types of laser sensors and this is crucial in helping to ensure a more precise measuring focus. For example, most point type lasers typically only go down to 0.2mm x 0.75mm whereas the OM70 goes down to 0.05mm x 0.05mm. This feature optimises the sensor’s receiving array enabling it to fully exploit the information content and minimises measuring impairments caused by irregularities such as machining marks, tiny scratches or dents which can impair the performance of other types of laser sensors. The range includes options which cover a wide range of measuring and sensor applications. For example, the OM70 offers the highest precision at the closest ranges with precise inline measurement and a selectable range with a ‘sweet spot’ up to 250mm. This means reliable measurement regardless of the object thanks to its point and line beam shapes. A second option is available which ensures reproducibility of long distance measurements up to 1500mm. Along with these is the OM70-T which provides tolerance measurement and dimensional accuracy checks, essentially an even more high performance option for the most demanding measuring applications.

This is crucial in helping to improve product quality with non-contact dimensional accuracy checks and can also be quickly adjusted to the measurement task using the integrated web interface. The precise and reliable performance characteristics apply across the OM70 range. This means users have the confidence of unrivalled measurement, compared to other options available, particularly in the most challenging environmental conditions like poor ambient light, or dusty environments. For example, OM70 sensors have high ambient light immunity up to 28kLux whereas most other options only go up to 7.5kLux. In addition an automatic light adaption function which can power itself up means the sensors can see through dark or dusty environments and receive a stable reflection back. Finally, reliable results and measurements can be achieved, even on demanding surfaces, thanks to the extra fine line beam and stable measurement signals, thanks to functions such as automatic exposure control and adjustable filters. ENDS For more click here

Protecting Your Plant Before

Rotech Motion Sensor’s can be used whenever information or monitoring of shaft rotation, position, direction, speed, slip etc is required! Rotech Motion Sensor’s can be used for indication, control, interlocking, protection, sequencing, alarm initiations and many more functions! Rotech Motion Sensor’s can be used wherever materials are transported or processed By conveyors, elevators, screws, mixers, etc!

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Monitoring the world

Axe & Status (DU32) Durma 54cm (MACH and 50).qxp_Layout 1 17/02/2020 18:09 Page 1



ENGINEERING UPDATE

March 2020

“UNBEATABLE”

Stand 260, Hall 6

THE ALL NEW DURMA HD-F0 3015 FIBER LASER

COMPACT

Exclusive UK Distributor

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COMPACT HD-FO 3015

IPG fiber laser source Siemens 840D CNC control Filter & dust collector Lantek software Simple load & unload

1kW £135,000+VAT 2kW £150,000+VAT ● Delivery, installation, training and 1-year warranty included

“Winning Force”

For more information call +44 (0)1908 647707 DU32

www.axestatus.com

50 1970 2020 YEARS

Axe & Status offer a range of machinery for both general fabrication and machine tools. Within the machine tools range Axe & Status offer Eumach rigid CNC vertical and horizontal milling machines, Massa heavy duty CNC vertical turning lathes, Target, Tuscan heavy duty CNC oil country lathes, Accuway heavy duty CNC slant bed lathes and target vertical machining centres.

he fabrication machinery is exclusively imported from Durma which includes CNC pressbrakes, swing beam guillotines, variable rake guillotines, mechanical shears and CNC plasma machines, plate roll bending machines, profile bending machines, punchpress, corner notchers and ironworkers as well as the new ‘Fiber Laser’ range of machinery. The Durma fiber laser range of machines include Precitec cutting heads with a bevel head and pipe cutting option, IPG power sources up to 10kw, pipe cutting features and a range of automation systems. Fiber lasers outshine with fast cutting and energy-efficient abilities, especially when compared to CO2 lasers. Easy use, maintenance and service have been achieved by the high technology of fiber lasers. The latest product edition from Durma is the HD-FO compact laser. Designed specifically as an entry level, flat bed laser system for workshops with limited space and for customers who want inhouse control of quality and productivity.

The HD-FO is available with a Durma fiber laser power source of 1kw or 2kw – the focus length is 125mm and focusing is automatic. The compact laser also offers the easy loading and unloading of sheet via a quick opening front door without the need of a shutter table. This compact laser is competitively priced and easily transportable and has been specifically designed to accommodate sheets to a maximum size of 3m x 1.5m. The maximum sheet weight is 575kg.

and a complete cutting database for all standard cutting applications. This includes the cutting parameters for most frequently profiled materials and common thickness ranges, although operators can fine tune the parameters to optimise the cutting quality for certain materials.

Cutting capacities for the 1kw laser are: 8mm for mild steel; 4mm for stainless steel, aluminium and brass; and 2mm for copper. The cutting capacities for the 2kw laser are 12mm, 6mm and 3mm respectively. The positional accuracy and repeatability are ±0.05mm.

Axe & Status Machinery Ltd are exclusive UK distributors for DURMA machinery, service and technical support. Axe & Status Machinery Ltd have represented Durma as their exclusive UK distributor since 2002. The HD-FO fiber laser like all Durma products are manufactured in Turkey. www.axestatus.com

The CNC control is a Siemens Siminerik 840D SL system with a 19-inch touch panel, a Durma operator interface

Axe & Status are exhibiting at MACH 2020 from April 20th to April the 24th in Hall 6 stand 260.

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March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

Stertil loading bays specified for prestigious baytree project In recognition of the company’s extensive technical expertise, Stertil Dock & Door Products was invited to put forward detailed proposals for the prestigious Baytree project in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

total of 26 loading bays have been installed featuring a range of Stertil products including dock levellers, dock bumpers, dock shelters, dock doors and level access doors. Each loading bay incorporates the Stertil WE 574 collapsible frame dock shelter measuring 3400mm wide by 3600mm high. Comprising rugged head and side curtains, the W Series range of dock shelters can be tailored to fit and effectively seal almost every type and size of vehicle – a perfect combination of versatility, reliability and effectiveness. Within the dock shelter, at the heart of the loading bay installations, is the Stertil X-Series dock leveller, type XF3020, which offers a safe platform capacity of six tonnes. This latest generation of dock levellers incorporates a 600mm extending telescopic lip which enables the simple loading of goods, including boxes, cages and pallets, up to the absolute end of a vehicle or trailer thereby ensuring maximum space utilisation. This contrasts favourable with a conventional swing lip dock leveller that requires additional space to operate correctly. Each of the docks features a Thermadoor dock door complete with panoramic windows to ensure maximum natural light thereby enhancing working conditions for the loading bay personnel. Suitable for all industrial applications, the extensive Thermadoor range comprises models for almost every environment and application. All models incorporate a robust construction and heavy duty hardware designed to give a long trouble-free working life in rigorous conditions.

Offering reliable protection to reversing vehicles and the warehouse building, the Stertil installation also includes PE450 dock bumpers at each dock. The latest generation of PE Dock Bumpers from Stertil Dock & Door products provides unrivalled protection for vehicles, loading bays and buildings. The PE dock bumpers’ innovative design also allows left and right bumpers to be simply interchanged and rotated to enable users to achieve four times the working life of traditional dock bumpers.

The Stertil installation also includes three level access doors, measuring 4000mm x 5000mm, to provide free movement of fork trucks and other wheeled loads into and out of the warehouse. Stertil Dock & Door Products Tel: 0870 770 0471 www.stertil-dockproducts.co.uk

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CME’s Innovation & Agility Achieve Demanding Production Solution Timescales For International Customer When CME Limited were presented with the challenge of designing, developing and delivering a complex multistation production solution for an international customer within just 17 weeks of first contact, the company took the opportunity to once again demonstrate how its robust yet agile new product introduction methodologies work to achieve customers’ technical, commercial and time-line expectations. Bespoke automation solutions require careful and detailed consideration at all stages of the project if a reliable and efficient production system is to be delivered on time. In many instances, the time from order placement to delivery and commissioning of this type of production technology would be a minimum of 26 weeks, therefore achieving a much-reduced time-scale of 17 weeks for this complex system would require both an innovative and agile approach. With 20% of the company’s workforce dedicated to R&D and design, CME had the resource available to initiate the concept and design processes immediately, drawing upon the diverse mix of design expertise available within the team, utilising the latest Vault & Autodesk Inventor CAD technology. This complex machine would be required to achieve micron flatness and height tolerances in certain areas, whilst achieving dispensing weigh control to a tolerance of -0 + 0.1g on a variety of up to 60 different product permutations, each with their own unique characteristics. Challenging indeed, and best addressed by open minded innovative thinking on the part of the design team.

CME Managing Director Paul Knight expands on the company’s approach: “Clearly this was a great opportunity for CME to demonstrate not only the depth of our design capability and innovation expertise, but how our agile organisational processes and methodologies work to reduce time-scales by achieving an efficient right first time scenario. This is especially important where tight deadlines need to be met and when certain components or systems require significant de risking.” With an inhouse component machining resource, CME were able to prioritise manufacture of specific components requiring testing and also further reduce manufacturing time-scales by running overtime and extra shifts. In addition, successful relationships with high quality offshore supply chain partners provided valuable additional machining capacity. This sophisticated automation solution accepts delicate thin “sleeves” from an input magazine system before indexing them through various stations at the rate of 60 per minute, where product is dispensed to weight, compressed to a specified density, height checked and sealed. Paul Knight explains: “This system is the first of its kind in OEM production and required careful consideration of the nuances associated with the previous manual production processes to guarantee reliable and efficient operation. For example, there are multiple grades of product, which differ in consistency and contain varying levels of moisture therefore the coatings used on the product feeding surfaces are designed to maintain the required feed rate across all product grades. Another example is the sealing process, which uses multiple servo- motors to consistently replicate the dexterity of the previous manual operation. The machine is also designed ergonomically, and the man-machine interface is highly intuitive, for ease of operation by production operatives” The result of the efforts of the whole CME team resulted in the machine being complete and delivered within the required 17week time-scale. Paul Knight concludes: “We are proud of our achievements on this project and once again we have been able to demonstrate how efficient our methodologies and processes have become. Although this machine is the first of its kind, we are confidant that, based upon its success, it will be the beginning of a standard range of products for CME looking forward.”

CME@CME-LTD.COM | WWW.CME-LTD.COM Tel:01460 269 500

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

pressure sensors KELLER (UK) Ltd. Little Keep Gate, Barrack Road, Dorchester, DT1 1AH UK and Ireland: T. 0845 643 2855 F. 0845 643 2866 E-Mail: sales@keller-pressure.co.uk Web: www.keller-pressure.co.uk www.keller-druck.com

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PRECISION PRESSURE TRANSMITTER 33 X – Ranges 0…0,2 bar thru to 0…1000 bar, adjustable – Output signals: 4…20 mA, 0…10 V, RS485 Digital – Mathematical on-board error correction – Accuracy, error band 0,1 %FS, 10…40 °C – Optional enhanced precision to ± 0,01 %FS

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March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

Güdel TrackMotion Modules Helping Robots Reach Out

The ever-expanding range of industrial robot applications means that today robots are being tasked with increasingly varied and more complex operations. In addition, many manufacturers are seeking to capitalise on the flexibility offered by robots, especially the 6 axis variety, and this in turn has led in many cases to a demand for larger working envelopes. With such a broad range of different robot makes and models available, there are options for horizontal reach exceeding 3,500mm. However, robots with this reach tend to be physically large and capable of high payloads, characteristics which may not be required for the majority applications. Güdel’s TrackMotion range of robot linear tracks, brings a new dimension to the requirement to extend robot reach. In this article Will Bourn, Sales Manager for Güdel UK, explains the benefits which can be realised by integrating a standard robot to one of the company’s TMF Linear Tracks. There can be a variety of reasons why extending the reach of a particular robot is preferable to either purchasing a larger model, or indeed additional robots. The 6 axis robots available from all of the major manufacturers do offer a good working range when compared to the physical size of the arm, however in instances where for example, process or machining cycles allow, a single robot can be capable of servicing more than one machine or workstation. It is in applications such as these that robot linear tracks bring significant benefits by adding both working range and flexibility. Güdel is dedicated to rack and pinion-driven auxiliary linear slides for robots and overhead gantry robots, with a comprehensive range of TrackMotion modules suitable for robots ranging from smaller variants, typically 1,500mm reach and 6kg payload, right up to the latest heavy duty versions now being brought to market by some of the leading Robot manufacturers. Güdel offers a range of 6 variants of TMF (TrackMotion Floor) linear track: TMF-1 to TMF-6. In all cases these modules offer the same robust and reliable method of extending the work envelope of robot systems for which the company has become renowned.

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Indeed, many of the world’s leading robot integrators turn to Güdel when they need to enhance the working range of their systems, and the flexibility of the Güdel TrackMotion range is therefore at the heart of some truly innovative concepts. As an example, the company’s TMF-6 is currently the only standard module of its type available on the market that can move an articulated robot weighing over six tonnes, with a payload of 1300Kg, and sustain a static payload of over ten tonnes. Working as a fully integrated seventh axis for robots, the TMF-6 opens up new possibilities in a number of production processes. A range of adaptor plates, designed to suit the increasing number of heavy-duty robots now available, maximises the potential for integration with different manufacturers and their respective robot models. The modular design of the TMF range makes it possible to have tracks ranging from 3 metres up to 100 metres in length, in 1 metre increments, allowing users and integrators to specify the optimum track length for any given application. Another feature of the TMF track range is that the length can be extended, should this be required to increase flexibility or to future-proof existing installations. With the capability to accommodate independently driven carriages, depending upon variant, multiple robots are able to share the same track if required, delivering the highest levels of utilisation and flexibility. Güdel’s reputation for quality and engineering excellence is clearly evident in the design, the materials used and build standard of the TMF range, ensuring high uptimes and a long service life. From a maintenance perspective, the ability to adjust the guide-way rollers from the outside of the units and the availability of an automatic lubrication system for the rack & pinion, will keep planned maintenance times to a minimum. Güdel not only provides sophisticated automation solutions but is a manufacturer of high-precision machine components including linear guide-ways, racks, pinions and drives. These high quality components are at the heart of all Güdel linear axes and gantry robots

www.uk.gudel.com

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Ala

March 2020

et’s be honest, a totally enclosed tank in a hazardous area which needs inspecting, cleaning or repairing is never going to win a workplace of the month award. You need good portable lighting just to see where you’re going, let alone carry out the task. If you’re working in a team there will be floodlights in use in different locations within the tank and the last thing you want is to be dazzled by the glare of your own light or those of your colleagues.



ENGINEERING UPDATE

Dazzled by floodlight glare in a pitch black tank? Wolf Safety finds the ideal solution

Aware of the problem Wolf Safety, world leaders in portable and temporary safety lighting, have found the ideal solution. Their design team has developed an easily portable LED task floodlight, designed to reduce beam glare when working in potentially explosive atmospheres. The robust LinkEx™WF-250XL Floodlite, easy to carry and more economical than comparable units, produces more than 3,000 lumens of white light, more than enough to illuminate a 5m square tank or similar space without dazzling. With full application support available from Wolf’s technical team the WF-250XL offers an efficient, cost effective and highly versatile lighting solution for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, even in the world’s harshest environments. It also incorporates Wolf’s unique SOVI™ technology which alerts the user if lights are running outside certified and optimal voltage ranges, maximising safety and performance. Both LV and HV units are certified safe down to zero volts, as are Wolf’s WF-300®XL and LX-400/E luminaires. “Users tell us our more powerful WF-300®XL Floodlite, which provides over 6,000 lumens, is great but can be too intense when working in small spaces,” says Michael Morley, Wolf Safety’s Technical Director. “This new product not only solves that problem but also offers great lighting performance in confined spaces.” Fully compliant with the latest ATEX and IECEx standards, including OPIS (optical intrinsic safety), the unit is fitted with a highly reliable LED array designed to provide at least 100,000 hours of working life. The product’s design and construction incorporate cooling fins which ensure effective heat dissipation for the LED array. For further information visit: www.wolfsafety.com

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March 20201 ENGINEERING PDATE DS-OCT12-BLACKFAST_Layout 1 20/09/2012 16:28 Page

Tel: 0208 339 7370

Fax: 0208 339 7371 Unit 5 Russell House, Molesey Road Email: sales@blackfast.com Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 3PE www.blackfast.com

we make ideas come to life

RMIG is the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of perforated metal and its related products. We know our customers’ requirements for price and quality and meet their demands with uncompromising service. Not only do we offer standard and bespoke perforated metal sheets, we are able to offer you a range of secondary operations as detailed below. Complete solutions With a continued investment in the latest equipment and a network of professional partners we are able to produce prime quality products and solutions – from a simple perforated sheet to the fully formed and coated custom made part.

Cutting We can cut and shape perforated sheet to meet the needs of your final application. Levelling For some applications a high degree of flatness is required, we have processes in place to ensure our perforated coils and sheets meet with your most demanding requirements. Rolling and forming We can roll, bend and form perforated sheets to match your design. Aesthetic finishes and protective coating We can offer powder coating and hot dip galvanizing solutions to meet your specifications.

For more information please contact us tel: 01925 839610 | email: info.uk@rmig.com | www.rmig.com

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March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

mk’s Accumulating Pallet Recirculation System used by Leading German Appliance Manufacturer

Although the SPU is available as both a single and dual lane solution, due to the size of the dishwasher housing (approximately 800 x 600 x 400mm) a double lane solution was provided in this instance. Additionally the carriers consist of two parts, to ensure navigation around the return roller.

The accumulating pallet recirculation system SPU 2040 enables cost-effective and dynamic feeding, buffering, positioning and separating of workpiece pallets (WT). In this application the SPU provided the perfect solution for transporting the housing of dishwashers for a leading German white goods manufacturer.

hen linking multiple cycle or changeover times the SPU 2040 allows a countercyclical operation with automatic recirculation of the workpiece. A flat top chain carries the workpieces on the WT to the assembly plant. After removal of the workpieces the empty pallets are safely carried over the return roller and then conveyed back on the underside of the conveyor. They are then once again available at the starting point of the conveyor waiting to be loaded with new workpieces. A second conveying level and devices for lifting and lowering with complex control elements are no longer required. No additional manual or automated loading of pallets in necessary either. In this particular application the SPU will equalise and buffer

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each dishwasher housing carrier between two machines through the process of becoming a welded unit and a fully assembled unit. There is also a requirement to stop the carriers for optical inspections via image processing and for mounting further components.

The SPU 2040 is very compact in comparison with other systems on the market so meant low space requirements for this appliance manufacturer. It also offers the benefit of good ergonomic properties for workers who place or remove the dishwasher housing from the system. Due to the proven mk modular design the SPU 2040 is adjustable so can be further enhanced or adapted as the white goods manufacturer’s production requirements grow or need adapting. To find out more please visit www.mkprofiles.co.uk, call (01949) 823751 or email info@mkprofiles.co.uk.

Profile Technology

Conveyor Technology

Linear Motion

Factory Equipment

Modules and Much More

SPU 2040 Accumulating Pallet Recirculation Systems with automatic return of pallets

mk Profile systems limited a company of the mk Technology Group Unit 2·Wolds Farm Business Park Kinoulton Lane·Kinoulton·Nottinghamshire, NG12 3EQ Phone +44 (0)1949 823751·Fax +44 (0)1949 81270 www.mkprofiles.co.uk·info@mkprofiles.co.uk

March 2020

Our Best Box Just Got Better

he combination of a premium alloy with outstanding corrosion resistance, an enhanced painting process and excellent impact protection, offers the longest lasting protection on the market yet over the combined effects of water, impact and corrosive environments. Tom Downing, Product Manager at Deltron Enclosures commented: “The Fortis range offer the same form and fit as the market leading thick 18|



ENGINEERING UPDATE

Deltron Enclosures’ Corrosion and Impact Resistant series has been improved, and as a superior box deserves a superior name, we are delighted to introduce the Fortis Enclosure Range. wall cast aluminium enclosures but with extra durability and corrosion resistance due to the low copper content in the alloy. Galvanic effects between copper and aluminium increase the speed of corrosion, so a lower copper content leads to slower corrosion of the aluminium; this series contains less than 0.1% copper content, whilst most on the market contain 3% to 4%. “We expect the enclosures to enter the market through high specification designs where the

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

> Corrosion resistant for up to 1000 hours in salt spray > Manufactured from a premium alloy with less than 0.1% copper content for corrosion resistance > IP tessng performed aaer impact tessng to verify the seal is maintained when the enclosure is treated roughly > Impact resistant up to 7 Joules > Reusable seals (Up to 200 compressions)

IP68 seal and corrosion resistance are vital; such as environments with high levels of electrolytes, including marine, agricultural or buried applications, or in areas where the enclosure is susceptible to knocks.”

The enclosures also boast reusable seals which will withstand up to 200 compressions or uses; many on the market are single use and not environmentally friendly. Multiple sizes are also available in grey, black or red.

In addition to the improved alloy, a salt spray test simulated prolonged periods in a corrosive environment and although the enclosures are certified for resistance up to 1000 hours, the test actually went on a further 18 weeks before being stopped, and the box was still not corroded. Furthermore, all IP testing was carried out after impact testing to verify that the seal is maintained when the enclosure is treated roughly.

Click here to view our IP66 or IP68 Fortis Enclosure Datasheets and download 3D CAD models. Deltron Enclosures is one of four brands of DEM Manufacturing; a division of Alpha 3 Manufacturing Ltd. www.dem-uk.com/deltron-enclosures +44 01724 27300 sales@dem-uk.com

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March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

THE QUICK WIN

SUSTAINABILITY IN TANK CLEANING OPERATIONS With focus intensifying on environmental issues, legislation increasing and likely to become more stringent, most businesses are considering their impact on the environment. Furthermore, public concern about pollution and global warming is increasing and the ‘PR cost’ to companies who cannot demonstrate their green credentials, is also rising. The PR costs of not being seen to be doing one’s bit as a company often dwarf the actual fiscal costs of suboptimal energy usage. Unsurprisingly, we now see the phenomena of marketing and PR departments taking an active interest in the efficiencies and waste management practices of their companies. Sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes are no longer only the preserve of accountants and senior engineering management they now are a marketing and PR issue as well. As a result, engineers are receiving edicts from management to cut waste and increase the sustainability profile of the company because being seen to be green is probably high on the agenda for any progressive manufacturing business. Process engineers are now seeking any way they can to meet their sustainability targets and of course, water usage is one key metric by which this can be measured because any savings in water usage are easily convertible to carbon foot print savings. Here we look at methods of optimising tank cleaning systems as a way of meeting sustainability targets and it’s clear that some quick wins with significant efficiencies are possible by optimising tank cleaning processes. The true cost of water The true cost of water, both in environmental impact and in fiscal terms, is often under appreciated. Firstly, there is the cost of purchasing the water which is increasing and will continue to rise as pressure on the world’s water systems increase. The cost per m3 of new water to businesses is significant, but it’s only part of the true cost. Heating cost Many applications require water to be heated, especially in cleaning applications. Water takes 4.2 Kj of energy to heat each litre (Kg) and its high specific heat capacity

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means it takes a lot of energy to heat water to the temperatures needed for optimal cleaning. Treatment cost Once water has been used for a cleaning operation it needs to be disposed of and the cost of disposal varies greatly with water used for cleaning operations having particularly high disposal costs. The very nature of the application means the waste water will be dirty and often contain caustics or solvents to ensure effective cleaning. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) are metrics used by the water treatment industry to effectively measure how dirty waste water is. Both measure the oxygen required in reactions to break down the pollutants and the water used in food and dairy industry applications often has very high BOD levels resulting in higher waste water treatment costs per m3. Chemical cost Using alkali caustics to break down oils, fats or greases and acids to break down mineral deposits, is common in many tank cleaning systems. These chemicals are not cheap and their usage only adds to the cost of treating the waste water used. Standard methods of optimisation / energy saving. There are two commonly deployed mehods of reducing energy / water usage in tank cleaning systems. Heat recovery Many factories produce excess heat in their processes and good heat management systems can divert waste heat to be used in other applications like cleaning. This “free” heat is a key method in reducing environmental impact and meeting sustainability targets, although there is a limit to how much “free” heat is available for cleaning. Recycle water CIP Most clean in place (CIP) systems will reuse waste water from previous cleans. The pre-rinse and even main clean can often be performed with dirty water. As long as a final rinse of clean water is used then a hygienic clean can be achieved using mostly soiled water.

Of course, there is a limit to how many times cleaning fluid can be recycled in this way and eventually all the waste liquid needs to be removed from the CIP system. Other methods of saving Once heat recovery and water recycling efficiencies have been realised to their full, where next for the environmentally responsible manufacturer? Optimising the cleaning mix One still often overlooked saving can be found by optimising the cleaning mix. The basic theory underpinning any cleaning operation is that there are four contributory factors in cleaning: heat, time, chemical action and mechanical action. An increase in one element will mean that the other elements can be reduced without compromising overall cleaning effectiveness. From a sustainability perspective, there is a logical choice of which element to increase and Increasing heat is only going to increase the environmental costs. Chemical action of course should immediately be seen as a non-starter. Increasing time might seem beneficial but in reality, a time increase in cleaning often means using more water so, again, it’s a non-starter if our goal is to improve sustainability. This leaves mechanical action as the obvious “green” candidate to increase. If we can improve the impact of the cleaning system, then the other elements can be reduced accordingly. This means the same level of cleaning can be achieved with less heat, chemicals, water and possibly in less time too. Nozzle selection & Mechanical action When cleaning with fluids the overall mechanical action delivered to the tank wall is dictated by the energy transferred from the pump is transferred to the wall, the greater the mechanical action component of the cleaning mix will be. Nozzle / tank cleaner selection has a significant effect on the efficiency of this energy transfer process... Continue Reading Online

Book your course and receive a FREE Drive Guide for all attendees! Email us at training@quantum-controls.co.uk today.

Variable Speed Drive & Motor Training Courses designed for Apprentices! If you have apprentices on site, it is assumed that they are learning all of the things required whilst attending college or an external training provider, however, we have found this is often not the case. Even our own apprentices are come back having learnt nothing about modern day engineering, Variable Speed Drives or Motors. This is why we believe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s essential they receive hands on training to make sure they are site ready when the time comes. Our one day course is specifically designed for Apprentices. Your Apprentices will learn product features, applications, installation and start up procedures, programming, PC Tools, maintenance and fault finding through real hands on training. As Official Service Partners for all major brands and over 25 years experience with ABB Drives, we can tailor the course to suit whatever drives you have on site. Courses can be delivered at different venues, your site or at our state of the art Repair Facility in the North East. All our courses are delivered by engineers, for engineers.

training@quantum-controls.co.uk | 01661 835 566 *minimum of 4 delegates per course

March 2020

KAWASAKI ROBOTICS PRESENTS ‘ASK THE EXPERTS’ FACILITY AT MACH 2020 MACH 2020 exhibitor Kawasaki Robotics is pioneering an innovative new opportunity for visitors with a ‘Not sure if you need a robot?’ confidential advice service on its stand for the duration of the event, with visitors able to remain completely anonymous should they so choose. For the first time, visitors who might be thinking of automating but are uncertain about whether it is necessary, viable, affordable or achievable can meet with a Kawasaki Robotics expert for an independent assessment. To ensure that any advice provided is indeed absolutely independent, show visitors need not provide their name or company name when they meet with the Kawasaki Robotics experts, just their job function. Kawasaki Robotics Ian Hensman, who together with fellow industry stalwart Malcolm Akers will be providing the service throughout every day of MACH 2020 says “What matters here is independence

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and anonymity. If visitors seeking advice wish to remain anonymous, they need only remove their badge before joining us and discussing their ideas. This is not about us selling robots: it is about providing experienced insight into the advantages and possible pitfalls in potential applications, and offering overarching guidance and advice in such a way that potential users can better validate their ideas before investing too much time, money and resource into taking things further”. Kawasaki Robotics arrives at MACH 2020 (Stand 6-472) fresh from a stunning win at the Plastics Industry Awards 2019, when it picked up ‘Supplier Partnership – Ancillary

Machinery Award’ for its work with Malvern-based precision moulders SynthoTec Ltd. SynthoTec Operations Director Wayne Williamson, commenting on the many reasons why the company chose a Kawasaki robot, observed at the time “We are extremely pleased that we chose Kawasaki Robotics for another reason, too – we have been dealing with engineers who listen, understand what we’re saying and what we want to achieve, and are always available to us on demand when we have queries or questions.” Kawasaki Robotics are appearing at MACH 2020 om Stand No 6-472

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

Bülte launches its new 3d catalogue and offers self-service access to the native 3D models of a selection of its products. Bülte, the company specializing in plastic and plastometallic protective and fastening parts improves engineering efficiency and the digital experience of its customers with instant 3D downloads.

he company has just put online a brandnew 3D product catalogue. Thanks to instant downloads of 3D models from its site, Bülte improves the experience and efficiency of its customers by enabling them to speed up their design process. The new catalogue already offers 3D models of washers, fasteners, bushes, spacers, and nuts. It has been designed to be able to work directly with Bülte customers’ design offices, so that the references could really be used right from the product design phases. It allows engineers to quickly and easily navigate through the Bülte catalogue to find and download the free 3D model they need, in more than 100 software formats and versions. This new 3D catalogue will allow Bülte to be in direct contact with its end customers. The company’s technicalsales teams also provide customers with personalised support to guide them in their choice of products and respond to their requests. The 3D Bülte catalogue is also in line with the company’s desire to support its customers with a personalised service. The 3D models of each product can be downloaded on the fly and are available for self-service..

About Bülte Founded in 1956 by Norbert Bülte, the company Bülte is specialized in plastic protection parts and plastic and plastometallic fasteners. Most of the company’s 30,000 references are manufactured in Germany, but Bülte also responds to its customers’ specific requests for custom-made products. Present in France, the United Kingdom and Germany, Bülte delivers its products all over the world and accompanies wide range of industries, including military, food processing, furniture, medical and aerospace, with a followup and personalised advice, favouring human contact. All washers, screws and nuts are compliant and meet specific standards for DIN, ISO and NFE. This extensive range of products is available in a large choice of materials, including ABS, PA6, PA6.6, PP, PE, PVDF, POM, PC, and PTFE. Bülte Plastics also integrates the REACH and RoHS requirements and guidelines in its manufacturing and procurement processes. For more than 60 years, Bülte has benefited from the most efficient know-how and dynamism, with a strong emphasis on quality, flexibility and reactivity. Website: www.bulte.com

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March 2020

ď&#x201A;?

ENGINEERING UPDATE

Muller Coax are the original designers and manufacturers of coaxial valves having established the company and product range in 1960 and are established in many industry sectors supplying valves to many diversified blue chip companies and organizations worldwide including Siemens, Rolls Royce, BNFL and many automotive plants where the valves are specified for use.

From their head office and main manufacturing plant in Germany, Coax have wholly owned companies in the USA,UK, Spain, Italy and China and distributors worldwide to support our customers wherever they may be. Muller Coax product range includes products for many industry sectors including power generation , automotive plants, nuclear industry, military, pumping application and machine tools to name but a few. Valve range have valves for medias and pressures up to 500 bar, 2/2 and 3/2 functions, Atex compliant , fast reaction times, various body materials, position indication all are SIL2 rated as standard with SIL3 certified available on many types.

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Due to the design of the valve the media passes unimpeded through the valves in a â&#x20AC;&#x153;coaxialâ&#x20AC;? manner, there is no pressure loss across the valve, and this design also allows the valves to handle and pass contaminated media where many conventional valves would fail due to ingress of dirt. The size of the valves vary but are all known for their fast reaction time with the smaller MK10 valves able to do a complete open / closed cycle in 60 milliseconds. Muller Coax are an ISO9001: 2015 accredited company. For further information contact John Osborn on 01908 067583 or on e mail john.osborn@coaxvalves.co.uk Web address is www.co-ax.com

March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

Innovative Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging Enhances Thermal Inspection FLIR's patented MSX® (Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging) technology adds visible light details to thermal images in real time delivering greater clarity, embedding edge and outline detail onto thermal readings. Based on FLIR’s unique onboard processor, this innovative technology uses an internal digital camera to enhance thermal images in real time.

ey details apparent to the naked eye can sometimes get lost in a regular thermal image, requiring a separate digital photo to reference the location of the thermal issue being investigated. A regular thermal image only displays heat signatures, which can cause details to get lost in the haze if they represent a similar temperature. To overcome this, FLIR thermal cameras with MSX® technology use an internal digital camera to enhance the thermal image. MSX® uses a high-contrast visual image to emboss key aspects of the scene on top of a full thermal image. Unlike image fusing (merging of a visible light and thermal image), MSX® does not dilute the thermal image or decrease thermal transparency.

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MSX® technology ensures easier target identification without compromising radiometric data thereby ensuring the quality of your thermal images is routinely excellent. FLIR Systems T530 and T540 thermal imaging cameras are designed to support advanced thermographers and IR service consultants by focusing on resolution, speed, and ergonomics. With the 180° rotating optical block, vibrant LCD display, and streamlined form factor, the T500-Series offers inspectors the necessary tools to support comprehensive inspections in challenging conditions, especially when equipment is obstructed from view or difficult to access. For further information on the T-500 series cameras with FLIR’s MSX® (Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging) technology please CLICK HERE or contact FLIR Systems on research@flir.com or +32-3665-5100.

March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

NEW ProxATEX™ Digital Temperature Controller This brand new controller brings a host of ‘world-firsts’ to the table, for design-in use as a hazardous area digital controller in potentially explosive atmospheres. Built to worldwide “Ex” standards and with ATEX/IECEx certification, its high current 25A design is the perfect match for our legendary Thermosafe induction drum heater, but is also ideal for use with “Ex” rated industrial ovens and process plant trace heating projects. Secure NFC control cards add a new level of application security, and are available with up to 15 programmable settings. Zones 1, 2, 21 & 22. T3 155 C / T4 135 C Rugged and reliable with IP66 all-weather protection for use in demanding environments UK and worldwide patents DS-OCT12-BLACKFAST_Layout 1 20/09/2012 16:28 Page 1

Tel: 0208 339 7370

Fax: 0208 339 7371 Unit 5 Russell House, Molesey Road Email: sales@blackfast.com Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 3PE www.blackfast.com

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ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

New: R+K height adjustable floor stand RK Rose+Krieger (part of the international Phoenix Mecano group of companies) have been manufacturing components for automation and machine building for over 40 years. Our extensive range of products in the fields of linear adjustment, profile technology, connecting and module technology are renowned and respected for their reliability and performance. As a company we are always striving to look for new ways to advance our products. For example, we have recently expanded our range of monitor mounting components even further introducing our new RK height adjustable monitor floor stand. With the new height adjustable monitor floor stand, RK Rose+Krieger is expanding its monitor mounting product range to include a robust ergonomic standing workstation for industry which can be set up quickly and is much more economical than complex workstations. The work surface and monitor mounting are supported by a stable triple column system on a black powder coated base frame. The position can be easily adjusted by hand and has an adjustment stroke of 400mm. The standard version of the stand has feet (steering rollers optional) and a rotary flange connecting plate. Pre-assembled modules are supplied for quick and easy set-up. The stand can also be combined with all available RK monitor holding components. The monitor is moved up or down synchronously with the work surface but the height can also be adjusted independently. The user can thus adjust the distance between the work surface and the monitor precisely to their requirements.

The rear column is equipped with a cable channel and elastic bands and cables can be simply pushed in and held in place making for a tidy appearance. Please contact R+K to discuss this or any of other range or products including aluminium profile, connecting technology and linear components.

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March 2020

LIR Systems announce the FLIR A8580 series of entry-level, cooled highdefinition thermal science cameras designed for a wide range of industrial, military, science, and product research and development (R&D) applications. These 1.3-megapixel cameras record blur-free images of highspeed targets, offer a wide range of precision, manual and motorized lenses, and integrate seamlessly with the new FLIR Research Studio thermal analysis software – to provide users with a high-end experience in a compact, easyto-use device. The A8580 series includes four midwave infrared (MWIR) models as well as a long-wave model that provides better uniformity and stability than other, similar LWIR cameras. This unique LWIR camera also offers wide temperature calibration ranges, reducing the need for repeated testing to fully measure a high dynamic scene, and fast integration times. All five models produce sharp, 1280×1024 thermal pixel imagery for a 30% improvement over previous FLIR compact science cameras. Users can maximize the number of pixels on their target through a suite of lens options, from the 200-millimeter telephoto lens to the 3x microscope lens for imaging extremely small targets. The cameras’ quick response times and advanced triggering options help users record crisply focused images of fast-moving targets or accurately measure rapid changes in temperature. An internal filter mechanism allows the user to quickly switch between standard and high temperature ranges with a click of a button instead of manually changing neutral density filters.

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

Compact, High-Definition Thermal Science Cameras

FLIR A8580 MWIR camera To compliment these advanced features, FLIR designed the A8580 with simplified connections and controls so it’s easy to set-up and begin testing. The camera ramps up quickly and connects via Gigabit Ethernet or CoaXPress to a computer running FLIR Research Studio software. This included software allows users to view the live camera image, record the image stream, and evaluate thermal data from multiple FLIR cameras and recorded sources simultaneously. FLIR A8580 series science cameras are available for purchase today globally through the FLIR authorized network of

distributors. To learn more, please visit www.flir.com/A8580-MWIR / www.flir.com/A8580-SLS or contact FLIR Systems on research@flir.com and +32-3665-5100. Founded in 1978, FLIR Systems is a world-leading industrial technology company focused on intelligent sensing solutions for defense, industrial, and commercial applications. FLIR Systems’ vision is to be “The World’s Sixth Sense,” creating technologies to help professionals make more informed decisions that save lives and livelihoods. For more information, please visit www.flir.com and follow @flir.

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

Dixon Hose & Coupling Products The Right Connection for your fluid transfer application

Products: • Hose assemblies • Fittings & accessories • Clamps • Quick release fittings • Blow-Out prevention couplings

• Valves • Loading arms • Liquid level sensing • Marine Accessories • Bespoke Fabrications

New Couplings & Accessories Catalogue Now Available

+44 (0)1772 323 529 • dixoneurope.co.uk •

• T ECHN IC AL EXPERTISE • U NCOMMON E X CE LLE NCE • DE S IGN • CUS TO MER SERVIC E • IN N O VATIO N • MAN U FAC TU R IN G • Q U AL ITY • TEC H N IC AL EXPERTISE • UNCOM M ON EXCELLEN

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March 2020

HRS to showcase viscous heat transfer solutions at Foodex 2020 HRS Heat Exchangers, Stand T278, Foodex 2020 (30 Mar-1 Apr, NEC Birmingham) Heat is fundamental to the food and drink industry and is widely used in all but the most basic food manufacturing and processing situations, in sectors as varied as dairy, fruit and vegetable processing, meat, prepared foods, brewing, dietary supplements and more. However, when handling viscous or delicate products, where fouling or shearing can occur, it is imperative that the right heat transfer equipment is specified. In these situations, a scraped surface heat exchanger can pay dividends. HRS offers two patented technologies for scraped surface heat transfer, both of which are particularly suited to viscous products. The reciprocating Unicus Series is ideal for applications where fouling or low heat transfer is a limiting factor. The gentle movement of the scrapers allows the Unicus to be used with delicate products, such as whole fruit or vegetable pieces, without destroying the product integrity. The R Series is a traditional rotating scraped surface heat exchanger (SSHE) which can reach velocities of up to 300rpm, resulting in very high levels of shear and dramatically increasing the heat transfer rate. Ideal for viscous food products such as condensed milk, tomato purees and nut butters, as well as convenience foods such as ketchup and spreads, it also comes in a heavy-duty version for more demanding applications with extreme

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

At Foodex 2020 stand T278, HRS Heat Exchangers will showcase its range of heat exchangers and turnkey food processing systems aimed at eliminating heat transfer challenges for viscous food products.

viscosities. The R Series is the only multi tube SSHE on the market with up to six tubes in a single shell, meaning it is not only more energy efficient, but also boasts a smaller footprint. An added benefit is that it can be run in reverse to recover valuable products before cleaning or batch changeovers. Besides heat exchangers, HRS offers a wide range of food processing systems. The Thermblock AS and DTA Series are packaged pasteurisers and sterilisers for food products. The AS is suited to products with high viscosity without particulates, such as tomato paste, pizza sauce, soups and jams; whilst the DTA works with viscous sauces and purees with particulates. In addition, the HRS Asepticblock Series is a packaged pasteuriser/steriliser and aseptic filler in a compact skid but with the same level of quality and reliability as a fullsize plant, suitable for handling viscous products with or without particulates. HRS Heat Exchangers also offer cleaning-in-place systems, as well as concentration and evaporation systems. Staff will be on hand at Foodex to explain the benefits of the company’s full range to visitors. “Ensuring food hygiene, building consumer trust and transforming productivity are key challenges for the food industry right now,” says Matt Hale, International Sales & Marketing Director. “We look forward to explaining to visitors to stand T278 how our range of scraped surface heat exchangers and food processing systems can help them to meet these aims.”

www.hrs-heatexchangers.com Image far left: The HRS R Series scraped surface heat exchanger is ideal for handling viscous products such as ketchups, spreads and nut butters Image left: Matt Hale, International Sales & Marketing Director at HRS Heat Exchangers

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enhance your automation thinking

PLCnext Technology PLCnext Technology makes it possible to implement automation projects without the limits of proprietary systems. You work freely with your favorite programming languages and development tools, open-source software and apps. You can also integrate cloud services and future technologies individually. It is time for a platform that provides completely new levels of freedom for automation. It is time to think in new ways. It is time for PLCnext Technology.

#enhance #plcnext phoenixcontact.com/plcnext

CST02-17.001.L1 ÂŠ PHOENIX CONTACT 2017

March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

Improve process static electrical safety on a budget Protecting workers and company assets from ignitions caused by static electricity can’t be left to chance. In facilities where flammable and combustible products are processed, there’s a very high probability that static electricity is generated by the movement of gases, liquids and solids. The risks of a fire or explosion caused by a discharge of static electricity in an EX/ HAZLOC area are just too significant to ignore. To emphasise its significance static electricity is identified in North American and European legislation as a potential source of ignition in potentially flammable and combustible atmospheres.

Although the majority of solution specifiers would like to have multiple layers of protection over electrostatic ignition risks it can be difficult to source the budget for processes where many items require static grounding protection. In addition, the processes responsible for generating static electricity may be operated manually with no means of automating safe controls over the process. One example of this is facilities that carry out manual filling operations of large quantities of drums and smaller containers with flammable liquids.

Industry guidelines like NFPA 77 and IEC 60079-32-1 identify specific processes susceptible to discharges of static electricity coupled with practices that can eliminate the threat of ignition.

Bond-Rites provide 2/3 the level of protection of static grounding system at half the cost

In order to achieve a safe level of protection from electrostatic ignitions we must provide an effective means of grounding the equipment. Historically, the grounding of portable objects like drums, vessels, and vehicles like trucks and railcars was achieved with basic clamps that were assumed to make a direct connection to the equipment. Figure 1: Traditional plier type basic clamp

Sourcing and specifying grounding solutions with the flexibility to meet your specific zoning, installation and operating requirements

Figure 2: Traditional wall mounted ground status indicator system with internal output contacts. Note the green for ‘SAFE TO GO’ indication method.

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For somebody tasked with controlling static ignitions hazards, solutions tend to fall between basic clamps and cables and static grounding systems. Static grounding systems offer the most layers of control and protection over static ignitions risks, particularly as they can monitor the integrity of the connection to the process equipment, provide a visual indication to operators of a positive ground connection and shut down the process if the grounding connection is ever compromised.

The Bond-Rite® family of products enable product specifiers apply additional controls over electrostatic ignition hazards above and beyond basic clamps and cables, without the burden of justifying purchases associated with grounding systems with interlock Figure 3: Bond-Rites provide capability. For 15 operators with ‘SAFE TO GO’ years, Bond-Rites visual indicators have enabled solution specifiers to move up the safety curve from basic clamps and cables to achieve enhanced levels of safety by providing workers with a visual means of verifying a solid electrical connection to equipment for the duration of the process. Employing the well-recognised safety principles of GREEN for “SAFE TO GO”, Bond-Rites utilise a pulsing green LED to indicate when the equipment (e.g. drum) has a resistance of 10 ohms or less to the site’s verified ground network. All Bond-Rites continuously monitor the connection to the equipment until the clamp is removed. The green for “SAFE TO GO” concept is extremely easy for workers to engage with enabling them to take responsibility for their own safety and that of their colleagues.

For further information CLICK HERE

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

100 95 75

25 5 0

|37 NG UK Advert 190x130mm_122019_prepress 11 December 2019 10:57:53

March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

Small Changes Will Pay-Off into the Next Decade! The Importance of Enclosure Climate Control By Karl Lycett – Rittal’s Product Manager for Climate Control We have moved into a new decade, so inevitably there have been endless debates/predictions about what the next 10 years will bring, and whether our lives will become more comfortable, satisfying, happy etc as a result… Well, I can make one prediction that I’m sure history will prove to be true: making small changes to your enclosures could mean your business reaps huge benefits, not just for the next 10 years, but well into the 2030s. Protect your Control Equipment The focus in any manufacturing environment is the protection of the “money makers”; the machine tools, production line, robot arm etc. But these elements don’t operate in isolation. In the human body, our limbs receive signals from our brains in order to function; on a production line the instructions to your machines are issued by your control equipment i.e. PLCs, drives and transformers. Without this information your machinery is powerless and production will grind to a halt. The lost output will not only be very expensive, it could cause huge reputational damage (I’m reminded of the proverb “For Want of a Horseshoe Nail”* which neatly illustrates how a seemingly small, insignificant omission can have catastrophic consequences.) The cause is typically lack of adequate protection for your controlling equipment, and this will not only be detrimental to the equipment’s output, it will also impact on its longer-term reliability and lifespan. * For Want of a Nail, The Shoe Was Lost

Simple

◾ Digital configuration ◾ Consistent data quality ◾ Intelligent engineering

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You can avoid all these consequences by maintaining an environment that is appropriate for the operation of your control equipment - and this includes climate control. Which Cooling System? The right cooling solution prevents dirt entering the enclosure, increases the lifespan of equipment within and alerts you to any developing issues before they become barriers to productivity. Depending on your site and the amount of equipment that needs protection, the right solution can range from something as simple as a small filter fan which pulls ambient air through the enclosure, right up to a large, robust chiller system that can supply multiple enclosures or machines. You needn’t be overwhelmed by the question of which cooling system to choose; at Rittal we can work with you to advise you. Our team can help you narrow down your options so you can select the right one to suit your specific applications needs. We are the market-leading manufacturers of climate control equipment so you can rest assured that Rittal’s level of knowledge and expertise is at the forefront of technology and innovation. This means you can reap the benefits of energy-efficient solutions and tap into a wealth of industry knowledge to make sure you get the best solution for you. To find out more about climate control and understand how to take your enclosure cooling to the next level, visit Rittal’s stand at Drives & Controls Show, Stand D610, (NEC, Birmingham NEC, 21– 23 April 2020).

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; For want of the shoe, the horse was lost; For want of the horse, the rider was lost;

For want of the rider, the battle was lost; For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost; And all from the want of a horseshoe nail.

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

The new one: the AX/the KX. Opens up perspectives. The new generation of compact and small enclosures.

www.rittal.co.uk

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March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

DMS – Winner of the 2019 Honeywell Channel Partner of the Year award for Northern Europe DMS Metering Solutions are proud to have been honoured with the prestigious Honeywell 2019 Channel Partner of the Year award for Northern Europe. DMS have a long-standing business relationship with Honeywell, dating back over 20 years, covering multiple product ranges and solutions from Honeywell’s extensive portfolio. DMS’s unique combination of applicational knowledge, a Nationwide stock-based distribution capability and both remote and onsite technical support, training and commissioning services have been instrumental in developing this relationship. DMS are an independent supplier of Gas, Heat, Water & Specialist Metering and Control solutions, principally operating within the Building Services, Utility, Sub Distribution and OEM /Renewables market sectors, with a proven track record for excellent customer service and support spanning over 20 years. Honeywell’s impressive product portfolio incorporates several historically well-known trading names, including Elster, Jeavons, Instromet, Kent Meters and Bryan Donkin, with all of these product ranges being available from and supported by DMS in the UK.

Honeywell BK-G Diaphragm Gas Meter Range Honeywell’s world-renowned BK-G range of Diaphragm Gas Meters scale from the domestic sized BK-G4 right up to the industrial size 100mm BK-G100. Favoured by the majority of UK Utility Companies, and equally suitable for sub metering application. The BK-G range is MID approved and is available with a number of display and output options, including pulse, M-Bus, Encoder and DLMS NB-IoT remote communication.

Honeywell Rabo Rotary Gas Meters Honeywell’s Rabo Rotary Gas Meters offer robust and accurate measurement instruments for gas distribution companies. With MID approval and an impressive size range from the 32mm G16 to the 150mm G400, the Rabo caters for both Utility and sub metering application, aided by multiple output options, including low frequency pulse, absolute encoder and M-Bus.

Honeywell Gas Regulators & Safety Devices Honeywell’s Gas Pressure Regulators meet the highest requirements for quality and capability. A comprehensive range of gas pressure regulators from low pressure PN 0.1 up to high pressure PN 100/ANSI 600 is available. The applications range from low-capacity residential use for individual households, commercial and industrial uses up to the field of gas transmission where it is necessary to control high flow capacities.

Honeywell Bryan Donkin Gas Regulators & Safety Devices The UK gas industry has long identified the advantages of specifying Honeywell Bryan Donkin as their standard for gas control equipment, guaranteeing long lasting reliability, quality and service. The comprehensive product line includes, Gas Pressure Regulators, Filters, Safety cut-off Valves, Relief Valves, Non-Return Valves, Ancillary Control equipment and product spares.

Other Honeywell products available from DMS • Honeywell Water & Electricity Meters • Q-Sonic Ultrasonic Gas Meters

• Gas Data Loggers & Correctors • Fiscal Turbine Gas Meters • Flow Computers

Honeywell Production Capability Improvements

Honeywell Gas Turbine meters The Honeywell QA range of Turbine Gas Meters are a popular choice for both sub metering and industry applications. Suitable for Methane, Town gas, Natural gas, Air and Inert gases, the QA range covers sizes from 25mm to 150mm, with multiple output options including low frequency pulse, absolute encoder and M-Bus.

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Much has changed in the past few years since Honeywell’s acquisition of the Elster Group, and the closure of the Bryan Donkin’s production facility within the UK. During that time Honeywell have invested significantly in aligning its global manufacturing footprint, and improving its production capabilities, both in terms of capacity and lead times. Within Honeywell’s facilities in Kassel, Mainz and Osnabruck in Germany, and Stara Tura in Slovakia, Honeywell’s extensive operations team have been implementing continuous improvement optimization methods, including lean flow of materials and Six Sigma, to maximise increased production flexibility to support customer expectations for scalability and delivery. Additionally, consistent research and development investment continues to achieve crucial advances in gas metering, pressure control and safety engineering, the success of which is demonstrated by the extensive portfolio of patented products available.

Winner of the 2019 Honeywell Channel Partner of the Year award for Northern Europe DMS Metering Solutions DMS Metering Solutions are proud to have been honoured with the prestigious Honeywell 2019 Channel Partner of the Year award for Northern Europe. DMS have a long-standing business relationship with Honeywell, dating back over 20 years, covering multiple product ranges and solutions from Honeywell’s extensive portfolio. DMS’s unique combination of invaluable knowledge, a Nationwide stock-based distribution capability and both remote and onsite technical support, training and commissioning services have been instrumental in developing this relationship.

DMS are an independent supplier of Gas, Heat, Water & Specialist Metering and Control solutions, principally operating within the Building Services, Utility, Sub Distribution and OEM/Renewables market sectors, with a proven track record for excellent customer service and support spanning over 20 years. Honeywell’s impressive product portfolio incorporates several historically well-known trading names, including Elster, Jeavons, Instromet, Kent Meters and Bryan Donkin, with all of these product ranges being available from and supported by DMS in the UK.

01773 534555 or sales@dmsltd.com or www.dmsltd.com X-Cel House, Chrysalis Way, Langley Bridge, Eastwood, Nottinghamshire NG16 3RY

March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

Helping you achieve data centre efficiency

2020 marks the start of a new decade and with this, an era of change within data centre cooling. It’s time to disregard harmful refrigerant systems and move to more environmentally friendly technologies where possible. The carbon neutral challenge It’s undeniable that there is a push to be carbon neutral for a lot of companies, however, the right solution has to be there to enable you to make the change. Lucky enough for data centre managers, there is a cooling system available now that is not only energy efficient but also highly effective.

You don’t need to compromise Seeing the increasing environmental impact of keeping data centres cool, EcoCooling sought to design and build a solution that addressed this growing global concern. This led to the development of the first EcoCooling adiabatic, also known as evaporative, CloudCooling unit. Having installed its first data centre system a decade ago, EcoCooling has a wealth of knowledge and experience that it has used to develop its current range of energyefficient cooling solutions.

Intuitive design Manufactured in the UK, the CloudCooler units allow you to combine free cooling with adiabatic cooling and humidification for facilities 5kW to 50MW. The free cooling capability means you can benefit from maximum energy savings, with the adiabatic cooling mode only enabled when it is required.

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The plug and play, modular design of the ECT and ECV ranges make it a scalable solution that is easy to install, maintain and operate. Ideal for rapid deployment, the CloudCooler units are ideal if you want to capitalise on energy-efficient cooling technology without delay.

Trusted and proven solutions Adiabatic cooling is now a mainstream technology. Over the last few years, adiabatic units have been installed across the estate of a major UK telecoms company, saving over it £37m in energy costs. EcoCooling’s CloudCooler technology is also being used in the innovative H2020 Boden Type DC project to create the world’s most efficient data centre. The project has and continues to achieve a PUE of <1.01, enabled largely by the efficiency of the CloudCooler solution.

A global reach With installations across the Nordics, Europe, South America and beyond, the CloudCooler range is available no matter your location. Get in touch today to find out how EcoCooling’s work over the last decade can help you achieve your carbon neutral goals in this decade. sales@ecocooling.co.uk www.ecocooling.co.uk

N A T U R A L

ENERGY EFFICIENT

LOW COST COOLING

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March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

A Perfect System to Monitor Current Mico Pro is Murrelektronik’s innovative 24 VDC current monitoring system. The modular design makes it possible to create systems that fit any 12/24V application perfectly – which adds value by creating a cost-benefit ratio that saves space in the control cabinet. Murrelektronik’s patented tripping behavior ensures maximum machine availability. An additional advantage is the integrated potential distribution concept. It significantly reduces the control cabinet wiring. Power supply systems are the heart of machines and systems because they provide the energy required for operation. Overcurrent or short circuits can impact the power supply and cause machine downtime,

production downtime and high costs. In order to maximize the reliability of the power supply systems, these problems have to be avoided. The Murrelektronik system consisting of high-quality power supplies and the Mico Pro power monitoring system, creates an optimum system with high machine availability. Since its market launch in 2006, the innovative Mico current monitoring system has been used millions of times in machines and systems. In contrast to the miniature circuit breakers previously used, Mico triggers reliably even combined with long cables and the small cable cross-sections common in the 24 VDC range. This ensures long-term stable and error-free protection of load circuits in the 24 VDC range. All channels in an installation are individually monitored for their current load with our patented tripping behavior. According to our early error detection principle, faulty channels are individually switched off. The source of the fault, such as overloads caused by worn loads or even short circuits, can be quickly and precisely localized using diagnostic functions. Once

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the error has been rectified, the affected channel is available again. Of course, channels are not switched off during intentional and short-term overloads, for example when starting capacitive loads. With the intelligent Mico control cabinet component, Murrelektronik is able to quickly and efficiently design troubleshooting solutions - the end of long downtimes and a factor for reliable production processes. Solutions that fit the application perfectly In order to meet the increasing requirements of automation technology in terms of modularity and miniaturization, Murrelektronik has further developed the Mico concept. With Mico Pro, Murrelektronik offers a modular solution: current protection systems can be designed that perfectly match the needs of users in their applications. The station has exactly the number of channels required for the specific application. The extensive portfolio offers versions with one, two or four channels, which are either preset or can be flexibly adjusted for the applications. Extensions can also be implemented in the future without

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

any problems. An additional module can simply be plugged in if further channels have to be protected. In order to ensure the reliability of the Mico Pro stations, Murrelektronik works with quality awareness in all process steps. We use of first-class components right from the development stage that are extremely efficient and are therefore not thermally stressed during operation. This results in a high MTBF value of over 2.4 million hours. Testing – for example with over 1,000 short-circuits – ensures the reliability of the components even in demanding situations. All this offers the dependability of a significantly long service life and regular availability. Free up space in the control cabinet The Mico Pro station can be designed with the exact number of slim modules required for the application, wasting no space in the control cabinet. As an additional option, power supplies specially developed for the Mico Pro system can also be integrated – they replace the power supply module and still offer the same diagnostics features: collective alarm message, 90 percent early warning, control signal for remote maintenance. The energy-efficient power supplies deliver up to 20 A in parallel mode and are connected intuitively and quickly using jumpers.

Another benefit Mico Pro offers that saves space are the potential distribution modules that connect several consumers with plus and minus (+24V and GND) to a monitored channel. This removes 0V distributions and the necessary terminal blocks from the control cabinet, freeing up a lot of space. The loads are directly wired to each channel and can be easily designated. All this simplifies installations in the control cabinet and reduces the wiring effort. The result: lower overall costs. Future-proof applications If you have two or more control cabinets in a machine or system, you no longer need two power supplies when using Mico Pro. With the innovative high-current modules (> 10 A), the power supply can be transferred selectively from a main distribution cabinet to a subdistribution cabinet. This selectivity guarantees that only the channel affected by the short circuit or overload is switched off. Power-intensive consumers are increasingly being used in automation systems. Mico Pro provides reliable protection for these as well. M12 Power cables (L-coded) are the ideal interface to the IP67 products on the machine because

they are designed for loads of up to 16 A and are defined as a standard by PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International). Murrelektronik offers a convenient online configurator at www.micopro.murrelektronik.com to make it easy for electrical engineers to put modular systems together. With just a few mouse clicks, you can assemble the system exactly according to your requirements from the power supply module to the required Flex and Fix modules. You get both a visual 3D impression of his Mico Pro unit, and information like: the space requirement, the total current for the selection of the power supply – and a plausibility check that prevents planning errors in this early phase of the design. Invest in a perfectly coordinated system Mico Pro is an essential component of a future-proof power supply system. Murrelektronik offers a portfolio that provides a uniform system. It includes mains filters, power supplies, buffer modules and the Mico-Pro units, which round off the system as effective load circuit monitors. For more information, visit: www.murrelektronik.com/highlights/ multi-norm-power-supplies

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March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

Telsonic Ultrasonics Tick The Box For Automotive Moulding Assembly The reputation of Telsonic’s ultrasonic technology within the UK automotive supplier base is such that it is widely accepted the joining process of choice for a growing number of automotive component manufacturers. The precise control, and resultant consistency in the process, makes it the ideal solution for joining and welding a wide range of polymer types and component variants. The latest automotive components to benefit from Telsonic’s ultrasonic welding process is a large 2 piece moulding used to locate the spare wheel and jack for a recently introduced new SUV model. The component being assembled within this machine is a large profiled Polypropylene “Box” moulding, 700mm square in overall size, which requires a 250mm centre spigot to be securely joined to the main moulding. This is achieved within a compact stand-alone system incorporating a Telsonic MAG2012E/SE2012 system that powers the titanium mother / 4 daughter sonotrode arrangement. A bespoke long stroke actuator, complete with integrated cooling, is used to present the sonotrodes to the components which are accurately located on profiled fixtures on the machine table. In addition to the ultrasonic welding process, the machine also checks for the presence of 13 individual black felt pieces, ensuring that these and the mouldings are all present before the weld cycle can be initiated. The machine is ergonomically designed to allow the operator to easily load and unload components, and the operator is also protected by lightguards during these operations.

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With the parts sensed as present, welding operations completed, and weld monitoring deemed good, a barcode label is printed automatically and subsequently attached to the moulding by the operator. The presence of the barcode label is then verified before the clamps are released allowing the operator to remove the finished part from the machine. Telsonic’s reputation for delivering robust and reliable ultrasonic welding and joining systems to the Automotive sector, together with the company’s pro-active approach throughout the product development programme and their expertise in plastics joining, were key factors in Telsonic being awarded the business. Telsonic UK offer a comprehensive range of ultrasonic modules and systems for a variety of plastic and metal welding, cutting, sealing, cut’n’seal, food cutting and cleaning applications within a wide range of industries.

Telsonic UK Limited

Telephone 01202 697 340 | www.telsonic.com | info.uk@telsonic.com

March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

LEMO NOW SHOWCASES ITS PRODUCT LINE ON EPLAN DATA PORTAL EPLAN Data Portal is a web-based platform that gives engineers instant access to electrical schematics from numerous component manufacturers, including, from now on, LEMO connectors. The EPLAN Data Portal is an integral part of the EPLAN drawing platform, which enables users to significantly reduce effort & engineering time, and also to easily generate the detailed and accurate documentation that is required by today’s end users of automation systems. EPLAN Data Portal contains a wide library of CAD components: over 900’000 data sets from more than 290 manufacturers. The data sets are classified in 4 categories, namely, electrical engineering, fluid power, mechanics and process engineering. Specifically, LEMO’s product line can be found under Electrical Engineering> Plugs. Advance search criteria include pin count, electrical current and more…. Moreover, the EPLAN Data Portal includes ordering information, logical symbols, product pictures and macros. “We first met the EPLAN team during the Electronica show in Munich 2018. It’s been a long-haul project, but thanks to my colleagues and the help of EPLAN in Germany, today we are happy to generate more than 20’000 datasets available online for LEMO products. In the future, we plan to enhance this library working on the 2D and 3D macros and adding items to complete the M and F series product line”, says Serge Buechli, Business Development Manager at LEMO SA.

Search for the products: https://eplandata.de/portal/en_en/catalog/LEMO

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13TH INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY INFRASTRUCTURE EXHIBITION

OLYMPIA LONDON

CONNECTING THE INDUSTRY

12 - 14 MAY 2020

The full scope of infrastructure sectors on display, including: Track construction and maintenance Signalling Communication and passenger information Measuring, monitoring and testing systems Station equipment

www.infrarail.com

STAND RESERVATIONS ARE

NOW OPEN Request your stand offer today!

Tel: +44 (0)1727 814 400 infrarail@mackbrooks.co.uk

March 2020

ď&#x201A;?

ENGINEERING UPDATE

Piping and Equipment Analysis Software for Every Engineer and Designer The PASS Suite offers smart, easy-to-use analysis, simulation, and code compliant sizing tools for every piping and equipment engineer/designer enabling new users to perform piping and related equipment analysis in days rather than months. By embedding its experience from many engineering projects into the PASS software tools and combining this embedded intelligence with powerful capabilities and unsurpassed usability, PSRE makes piping and equipment analysis practical for every engineer and designer while reducing the time, effort, and cost to perform the analysis. PASS Suite Overview The PASS Suite is in active use by thousands of engineers at more than 2000 customers around the world for efficient analysis and design of process piping and plant utilities, district heat transfer, water and gas networks, oil and gas field gathering piping systems, and other types of pipelines. The PASS Software Suite covers all main aspects of pipeline analysis and is organized into product families to meet the broad range of piping systems analysis and design requirements. PASS/HYDROSYSTEM provides diameter selection, heat and hydraulic analysis of steady state and transient flow in piping systems of any complexity, including networks with loops, liquid surge (water-hammer) analysis and flow assurance analysis. PASS/EQUIP provides strength and stability finite element analysis using for horizontal and vertical vessels, columns, storage tanks, as well as shell, tube, and aircooled heat exchangers under static and seismic loads in order to evaluate bearing strength. PASS/START-PROF provides comprehensive pipe stress, flexibility, stability, and fatigue strength analysis with related sizing calculations according to the most common codes and standards.

PASS/INDUSTRY provides comprehensive piping and equipment analysis with related sizing calculations for specific industry sectors according to international and national codes and standards. PASS/ INDUSTRY combines the ease of use and extensive analysis capabilities of PASS/START-PROF, PASS/ HYDROSYSTEM, and PASS/EQUIP in an organized manner to address the specific simulation requirements for Process Plants, Piping systems, and District Heating. Please check out the PASS Suite at www.passuite.com or contact the PASS Authorized Distributor in the UK & Ireland: Pipe design service ltd.: Email: info@pipedesignservice.com TEL: 0208 638 5898 www.pipedesignservice.com

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S A V E THE DATE 29-30 SEPTEMBER 2020 HALL 1, NEC BIRMINGHAM

For more information on exhibiting, contact Louise Pudney on 01622 699 104 or at lpudney@datateam.co.uk. www.sensorsandinstrumentationlive.co.uk

Events

March 2020

SEEPEX to showcase progressive cavity pumps at Foodex At Foodex stand L179, progressive cavity (PC) pump manufacturer SEEPEX will showcase an EHEDG certified pump as well as an open hopper pump for viscous waste product removal. The BCFH hygienic pump range has a low shear action and handles thin to highly viscous products, including those containing soft solids. There are minimal product changes due to shear stress during pumping and this, combined with minimal pulsation and accurate flow control, ensures consistently high product quality. EHEDG certification guarantees residue-free cleaning when using CIP, giving peace of mind that closed equipment is microbiologically clean. The BCFH pump was tested using a cleaning regime at a lower temperature, with lower chemical concentration and a shorter cleaning time than other cleaning-in-place (CIP) solutions.

www.seepex.com

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

ENGINEERING UPDATE

Top: SEEPEX’s low shear hygienic PC pumps maintain product quality

Below: SEEPEX’s PC pumps for removal of waste eliminate manual transfer between high care and low risk areas

Visitors to the SEEPEX stand can also learn about the company’s energy efficient pumping technology for the removal of waste and by-products in hygienic enclosed systems. The ability to remove waste in this way eliminates manual transfer between high care and low risk areas, reduces waste volume and disposal costs and produces ideal biogas feedstock.

The Sensor Show Congress

Munich, Germany

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Connecting the global sensor ecosystem with emerging technologies and IoT for the manufacturing, automotive and transportation industries. World-class three track congress and company networking areas for the sensor supply chain

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115 Speakers

7500 Meetings

950 Exhibitors*

48,000+ Visitors*

Companies confirmed to participate include...

SPEAK • SPONSOR • EXHIBIT • ATTEND * Expected numbers of total participatesa at automatica and The Sensor Show † Standard congress delegate ticket price 799 EUROS

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Events



ENGINEERING UPDATE

March 2020

HVM Catapult Trail is the go-to place at MACH 2020 The High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult is the go-to place for manufacturing technologies in the UK, supporting organisations of all sizes in their success. MACH 2020 is pleased to announce that the HVM Catapult will be exhibiting at the UK’s national manufacturing showcase this April.

heir Catapult Trail, consisting of four stands across the exhibition, will demonstrate how they can help companies harness key Industry 4.0 technologies to improve their bottom line. All seven of the HVM Catapult’s world-leading centres of innovation will be on display along the trail, with special features on the future of machining, additive manufacturing, digitalisation and automation. With the continued push in the sector towards (near) netshape manufacturing, the Manufacturing Technology Centre’s (MTC) expertise in additive manufacturing will be on show, with a cutting-edge carbon fibre printer producing components throughout the event. Making their way along the trail to the Advanced Forming Research Centre’s (AFRC) stand, visitors can then discuss Machining 4.0. This is an Interegfunded project for SMEs to innovate with new machining technologies, including hybrid systems. To complete your journey along the supply chain, the Catapult Trail ends with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s (AMRC) display of their automation and digitalisation capabilities. On the stand, you’ll see an eye-catching Caterham sports car which forms the centrepiece of their ELLI (ELectrification and Lightweighting in Industry 4.0) project. Their demos will tie into an overarching Digital Twin, providing real time manufacturing data. Dick Elsy, Chief Executive of the HVM Catapult, said: “Since 2011, the HVM Catapult has worked with thousands

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CLICK FOR FULL SIZE of companies of all sizes to raise their game through innovation. It’s right that we are part of MACH 2020 to connect with more manufacturers we can help along the road to success. Our team of specialists will be on hand across the Catapult Trail to help you achieve step-change in your company’s performance.” James Selka, MTA, CEO, said “This is a fantastic addition to MACH 2020 and another good reason to attend the UK’s national manufacturing exhibition. We’re so pleased to have such strong support from the HVM Catapult network, they

play an integral role in ensure UK firms adapt to new technologies and help improve productivity.” MACH 2020 will take place from 20th to 24th April 2020 at the NEC in Birmingham and you can find the Catapult Trail across the event. Their stands are located in: • • • •

HVM Catapult – Hall 6, Stand 622 AFRC - Hall 6, Stand 520 AMRC - Hall 6, Stand 810 MTC - Hall 17, Stand 602

Visitor registration is now open at https://www.machexhibition.com/#/

A 2-day conference examining best practices for manufacturers keen to digitalise their business

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| +44 (0)1642 438 225 | info@industry40summit.com r, Event VisitDirector www.industry40summit.com | Email info@industry40summit.com

Events

March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

Made Smarter engage with MACH 2020 as a great place to connect SMEs with their digital journey MACH 2020 is pleased to announce that the Made Smarter programme will be exhibiting at the UK’s national manufacturing showcase. Their stand at the exhibition will look to help SMEs start their digital journey. The Made Smarter North West pilot is already working with SMEs to help them introduce digital tools and technologies to boost productivity and growth. So far 300 North Western small and medium sized manufacturers have secured support, including specialised advice and £1.6M of funding, in the first year of the programme. The North West pilot is being overseen by the Made Smarter Commission – a partnership between the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and industry leaders. The programme aims to kick start a new industrial revolution for the manufacturing sector and turn the country into a world leader in digital technologies. These technologies can help close the productivity gap in the UK and cost effectively boost production. The Made Smarter team are looking to implement what they have learnt

in the North West Pilot to help roll the scheme out to other areas and regions of the UK. Made Smarter is bringing this help and support to MACH 2020 in order to reach even more makers and signpost them towards taking their first steps into Industry 4.0. James Selka, DL, CEO of the Manufacturing Technologies Association which organise MACH on behalf of industry, said “We are delighted to welcome Made Smarter to MACH 2020, we have been a huge supporter of the initial Review and subsequent launch of the North West Pilot. Our members and exhibitors create the technology that’ll will power this new industrial revolution.” He continued: “MACH 2020 is the perfect platform to reach out to manufacturing and engineering firms, with a readymade audience who are set to benefit from the advice and support the Made Smarter Program has to offer. We know the benefits SMEs across the UK will get from adopting cutting edge digital technology to help them boost productivity and take manufacturing forward in this county.” Donna Edwards, director of the North West Made Smarter pilot, said: “In its first year Made Smarter has helped 300 SME manufacturers and we are keen to build on that success.

Donna Edwards - director of North West Made Smarter pilot

"MACH 2020 provides the perfect opportunity to showcase these achievements and encourage other SMEs to start their digital journey. "Our stand will illustrate what technology has done for hundreds of manufacturing businesses and what it can do for you. "Our specialist advisers can talk through your business challenge, help you understand the opportunities, and talk through the next steps." MACH 2020 will take place from 20th to 24th April 2020 at the NEC in Birmingham and you can find Made Smarter in Hall 6 Stand 446. Visitor registration is now open at www. machexhibition.com Registering to attend MACH 2020 before the event will make it easier for attendees to gain access to the show and cut down on waiting times entering the NEC. All registered visitors will receive regular updates about the show and a pre-registration pack, which contains show guide, fold out floorplans, ID badge and a product guide when they get to the exhibition.

www.machexhibition.com 56|

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Events

March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

What’s NEW with Warehouse Storage Solutions We started with manual picking alongside manual storage, then came ‘RF’ Radio Frequency and barcoding as this technology was able to increase picking speeds by a 33%. With further advances in technology and the need for further efficiency we are now firmly in the age of automation, which has more than trebled the speed and accuracy of a picking process. "In the past we could achieve a rate of about 30 manual picks an hour. The addition of Radio Frequency technology and bar coding and tour management has increased this to 40- 45 picks and hour, but we must then compare this to the automated Shuttles which are giving us 90-100 picks per hour. These advantages are further enhanced by much quicker replenishment." Flow Technologies, UK For those involved in intralogistics, key drivers are remaining competitive and delivering a customer delight whilst closely monitoring the bottom line. This is achieved by critical consideration of processes and available technology. As market leader in intralogistics Kardex have a comprehensive view of the industry across all segments and see not only a requirement, but a desire across all industries to enable ‘real-time’ optimisation. This is achieved by increase in picking accuracy, and a doubling or tripling of picking speeds. Being competitive and delivering a faster more accurate service at a lower TCO is without doubt a vital consideration to achieving customer excellence and maximising profitability. Kardex remain the vanguard for automated storage and retrieval systems. Solutions such as ‘Pick by Light, Pack to Light and Colour Picking systems have become key trends in automating the order picking process. The key feature is that these systems can be linked up to an organisations internal dynamic storage systems giving a seamless experience from storage through to packaging, which impacts all areas of delivery. Kardex’ most recent development in warehouse storage solutions is the LR35 vertical buffer module. The LR35 sits at the heart of the production process by delivering increased material flow, providing flexible, precise, efficient & secure storage and retrieval of fast moving stocks. LR35 was developed to offer faster access to items and parts whilst maintaining processing time at the machines, storing semifinished and finished products for increased accuracy and speed as all are key in maximising delivery times. This state of the art technology is the best in class alternative to a miniload is and to more traditional ASRS. For a growing number of companies, whether B2B or B2C market focused, there are bottlenecks in traditional fulfilment operations. Efficient, dynamic and flexible systems for fast order fulfilment are essential to eliminate the more traditional, slower, labour intensive and expensive processes. Globally many companies use LR35’s FramePick4Wholesale as their chosen goods-to-person solution, enabling wholesale companies to reduce the distances walked in their warehouses by as much as 65%. With a combination of smart and intuitive technologies that eliminates picking errors, combined with intelligent order batching; a fourfold increase in the productivity of order pickers can be achieved. All these benefits achieved with one smart and dynamic system, without having to install a complex array of rigid conveyors or investing in other costly material handling equipment.

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Kardex systems offer huge space saving, and significantly increased efficiency by reducing fulfilment and storage costs, whether implemented as stand-alone unit or integrated within a wider platform, connected to the client’s ERP/MRP or warehouse management systems. With the advent of digital, the impact on the intralogistics market was inevitable. Digital is all about the connected world and naturally, intralogistics processes will follow suit. Automated systems that are connected to storage machines, order picking stations, inventory, data (for analysis) and as the IoT market continues developing, technology that monitors every part of a process from development through to delivery of a product, makes ‘just in time’ delivery easier and more connected, not just for the companies of today but also for the demands of tomorrow. Companies providing intralogistic solutions understand the importance of optimising their services, to remain competitive and profitable while at the same time retaining their customers and differentiating themselves from their competitors. Remote access and greater innovation to deliver an efficient and accurate service is now essential when using sophisticated automation. If the Picking system goes down, the financial impact can be disastrous to any company. Recognising that alongside automation there will be a greater need for innovative services, such as remote camera’s installed within the machines that gather information and feed back to the service teams, and remote support software, this information can be accessed quickly to identify any areas for improvement and identify if this can be addressed remotely or require first hand intervention. Combining this approach with the ability to collect the data, companies can define future analytics and transparency of performance. Intelligence which is an essential part of any automation solution supporting continuous development and growth. These solutions are available today, these solutions are what Kardex deliver! Feel free to visit one of our specialists at MACH on stand 6-715. You can also download the white paper to learn more about the new solution for faster order processing or contact Kardex Remstar at info.remstar.uk@kardex.com or visit our website at www.kardex-remstar.co.uk

ENGINEERING PDATE

Events

March 2020

MTA President says “UK Manufacturing providers should embrace their role as ‘champions of productivity’ Thursday 6th February saw the Manufacturing Technologies Association’s (MTA) Annual Dinner take place at the at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London. Always a popular event for manufacturing technology providers, over 400 guests got together to discuss the future and celebrate success. MTA President and Director of Yamazaki Mazak, Marcus Burton MBE, used his keynote speech to address some of the hot topics affecting the UK manufacturing sector: Brexit and future trade, climate change, how MTA members are ‘champions of productivity’ and of course MACH 2020. On productivity he said “MTA members have the equipment, ideas and expertise for our manufacturers to transform their productivity. In fact, our MTA members are the ‘Champions of Productivity’. As such we have a huge opportunity, and responsibility, to improve the economic well-being of the whole country.” He continued by highlighting that MACH 2020 is just around the corner, saying “MACH is the only place in the UK to see such technology on display and under power – but it is more than that – it is the spotlight for our creativity. It’s just ten weeks away now, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what the ‘Champions of Productivity’ have to offer the 25,000 plus visitors we expect to come from far and wide.” The MTA President didn’t shirk away from tough topics, addressing concerns on climate change. and

Brexit. Saying “The UK government is committed to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. These changes will cause disruption but undoubtedly will bring huge opportunities for innovative manufacturers. We must be at the centre of this transformation and develop new innovative products and services using the latest digital technologies.”

On Brexit he reiterated the Association’s commitment to engage with government to ensure “Sensible cooperation on regulations, developed by listening to our industry, will ensure our sector can continue to be competitive in our biggest market. We need a customs regime that is light touch, and the ability to send people all over the continent at short notice – we need this flexibility to support our customers.”

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Events Storage of raw material after it has been delivered and subsequent sawing of the stock into manageable sizes for handling and deployment onto machine tools are often the first two processes in a factory. The efficiency of both functions can be dramatically increased if they are automated. K ASTO's presence on stand 610 in hall 19 at the forthcoming MACH 2020 show in Birmingham (NEC, 20th - 24th April) will provide an ideal opportunity for stockholders, OEMs and subcontractors to quiz the company on what it can offer and the competitive advantages that can be obtained. One of the company's recent product introductions for streamlining storage is the KASTOecostore tower, a standardised solution for automated, 3D storage and retrieval of sheet material and pallets. There is another, similar system for storing bar and other long stock. Advantages include low space requirement, high storage density, short material access times, energy savings and value for money.

March 2020 Automation and robotics are rapidly gaining ground in metalworking and sawing technology is no exception

Automated storage and cutting of material Robotic systems are also taking over numerous process steps following sawing, from removal of the cut pieces through deburring, chamfering, measuring and marking and on to weighing, sorting and stacking on pallets or in containers.

Stock to be cut can be supplied to a machine by means of a roller conveyor or magazine, for example, sparing workers the effort of lifting and reducing the risk of injuries. Depending KASTO will also be able to explain on how it is equipped, the sawing the widening choice of automation machine can run attended, with the systems on offer to minimise labour costs and increase production output from the company's circular sawing and bandsawing machines. Industrial robots make production more flexible and efficient, from batch sizes of one to large volumes. They also improve working conditions for operators and can significantly reduce costs in stockholding and manufacturing operations. Sawing systems are increasingly being automated by robots, as they are fast, reliable, precise and if necessary can work 24/7 without human intervention.

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ď&#x201A;?

ENGINEERING UPDATE

control system holding all parameters of a job including material diameter, blade speed, rate of downfeed, cut length and number of parts. KASTO can implement combined storage and sawing systems in which all processes are automated, from storage of the raw material to retrieval of the cut parts. The control software can be linked to an ERP system for transparency and efficiency. Other processes like turning or milling can be integrated within a fully digitised, Industry 4.0 production environment.

A KASTOecostore for automatically storing and retrieving sheet material up to 1,500 mm deep by 4,000 mm wide.

THINK lowest cost per pick We manufacture the widest range of computer controlled storage and retrieval systems for bar, tube, profile, sheet and other materials. Systems may be interlinked with saws, including ours, other machine tools, robotic sorting systems, MRP and ERP systems, and more. If you are running out of space in your warehouse or factory, KASTO has the perfect solution for you. www.kasto.com

KASTOunicompact

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THINK lowest cost per cut KASTO is the world’s leading manufacturer of high productivity sawing machines - manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic. Horizontal and vertical bandsaws including block and tube saws, circular saws and hack saws are included in our range. Whatever the application, from job shop to mass production with robotic sorting, we have a solution to suit your needs.

www.kasto.com

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Events

March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

Kardex Remstar LR 35 Provides Continuous Assembly Line Supply With Greater Throughput To meet today’s need for leaner processes and more flexible production, Kardex developed the LR 35 storage and retrieval solution for small and medium-sized warehouses. Applying the LR 35 Vertical Buffer Module solution to ecommerce, wholesale, industry and electronics etc with a wide range of products, can guarantee the just-in-time supply of fully picked assembly kits to keep the assembly process flowing. Production efficiency has increased dramatically in recent years. While only a few substantial improvements can be achieved in this area, there remains a great deal of potential in the area of production logistics. David Burywood, Sales Director at Kardex Remstar, explains: “The Kardex Remstar LR 35 is the first unit in the Vertical Buffer Module product family. It is our response to the manufacturing industry’s call for intelligent material flow automation, delivering greater flexibility, and better management of a wide range of products.”

Continuous component assembly The continuous component assembly solution consists of the new Kardex Remstar LR 35 with an ergonomic turntable for order picking, Power Pick Global Smartpick 6000 warehouse management software, and an additional LR 35 used as interim buffer storage with automatic connection to the assembly area. If only a few bin types with standard dimensions are used for storing goods, then the storage volume in the LR 35 units can be optimally utilised in terms of depth and height. Compared to a mini-load system or static shelving, the footprint of the dense storage system is between 40-60 percent smaller, respectively, providing additional floor space for other revenue generating activities. The bins containing assembly parts picked from the first LR 35 are transported to the assembly area where they are placed into buffer storage in the second LR 35. Conveyor, trolleys

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or driverless transport systems can be used to transport the goods from the order picking area to the buffer storage area. Software-assisted batch picking saves even more resources when putting together the assembly orders. As soon as a technician requests the fully picked assembly sets they are retrieved by a potential second LR 35. Conveyor technology then ensures just-in-time delivery to the workstations.

75% Greater Throughput Compared to conventional shelving systems, the new assembly buffer solution increases throughput by 75%. All incoming assembly orders can be supplied at short notice. The orders are only started once all the components are available for picking. Bins sitting around the assembly area containing incomplete orders are a thing of the past. Picking information on the screen of the Kardex Remstar LR 35 supports the operator. The storing process can be done during daily business hours, because the unit has separate openings for storage and picking. Special Applications Director, Doug Card is convinced: “With the new solution we are responding to the trend in production logistics towards ever smaller units. Manufacturing companies can benefit from space-saving, cost-effective storage and manage an ever wider range of product variants more efficiently.”

To learn more about the LR35 click here or contact Kardex Remstar at info. remstar.uk@kardex.com or call visit our website at www.kardex-remstar.co.uk

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

TR Fastenings grows and invests in sheet metal portfolio As part of its ongoing commitment to further enhance customer experience, TR Fastenings (TR) has invested heavily in its range of fasteners for sheet metal. The company - a global specialist in the design, engineering, manufacture and distribution of high quality industrial fasteners - has extended its range of products, updated its sales brochures and increased useful resources on its website, in a move designed to provide clients with more information and greater clarity. Growing product portfolio For over 45 years, TR has been at the forefront of sheet metal fastener innovation, manufacture and distribution. Offering a wide range of products to suit a number of different applications and sectors, the company confidently delivers multiple solutions for a whole host of industry requirements. Whether a potential customer is looking to press, rivet or weld during manufacturing or assembly processes, TR’s product portfolio offers a range of options to fit every requirement.

For example, TR is a trusted manufacturer and distributor of an extensive range of fasteners for pressing installation, including its own branded Hank® Self Clinch Fasteners and Hank® Rivet Bushes. In addition, the company offers a variety of stocked sheet metal Blind Rivets and Blind Rivet Nuts for a wide range of applications. Furthermore, TR stocks a huge range of easy-to-install Weld Studs and Weld Nuts suitable for an extensive range of sheet metal applications. Enhanced product information To accompany this growing portfolio of products, TR has made a substantial investment in its website to further enrich the customer journey. The company has created a series of educational and informative videos to help clients better understand which of their innovative products are best suited to their exact requirements. The helpful and explanatory animations – which also include product information and key considerations about each product

– will reassure customers they are buying the correctly specified item. The videos will form part of a wider revamp of the sheet metal section of the website, including in-depth product specification and FAQs. Extensive manufacturing network TR’s manufacturing network spans two continents and represents approximately a third of the Group’s business. The company’s logistical capabilities ensure parts are made to meet quality, volume, cost and delivery needs. With in-house quality and application engineers, along with a friendly and knowledgeable sales force, TR can efficiently deliver a range of sheet metal fasteners to meet the needs of many different industries. TR Fastenings Ltd sales@trfastenings.com T: 08454 811 800 www.trfastenings.com

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

March 2020

FP11 VEGAPOINT Capacitive Inductive switches for liquids and powders

VEGAPOINT 21 Bluetooth enables precise set up and selection of status colours

VEGABAR units have optional switch points and indication built in as well as Bluetooth for set up

The new VEGABAR compact pressure switch/sensors and VEGAPOINT compact capacitive level switches. They feature a super-bright 360° status display, selected from 256 different colours, easily seen from any direction.

From simple to complex New sensors and switches portfolio for food, beverage and automation With the launch of its new low cost high specification VEGABAR pressure switch/ sensor and VEGAPOINT level switches, it enables VEGA to help customers in even more areas in the food and beverage production processes. This brand new compact instrument series is perfectly tailored to the standard applications that still require high quality and strict hygiene. The new level and pressure devices have a universal adapter system of process fittings that provide the flexibility needed to keep installation and spares inventory costs low. A unique ultrabright, eye-catching, 360° illuminated status display ring ensures visibility, safety and process reliability. Its status colours can be custom-selected easily seen from any direction – even in bright daylight. Some of the new pressure switch/sensors feature displays and keypads with dual easy-read text and VDMA menu, ensuring the right set up every time and easy understanding of pressure measurement or switch status. Another prominent feature of the instruments is their communication capabilities. They feature Bluetooth wireless, which offers another option for safe remote and easy set up or function check of devices without the need for a PC, cables or connectors. Just download the free, simple (and award-winning) VEGATOOLS App. Also available is the IO-Link protocol, this ensures compatibility, intelligent data transfer and simple, fast system integration. More information available at www.vega.com

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We bring colour into view! Compact pressure sensors and switches with 360° custom-colour status display

256 colours Individually selectable: Measurement in progress Sensor switching Process malfunction

15 cm

Compact design

Hygienic adapter system

Adjustment via smartphone

£262 VEGABAR 39 G½"

www.vega.com/vegabar

March 2020

ď&#x201A;?

ENGINEERING UPDATE

Most rugged Intel 9th Generation Fanless Solution built in IP67 Housing Introduced by Miles Industrial Electronics Ltd. With the MILCOTS-46, MPL presents a most modern rugged and fanless embedded computer based on the 9th. generation Intel processor. The design was developed with the goal to meet the MIL-STD-810 as well as parts of the DO160 specifications. The engineering approach has been taken very different to most rugged solution in the market. The internal wiring has been eliminated as much as possible. The D38999 MIL connectors are soldered on special MPL designed Star Flex PCBs. The EMI protection in each interface is integrated directly the connector on the PCBs. This will give best EMI efficiency. To interface to the standard embedded CPU board from MPL, a mating interface board (ICC) has been designed. The flex part of the connector PCB is connected to the ICC which is interfacing cable free directly to the CPU board. With this concept MPL is able to meet basically any standard in the rugged computing environment. If required or desired, the boards can be coated and bonded to increase the robustness even further.

This MILCOTS-46 can be put into various standby mode levels (even below 95 mW) and can also be started with Wake-on-LAN (WOL). The operational power consumption is between 5 and 65W and the power consumption level can be limited. This enables the use for power savings as well as for power hungry applications.

What are the technical cornerstones of this solution? The heart of the system is a i7 CPU soldered on board. For best heat dissipation, the CPU is conductive cooled without the need of a heat-pipe. The MILCOTS-46 comes with interfaces like DVI-D, USB 2.0, GPIOs, serial lines, dual LAN, and a wide power input (1036VDC). Additional expansions can be done over the internal expansion interfaces such as mPCIe, m.2, or PCIe/104, WLAN, LTE, GPIOs, CAN, 1553... These expansions can be done easy and quickly be integrated into the system. This makes the solution flexible and cost efficient customizable. As mass storage, SATA, mSATA, or m.2 can be chosen. The selected connectors in this solution are: Power: TVP02RW-9-35PN ( 6-pin ) Serial: TVP02RW-17-35SN ( 55-pin ) LAN: TVP02RW-15-35SN ( 37-pin ) DVI/USB: TVP02RW-15-35SA ( 37-pin )

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The MILCOTS-46 is 100% engineered & manufactured by MPL AG in Switzerland. All MPL products are designed for long-term availability and will be available for at least 10 years. MPL's own component stock guarantees repairs for up to 20 years. Extended temperature ranges can be fulfilled and are tested in MPL's own climatic chambers according customer's request. For more information (Datasheet), please visit miles.co.uk or contact sales@miles.co.uk directly.

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

The demand for stainless steel clamps is especially high for the bottling, packaging and processing technology as well as for outdoor appliances and equipment bearing thermal loads. We work constantly and with great dedication on innovative products and solutions for our customers. The range of linear, lifting column, profile and connecting technology products include catalogue as well as tailor-made products, system solutions such as platforms, work stations and special projects. We are happy to advise you in choosing a product or to develop a tailor-made system solution with you from our extensive modular product range. RK Rose+Krieger 26 Faraday Road Aylesbury

API pump applications?

Buckinghamshire KTR manufacture a range of couplings to meet the special requirements of HP19 8RY applications in the oil & gas industry, in particular API 610, 671 and 685. pump Furthermore, KTR offers ATEX approved products - including jaw couplings, gear 01296 611660 couplings, steel laminae couplings and oil/air coolers - for hazardous operating conditions. For more info visit us at SPE Offshore Europe 2019 - stand 3G80 www.rose-krieger.co.uk www.phoenix-mecano.co.uk

3-6 SEPT 2019

www.ktr.com

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March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

UK Manufactured Small to Medium Sized Multistage Centrifugal Blowers and Vacuum Pumps BVC – originally the British Vacuum Cleaner Company, and now a brand within the Quirepace portfolio of products, have been manufacturing blowers and vacuum pumps for over 100 years. The range has developed over the years into the equipment we currently manufacture at our factory in Hampshire. We also supply a range of side-channel blowers and vacuum pumps manufactured in Europe to our specifications.

means we can quickly adapt to the ebbs and flows in the ordering cycles of our OEM customers.

units perfectly suited to OEM applications where around 100-200m3/hr flow is required at typically 3 p.s.i.

This article focusses on our UK manufactured range. Quirepace have within the last 5 years brought more and more of the manufacturing process in-house. We now have our own press-shop where we make most of the metal-pressings that we use, and have in-house CNC machining for many small parts.

Multistage centrifugal blowers and vacuum pumps are ideally suited for those applications where a constant pressure is required and where the power consumption and flow rate varies with demand. Our range of units broadly covers equipment requiring a 1kW to 15kW motor. Flow rates and pressures will be determined by the demands of the application, and our specialist sales team can guide the customer towards the appropriate unit.

Our ability to manufacture close to our markets means that we are a nimble supplier to both our end-users and our customers where we are an OEM; it means that we have fast access to spare parts and replacement units, and our in-house manufacturing

Quirepace’s smallest multistage blower/exhauster is the YP3, usually powered by a 0.75kW or 1.1kW induction motor, or the unit can be supplied as a bareshaft unit. The slightly larger YP5 (which typically requires a 2.2kW motor) are compact

At the other end of the scale our AB08, powered by a motor between 7.5kW to 15kW, is capable of providing up to 1000m3/hr at pressures up to 5psi. The actual flows and pressures delivered by a particular unit are related to the RPM; the performance graphs are available on our website. However in most cases the flow/pressure can be manipulated outside of the standard curves by altering the gearing and RPM. For example whilst standard curves may be at 10,000 rpm, it is often possible to run the same unit safely at 12,000 rpm for slightly higher flow rates and pressures. BVC multistage blowers and exhausters manufactured by Quirepace have another advantage over many other solutions in addition to outright performance and availability, and that is reliability and durability. All BVC units are the result of many years continuous development, and when supplied to end-user applications all come with a 5 year parts warranty (subject to Ts & Cs). However, there is another factor influencing durability and that is as a result of the inherent design of BVC multistage units. BVC blowers and exhausters are often found in very demanding engineering environments, often where challenging materials are being handled. BVC units do not operate with the very tight tolerances found on many other solutions, and inadvertent ingress of product through the unit as a result of filter failure or error does

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not spell instant death to the machine! – In most cases the unit is unaffected and will resume normal service once the fault is corrected. It as a result of this robustness that many very old BVC blowers and exhausters are still not only in service, but eminently still serviceable – often with parts available either ex-stock or on short lead times. A superb example of this longevity can be seen at Eltham Palace in London where a BVC centralised vacuum cleaning system was installed in the 1930’s using an ABO13 direct drive multi-stage exhauster and dust collector, unbelievably the original system is still providing fantastic service today, just 90 years after installation. So what is new? The answer is advances in motor control. In the past multistage blowers and exhausters almost always ran at fixed speeds, with flow rates manipulated by throttling. With today’s variable frequency drives (VFD) it is now possible to configure units to deliver variable outputs by controlling the motor frequency and speed. In some applications, for example where demand is not constant, the ability to have better control can be a huge benefit. Contact our specialist sales team who will be pleased to discuss the possibilities with you. BVC Blowers and Exhausters Quirepace Ltd www.bvc.co.uk sales@quirepace.co.uk

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

Fluid Carrying

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Unique bearing/seal design for longer life. ISO 9001 CE marked where applicable.

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March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

Turbine Flowmeter Designed for Battery Powered or Portable Equipment Titan Enterprises reports that its popular 800 series turbine flowmeter offers easy integration with battery powered or portable equipment. Designed to operate with minimal power input, Titan’s competitively priced, low power 800 series flowmeter maintains high performance over 6 flow ranges from 0.05 to 15 litres per minute. Totally non-metallic wetted components, including a moulded PVDF body and Viton 'O' seals, makes the lower 800 series flowmeter the ideal choice for the metering of even aggressive chemicals. The standard inlet tubes are barbed to accept a hose size of 8mm although for OEM use alternatives are available.

wall by an extremely low drag, low power detector. The output for the low power 800 series flowmeter is a stream of pulses that are readily interfaced with most electronic displays or recording devices. This combination of materials and technology ensures a long life, high performance product with continuous reliable operation.

For further information on the low power 800-series flowmeter please visit www.flowmeters.co.uk/ low-power-flow-meters-800series-low-power-turbineflow-sensor/ or contact Titan Enterprises on +44-1935-812790 or sales@flowmeters.com.uk.

At the heart of the low power 800 series flowmeter is a precision turbine that rotates freely on robust sapphire bearings. The turbine contains fully moulded-in magnets that are detected through the chamber

Flow Sensors for Medical Applications Ultrasound flow measurement has over recent years shown great promise in medical applications, initially with Doppler shift technology, and more recently with time of flight systems such as the Atrato. Beneficially Atrato is a true inline noninvasive flowmeter technology without the contorted flow path and disadvantages of alternative ultrasonic flowmeter designs. It can handle flows from laminar to turbulent and is therefore largely immune from viscosity effects. Based upon a patented time-of-flight ultrasonic technology - Atrato is able to operate over very wide flow ranges (200:1) delivering excellent accuracy (better than ±1.0% of reading), linearity and repeatability - critical parameters for medical applications.

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Also based on Atrato technology – Titan Enterprises Metraflow ultrasonic flowmeter offers the additional advantage of a clean bore with no inclusions or distortions and has proved more than adequate at responding to the dynamics of several medical blood flow systems. Contact Titan Enterprises now on +44-1935-812790 or neil@flowmeters.co.uk to discuss your medical flow sensing application.

Titan Enterprises reports on increasing use of its proprietary Atrato ultrasonic flowmeter technology for medical applications including real-time drug monitoring, metering of coolants for chemotherapy treatment and blood flow systems.

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March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

Simultaneous Mapping of Wide Temperature Ranges The HDR function of the high-end camera series ImageIR® facilitates the analysis of objects with extreme temperature gradients

f you want to measure temperatures in a very wide range with an infrared camera, you normally do this in stages. The neutral density filters are changed gradually from time to time. Adjusted to a specific temperature range, they prevent high-intensity infrared radiation from striking the camera detector and falsifying the measurement result by depolarising the detector pixels. The new High Dynamic Range (HDR) function of the Infrared ImageIR® camera series from InfraTec eliminates the need for such interruptions. It enables measurement scenarios with extremely different temperatures to be recorded continuously.

quickly in succession and compiled into an overall image with a high dynamic range.

Capture temperature ranges of over 1,500 K in one image thanks to six positions

Each position of the individual neutral density filters has its own integration time and corresponding temperature calibration. The filters weaken the signal of the measurement objects within the desired temperature range, which reliably prevents interference effects. Users obtain high-contrast images in a wide temperature range characterized by high measurement accuracy.

The starting point of the HDR function is a fast rotating filter wheel. Designed for such tasks, it rotates at more than 5,000 revolutions per minute. The wheel provides up to six positions ensuring maximum flexibility for demanding measurement tasks. When recording in HDR mode, multiple thermograms with different integration times and different filters are recorded

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To activate the HDR function, it is sufficient to select a previously defined calibration range. After that, the rotation of the rotating filter wheel and the composition of the thermogram starts automatically. The measuring range can span up to 1,500 K. In the case of the ImageIR® 8300 hp, this setting can be used to capture full-frame images with (640 × 512) IR pixels. Based on the frame rate synchronization of the camera with the rotational speed of the wheel, it is possible to achieve a temporal resolution of 350 Hz.

Solution for measurement tasks with high object temperatures and spectral thermography

The tremendous benefits that come with it become clear as soon as users thermally analyse measurement objects that experience temperature changes over a very wide range within a very short time. The necessary changing of filters with a standard rotating filter wheel would interrupt the measurement for several seconds, rendering the results unusable. The HDR function makes it possible to quickly switch between calibration ranges up to the maximum camera frequency. In addition to extremely high temperature applications, the fast rotating filter wheel offers a wide range of measurement options, in which different spectral ranges need to be measured. Finally, users can also use up to six spectral filters instead of neutral density filters. Equipped in this way, the ImageIR® infrared camera series supports the professional examination of materials with different radiation properties. Regardless of which components users choose for their desired model, the camera can always be used with a fixed rotating filter wheel. www.InfraTec.eu

Leaders in Surface Engineering for Critical Components www.cwst.co.uk

High quality surface coatings

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Curtiss-Wright Surface Technologies | www.cwst.co.uk eurosales@cwst.com | +44 (0)1635 279621

March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

Exploring piezoceramic applications in the medical world Piezo experts from research and industry will come together in Cranfield on the 17th of March 2020 for the PI Inspirations Workshop, Piezoceramic Applications in the Medical World. Piezoceramic materials are commonly used in actuation and sensing applications across a variety of markets and are key to some of the leading-edge technologies now used in the medical sector. From laboratory diagnostics and microdosing to ultrasonics and even tartar removal from teeth, medical technologies require components that are fast, reliable and energy saving. Piezoceramics combine these characteristics, offering much higher accuracy and precision – and requiring less power – compared to traditional mechanical actuators and sensors. They are also friction free, making them less susceptible to wear and tear, which reduces costs, and do not create and are

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not affected by magnetic fields. The ability for these components to work so reliably under extreme conditions, for example under cryogenic temperatures and in vacuums, makes them easily adaptable to different environments for diverse functions, such as non-destructive testing, therapy and imaging. Many of the medical applications for piezoceramics deal with the controlled flow of liquids in micropipetting applications, taking advantage of the incredible speed and accuracy that they offer down to the micrometre level. These mechanisms must also produce enough force to move the pipettes vertically. Piezomotors are perfect for this application, as they can generate high forces and a controllable forward motion with uniform speed and unparalleled accuracy. Similarly, piezo elements in micropumps control and monitor extremely small liquid or gas volumes – down to a few nanolitres – reliably and precisely.

Thinking about using powerful and versatile piezo technology in your next project? Whether you’re at the early stage of a project and want to explore the available options, or know exactly what technology you need and are facing challenges, join us at our Inspirations Lab on the 17th of March. Find out how piezoceramic technology can be employed in demanding medical applications, and let our applications specialists help you to take your own project forward. You will get the chance to hear piezoceramic experts discussing how PI’s groundbreaking technologies – including assembled structures – can be applied to leading-edge medical, HIFU and fluidics applications. You’ll also see examples of components, devices and working actuators that will help to explain the complexities of piezo operation.

Secure your place at this exciting event now!

March 2020



ENGINEERING UPDATE

The Difference between Part Costs and What it’s

THE PRICE OF AN ENGINEERED FASTENER IS ONLY PA Some people only look at the price of a fastener and choose the cheapest. Design Engineers tend to look at the bigger picture and chose the Engineered Fastener that will deliver the best lifetime value. It’s all about how you balance the price of the part, time to assemble and maintenance costs. Then factor in the reliability of the supplier and end to end technical support. Designing in value can deliver significant and sometimes surprising returns on investment. Here are 10 examples where fasteners and components from JET PRESS delivered real value.

Weighing up the benefits

Lightweighting is a challenge for most Design Engineers. For example, every 1kg of material removed from an aircraft means 106kg of jet fuel is saved each year. Reducing the weight of a car by 10% can increase fuel efficiency by up to 3%. Where electric vehicles are concerned, the lighter it is the further it goes on a single charge. But lighter components may be flimsy and require more fasteners. They are also more prone to vibration and fixing materials like plastic, carbon fibre and aluminium to steel presents challenges. JET PRESS work with Design Engineers to overcome lightweighting challenges. For instance they’ve recently supplied a bus builder with Fastmount Clips to attach slim, lightweight internal panels. These are clips originally designed for Ocean going yachts, but they do a great job of stopping panels rattling in a bus. And the aero industry uses lightweight Accuride Drawer Slides and is replacing bolts and screws with lighter Fir Tree Clips.

Engineered Fasteners making it easier

The assembly process can be quicker and cheaper if you use the right parts. For instance, Fir Tree Fasteners are very quick and easy to use and require no special tools.

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JET PRESS worked with a customer that produces Engine Beauty Covers. By replacing 3 pushnuts with a bespoke 3 point nut they cut assembly time. For an auto engine building client they designed a tool with 7 interchangeable heads to attach the different Cable and Hose Fasteners used, also saving time in the assembly process.

Outsource the hassle

JET PRESS are currently working with a customer on a complex civil engineering project. Firstly, they designed a bespoke Cable Management Fastener that allows cables to be added as the system is constructed. Secondly, they pre-assembled the fastener for the customer before they sent it out. Without this solution installers would have to assemble five components on site. JET PRESS often preassemble Swivel Clip Systems and similar components for customers.

Maintaining the bottom line

Whatever you design, it will have to be maintained. Specifying the right Engineered Fastener will make a difference to speed, cost and safety. Larger machines are often protected with heavy guards. If you mount these on Accuride Linear Slides, the guards are easier to move. Smaller maintenance panels tend to be screwed in place. Screws take time to unscrew, you can lose them or even drop them into the machine. A bolt retainer will stop the screw from getting lost and a Bi-Fix Quarter Turn Fastener also gives instant access.

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

What a Worth

ART OF THE EQUATION.

Getting it out in the open

Another maintenance cost issue is the time it takes to get at key items like pumps and compressors, especially in vehicles like trains. To reduce maintenance costs and down time you can build in a solution by mounting kit like this on Heavy Duty Accuride Slides. They can take loads up to 550kg and include lock in/ lock out features.

6. Nobody wants a burst pipe

Problems can arise when there is movement or vibration and the edge of a clip chafes against the cable, pipe or hose it retains, resulting in failure of the pipe. A very popular solution is flared edge Pipe & Cable Edge Fixings. The edge of the clip is angled away from the pipe to reduce chaffing. They’re an easy to use, cost effective solution and come in a huge range of sizes and finishes.

Cut your inventory costs

You have to stock parts to make sure production is not interrupted. There are often economies of scale if you buy in bulk. But the more inventory lines you have the more money is tied up in Engineered Fasteners. Plus, it takes time and money to manage a complex inventory. Choose the right Engineered Fastener and you can use it for multiple applications. For instance Multifit clips fit a range of panel thicknesses. JET PRESS are happy to talk to you about similar ways to reduce your inventory.

Make a big problem into a small one

You can cut costs with creative uses of Engineered Fasteners. The Furniture Designer for a fast food chain specified Fastmount fasteners instead of glue to assemble the chairs. This cut the assembly time from 45 minutes to 15. But the real return on investment for the restaurant chain comes when part of a chair is damaged or worn. Instead returning the whole chair, restaurant staff orders the damaged part, unclip the old one and clip on the new one.

More furniture savings

JET PRESS had a customer with a problem that’s common across the furniture industry. They send sofas, chairs and similar items out without the feet attached; making delivery easier and reducing damage in transit. The customer has to screw the feet on when it’s delivered. But it is very easy to make a mistake screwing into a T-Nut and customers are only human. Inevitably, some feet weren’t screwed in perfectly and when the customer sat on the furniture the T-Nut was forced out of the frame. The sofa had to be returned or replaced - a big expense. JET PRESS worked with the customer to develop a solution, based on using the right Engineered Fastener. Instead of ordinary T-Nuts they now use Rivet T-Nuts inserted using a specialist machine. Rivet T-Nuts have a lead in that makes it easier for the customer to get it right and it’s almost impossible to force the Rivet T-Nut out if they get it a bit wrong. Savings on returns have comfortably paid for the investment.

10.

Don’t replace it - fix it

On a more personal level, do you go camping? Or have a caravan with an awning? Or even a jacket or boots with a zip? When zips breaks it is bad news. Especially if it’s the first day of your holiday or the jacket is your favourite. In most cases it’s not the zip that breaks, it’s the zip pull. ZlideOn Zip Repair kits allow you to replace the pull and fix the zip. You can carry on with your camping holiday or that jacket gets a new lease of life. Good for you and good for the planet. JET PRESS have a sister site Components Direct that sells Family packs of ZlideOn repair kits.

Talk is cheap and the JET PRESS team are always happy to discuss ways you can cut costs by using the right part. Call: +44 1623 551 800 jetpress.com |77

March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

Frer series of TYPE B earth Leakage Relays AC & DC Network protection The Type B earth leakage relay is an essential part for earth fault protection equipment on an installation where several switch mode power supplies are fed from the AC supply. The nature of a switch mode power supply is such that it may lead to high frequency, Harmonic interference and DC leakage currents elements on the AC network which will not be detected by an AC Type A or Type F earth leakage relay. This may leave to a risk of fire, damage to the installation or harm to operators. Frer’s X...DB3 series earth leakage relays Type B are designed to measure the DC, AC and high frequency leakage current. The continuous display of the system parameters, leakage current, alarm status, frequency and harmonic level on the LCD display makes it is possible to continuously monitor the insulation state and to program the preventive maintenance in order to help avoid unexpected power breaks. Main functions: •

• • • • • • • • •

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Continuous digital indication of the leakage current: total RMS, AC fundamental, AC high frequency Double threshold: total RMS and DC component Storing of the TRIP current values Internal clock and storage of the last 10 events RS485 Modbus RTU, measurements, event archive, scope Selectable anti Fibrillation filter with fire protection 300mA AC measurements up to 10kHz Automatic retry Logic Selectivity Selectable 3rd harmonic filter

The FRER type B earth leakage relays (series X ... DB3), designed to intuitively and automatically detect leakage currents, allow the isolation status to be displayed continuously through the multi-color display. Just one sensor (TDB series ...) connected on the network is required to measure AC and DC networks, with a DC-10kHz band, and a resolution up to 1mA. They have an integrated “demagnetisation” function with zero offset of the DC, which is automatically activated each time the sensor is switched on or when the relay is commanded which effectively clears the measurement error due to factors such as: • • •

presence of magnetic fields in DC (terrestrial magnetic field, permanent magnets, DC coils, ...); temperature drifts; mechanical shocks or vibrations.

The measurement error of the RMS current (AC + DC) is proportional to the line current and depends on the arrangement of the cables passing through the sensor and on the distance of the adjacent cables. The settings of low threshold currents will be possible only by centering the cables and controlled climatic conditions (temperature, vibrations, EMI). MEASURE: In MEASURING mode, the backlight of the display is GREEN. The first line shows the total True RMS value of the Differential Current and the annunciators related to the current settings. On the second line it is possible to scroll the measurements relating to the continuous components of the measured values such as the network frequency and to the high frequency.

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

ALARM In ALARM mode the backlight of the display is ORANGE and the alarm annunciator flashes. If the differential current drops below the alarm threshold for the set release delay time, the device automatically returns to the measurement mode; if instead the Memory function is set, it is necessary to press the RESET key, the possible Test / Reset Remote input or the specific RESET Modbus RTU command. The pages and views are identical to the Measure mode.

Frer Type B and F relays are compliant. When a leakage current above the trip level, say greater than 30mA or 300mA is operating at a High frequency the conventional Type A earth leakage relay will not see the leakage current, so there is a threat of fire. The Anti Fibrillation filter sees the high Frequency and the current and will trip the Type B relay to reduce the risk of fire, damage to pant and machniery and the risk to life. For further information, please contact sales@tvri. co.uk Tel: 01206 575755 or http://tvri.co.uk/frerxdb3-type%20B-earth-leakage-relays.html

TRIP

About TVR Instruments

In the TRIP mode the display backlight is RED.

Established in 2011, TVR Instruments is a specialist technical distributor supplying low voltage instrumentation and power management products. TVR Instruments provides solutions for power and protection, and monitoring systems in the LVD distribution and panel building industry. Recognising the demands of customers and suppliers, TVR Instruments prides itself on its technical product knowledge and exceptional customer service and support.

In the case of TRIP FOR DIFFERENTIAL CURRENT the TRMS value of the Differential Current which caused the trip is displayed on the first line while on the second line it is possible to scroll the measures related to the trip instant. The graphic bar is fixed at 100% and the Trip annunciator is on. In the case of TEST OR TOROID INTERFACE FAILURE, the trip cause is displayed on the first line. The graphic bar is fixed at 0% and only the Trip annunciator is on. In trip mode the Differential Current should be canceled due to the opening of the System Release. If the relay continues to measure a non-zero differential current, the display backlighting becomes RED BLINKING to highlight the possible event.

TVR Instruments engages with clients in a wide range of industry sectors including data centre power management, panel building, facilities and building management systems, security systems, renewable energy process control, and back-up power systems.

Relay main functions: •

• • • • • •

Continuous digital indication of leakage current: RMS total, DC, fundamental AC, high frequency AC. Double threshold, total RMS and DC component only Measurements in AC up to 10kHz. Internal clock with storage of the last 10 events Current TRIP level storage RS485 Modbus RTU, Measurements, event archive, oscilloscope 3rd harmonic filter and anti-fibrillation frequency filter with selectable 300mA fire

For further information on TVR Instruments products and services, please visit www.tvri.co.uk For further details please contact: TVR Instruments Ltd 143 Butt Road Colchester

Anti-fibrillation

Essex CO3 3DP

The anti-fibrillation is found in Type F and Type B earth leakage relays. It is a requirement of several norms, IEC 62423, VDE 0664-T-100, to which the

United Kingdom email: sales@tvri.co.uk tel: 01206 575755

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March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

Bioconversion plant’s efficiency Is improved with VFD The efficiency of a bioconversion plant using organic food waste to feed insects that go on to nourish farm animals and fish is being dramatically improved with variable frequency drive (VFD) technology from Invertek Drives.

French start-up Entofood and Veolia Bioconversion have established a specialist plant in Malaysia producing the larvae from the Black Tiger Fly. The flies feed on waste food made up of unused or undervalued organic waste before producing the larvae, which is used as protein in the rapidly expanding global aquaculture and agriculture industries.

9.5 Amps to match the fans motor current.

The plant uses large numbers of ventilation fans to maintain an even environment for the flies to feed on the waste before laying the larvae.

The harsh environment of the facility, such as washdowns, waste products and the flies themselves meant the IP66 / NEMA 4X rated VFD enclosure was a perfect solution.

“The existing drives had been installed by the fan manufacturers and were not matching with the motor current of the fans, causing frequent tripping. This resulted in fluctuations in the facility’s environment, making production less efficient. “As a result, the facility was unable to increase production. The resulting downtime and maintenance were also causing additional costs,” said Khairul Azhari, Manager of Invertek Drives Malaysia, a sales partner of Invertek Drives. Invertek Drives Malaysia and DSC Engineering installed 58 Size 2 Optidrive E3 IP66 VFDs. They were commissioned with 4kW output at

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“The Optidrive output current easily matched the fan motors, preventing the tripping and downtime. It also provided greater control of the fan speed, ensuring improved efficiency and a reduction in energy costs,” added Mr Azhari.

The Optistick Smart, which uses NFC and Bluetooth technology, was used with the Optitools Mobile app to commission and to duplicate parameters on the 58 drives. “Using this technology made the commissioning task and time much easier and faster,” said Khairul. The growing market for such animal and fish food protein will mean an increase in such facilities, relying on VFDs to control fans for ambient environments. Around 1kg of eggs from the flies produces six metric tons of protein in 10 days that is used by fish farms,

poultry and pig producers, among others. It’s estimated that 10 per cent of the protein market could come from insects by 2040. “The prospects are promising: aquaculture provides half of the fish consumed worldwide. Bioconversion will mean that cultivated fish do not have to be fed with other fish or any protein grown to the detriment of food crops or forests,” said a Veolia Biodiversity statement. “Entofood and Veolia have complementary know-how: the first has the technology required for this new form of recovery; the second has the knowledge and expertise regarding the organic source on a global scale. This partnership could make the difference in a world where the issues of food safety, self-sufficiency and greenhouse gas reduction are critical.” More details about Invertek Drives Optidrive VFD range and technology can be found at www.invertekdrives.com.

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020 Mike Hughes, explained how 4Sight was the ideal solution for most print inspection applications, offering three different set-up options: •

•

Standalone – the SICK camera is presented with a good quality of print of the code to be inspected Printer-led – the SICK camera communicates directly with the printer and understands the message to be printed Integrated – the AutoCoding system sets up and controls the printing device and the SICK camera automatically

Mike went on to explain how 4Sight uses a concept referred to as “Inspection Depth” to determine the level of inspection required. Users can select one of five levels of inspection ranging from basic presence detection through to full OCR; although it was stressed that full OCR required considerably more processing time and it is thought unnecessary when using the 4Sight solution.

4Sight – Take a Different View of Vision The recent Technology Days held by AutoCoding Systems and SICK UK demonstrated the versatility of 4Sight, their new automatic print inspection solution. Visitors attending the events held in Runcorn and St Albans, heard how 4Sight was able to deal with varying qualities of code and check for presence, legibility and location of print, rejecting any products falling below specific user-defined parameters. A short presentation was delivered by Mike Hughes, Managing Director of AutoCoding Systems followed by demonstrations of the 4Sight software conducted by AutoCoding’s Technical Director, Robin Eatch.

Neil Sandhu, Market Product Manager from SICK UK explained how the global partnership between SICK AG and AutoCoding Systems had enabled the two companies to work collaboratively on the new automatic print inspection solution, 4Sight, utilising the SICK AppSpace development platform. The 4Sight solution uses the SICK Inspector P range of cameras and, as the software resides on the camera, it can communicate directly with the coding equipment.

The demonstrations, which were supported by hardware supplied by OEM partners, Domino and MarkemImaje, showed how the 4Sight software differentiated between “good” reads, “poor” reads and “bad” reads using parameters set by the user. Robin explained how users could select specific tolerances according to their own criteria and configure the system to accept print qualities that fell within these specified tolerances. The software can also identify degradation of the print quality, with users deciding what quality of “poor” prints are deemed acceptable. Once tolerances are reached, the print quality is deemed as “bad” at which stage the product is rejected. The event concluded with a Q & A session which covered various features of the solution and how it differed from conventional vision solutions; no time consuming set-up, no teaching of fonts and what are considered good/bad images, avoidance of “nuisance” stops due to false rejection of acceptable print quality and, most significantly, the ability to have the camera inspection system automatically adjust when the printer needs to print a different message. For more information, contact Janet Harrison – Tel +44 (0)1928 790444 Email : janet harrison@autocodingsystems.com / Web : www.autocodingsystems.com

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March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

Important Considerations When Designing Optical Systems for Space Projects Today we employ many different types of optical imaging and sensing systems to observe and measure the Earth and the universe at large. However, designing optical systems for satellites and spacecraft is challenging due to the harsh conditions that space places upon components and systems working in this remote environment. • Strong electromagnetic radiation • High vacuum • Zero gravity • Large temperature gradients • Size and weight When designing for a space application probably a key consideration is the life of the application or how long is the optical system required to work for. The longer the optical system is in orbit the greater the exposure to electromagnetic radiation thereby increasing the criticality of only using optical components and structural materials that are radiation resistant. All optical elements within Resolve Optics space lens designs are made using cerium oxide doped glass or synthetic silica enabling them to withstand radiation doses of up to 100,000,000 rads and temperatures up to 55°C without discoloration or degradation of performance. The next and probably trickiest consideration when designing spaceborne optical systems is the high vacuum environment. Careful selection of optical elements, structural materials and optical adhesives that do not release moisture or outgas is vital. Outgassing in an optical system could be disastrous as it could coat the optics and destroy the image quality.

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likewise choosing optical coatings that evaporate under vacuum risks causing moving parts to fail. Gravity or the lack of it also to be considered. When designing optical systems with moving parts in space you must minimise their degree of freedom as they will continue to move and wobble due to the lack of gravity. Any unwanted movement will of course result in loss of performance and precision. The space environment can also potentially subject your optical system to large temperature gradients that may result in changing of optical and mechanical properties, stress, embrittlement and thermal expansion. Knowledge of how your optical elements and structural parts perform across a wide temperature range is therefore also vitally important in designing optical systems for space. As you can see designing optics for use in space is not simple. Over the last 20+ years we have worked with the leading international space agencies and satellite development companies in North America and Europe to develop and deliver high performance optical systems that reliably perform the function they were designed. info@primetek-solutions.com www.primetek-solutions.com

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

Industrial Machine Vision cameras Selecting the correct camera for a Machine Vision application can be a daunting task. In this article we feature just a few of our extensive range of cameras that can be used for industrial applications. The Imaging Source range of cameras offer users many different types of area scan cameras for Machine Vision with either colour or monochrome sensors and a variety of resolutions ranging from VGA to 42 MegaPixels. Camera outputs on offer are USB2, USB3, USB3.1, and GigE. Most models use Sony CMOS sensors: Starvis with rolling shutter, and Pregius or Pregius S with global shutter, offering frame rates of up to 539 fps (using an 0.4 Mega Pixel sensor). The cameras with GigE interface allow for cable lengths up to 100m and multi-camera set ups, while maintaining data rates of up to 100MB/s; the GigE Vision standard ensures rapid integration of hardware and image processing software, making the cameras ideal for applications in production, inspection and quality assurance. A variety of input, output, strobe and trigger options are available via the Hirose port. The newest “38 Series”

cameras feature the ix Industrial® Ethernet interface which uses an integrated locking system to deliver high shock and vibration resistance in industrial environments. Details of all the cameras in this series can be found at https:// alrad.com/pages/productcamera. CameraLink and sub-types?type=IndustrialGigE Linescan cameras are cameras. also available. In addition to cased cameras, With such a comprehensive there is also available a range of cameras, Alrad selection of OEM board can cover a wide variety of cameras with USB2, USB3 applications by offering a and GigE interfaces. These are ideal for customers who suitable sensor, interface, optic and lighting solution want to build a high quality for your particular machine machine vision camera into vision application. their own equipment. OMRON Sentech offer a truly extensive range of products for Machine Vision applications. In addition to cameras with outputs similar to The Imaging Source, they also offer industrial cameras with CameraLink, CoaXPress and DVI/SDI, as well as analogue outputs. Resolutions range from 0.3 to 25 MegaPixels. High output speeds can range from 520 fps for a 0.3 MegaPixel camera and up to 180 fps for a 4 MegaPixel

Alrad has available frame grabbers and cabling to interface to any of the cameras mentioned above but there is no substitute to discussing your exact requirements with one of are experienced sales staff. Turnpike Road Industrial Estate, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2NS, Tel 01635 30345, Email sales@alrad.co.uk Web www.alrad.com

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March 2020

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ENGINEERING UPDATE

UNRIVALLED THROAT METAL DETECTOR SUPPORTS ‘SNACKIFICATION’ TRENDS AT INTERPACK 2020 More than 60% of European’s add snacks to their weekly grocery baskets. At Interpack 2020 (Hall 12, Stand E60) Fortress Technology will reveal how its top selling Vertex Metal Detector, equipped with automatic testing, is saving money, inspecting multiple snack formats and flavours and enhancing product quality. Fueled by consumer ‘snackification’ demands for quick, healthy onthe-go foods, big and niche brands are diversifying product portfolios. Anticipated to be worth US$31,039m in Europe in 20201, the addition of new ingredients, flavour innovations, own-label, sub-brands, pack sizes and nutritional concepts means that

a snack companys’ average portfolio can easily comprise 100+ Stock Keeping Units (SKUs).

testing program, addressing productivity issues, rising labour costs and staff shortages.

Interpack visitors will see how the slim-line Vertex metal detector system, measuring just 125mm in height with a circular aperture, can easily slot into existing VFFS packaging and snack checkweighing turnkey lines to enhance quality and consumer confidence.

SAVE up to €250,000 a week on performance checks!

Supporting fast product changeovers, this throat unit is the only known metal detector of its kind that incorporates an advanced automatic

Designed specifically to inspect freefalling snacks, more than 700 new Fortress Vertex units were installed by snack manufacturers last year. To help future proof equipment, all were fitted with Halo Automatic Testing, saving manufacturers an estimated €250 a day on every product inspection line. Fortress Technology’s European Managing Director Phil Brown notes that for large scale operations this could equate to a weekly saving of €250,000 in labour alone! Phil explains: “The costs associated with manually testing the performance of every single snack metal detectors at the start, end and throughout a shift (often hourly) and after every product changeover can be extortionate.” Due to their compact design, having 200+ Snack Vertex metal detectors side-by-side attached to VFFS packaging stations and checkweighers is not unusual. Yet, these turnkey lines make access even more challenging for performance checks. For a repeatable, accurate manual reading, metal test pieces need to pass through the exact centre of the aperture tube. At Interpack, see how the latest version of Halo repeatedly and accurately tests all metals by mimicking the signal disturbance that occurs during manual testing. Multiple machines can be networked to generate a site performance due diligence report. Visit the dedicated snack station in Hall 12, Stand E60 for a realistic productivity, labour saving and Return on Investment demo and calculation.

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www.statista.com/outlook/40110000/102/snack-food/europe

ENGINEERING PDATE

March 2020

Interroll broadens scope of solutions www.interroll.com for the retail sector Sant’Antonino, Switzerland, February 17, 2020. On the occasion of the EuroShop 2020 in Düsseldorf, Interroll announces the rebrand of its Center of Excellence (CoE) in Denmark as the Commercial Belt Drives & Conveyors, effective March 1, 2020. The decision underscores the fact that Interroll’s overall portfolio is very suitable for both supermarket and retail applications. Today, six out of ten checkout stands in supermarkets and retail stores worldwide are powered by Interroll. Making a significant contribution to this success has been the Interroll Center of Excellence in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark, which to date has concentrated on drum motors and cassettes used as belt drives in checkouts and reverse vending machines for supermarkets. As of March 1, 2020, Interroll will rebrand the location in Denmark as the CoE Commercial Belt Drives & Conveyors. The distinction “commercial” stands for the difference from drum motors used in industrial (food processing and

manufacturing) applications. The CoE will be responsible within the global Interroll Group for all technical concerns related to conveyors used in commercial settings, ranging from development and application engineering to production and support for local Interroll entities. “With regards to supermarket, retail and omnichannel, customers have a need for lighter-duty, lean and costeffective material handling solutions,” says Anders Staf Hansen, Managing Director of Interroll Denmark. “Besides the increasingly complex material handling processes at stores themselves, there is also a general need to cover the entire material flow in factories and distribution centers that are linked with the retail sector. As the world’s leading provider of material handling solutions, we will put an even stronger emphasis on such processes.” See our Video below - “Proven solutions for the world of retail and supermarkets

Interroll products can be found in six out of ten cashier systems worldwide. The Center of Excellence in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, will strengthen its focus on commerce-related processes in factories and distribution centers.

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