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PRINTING CARS ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND MASS PRODUCTION (PART 1)
4 LEROY-SOMER PARTNERS THE HIGHVOLT PROJECT AND IS PREPARING TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGY
28 HERGA OPCLEAR® LAPAROSCOPE LENS CLEANING SYSTEM
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ADVANTECH INTRODUCES TWO NEW EKI-1221IEIMB & EKI-1221IPNMB PROTOCOL GATEWAYS FOR SEAMLESS PROTOCOL CONVERSION
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THE INDUSTRY MAGAZINE FOR EUROPE • MIDDLE EAST • AFRICA
VIVITEK
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28 ADVERTISERS: MEPAX 37
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Contributing Editors: • Emmanuel AHOSSI • Nessren BAZERBACHI • Romain CLASS • Maria DE PABLOS • Anna HARDALOUPAS • Sofiane JEDIDI • Laura MUTTO • Marie RESPINGUE • Christophe VERGUET
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MARKET OVERVIEW Mark Kirby, additive manufacturing business manager for Renishaw (Canada) Ltd.:“It’s clear that we're starting to see a large number of niche applications for additive manufacturing in the automotive sector.”
PRINTING CARS
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND MASS PRODUCTION (PART 1) Automakers around the world turn to additive manufacturing to reduce costs, cut development time, and increase flexibility. Author: Kip Hanson
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on’t expect to 3D print the frame for a BMW X5 anytime soon. The engine block for an Audi TTS? Not a chance. No one in either the automotive or additive manufacturing industries would suggest that 3D printing, despite its amazing capabilities, can compete against the well-known manufacturing processes used to produce the nearly 100 million passenger and commercial vehicles sold each year1.
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Feeling Bleu At least, not yet. Mark Kirby, additive manufacturing business manager for Renishaw (Canada) Ltd., points to a number of automotive projects that he and other 3D printer companies are currently working on, activities that will undoubtedly lead to increased use of the technology in future, higher volume applications.
These include the Bleu car hinge, a “light-weighted, topologically-optimized, gullwing door bracket” that Renishaw produced in collaboration with 3D design software provider Dassault Systèmes2. Volkswagen is exploring potential weight reduction with 3D-printed window frame supports and water connectors3, and Ford is “proving the technical feasibility for high-volume 3D printing.”4 “It’s clear that we're starting to see a large number of niche applications for additive manufacturing in the automotive sector,” says Kirby. “Aside from its obvious lightweighting potential, there are a number of opportunities for producing novel, high-performance product designs—by reducing part counts in turbocharger assemblies, for example, or improving the thermal characteristics of various engine components. Additive is definitely an enabler in this area.” Kirby lives in the world of metal powder bed fusion. Whether you call it direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), selective laser melting (SLM), laser metal fusion (LMF), or any of the other provider-specific acronyms, it uses a laser to melt metal powder roughly the consistency of flour one paper-thin
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layer at a time. As each pass is completed, a fresh layer of metal powder is spread across the previous layer and the process begins again until the workpiece is complete.
$1B US in 3D printing machine builders Concept Laser and Arcam, and is working hard to not only make 3D printing more productive, but less expensive as well5.
Compared to machining, forming, casting, and other traditional metalworking processes, metal printing is a seemingly glacial way to produce something. Worse, the high amount of heat necessary to melt the metal powder, followed by rapid cooling, can generate extreme tension within the workpiece. Support structures are often needed to hold the part in place during the build process (which must be machined away afterwards) and heat treating is typically required to relieve stress. Both of these add cost and increase lead times.
“Right now, everyone thinks of 3D printing in terms of high value and low quantity,” Mook says. “But even at our current production levels, we’re edging into automotive volumes, and as the technology continues to mature and printing becomes faster—which it already is—it will find its way into a number of higher volume applications. In the automotive space, for instance, there are terrific opportunities for complex mechanical components, drive train and engine parts, fuel cells, and more. We are very interested in pursuing these and other markets that can benefit from the radical new designs made possible with 3D printing.”
A Printing Epiphany Yet designers are learning ways to avoid these problems. Joshua Mook, engineering leader at GE Additive, points to the much-touted fuel nozzle used in the company’s LEAP jet engine as one instance where support structures were either eliminated or integrated into the finished part, greatly reducing post-production processing. “We changed our design philosophy in a way that is amenable to the powder bed process,” he says. “Supports can be removed robotically or by hand, or sometimes they don't need to be removed at all. These and similar techniques are making powder bed technology far more productive than it once was, and I would say the number one thing for me is teaching my fellow engineers to design with the printing process in mind, and to maximize the efficiencies it offers.” What do parts that go into the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 777X passenger aircraft have to do with automobiles? Plenty. GE Additive is currently printing 60,000 fuel nozzles per year, and has its sights set on far more. It’s invested more than
One way to move this along is by reducing material costs. Market pressures and increased use will help in this regard, but GE Additive is one of the many manufacturers either developing their own metal powders or working with suppliers such as Carpenter, Sandvik, and TLS in an effort to make gas atomized alloys more affordable. These include tool steel and aluminum, Inconel and stainless steel, and are just a few of the dozens of metal alloys that can be 3D printed into fully dense shapes, producing robust component parts as well as the tooling such as molds and fixtures needed to manufacture these parts via traditional means. Keeping Cool One notable example of this is the development of vertical machining centers with additive manufacturing capabilities. These hybrid machine tools can lay down and fuse a dozen or so layers of metal powder and then mill the resulting features to tolerances much tighter than the fractions of a millimeter currently possible with 3D printing. This allows engineers to create complex tooling previously impractical
Tom Houle, director of Matsuura Machinery’s LUMEX line of hybrid machines, says automotive OEMs and their suppliers alike are pushing hard on additive technology
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X5Hero The Markforged X5: Now you can print parts faster and cheaper than machining. For loadbearing applications that require real strength, these parts make the grade.
or downright impossible to produce, and is especially relevant for plastic injection molding. By printing conformal cooling channels directly within the molds and inserts used to produce millions of plastic parts annually, significant reductions in cycle time can be realized.
designing 3D printed parts is looking for ways to leverage its capabilities. This usually means using organic, skeletal shapes that do a better job of strengthening part geometry where it’s needed, and produce lighter, more robust, and more cost-effective parts overall.”
Tom Houle, director of Matsuura Machinery’s LUMEX line of hybrid machines, says automotive OEMs and their suppliers alike are pushing hard on additive technology for this very reason. “The smart companies see the writing on the wall,” he says. “By using conformal cooling channels, molding times are easily 30-percent shorter, and are oftentimes cut in half. Additive manufacturing also allows us to create porous surfaces within the mold, so you can simplify venting in deep ribs and similarly complex features that are often problematic with conventional machining—things like door components, dashboard grills, that sort of thing. It makes a huge difference.”
Truing Up Another way to reduce costs is by increasing printer speed. Renishaw, Concept Laser, and various other machine builders are doing this by adding more lasers to their wares, and using them to build multiple parts at one time, or make a team-effort approach and build a single part more quickly. The trick is to do so in the most efficient manner possible. Metalworking machine builder TRUMPF Inc. is one of the additive companies producing machines with faster printing speeds. TRUMPF’s automotive industry manager for additive manufacturing Frank Nachtigall says that adding two or three lasers to a 3D printer does not double or triple the price of the machine, but it does offer the potential of significantly faster build speeds.
Because the mold and mold insert layers are alternately printed and machined, there’s no need for post-build stress relief as is common with most additively manufactured metal parts; in many cases, users can remove the tool from the 3D printer’s build chamber and bring it directly to production. However, because the Lumex and other metal powder bed fusion machines employ a metal build plate as a platform on which to print parts, and because these parts are basically “stuck” to the plate when the job is done, it’s possible that some small part movement can occur when the two are separated.
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Predicting and avoiding such build events is something that virtually everyone in the 3D printing industry is working on, Matsuura included. This is why companies such as AutoDesk and 3DSystems have developed simulation software that offers a predictive view of what happens when laser beam meets metal, and continuously improving the outcome. “A number of companies are fully invested in developing additive simulation solutions,” Houle says, “In our case, we’re interested in designing the most efficient conformal cooling lines possible based on the model geometry. But anyone 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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“Aside from supporting the known industries such as aerospace, medical, and tool and die that currently use powder bed manufacturing, we are also participating in a number of research and development projects within the automotive market,” he says. “These will require continuing collaboration between the machine builders, the OEMs and their Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers. However, there’s definitely a good deal of interest in the mass production of automotive parts, especially in the luxury car segment and for certain sports cars.” In the meantime, TRUMPF is one of the many additive machine builders focusing a big chunk of their efforts on motorsports such as Formula 1 racing, which as Nachtigall points out, has benefited from the use of additive manufacturing for the past 15 years, and can easily justify the high cost of 3D printed vehicle components with their lower weight and improved performance. “We’re also seeing a shift within the luxury segment for certain sports cars applications; however, these are not
LUMEX Avance-25 FD0
Markforged Laser With a built-in laser micrometer, Industrial Series machines automatically scan the print bed with 1um accuracy to generate a contour map of its surface. By calibrating its measurements with extrusion readings to perfectly set nozzle height and active topography adjustment, the X5 ensures your prints come out exactly how you want them.
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produced in very large numbers,” he says. “That might mean anywhere between 5,000 to maybe 30,000 parts per year for the power train, cooling and ventilation systems—anywhere you can gain efficiency by combining several pieces. The bottom line is that there are very many interesting parts with the potential to be additively manufactured.” The problem remains the cost, a factor that everyone in the industry knows automakers are sensitive to; even if thousands of machines were purchased and production scaled up to the point that part runs in the millions became possible, the sad reality is that current powder bed fusion technology would remain too expensive for the mass production of everyday vehicles. Farming the Future Fused deposition modeling (FDM) has been around for nearly three decades. It prints parts by squirting molten plastic from a filament-fed nozzle onto a build platform. Because different materials can be combined in a single build, it is a favorite for prototyping multipart assemblies, but it is nowhere near fast enough nor does it produce parts robust enough for automotive mass production. Still, the concept is sound. By replacing the filament with a metal-infused thermoplastic and then sintering the finished product in a high temperature oven, the plastic binder melts away in a manner much like metal injection molding (MIM). This produces fully dense metal parts in large, cost-effective quantities, and does so much more quickly than other metal-based printing methods. It requires a new acronym, however: ADAM, short for atomic diffusion additive manufacturing “Even though the technology is still an emerging technology, we're comfortable talking about production runs in excess of 100,000 pieces.” That’s according to Jon Reilly, product manager for Markforged, who envisions massive farms of such print devices. “In the early days of computing, you’d have a mainframe server that needed an entire room to house it and a skilled technician to keep it running,” he says. “ADAM is more like Amazon Web Services, which is a farm of blade servers whose processing power anyone can access at the click of a button. By organizing dozens or even hundreds of relatively inexpensive machines in parallel, we believe it will offer print speeds and production costs low enough for the automotive and consumer products industries.”
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By switching print materials, this same technology can be used to produce carbon fiber reinforced plastic components as well, offering additional appeal to automakers aiming to reduce product weight while preserving integrity. And since the metal powder and sintering process Markforged employs is virtually identical to that used by metal injection molders for the past fifty years, there should be little problem with acceptance within the engineering and quality communities. Like many 3D printing methods, Markforged promises to dramatically shorten multi-year automotive development cycles, a paradigm that, as Reilly points out, has lasted more than a century. “Ford Motor Company was founded in 1903 and shipped the first Model T in 1908. It took them five years. Tesla was founded in 2003 and shipped the Roadster in 2008; one hundred years later and it still took them five years 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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to ship their first car. Additive manufacturing is beginning to change all that, and will one day shorten development cycles from years to months. That's our goal” A Top Down Approach Printing powertrain and engine components is well and good, but what about all the connectors and gaskets and knobs and ductwork? We discussed the potential for 3D printing of plastic injection molds earlier, but what if an automaker could just skip the molding process entirely? Not only would investment costs be substantially reduced, but so too would the length of the development cycle. So the question is this: if the 3D printing industry can produce bespoke tennis shoes, why not custom dashboard parts? Someone addressing this is Phil DeSimone, vice-president of business development at Carbon. “Automotive is definitely becoming more and more of a niche market, and it’s an area we do very well in,” he says. To those familiar with the grandfather of commercial 3D printing, stereolithography (SL), Carbon might at first glance seem similar, in that a pool of photo-curable resin and a light source are used to build parts. The similarities end there however. There’s no bottom-up layer building with Carbon, nor lasers tracing part outlines and patiently filling in the spaces between. It relies on Carbon’s proprietary Digital Light Synthesis™ technology powered by the CLIP (continuous liquid interface production) process, which as its name implies builds parts continuously, from the top down, and is able to “digitally program” the material’s properties. And according DeSimone, it’s also up to 100 times faster than competing thermoplastic printing technologies, and far more accurate. He adds that Carbon is working with BMW on customized external components, electrical connectors with Delphi, and a wide variety of plastic components such as automotive brackets, sensor housings, and grommets. The biggest challenge in each of these cases has been material validation. “To get a new material approved for a vehicle, you're looking at about 12 months for the first one, after which it becomes much easier,” he says. “In the case of BMW, the parts have gone through multiple Bavarian winters and summers and we've proven that 3D printed resins are every bit as strong and weather resistant as traditional polycarbonate and ABS components.” Next Steps As an increasing number of 3D printed parts have gone into this “end-use” mode, additive manufacturing machine builders have begun placing great emphasis on understanding, visualizing, and documenting the entire process. Each of the providers mentioned here are actively monitoring each layer of each build—in Carbon’s case, every part is tagged with a code that identifies what machine, build platform, window, and resin was used to build it, and can be traced back to the frame by frame manufacturing data. The same can be said for the metal parts building processes, where the melt pool, laser power, optics performance, powder bed temperature and humidity, and related manufacturing factors are continuously recorded and analyzed. This provides complete traceability in the
NEWS KEY DEVELOPMENT AXIS: HYBRID MANUFACTURING AND AUTOMATION
GF Machining Solutions brings Automation to Additive Manufacturing processes
Based on proven and successful EOS technology, the new AgieCharmilles AM S 290 Tooling solution is intended to address the mold and die industry’s need to produce innovative mold inserts with Additive Manufacturing. GF Machining Solutions focus on the mold and die sector, where Additive Manufacturing makes it possible to produce metal mold inserts in high quantities. These inserts features thermal exchange close to the surface to ensure and control, in optimal way, temperature homogeneity for shorter throughput time and a higher part quality. GF Machining Solutions designed a fully automated solution, enabling to produce hybrid parts. Parts are transferred from traditional machine to the 3D printing machines. The solution includes the necessary software and Automation link with downstream machine tools and measuring devices. Hybrid parts allow optimization of production costs, as AM technology is used only when it adds value to a specific area of the application. event of a product failure, and also promotes continuous improvement in this rapidly evolving industry. To this end, machine tool builders and manufacturers are beginning to fully leverage Industry 4.0 and the IIoT (industrial internet of things), and 3D printing equipment suppliers are no exception. In many cases, machine metrics and build data are continuously fed to cloud-based servers for predictive maintenance purposes, and regular software updates pushed downstream to the end user. As GE Additive’s Mook points out, it’s all about making intelligent decisions. “With 3D printing, you have to close the loop between the machine, the build parameters, the materials, and the part. Not only will this help users better manage their shop, but it will also increase throughput and improve quality. And if I can guarantee the quality of any given component at the completion of the build, that’s in turn a huge step for reducing costs, no matter what you’re making.”
2. h ttp://www.renishaw.com/en/enhancing-the-additivemanufacturing-process-chain--42104 3. h ttp://www.3ders.org/articles/20171103-90-3d-printersat-its-26-factories-volkswagen-counts-on-metal-3dprinting-for-exclusive-car-series.html 4. h ttps://www.forbes.com/sites/jimresnick/2017/03/08/ for-the-automakers-large-scale-3d-printing-is-the-nextpowerful-toolbox/#693407cf7ee0 5. h ttps://www.ge.com/reports/epiphany-disruptionge-additive-chief-explains-3d-printing-will-upendmanufacturing/
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“If you think about the motivation behind GE getting into the additive market, there were really two key things,” he says. “One, because we were early users of the technology and it disrupted some of our existing product manufacturing, we recognized its potential to disrupt all industries, not just aviation. And then, combined with what we perceived as a state of immaturity in the market, we ran the numbers and saw a 76 billion-dollar opportunity. So we're going to build a business around it. We’re bringing our expertise and knowledge to the table, and as we expand beyond aerospace into automotive and other industries, we think 3D printing will ultimately make good sense for everyone.”
Notes links 1. h ttps://www.statista.com/statistics/262747/worldwideautomobile-production-since-2000/
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VALENCIA'S FACULTY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORT SCIENCES SELECTS VIVITEK FOR ITS AUDIOVISUAL EQUIPMENT REFRESH
Valencia's Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences has chosen solutions from Vivitek for its audiovisual equipment refresh.
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ase of installation, an excellent price/performance ratio, reliability and extensive warranty were just some of the criteria that Sound & Systems, the authorized partner selected to perform the installation, presented as its reasons for choosing Vivitek projectors at the Faculty. To upgrade and modernise the audiovisual equipment, they installed Vivitek’s DW832 WXGA 5000-lumen projectors and large-size projection screens, both distributed by Charmex. The projectors are ideally suited to classrooms and mediumsized spaces.
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The projectors offer numerous connectivity features and high luminosity, making them suitable for all types of environments. The systems were connected over a UTP cable network to the signal transmission and reception devices via a conversion. With the system installed as it is, the classroom now enjoys has excellent connectivity for all types of video signal and is able to displaying high quality content in great detail.
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The Vivitek DW832 projector provides high-quality digital images thanks to its high luminosity (5000 ANSI lumen) and 15,000:1 contrast ratio. With its native WXGA resolution, the model is designed for a wide range of applications. Its compact format, light weight (only 3.2 kg) and flexible zoom capability of 1.5x, allow it to be easily carried from one classroom to another. The DW832 is equipped with an HDMI/MHL port and other connector types so all types of multimedia application can be used to the full. Sound & Systems Audiovisuales, S.L, has considerable experience of the audiovisual market. It offers its customers a complete, personalized service that is both efficient and fast, providing added value to the products and services that it sells, with an emphasis on quality. This approach has led to it receiving numerous awards in the region. Over the last few years, Sound & Systems has installed more than 400 Vivitek devices in Spain; in businesses, educational establishments, museums and audiovisual equipment rental companies. www.vivitek.eu
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DELTA NAMED TO THE DJSI WORLD INDEX FOR THE SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR - RANKS FIRST IN FOUR CRITERIA AMONG WORLD-LEADING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT,INSTRUMENT AND COMPONENT COMPANIES
Delta Electronics outperformed 37 leading global companies in the Electronic Equipment, Instrument, and Component sector of the 2017 Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI), and was selected for the DJSI World Index for the seventh consecutive year. Placing among major global enterprises, Delta was also selected for the DJSI Emerging Markets Index for the fifth consecutive year. Delta ranked first among world-leading electronic equipment, instrument and component companies in the DJSI criteria of “Product Stewardship,” “Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy,” “Labor Practice Indicators,” and “Materiality.”
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elta is dedicated to fulfilling its corporate mission “To provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow” through the development of sustainable technologies and solutions. Delta's high-efficiency products and solutions have contributed to a total savings of 20.8 billion kWh of electricity and a reduction of carbon emissions by about 11.07 million tons of CO2e for the past seven years.
The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes were launched in 1999 as the first global sustainability benchmarks. The indexes are offered cooperatively by RobecoSAM and S&P Dow Jones Indices. Each year, they invite the world's 2,500 largest companies, measured by free-float market capitalization to report on their sustainability performance. The results of the Corporate Sustainability Assessment provide an in-depth analysis of economic, environmental and social criteria. The indexes serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios, and provide an effective engagement platform for companies that want to adopt sustainable best practices.
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Delta has always focused on global warming and environmental issues, while promoting environmental education and green buildings through the Delta Electronics Foundation. In 2015, Delta held an official side event with the theme of energy conservation during the COP21 conference in Paris. Delta also organized a green building exhibition at the Grand Palais to share its experience in creating energysaving green buildings with climate change opinion leaders. In line with its company mission Delta held its green building exhibition in both Beijing and Taipei in 2016, and
has also published journals, and produced micro movies on environmental issues. Delta’s long-term, continuous efforts have received much favorable recognition from international evaluation organizations.
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EMERSON DEMONSTRATE AT COMPAMED HOW MANUFACTURERS CAN REDUCE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT TIME AND OPTIMISE MACHINE DESIGN
New ASCO modular valve block system for fluid handling in dental treatment units showcases Emerson’s expertise at developing Microfluidic Solutions that add value to the manufacturers of analytical and medical machinery.
ASCO Dental Manifold Series 252
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merson to launch new Valve Block System at Compamed 2017, in Dusseldorf, Germany, in November. The valve block system is the latest of a broad selection of products, designed specifically for the use of OEMs in the analytical and medical fields. Combining several functions in one easy to install product, the valve block has a proportional valve to enable variable speed pneumatic control of the dentist’s tools, and valves to control water flow that do not allow calcium build up on the internals, a common cause of failure. Along with the valve block system, Emerson will show other unique ASCO solutions, standard ASCO solenoid valves and TESCOM precision pressure regulators. Many of the products on show are available at two days notice as samples, making it even easier and quicker for OEMS and machine builders to develop new variations or prototypes, which can be prove to be a competitive advantage. The samples are delivered in person by a specialist who will work with the manufacturer to design and specify the optimal solution.
The ASCO solutions show what can be achieved by selecting the most suitable components from a vast portfolio of products and adapting them to precisely match what the application requires. This applies not only to the way the valves function but also to their size, the materials, and the electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic connections. The desired solution may consist of a single valve, an assembly or a complete block of valves with integrated electronics, sensors and connectors. Emerson will also develop and manufacture the electronics and integrate the software into the complete fluid handling system. A wide selection of sensors and interfaces complement the range of valves. The new dental valve block is a modular system for fluid control in the chair’s instrument console. The valve block is available in three versions to allow the placement of the pneumatic actuators (for drills and polishers etc.) to be as flexible as possible. Up to four valve blocks can be combined into a compact unit and centrally controlled to allow individual configuration of the console.
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www.asco.com
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EMERSON ANNOUNCES HIGH DENSITY PNEUMATIC VALVE ISLAND, ENABLING REDUCED INSTALLATION COSTS
Emerson announces a major update to the ASCO Numatics G3 Series electronic valve island platform, enabling a reduction in installation costs. The valve island has been expanded so that it can control up to 128 solenoid valves on a single valve island assembly.
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his allows more valves to be controlled from a single node, enabling savings in the number of nodes and the cabling, internal tubing and electrical connections in the cabinet. Customers will benefit when they control a high density of valves or pneumatic equipment in a packaging plant or on a skid. “The new functionality enables designers to minimise expensive cabinet space and have fewer nodes dedicated to pneumatic valve islands,” said Uwe Claus, Global Vice President Marketing. “Now, designers can place more valves in a single cabinet or use a smaller enclosure to house the same number of valves. In addition, installers will only have to set up and configure one node, saving time and labour cost.”
It is highly recommended that customers use the flexible and powerful online Dynamic Product Modelling (DPM) tool when designing pneumatic valve island installations to save time in design and selection. The DPM tool enables the valve islands to be fully configured. It produces a unique specification for that product and enables a CAD drawing to be downloaded. “Our new G3 Series platform is ideal for use in life science (pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical), food and beverage, fine chemicals, and water/wastewater applications,”Claus said. MORE INFORMATION
The expanded valve platforms can support up to 128 11mm solenoid valves and up to 80 18mm and 26mm valves. To increase the valve platforms’ capacity, mid-station blocks were added with valve drivers and auxiliary power connectors. This flexible approach allows customers to pay only for the capacity and functionality required in their design. A wide variety of communication protocols are
supported, including Ethernet/IPTM DLR, Profibus® DP, and Valve Sub-bus for distribution.
www.asco.com
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DELTA LAUNCHES INFRASUITE DEVICE MASTER, A POWERFUL FACILITY MANAGEMENT SOLUTION AVAILABLE AS A FREE DOWNLOAD
A powerful tool for simple, automated monitoring of mission-critical facility infrastructure in datacenters.
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elta, a global leader in power and thermal management solutions, today announced its InfraSuite Device Master, a powerful facility management solution available as a free download. This new software gives datacenter operators and facility managers a command center for real-time management and monitoring of critical datacenter equipment such as uninterruptible power system(UPS), cooling, and environment control systems.
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Dr. Charles Tsai, General Manager of Delta’s Mission Critical Infrastructure Solutions Business Unit, said, “The InfraSuite Device Master is our free yet powerful entry-level solution for datacenter and facility management projects that demand uncompromising professional monitoring of business-critical devices. It is an ideal solution because it lets operators migrate as needed from simple device monitoring to a complete datacenter infrastructure management solution at any time.”
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InfraSuite Device Master is available immediately as a free download on the Delta website. It provides status alerts, event logs, and historical data for the entire facility infrastructure, all from a convenient monitoring screen. This functionality can be used to manage infrastructure at a single facility or multiple remote locations spanning different countries. InfraSuite Device Master employs rolebased user management to assign privileges. The software sends automated, personalized alerts via email, text message, or audio message. The new software is free for up to five devices. InfraSuite Device Master is included with Delta UPS systems and is appropriate for small datacenters as well as centralized control and monitoring solutions. InfraSuite Device Master is easy to deploy and, in addition to real-time monitoring, also provides event histories for all monitored devices at the site. Furthermore, migrating from InfraSuite Device Master to Delta’s InfraSuite Manager (fully featured DCIM solution) is easy, should a comprehensive DCIM solution ever be required.
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The following are the main highlights of the InfraSuite Device Master: • Free download • Easy deployment • Real-time monitoring • Broad protocol support including Modbus, SNMP, and OPC • Proactive, automated alerts via email, SMS, or audio message • Comprehensive user access control based on groups and privileges • Powerful event management including predefined event levels and extensive query options • Comprehensive database of historical event data for subsequent evaluation and analysis InfraSuite Device Master is available immediately. The download is available at http://www.deltapowersolutions.com/en/mcis/datacenter-infrasuite-device-master-downloads.php MORE INFORMATION 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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DELTA’S 500KVA UPS SETS WORLD’S POWER DENSITY RECORD WITH 55.6KVA PER 3U MODULE
The 500kVA Modulon DPH series UPS offers the world’s highest per-rack power density.
The latest addition to the Modulon DPH series of modular UPS systems has achieved the world’s highest per-rack power density while offering a range of benefits for mission critical applications such as large datacenters.
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elta Electronics, Inc., a global leader in power and thermal management solutions, today announced the global launch of its 500kVA Modulon DPH series uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Delta’s new state-ofthe-art online double conversion UPS boasts the world’s highest power density of 55.6kVA per 3U module. Thanks to its modular design, the UPS enables advanced control of power module redundancy as well as the ability to add capacity and pay-as-you-grow scalability. The Modulon DPH 500kVA UPS is the latest in its series, which includes 75, 150, and 200 kVA models as well.
Big density for big data The new high-density UPS from Delta launches at a time when annual global IP traffic is expected to nearly triple over the next five years. Developments such as the increase of content-heavy applications such as bandwidth-intensive video, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data are behind these dramatic increases in traffic and the corresponding demand for greater datacenter capacity. The industryleading power density of 55.6kVA per 3U module achieved by Delta’s new 500kVA Modulon DPH model gives datacenter operators greater flexibility to adapt to these rapidly changing requirements.
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This high density makes oversizing – one of the major drivers of excess datacenter cost – avoidable right from design phase. Adding capacity later is simple and economical, in contrast with traditional monoblock UPS systems, which require installing enough power for the datacenter’s maximum planned load right from the start. The high power density also means less space is consumed by power infrastructure, leaving more room for revenue-generating IT racks. 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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Performance, availability, and efficiency Highlights of the fault-tolerant design of the 500kVA Modulon DPH series UPS include power module redundancy and a dual CAN bus, onboard control logic, and self-synchronization. An added benefit of the adaptable modular design is that critical components are hot swappable. Parallel expansion and N+X redundancy with up to 8 units are possible. Furthermore, the system’s hotswappable architecture offers a 50% faster service time than required compared to traditional UPS systems. Together, these features make the DPH series appropriate for highavailability applications such as Tier IV datacenters. The latest UPS from Delta is also an ecological choice, with ACAC conversion efficiency of up to 96.5% in normal operation and 99% in ECO mode.
Korea. A hosting provider in Berlin and bank branches in Poland and India have also purchased DPH 200kVA systems.” Tsai continued, “With this highly intelligent and integrated UPS solution, Delta’s MCIS BU is confident the Modulon DPH series is the best choice to provide backup power for modern datacenters in this dynamic era of big data.” www.deltapowersolutions.com
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Manageable power IT managers will be pleased to note that the latest DPH model also comes equipped with a touch screen, an environment management system, and a battery management system. The console’s large 10” color touch screen allows operators to view event logs and access diagnostic information. Dr. Charles Tsai, general manager of Mission Critical Infrastructure Solutions (MCIS) Business Unit at Delta Electronics, said, “Our latest DPH series UPS was wellreceived by a global audience at this year’s CeBIT in Hannover, Germany. This DPH series 75-200kVA UPS is already powering airport datacenters in Poland and South 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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ADVANTECH WINS “ROI INDUSTRY 4.0 AWARD CHINA” FOR ITS DIGITAL FACTORY
Global Intelligent Systems leader Advantech (2395.TW) received an award from ROI Management Consulting for its Industry 4.0-compliant digital factory. The “ROI Industry 4.0 Award China” was given to Advantech at the awards ceremony in Shanghai on 17 October to honor its Industry 4.0 achievements as a pioneer in the practical implementation of “real-time equipment and resource monitoring.”
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imo Schneemann, Vice-General Manager of ROI Management Consulting, stated, “What Advantech has achieved is an outstanding example of what can be done in terms of quality and utilization by providing real-time production insights. While today, other companies have key machines connected to a central system, Advantech stands out because they have not only connected sophisticated equipment like SMT lines, but have also upgraded and connected conventional machines, such as stamping machines, to get a full picture of what is happening in production—from start to finish. Whilst connecting machines is one thing, the crucial step other companies are missing is making this data easily accessible to the people who need it, and here is where Advantech scores high again with their data consolidation and visualization framework.”
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Industry 4.0 Situation Room Enables Real-time Management From many years, Advantech has consistently optimized its production line in manufacturing centers to improve efficiency. “The Industry 4.0 situation room is Advantech’s most important upgrade to Industry 4.0. The situation room is the factory’s nerve center where data is collected, analyzed, and visualized for real-time management and data-driven decision-making. This award has demonstrated that we are on the right track with our Industry 4.0 blueprint,” said Allan Tsay, Vice President, Advantech Industrial IoT Group. Advantech’s Industry 4.0 journey begins with equipment connectivity and process visualization solutions, and continues with optimization processes. Data is the key to improving efficiency in Advantech’s smart factory. “Advantech is not only an end user, but a provider of Industry 4.0 solutions. Advantech has primarily used its own products and solutions in the planning and implementation of the smart factory. Advantech’s smart factory is evidence of
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how iFactory solution-ready platforms (SRPs) and products can be used to implement Industry 4.0 in practice. Advantech’s iFactory SRPs are quick-start tools that enable a stepwise approach to achieving Industry 4.0,” said Jonney Chang, Associate Vice President, Advantech Industrial IoT Group.
developing its smart factory and Industry 4.0 solutions with the aim of providing a brand-new in-depth experience for end users in 2018. www.advantech.eu
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Accelerating Industry 4.0 - Advantech in the Fast Lane 2017 has been an important year for Advantech to continue driving Industry 4.0 growth. Advantech upgraded its manufacturing centers to real Industry 4.0 demonstration sites and has opened them to external visitors in an attempt to accelerate digital transformation and inspire the development of other smart factories. Additionally, Advantech hosted several Industry 4.0 forums in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Brazil, Turkey and Dubai to share the latest iFactory applications with representatives from industry, government, and academia; collaborating closely to establish a local Industry 4.0 ecosystem. This July, Chaney Ho, the Cofounder, Executive Director, and Acting General Manager of Advantech Europe, received a special award for, “Industry Leader of the Year” from Asian Manufacturing Awards 2017 for his considerable effort in pushing Industry 4.0 in the Asian region. Advantech has not only realized the intelligent factory from a practical perspective, but also encourages customers to embrace Industry 4.0. “Industry 4.0 is a dynamic process that has no downtime and is constantly advancing and changing,” said Mr. Chang. As Industry 4.0 continues to evolve, Advantech will continue 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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INNOVATION FOR CUSTOMISED FOOTSWITCH SYSTEM: HERGA TECHNOLOGY LAUNCH MODULAR BASE SYSTEM FOR BEST-INCLASS MULTIPEDAL FOOTSWITCH SELECTION
Modular base system with several safety and functional optional accessories.
By integrating standard medical or industrial grade electrical and BluetoothÂŽ foot and bellows switches with its new range of modular base units and accessories, Herga Technology has raised the bar for choice and flexibility. With each single modular base unit capable of supporting a footswitch and two bellows switches, the system can accommodate as many as twelve foot-operated machine tasks.
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he new modular base system offers OEMs, end users and machine builders an attractive and ergonomic footswitch solution by combining the field proven 6225, 6226 and 6227 series footswitches with optional 6241 or the recently launched Haptic 6244 puck switches together with safety and functional accessories such as guards, lift bars, base plates and handles. For medical applications, IEC 60601/UL 60601 compliant footswitches can be selected and environmental protection includes options for EN60529 IPX2 to IPX7 with IPX8 on request.
The moulded thermoplastic base system comprises single or double base plinths joined by fixing strips that mechanically lock the assembly and include electrical connections for 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-base unit configurations. Each single plinth can accommodate a footswitch as well as one or two bellows switches. For most multiple footswitch applications, all electrical switching functions are via a single cable, making machine connection straightforward with stripped cable cores or a choice of connector if required. Multiple functioning footswitches with a single Bluetooth transmitter can be easily accommodated within the range.
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Electrical switching functions for the standard 6225, 6226 and 6227 series footswitches include SPST N/O, SPST N/C, SPDT momentary or latching at 1.75A at 24V AC/DC. The rating for the 6241 and 6244 bellows switches includes SPDT / DPDT at 0.1A, 30V DC – other switching voltages and contact configurations are available on request.
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A wide range of modular accessories may be included with each order. These include tubular steel carrying handles and open guards or pressed steel closed guards. Each footswitch may be separated with a raised divider built into the joining strip, and steel base plates are available for added durability. Herga have also introduced a range of standard variants that use the new modular base system to combine its most commonly specified medically approved 6226 series footswitch and single 6241 bellows, to offer a straightforward selection in eight combinations that span single footswitch to a 4x footswitch plus 4x bellows switch configuration. A new datasheet is available at www.herga.com which includes reference dimensions and ordering information that helps users to specify the exact configuration requirements. Herga sales and applications staff are also onhand to discuss specific requirements at sales@herga.com or by calling +44 (0)1284 701422.
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SAFE SWITCHING FOR SURGICAL EQUIPMENT: CIPHER SURGICAL LTD CHOOSE HERGA FOR BELLOWS AND AIRSWITCHES ON OPCLEAR® LAPAROSCOPE LENS CLEANING SYSTEM
Herga Technology is supplying 6448 bellows footswitch and 6763 airswitches to Cipher Surgical Ltd for its OpClear® laparoscope lens cleaning system. The innovative medical device delivers saline and CO2 via a disposable sheath procedure kit to maintain continuous and intraoperative clear vision for keyhole surgery.
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aparoscopy involves examination and surgical procedures within the abdominal and pelvic areas of the body. A form of keyhole surgery, the practise uses a hand held laparoscope, or endoscope, to allow the surgeon to macroscopically view the area to be treated, and given the correct conditions offers substantial benefits of time, safety and patient wellbeing over open surgery techniques. The laparoscope is a tubular instrument that integrates a powerful camera and lens system with lighting to provide a very high definition viewing area.
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Inevitably during use, the instrument’s visibility is impaired by various debris and condensation gathering at the distal optical face and until now removal and external cleaning has been the usual method to combat this situation. It is reported that an average operation requires 13 removals as well as significant time spent with sub optimal vision, which prolong operation timescales and increased cost as well as potentially impairing patient comfort and safety.
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However, the innovative OpClear system significantly mitigates the need for removal by dispensing saline to wash the lens face and CO2 to clear debris. This is achieved by Cipher Surgical’s advanced control system delivering the cleaning mediums through a special disposable sheath that clips on the laparoscope. The Herga bellows footswitch is simply tapped by the surgeon when cleaning is required. Cipher Surgical are based at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Venture Centre and through investment funding began development of the OpClear in 2010 after proof of principle was established through its close links with the university. Now in its second generation to allow use with more types of laparoscopes, the patented system is cleared for sale in Europe and selected markets. ISO 13485 accredited manufacturing is outsourced within the UK. Air actuation for such instruments is well proven in the medical equipment field, providing intrinsic safety and high durability in the operating theatre environment. Herga is well versed in medical applications with product technologies covering air, electrical and wireless switching – many with UL and IEC 60601 medical approvals. The Herga 6448 bellows
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Cipher Surgical Ltd.’s OpClear® laparoscope lens cleaning system showing Herga’s 6448 bellows footswitch.
footswitch is a robust design that finds applications across medical as well as demanding industrial markets. The low profile footswitch includes a flexible polymer bellows with a rigid polymer baseplate and is supplied with an optional base for convenient mounting. The 6763 PCB mounting airswitch is aimed at low pressure momentary action switching and features a silicon diaphragm and a choice of back or side tube entry positions. For the OpClear version UL 508 approval is included to comply with North American and global standards for such equipment. Herga has worked closely with Cipher Surgical through the various stages of development and is proud have supported the company to its present level of success and looks forward to many years of close cooperation in the future. For further information on Herga’s footswitches, hand controls and switching solutions, please visit Herga at www.herga.com or call +44 (0)1284 701422.
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APPLICATION-SPECIFIC BEARINGS FOR AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY Le fabricant américain Kuhn Krause monte des moyeux NSK de grandes dimensions sur son déchaumeur à disques compact Interceptor pour le labour des parcelles difficiles (Kuhn Krause).
Agri Disc Hubs and Large Hubs are characterised by greatly extended service life under harsh agricultural operating conditions.
When a standard rolling bearing is installed in agricultural machinery, the prospects of long service life are fairly poor. For this reason, most high-end OEMs in the agricultural industry rely on customer- and application-specific rolling bearings from NSK.
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SK’s Agri Disc Hubs are filled with a special, highperformance grease that is capable of absorbing high pressure and therefore last throughout the useful life of the bearing. Any need for subsequent lubrication, as required when using standard rolling bearings, is eliminated. This saves both time and grease, and preserves the environment as no grease can leak from the bearing unit.
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In the agritechnology sector, rolling bearings are almost always exposed to moisture, abrasive particles and corrosive substances such as fertilizers, as well as high mechanical stress. However, the machines that extract and spread manure, a highly corrosive medium, have to withstand extraordinarily harsh conditions. Eidam Landtechnik GmbH in Lössnitz, Germany has specialised in this demanding sector of agritechnology. The company develops innovative machines for extracting and spreading manure and digestate in the field. At Eidam, long service life was made a top design priority in one of the company’s current generation of machines, the Innomadie compact disc harrow for manure applications (Image2), which 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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uses customer-specific Agri Disc Hubs from NSK. All bearing fixing points are designed to be extra-large in size and equipped with replaceable wear bushings, while screwed attachment points enable easy replacement. The highly effective multiple seals on Agri Disc Hubs are a further advantage here. On the machine-arm side, bearings are equipped with two cassette seals placed next to one another, offering a total of eight sealing lips (the disc side is secured by another cassette seal). At Agritechnica 2017 (Hanover, Germany, 12-18 November), an Innomadie compact disc harrow will be showcased as an application example on NSK’s stand (Booth E44, Hall 15). Based on Agri Disc Hubs, NSK has also developed its series of Large Hubs. Featuring the same design principle, Large Hubs are designed for bigger discs and higher performance. Among the users of these bearings is US agricultural machinery manufacturer Kuhn Krause. The new Kuhn Krause Interceptor compact disc harrow, which was introduced at the recent Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois, is designed for tilling rough terrain (Image3).
Installation de moyeux de grandes dimensions sur un déchaumeur à disques compact Kuhn Krause Interceptor (Kuhn Krause).
Le déchaumeur à disques compact Eidam Innomadie utilise des moyeux NSK Agri Disc Hubs spécifiques au client (Eidam Landtechnik GmbH).
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Gerhard Dücker GmbH & Co KG utilise des moyeux NSK de grandes dimensions pour les axes de fléau de ses débroussailleuses/faucheuses d’accotements.
To date, Kuhn Krause has discovered that Large Hubs last twice as long as the required lifespan, although tests are ongoing and final results are not yet available. As well as the highly efficient sealing, with its five-fold and three-fold cassette seals, the company highlights the very robust housing that protects the bearings from the impact force of stones (Image4). Gerhard Dücker GmbH & Co KG also uses NSK Large Hubs for the flail shafts of its verge/flail mowers, which were also customised for the specific application (Image5). Compared with a soil-tilling machine, the bearings of the flail shaft rotate 10 times faster, at approximately 2,400 min-1. This speed puts extra demands on the seals, which are also severely tested as these machine types are often used in ditches and stream beds, so there is always a risk of water penetrating the bearings which quickly leads to failure. The sealing system of Agri Disc Hubs provides an optimal solution that overcomes these challenges.
bearings such as four-point contact ball bearings, radial-insert ball bearings, flanged bearings and pulley bearings. Today’s end-users, especially contractors, increasingly press manufacturers to use NSK Agri Disc Hubs because these bearings minimise machine downtime during the all-important (and brief) harvest and tilling seasons. After all, there can be up to 98 disc bearings installed in a single compact disc harrow, all of which have to work perfectly during operations. This is another reason why well-known manufacturers like Eidam and Kuhn Krause explicitly state in their product documentation that they use NSK bearing units. www.nskeurope.com
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At Agritechnica 2017, NSK will display a model of a flail mower equipped with a Large Hub and an additional customised (and smaller) bearing in the feeler roller. As a result of historical operations, NSK's strongest market is Western Europe. However, more and more agricultural machinery manufacturers from the US, Australia and Eastern Europe are choosing the company’s customised bearing units. Aside from Agri Disc Hubs, these include other special 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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BUSY PERIOD AHEAD FOR METSEC MIDDLE EAST
Voestalpine Metsec plc’s Middle East division is preparing for an eventful few weeks ahead, with a number of events lined up throughout the UAE, providing various networking opportunities with key industry professionals.
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he busy period kicks off with Rob Marsh, commercial and technical manager for Metsec Middle East, who will be presenting a steel framing systems (SFS) design guide to members of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) on 16 October at Dubai. Members of CIOB, the world’s largest and most influential professional body for construction management and leadership, will be able to learn more about the uses and benefits of Metsec’s SFS ranges, and will have the opportunity to raise any interesting queries.
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This will be closely followed by the Consultant’s Golf Day, held on 18 October at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, UAE. Metsec Middle East will be attending the event and will also sponsor the award for ‘Nearest the Pin’, which will be presented by Steven Ginger, managing director of the Purlin and Framing divisions at Metsec. The golf day will welcome key influencers in the construction industry, such as contractors, consultants and architects, who will network on the course and over dinner later in the evening. 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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The action-packed few weeks will culminate at the Middle East Consultant Awards, taking place at the Ritz Carlton JBR, Dubai, UAE, where 18 awards will be contested by the industry’s leading players. Metsec Middle East is a silver sponsor of the prestigious ceremony and Marsh will attend to present ‘Best MultiDiscipline Consulting Company of the Year’ and celebrate the hard work and achievements of all the companies that have been shortlisted. Rob Marsh, commercial and technical manager for Metsec Middle East, said: “This is an exciting time for Metsec Middle East and the upcoming events are a great way to network with new and existing contacts to build and strengthen relationships, while highlighting the benefits of using highquality Metsec products.” www.metsec.com
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FLEXMOVE EXPANDS ITS OFFERING IN SOUTHEAST ASIA BY MANUFACTURING DORNER’S 2200 SERIES CONVEYORS
Dorner’s 2200 Series flat belt conveyors are more easily accessible to customers in Southeast Asia, thanks to FlexMove now manufacturing the conveyor line from its Malaysia facility.
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lexMove, a Dorner Holding Company (http://www. dornerconveyors.com/About/Dorner-HoldingCompany.aspx), is a manufacturer of flexible chain conveyor systems for the food, beverage, automotive, electronic and automation industries. The 2200 Series is designed to move small- to medium-sized parts efficiently and quickly. The conveyor line underwent a redesign just last year to make this product stronger, faster and more flexible. It features a robust, single piece frame design that reduces the overall number of needed stands. The frame comes with a Universal T-Slot that is compatible with industry standard hardware and makes attaching accessories and guiding fast and easy.
Features and benefits of the 2200 Series flat belt conveyor include: • Load capacity up to 120 pounds; belt speeds up to 400 feet per minute • Precise rack and pinion belt tensioning allows for fast and simple tensioning • “Sealed for life” bearings reduce maintenance www.flexmove.com/product/2200series-aluminumconveyor/ MORE INFORMATION
Additionally, a 5/8” nose bar transfer option with V-Guided belt tracking safely transfers parts at speeds of up to 200 feet per minute for increased productivity. New tool-less fully adjustable guiding provides customers with added flexibility to further customize their conveyors to best fit their needs.
The low profile 2200 Series is a versatile line, and engineered for numerous applications and industries, including accumulation, small-part transfers, inclines and declines, automated and manual assembly, packaging and industrial.
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LEROY-SOMER PARTNERS THE HIGHVOLT PROJECT AND IS PREPARING TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGY
On the initiative of the IRT Saint Exupéry, one of the eight Technological Research Institutes in France certified under the Future Investment programme, on 29th June Leroy-Somer signed a multi-partner research project in the industry, aviation and transport sectors.
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In this context, controlling their lifetime and reliability is vital.
The increase in power density for rotating electric machines and the arrival on the market of new generation electronic components which significantly improve power electronic converter performance will generate new constraints for the winding insulation systems of these motors and alternators.
In particular, this is the case for the “E-Power Drive” project to optimise the whole machine, electronic converter and cables and the “Highvolt” project which is specifically geared towards controlling the lifetime and reliability of insulation systems, especially windings, for example by developing demonstrators and test platforms for more electric or hybrid propulsion planes.
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nder this programme, one of whose pillars is electrical machine insulation system lifetime and reliability control, Leroy-Somer will be providing its partners with its experience and know-how. In return, the company will benefit from the results of the work carried out in the aviation and automotive sectors to apply it to its own industrial products, making them even more robust and higher performing.
One of the objectives for the Saint Exupéry Technological Research Institute (IRT) in Toulouse is to assist technological breakthroughs by exploiting the major synergies which are appearing in the aviation, automotive, rail and industrial sectors, in order to prepare the robust, reliable and optimised technologies of tomorrow.
“The work, which is being carried out in conjunction with the research laboratories, will enable us to better understand the physical phenomena such as partial discharge which lead to premature component and insulator ageing and to assist the development of new, better performing and more robust components and systems. This will produce design 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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rules first of all, followed by standardisation”, specifies Ariel Sirat, the current Chief Exectutive of the IRT Saint Exupéry. The Highvolt project officially started on 29th June 2017, with a budget of 10.6 million Euro over 4 years and industrial companies and laboratories sharing their skills. So, Nidec Leroy-Somer is joining 11 industrial partners (major groups, SMEs and start-ups) Airbus, AKKA Technologies, Alstom, IVA ESSEX, LATelec (Latécoère group), Liebherr, Nawa Technologies, Radiall, Safran, Sogeti and Zodiac Aerospace and 2 academic partners with the Laplace and LSEE laboratories. Within six months, this panel will be boosted by new members from a range of backgrounds. The methods, tools, databases and technological bricks developed in Highvolt will enable Leroy-Somer to prepare effectively the design of future electronic power converter systems, cables, connectors and electric machines. This research will be able to take advantage of unique simulation and characterisation technological platforms (partial discharge, electric arc study, insulation system stress and accelerated ageing) which will be in service for the project's partners. “Nidec Leroy-Somer's active participation seeks to integrate the work produced by Highvolt as soon as possible into product design”, emphasises Cédric Plasse, Vice-President R&D / Engineering of Nidec Leroy-Somer. “This participation is mainly based on the provision from 2018 of two doctors of engineering who produced their thesis at the Laplace laboratory, specific test and characterisation resources and the involvement of experts from the project roadmap definition phase”.
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“The innovations which will be generated by this programme will constitute a real step forward for Leroy-Somer's customers and product users in terms of performance, the lifetime of their machines and the security of their manufacturing processes”, concludes Cédric Plasse.
About the IRT Saint Exupéry The IRT Saint Exupéry has been launched by the French government within Investments for the Future Program to boost high value competitive technological sectors in Aeronautics, Space and Embedded Systems. This Institute of Technology combines resources from public and private partners to lead R&T activities in three strategic domains: - High Performance Multifunctional Materials in 3 Competence Centres: Metallic Materials and Surface Treatments, Organic Matrix Composites, Ceramic Matrix Composites. - M ore Electrical Aircraft in 3 Competence Centres: Understanding of Physical Phenomena, Technological Bricks, Electronic Components Robustness. - Embedded Systems in 3 Competence Centres: Telecom, Images and Data as well as Collaborative System Engineering. Its expertise and technology platforms, as well as its collaborative environment boost the maturation and transfer of breakthrough technologies (TRL 4-6) to its industrial partners.
www.nidec.com
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EPLAN PREPLANNING 2.7 ADDS PIPING MODULE
The inclusion of a piping module in the new 2.7 release of EPLAN Preplanning, available in September, adds a powerful tool for accelerating the initial phase of engineering machines, production lines, even entire plants.
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sing EPLAN Preplanning, earlier acquisition and definition of project information and planning – equal parts graphical and database oriented – helps structure, integrate and accelerate all stages of project development, from basic to detailed engineering. EPLAN Preplanning achieves this with what are known as connection-planning objects, these objects define which segments are connected to one another and describe, for instance, piping or a cable in preplanning.
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Users can define piping with source and destination before having to draw a P&I diagram. With the new piping module’s Segment Template Navigator, users determine the piping to be used with all relevant data, including the pipe class as well as the specific substance flowing through the respective piping, whether liquid or gaseous. Users no longer have to individually input the data in segments and piping definitions – thereby accelerating the preplanning phase. The piping’s course is determined automatically. The pipe class and additional data can be stored as connections, connection definition points and functions. The selected piping can be color-coded using the pipe routing, and adding additional auto-connect lines allow the pipe routing to be expanded piece by piece via all accessible connections on the P&I diagrams. The result provides a solid foundation on which to proceed to detailed engineering on other EPLAN Platform CAE products like EPLAN Electric P8.
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Eplan Preplanning version 2.7 allows for the easy design of piping, from preplanning to detail planning in schematics through to P&I diagrams.
Background With EPLAN Preplanning, users can carry out initial planning activities in the EPLAN Platform with regards to the technical aspects early in the engineering process. When engineering a machine/plant, there are individual phases in which the concept is continually refined and fleshed out from the initial rough ideas and designs until, finally, all the required documentation and information for assembly and manufacturing of the machine has been compiled. In the preplanning project phase, the concepts for the technical machine/ plant scope are established and initial quantity structures estimated. The goal is to identify the most technically advantageous concept and to define the specification for subsequent detail planning. Schematic creation and itemization of the installation can all follow based on the preplanning. P&I diagrams are an integral part of the plant documentation.
www.eplan.com
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Benefits of EPLAN Preplanning version 2.7 • Defining piping with source and destination, even before a P&I diagram has been drawn • Assigning the identifying and descriptive data to piping such as designations • Defining of the piping on the P&I diagram with the designed sequence of pipes and instrumentation • Discretionary insertion or removal of piping instrumentation • Piping-specific reporting 12 | Industry EMEA | November 2017
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EFFICIENT AND FLEXIBLE FLUID MANAGEMENT WITH THE NEW BAUMER FLEXFLOW FAMILY OF FLOW AND TEMPERATURE SENSORS
FlexFlow flow and temperature sensors are available with various process connections and rod lengths.
With their FlexFlow family of flow and temperature sensors, Baumer has expanded their process sensor portfolio. Based on the calorimetric measurement principle, the FlexFlow family can monitor both flow velocity as well as media temperature. The sensors have IO-Link and, depending on settings and connections, either two switching outputs or one switching and one analog output (4...20 mA/ 0...10 V). The PF20H and PF20S versions are suitable for hygienic and industrial applications.
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he combination of two measuring functions in one sensor reduces the number of measuring points in closed systems and minimizes costs of installation, service and storage. Thanks to their symmetrical, centered design, the sensors can be optimally installed in the process independent of their installation position and orientation. This guarantees precise measurements and process safety.
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Several sensors can be simultaneously configured via IOLink. This simplifies switching point adjustment for different process stages during setup or batch changeover and saves time. Diagnostic data polling and evaluation is possible at all times, increasing system uptime.
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FlexFlow sensors have a robust stainless steel housing with integrated electronics and evaluation unit. Complex wiring and control cabinet assembly as well as additional user interfaces are therefore not required. This simplifies operation and allows efficient process management. All models are temperature resistant to 150°C and thus CIP and SIP-capable. Baumer at the SPS IPC hall/stand 4A/335 Further information: www.baumer.com/flexflow
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ADVANTECH INTRODUCES TWO NEW EKI-1221IEIMB & EKI-1221IPNMB PROTOCOL GATEWAYS FOR SEAMLESS PROTOCOL CONVERSION
Advantech, a leader in iFactory and Industrial IoT solutions, extends their protocol gateway product line with the introduction of two new EKI-1221IEIMB & EKI-1221PNMB Protocol Gateway Series for protocol conversion.
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hese new protocol gateway devices support protocol conversion from Modbus TCP to EtherNet/IP, and Modbus TCP to PROFINET. They provide a costeffective solution and enable seamless connection between different devices with different protocols, and also provide a high level of device management efficiency.
The implementation of Advantech’s EKI-1221IEIMB/PNMB Protocol Gateway Series is simple and fast. They are easy to setup and configure, and they are compatible with Siemens’ and Rockwell HMI/PLCs. They have a built-in diagnostic tool that can connect data and monitor the status of connected
Advantech’s EKI-1221IEIMB/PNMB Protocol Gateway Series are available now. For pricing and detailed product features, please contact your local Advantech sales representative. MORE INFORMATION
EKI-1221IEIMB & EKI-1221PNMB are designed for reliable protocol extensibility and seamless integration with existing network devices. They offer a viable solution for efficiently converting data from legacy devices and reduce the possibility of expensive device purchase or software programming errors. With the addition of these protocol gateway devices into existing network infrastructures, customers can build a seamless data path between otherwise incompatible network devices and extend their useful life without a heavy price tag or major upgrade.
devices in real-time. This allows operators to utilize collected data, analyze it, and find suitable solutions to prevent potential problems. Instrument data from each machine/ device can be sent via EtherNet/IP or PROFINET PLC protocol conversion performed by an Advantech Protocol Gateway for further analysis in order to monitor the condition of inservice equipment. Their fast deployment not only facilitates a productive workflow, but also enables easy machine automation management and maintenance on the shop floor. This is a crucial function for predictive maintenance management.
Further information can also be found on the EKI-1221IEIMB/ PNMB Product Page.
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ELEVEN VERLINDE HOISTS ARE INSTALLED IN THE NEW INDUCTION HEATING EQUIPMENT PLANT OF BELGIAN COMPANY INDUCTOTHERM BACKING UP THE LATTER’S SEVEN OVERHEAD CRANES AND TWO SEMI-GANTRY CRANES
The 32 and 3.2 tonne gantry cranes in the bay designated High Bay are100 m long by 50 m wide with a lifting hook clearance height of 9 m.
INDUCTOTHERM EQUIPMENT BELGIUM, a member of the international Inductotherm group since1985, is specialized in the design, manufacture and commissioning of induction heating equipment for use in the steel industry.
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ocated at Herstal in the Wallonia province of Liège, Inductotherm with its workforce of more than 100 achieves almost all of its annual turnover of €40m in exports with customers in China, India, USA, Korea, Japan and elsewhere. The company delivers between 20 and 30 metal induction heating installations annually. INDUCTOTHERM is the world’s leader in this sector.
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A new factory for enhanced production Serge Houet, new factory project manager: “Our old plant at Herstal dates from the twenties and we absolutely needed to modernize our production organization. To meet our needs for greater space we therefore took the decision to build a new plant of 10,000 m² on the Hauts Sarts industrial estate in the commune of Herstal. We were already experienced in operating Verlinde lifting and handling equipment. EuropaLevage secured the awarded contract by proposing the supply of Verlinde hoists that met our specifications in every detail.
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Unique positioning in the Inductotherm group Serge Houet: “We are the only unit in the Inductotherm group to produce metal heating equipment by high frequency induction. Even if the technique has been with us for some time, the implementation for heating sheet metal plates up to 2.10 m wide and being reeled off at180 m/min, requires mastery both of high frequency technology and of the design and cooling of the induction “reel”. The latter, made of 150 mm cross-section copper bars, conveys tens of thousands of amps and produces an electromagnetic field appropriate to the temperature at which we have to handle the sheet metal”. Precision, efficacy and low space requirements Serge Houet: “The big advantage of induction compared with other methods of metal heating is that firstly there is no contact between the material and the source of heat, thus enabling fast and uniform heating while ensuring continuous reeling-off of the sheet metal. Secondly, the high density of power is available within a limited space at the scale of a steel plant. The induction heating equipment we deliver can be used, for instance, for paint baking or coatings on claddings or on electrical appliances, or even
NEWS The 12.5 tonne gantry crane in the fifth Low Bay is 50 m long by 20 m wide with a lifting hook clearance height of 6 m.
for the processes of annealing and in-line galvanizing. The advantage of being able to put several heating units in line enables heating process requirements to be met while complying with the two additional parameters of the temperature of the metal sheet and of its reel-off speed”. VERLINDE hoists are integral to production organization Serge Houet: “Our new 10,000 m² building includes a main bay that we call High Bay, 100 m long by 50 m wide with a lifting hook clearance height of 9 m. At right angles to High Bay, we have five “Low Bays” 50 m long by 20 m wide with a lifting hook clearance height of 6 m. For our lifting / handling operations in these six bays we have installed seven overhead cranes, two semi-gantry cranes and eleven VERLINDE hoists.”
VERLINDE technology Serge Houet: “We handle and move heavy, cumbersome loads across significant horizontal and vertical distances, so safety and reliability of the cranes and hoists operated by the personnel are decisive aspects. It was important for us that the equipment of our new plant benefitted from the latest handling equipment technology. For instance, for all overhead crane and hoist travel we decided on frequency variation speed control electric motors that offer great flexibility, greater precision, are jolt-free, offer low load sway and smooth braking thus keeping not only brake pad maintenance to a minimum but also ensure low wear of mechanical drive components. For travel safety we added anti-collision systems to the limit switches and rubber stops in order to eliminate any shock between equipment units. Finally, all cranes and hoists are radio-controlled.
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High Bay equipment Serge Houet: “The High Bay, in which we assemble parts and components made in the Low Bays, is equipped with a double girder box-type crane bearing two VERLINDE hoists, one a 32 tonne EUROBLOC type VT4 and the other a 3.2 tonne type VT1. These two hoists on the same overhead crane are used individually to move loads or together to turn parts over. We have also installed in High Bay another overhead crane, a single box-type, fitted with a 3.2 tonne VERLINDE EUROBLOC VT1 for back-up handling operations.
“Low Bays” equipment Serge Houet: “The Low Bays have a lifting hook clearance height of 6 m. The first four are equipped with single girder box type overhead cranes with a 3.2 tonne VERLINDE EUROBLOC VT1 hoist. In the fifth Low Bay a double girder box type overhead crane equipped with a 12.5 tonne EUROBLOC VT3 hoist and a 3.2 tonne VT1 hoist enable the handling of heavy items such as copper induction reels. Lastly, at the extreme end of each of the first two Low Bays, a semi-gantry crane with a 3 m lift height, is equipped with a 1 tonne hoist to handle small loads. These two gantry cranes travel on one side on the same roller path”.
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NEWS The 3.2 tonne overhead cranes installed in the first four of the Low Bays.
On the 32 tonne EUROBLOC VT4 hoist in the High Bay, an electronics force gauge displays the weight of the finished equipment, a useful datum for customer information and for purposes of transportation.” How did collaboration with Europa-Levage come about? Serge Houet:“We have known Europa-Levage and Verlinde equipment for a long time. Bernard Rousseau, with whom we worked on this project, was aware of our requirements and helped us take decisions with solutions meeting the specification sheet and within the planned budget. We are still in the trial period for the new plant but in the midterm we know we will have to improve the transfer of loads between the Low Bays and the High Bay.”
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www.verlinde.com
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