Industrial Factory Automation

Thermal technology from OK has been applied to PV tabbing and bussing applications with improved results. The proprietary Smartheat Technology produces and maintains a specific, self-regulated temperature with a heater that requires no calibration and responds directly to thermal loads. The technology consists of a high-frequency alternating-current (AC) power supply and a self-regulating heating element. The heater utilises the electrical and metallurgical characteristics of two different metals: copper, which is a material with high electrical conductivity, and a magnetic material with high resistivity. Hoa Nguyen, vice-president of technology at OK, said: 'The micro-cracking of delicate solar-cell substrates is a common defect that can occur during PV tabbing and bussing soldering processes. 'The soldering temperature must be reduced to a minimum so that the solar cells will not be subjected to mechanical or thermal stresses from the soldering process,' added Nguyen. Du...

Aspen Technology has announced that LG Chem's deployment of Aspenone advanced process control (APC) has resulted in USD4m (GBP2.5m) of annual operational savings. In a single plant - the Daesan ethylene facility - the Aspentech Services team's implementation of Aspenone APC delivered a two per cent increase in ethylene and propylene production and reduced total NCC energy consumption by 1.5 per cent while meeting plant constraints. LG Chem also realised operational excellence goals with a reduced loss of ethylene and propylene and more stabilised operations compared to previous issues of frequent flooding and product off-specifications. Aspentech is now implementing a real-time optimisation project to further improve operational excellence at LG Chem.

Z Corporation has released ZP150 premium composite-build material, which allows the ZPrinter 310 Plus and Spectrum Z510 3D printers to produce more colourful, clearer and stronger 3D physical models. ZP150 also enables users of current-generation ZPrinters to use water as the curing agent for finishing multicolour models. ZP150 was released in June for the ZPrinter 450 and ZPrinter 650 3D printers and is also compatible with the new ZPrinter 350. This announcement expands its benefits to the vast majority of Z Corporation's ZPrinter customers. ZP150 yields models that exhibit: a 40 per cent increase in 'green' strength for improved ease of use; a 40 per cent increase in the final strength of parts cured with Z-Bond 101; and a 100 per cent increase in the strength of water-cured parts. Whiter whites are especially important in fields such as architectural modelling, where true white is the traditional standard. Water curing is the simplest, most affordable, safest and green...