Machine Building

What is needed to improve fuel cell technology?

Fuel cells have been hailed as the energy source of the future; they can provide a non-polluting supply of power by re-combining hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity and water. The chemistry sounds very simple; however, creating a reliable, efficient and safe energy source requires considerable expertise, especially in the control of the fluids and gases that are involved in this exciting technology. Tony Brennan, Field Segment Manager, Fluid & Micro, at Bürkert, looks at the process in more detail, what is needed to develop the technology and make it more widely available.

14th August 2019

Accurate measurement of power supply efficiency

Bernhard Erdl, Founder, President and Chief Developer of PULS Power, discusses power supply efficiency and why design engineers should be wary of relying on the efficiencies quoted in power supply data sheets.

13th August 2019

Reducing machine tool energy consumption

No business should ever underestimate the large amount of energy consumed by machine tools. Cooling enclosures and spindles alone commonly account for more than 15 per cent of a company's annual energy bill. A test installation at a CNC lathe has demonstrated that Rittal Blue e+ chillers significantly reduce energy consumption while also being simple and easy to use.

13th August 2019

When and why to use exotic alloys for springs

Materials with high alloy content, known as super alloys or exotic alloys, offer enhanced performance properties including excellent strength and durability, and resistance to oxidation, corrosion and deforming at high temperatures or under extreme pressure. Because of these properties, super alloys make the best spring materials for demanding working conditions, which can be encountered across various industry sectors, including the Automotive, Marine and Aerospace sectors as well as oil and gas extraction, thermal processing, petrochemical processing and power generation.

5th August 2019

Innovative drive systems for Industry 4.0 smart factories

Intelligent drive technology is the prerequisite for digitalisation and automation of production, because it enables networked or autonomous production processes in "smart factories" and keeps them running. As a leading supplier in the sector, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS provides drive systems (hardware and software) and supports customers with its communication and application know-how for networking and connection of their Industry 4.0 environments.

5th August 2019

Flow measurement in the food and beverage sector

Manufacturers in the food and beverage industry have two main priorities: product quality and hygiene. For those operating with different fluids, from fruit juice to milk, chocolate and beer, there are many challenges in measuring flow while at the same time minimising waste and energy usage. Mark Lilley, Field Segment Manager Hygienic - food & beverage at Bürkert, looks at how the latest technology in fluid flow measurement can overcome these challenges and deliver additional benefits.

2nd August 2019

How machine builders can address the issue of single-use plastic

Plastic waste deserves no place on our planet. This is the strong and clear message coming from the public and rightly so, but what does it mean for designing and building packaging solutions in the future? Neil Beaumont of Lenze discusses the challenges and solutions available.

1st August 2019

What are the options for AGV navigation sensors?

Various technologies are available on the market for bringing an automated guided vehicle (AGV) to its destination. Let us first of all say: many roads lead to Rome. There is no right way and no wrong way. Decisive is always the application itself - that means the question of where and how the given AGV is used.

1st August 2019

Fast turnaround on customised enclosures

To the untrained eye, electrical enclosures can come across as very uniform, standardised products. However, experts such as Spelsberg, manufacturer of premium enclosures, must be adaptable when it comes to meeting specific customer requirements within a short timeframe. Thanks to decades of experience in providing standard and custom enclosures, the business has a proven track record in delivering optimised electrical protection products quickly. Chris Lloyd, Managing Director at Spelsberg UK, explains the challenges of supplying enclosures to customers quickly, and how Spelsberg as a business overcomes them.

31st July 2019

Choosing an automation partner for Industry 4.0

Automation vendors are increasingly being considered as project partners by machine builders placing as much importance on the system design and support capabilities as on the extent of their product portfolio. Neil Beaumont, Marketing Communications Manager at Lenze, offers insight to those about to choose an automation partner.

31st July 2019