Machine Building

Preventative and actual maintenance with smart VSDs

Today's inverter drives are smarter than ever, able to look after themselves and a range of connected plant equipment such as fans, pumps, motors and conveyors. How then is this achieved? Wayne Turtill, Product Manager for Drives and Servos at Mitsubishi Electric, provides some insight into how preventative and actual maintenance is done with smart VSDs.

22nd February 2019

Changes in the way design engineers select materials

Materials selection is a vital aspect of new product development. For as exciting or interesting as a design project may be, it will never be more than a concept without due consideration of the right materials. With vast quantities of materials data available online, more design engineers are turning to materials databases like Matmatch for information. But what are they searching for, and why? Here, Ben Smye, Head of Growth at Matmatch, highlights how materials sourcing is changing.

21st February 2019

What causes a PLC control system to fail?

On New Year's Day 1968, the programmable logic controller (PLC) was first designed. It has been used ever since to make logic based decisions in automated industrial processes. Despite their resilience and rugged design, PLC-based control systems can still break down and their failure can lead to costly downtime. Here, James Davey, service manager of systems integrator Boulting Technology, discusses the top causes of PLC control system failure.

18th February 2019

Effective use and maintenance of fluid power systems

British Fluid Power Association member companies Phoenix Hydraulic and Electrical Services Ltd, Hydraproducts Ltd and Rotec Hydraulics Ltd discuss some of the challenges associated with the effective use and maintenance of fluid power systems and related equipment within the marine sector.

17th February 2019

Benefits of procuring Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS)

According to the Future of Manufacturing report, a third of manufacturers generate profit through servitisation. Robots as a Service (RaaS), the business model for deploying robotic automation on lease, is also beginning to gain traction. Here, Nigel Smith, managing director at Toshiba Machine partner TM Robotics, examines the potential of RaaS, when compared to traditional robot purchasing.

15th February 2019

Tips for implementing IT security in manufacturing environments

Paresh Kansara, Rittal's Product Manager for Industrial & Outdoor Enclosures, provides tips to help companies wanting fast-deploying and secure IT for production environments, particularly where Industry 4.0 is being implemented.

15th February 2019

Finding the right partner for hygienic process control projects

Precision control of fluids and gases is a task that requires technical knowledge and experience. Within this area, hygienic applications, such as those in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, place even higher demands on the control components and the surrounding infrastructure. So, when embarking on a hygienic process control project, finding the most qualified partner is essential to success. Ian Webster, Hygienic Processing Field Segment Manager from Bürkert UK, looks at the essential attributes that are required from an engineering supply partner to deliver a successful installation.

14th February 2019

Why is 100Mbit industrial Ethernet insufficient for Industry4.0?

As we embark on the journey to Industry 4.0, it is becoming apparent that industry's reluctance to move beyond 100Mbit Ethernet technology is a very real limiting factor. CLPA-Europe General Manager John Browett argues that the transition to gigabit Ethernet networking technologies has to start now.

11th February 2019

The advantages of digital twinning for machine builders

Throughout history and mythology, twins have been represented as counterparts; mirror images highlighted as having unique relationships and even their own language. This level of deep connection between counterparts is seen in today's digital twins, which are used in manufacturing to aid planning and improve functionality. Here, Sean Robinson, service leader at industrial automation specialist Novotek UK and Ireland, explains why digital twinning promises a unique advantage for manufacturers.

30th January 2019

Trend interview: Software engineering in drive technology

Parameterising instead of programming - this trend now even applies to the creation of ever more sophisticated motion sequences in drive technology. What tools do you offer to achieve this, and which sectors or specific task areas are you already targeting?

29th January 2019