September 2021
September 2021 Rapid shift in business models needed from European steel compaines to reach climate goals European steel will burn through emissions budget 15 years ahead of time, unless new technologies are deployed within the next decade
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new report from Industry Tracker, the climate research house for investors, has found that the European steel industry has less than 26% (12-35%) of its carbon budget remaining and companies must rapidly shift their business models to reach net zero. This means the industry’s existing assets could release 2.3 billion tonnes of CO 2 in their lifetime, compared to a 2050 budget of just over 3 billion (based on the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions scenario). The report, Steeling for Net Zero, provides an indepth assessment of 10 of the largest and most impactful steel companies, that account for 68% of primary steel production in Europe, including ArcelorMittal, Tata Steel, Thys-
nO nly a quarter of these companies’ carbon budget remains, and current trajectories would see the industry exceed its budget in 2035. nC ompanies have between now and 2033 to stop using current production methods and invest in new steelmaking technologies. n T he cost of transitioning is estimated at between US$4 and 34 billion for these companies, so they will need to rely on public funding and partnerships. nS SAB and ArcelorMittal rank highest on their readiness for the transition, while Severstal, Metinvest and Erdemir are identified as being least prepared. senkrupp and SSAB. The research analyses how these companies are positioned to action transition plans and achieve net zero, based on their targets and existing asset portfolios. Having been on an upward trajectory since the mid-20th century, emis-
sions from steel now account for 7-9% of all global emissions, and demand for the metal is on the rise. The biggest contributor to emissions from the steelmaking process comes from the blast furnace. This is the dominant method of making primary steel and has been in
use since the 14th century. With this carbon intensive method, there is no way of achieving the required reduction in emissions to meet the EU’s 2050 net zero target. Reductions from efficiency improvements have all but plateaued – over the last two decades, the companies analysed have only reduced their emissions intensity by an average of 1% per year. Blast furnaces have a long life cycle of about 15-20 years before they need upgrading. This is an expensive process, costing on average US$175 million, meaning these furnaces cannot be shut down prematurely without incurring write-offs. This risks companies getting locked in to carbon intensive methods unless they start investing in new technologies and timing their transition correctly. 4
September 2021
Industry Tracker’s analysis finds that these companies will need to stop renewing blast furnaces before 2030 and have between now and 2033 to begin investing in new technologies, including green hydrogen steelmaking. The estimated cost of making the shift to green hydrogen DRI ranges between US$4 and 34 billion for companies, depending on the size of their current asset base. Using asset-level data, it is revealed that these companies have collectively used up three quarters of their 2050 carbon budget, and in a worse case projection, 3 companies have already exceeded their budget from locked-in emissions. 8 of the 10 companies analysed have emissions reduction targets, with ArcelorMittal, Voestalpine, Tata Steel and Salzgitter all making commitments to become net-zero, climate or carbon neutral by 2050, whilst SSAB aims to achieve this by 2045. However, most of the
emissions cuts outlined in these targets come after 2030, when they are at high risk of missing the window for investing in vital new technologies.
8 of the 10 companies analysed have emissions
The analysis does show that some of the leading European steel companies – such as SSAB, ArcelorMittal and Tata Steel - are starting to develop the low-carbon innovations required to significantly reduce their footprint. This includes hydrogen-based steel production which can reduce emissions to near zero, as well as Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) which could cut emissions from traditional steelmaking routes in the mid-term. 70% of the companies in the report are involved in projects developing “blue” or “green” hydrogen production, including ArcelorMittal, Thyssenkrupp and SSAB. This is encouraging as it indicates they are not just investing in hydrogen-based steel production technologies, but are also getting involved
reduction
tar-
gets, with ArcelorMittal, Voestalpine, Tata Steel and Salzgitter all making commitments to
become
net-ze-
ro, climate or carbon neutral by 2050, whilst SSAB aims to achieve this by 2045
in developing supply chains to ensure they have access to the large volumes of hydrogen needed to scale up this type of sustainable steelmaking. For the most part, however, these technologies are still early stage, and they must be rapidly scaled and commercialised to meet global climate targets. The current balance sheets and cash flows of these steel companies
are not sufficient to support the cost of the transition. This means companies must leverage partnership opportunities, whilst subsidies, direct public funding and investment capital must be made available. Carole Ferguson, Managing Director of Industry Tracker, commented: “Steel is used across many products and sectors that are integral to the way we live. However, with a large carbon footprint and a growing emissions profile, steel remains a problem child in the path to net zero. With momentum starting to build for new technologies, particularly green hydrogen, steel companies have the opportunity to break out of their current capital intensive business models. I am optimistic that with public support, cross sector partnerships and investment capital seeking to solve the climate crisis, steel companies have the potential to lead the way in the transition and drive the green hydrogen economy.”
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September 2021
UNTHA shredder transforms manufacturing site in heart of Brooklyn An UNTHA shredder is now in operation in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, as precision manufacturer Linda Tool gears up for further growth
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he firm has been producing components and assemblies for industries including aerospace, and oil and gas, since it was founded in 1952. But nestled away in the bustling Brooklyn streets – where real estate is at a premium – the facility has found it harder to store chips and turnings as its production capacity has continued to rise. Metallic machining chips – primarily aluminum, ti-
tanium, and various brass and stainless steel alloys – were previously stored in 55 gallon drums, to be collected for resale and recycling. But with the drums soon stacking up despite weekly pick-ups, this still represented an undesirable use of the site’s precious space. Linda Tool therefore explored both the metal shredding and briquetting technology available in the marketplace, to make smarter use of space
while bolstering its environmental performance. They first installed a briquetter, which handled their chips well, but was unable to process their longer, stringier material. Further research therefore brought president Mike DiMarino to UNTHA America, and the four shaft RS30 shredder – a compact yet robust machine capable of shredding this tough metallic ‘waste’ into free flowing material that the briquetter could better handle.
“It’s difficult to operate a manufacturing facility in Brooklyn – the second most densely populated county in the United States,” commented Mike. “We produced briquettes to get our chips off-site as efficiently as possible, but it was labor intensive as we had to hand load the machinery and stay close by to monitor the process and rake material around. This approach was also maintenance-heavy. “We would easily need a recycling collection once or twice a week, which was a real logistical struggle too, when trying to get the trucks to site.” Having researched the solutions available, Linda Tool quickly decided on an UNTHA shredder. Now, by producing a homogenous 1 inch output thanks to the RS30’s inbuilt screen, they can simply feed all of their material into the shredder, allowing the briquetter to do its job unattended. Adding the shredder also increased the density of the briquettes, allowing 4
September 2021
them to increase their loads to 1.8 tons of briquettes – 50% more than previously. The machine is currently handling 1 ton of material per week but has capacity to process far more. The recycling contractor’s visits have fallen to once every 4-6 weeks, for further cost and environmental efficiencies,
meaning the net financial yield from the recycling process has improved by 50%. The HVAC system is also more efficient as the overhead garage door does not have to open for as long, or as many times, due to the infrequency of scrap pickups. Residual oils and lubricants are more easily recovered too, allowing the
team to enhance its environmentally safe footprint – not least because it is easier to recycle and reuse the machine tool coolant. “What many people perhaps don’t realize about smarter ‘waste’ handling, is that not only can they improve their environmental performance, but shredding makes good
business sense too,” concluded Mike. “Our site is tidier, we’ve reduced material collection costs, and overall we’re more efficient – which is particularly important because our colleagues can spend time on more value-added tasks, rather than manual labor. This is especially applicable because the UNTHA RS30 is so easy to maintain.”
September 2021
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The future of heavy industry transportation: Dolphin AGVs by DTA
TA, a leading provider of intelligent solutions for factory and warehouse transportation, has announced the release of its new Dolphin line of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs). Driven by BlueBotics ANT® natural feature navigation, the new family of automated vehicles offers heavy industry customers a flexible and adaptable on-site transportation solution that will significantly increase efficiency.
scanners. Since DTA also offers a custom-designed AGV option, there is a Dolphin AGV available to suit virtually every customer application.
technology, which guarantees that the installation of these AGVs, not to mention project future modifications, are quick and efficient, without the need for permanent inGonzalo de Sebastián, frastructure changes. UlDTA Dolphin AGVs are ac- Sales & Marketing Direc- timately, a single Dolphin curate, robust and fully au- tor, at DTA, said, “Dolphin AGV can cover the equivtomatic. Capable of mov- AGVs provide a robust alent work of two forklifts ing payloads weighing up and fully automatic solu- or six operators, leading to 300 tonnes, these vehi- tion for the on-site trans- to significant cost savings cles feature motorized roll- portation of heavy goods. over time.” ers and highly flexible 360° Thanks to our close colomnidirectional steering. laboration with BlueBot- ANT® navigation offers Safety is ensured thanks to ics, Dolphin vehicles are high positional accuracy the vehicles’ built-in laser driven by ANT® navigation of approximately ±1 cm /
±1°, while BlueBotics’ ANT® server management software enables entire fleets of Dolphin AGVs to operate seamlessly together on-site. ANT® server can also be connected to a site’s existing management software system (WMS/MES/ERP) and infrastructure such as automatic doors, allowing these for example to be opened automatically when an AGV approaches. Dr. Nicola Tomatis, CEO at BlueBotics, said, “The team at DTA are a key partner for BlueBotics and truly the experts in automating the movement of heavy goods on-site. Driven by our proven ANT® navigation and with their any-direction omnidirectional movement, the company’s new Dolphin vehicles offer a remarkably versatile, extremely safe solution that is highly scalable and can be updated quickly and easily as a business’ needs evolve.”
September 2021
German steel stockholder benefits from advanced warehouse software
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he warehouse management system (WMS) KASTOlogic and the intelligent app KASTOlogic mobile, two software solutions from industrial warehouse system manufacturer Kasto, are helping to streamline the operation of automated and manual storage areas at Schwarzwald-Eisenhandel GmbH & Co.KG (SchwarzwaldEisen). They are allowing the steel stockholder to accelerate its processes, minimise error rate and track orders seamlessly. SchwarzwaldEisen has become the leading steel distributor in the Baden-Württemberg state of south-west Germany, delivering approximately 120,000 tonnes of material per year. The fourth-generation, family-run company dates
For about eight years, SchwarzwaldEisen in Lahr has operated a Kasto UNICOMPACT 3.0 automated storage system for long stock, allowing quick and efficient storage and retrieval of bar, tube and section up to six metres long.
back to 1870. Since 1966, the headquarters has been located in Lahr and the company has since opened other facilities in Freiburg im Breisgau, Bad Säckingen and Karlsruhe. There are also subsidiaries in the Rhineland-Palatinate state in Germany as well as in Switzerland. Dr Steffen Marco Auer, joint managing director together with his brother Ingo Auer and Alexander Hatt said, “We focus on organic growth and running a decentralised organisation. Instead of operating one major facility, we have several regional sites that are close to the customer, enabling fast and flexible deliveries.
“Efficient communication between the individual locations and well-organised logistics are essential for such an operation. That is why we structure all subsidiaries according to a similar principle and utilise proven and standardised technologies and processes across the sites.” SchwarzwaldEisen uses Kasto as the preferred supplier of storage systems. For about eight years, an automated storage system in Lahr from the UNICOMPACT 3.0 series has been providing quick and efficient storage and retrieval of solid bar, tube and section up to six metres in length. The stockholder offers a range of materials consisting of
September 2021
around 10,000 products, mainly construction steel, stainless steel and also aluminium. Seventy to 80 per cent of orders for steel section are semi-processed to customers’ specifications using machine tools in Freiburg. For long stock, the Kasto system supplies material to two removal stations via an operating gantry crane having short access times based on a material-to-operator principle. Sheet material is stored in a separate, manually operated area. Steffen Auer outlined the
challenges by stating, “Our customers expect us to provide fast, error-free and trackable deliveries. To ensure this, we depend on a simple, clear and reliable control system for our entire material flow.” SchwarzwaldEisen uses the eNVenta inventory management system (IMS) across all of its sites. The storage system in Lahr is linked to it via an interface created specifically for the purpose, as is the case for two other automated Kasto storage systems at Karlsruhe and Westerwald in Rhineland-Palatinate. It ensures standardised order management and a high level of inventory transparency. The IMS transfers order data electronically to the KASTOlogic WMS, which in turn triggers the required material to be called up at the respective site. All processes can be tracked seamlessly, virtually eliminating operational errors. Steffen Auer added, “In the past, our manually operated metal sheet warehouses required paper-based management. It was not always easy to locate the required material in the long rows of shelves. Due to the broad product range,4
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September 2021
The KASTO storage system employs a gantry crane for materials-to-operator picking. staff sometimes removed the wrong sheets or incorrect quantities and the customer did not always receive what was ordered.”
Thanks to KASTOlogic mobile, warehouse employees have access to order and product data at any time, preventing errors and increasing efficiency.
To integrate these storage areas into the intelligent electronic control system, Kasto engineers assessed the problem and developed a solution to display all storage areas in a standardised and consistent control format. One of the tools used was KASTOlogic mobile, a platform-independent, mobile version of KASTOlogic. The software makes it possible to use the essential functions of the WMS on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, independently from the UNICOMPACT’s operator panels. The mobile facility is able to manage the UNICOMPACT automated storage system for long stock and, just as easily and flexibly, the manually operated metal sheet storage area. Warehouse staff have access to order and product data at any time. When removing sheets, the system directs the operator to the respective
storage location and specifies the required quantity. The shelves have QR and bar codes. When an operator scans one with
Dr Steffen Marco Auer, joint managing director at SchwarzwaldEisen.
September 2021 the mobile device, the material’s removal is confirmed and a replenishment order is triggered if the inventory is running low. All information is available both in the WMS and IMS via customised interfaces. The software system is scalable to include other sites as required. Both the storage system and the control system can be serviced remotely. Kasto is able to access the software and clear malfunctions quickly and easily at any time. If necessary, a service engineer can be on-site from the supplier’s Achern headquarters at short notice. Stephan Auer concluded,“The concept is impressive in every aspect and we want to implement it at our other locations to help us become even more efficient across all of our
SchwarzwaldEisen stores metal sheets in a separate, manually operated storage area. Due to the broad range of products, picking errors occasionally used to occur. sites. If an ordered product is not in stock at a specific facility, it can be found in the system quickly and delivered from another site.”
KASTO Ltd, Tel: +44 (0)1908 571590 E: sales@uk.kasto.com W: www.kasto.com
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September 2021
Launch of Combilift’s new XLE model
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rish materials handling specialist Combilift has officially launched its latest product, the Combi-XLE, as a further addition to its impressive range of electric models. In line with the growing demand for electric powered equipment, this multidirectional forklift with up to 5-ton lift capacity, combines emission-free operation with powerful performance for a wide range of industries and applications. The original engine powered XL C-Series model was developed to address the requirements of tough working environments such as those in the timber, concrete and steel sectors. The new Combi-XLE incorporates the same key design features as its earlier counterpart such as high ground clearance, large cushioned front and rear tyres and a spacious cab, allowing smooth operation on semi rough terrain whilst offering a high level of driver comfort.
With sustainability ever higher on the agenda, Combilift further helps its customers achieve their environmental goals with its versatile “3 forklifts in 1” models, which work inside and out, reducing fleet size and thereby their carbon footprint. A hallmark of all Combilift products is the ability to increase storage capacity without expanding the size of a facility, resulting in lower energy usage and associated costs such as heating, lighting and maintenance, which is of significant benefit to the environment and the workforce. Noise pollution and carbon emissions, which can impact on the health and well-being of people as well as wildlife, is also no longer an issue thanks to electric power. Drivers, employees and visitors on site appreciate the quiet operation, as do neighbouring residents and businesses, particularly in urban areas. The Combi-XLE incorporates up-tothe-minute technology such as the
patented all-wheel traction that reduces tyre wear, load swing and enhances braking. Also included is a newly developed, patented EcoSteer System which provides a smaller turning radius and improved user experience. Since Electric powered trucks do not have traditional combustion engines, or hydraulic transmissions, there is no longer any need to check and top up engine fluids / lubricants, resulting in longer intervals between services, ultimately saving costs. The use of toughened, eco-friendly water-based paint also dramatically reduces the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) during build. “The technology we have incorporated into the Combi-XLE means that its performance is equally on a par with diesel or LPG powered forklifts when it comes to handling very bulky and heavy loads, whilst of course offering a greener operation,” said Combilift CEO and
September 2021
Co-Founder Martin McVicar. “We made our first electric C-Series over 18yrs ago, and now over 60% of the trucks we manufacture are electric, with availability in almost all models across our range. As more and more of our customers are opting for electric power it is obvious that they are as committed to sustainability and a circular economy as we are.” At Combilift’s own manufacturing facility, features such as daylighting technology - LED lights with individual PIR sensors, solar panel energy and rainwater harvesting are all aimed at conserving natural resources and decreasing energy consumption. 92% of all components used in the truck assembly are 100% recyclable and the company is also on track to save over
473 tons of CO2 by using carbon neutral wood chip instead of gas for heating within the factory.
minimise our carbon footprint. So, an improvement to the environment in more ways than one.” Dave Clement – Production Director
Customer testimonial:
As we had already been using Combi units for years, the product decision was straightforward, and from a driver perspective, the operation remains essentially unchanged.
VIDEO LINKS Link to video here: https://youtu. be/N5CG8_YhCgU Find out more about Combilift’s electric range here: https://combilift.com/xle Find out more about Combilift’s commitment to a more sustainable future here: https://combilift.com/ sustainability/ Ecco-Steer: https://youtu.be/stvy1JsQGps
The reasons to move to electric were twofold: to eliminate exhaust particulates in the factory and as part of our Group environmental plan to
Social Media Links for reshare: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin. com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6846071332954812416
“At our South Derbyshire precast factory, we use 5 multidirectional Combi-XLE trucks to transport product from the factory to storage and then to load-out for distribution nationwide.
Key Features at a glance • AC Electric Powered • 5 Ton lift capacity • 3 forklifts in 1 – Counterbalance, Side Loader, Reach Truck • New Technology Eco-Steer System • All Wheel Electric Traction Control • Large Diameter Super Elastic Tyres • Extra-Large Cabin • Multidirectional Operation • Increased Ground Clearance • 80V 700Ah Battery (56kW)
September 2021
Emerson marks 75 Years of innovation in precision cleaning and welding technologies Branson combines breadth of technologies and a problem-solving approach to deliver advanced solutions to automotive, medical, electronics industries worldwide
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merson (NYSE: EMR) celebrates the 75th anniversary of its Branson™ brand, a name that has become synonymous with ultrasonic technologies for plastics and metal welding, and precision cleaning. The Branson portfolio has led the industry with expanded offerings beyond ultrasonics, developing nine other material joining technologies including laser, vibration and infrared welding. Emerson marked the anniversary at its new $49 million global headquarters for welding and precision cleaning technologies that opened in January. The new facility bolsters Emerson’s continued innovation in advanced design, engineering and joining technologies that support such complex and fast-growing industries as medical devices, existing and new bio-based plastics packaging, electric cars and next-generation batteries.
we revolutionized the use of ultrasonics in so many remarkable ways,” said Vernon Murray, president of Emerson’s assembly technologies business. “Our goal has always been to deliver proven performance, unequaled expertise, and the broadest technology portfolio for material joining and precision cleaning applications.” The Branson brand traces its history to Norman G. Branson, a research engineer who founded a company in Danbury, Connecticut, in 1946 to harness the power of high-frequency ultrasonic energy for cleaning and degreasing applications as well as nondestructive testing and gauging. But it was ultrasonic welding — developed in 1963 at Branson Sonics and Materials, which was acquired by Emerson Electric Co. (Emerson) in 1984 — that represented the real breakthrough for the company and for manufacturing. It set in motion a monumental change in the way plastics, and later metals, were joined.
“We are extremely proud of our history and how
Since its beginning, Branson has been driven by the
help manufacturers evaluate, select, implement, and optimize the right joining solution, regardless of the application or complexity. This high level of custom-
spirit of innovation, and today ultrasonics is just one of many cleaning and joining technologies offered by Emerson’s Branson portfolio. Other welding methods include spin and vibration welding, staking and swaging, and a new patentpending “dynamic mode” of ultrasonic welding that can automatically adjust itself to part-to-part variabilities and unique materials. “Clean welding” approaches, such as Contoured Laser Technology, Clean Vibration Technology and Contoured Infrared Technology, are being adopted with ever greater frequency.
Continuing the Commitment Given this depth of technical resources, Emerson application engineers are able to utilize a process-neutral approach to
er support is enhanced by the technological capabilities available at the new 146,000-square-foot Branson headquarters. The facility includes an expanded research and development lab, increased manufacturing space, a dedicated training workspace for seminars, and training classes, technical services and other resources. The 75th anniversary represents a milestone that Emerson will recognize throughout the next several months as the company continues its path of inventiveness, delivering advanced Branson products to solve critical industry challenges. For more information about Emerson’s welding, assembly and cleaning solutions, visit: https://www. emerson.com/en-us/automation/welding-assembly-cleaning.
September 2021
Nukon appoints Ingenium Integration as exclusive distributor Nukon appoints Ingenium Integration as exclusive United Kingdom and Ireland distributor for its advanced fibre laster cutting systems
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ngenium Integration Ltd, the sister company of UK-based tube bending machinery specialists Unison Ltd, has been appointed as the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s 2D fibre laser, 3D fibre laser and fibre laser tube cutting machines.
“For some time we have been looking at extending our product range to include high-quality laser cutting technologies, particularly as we believe they would be of significant interest to owners of tube bending machines from Unison Ltd and other manufacturers,” comments Ingenium Integration sales manager, Steve Haddrell. “Short of building our own laser cutting machines in-house, our challenge was to find an established product range that mirrored the uncompromising levels of accuracy, reliability, build quality and support that are synonymous with the Unison name. “Having researched the marketplace extensively,” he adds, “we believe we have found such a product range from Nu-
Nukon Vento 315 fibre laser cutting system. kon. Companies buying a Nukon fibre laser cutting system from Ingenium Integration will receive the same high standards of service and support as if they had bought a British-built Unison tube bending machine.” The Nukon fibre laser range includes 2D, 3D and laser tube cutting machines. High-spec standard features include: nLIGHT fibre lasers with adaptive beam optimisation and Lantek Expert software, which is one of the most advanced CAD/CAM nesting software packages on the market today. Nukon’s 2D fibre laser machines include models designed for first-time laser users and businesses adding value to in-house manufactured products, as well as high-performance machines for demanding flat-
bed laser metal cutting requirements in subcontract environments. The Nukon range of 3D, 5-axis machines has been developed for the most challenging of applications, such as precision-cutting tubes, pipes and intricate profiles in a wide variety of materials, as well as R&D work. While Nukon laser tube cutting machines include pipe and profile cutting models, as well as ‘Vento Flex’, a highly versatile machine able to cut tubes, pipes, profiles and flat metal sheet. To assist customers in maximising the productivity and efficiency of their laser-cutting operations, Ingenium Integration also offers Nukon’s range of fully automated loading and unloading solutions. These include highly space-effi-
cient compact lift solutions with vacuum loading and ‘finger-lift’ unloading, ‘Expert’ models that are able to feed multiple laser cutting machines simultaneously, and easily extended modular tower systems with the added benefit of component storage. The appointment of Ingenium Integration as the exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for Nukon’s fibre laser machines follows on from the recent launch of a brand-new range of hybrid tube bending machines from tube bending machinery specialists, Unison Ltd. Called Synergy HBM (hybrid, multi-stack), these new machines are available in 50 mm and 80 mm (maximum tube diameter) versions and have been developed to provide a lower cost entry point for businesses with tube bending requirements that do not typically demand the high levels of flexibility and rapid setup associated with Unison’s all-electric ‘Breeze’ tube bending machines. www.ingeniumintegration. com www.unisonltd.com
September 2021
Doosan launches productivity-boosting 9-Series reach trucks The performance of the new 9-series reach trucks from Doosan will increase productivity in a wide range of applications across a broad spectrum of businesses
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oosan, the leading manufacturer of robust high-performance forklift trucks, has launched a new, highly versatile range of productivity enhancing electric reach trucks. Designed by a team of specialist engineers utilising customer feedback, the BR14JW 9-Series combines faster operating speeds with advanced ergonomics and greater driver comfort – making lighter work of heavy warehousing tasks. As the latest additions to Doosan’s extensive range of warehouse trucks, the new 9-Series electric reach trucks are available in six moving-mast models with capacities between 1,400 to 2,500 kg, and in three chassis types: Heavy, Narrow or Standard. All models are equipped with Doosan’s renowned Guardian Stability System and Smart Sensor control, reducing mast oscillation by 40%, for greater stability and safer load handling when operating at heights of up to 13m.
Every warehouse application Businesses across a broad spectrum of industry – from manufacturing, wholesale distribution and food & drink to engineering, building supplies and transport & warehousing – will benefit from the improved efficiency, speed and performance of Doosan’s latest, 9-Series electric reach trucks. With warehouse space at a premium, max-
imising available storage space using a narrow-aisle, high-bay configuration combined with Doosan’s latest top performing reach trucks, can transform the capacity and productivity of a warehouse. Making the most of the narrowest aisle widths, Doosan’s new ultra-compact BR14J-9 and BR16J-9 models are 12% narrower than the previous models, which together with a shorter chassis, offers a much tighter turning radius – allowing the operator to manoeuvre with confidence in aisles under 3m wide. Providing heavyweight-lifting muscle, the BR20JW-9 and BR25JW-9 heavy models have the capacity to carry loads up to 2 tonne and 2.5 tonne respectively, and the standard BR14JW-9 and BR16JW-9 reach trucks offer allround value and performance for standard applications.
Maximum productivity Operational performance has received a boost in Doosan’s 9-Series, with design and engineering improvements delivering 15% faster travel speeds, 20% faster lifting speeds and 10% faster lowering speeds – helping to get the job done more quickly and efficiently. Maximum manoeuvrability is available to the driver with a choice between 1800 deg or 3600 steering. The 3600 steering system is easier on arms, wrists and shoulders when changing direction quickly or manoeuvering in tight spaces.
Stronger ergonomics The sleek looks of the new 9-Series reach trucks are combined with sound ergonomics – taking safety, driver comfort, ease of maintenance and productivity fully into account. The cab is designed for operator comfort and to reduce fatigue, with a fully adjustable premium Grammer suspension seat as standard, and excellent all-round visi-
September 2021
bility for safer manoeuvring with greater awareness. An upgraded mast design improves forward visibility and a new diagonal overhead guard offers enhanced visibility of the fork tips when working at height. Other standard features are: an adjustable steering column, an easy and intuitive instrument panel, a wider armrest and plenty of leg room for driver comfort. Optional extras include: Pre-height selection, side-shift auto-centring function, auto-tilt leveling, mast laser indicator, fork camera and joystick control. A growing warehouse range As part of a major upgrade programme of Doosan’s expansive warehouse truck range, the new 9-Series reach truck complements a growing list of enhanced products, including high-performance pedestrian stackers, powered pallet trucks, and platform double stackers, as well as a huge variety of three and four wheeled electric and IC counterbalance trucks in capacities from 1.3 to 25 tonne. Standard features across the warehouse range include low-noise and maintenance-free AC motors, electric power steering, regenerative braking, sensitive proportional hydraulics, multi-functional display for monitoring energy and machine status, turtle speed button, hydraulic damper for shock-free load lowering – all combined with a robust, compact chassis that offers high manoeuvrability in tight spaces and designed-in stability for lifting confidence and safety.
The warehouse range is fully supported by Doosan’s worldwide service network and backed-up by genuine Doosan parts. The all new warehouse models reflect Doosan’s renowned design characteristics of compact functional form, high manoeuvrability, durability and rugged, reliable performance. Ryan Lenihan, Commercial Director at Doosan Industrial Vehicle UK, says: “Productivity within the warehouse is a highly important focus for businesses in manufacturing and retail. Labour availability is under pressure across the UK and customer expectations for service and delivery is unrelenting, so companies need higher performance materials handling equipment to support their plans for productivity gains. “The scale and scope of Doosan as a large global engineering business enables us to make significant, on-going investment into our warehouse product range – bringing design enhancements.” He continues: “This is all part of a comprehensive remodeling programme that further supports Doosan’s position as a powerful brand supplying robust and reliable solutions across a broad spectrum of industrial activity – in the yard, the factory and the warehouse.” Doosan’s all new 9-Series electric reach truck range offers everything a business needs in a reach truck to run a safe, high-performance warehouse. Further information can be found at http://doosanflt.com/products/ reach-trucks/
September 2021
Welding knowledge part 6: Monitoring weld purge gas
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he significance of using inert gas to protect the weld metal and heat affected zone against oxidation is well documented. How this is best effected is still a subject of debate and it is appropriate now to review the situation. When metals are exposed to high temperatures in air there is probability that they will oxidise, but also a danger that they will absorb nitrogen and other residual gases. Furthermore, they are also prone to ingestion of hydrogen from any water vapour present. An immediate indication is unsightly surface oxidation but other, often more significant, effects are loss of corrosion resistance in chromium-containing steels and degradation in mechanical properties in many high strength alloys (Ref 1) When the GTAW process was first introduced in the
1940s it became immediately apparent that protection of the tungsten electrode by an inert gas was necessary to prevent rapid deterioration by oxidation. The use of inert gas in this way also protected the top of the weld deposit and any adjacent parent metal. It was some time before the need to also protect the weld underbead became apparent, principally because research began to indicate that lack of protection could lead to significant local reduction in mechanical properties in some materials. With flat plate joints, any locally affected material can be removed mechanically but with tube and pipe welding, where access to the weld root area is practically impossible, alternative solutions had to be found. Inert gas protection became known as weld purging and the last 20 years have witnessed significant development in purging techniques for tube and pipe joints.
Figure 1: The concept of using inflatable pipe dams such as the PurgEye and PurgElite systems to ensure complete isolation of the joint and local material. These systems are available covering pipe diameters from 25 to 2400 mm diameter.
September 2021 Early attempts to provide protection employed the simple expedient of flooding the joint area with inert gas, normally argon or helium This was ineffective because ensuring adequate coverage proved too difficult; draughts and turbulence caused intermixing of any inert gas with atmospheric gases and moisture, thus defeating the objective. Isolating the pipe section at risk by locating cardboard, wooden or plastic sealing discs either side of the joint was an improvement but all too often these provided inadequate seals and even occasionally burst into flames. Amazingly, these techniques are still used, even by some leading international operators. Notwithstanding the recognition that inert gas protection was necessary, users overlooked the need to monitor the purge gas to ensure that an acceptable maximum oxygen content, typically 50 parts per million, but with sensitive alloys as low as 20 ppm, was maintained. 1.Effective Sealing Now recognised as the optimum solution is the use of inflatable purge systems. (see figure 1)
High-performance quick connect-disconnect fittings. They provide security coupled with leak tightness and are used globally for high pressure connections in the pneumatics industry based on electrochemical measurement – made for general purpose applications – had a slow response and offered a detection range quite inadequate to record reliably below 200 ppm. These are clearly un-
2.Supply and exhaust connections In addition to the need for effective sealing of the dams inside the pipe, the connectors and tubing used to provide inert gas and remove displaced gas must also be fit for purpose. This not only applies to any tubing used but also to the fittings and since these need to be easily demountable and re-connected, often on site, attention to the quality is crucial. The most reliable and efficient tube and tube connectors are those widely used in the pneumatics industry and therefore comfortably capable of meeting the weld purge demands for repeated use, rapid connect and disconnect and sustained pressures without leaking.
Oxygen Measurement Once depletion of chromium due to combination with oxygen during welding of chromium containing steels was recognised, it was realised that the consequent reduction in corrosion resistance could be serious. The need for instruments to measure residual oxygen in the purge gas led quickly to development of equipment specifically designed for welding applications. At the time, standard available sensors
PurgEye® 600 computerised colour touch screen weld purge monitor measuring from atmospheric oxygen levels down to 1 ppm. The instrument offers control of automatic welding equipment with a fast-response long life sensor and upper and lower ppm levels to trigger alarms.
September 2021 suitable for weld applications where a 50 ppm maximum oxygen level is required. Weld purge oxygen monitors using rapid response, accurate solid-state detectors such as the Argweld® PurgEye® instruments, introduced from 1996 satisfied the need for measurement as low as 50 ppm oxygen. Later developments led to the current PurgEye series of 7 robust instruments capable of meeting site applications, reading oxygen levels down to 10 ppm and with an operating range up to 1 km. Many of these products now incorporate software for downloading of data for quality control purposes, fault finding diagnosis, alarm features to warn of high oxygen levels, full colour touch screen control and IP65 rating.
Dew Point Measurement Control of oxygen content in purge gas is only one issue facing welders: the presence of moisture on the joint surface can give rise to porosity in the weld metal. The point at which condensation of water vapour takes place to form moisture is referred to as the ‘Dew Point’. This the temperature at which the air becomes saturated with water, in other words when the relative humidity reaches 100 percent.
joint gap. Such sources of ambient air can increase the dew point and to a level that can give rise to moisture. Under arc conditions, where temperatures can approach 20,000oC, water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen in atomic form which, with nitrogen when present in weld metal are known to rise to cracking. (Ref 2-4) Methods for measuring dew point are well-established and equipment is available. However recent deveopment work by Huntingdon Fusion Techniques in Carmarthenshire, has resulted in the production of instruments specifically designed for welding applications and suitable for direct integration with the company’s oxygen monitoring range of equipment. This development allows welders to measure and control purge gas oxygen and dew point with a single instrument.
It is therefore important that the dew point is monitored so that welders are made aware when moisture is likely to be present. Just for further clarification, when the ambient temperature is below the freezing point of water, the dew point is called the ‘frost point’. Shielding gas supplies are generally controlled to very low moisture content (typically -60°C dewpoint or lower) and if the shielding gas at the joint is identical to that of the supply then the dew point is not likely to be reached. However, between the supply and the purge zone there exist the possibilities of leaks caused for, example, by inefficient connectors, delivery tubing and air passing through the
The recently introduced dew point monitor developed specifically for the welding industry and for use in conjunction with weld purge monitors.
References 1. Welding can reduce corrosion resistance in stainless
3. Hydrogen production by water splitting using a
steels. Gascoigne G. Stainless Steel World Conference
thermal plasma. Boudesocquea N
& Exhibition, Maastricht 2015
drogen Energy Conference. June 2006 – Lyon France.
2. Moisture/hydrogen in shielding gas of gas metal arc
4. Weld Discontinuities - Part 1 Porosity. ESAB Knowledge
welds. The Welding Institute. Technical Knowledge Series
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September 2021
Heitkamp takeover In an asset deal, Heitkamp Industrial Solutions GmbH takes over the piping construction know-how of ROBA Piping Projects GmbH
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ith effect from 1 October 2021, Heitkamp Industrial Solutions GmbH takes over assets and staff of the piping specialist ROBA Piping Projects GmbH. Founded in 1989, ROBA has decades of experience and proven know-how in piping and plant construction and thus strengthens the activities in the delivery of industrial plant by Heitkamp Industrial Solutions GmbH. Heitkamp Industrial Solutions is pleased to acquire the expertise of ROBA of the piping construction expert, taking over the assets and personnel. The traditional medium-sized company will continue to operate as an independent brand within a new legal entity under the name Roba Industrial Piping GmbH which belongs completely to Heitkamp Industrial Solutions GmbH. The manufacturing plant in Obernburg, Bavaria is available for customised production using 4000m² of production space and providing material class capacities ranging from carbon steels 1.0038 to stainless steels 1.4571.
“Roba’s technological know-how and innovative spirit will complement our portfolio and strengthen our market presence, especially in the fields of power and industrial plants” emphasises Christopher Hambleton, Managing Director of Heitkamp Solutions GmbH. With more than 30 years of international competence as a professional solution provider for high-tech piping
manufacturing and components and its own production, Roba Industrial Piping GmbH will support the activities of Heitkamp Industrial Solutions GmbH in with project planning, design, manufacture, and assembly for tailor-made solutions for the delivery of industrial plants. For further information: Christina Steigler Communications / Marketing Heitkamp Industrial Solutions GmbH M: +49 173 7643230 christina.steigler@heitkamp-solutions.com www.heitkamp-solutions.com
September 2021
AMETEK Surface Vision enhances support for customers throughout Canada with the appointment of a new regional sales manager
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METEK Surface Vision, the leading provider of online surface inspection solutions, has appointed Vincent Roy as Regional Sales Manager for Canada. His role will be to develop relationships with customers and to achieve strong revenue growth for both the SmartView® and SmartAdvisor® brands. Working closely with existing and new customers, this appointment will add value across all markets including paper, metals, nonwov-
ens, and plastics, utilizing Vincent’s extensive sales and industry experience to develop relationships and increase product support. Commenting on his role, Vincent Roy said: “The markets in which AMETEK Surface Vision is active are changing and developing fast. AMETEK Surface Vision has the technology and products to meet these challenges, and I’m proud to be joining the team, helping customers by offering effective and well-adapted solutions. My experience and approach to sales, particularly with North American paper mill producers, will help me to meet the needs of our existing and future customers.”
Vincent will report to Francois Levac, Americas Business Director, who added: “Vincent has a broad range of experience in customer-facing roles and will certainly be an asset for AMETEK Surface Vision. His personality and technical focus, approach to problem-solving, as well as his sales and marketing experience, will be of great benefit to our growing team.” Before joining AMETEK, Vincent held sales and account roles in related industry companies including Constant America, Buckman, and CIBA Chemical. He also holds a Paper Technologies degree from the Trois-Rivières College.
Fine Tubes achieves ISO 45001:2018 Health and Safety Certification U.K.-based specialist metal tubing manufacturer, AMETEK Fine Tubes, has been awarded the ISO 45001:2018 Health and Safety Certification. The certification validates that the business has met stringent health and safety standards to protect its employees at work. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) awarded Fine Tubes the certificate, which is valid for three years. Having the ISO 45001:2018 certification demonstrates Fine Tubes’ health and safety excellence. The company is committed to improving employee welfare by reducing risks in the workplace and creating better, safer working conditions. To achieve this certification, Fine Tubes built upon its established safety
management system, leading to an increased awareness of risk assessments and improved employee engagement in health and safety topics. This recognition underlines Fine Tubes’ reputation as a safe place to work. It also strengthens its operational control systems and allows compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
Dr. Mathew Davies, Health, Safety and Environmental Manager at Fine Tubes, said: “We are proud to have demonstrated the strength of our health and safety management programme by receiving the ISO45001:2018 certificate. It shows that we have put in place and are maintaining a high level of occupational health and safety excellence. Not only does it demonstrate our entire team’s compliance and full engagement with the demanding assessment process, but also our commitment to continuous improvements and buy-in from stakeholders that are important for keeping everyone healthy and injury-free at work.” Fine Tubes has also achieved its 14001:2015 Environmental Management System Certificate.