Industrial Factory Automation

MagIC Net is the controlling interface for the range of intelligent ion chromatography (IC) instruments from Metrohm. It facilitates operation through clear symbols and a well-arranged layout that monitors all the components and accessories associated with the IC hardware. MagIC Net is an integral part of intelligent IC and allows logical decisions to be performed - for example, automatic inline sample dilution - and monitors all the intelligent system components (Ipump, Icolumn, Idetector and intelligent dosing units), notifying the user when maintenance or service is required, for instance. The hardware is equipped with a memory chip that stores device-specific data that can be accessed at any time using MagIC Net. When the method is started, the parameters are checked, ensuring accurate, reliable results every time. MagIC Net includes control and monitoring functions; the control functions graphically display the data while the monitoring limits trigger a predefined alarm that can ...

Leengate Valves , part of BOC, has expanded and updated its range of valves to meet the latest industry requirements. The company's 2010 catalogue includes gases, welding equipment, safety goods and personal protective equipment. The Leengate Valves range now features more flow-control products for most gas, water, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, stream, process, power and agriculture applications. The company, which offers a next-day delivery service, has also enhanced its website. The site has been reworked to help the customer to find information quickly and easily. An increased search capability, full datasheet information for every product and the ability to log in and download the price list are all available online.

Pfeiffer Vacuum has introduced the Duo 125 and Duo 255 two-stage rotary vane pumps. The Duo 125 and the Duo 255 are used when industrial or scientific vacuum applications necessitate dependable pumps for high pumping speeds of between 120m3/h and 250m3/h in the low- and medium-vacuum ranges. These pumps are suitable for use in high-vacuum pumping stations in combination with turbo pumps or as backing pumps for Roots pumps. Typical low- and medium-vacuum industrial applications include vacuum drying, metallurgy or coating. The Duo 125 and the Duo 255 complement the Duoline series of rotary vane pumps, which is characterised by compact diameters, high pumping speeds and low noise levels. As the needle bearings are free of nonferrous metals, these pumps are insensitive to dust, dirt and corrosive gases. The integrated-pressure oil lubrication system improves oil circulation and cooling. The improved cooling of the pumps makes for long service life, according to the company. A hydraulic s...

Panton McLeod has helped to inspect a water tank at The Deep aquarium in Hull, UK. The company provided underwater inspection services at the aquarium in order to check for blockages and damage in the pipes, which are used to pump water into one of the attraction's large tanks. This is the first time that Panton McLeod has provided its services in the tourism sector and the first project involving an aquarium tank. According to Paul Henderson, operations director with Panton McLeod, the company regularly uses cameras to inspect pipework and to check for blockages or damage in underground storage tanks in the water industry, so it was able to use similar technology in the aquarium tank. 'We used the divers who work at The Deep to take these cameras into the tank and thread them through the inlet pipes, which allowed us to inspect them from the outside for problems,' he said.

The four depots of Barton Petroleum, a supplier of fuels and lubricants to industry, farmers and domestic users, have been fitted with Alpeco bottom-loading skids. The ISO 9001-accredited company is headquartered in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and operates from four locations, one of which is its depot in Oakley, Bedfordshire. Barton Petroleum is an authorised distributor for Conocophillips, which is better known in the UK as Jet. The latest installation of Alpeco bottom-loading skids was at the Oakley depot, where the company wanted to improve safety and efficiency levels. Originally a top-loading facility, it has now been transformed by the introduction of the Alpeco-supplied and -installed three-arm bottom-loading skid, which has improved the depot layout and reduced tanker loading time while enhancing operator safety. The skid, which was designed and built by Alpeco, was delivered to the site on time and was installed, commissioned and working within one week. Operational di...

Reed Exhibitions has increased the available floor space at Total Processing and Packaging 2010 as companies continue to sign up to participate at the UK event. A further 745.5m of floor space is now available, according to the organiser. The first allocation of additional space that was released at the start of the year has been filled and has led to the doubling in size of the Packaging Innovation Hub, which will focus on packaging materials, containers, pack design and marketing, smart and intelligent packaging and sustainable solutions. Companies taking stands in the hub include Artenius PET Packaging, Avery Denison, BCP Fluted Packaging, Clarke Rubicon, Plastique, Sleeve Solutions and Tinplate Products. Another development resulting from the increased floor area is the new Robotics and Industrial Vision Pavilion in association with BARA and UKIVA. The pavilion will feature the latest technology solutions that enable businesses to increase productivity while also delivering effici...

Chloride has announced that its Trinergy UPS technology could significantly cut the energy wasted by the UK's biggest users of electricity and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). It will also help them avoid additional costs resulting from the CRC Energy Efficiency scheme, which is due to come into force in April 2010, according to the company. Rob Tanzer, Chloride's technical support manager, said: 'The third generation of UPS equipment, such as Trinergy, is now 98 per cent efficient, which, compared to a typical 1,000kW legacy UPS system, can cut the electricity costs of running a UPS by three quarters. 'By cutting UPS energy losses to just two per cent, the system cooling energy requirement will also be reduced, resulting in an overall annual saving of nearly GBP100,000 for every 1,000kW of protected power - and an ongoing carbon reduction equivalent to removing 170 family cars from the road each year,' he added. The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme (formerly know...