Machine Building

igus bearings help Rega glide to a vinyl revival

Since Record Store Day began in 2007, the music industry has been enjoying a sustained vinyl revival, with vinyl sales growing consecutively every year since. Vinyl is now the only music format that is consistently growing year-over-year and is more popular than it has been since the late 1980s. From a low of 0.1 per cent in 2007, UK vinyl sales have grown exponentially and now represent 1.5 per cent of total music sales. Although overall sales of physical product were down by 13 per cent in 2012, vinyl bucked this trend, with sales rising by 18 per cent. More than two million LPs were sold in the UK during 2015, and these resurgent sales of music on vinyl generated more income for UK artists than 27 billion YouTube and Vevo streams last year.

1st February 2017

RARUK Universal robot helps automate SIM card packaging

Real Digital International Ltd, a specialist in digital print communications and a service provider to sectors that include retail, telecommunications, finance and healthcare, has installed a Universal Robot UR10 at its Croydon facility to help with the packaging of mobile phone SIM cards. As well as automating previously mundane manual operations, the robot, which was supplied by RARUK Automation Limited, has allowed the company to repurpose employees to more varied tasks.

30th January 2017

An excellent press mailing service: decentralised systems

Promotional postcards and flyers, membership cards, coupons and other materials fill up our mail boxes daily and encourage individually tailored shopping. Do we ever ask ourselves where all this comes from? The answer is probably from creative minds based in marketing companies. That's true, when it's about the idea. However, who produces and makes all of this? A mailing house. But how? The answer is provided by engineers and planners at C.M.C. srl with the support of Kollmorgen's decentralised systems.

30th January 2017

Specially adapted oven chain bakes the best crumpets

The next time you tuck into some delicious warm crumpets, dripping with butter, there is every chance that they made it to your plate courtesy of specially adapted oven chain from Renold. Just recently the company won a large order to supply an award-winning bakery with 15,000lb breaking load, 5" pitch BS conveyor chain. The chain was designed with special attachments and produced at Renold's dedicated Service Centre in Bredbury, Stockport.

26th January 2017

ATOM encoder enables optimisation of 5-axis measuring head

Renishaw's innovative ATOM miniature encoder has enabled the company to develop its second-generation REVO multi-sensor system that makes it possible for CMM users to perform five-axis measurements on a three-axis co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM).

26th January 2017

Spelsberg shows its true colours for superior customer service

When CCTV equipment is in public view, aesthetics can be as important as functional requirements. So when APC Concepts wanted special coloured electrical enclosures it turned to Spelsberg UK, knowing it could expect world class-support and service.

25th January 2017

Warner Linear steers unmanned vessel design

Research and development into unmanned vehicles has made considerable progress in the past few years. Designing fully autonomous vehicles presents additional challenges since they need to share operational space with human-operated vehicles. In an effort to advance the technology for marine surface vessels, a biennial competition is being held for universities to showcase their expertise; an endeavour that has been supported by Warner Linear.

25th January 2017

Increasing profitability and safety through training

The BFPA (British Fluid and Power Association) has been leading industry discussions on safety, best practice and profitability for decades. Moreover, the organisation is renowned for setting the highest standard in terms of training and education. Recently the benefits of taking part in BFPA courses have been confirmed by a leading industry figure from Hydroscand.

20th January 2017

Precision drive for aircraft wing spar former

When AIC Group won a contract to manufacture a large hot drape former for a major aerospace company in Russia, it turned to trusted supplier Drive Lines of Bedford for help with the drive systems.

19th January 2017

Miniature load cell for audio equipment

Rega began designing and manufacturing audio equipment in 1973 and today, thanks to its obsession with innovation and the resurgence of interest for vinyl, is now the UK 's largest manufacturer of high-end turntables. Rega doesn 't just make excellent turntables, its range includes amplifiers, loudspeakers, CD players, cartridges and tone arms as well as many accessories that enhance the hi-fi experience for the discerning listener. Demonstrating its continuing role as a technological innovator, Rega will soon be launching a new accessory - a weighing scale that precisely measures stylus tracking force. With tone arm set-up critical to sound performance as well as stylus and record condition, Rega 's new Atlas Tracking Force Scale will confirm tone arm adjustment to 1/100th of a gram with a working range of 3.5 to 5g in a simple in-situ process. As an integral component for the scale, Rega chose the Zemic Q70 series miniature load cell, supplied and fully supported in the UK by Variohm EuroSensor.

19th January 2017