Machine Building

Keeping control valves clean, inside and out

Modern hygienic fluid control applications demand very high standards in terms of cleanliness, not only for the components directly in contact with the process medium, but also for the external surfaces. Designing and installing complete fluid control systems that meet these stringent criteria requires expert design capabilities and innovative manufacturing facilities, as well as a considerable understanding of the applications. Ian Webster, Field Segment Manager, Hygienic Processing pharmaceutical at Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, looks at the specific requirements of this sector and how they can be achieved.

22nd August 2016

Connecting motors to the Internet of Things

In the last few years, fitness tracking technology has been increasingly popular, with a range of devices available to help you become healthier, improve your fitness performance and ultimately live longer. These devices use non-invasive, easy to use sensors that connect directly to your smartphone or computer, giving you instant results to track your progress. At this year's Hanover Messe, a new fitness tracker was announced. Only this time, it's a fitness tracker for industrial motors. Here, Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of industrial equipment supplier EU Automation discusses how this new development helps bring legacy systems forward.

22nd August 2016

Specialist technologies making Industry 4.0 a practical reality

The opportunity for manufacturing companies to harness the power of the Internet of Things and move rapidly towards Industry 4.0 is now becoming more and more of a practical reality, according to Bosch Rexroth.

19th August 2016

Seven basic rules for good cables

igus has more than 25 years' experience developing and producing cables for moving applications. Over 2 billion double strokes are carried out in its 2750m2 test lab each year. Here the company sets out the seven basic rules for good dynamic motion cables.

18th August 2016

Graph technology and machine learning: making sense of big data

The theory of six degrees of separation, first proposed in 1929, suggested that every individual in the world was connected to anyone else in no more than five links. Today, social networking tools and graph technology can accurately map and extract valuable insights from the relationships between various entities in a network. Networks can also be analysed by machine learning, a technique in which a computer can adapt its own algorithms. Here, Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director at EU Automation looks at how both can be used to make sense of big data in the manufacturing industry.

15th August 2016

Upgrading process safety with compact control valves

Manufacturers in the food and beverage industry are finding that they need to upgrade the safety on their process plant. Fortunately, compact valves and relatively simple changes to control circuits make this a straightforward task.

11th August 2016

Connectivity and servitisation deliver success for manufacturers

Fabrizio Battaglia, Head of Manufacturing at HSO, explains how true connectivity, in conjunction with servitisation, can deliver significant benefits for manufacturers who have traditionally focussed on selling 'products' backed by a conventional warranty.

5th August 2016

Why a new generation of positioning controllers is needed

Biren Patel, the motion control engineering manager at maxon motor, discusses why industry needs a new generation of positioning controllers.

4th August 2016

Thermal fluid: what unnecessary risks are you taking?

What would you think if you saw someone using a shopping trolley as a car jack? Or a newspaper and sunglasses as an improvised welding mask? You'd probably ask yourself why anyone would put themselves in that kind of danger. Here, Andy Burns, technical business manager at thermal fluid specialist Global Heat Transfer, explains why companies should never take any chances, especially where testing and analysis are concerned.

28th July 2016

Top 10 level-sensing technologies

Level sensing is one of the most common functions for process control but it also uses a wide range of different technologies to achieve the same goal; it is therefore important to select the correct design for each application to ensure a reliable and accurate system. Greg Wainhouse, Midlands Area Technical Sales and Sensors expert at Bürkert UK, offers an explanation on some of the various designs available.

28th July 2016