Automation Update - issue 78

AUTOMATION UPDATE

WWW.AUTOMATION-UPDATE.CO.UK

Issue 78

Industry Leading Solutions For Ever-Changing Demands FMHConveyors.com

Power Security & Back-Up

Instruments Ltd

DC UPS

CBI Series Input 90-305 V AC Output 12/24/48 V DC upto 20 A MODbus / CANbus Comms Remote Monitoring via ethernet Status Relay

Battery Chargers CB Series Input 90-305 V AC Output 12/24/48 V DC upto 20 A MODbus / CANbus Comms Remote Monitoring via ethernet Status Relay

Power Supplies

FLEX Series Input 90-500 V AC Output 12/24/48 V DC upto 25 A Single / Dual or 3 Phase inputs

A H

h r A

Multifunction Meters | CTs, VTs and Shunts | Transducers | Energy Meters - MID Bargraphs | Earth Leakage Relays | Protection Relays | Battery Chargers | Power Supplies DC UPS | Generator Controllers | Remote Monitoring | Ventilation Control

S

Instruments Ltd

TVR Instruments Limited 143 Butt Road, Colchester CO3 3DP Essex United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1206 575755 Email: sales@tvri.co.uk www.tvri.co.uk

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AUTOMATION UPDATE Editorial Assistant Laura Sharpe 01843 580 460 laura@automation-update.co.uk Publishing Director Jodie Little 01843 580 460 jodie@jetdigitalmedia.co.uk Sales Director Tim Johnston 01843 448 443 tim@automation-update.co.uk Advertising Exec Jamie Simmons 01843 580 460 jamie@automation-update.co.uk

Automation Update is an engaging, editorially led publication & directory giving the reader news and updates on new products and services to our ever Progressing industry.

Publishing House Jet Digital Media Ltd The Forge, Spratling Court Offices, Manston, Kent CT12 5AN

www.automation-update.co.uk

Forerunner Yesterday. Today.

Tomorrow.

The Sensor People have been setting technological standards in industrial automation for more than 50 years. In the field of safety at work, we convince right from the start with trend-setting inventions, such as the development of the first protective sensor ever, to our latest safety innovation, “Smart Process Gating” – the space-saving solution for access guarding on conveyor lines. This is how we ensure the success of our customers in an industry that is ever evolving.

www.leuze.co.uk Automation Update - 3

SICK’s Miniature Safety Inductive is a Snug Fit SICK has launched the IQB2S family of inductive safety switches to provide designers and operators with a unique, cuboid-shaped non-contact device - as small as a matchbox - that can be fitted easily into the smallest machine spaces.

The SICK IQB2S inductive safety switch uses non-contact activation by metallic machine parts to achieve reliable, safe position, presence and area monitoring in common production and logistics safety applications.

The SICK IQB2S is therefore ideal for many applications including, for example, checking the safe position of the axes of rotating tables to ensure safe conveying of the goods, or for the safe presence monitoring of a load on an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV).

SICK has developed the IQB2S to measure just 12mm x 26mm x 40mm, with a sensing range of 4mm. Easy to align, it can be screwed directly into place, and does not need a separate actuator. With

4 - Automation Update

twin self-monitoring OSSD outputs, the SICK IQB 2S enables direct connection to safe control systems including SICK Flexi Soft and the SICK Flexi Loop cablesaving connection system, allowing for applications up to PLd /SIL2 (BS EN ISO 13849).

Says Dr Martin Kidman, safety specialist at SICK UK: “By using the inductive sensing principle to detect metal parts, the SICK IQB2S offers an opportunity to provide safe proximity or position sensing to a high safety rating where space is tight in either new or existing machines. The non-contact principle also means the sensors are not subject to wear and need little maintenance over a long service life, ensuring high reliability and machine availability, even in environments subject to high levels of dust or moisture.”

Setting up the SICK IQB 2S is quick and straightforward. Its precise switching point means there is no blind zone, allowing for rapid alignment and adjustment. The on-board 270° LED enables operators to monitor the sensor status and a display of diagnostic messages minimises unforeseen machine stoppages.

With a IP67-rated enclosure, and a wide temperature range from -25°C to 70°C, the SICK IQB2S ensures high machine availability in the toughest of industrial conditions.

For more information on the SICK range of products, please contact Andrea Hornby on 01727 831121 or email andrea.hornby@sick.co.uk.

sales@lamonde.com

     

4 Comm ports, inc Ethernet Built-in data logging to microSD Free no-limit programming Slim stackable design Multiple i/o wiring options Starter kit available

www.lamonde.com +44 (0)20 3026 2670

Lamonde Automation Limited Quality Products: Expert Advice

Error Free Retrieval of SMD Reels Rhode and Schwarz an electronics group working across 70+ countries needed to improve their setup processes for populating electronic assembly groups for Surface Mounted Devices (SMDs) with an average of 200 setup processes per hour. The focus was on the availability of the SMD reels to ensure that the changeover went smoothly on populating lines with buffering times avoided during production. To ensure flexibility in the production process they installed automated vertical carousels that were able to ensure fast, simple, and error-free automatic storage and retrieval of the SMD reels for production. This allowed the company maximum flexibility in the production process, which is necessary for the wide range of products and changing batch sizes during production. The vertical carousels allow them to quickly react to changing market needs without any downtime.

A total of twelve automated vertical carousels were installed to help organise SMD reel logistics and ensure the smooth set up and removal of the assembly groups during the production process. Two or three employees work on the units at the same time and put the SMD reels into storage i.e. retrieved and returned them after use. As an added benefit, the process was completely paperless because of the pick-by-voice system. Each operator works at their own pace through individual items of an order. The total fill level of the automated vertical carousels is 90-95%, which is achieved by the flexible way that storage space is allocated depending on space availability. This high-density storage method made it possible to supply four production lines with 10,000 reels per day and populate around 441 million components per year.

The automated carousels also connect their warehouse management system software to the company’s inventory management of SMD reels in real time to maintain a permanent inventory without stopping production.

The advantages were clear for Rhode and Schwarz with a simple, clearly structured picking process and their throughput increased by more than 50% with same number of employees. With 100% error-free retrieval of SMD reels for setup and removal process, storage space fill level at 90-95% storage density and permanent, real-time inventory they achieved their goal.

6 - Automation Update

Based on the paternoster principle the Kardex Megamat RS is an automated vertical carousel that provides quick and precise access to stored goods and is especially suitable for frequently accessed goods, because it conveys the right carrier to the access opening via the shortest possible path. The design of the Megamat RS offers maximum storage space on a minimal footprint. This facilitates efficiently designed work processes and also significantly raises productivity.

Read the case study or if you want to learn more about the MegaMat Vertical carousel go to our website www.kardex.com or contact us locally at info.remstar.uk@kardex.com

Leaders in temperature measurement

Hand Held Instrumentation Heading 3

A selection of hand held instruments for many applications including a large range of digital thermometers, light level meter and a range of great value handheld sensors.

IR Industrial IR Medical Infrared Thermometers Thermometers

Pressure Manometers

Digital Light Meters

Anemometers

Temperature & Wood Moisture Meter Humidity Meter

Grain Moisture Meter

www.labfacility.com Bognor Regis tel: +44 (0)1243 871280

sales@labfacility.com Sheffield tel: +44 (0)1909 569446

The evolution of the Energy Chain - EVOCHAIN® Murrplastik has developed a new energy chain series that is low noise and extremely stable.

In these 5 short videos, Murrplastik explains the features that made EVOCHAIN winner of the German Innovation Award 2020

EVOLOCK®: Time-saving crossbar lock system 8 - Automation Update

EVOLOCK®: Time-saving crossbar lock system

Murrplastik is represented in the UK by Murrelektronik. We have a specialist Technical Team for all your Cable Drag Chain enquiries.

We can help with identifying the most suitable chain for your application based on your individual requirements. We can supply cable layout drawings, 3D CAD files, the chain can be supplied fully assembled along with a single assembly number to make ordering quick and simple.

We can also help identify existing Murrplastik chains if replacement links or components are required.

Contact Claire.palmer@murrelektronik.co.uk Tel: 0161 728 3133

murrelektronik.co.uk

EVOSHOX®: Damping shoe (external damper)

EVORACK®: Shelf support system hinged on both sides

EVOCONTROL®: Gliding shoe with wear control system Automation Update - 9

Quantum Controls’ Altivar Process Modular Hire Panels

These new Hire Panels are completely weatherproof for outdoor use and suitable for indoor too, up to 500KW/880A rating at 400V. The new unique design allows for additional modules, each at 160KW rating. So your power requirements can be matched using the same panel design by simply adding the number of modules to obtain your required design power output.

This panel is unique at this power rating as it is small enough (with the rain hood removed) to fit through a standard doorway! Enabling access to areas which would have previously been unreachable!

This is the first design of its kind in the UK VSD rental market but also first for having an outdoor rated unit, up to 500KW and without the need for an additional enclosure or container to house it in.

They come with our previous easy to install, cable and set up options and with a genuine 24/7/365 engineer support throughout the whole of the UK. This truly is a market leading design, with added features created by our in-house Control Panel manufacturers which no other hire VSD has:

Built in 3 phase line choke.

• Each drive module has a 3-phase line choke built in for harmonic mitigation, this allows for operation on either the customers own mains supply or mains supply from a diesel generator source without the need for further harmonic filtering.

Built in dv/dt filter.

Each drive module has a dv/dt filter built in allowing up to 300m motor cables without any external components required, this allows for not only long cable runs but also offers further motor winding protection.

Variable Gland Plate Options Hire panel available with either plain gland plate, brush or quick connects depending on your requirements: •

Quick Connect – suitable for indoor or outdoor use with appropriate cables, simple plug and play type connections to allow for ease and

•

time saving connections.

Brush – suitable for indoor use with flexible single type cables Plain Aluminium – suitable for indoor or outdoor use with armoured or flexible single cables and appropriate glands. Aluminium to prevent induced circulating currents and associated heating of the gland plate with single core cables.

The different gland plates are all the same size so can be interchanged as required.

They can also be mixed and matched as required so you could have quick connect for the mains and a plain gland plate for an armoured motor cable, as an example.

We also have cable entries at the top, side and bottom of the panel for both mains and motor connections. The top ones would be for indoor use only as the rain hood needs to be removed to access these.

Door mounted controls with lockable transparent cover All door mounted controls located behind a lockable transparent cover (except E-Stop). This gives added security when operating on site and allows for authorised only access to door controls. The cover allows for a water / weatherproof option whilst maintaining a clear view to the variable speed drive keypad for operating data.

Recessed door mounted controls All door mounted equipment is recessed to reduce the overall depth of the panel and reduce the risk of damage during transport or whilst in situ on site.

These Hire Panels are available now, get in touch at rental@quantum-controls.co.uk for your no obligation quote and receive a FREE 60 Minute Drive Guide.

10 - Automation Update

BESTCONNECT

– A Permanent Flexible Solution

The warehousing and distribution industry is an ever-changing monster.

We hear it countless times from customers new and old, the stories of system specifications that are impossible to tie down or requirements that never seem to stop shifting.

This has led to a lot of wasted resource in the industry, but also a tremendous wave of growth and improvements that are paving the way for its success - long into the future.

At FMH, we have spent the last 25 years aiming to stay on top of this wave.

The constantly fluctuating requirements of vehicle loading and unloading could never be solved with a fixed piece of equipment.

In general, by the time a company has signed off the installation of their new generic conveyor equipment, its already too small, cannot adapt to new requirements or it is in the way of another expanding area of the warehouse.

In other words, the system is too rigid - too permanent for today’s en12 - Automation Update

vironment. At FMH we solved this issue years ago, we became ‘flexible’.

pending on the needs of our growing customers.

We have an array of flexible material handling solutions in our catalogue, none more famous than our BestFlex and PowerFlex models. Renowned throughout the world, these conveyors solve the issues discussed above, in a very flexible way.

It is this architecture that makes BestConnect as appealing as it is for today’s industry - everything is modularised. The system is designed to provide rapid assembly of conveyor solutions for a changing workplace.

Any style of system can be easily configured and re-configured as required. With a simple 230v power supply and our renowned ‘lift and latch’ connections, the engineering input is minimal. Simple wheel your desired modules into place, plug them in and start your operation.

Simply extend and curve your conveyor into whatever form you need it to take. What if you need something like a sortation system or full conveyor application though? Our solution, BestConnect.

The BestConnect platform is based around the principle that it does not matter how definite you are of your conveyor systems requirements, it will change. Our BestConnect modules offer infinite options to arrange and rearrange sortation lines de-

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our globally interacting Sales Team. FMH would be delighted to help improve and resolve your material handing requirements. www.fmhconveyors.com

BESTCONNECT SYSTEMS CAN BE EASILY CONFIGURED AND RE-CONFIGURED TO SATISFY YOUR CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS.

+44 1536 206969 SalesUK@fmhconveyors.co.uk fmhconveyors.com

Automation Update - 13

F

or over 50 years Tony Laithwaite and the team at Laithwaites wines have been providing their valued customers access to the very best quality wine from around the world, having uniquely developed personal relationships with over 450 passionate growers and wine makers.

CKF ENABLE LAITHWAITES TO REACH 98% PRODUCTIVITY CKF have recently designed, installed and commissioned an extensive new case feed and palletising system for Laithwaites wine, an established, thriving ecommerce and retail business based in Gloucester. The new system enabled Laithwaites to handle a 50% increase in demand during 2020 and improve productivity from 65% to a phenomenal 98%.

An increase in customer demand for online purchasing meant the ageing plant at their Gloucester facility, which had served them well, was no longer fully supporting their needs. Towards the end of 2019 CKF were approached by the Laithwaites team to develop and deliver a new automated palletising solution to meet their current and projected future requirements.

CKF are leaders in automated palletising and case handling with more than 30 years’ experience supporting different industries including Food & Beverage, Logistics, Pharmaceutical and Automotive. The engineering team at CKF gained a comprehensive understanding of Laithwaites operations through detailed analysis of the available product data and key review meetings with the Laithwaites ops team. CKF proposed a new fully automated layer palletising system with a multi-lane accumulation feed system mounted on a new mezzanine floor.

Laithwaites wine distribution from the Gloucester facility is defined by online and retail sales, delivery routes, carriers, regions and time to consumer. This requires the filled cases of wine to be automatically sorted and placed onto the correct pallet to be shipped through the correct carrier.

Laithwaites Gloucester facility is a high-bay warehouse with a large demand on floor area. The new CKF installed system maximises the use of the ground floor by moving the accumulation and handling of cases to a new highlevel mezzanine. The new fully automated solution uses multiple lanes of low friction conveyors which accumulate full pallet loads of cases (weighing up to 25kg per case) prior to releasing them to two layer palletisers.

The new CKF fully automated system was installed and commissioned in two phases through 2020 working closely with the Laithwaites team to eliminate any operational disruption. Providing a significant increase in productivity to 98%, the benefits of the new system configuration have also enabled Laithwaites Wine to handle a substantial increase in throughput, reduce excessive manual handling and relocate the remaining manual processes into the area below the mezzanine floor and away from busy trucking routes, providing increased safety for their employees. www.ckf.co.uk

14 - Automation Update

Tel: 01296 611660 Email: rk@pmgb.co.uk www.phoenix-mecano.co.uk 26 Faraday Road, Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP19 8RU

Complete System for Filling Cardboard Boxes with High-Level Hygiene Requirements Task mk were challenged to design and create a carton filling machine for different tube shapes in the cosmetics industry. This included interlinking of carton erectors, from filling to further packaging. The design had to account for a box filling machine for different tube formats with a capacity of 200 tubes per minute and 4 boxes per min.

Counting of the specified tubes per box was done via vision cameras. Chaining of upstream filling stations and integration of the provided scale with NOK (Not OK) sorting of tubes was also required.

Solution The solution was a complete system with T-slots that are open on the inside for maximum flexibility and closed on the outside for a smooth and clean surface.

Tubes and cartons are fed with mk belt conveyors.

Index belt stations with timing belt conveyor have a swivelled bearing for lowering items to be weighed.

A funnel is used for receiving the whole carton fill quantity in the event of a malfunction. During nominal operation, this would only be pneumatically closed to change cartons.

This comprehensive modular system meets hygiene requirements and was from a single source ensuring an optimum solution for the client.

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ModuLeS and Much More

Packing machine with safety enclosure constructed from clean room profiles Load and unload removal transportation via belt conveyor, timing belt and gravity roller conveyers Transport and filling of cartons, weight measurement via integrated scales Accumulating run with separating function and cyclical operation mk Profile Systems Limited a company of the mk Technology Group Unit 11-12·Wolds Farm Business Park Kinoulton Lane·Kinoulton·Nottinghamshire, NG12 3EQ Phone +44 (0)1949 823751· www.mkprofiles.co.uk·info@mkprofiles.co.uk

Farmers’ Rice Cooperative turn to AutoCoding Systems to improve their coding and labelling processes Exclusive manufacturer of California rice products, Farmers’ Rice Cooperative (FRC), produce on average 750,000 packs of rice per month in 26 different variations, 51 different packaging options and 43 different size options.

It’s not surprising, therefore, that the potential to make mistakes with regard to date coding, labelling and packaging is high.

With so many different variants come a multitude of different date formats and labelling requirements. Add to this a legal obligation to add special markings and/or foreign language markings to products, Farmers’ Rice Cooperative was faced with a challenge to mitigate risks of coding and labelling errors by streamlining processes, removing human intervention as much as possible.

Farmers’ Rice Cooperative set out to find a supplier to assist them in automating their coding and labelling processes. They were looking for a solution that would comply with their operational goals and suit their needs.

They specifically didn’t want to be bound to one brand of hardware, and they needed to find a partner that would be willing to work on unique customisations as well as a solution that would integrate into their ERP. AutoCoding Systems’ coding and packaging verification solution ticked all the boxes.

Brad Lint, of Farmers’ Rice Cooperative said, “We found AutoCoding Systems’ product to be exactly what we were looking for; it met all our operational requirements and gave us flexibility on our hardware choices. Ultimately, however, our final decision was based on the people; their knowledge, service and willingness to understand our issues and work with us to solve these issues made AutoCoding Systems our preferred supplier.”

Obviously, other competitive solutions were considered but these were proprietary solutions, working with a single brand of printer and, therefore, didn’t offer Farmers’ Rice Cooperative the flexibility they needed.

Since implementation of the AutoCoding solution, Farmers’ Rice Cooperative has seen a significant improvement with coding accuracy. Previously, Supervisors or Maintenance Staff were required to set-up the printing equipment, but now line operators are selfsufficient. They have been trained to use the AutoCoding system which automatically sets-up and controls the printers, leaving Supervisors and Maintenance staff to continue with other tasks. Additionally, due to the integration of AutoCoding into their ERP System, QA personnel can more easily confirm the accuracy of the markings during the compliance inspection process.

When asked if they were happy with the service received from AutoCoding Systems, Brad Lint commented, “Absolutely – without question! The AutoCoding team was very knowledgeable and attentive to our requirements. We have been so impressed with both the service and software, we intend to roll the solution out across our other lines.”

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3 & 4 November 2021, NEC Birmingham The UK’s leading annual gathering of engineering supply chain professionals

SAVE THE DATE I found the event a great networking opportunity to meet industrial professionals from different backgrounds with different products.

Kat Clarke, Wing Manufacturing Engineer, Airbus

10,000+ engineering professionals in attendance

500+

exhibitors showcasing their products/services

200+

hours of free-to-attend industry content

Benefit from co-location with: AERO ENGINEERING

AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING

PERFORMANCE METALS ENGINEERING

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REGISTER YOUR INTEREST www.advancedengineeringuk.com +44 (0)20 3196 4358 | aeuk@easyfairs.com

Robots, Cobots & Ultrasonic Machines Choosing The Right Solution “The growing interest in collaborative robots has opened up a wider discussion on the whole topic of robots and automation. Changes in the industrial landscape as a consequence of the pandemic, combined with renewed interest in re-shoring and shortening supply chains has opened up multiple new opportunities for the introduction of robotics and automation.”

This article from Telsonic UK’s Martin Frost looks at the options available to system integrators and manufacturers when considering how best to incorporate the company’s ultrasonic technology and offers guidance on whether using robots or cobots as an alternative to more traditional machine concepts really adds value to the process.

Flexibility is the watch word in many manufacturing environments today as companies strive to offer an agile response to what is fast becoming a dynamic marketplace. For many, the words flexibility and robot are inextricably linked as the general perception is that the best way to achieve flexibility is through the use of robots. Whilst this is true in certain cases, cleverly designed bespoke machines can also offer a degree of flexibility. Another train of thought is to integrate robots or cobots as part of a bespoke solution to achieve the best of both worlds.

Martin Frost comments: “There are certain criteria which will influence the decision on how best to use our ultrasonic technology. If cycle times are short and there are also multiple staking / weld points then a bespoke machine with multiple sonotrodes will provide the highest levels of throughput. It is also worth pointing out

that flexibility can be designed into this type of system by either manually or automatically re-positioning sonotrodes and changing part fixtures to allow the machine to handle multiple part variants.”

The drive towards increasing personalisation in a growing number of products, especially automotive parts, and the resultant need for more flexibility, have been key factors in the decision by some manufacturers companies to introduce robot mounted ultrasonic technology for both welding and cutting processes. It is easy to see why these two technologies have become natural partners in certain applications.

The dexterity of a 6 axis robot or collaborative variant combined with the compact nature of ultrasonic technology, and the ease with which it can be mounted to the robot arm, makes for a highly flexible system capable of processing 3D components. The use of coded part fixtures allows automatic robot programme selection for the range of part types to be processed by the system. The single sonotrode concept of a system such as this, although highly flexible, does have some limitations as explained by Martin Frost. “With just one weld executed at a time, cycle times per part will obviously be dictated by the number of welds required

s

on individual components. The high levels of flexibility offered by this type of solution has to be balanced with the throughput required, and this may mean that the system needs to run for longer periods to achieve the required output. Another consideration will be the type and size of robot proposed, with a specific focus on the payload capability of the intended robot.”

These compact and powerful 35 kHz units are often used in automotive applications and with the AC350 or AC450 weighing around 2-3kg, these variants are ideally suited to integration with a robot system. Higher force / power AC750, AC1200 and AC1900 20kHz based heavier actuator based systems are also available from Telsonic

Robot or Cobot? – How to Choose

Process heat management - Keeping things cool

The first consideration here is the way in which the system will operate. If human interaction is required as part of the process, then following a risk assessment, the collaborative robot option will probably be the most likely. If high speeds or higher payloads are required then the industrial robot will probably offer the most effective solution, albeit behind interlocked safety guarding or light-guards.

A major topic in robot ultrasonic welding and cutting is process heat management. Ambient air-cooled converters & chilled air-cooled tooling are mandatory in fast multi point welded part cycles. This is especially important for materials and parts that require high ultrasonic amplitude and repetitive immersion of the tool in the melt pool. These measures serve to control the ultrasonic converter temperature and prevent stringing of molten polymer as the tool leaves the welding point. The cooling must be efficient, preferably around and through the tool via cooling channels, and on full wavelength tools used on booster-less mounts, to control the heat conducting up towards the converter.

To address these requirements Telsonic has developed a patent pending vortex booster. This is an integrated design that sits between the converter and the tool, pre-cooling compressed dry air which in turn assists the cooling process, keeping the tool cool, especially during the hold stage of the process.

Although traditional industrial robots and collaborative robots both offer 6 axes of movement, thought should be given to the way in which the ultrasonic technology is to be configured on the robot arm, the payload capacity of the robot or Cobot, whether the robot is to be used to provide the movement required to complete the weld or if the robot will be used to carry a fully integrated actuator system such as Telsonic’s AC350 or 450 variants, commonly used in automotive applications.

Martin Frost explains: “Using the robot to provide the movement required to compete the weld, although a weight saving concept, requires precision robot programming for speed and distance to take account of the melt rate of the material and achieve a consistent weld collapse profile on each weld. In addition, if the weld is to be achieved through force applied by the robot then consideration needs to be given to the capability of the robot to apply such force. When swaging, staking or spot welding, the amplitude of the ultrasonic system influences the force required. Initially there will be a higher force at the point of contact, this then naturally reduces as the material reaches melt point and begins to form a melt pool. However, if the rate of weld is fast enough, maintained through robot velocity, the force will be maintained.”

A further option is to use one of Telsonic’s AC series of actuator based systems, which offer a wide range of force and power options. These can be easily mounted to the robot arm and in this scenario, the robot is used solely to position the actuator at the various weld points and the actuator uses fine pressure regulation to act as a pneumatic spring and complete the weld.

Martin Frost summarises: “We are delivering a diverse selection of solutions to our customers. Of course, where multiple welds need to be produced within the shortest cycle time, the optimum solution is still the bespoke machine with multiple sonotrodes. For applications on lower volume or complex components, taking the process to the part, or even taking the part to the process, using a robot or Cobot is definitely growing in popularity. We have also seen the combination of a bespoke system with multiple sonotrodes combined with a collaborative Cobot, which is used to weld the hard to reach areas. We are always happy to discuss options with customers to ensure that the optimum solution is found for their individual applications.”

Telsonic UK offer a comprehensive range of ultrasonic modules and systems for a variety of , plastic welding, cutting, sealing, cut’n’seal, food cutting, metal welding, packaging, sieving, and cleaning applications within a wide range of industries.

info.uk@telsonic.com

TEMPERATURE VS EQUIPMENT – WHO WILL WIN? Karl Lycett – Rittal UK’s Product Manager for Climate Control Every year, there is a battle of two forces. The immovable object comes upon the unstoppable force in a war of attrition.

The rising temperature vs your Electrical Equipment…

Who will win?

Check the heat of your enclosures - source Rittal GmbH & Co. KG.

Are you COOL about the internal temperature of your enclosures?

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ENCLOSURES

POWER DISTRIBUTION

CLIMATE CONTROL

W

ell, the answer to that one is easy I’m afraid, Temperature will always win out in the long run.

PLC’s, Drives and Transformers are built to work under stressful conditions, but they have their limits.

If you take a step back and analyse your install, you can really cut them some slack and reap the benefits for years to come with just some simple changes in many instances.

Why is temperature so bad for equipment? It actually affects it in multiple ways –

Performance Dependant on the temperature inside your enclosure, this can make a drastic difference to the performance of your equipment. If you check the manual of any PLC or Drive etc.. there should be a chart which shows you the rated output compared to the current operating temperature.

The trend tends to go like this, as the temperature rises, the maximum output of the gear in question reduces, and very quickly it drops off a cliff. This means that even if you install brand new equipment into your enclosure, it could actually never be able to achieve it maximum designed output because of the environment you are putting it into.

This means is you have specific performance goals you require; you would have to over spec your equipment, which results in higher costs and wasted budget!

There may be instances where your equipment toughs it out for a few extra years, coughing and struggling in the heat, but what happens on the day it finally snaps? It’s the middle of summer and your production is in full flow to meet demand and suddenly everything grinds to a halt!

Suddenly, the costs are piling up and everyone is scrambling to find the issue before they can even begin to consider fixing it. The production meeting the next day is going to be an awkward one…

So, I’ve painted that happy picture of a time bomb ready to go off at any instant, what can I do to prevent this I hear you ask?

That’s simple, this is where Rittal can help you, we are the world leaders in enclosure climate control products and pride ourselves on being your trusted advisor.

With our RiAssure service, one of our trained staff can visit you and provide a FREE Cooling Review. This review is a short visual inspection of your existing enclosures and cooling equipment; from this we can ascertain the next best step for your equipment and also provide ongoing, best practice, suggestions so that your operations benefit from increased longevity, life and profit.

Lifespan

Don’t put it out of your mind, thinking it will be ok and leaving it until it’s too late. Deal with this head on and you can rest easy during the summer knowing your equipment is happy and working to its full potential and you can put your focus on other important tasks.

There is also a strong correlation between the lifespan of an electrical component compared to its living conditions.

As you’ve probably guessed, as the temperature rises, the lifetime reduces.

For more information on the entire Rittal range visit www.rittal.co.uk you can also check out our linkedin page @rittal-ltd-uk or call our customer service team on 01709 704000 or E-Mail cooling@rittal.co.uk

We’re offering users of Rittal enclosure cooling equipment the opportunity to receive a FREE inspection survey*

Visit www.rittal.co.uk to claim yours

IT INFRASTRUCTURE

SOFTWARE & SERVICES

*Limited-time offer. Terms and conditions apply. For full details please visit www.rittal.co.uk

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How to improve health & safety compliance with paperless quality management

A surprising number of manufacturers are still reliant upon pen and paper for capturing all of their shopfloor data.

legibility, loss or damage add further complexity.

Whilst conveniently flexible and familiar, there is a wide range of compelling reasons to move away from paper. By digitizing all aspects of manufacturing, from Goods In inspections to Despatch tracking and all the processes in between, manufacturers can fully leverage technology, increasing safety and resilience in response to today’s volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, as well as current public health concerns.

to focus on moving forward and solving problems – all while remaining at a safe distance.

Our paperless system provides instant visibility across the manufacturing process, with full traceability of each step, real-time guidance and notifications, as well as detailed audits and historic analyses. When you can see what is happening, you can plan for what’s next by putting your data to work.

Going paperless enables social distancing

Here, paperless systems can help a business to avoid human error by automating tasks wherever possible, or at the very least by guiding operators through the necessary steps to perform a check. Instant verification of inputs highlights any exceptions as soon as they occur – ideally with corrective action guidance. That way, the operator is informed how to proceed, whilst the responsible supervisor or manager is instantly alerted to take appropriate action.

Whilst eliminating paper records is clearly linked to better efficiency, visibility and consistency, going paperless also supports the type of social distancing necessary today and likely to become part of the new normal tomorrow.

The need for direct interaction can be significantly reduced, so that employees remain safely distant, whilst some can even operate remotely. Visibility is greatly enhanced through comprehensive paperless systems, communication is simplified, and the real-time nature helps

24 - Automation Update

Safety is everybody’s job When it comes to safety, we are all responsible and equally benefit from it.

Therefore, safety inspections are often integrated within standard production procedures, e.g. during daily start-up procedures.

Paper records are expensive to maintain, waste natural resources, and require physical management and storage. Poor

Moving forward On today’s shopfloor, operators need to keep a distance, but that does not mean that you need to sacrifice productivity to maintain safety.

You can simply combine social distancing with automation and digitization in a paperless system to realise safety and improve results.

Get in touch to learn more about how Harford can help you keep your employees safe and increase overall productivity and efficiency. www.harfordcontrol.com +44 (0)1225 764461 info@harfordcontrol.com

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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RELIABILITY Tel : +44 (0)151 356 2322 Website: www.rotechsystems.co.uk Fax: +44 (0)151 356 2437 Email: sales@rotechsystems.co.uk

Monitoring the world