Machine Building

Safety laser scanners: what are the most important requirements?

Leuze electronic is regarded as a pioneer in the field of area scanning distance sensors based on laser scanner technology. Even today, the number of companies that offer such sensors remains relatively small. This is no surprise, as the development of these complex devices requires a great deal of know-how, years of experience and the willingness to pioneer new approaches. What are the most important requirements and where will the next development lead? These questions can easily be answered by considering the new RSL 400 safety laser scanner.

15th April 2016

Controlling palletised loads moving in automated processes

Automated materials handling is a vital part of modern manufacturing, production, warehousing and distribution operations. Most loads need gentle handling and stopping, so here Ian Carr of Drive Lines Ltd explains the vital role played by stops and dampers.

15th April 2016

Servitisation: why service revenue will eclipse product revenue

Spencer Earp, Vice President EMEA of ServiceMax, explains why machine builders can expect to increase revenues substantially by selling 'services' rather than just 'products' (machines) to their customers, adopting the approach referred to as servitisation.

8th April 2016

Can standard sensors be used for machine safety applications?

Dr Martin Kidman, a Safety Specialist with Sick UK, presents the arguments for and against using standard sensors for machinery safety applications.

6th April 2016

Cyber security of medical devices

Every year in Louisville, Kentucky, hackers and security experts gather for DerbyCon. While a get-together of hackers may sound troubling on its own, what's truly disturbing is what came out of last year's conference. Medical cyber crime is on the rise, and there are thousands of critical medical devices which can currently be located online and hacked directly. Rob Phillips, sales and marketing director of Accutronics, discusses the implications.

5th April 2016

Obsolescence challenges for the automotive industry

As the industry that introduced the traditional six-axis robotic arm to its production lines in the early 1960s, the automotive sector has, in some cases, stayed surprisingly stagnant when it comes to innovation. However, in the past few years the race to design and build self-driving cars, augmented reality windscreens and additive manufactured parts has started to gain speed. Here, Mark Proctor, managing director of industrial automation supplier, European Automation discusses the challenges the automotive industry is facing due to the latest automotive design expectations.

5th April 2016

No room for improvement? Consider cabinet-free drive technology

Space and flexibility are key issues in modern manufacturing. Chris Nevin, Industry Sector Manager at Bosch Rexroth, reveals why cabinet-free drive technology is a necessity in manufacturing.

4th April 2016

Manufacturer vs. distributor: the best of both worlds?

As e-commerce becomes ever more popular there's no denying that more engineers than ever before are turning to the internet to source standard parts and machine tool accessories. Often offered at competitive prices and with quick lead times, it's easy to understand why. But, with so many online distributors to choose from, how do you know you're getting a product you can trust? Chris Putman, Sales and Marketing Director for WDS, explains why ordering direct from the manufacturer often allows you to benefit from the best prices, the best delivery times and the best product.

31st March 2016

The potential of predictive analytics for machine builders

The cost of production downtime varies significantly from one industry sector to another, but without a doubt, when it occurs, downtime is a troublesome and expensive inconvenience for all manufacturers. More often than not, halts in production could be avoided, so imagine just how much manufacturers could save if machine data was available to anticipate breakdowns. The good news for industry is that the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) is allowing machine builders to design and manufacture intelligent machines with predictive analytics capabilities. Here, Martyn Williams, Managing Director of industrial automation software expert COPA-DATA UK, discusses how machine builders can use predictive analytics to minimise the maintenance and downtime costs of their products.

29th March 2016

Why use thermal imaging for quality assurance and safety?

This article from Flir Systems explains the advantages of thermal imaging compared with conventional machine vision systems for industrial automation applications where there is a need to monitor for reasons of quality assurance or safety.

22nd March 2016