Industrial Factory Automation

Baldor Electric has launched a range of smart drives, offering economic and space-saving solutions for many common single-axis automation requirements. The drives also feature an Ethernet interface compatible with the deterministic Ethernet-compatible motion-control standard, Powerlink. The Mint Lite programming capability is now being fitted without charge on all of Baldor's Microflex e100 and Motiflex e100 single- and three-phase drive ranges. These drives are available in a choice of power ratings up to 33.5A. The versatile drives may be used to control rotary and linear servo motors, linear motors and closed-loop vector motors, and in V/Hz control modes. The embedded Mint Lite capability supports a range of basic motion-programming requirements, including performing relative and absolute moves, S-ramp profiles, jog and homing movements, changing target positions on the fly, registration moves and reacting to real-time trigger events. The programming facility allows standalo

Puls UK, a manufacturer of DIN rail power supplies, has won Atex approval for a selection of its single-phase Q-series units, allowing them to be used in potentially explosive environments. The units have been tested to EN 60079 - 15 and are approved for use in Zone 2 hazardous systems category 3G. Puls said no electrical changes were necessary to achieve the approval and that the standard had been met by dual conformal coating the internal components of the units. Atex is the framework for controlling explosive atmospheres and the standards of equipment and protective systems used in them. By achieving EN 60079 - 15 approval, Puls UK is now well placed to become a major supplier of power supplies to this specialised sector of the market. First shipments of the Q-series units are expected in the UK in May 2010.

Thorite has supplied three PIAB vacuum pumps to McCambridge Foods, a Blackburn-based mince-pie manufacturer. A bumper pre-Christmas production run put a noticeable strain on the company's existing pumps, with a reduction in vacuum, resulting in batches of pastry casings being pulled out of place or damaged. McCambridge invited Thorite to explain what products it could offer. Thorite recommended installing PIAB's P6010 Coax Technology pumps to achieve the triple benefits of a more powerful vacuum, a better 'hold' of the pie casings during production and improved quality control. Speaking after the pumps' successful installation and commissioning, Clive Halliday said: 'The PIAB P6010 provides up to 40 per cent more flow than conventional vacuum pumps, while still reducing overall energy consumption. 'The durable, maintenance-free design makes it suited for automated material handling, characterised by powerful, non heat-generating suction at extremely low

Inmoco's new range of Ion intelligent digital drives, from Performance Motion Devices (PMD), is claimed to improve design times and simplify integration. The Ion line features power ranges of 500W and 3,000W; these enable a wide range of motor types and sizes to be combined in multi-axis motion positioning applications when using Ion drives. The Ion 500 and 3000 drives are compact modules that provide power amplification, advanced motion-control features and network connectivity in an enclosed package. Both models are available for DC-brush, brushless-DC and micro-stepping motors and are suitable for medical, scientific, semiconductor, industrial, robotic and general automation applications. Key to the performance of the new Ion digital drives is PMD's advanced Magellan motion-control IC, complete with its enhanced instruction set. This combination provides 32-bit processing power to initialise and control the motion-control application, monitor performance and synchronise

Beko Technologies will showcase a range of products at the Air-Tech 2010 exhibition, which is scheduled to be held at the NEC in Birmingham on 8-10 June. The company, which will be found in Hall 3, Stand A3217, will exhibit the Bekokat and the Metpoint live demonstration unit, flowmeters and dewpoint meters. Bekokat provides oil-free air regardless of the compressor type or ambient conditions. Metpoint is able to verify the resulting air oil content right down to ISO class-zero quality and gives a clear and constant indication of which class is being achieved. The combination of these two products is intended to give air users with critical applications peace of mind thanks to a built-in alarm contact. Flowmeters and dewpoint meters enable customers to find out the quality and consumption of their compressed air. Leak Detector, which will also be exhibited at the event, is claimed to offer a simple, low-cost way of reducing air loss in compressed-air systems. The company can show

Crowcon has announced that its intrinsically safe TXgard-IS+ gas detector is now UL certified. The detector is fitted with electrochemical sensors that can detect a range of toxic gases and oxygen. Gases detected include those commonly found in industrial applications, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, chlorine, ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and oxygen. Already certified to ATEX and IECEx standards, the addition of UL certification means that the TXgard-IS+ can now be used globally, including in North America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, in Zone 0, 1 or 2 or Division 1 or 2 hazardous areas when used with a safety barrier (zener barrier or galvanic isolator). Typical environments where the TXgard-IS+ can be used include plastic, rubber, chemical and semiconductor manufacturing plants, water and sewage treatment plants, steel manufacturing facilities, oil-and-gas drilling and processing facilities, car parks and tunnels. The TXgard-IS+, which is said t

MCI Electrotechnics is using a range of explosion-proof enclosures from Cooper Crouse-Hinds (CEAG) to protect electrical equipment for offshore and onshore oil, gas and petrochemical applications. MCI manufactures, installs and commissions custom control panels and electrical equipment for hazardous and non-hazardous environments around the world, including the North Sea, Middle East and south-east Asia. MCI supplies a diverse range of electrical-control systems, including motor-control centres (MCCs), junction boxes, motor starters, control panels, distribution boards and CPFG (combined pressure fire and gas) panels. On the hazardous-area side of the business, MCI offers customers two main types of explosion-proof enclosure for its products: a moulded plastic (GRP) EEx de version, as well as a range of metal (aluminium / cast iron) Ex d enclosures. All of these enclosures are supplied by Cooper Crouse-Hinds. Using the CEAG-moulded plastic Ex de enclosure, MCI assembles and mounts a

GEA Niro has selected engineering simulation software from Ansys to optimise equipment design and reduce development time and costs. GEA Niro provides drying equipment, technology and know-how to the dairy, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The suite from Ansys enables customers to optimise designs throughout the product-development process, especially in the early stages when changes can be efficiently and cost-effectively implemented. GEA Niro is applying engineering simulation as it develops equipment and processes for transforming liquids into powders, a major consideration in the dairy, food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Drying plants are becoming more important in processing safer and more profitable products. Optimising the drying process requires an in-depth understanding of complex flow and thermal-exchange phenomena, and Ansys software helps engineers to simulate real-world conditions in performing comprehensive analysis. Simulation results can be u

Enviro Technology has introduced a bolt-on accessory for the BAM-1020 that allows air-quality monitoring specialists to access real-time particulate data. The BX-895 Real Time Module, created by Met One Instruments, complements standard hourly readings with one, five, ten, 15 or 30-minute averages. This functionality is useful when correlating changing wind conditions to particulate events or when early predictions of hourly concentration data from the BAM-1020 are needed. A self-contained low-maintenance system, the BX-895 can be configured to work with PM10 and PM2.5 monitors. Compatible with all models, it can be mounted to the BAM-1020 inlet within minutes and it can also be used separately with any analogue data logger. The BX-895 conditions air samples for RH then passes them through a forward light-scatter laser nephelometer engine where the particulate mass is measured. A purge system protects the optics from excessive exposure to dust particles. The mass signal is continu

The new A141 high-output disaster siren and alarm from European Safety Systems (E2S) delivers an output of more than 140dB at 1m, which is louder than a jet engine on full power at take-off. With a power increase from 100W to 400W, the output of the A141 is higher than the A140 it replaces, giving it an effective warning range of between 500m and 750m, depending on the atmospheric conditions. The unit has a choice of 32 user-selectable warning tones and, with a second- and third-stage alarm capability, it is suitable for use in quarries, on large industrial and petrochemical sites and for civil defence requirements. The A141 generates multiple alarm tones, including fire, security, civil defence, alert, COMAH (SEVESO II) toxic-gas alarms and disaster warnings for flood, tsunami, tornado and other severe bad-weather conditions. The A141 is powered from either 24VDC or 115/230VAC. The mains-powered versions can be fitted with battery backup to enable the unit to operate for up to 30 m

Avery Weigh-Tronix 's 1080 indicator range offers connectivity across several network technologies from a compact size of just 15.4 x 8.2 x 14.7cm. The panel-mounted indicator is a cost-effective data management and process-control solution for a range of weighing equipment. The 1080 offers versatile data connectivity and can share weight data and control commands both locally and worldwide. An Ethernet port provides an IP network, a USB device enables connectivity to a nearby PC and the RS 232/422/485 interface provides data transfers for legacy equipment. The RS 422/485 also allows a long interface cable length for remote displays. When the application requires connection to a Fieldbus network, the 1080 can communicate from its standard Profibus or Ethernet 10/100 outputs to a PLC. It also supports ODVA protocols and can be fitted with an option to support analogue values. The bright LED display has 14mm digits and an array of status indicators, making it easy to see and allowi

Rockwell Automation has introduced two controllers that each provide machine builders and manufacturers with integrated safety, motion, discrete and drive-control capabilities. The Allen-Bradley L43S and L45S Compact Guardlogix programmable automation controllers (PACs) extend capabilities previously available only in the larger Allen-Bradley Controllogix platform. These include diagnostics and information capabilities that help reduce nuisance shutdowns and prolonged restarts, as well as a single programming environment for enhanced design and development productivity. The Compact Guardlogix controllers build on the company's leadership in integrating standard and safety control into a single platform. As part of the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system, the Compact Guardlogix controllers use the same configuration, networking and visualisation environment as the company's larger-scale systems. This helps provide machine builders and end users with cost-effect

Projen's success on a pharmaceutical project has led to it being recommended to another medical-supplies company. The supplier engaged Projen on Dsear/Atex compliance work and expressed the potential for long-term involvement. Projen was recommended by a supplier of advanced alginate-based wound-care solutions. This project included the design and build of an acetone and industrial methylated spirits (IMS) tank farm.

Technology transfer may prove one of the cornerstones for growth as the UK emerges from recession over the coming months. However, one company, Sensor Technology , identified the benefits of wireless as far back as the turn of the millennium. 'We identified a way to measure the torque in a rotating shaft without maintaining physical contact - well, the theory of how to do it. 'Doing away with the traditional slip rings would be a big advantage in many potential applications and we kept thinking of more and more reasons to develop the concept,' said Tony Ingham from Sensor Technology. In the 1990s Sensor Technology had a number of projects running that related to electromagnetic corruption, EMC and its control. Ingham continued: 'Computers and electronics were getting everywhere in the 1990s, but they could be susceptible to electrical interference if they were used in proximity to virtually any sort of machine. 'This included the obvious places such as factory flo

Ethernet Direct has brought out the Falcon FWI-705 industrial 2.4GHz wireless ceiling access point. The FWI-705 is suited for factory floors and industrial office complexes requiring aesthetic design. FWI-705 operates in 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g compliant wireless indoor access point, available for industrial Ethernet applications. FWI-705 links two or more separate networks to cost effectively and efficiently create a single expanded LAN network. A built-in 4dBi directional antenna is included for flexibility in installation. FWI-705 supports three different operation modes: Access Point, Repeater and AP + WDS. To secure information, it comes with WEP encryption and WAP function. With these advanced features, FWI-705 is a powerful indoor solution produced for industrial applications.

GEA Pharma Systems has introduced the Consigma Continuous Tableting system. The system satisfies the pharmaceutical industry's demand for continuous production to provide improved quality, flexibility and consistency for pharmaceutical processes. GEA Pharma Systems presented Consigma at the FDA's first Continuous Manufacturing Symposium, held 11 March 2010 in Bethesda, Maryland, US. One Consigma can run 500g in research and development, but can also run clinical trial, launch size, and any production-size batches. There is no process scale-up, as time is the only relevant factor in a continuous process. This allows manufacturers to dramatically reduce development time to reduce costs and bring products to market much faster. The system is compact (one third the size of a classic granulation line - inclusive of a tablet press) and has a modular construction, allowing it to fit perfectly into any research and development department or existing tablet production room. There i

Whitehouse Scientific will exhibit its opaque standards for particle-size analysis at Powtech 2010, to take place 27-29 April in Nurnberg, Germany. Managing director Dr Graham Rideal will present a lecture as part of the World Congress on Particle Technology (WPCT6), a scientific congress that this year will take place alongside Powtech. He will focus on the latest trends in particle-size standards, from sub-micron multimodal standards to image-analysis standards up to 2mm in size. Whitehouse Scientific's new silver-coated opaque standard covers the size range from 19 to 190 microns. It has been the subject of a recent round-robin exercise involving examination by leading particle-sizing laboratories and instrument manufacturers. Independent company LGC analysed the new standard within its Quality Audit Scheme. The standard produced the best ever repeatabilites seen by laser-diffraction analysers.

Installing Powerperfector helps businesses comply with the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme emissions legislation. The government has underestimated by up to six times the number of businesses affected by the scheme, according to the Financial Times. It is now suggested that as many as 30,000 companies may be affected by the legislation, which will come into effect on 1 April. Powerperfector can provide the 'single biggest carbon reduction' to an entire electrical infrastructure, while guaranteeing savings. It reduces costs, kWh use and improves power quality.

GE Sensing and Inspection Technologies is running the Access Oil and Gas: Integrity Forum, an online event featuring virtual demonstrations of inspection, measurement and sensing products. It goes live on 30 March and will remain an accessible environment until 30 June. Demonstrations will include remote visual-inspection systems, digital radiography equipment and eddy current and ultrasonic inspection equipment, as well as examples of GE's latest developments in flowmetering, gas and moisture detection, pressure sensing and instrument calibration and communication. For example, GE will present the Rightrax remote corrosion monitoring system. In addition, industry experts from GE Sensing and Inspection Technologies will be on hand throughout the virtual environment to chat with attendees and answer questions about oil-and-gas technologies, products or applications. The forum will provide an opportunity for oil-and-gas professionals to: chat live with peers, listen to industry le

Scottish Water is using the Halma Water Management (HWM) Sonicsens ultrasonic level sensor to monitor flow rates in a variety of situations. These include siphon chambers, combined sewer overflows (CSOs), overflow and storm tanks, weirs, reservoirs and compensation channels. Sonicsens is a non-contact, highly accurate level sensor and flowmeter. Ultrasonic level sensors are based on a simple principle: an inaudible high-frequency sound wave is emitted and directed towards the surface to be measured. This surface reflects the wave back and the time taken for the reflected wave to return is in direct proportion to the intervening distance. With a known total distance between the sensor and the bottom of the vessel or channel, subtraction reveals the depth of the water. Flow rates can then be calculated easily if the volumetric dimensions of the channel are known, faster flow raising the fluid level accordingly. Ultrasonic measurement is non-contact and therefore non-contaminating and

Tecate Industries has brought out the Type PC5 ultracapacitor, under a licence agreement with Maxwell Technologies. Tecate's Powerburst Type PC5 RoHS-compliant ultracapacitor provides extended power availability during dips, sags and outages in the main power sources, as well as to relieve batteries of burst-power functions. The part's flat prismatic cell-design incorporates stainless steel, hermetically sealed cells. Due to this unique construction, it boasts an extremely low profile (5.1mm maximum), making it an excellent choice for space-constrained applications. The low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) PC5 ultracapacitor can accept charges at the identical rate of discharge and features accessible terminals and an electrostatic storage capability to facilitate more than 500,000 duty cycles and a 10-year life capability. Tecate's Powerburst Type PC5 ultracapacitor is commonly specified for employment in a broad range of applications, including providing, holding up, o

Yamaichi Electronics has brought out the FMS006-7000-0, a super low-profile SIM card reader equipped with a tray. This six-pin reader is suitable for applications requiring a frequent change of the SIM card or easy access to the card without opening the enclosure. The SIM card is placed in the tray and then inserted with the tray into the card reader. Thus the SIM card is completely protected by the card-reader housing. The tray's stop function can only be extracted to a defined distance in order to allow the comfortable placing and withdrawal of the card. The tray can also be completely removed from the reader through additional pulling force. The insulation body of the card reader is made out of LCP; the metal cover and the additional reinforcements are out of SUS. This gives the body stability and ensures its coplanarity. The reader also features gold-plated two-point contacts, which ensure uninterrupted contact reliance during vibrations and shocks. As the card reader has a su

NXC2620 HDVK10 (Handheld Development Kit 1.0) is a battery-powered and compact-sized computer board. It is a flexible, high-performance and inexpensive development kit designed for handheld applications such as remote control, home automation and portable data collection. The major HDVK10 hardware comprises an NXC2620 32-bit RISC CPU, a Wi-Fi module, a Zigbee (or RF4CE) module, an IrDa remote-control function and a 2.4in TFT LCD display. Each HDVK10 is pre-installed with Windows CE 5.0 OS and sample application software for instant evaluation. The full set of Windows CE 5.0 BSP is also provided to customers for application development, without extra charge.

Austriamicrosystems has introduced the AS8510, a high precision data-acquisition front-end IC. It is suitable for automotive battery current, voltage, temperature sense applications and sensor-interface applications where precise measurement of small signals close to ground is required. The flexible-sensor interface IC features a 16-bit dual-channel ADC + PGA architecture, with less than one LSB of offset and noise. The AS8510 allows systems to be tailored to individual needs, making it suited to a wide range of present and future battery-management applications. The AS8510 in combination with Austriamicrosystems' 'System Basis Chip' and a micro controller provides an entire battery-sensor semiconductor solution for both High-Side or Low-Side. The AS8510 data-acquisition front-end IC features two independent analogue input channels with 16-bit ADCs, each with individually programmable sampling rates. Each channel has a low-drift programmable gain amplifier for handling +/-

Schmidt Technology has announced that it can provide a wide range of manual presses and optional accessories to suit all requirements. Features of these machines are said to include rapid changeover due to the easy and secure adjustment of the working height. A ground platen with precision T-slot and precise alignment between the ram and table bores allow for accurate and repeatable set ups. The original position of the hand lever can be varied by 360deg and is available for left-handed and right-handed use. Clamp bearings and serrations provide a secure fit of the hand lever and the return stroke force of the ram can be adapted to different tool weights. Depending on the application, there is a wide selection of rack-and-pinion presses and toggle presses to choose from.

ATI Industrial Automation has provided tool changers for a live robotic display of Ford's new Ecoboost powertrain technology. When Ford Motor Company and ABB Robotics looked to create the live display to communicate the fuel-efficiency message of the Ecoboost technology, they turned to ATI Industrial Automation for their tool-changing needs. Debuting at the 2010 NAIAS Detroit Auto Show and on display at the upcoming New York Auto Show on 2-11 April 2010, the display uses ATI QC-110 and QC-210 robotic tool changers and two ABB robots, named 'Eco' and 'Boost', which are housed in circular, plexi-glass-rimmed display cells. Mounted on the wrists of the robots, ATI quick-change tool changers enable the robots to automatically pick up different engine samples and components, presenting them to the crowd in a radial path around each cell. Ford also uses ATI tool changers in its manufacturing plants to increase flexibility on its stamping, body-assembly and powertrain pro

Ewon has launched Talk2M Go, the latest version of its internet remote-access and maintenance platform for machine builders and system integrators. Talk2M Go provides secure, on-demand access to remote PLCs, machines and devices. Combined with Ewon industrial routers, it facilitates integration with a variety of PLCs and automated devices. Talk2M Go is hosted on a mission-critical internet provider and is covered by a service level agreement. The platform has a guaranteed bandwidth of 500kb/s, with 1Mb/s burstable, according to the company. It enables up to three users to access one or several machines at the same time, with fully detailed connection reports itemised by machine, available every month. With a pay-per-use pricing model, Talk2M Go minimises operating costs as well as initial investments. It is also claimed to shorten the project go-live time and the time to market. A single-click upgrade to Talk2M Pro secures user investment and makes Talk2M Go a suitable entry-level pla

Vaillant Group, a heating technology manufacturer, is using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology from CoreRFID to manage work in progress on the production lines of its Derbyshire plant. The system provides the real-time visibility of which boiler is at which stage of manufacture as it moves along the line. The solution, developed by Vaillant Group with RFID consultancy from CoreRFID, tracks each boiler so that all production steps are followed in the correct sequence and that tools and materials are available exactly as needed at each step. Each production trolley that carries the boiler chassis along the line has an electronic tag that can be read at each manufacturing station as the trolley arrives. CoreRFID helped Vaillant Group by providing support in selecting the appropriate RFID technology for the application and the layout of the plant. The company also advised on the design of software so that the RFID readers and antenna would work correctly, solving the problem

Kurt 's new HDM690 vise, with a full 9in (175mm) jaw opening, clamps larger parts with repeatable 0.001in (0.03mm) accuracy and minimal stationary jaw deflection. The vise features a rigid stationary jaw with top-down bolting, a tall-body design to reduce deflection, high-precision roller bearings and a hardened vise screw mechanism. This vise distributes clamping force evenly and precisely across the full jaw surface. The Anglock spherical segment in the moveable jaw reduces jaw lift. The pull-type body design reduces stress in the 80,000lb/in2 ductile iron body, resulting in more accurate clamping. Kurt's new automated workholding fixtures load and unload parts with a robot arm. These fixtures have pre-load features that centre and clamp parts securely. Pressure and proximity sensors communicate wirelessly with the robot and the machining centre. Workholding setups can be designed for 24/7 operation so as not to require operator interaction with the system. The company has ca

Mate has introduced the patent-pending Ultra IMT fully indexable multi tool, which is designed to enable users to improve productivity from thick-turret punch presses. Unlike standard multi tools, which only have one angle setting, fully indexable multi tools can achieve any angle setting on the workpiece. Mate offers two versions of the Ultra IMT fully indexable multi tool. The first, called 3-Station, uses standard Ultra 1.1/4in B-Station punches and strippers and thick-turret B-Station dies. It can punch up to 6mm material with a maximum tonnage of 16tonf (142kN). The second version, 8-Station, uses standard Ultra 1/2in A-Station punches and strippers and thick-turret A-Station dies. This version can punch up to 6mm material with a maximum tonnage of 7tonf (62kN). The Ultra IMT is claimed to be easy to use; assembly and disassembly is simple. No tools are required for punch, striker and stripper retention/removal. The Ultra IMT is designed to use Mate's Ultra punches, strippers

Elscint Automation has developed a special vibratory bowl feeder for feeding sintered parts for a customer. There were a total of three parts that needed to be fed through a single bowl feeder. Two of the parts were having a collar with the weight towards the bottom, making them easy to orient, but the third and the most critical component was a tube-type part that needed 'standing' orientation; however, the weight was towards the top side, which made it difficult to orient. Elscint has fulfilled this requirement and has arranged for the commissioning of the equipment at the customer's place, proving all the three parts on the customer's press. Along with the bowl feeder, the company provided a cubical stand, a gravity chute, a noise enclosure, an Elsinthane coating for the bowl and a level controller for indication once the quantity of components in the bowl goes down. A speed of 100 pieces per minute was achieved for these three components, with nominal and simple ch

Trix Systems has upgraded the component management module for its Trix Organizer engineering document management software. The Trix Organizer module now displays both documents and equipment records in a common interface. Users can find answers to requests such as 'Show me all the equipment purchased under this AFE' and 'Show me all the drawings and documents associated with this equipment'. They can also start with specific drawings to make requests such as 'Show me all the pieces of equipment that require this drawing'. The Trix Organizer's primary function is to enable end users to directly find the drawings and other documents they need, without having to ask for help. At the same time, the system controls edits and releases. It prevents accidental duplications and ensures that only one editor can make changes to a file at any time. All documents are stored inside a single, centralised Microsoft SQL Server database. Files are stored inside the actual da

Metrohm has announced that the increasing use of its Unitrode and Aquatrode Plus in pH measurement shows that the fixed ground joint is being recognised as the universal diaphragm type. According to the company, it is largely insensitive to contaminants and requires minimal maintenance. The fixed ground-joint diaphragm is suitable for a range of samples, from clear, ion-deficient solutions up to highly concentrated suspensions or emulsions. Metrohm said that its greatest strength is its precision. The fixed ground-joint diaphragm allows low-noise potential measurements that are only dependent on the ionic strength and stirring speed to a minimal extent, meeting the requirements for a rapid and precise titration. In order to utilise the advantages of the fixed ground-joint diaphragm to the full extent in titrations, a new type of membrane glass has also been developed for the Ecotrode Plus, which, in addition to a short response time, exhibits high endurance.

A welding accessory from Huntingdon Fusion Techniques (HFT) is being utilised in an increasing number of applications in unexpected areas. For example, a Norwegian pipe manufacturer found that the inflatable dams - designed to provide a rapid seal for pipework during weld purging - offer a cost-effective alternative for protection against contamination from dust and water during transport. The dams, which can be inflated rapidly via a standard Schrader or BSP fitting, provide excellent sealing and are reusable, according to the company. They are available to fit all standard pipe diameters between 50mm and 1,800mm (2in and 72in).

This year's Arburg Technology Days event, which was held on 18-20 March, focused on efficient production and included the first-ever Packaging Technology Forum. According to the company, plastics processing is currently in recovery, following the worldwide economic crisis. This makes it important for injection moulding companies to exploit the potential for production optimisation, including use of the latest technical developments. Arburg used a variety of energy-efficient Allrounder injection moulders and systems to demonstrate how all-round productivity can be achieved with short cycle times. Another component in efficient production is intensive and individually tailored customer consulting. This includes the machine technology itself and the entire production environment. The representative cross section of the current Arburg range included complex production cells with Multilift robotic systems and six-axis robotic systems featuring the Selogica user interface. The range of

An installation completed by the Dust Extraction ( Dustx ) Group at a UK power station involved the use of its 'X' 'CV' pulse-jet tubular-bagged filter units. The installation required two of the company's Model CV 10 x 19 '3XL' filters, with each unit being fitted with two 22kW integral fan sets. Both filter units form part of a centralised dust control system with a total air extraction rate of 64,600cuM/hr, which serves the biomass loading facility, extracting dusts generated from loading materials, including nut kernels, palm and wood pellets, by a 3cuM Komatsu bucket loader onto conveyors, via hopper loaders. Careful consideration was given to the type of filter employed as a result of the varying characteristics of the products being handled, all of which classified as explosive and having a degree of moisture content. Purpose-designed tipping hoods eliminate the mass migration of airborne dust created during the tipping operation, enabling the effecti

3M has integrated the Rite-Lok range of engineering adhesives into its Scotch-Weld product portfolio. This new addition to the Scotch-Weld product range includes instant adhesives, thread lockers, pipe sealants, gasket adhesives and cleaning products. The Rite-Lok range of adhesives is suitable for a variety of industrial applications, including vehicle repair and maintenance, engineering services and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). The full range of Scotch-Weld products now includes cyanoacrylate adhesives, anaerobic adhesives, ultraviolet adhesives, high-temperature silicone sealants, structural adhesives, primers and activators. The company is seeking distributors for the Scotch-Weld range.

Fosters Bakery, located in Barnsley, Yorkshire, has invested in a Fanuc robot system for loading and unloading baked products to an oven. As a result, the bakery has increased the capacity of a reel oven by 80 per cent and is saving 50 per cent energy costs in the process. Several years ago, directors John Foster and Michael Taylor took a trip round a fully automated bakery in Holland, which showed them just what could be done to enhance manufacturing capability. Identifying an oven loading application as a starting point, Fosters worked with a local engineering company to integrate a Fanuc Robotics M-710iA articulated robot. Taylor, operations director, said: 'The nature of reel ovens is that the shelves continually move, making it impossible for a single operator to unload a full tray of baked products and replace the same shelf with dough. 'In practice, many shelves are left to rotate without anything loaded onto them while the operator aims to keep them filled,' he add

Abas Software will present the latest Abas Business Software developments at this year's Hannover Messe exhibition, which is due to be held in Germany on 19-23 April. According to the company, which will exhibit alongside its international software partners on Stand B56 in Hall 17, the focus will be placed on innovations in Abas information systems, customer relationship management (CRM), shipping and sales planning and comprehensive e-business applications. Abas information systems are navigation platforms that are designed to efficiently handle business processes. Processes can be created, managed and controlled from one screen, from quote to invoice. Abas Business Software is claimed to provide users with expanded CRM functionality. It is now possible to record, evaluate and process 'opportunities' in sales. A new 'opportunities overview' provides a complete overview of all sales projects at the click of a button. Tasks can be delegated directly from the screen

The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) offers advice and support to UK manufacturers to improve their productivity and competitiveness. A free and quick-query service offers answers to a wide range of technical issues by email or phone. A free manufacturing review for SME manufacturers allows experienced industrial practitioners to carry out a hands-on assessment and diagnostic of a business that will highlight areas of opportunity or action that can be taken to improve operational performance. All initial advice relating to this is also free of charge. Training and networking events can help improve awareness and skills related to manufacturing issues and best practice. See the local regional MAS website for details of the events. MAS can provide up to 50 per cent to SMEs of the cost of an expert to help them improve their business, up to a value of GBP3,250. This support includes: help with developing new or more effective products or processes; innovation advice; identifying new

Spectrum has introduced the M3i.21xx series digitiser, which is based on the M3i platform. Four different versions are available for all supported bus types ranging from 250MS/s to 1GS/s with one or two synchronous channels. All cards are available as PCI/PCI-X and PCI Express version for the same price. The M3i.21xx series is suitable for a large range of application areas, especially high-energy physics, research and development, radar, spectroscopy and laser applications. The card series uses monolithic A/D converters even for the 1GS/s acquisition mode. This is said to eliminate problems that come from interlaced A/D converters often used by other products in this speed range. The highly configurable A/D amplifier stage consists of a 50ohm terminated path with a bandwidth of up to 500MHz and a second, high impedance path with a bandwidth >200MHz. Each channel has a programmable AC/DC coupling and a selectable low pass filter to optimise noise figures. The input stage can be on-

Hirose Electric has launched the DF50 range of receptacles and headers, designed with space saving and durability in mind for applications requiring more strength. The double row, vertical housing and fine pitch of 1mm allow for maximum space saving on the board, which reduces the mounting area needed. The metal lock provides a consistent and positive tactile click, even with repetitive mating. This ensures the connector is fully engaged, guaranteeing complete electrical and mechanical connection. The lock is centred on the housing to avoid uneven locking and cable entanglement, which is common with side locks. The housings have been designed with thicker and more robust walls to prevent cracking. A long insertion depth and blade contacts are utilised to prevent damage against any wrenching forces. The receptacle features a robust and reliable lance structure which keeps the contacts securely in place, even when high forces are applied to the cable. Hirose Electric said high contact r

Lantronix has announced the availability of the EDS1100 and EDS2100 device servers, designed to increase the level of transmission security for patient records, financial and customer information. Available with Linux and IPv6, the EDS1100/2100 provides simple-to-configure, enterprise-level protection of electronic data using security protocols such as Secure Shell and Secure Sockets Layer. With the aid of a simple configuration interface, the EDS1100/2100 permits users to quickly and securely network remote equipment. In addition, the EDS1100/2100 includes Lantronix's VIP AccessO, which enables highly secure remote access and management of equipment behind firewalls. In addition to Linux, Lantronix's device servers are available with the company's Evolution OSO operating system. The company's management tools allow for easy configuration and monitoring, e-mail and RSS notifications for instant visibility of device activity.

Henkel has introduced Loctite 3090, a two-part cyanoacrylate that increases the versatility of instant adhesives. Alongside all the traditional benefits - an initial bond within seconds, clear bondline, high strength and easy dispensing - this product allows any exposed adhesive remaining outside of the joint to harden within two to four minutes. This additional advantage removes the need for a post-assembly activator. Not only that, larger gap sizes can be readily accommodated. The new adhesive will bond close-fitting parts in 20 seconds - and even where the gap is 3mm, bonding is achieved in less than 90 seconds. Furthermore, the product can be used where a more significant gap - up to 5mm - is involved. Loctite 3090, which can be used on a variety of substrates, including plastic, rubber, wood, stone, leather, fabric or metal, is capable of withstanding a force of some 20N/mm2. Application is easy, as the adhesive contains a dual syringe with seven mixer nozzles. These syringes ens

Keithley Instruments has created an interactive applications overview, entitled 'Ultra-Fast I-V Applications'. The overview provides instruction and insight into a variety of semiconductor measurement applications that require ultra-fast I-V measurements, and it can be viewed online at the company's website. Ultra-fast I-V sourcing and measurement have become increasingly important capabilities for many semiconductor technologies. Using pulsed I-V signals to characterise devices rather than DC signals makes it possible to study or eliminate the effects of self-heating (joule heating) or to minimise current drifting in measurements due to trapped charge. The applications overview includes sections on integrated high-speed sourcing and measurement; a discussion of voltage, current, and timing parameter ranges; a description of the built-in interactive software provided in Keithley's ultra-fast I-V test solution; and a detailed discussion of ultra-fast I-V applications. B

Alrad has brought out the Gidel PCIe/104 computation accelerator. The PROC104 system provides a high-capacity, high-speed FPGA-based platform fortified with high-throughput and massive memory, resulting in a powerful and flexible system. The PROC104 complies with PCIe/104 standard, incorporating compact, self-stacking and rugged industrial-standard connectors. It is ideal for high-performance FPGA development and deployment across a range of SWaP-constrained application areas, including signal intelligence, image processing, software-defined radio and autonomous modules/vehicles. The PROC104 can be hosted via four-lane PCI Express. The board's high-speed performance coupled with memory and add-on daughter boards' flexible architecture enable the system to meet almost any computational needs. In addition to 512MB onboard memory, two SODIMM sockets provide an extra 8GB. Abundant memory conjoined with fast PCIe connection enables strong co-processing between a standard PC operati