Machine Building

Save time by eliminating manual scanning from your warehouse

Charlie Brackley of Harland Simon (Vero Solutions) describes how organisations can improve efficiency by eliminating the need for manual scanning of pallets and locations in warehouses.

21st February 2015

Offline coders for high-end dairy desserts

According to Mintel, the chilled desserts segment was the only part of the desserts category to grow in both value and volume terms over the 5-year period from 2008 to 2013, reflecting the continued migration towards chilled from ambient and frozen desserts. Within the chilled desserts segment, single-serve, premium offerings are leading the charge. Many of these high-end desserts come in sophisticated pack formats such as stemmed sundae pots and ramekins. Whilst these shapely new designs add shelf appeal, they can cause headaches for the sleeve coding operation.

20th February 2015

PCB-based options are mighty minis for motor control

If you're looking for high-performance control of DC brushed, brushless and stepper motors across multiple axes, the typical enclosed DIN-rail mounting box might be your first thought. But INMOCO's Gerard Bush argues that in many general purpose automation applications, as well as in areas such as life sciences equipment, scientific automation and robotics, PCB motion cards, amplifiers and motion/amplifiers might well provide a better option.

16th February 2015

Fast and secure implementation of Lockout/Tagout

Machine builders must provide maintenance instructions with their machines, which may include Logout/Tagout procedures. Lockout/Tagout can be a life-saver in maintenance operations, preventing many maintenance-related accidents, whether the MRO activities are outsourced or organised internally. While Lockout/Tagout is very successful, it does require intense preparation to implement. Based on worldwide experience, Brady can help implement best practice lockout/tagout programmes.

7th February 2015

Inverted tooth chain developments

Rainer Albes discusses the characteristics of inverted tooth chain products from AVENTICS.

3rd February 2015

Automation payback - 10 tips for achieving ROI in 12 months

Machine builders and suppliers of automation equipment often talk about how their machines deliver optimum performance, boost workplace efficiency and increase output. However, for most, if not all customers, the return on investment (ROI) figures can be a real deal breaker. Richard Gladwin, Technical Director at system integrator Pacepacker Services, offers 10 powerful tips that can help automation to deliver an ROI inside a year.

29th January 2015

Gearhead elasticity and its effect on positioning accuracy

Mark Gibbons, a Technical Engineer at maxon motor uk Ltd, explains how torsion and gearhead elasticity can result in drive system positioning control that is not as good as expected.

21st January 2015

Solenoid valves - an enduring design refined over time

The humble solenoid has been with us since the early 1900s, and since its invention it has seen a number of developments that have enabled it to provide control over a wide range of applications. From water and gas handling to hygienic and micro fluidic applications, each has its own challenges that have led to a range of designs for the mechanism and the coils. Paul Trevitt, Operations & Engineering Manager for Bürkert UK & Ireland, looks at the improvements in design that have allowed an increasing number of processes to rely on this essential device.

19th January 2015

The future of open automation networks - gigabit CC-Link IE

Since 2013's Hannover fair, the topic of Industry 4.0 has become of key interest to everyone in the automation community and the customers who depend on them for innovative products. In general terms, Industry 4.0 is seen as the next big change in manufacturing, where so called "cyber physical systems" and the Internet of Things will provide significant benefits to increase the capabilities, efficiency and flexibility of manufacturing systems in general.

15th January 2015

Machine design tips to minimise risk of Legionnaires' Disease

Steven Booth of Guardian Air and Water Hygiene outlines the steps that machine builders need to take when designing new plant to minimise the risk of Legionnaires' Disease developing at a later date.

14th January 2015