Machine Building

Contact vs. contact-free coding: a guide

The terms "˜contact' and "˜contact-free' are often used in relation to industrial coding, but what do they actually mean and why does it matter whether a coder is contact-free or not? Richard Pether, director at coding and marking specialist Rotech, discusses the suitability of each method in a number of commonly encountered coding scenarios.

2nd March 2017

Zero unplanned downtime: dream or reality?

British science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke famously stated in his third law of prediction that "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Predictive analytics is not quite magic, but it could make a world of difference for companies who want to save costs and improve efficiency. Here, Leroy Spence, manager for the Americas at industrial equipment supplier, EU Automation, discusses how manufacturers can use predictive analytics to manage assets and minimise downtime.

2nd March 2017

Key considerations for OEMs selecting electric motors

With numerous characteristics to consider, each impacting on the performance of a motor in its application, the motor selection process can seem daunting. Lammers Exico's Managing Director Jerry Hodek offers some guidance.

1st March 2017

Single-source supply can reduce costs for machine builders

The automotive industry and other global manufacturing businesses have long espoused the mantra of a reduced supplier base in order to find assembly efficiencies and reduce costs. The real benefits are in a drastically reduced expenditure on development and a faster time-to-market for new products. The same benefits can be realised by machine builders of any size, confirms Mitsubishi Electric.

1st March 2017

Database options: modern SCADA must support multiple formats

It is hard to imagine a current automation system working without the capacity to use some sort of database technology. The process data needed for effective control and analysis in order to improve productivity is becoming extensive. The result is that SCADA systems are needed not simply to perform their traditional supervisory control and monitoring role, but also to provide a platform to process, manage and store big data.

28th February 2017

Rolling bearing selection - look at the bigger picture

When selecting rolling bearings for industrial plant, machines and equipment, it is important to analyse the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) not just the purchase price of the bearings, says Dr Steve Lacey, Technology Centre Manager at Schaeffler UK.

28th February 2017

Protect your Industrial Control Systems from cyber-attacks

Phil Neray, VP Cybersecurity & Marketing at CyberX, explains why the threat of cyber-attacks on Industrial Control Systems can no longer be dismissed by the "˜It's never happened before' argument.

27th February 2017

Industrial screws: many sizes, many threads

Many imperial thread sizes are now either obsolete or trending towards obsolescence prompted by changes in demand patterns from countries such as the USA who are now drifting towards metric products. This increasing globalisation of metric threaded fasteners does not necessarily mean that all variations are commonly available, and it remains important that design engineers are careful in their selection. Whether metric or imperial it is always advisable to seek advice and avoid either paying premium prices or creating lifetime availability issues.

27th February 2017

How to reduce metal contaminants and mitigate food safety risks

Consumer perceptions and a high-profile product recall can make or break a food brand. The damage, if left unchecked, can come back and haunt a company for years to come. Phil Brown, European Sales Director at Fortress Technology outlines why paying attention to metal contaminant risks continues to be the mainstay of a robust brand protection programme and why it doesn't pay to take a maverick approach to product inspections.

23rd February 2017

Improving flow control in pneumatic conveying systems

For many industries, pneumatic conveying brings a number of advantages, not least the lack of moving parts and system flexibility. However, it is essential that such systems are properly controlled in order to maintain efficiency and the quality of the product in transit. Delivering effective process control systems requires an understanding of both the technology and the industry itself. Tony Brennan, Field Segment Manager, Gas and Micro for Bürkert, looks at the advantages of pneumatic conveying and how it can be maximised.

22nd February 2017