Industrial Technology

Machinery Directive Harmonised Standards, 9 June 2017

A revised list of Machinery Directive Harmonised Standards was published in the Official Journal (OJ) of the European Union on 9 June 2017. Follow the link to see the B-Type and C-Type standards that are either new or amended.

29th June 2017

Can 3 grams of adhesive pull 208 tons of freight train?

Structural bonding is fast gaining popularity over conventional joining methods for several reasons. The ability to join dissimilar materials such as plastics and metals is one significant benefit as it allows different combinations to be chosen for their performance quality without having to consider the joining method. A bonded joint is also sealed so it prevents leakage and corrosion and as there is no visible sign of the join, it looks good too.

28th June 2017

Spelsberg"s next day custom enclosure samples keep projects on schedule

The popularity of Spelsberg UK’s unique next day sample service is continuing to grow, 12 months after it was launched. By delivering samples for custom enclosure designs with a 24 hour turnaround, customers are able to compress their project times while also helping ensure optimum designs. Chris Lloyd, Managing Director, explains how Spelsberg is achieving such a fast turnaround:

28th June 2017

SKF wins RISAS approval from UK rail safety authority

SKF (UK) has become an accredited supplier under the Railway Industry Supplier Approval Scheme (RISAS). The aim of the scheme is to ensure that duty holders and other major customers, such as ROSCOs, are able to rely upon common third party assessments by accredited RISABs (Railway Industry Supplier Approval Bodies). RISABs assess the adequacy of key suppliers’ procedures, practices and competence to manage risks which arise from the specialist nature of railway industry applications.

28th June 2017

Lenze teams up with ei3 for secure data handling in the cloud

Machine and systems engineers using automation technology from Lenze can now create online data services very easily. Lenze has joined forces with the IoT specialist ei3 Corporation to offer a combination of remote analysis of machine performance and also remote predictive maintenance. It is available as an unbranded product without visible evidence of the ei3 brand so only the name and logo of the machine manufacturer is visible.

28th June 2017

New online shop for motors and drives

A range of industrial parts, including motors and drives, are now available for online purchase on supply, maintenance and repair specialist, CP Automation, new online shop. The company is now able to serve a wider range of clients across the globe and provide a rich database of product information at the click of a button.

28th June 2017

Motoman robots plus AirGrip equals a better grip on bottles

Bottling is an important stage in many manufacturing processes where liquid products are packaged as part of the final stage of production, for example in the brewing, distilling and beverage industries. The physical ‘bottle lifting’ process is a key part of this process and a new combination of an air gripper tool and sophisticated robot controller is helping manufacturers to get a better grip on their bottles and improve their bottling process.

28th June 2017

New robot lends precision and reliability to the production of hearing aids

Hearing aid device manufacturer Oticon required a more flexible robot to handle the tiny hearing device components in its production. The company had been using robot technology for the past 10 years. But, as the minute components became increasingly smaller in order to make the hearing aids more comfortable, the existing two- and three-axes robots used in manufacturing were no longer suitable. They could not perform the required lateral and vertical movements sufficiently. If for instance a small part is stuck in a mould, the robot should be dexterous enough to tip it out.

28th June 2017

Harvey Water Softeners utilise HepcoMotion actuators in a precision pick and place system

To meet the growing demand for its products, Harvey Water Softeners based in Woking, Surrey, has recently automated the manual process responsible for the assembly of its popular push fit connectors. These connectors are an integral part in the water softener product; there are approximately 12 connectors in each product. The largest water softener manufacturer in Europe, Harvey Water Softeners sell a water softener every 17 minutes.

28th June 2017

Lubrication of rolling bearings on a paint shop ventilation fan

By installing the FAG CONCEPT8 multi-point automatic lubrication system from Schaeffler on a large ventilation fan at its paint facility, BMW Regensburg is preventing unplanned fan downtime due to inadequate lubrication, which would otherwise cause costly stoppages to production.

28th June 2017