Industrial Factory Automation

Newson Gale has announced that the Earth-Rite RTR tank truck static grounding system has been approved for the US and Canadian hazardous process industries. Certified by CSA, the Earth-Rite RTR is said to offer high security for tank truck product transfers at risk of static ignitions inflammable and combustible atmospheres. With the Tri-Mode technology platform, personnel cannot initiate product transfers unless the RTR has confirmed that the conditions necessary for a safe transfer are in place and monitored for the duration of the process. The Earth-Rite RTR provides operators with an automatic and failsafe Static Ground Verification and Tanker Truck Recognition check, ensuring product transfers cannot take place unless both of these parameters are tested and verified. In addition, the grounding system includes a pair of voltage-free contacts that engage only when the resistance to the system's verified ground connection is measured to be 10ohms or less. This feature enables c...

AKO Armaturen and Separations manufactures different valves designed for industrial use, including pinch valves, and specialises in manufacturing individually customised valves. The company said almost any media can be shut off, dosed or regulated with AKO pinch valves. Due to their versatility, pinch valves can be used in many industrial areas, such as the silo/cement sector, pigment and granulate handling, ceramic industry, glass industry, water and wastewater treatment, the pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs industry and more. Pinch valves are suitable for handling many products, particularly corrosive and fibrous media. For simple shut-off or metering, they are very well suited and with the dependent operating pressures of 3-40 bar due to nominal sizes, they offer a universal use, according to AKO. By default, mechanical pinch valves can be operated manually with a hand wheel. Alternatively, the mechanical pinch valves can also be controlled automatically. The actuator causes the p...

Sherborne Sensors has launched a range of high-precision, gravity-referenced dual-axis inclinometers for measurements in space-constrained areas such as borehole or well logging and seismic studies. The T820 series cylindrical inclinometers, available for ranges from +/-14.5deg to +/-60deg, measure just 23mm in diameter and 161mm in length. The range includes the T823 with an environmentally sealed connector and cable system or the T825 with solder pin terminations. They can operate from a bipolar input voltage range of +/-12VDC to +/-18VDC or a single-ended voltage range of 9VDC to 18VDC. A high-level output of +/-5VDC is achieved for the bipolar supplied unit and 0.5VDC to 4.5VDC output is achieved for the single-ended version. The T820 series is made from stainless steel to prevent corrosion and to reduce angular errors that can be caused by the mechanical flexibility found in alternative aluminium alloy-constructed sensors. They also have a precision angular alignment capabilit...

ZWCAD Software, a provider of computer-aided design (CAD) products, has licensed Siemens PLM Software's D-Cubed software for use in its Professional application. The ZWCAD Professional software suite is based on the IntelliCAD software for integration with the D-Cubed 2D Dimensional Constraint Manager (DCM). It is said to offer comprehensive design and drafting capabilities, drawing (dwg) file import/export and extensive application programming interfaces that support a growing portfolio of partner applications. ZWCAD Software is a member of the IntelliCAD Technology Consortium and the Open Design Alliance. The 2D DCM is offered to members of these organisations with the 2D DCM Teigha software wrapper - an interface that can help them to quickly integrate the 2D DCM into their applications. The D-Cubed 2D DCM solves driving dimensions and geometric constraints to provide a parametric sketching capability in CAD systems. The 2D DCM enables CAD users to build and revise their mecha...

SICK will show safety switches, light curtains, safety scanners and cameras, relays and controllers at Health and Safety 2010, which is due to be held at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton on 13-14 October. The company will also demonstrate the capabilities of the new software upgrade for its Flexi Soft safety controller. The Flexi Soft modular safety controller incorporates a range of function modules to meet the needs of a range of machinery safety applications. The Designer software, in its enhanced v1.3 suite, ensures that it continually meets the demands of modern production safety. Designer v1.3 enables the more extensive and flexible control of safety applications for small and medium-sized machines. Available as a free download, Designer v1.3 enables the connection of four Flexi Soft controllers measuring up to 100m, in series, with an online view of the setup. As well as controlling an extended range of sensor function inputs and outputs, Flexi Soft Designer makes updating and rec...

Power transmission specialist Ondrives has launched a standard commercial range of worms and wheels, including both bored and shaft worms as well as plain and bossed wheels. Steel and case-hardened steel worms are standard with phosphor bronze PB2 wheels; delrin versions are also in stock. All are made to Quality Grade 9 DIN 3974. The products will be supplied as standard with one start; customers should specify if they require two, three or four. Standard sizes start at 0.5 Mod going up to 3.0 Mod, with others available on request. Various quantities of teeth, bore sizes and other materials are also available. Right-hand leads are standard, but left-hand versions are also offered. These are all made in house at the Ondrives manufacturing facility.

MacDermid's multi-functional top coats and lubricants are designed to protect automotive finishes and to predict the coefficient-of-friction characteristics. Often interchangeable depending on the application, both can increase overall corrosion performance. The company's top coats, including Hydroklad and TNT, are designed to improve the performance of any metallic coating, offering an ingredient for the next generation of hex-free finishes and capable of preventing premature cosmetic corrosion, according to the company. They offer abrasion resistance, torque tension lubrication, ultraviolet identifiers, heat resistance, coating deformation protection, colour coding, fluid resistance and thread patch adhesion promoters. These top coats are suitable for ensuring that dissimilar metals remain insulated and isolated. MacDermid torque-control lubricants are specified by automotive manufacturers for their ability to perform over long periods of time and to handle a wide range of ...

Lindauer Dornier, a manufacturer of polymer film production lines, is to use leaf disc filters from Porvair Filtration Group to filter polyester melt prior to making packaging film. The leaf disc filters are claimed to provide excellent filtration performance that ensures high-quality film products. They are designed to operate at high flow rates and offer a long on-stream life with reduced polymer degradation. Featuring a strong construction, Porvair leaf disc filters can be cleaned and reused many times without a loss of performance or efficiency.

Newport has introduced the XPS-DRVP1, an XPS-compatible driver card for the piezoelectric stack-based Nanopositioning line of sub-nanometre-resolution stages. The XPS-DRVP1 complements the other XPS driver cards that are designed to drive the traditional DC- or stepper-motor micro-positioning products, enabling the control of almost all Newport motion products with the XPS controller. Said to be straightforward to install, the XPS-DRVP1 eliminates the need for either an XPS pass-through card or an independent piezo-stack driver. The company claims that the XPS-DRVP1 permits a wider variety of precision motion control positioning applications than was previously possible. Beda Espinoza, product manager for Newport Motion, said: 'Now customers have the ability to perform precise, fast positioning over long travel and finish their motion processes with ultra-precise sub-nanometre positioning resolution. 'The XPS-compatible controller works with all "-D" versions of New...

RDP Electronics is offering space-saving dual-bridge load cells that are suitable for critical structural testing and monitoring in the aeronautics and automotive industries, for example. According to the company, a load cell with two separate and independent sets of strain gauges delivers sensor redundancy within a single unit. This allows two sets of signal conditioning electronics to be deployed so that in the event of a failure of one, the second signal conditioning set maintains system integrity until the fault can be rectified. In addition, under normal operating conditions, the two outputs can be compared to provide greater certainty of data integrity, enabling the rapid diagnosis of any faults. RDP's dual-bridge load cells are said to be cost effective thanks to the dual outputs.

Matrox Imaging is offering two training courses on the Matrox Imaging Library (MIL) processing tools and the MIL/MIL-Lite environment. These courses will coincide with the Vision 2010 event in Stuttgart, Germany. An intensive three-day course, focused on MIL processing, will explain how to select the best image processing tools for an application and will demonstrate how to use them to their full potential. Created especially for the first-time user, a two-day course - which provides an introduction to the MIL/MIL-Lite environment - includes a general overview of MIL/MIL-Lite, shows how to set up a development environment and covers the basics of managing image buffers, capture and display. All students will have the opportunity to meet the instructors and discuss their specific application requirements. Students who register for MIL training courses before 15 October 2010 will save 20 per cent on the cost of tuition. Students must register for the training courses in advance.

Pathway Medical Technologies, a developer of endovascular treatments for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is using Omnify's product lifecycle management (PLM) software to engineer more products. The company received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance in 2009 to market its Jetstream G3 peripheral atherectomy catheter for use in the treatment of PAD in the lower limbs (below the knee). The Jetstream system is capable of treating a variety of diseases found in PAD patients, including hard and soft plaque, calcium, thrombus and fibrotic lesions. Jetstream G3 SF allows physicians to treat a broader range of PVD patients, including the greater number of patients with critical limb ischemia and diabetes in the BTK population. According to Ken Perino, Pathway's senior director of quality assurance and regulatory compliance, the company was previously using a paper-based system for managing all of its documentation and part drawings. Perino was interested in impl...

Galil Motion Control has introduced the latest addition to its Econo series of controllers, which features enhancements such as Ethernet 10/100Base-T, a USB 2.0 port and higher-speed performance. The DMC-41x3 controller also features a larger program memory, analogue inputs and optically isolated input/output (I/O). The controller operates as a standalone unit or interfaces to a PC with Ethernet 10/100Base-T or USB. An auxiliary RS232 port is also provided. The product is available in one- to eight-axis formats and each axis is user configurable for stepper-motor or servomotor operation. The controller can be connected with external drives of any power range or with the company's multi-axis (500W per axis) servo drives or 60V, 3A micro-stepping drives. Galil drives install directly onto the DMC-41x3 controller. Standard I/O for the DMC-41x3 controller includes 16 optically isolated inputs and outputs for the one- to four-axis models and 32 I/O for the five- to eight-axis models. ...

Electro Mechanical Systems (EMS) is offering a compact drive with an integrated motion controller from Faulhaber for applications such as robotics, automation, medical devices and aerospace. Faulhaber has extended its BX4 range of four-pole brushless DC servomotors with the introduction of the 2232/2250...BX4 CSD/CCD series of drives. This new series is claimed to combine all the advantages of the BX4 four-pole brushless technology with a single-axis motion controller. Features include high reliability, high torque, a compact slot-less design with no cogging torque and a robust construction without the use of adhesives, according to EMS. The drives are based on the flexible Faulhaber motion control platform. The compact motion controller, which fits within the diameter of the motor, combined with the motor and a range of gearhead combinations, provides a versatile modular platform for a variety of applications. The drives are available with an RS-232 serial or CAN interface. Config...

Lucifer Furnaces has installed a dual-chamber space-saving furnace unit at Vincennes University, Indiana, for use in its precision manufacturing technology programme. The space-saving model is a combined hardening furnace above a drawing oven in one compact unit, making it a good choice for heat treaters with limited space. This model provides both upper and lower heating chamber dimensions of 12 x 12 x 24in. Insulating fire brick and mineral wool block ensure energy efficiency and a low outside shell temperature. Easy-to-replace heating elements are designed with heavy gauge coiled wire of low watt density. The upper chamber vertical lift counterweighted door is operated by a hand crank, which makes it easier for students to remove parts without having to work around the door. The lower draw chamber has a stainless steel alloy liner to form the work chamber and protect the heating elements. A heavy duty belt-driven re-circulating stainless-steel fan directs air circulation in a ho...

Antistat has developed the Clip Chip package, a solution that protects individual electronics components in transit and storage. The Clip Chip package is aimed at high-cost, low-volume device transportation and has been designed to reduce chip damage and alleviate the expense of using sealing equipment for devices. With four of the most popular chip-sized inserts available to hold the device into the carrier, the design is flexible enough to suit most standard devices preventing pin and general product damage in transit while providing an ESD-safe packaging solution. It can also be made from recycled materials helping to reduce the impact on the environment with additional benefits of waste reduction over the existing non-recyclable foam-and-card solution.

Hepcomotion has added a corrosion-resistant model to its LBG range of ball guides, opening up the market for this product in clean rooms where previously stainless steel was the only suitable option. The hard chrome alternative is available for all rails and bearing blocks in this linear ball guide product programme. It provides a good degree of corrosion-resistance for application where moisture or contaminants could cause surface pitting. The company said the LBG range offers high quality, good rigidity and accuracy. Its basis is a four-row angular contact ball track that is said to have numerous benefits. These include low friction and reduced differential slip, high load-carrying capacity in four directions and installation compliance. It also compensates for minor errors on the mounting surface without compromising performance, Hepcomotion added. A felt wiper within the bearing block aids lubrication, maintaining a positive oil film on the bearing contact surfaces. Extended li...

Bent wire forms supplier William Hughes has revealed how it assisted a major European automotive OEM in developing a last-minute modification on a vehicle scheduled for imminent launch. Bent wire components are used commonly in automotive seat frame assemblies. Shortly before launch, a review by the automotive OEM's executives had highlighted a shortage of knee-room in the rear of the vehicle, which was hindered by the positioning of a map pocket in the rear of the front seat. William Hughes was asked to redesign the framework required for the map pocket so it could be positioned in such a way to provide an extra 2-3in of legroom when sitting in the rear. One of the principal bent wire parts created to solve the problem started life as a 6.5mm-diameter piece of straight mild steel bar. A short series of bends is created to negotiate a path around the existing wire frame of the seat - the need to alter other existing parts must be avoided so that extra cost is not incurred. At e...

Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools has revealed that gears can now be manufactured on Hermle five-axis machining centres following a tie-up between the machine tool builder and software firm HPG. Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools, Hermle's sole UK agent, has described the process, which is ideal for producing small batches of gears and even one-offs in the size range 500-1,200mm diameter. The five-axis milling technology allows precision roughing and super-finish machining of gear teeth and other complex 3D contours on a Hermle machining centre, either a C 40 U or C 50 U fitted with a Heidenhain iTNC 530 or Siemens 840D control. The set-up time required for multiple machines used in conventional gear production is avoided, allowing economic production of small quantities of gears and enabling the generation of special tooth profiles that could not otherwise be produced. Using HPG's software, a gear can be completely machined used standard milling cutters on a Hermle. Via an online conne...

Weldwide is offering the Argo-Naught 2010 weld gas analyser, which is ideal for use in sandy and moist conditions and for tasks where minimal electronic emissions from the instrument are required. The analyser combines electronics and sensor technology to achieve fast and accurate oxygen readings when purging in preparation for welding. This eliminates any guesswork and will tell the operator when it is safe to begin welding. During welding, the monitoring of the oxygen levels is crucial in order to produce clean, oxidation-free welds as unnoticed oxygen penetration can lead to weld failure. Due to its hermetically sealed, hard-wearing casing, the Argo-Naught 2010 weld gas analyser is ideal for use in sandy and moist conditions. It is also ideal for applications where minimal electronic emissions from the instrument are required. The electronics are sealed within a separate compartment, which makes sensor change easy and quick without risking damage to wires, connections and displa...

Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools has revealed that gears can now be manufactured on Hermle five-axis machining centres following a tie-up between the machine tool builder and software firm HPG. Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools, Hermle's sole UK agent, has described the process, which is ideal for producing small batches of gears and even one-offs in the size range 500-1,200mm diameter. The five-axis milling technology allows precision roughing and super-finish machining of gear teeth and other complex 3D contours on a Hermle machining centre, either a C 40 U or C 50 U fitted with a Heidenhain iTNC 530 or Siemens 840D control. The set-up time required for multiple machines used in conventional gear production is avoided, allowing economic production of small quantities of gears and enabling the generation of special tooth profiles that could not otherwise be produced. Using HPG's software, a gear can be completely machined used standard milling cutters on a Hermle. Via an online connect...

Weldwide is offering the Argo-Naught 2010 weld gas analyser, which is ideal for use in sandy and moist conditions and for tasks where minimal electronic emissions from the instrument are required. The analyser combines electronics and sensor technology to achieve fast and accurate oxygen readings when purging in preparation for welding. This eliminates any guesswork and will tell the operator when it is safe to begin welding. During welding, the monitoring of the oxygen levels is crucial in order to produce clean, oxidation-free welds as unnoticed oxygen penetration can lead to weld failure. Due to its hermetically sealed, hard-wearing casing, the Argo-Naught 2010 weld gas analyser is ideal for use in sandy and moist conditions. It is also ideal for applications where minimal electronic emissions from the instrument are required. The electronics are sealed within a separate compartment, which makes sensor change easy and quick without risking damage to wires, connections and displa...

Walls and Forms has launched the Lights Alive modular menu board system designed to provide a cost-effective and versatile solution for the food service industry. Electrical snap-on connectors link units on site and the system features low-profile aluminium framing. Outer edges can be illuminated with logos or corporate colours and users can create their own theme. Single- or double-sided units are available. The modular menu board system offers easy-access graphics, electronic ballasts, a choice of T8 lamps or LED lighting, and is available in multiple sizes.

Murex has launched the Saffire Supacet 5 welding and cutting outfit, a package that provides full heavy-duty welding and cutting capability for the scrap metal industry and metal reclamation work. The Supacet 5 can weld up to 5mm steel and has a plate cutting ability of 75mm. It is fully portable and supplied in a robust tool case. The outfit includes a Saffire oxygen/acetylene regulator, Saffire 5 cutting torch, cutting and welding nozzles, flashback arrestors, hose assemblies, welding goggles and other essentials. The Saffire blowpipe features the 'tip mix' principle for operational simplicity while the shank and processing mixture ensures full operational safety. Supacet 5 forms part of a range of Saffire welding and cutting outfits, designed to suit all types of welding and cutting applications. Each outfit is tailored to the needs of a particular market sector ranging from heavy-duty industrial applications to micro welding.

Coding and marking specialist Linx Printing Technologies is to showcase its printing solutions to brewers at the International Brewery Convention. The technologies are said to give brewers peace of mind in their coding operations thanks to low maintenance, cost-efficiency, speed and high-quality coding. Models on display include Linx's latest offerings in large character marking (LCM), laser coding, and continuous inkjet (CIJ) technology. For LCM applications, the company's range includes the Linx IJ200 thermal inkjet (TIJ) cartridge printer and the Linx IJ350 and IJ370 case coders. The LCM printers offer brewers a cost-effective alternative to the labelling of secondary packaging. They are also claimed to offer a low overall cost of ownership thanks to reduced maintenance and downtime, good reliability and ease of operation. The Linx IJ200 uses disposable TIJ printer cartridges, which are easy to install and change, as well as minimising printer maintenance and removing the ...

Ocean Optics has launched the SteadiQ, an accessory that neutralises temperature conditions for accurate spectrometer measurement in field applications such as solar irradiance and cold food storage. The company said the SteadiQ broadens the application range for its field-portable spectrometers. It provides a temperature-controlled atmosphere, helping to stabilise temperature effects and eliminate temperature drift in inclement conditions or extreme temperatures from -20C to +50C. The rugged and portable device is said to ensure more accurate, reliable results in field applications including solar irradiance, volcanic observation, greenhouse monitoring, and industrial environments such as cold food storage. Available in both UV (200-1,100nm) and Vis-NIR (400-2,500nm) versions, the SteadiQ interfaces directly with Ocean Optics' USB2000+, USB4000, HR2000+, HR4000, Maya2000, Maya2000 Pro, QE65000, and NIRQuest spectrometers. In extreme hot or extreme cold conditions, the unit ope...

Foremost Electronics has introduced M16 connectors from Binder that are ideal for equipment located in remote locations, such as gas meters, and industrial instrumentation such as sensors and gauges. The availability of screw-clamp-terminated versions of the Binder M16 range enables simple mounting or service replacement in the field without the need for a soldering iron, according to the company. These new connectors will complement, and are fully interchangeable with, the existing solder versions and are available across the complete M16 range encompassing both the IP40 581 series and IP67 423 series connectors. Each connector is supplied with an Allen key for terminating connecting cables. Available for cable sizes from 4mm to 8mm, the Binder M16 range is manufactured in nickel-plated brass, has screw-clamp termination contacts for wires up to 0.75mm, AWG 20, is supplied in three-, four- and five-pole formats and has a current rating of 6-7A. Gold-plated contacts ensure more tha...

Rittal has introduced a rapid-assembly subrack, which is suitable for standard Euroboards in 3U and 6U formats. The Ripac Easy subrack, which can save valuable time in production, is pre-fitted with assembly screws and simply drops into slots in the side plates prior to being tightened up, according to the company. The horizontal rail is available in five depths and two heights, all using the same technique, which eliminates the usual struggle with multiple parts when there are only two hands to support and assemble. The subrack caters for 160mm, 220mm and 280mm board depths. Two configurations allow the use of backplanes or connectors directly mounted to the rear rails of the subrack. To complete the package, sets of either plain or perforated covers can be slotted into the rail extrusions at the front and the rear to provide mechanical protection for the installed printed circuit boards.

Mindtree has unveiled its Bluetooth intellectual property offering, designed to provide sensitivity and interference tolerance performance at 1.2V for medical, automotive and digital TV applications. The RF IP is said to complement the company's Bluetooth suite of intellectual property (IP) consisting of baseband controller, digital PHY (physical layer), stack and profiles. With this IP offering, Mindtree now provides customers a single component supplier to address their Bluetooth needs. The RF IP offers high performance with key advantages of small die size and ultra-low power consumption, making it ideal for integration onto system-on-chip (SoC). As market segments such as medical, healthcare and automotive ramp up Bluetooth adoption and set-top boxes and digital televisions emerge as new Bluetooth segments, the increased volume of Bluetooth shipments will bring down costs. This will in turn necessitate the integration of Bluetooth onto the main SoC of a product or a combinati...

Wieland Electric has introduced the Monoflop switching device, which prevents the full fault tripping of safety relays, negating the need for full system resets. If restart cannot be achieved via the normal reset button, the Monoflop will ensure that the fault is triggered as a machine shutdown and the machine will then start with a simple reset rather than going into a fault position. This is to ensure that downtime is avoided. Monoflop is the latest addition to Wieland's range of switching devices. Products include the 4000 Series of universal safety relays, which have been designed for use in all routine industrial applications, and Samos Pro, a compact modular safety controller for machine and automation applications, with multi-functional base modules that extend its safety functions. Other products in the range include SMA sensors, which protect operators of mechanical equipment and systems, and the SNH Series of emergency-stop pushbuttons, which give a safe signal to the m...

A concrete-pipe manufacturer has achieved an annual cost saving of EUR38,400 by utilising Molded Oil bearings from NSK. This has been achieved by reducing failures on the blade support roller of a concrete pipe-slotting machine, replacing the original bearings, which were lasting two to three months on average, with the Molded Oil bearings. To date, NSK said these bearings have operated for 12 months with no failures. The problem on the original bearings, according to an NSK applications engineer, was the ingress of concrete dust. This is said to be a common problem in the industry; the dust combines with bearing lubricant to produce an abrasive mixture that causes premature bearing failure. In this instance, the dust-contaminated lubricant was causing failures four times per year, with each failure resulting in eight hours of downtime, at a cost of EUR1,200/hr. As a means of overcoming the problem, the NSK engineer recommended using bearings equipped with Molded Oil, a solid lubri...

National Instruments UK and Ireland has announced that Prof Brian Cox will deliver the keynote address at NIDays 2010, a graphical system design conference and exhibition. At the event, which will be held on 9 November at the London home of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in Savoy Place, Cox will explain how curiosity-driven science pays for itself, inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Engineers, scientists and educators involved in test, control and design are invited to attend NIDays 2010 and watch Cox's keynote speech, entitled 'Why We Need Explorers'. NIDays is a multi-track conference and exhibition exploring the latest developments, tools and technologies from National Instruments and its partners, offering more than 50 hours of in-depth technical sessions, including 30 hours of hands-on training.

IFM Electronic, a supplier of sensors and control systems for use in food and beverage, water treatment, automotive and pharmaceutical applications, has launched an IP67-sealed temperature plug. The company claims that the TP temperature plug requires less space, performs better and costs less than cumbersome, leaky, outmoded boxes. IFM Electronic already supplies Type TT or TS Pt 100 and Pt1000 temperature pickups with an integral M12 connector, not only to facilitate connection but also to provide a seal of at least IP67 and a robust mechanical link. This probe can now be plugged directly into the TP, which will send the resulting measurement as a 4-20mA signal back to the panel, via another M12 sealed connector. Using M12 connectors all round means that the transmitter can be mounted anywhere between the probe and the panel, as space or other factors require. The TP is a fraction of the size of a head transmitter, more robust and itself sealed to IP67, according to IFM Electronic....

Impress Sensors and Systems has released a range of battery-powered digital pressure gauges for applications such as hydraulics, pneumatics, process engineering and mobile pressure monitoring. The DM 10 range of low-cost gauges is intended to offer customers a direct, cost-effective replacement for their existing mechanical gauges. The new gauges incorporate a ceramic diaphragm and are therefore suitable for environments in which aggressive chemicals are present. 'The DM 10 has a 63mm-diameter display - the same as common mechanical gauges - but the DM 10 offers higher accuracy, repeatability and reliability,' said Sam Drury, sales and marketing director at Impress Sensors and Systems. The DM 10 is designed to be mounted easily and quickly in situ. The 4.5-digit, seven-segment LC display can be rotated independently of the housing, providing the engineer with a clear sight of the display at all times, regardless of the mounting configuration. The housing itself rotates 270d...

Sensotech has introduced the Liquisonic Plato 30 system, which precisely measures the concentration of the original gravity levels in beer. According to the company, the system can help to improve the quality and to save costs when separating the forerunning and last running of filtrated beer as well as when dosing the forerunning and last running beer in the unfiltrate. If the original gravity is measured when starting the operation, for example, the required minimum original gravity can be detected exactly so that several hectolitres can be saved. The Liquisonic Plato 30 consists of a maximum of four sensors and one controller. Generally, breweries install one sensor respectively in the unfiltrate and after filtration or carbonation. These sensors are made of stainless steel, work maintenance free and meet the requirements of hygienic and bypass-free installation conditions. The controller analyses and visualises the measuring data. After the installation of the measuring system, t...

Tetra Pak, a provider of hygienic process equipment and turnkey systems, has supplied additional hygienic mixing and cleaning equipment to McBride, a personal-care product specialist. Installed at the McBride processing facility in Bradford, the new equipment enables the mixing of oils and transfers them to a filler. The equipment also includes a compact, mobile clean-in-place (CIP) unit for cleaning various pieces of customer equipment. The CIP unit comprises a 200-litre holding vessel with delivery and scavenge pumps. Heating of the media is by inline electrical immersion heaters and the controls provide simple pushbutton operation with automatic temperature control to a preset level. Tetra Pak prefabricated all of the equipment at its manufacturing facility in Sherborne, Dorset, before transferring to the site. This ensured minimal disruption, which was particularly important as McBride was carrying out other works at the same time to facilitate the installed plant. The installati...

The Offshore Europe 2011 conference in Aberdeen, Scotland, will enable participants to learn, debate and challenge the ideas needed for the sector to establish a sustainable supply for the future. According to Samir Brikho, chief executive of Amec and chairman of the SPE Offshore Europe 2011 conference, recent events have covered the importance of health, safety, security and environmental issues in addressing the challenges of operations in ever-increasing water depths. Brikho, launching the event's formal call for papers, added that the upstream industry is also faced with the challenge of overcoming technical and logistical pressures, as well as the new science and knowledge required. He said: 'Running through all our activities, onshore and offshore, are human factor issues that must be taken into account, in terms of facility design, staffing and operations. 'If the industry is to provide a safe, smart and sustainable supply, as well as to succeed in exploring and ...

The Salvatore Robuschi range of process pumps, available from The Pump Company, is ideal for handling clean, two-phase gaseous liquids, abrasive liquids or liquids containing particulates. The end-suction pumps are available with a full range of precision investment cast impellers, including closed high-efficiency, semi-open and vortex flow. Available sealing types include soft-packing, single, double-tandem or back-to-back mechanical seals. The pump is manufactured in AISI 316 (CF8M) and other materials such as Monel and Hastelloy; other alloys are available on request. The range is also fully compliant with the Atex directives. The Salvatore Robuschi range comprises low-NPSH pumps that save on energy costs and deliver a fast payback on the investment. The pump configuration is either long or close-coupled end suction as well as vertical cantilever - a design that is not affected by temperature. It can handle abrasive or solid material, requires minimal maintenance and can run dry. ...

Aveva, a provider of engineering design solutions for the plant, power and marine industries, has released the first 64-bit versions of its visualisation and design communication technologies. Designers can now take advantage of the increased processing power of the latest 64-bit computers to create highly detailed and navigable 3D design visualisations of even bigger and more complex capital projects in the plant and shipbuilding industries. Aveva Review 12.1 is an established application for 3D design communication; it creates high-quality, photo-realistic renderings of 3D models that can be used by all stakeholders in a project to carry out design review and analysis for various purposes. It features animation capabilities for model fly-throughs and object manipulation so that operations such as equipment replacement may be simulated, can handle a variety of third-party CAD model formats, including as-built laser scans, and can stream its output across normal internet communicatio...

Flowserve has launched a heavy-duty scotch-yoke pneumatic actuator into the European market, which has been designed for use in chemical, refining, oil and gas and general industrial applications. Designed to optimise plant and personnel safety through compliance with IEC 61508 (Functional Safety Related Systems), Safety Integrity Level 3, the the Automax RG Series offers an extended life cycle and reduced maintenance requirements. 'The actuator's IP67M [temporary submersion] rating and marine-grade epoxy surface treatment provide maximum integrity in harsh corrosive atmospheres such as offshore installations,' said Ian Barber, technical sales manager, Flowserve Flow Control Division. To reduce product modification and installation costs it features a modular design with independent modules for the body, pneumatic and spring segments. The RG's pneumatic and spring modules can be changed on location to modify the actuator torque output and fail rotation direction, elim...

Applied Market Information (AMI) has announced that its PVC Formulation 2011 conference will take place at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf, Germany, on 15-17 February 2011. AMI consultant Jon Nash will start proceedings with a review of the market recovery for the PVC sector. PVC compounder Ineos Compounds has studied the future alternatives after the move away from dibutyl tin stabilisers. The removal of heavy metal stabilisers is still a key driver of research. Catena Additives has looked at the selection of impact modifiers alongside the shift from tin to calcium/zinc stabilisers, while Chemson Polymer Additive has examined the phase behaviour of the metallic stearate stabilisers. The trends are similar worldwide, with companies such as Kalpataru Organics developing heavy metal-free stabilisers in India. Minerals feature extensively in PVC; Kisuma Chemicals is examining the effects of hydrotalcite on heat stabilisation in Ca/Zn formulations. Kuraray has found that polyvinyl alco...

Sugar producers worldwide are missing out on USD300m (GBP190m) in potential energy savings by opting for the wrong kind of heat-transfer technology, according to heat-transfer specialist Alfa Laval. The company said that this is the level of heat energy that could be recovered from various stages of the sugar-refining process. Ian Forrester of Alfa Laval in the UK said: 'Sugar refining involves the continual transfer of heat to and from different juice flows throughout the process. 'If refiners employed plate heat exchangers instead of tubular exchangers, the difference in efficiency levels [thermal efficiency is 200-300 per cent greater in sugar applications] means that they could employ lower-grade heat sources such as condensate or low-pressure vapour in place of expensive steam for many parts of the process,' he added. Alfa Laval estimates that refiners could reduce steam requirements by as much as five per cent. The steam saved could be used to generate electricity...

Products4Automation (P4A) has launched a low-cost power monitoring system that can be programmed to collect data from external devices, centrally monitoring all types of energy-intensive operations. The power monitoring system helps to determine areas where savings can be achieved. It can be programmed to identify 15-20 per cent annual energy savings, which, according to energy industry estimates, are available by reducing the costs of lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and the operation of plant and machinery. The power monitoring system is based upon P4A's low-cost Monitouch range of flat-panel, programmable human-machine interfaces (HMIs). Offering Scada-like performance at HMI prices, the Monitouch range is capable of interfacing to a range of external devices. It can also provide multiple screens, depicting all aspects of power monitoring. Finally, it delivers data logging in CSV format. With the Monitouch-based system, it is possible to monitor va...

Around 1,750 mechanical traps at KNPC's Shauiba Refinery in Kuwait have been converted to Thermal Energy International's GEM Venturi orifice design. This enables KNPC to keep on top of the constant challenge of repairing and replacing thousands of mechanical steam traps. In addition, the company - a subsidiary of the Kuwait Petroleum Association - has seen the HP hot condensate header pressure drop from highs of 175psig to 90psig. The Shuaiba Refinery, located some 50km south of Kuwait City, produces approximately 30 types of light, medium and heavy petroleum products. These consist of gas, ordinary naphtha, various kinds of fuels such as high-octane gasoline, kerosene and ATK as well as automotive diesel, marine diesel, fuel oil and sulphur, which is a by-product of the industrial process. Steam is the primary means of transporting energy from the numerous boilers and steam generators to the point of use and is used throughout the oil refinery for applications ranging from t...

Applied Market Information has announced the Commercialising Nanotubes conference, which will be held at the Maritim hotel in Dusseldorf, Germany, on 8-11 March 2011. The event is said to coincide with an expansion in carbon nanotube (CNT) capacity. The focus of the event is firmly on the commercialisation of CNT technologies and taking them from the laboratory into real-world applications. Four suppliers at the forefront of this expansion will give presentations at the event: Arkema, Bayer Materialscience, CNano Technology, and Nanocyl. The first commercial CNTs are already being used in the automotive, electrical and electronic, sporting goods, mass transport and marine industries, with many more applications under development in areas such as the renewable energy, medical and cable markets. One target market is enhancing the properties of polymers, for example, by increasing electrical and thermal conductivity as well as by boosting physical properties and flame retardancy. Plasti...

Halma Water Management has developed a touch-screen water leak correlator that incorporates a sensor and integrated noise filtering, analysis and management software for the detection of pipe leaks. The Microcorr Touch is operated by touch screen, making it easier to input data and maximising the visible screen area to display results more clearly. Leak correlation is used to find the exact location of a leak on a pipe. Highly sensitive acoustic sensors are placed at intervals on the pipe, and listen to the sound made by the leak. The data is transmitted wirelessly to a handheld base unit, which processes the information to identify the leak sound, and then applies mathematical algorithms to pinpoint the leak position. The Touch features a newly developed sensor that is designed to be ultra sensitive, enabling it to perform well even in traditionally difficult conditions, such as on plastic and large-diameter pipes. It also features a high-visibility, full-colour VGA touch screen t...

Air motors from Huco Dynatork are said to combine precise positioning and efficient operation with the ability to withstand the rigours of 100 per cent caustic washdown environments. As standard, the motors are able to operate totally immersed in water, so high-pressure washdowns are not a problem. With acetal housings also available, the motors are able to withstand most caustic acids and chlorinated sanitisers used in the food industry. The air motors are ideal for use in hygienically sensitive applications. The free-floating piston design of the Huco Dynatork air motor results in a product that consumes up to 80 per cent less air than a conventional vane motor, and provides start/stop performance characteristics similar to those of a stepper motor. This enables the product to excel in constant start/stop applications under load. In operation, air up to 100lb/in2 is supplied to each of three pistons in turn via an integral rotary valve. The free-floating pistons transmit torque ...

Split roller bearings (SRBs) from Revolvo can prevent unplanned layovers resulting from bearing failures in marine shaft propulsion systems. Totally split to the shaft, SRB units enable simpler and quicker installation - up to eight times faster than with solid bearings. Are the bearings can be easily replaced on the propeller shafts, they are targeted at operators of ferries, work boats, offshore support craft and other commercial marine vessels. The Revolvo SRBs can be used in all arduous operating sectors, including water treatment, oil and gas, mineral extraction, power generation, steel manufacture and marine. Typically, fitting an SRB takes about an eighth of time that it takes to fit an equivalent solid bearing. In addition, the bearing can be inspected in situ without any major disassembly. The SRBs are claimed to feature effective sealing arrangements. The design of Revolvo SRBs allows the shaft to be supported by the lower section of the bearing, while the upper sections ...

Parker-Origa has launched a series of electrical linear actuators developed for use in applications including ball-screw, trapezoidal, belt and linear motor drive applications. The electrical linear actuators have been developed for use in applications requiring highly dynamic movements and long transverse paths. The ODS-B has a toothed-belt design and is said to combine good performance characteristics and smooth operation with energy efficiency, while offering a particularly long service life for maximum productivity and profitability. Developed to provide ease of mounting and assembly, the linear actuator ensures safe and ultra-precise positioning of large loads and forces, at optimum speeds and acceleration. The motor can be mounted in virtually any orientation, offering high flexibility when designing a complete drive package. Indeed, the actuator can be mounted directly onto, for example, a machine bed, be free-standing using standard mounting holes, or can be adapted to custom...

Spelsberg UK has launched a range of enclosures designed specifically for use with the LED lighting control electronics found in the latest generation of exterior and street-lighting systems. The simple, modular enclosures are designed to enable installers to protect the lighting control printed circuit board (PCB), simplifying cable entry, mounting and termination options in a semi-transparent polycarbonate enclosure that enables inspection during and after installation. Scotopic and photopic light calculations (used to assess the visibility of light sources) have shown older street-lighting systems employing high-intensity discharge lamps, often HPS high-pressure sodium lamps, to perform poorly when compared with white light sources, particularly at night. White light sources have been shown to double driver peripheral vision and increase driver brake reaction time by at least 25 per cent. New street-lighting technologies, such as LEDs, emit a white light that provides high level...