Machine Building

Rooflight manufacturer partners with Henkel

Sunsquare, the first BSI accredited manufacturer of rooflights and skylights, has never been a company to rest on its laurels. The desire to make the best possible product was the reason why Sunsquare was founded in 2004 and this remains its guiding principle today. As a result, it is continually scanning the market for new technology to enhance product performance and improve manufacturing processes. And testimony to that, is Sunsquare's recent adoption of Henkel engineering adhesives and dispensing equipment for a variety of applications.

8th November 2016

The high cost of crystal IR window failure

Increasingly, electrical systems are being fitted with thermal imaging windows at the point of manufacture. These devices allow the health of the electrical system to be checked while energised without endangering the workforce. It is a move supported by the IEEE whose "˜Recommended Practice for Electrical System Design Techniques' provides a framework for safety to be addressed at OEM level.

4th November 2016

Mixing silicones for facial and other prosthetics

The manufacture of a medical prosthetic device for a patient's face or similar area is a highly skilled job; each one is unique, and needs to be handled with great sensitivity, as both functional and cosmetic considerations are involved. It may require careful mixing and colour matching of a silicone moulding compound, with no air entrapment, to ensure appearance and consistency of structure. Jim Dimond, Consultant Clinical Maxillofacial Prosthetist at University Hospital Coventry, explained how the Thinky ARE-250 from Intertronics helped move from a lengthy, manual process requiring a skilled technician, to a short, reliable and automatic mixing process.

4th November 2016

Guided Operator Solutions enhance quality control process

The need to maximise quality, productivity and efficiency on production lines and in manual assembly cells is a challenge faced by much of manufacturing industry. It has been met at Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Europe by employing Guided Operator Solutions from sister company Mitsubishi Electric, Factory Automation.

4th November 2016

Spanish winery raises a glass to Fanuc fleet

With the global taste for Spanish bubbly continuing to flourish, Freixenet - one of the country's leading producers and exporters of sparkling wine - this year toasts two decades of successful collaboration with FANUC and its yellow robots.

3rd November 2016

MVK Metal module enables rapid tool change for robots

Think about all the things that can be done in 1 second - the list is pretty short. Then cut that time in half. That is the amount of time it takes for a KUKA robot to change tools - made possible by the MVK Metal module from Murrelektronik.

2nd November 2016

Cube67 fieldbus system reduces setup time

Fluid Brasil, a subsidiary of the MANN+HUMMEL group, uses Murrelektronik's Cube67 fieldbus system in their drinking water filtration and wastewater treatment systems on disposal sites.

2nd November 2016

Lee restrictors keep the electricity on

During a recent refurbishment of the Allt na Lairige hydro-electric power station near Inverary in Scotland, the hydraulic control system was upgraded from the original low pressure system to a modern high pressure one. In-house designed multi-orifice restrictors were being used in the hydraulic actuators which operate the main water inlet valves, called spears, which are controlled by the governor to ensure that suitable control of the water jets to the turbines is ensured for all load conditions of the generator.

2nd November 2016

Amsterdam Airport Tulip shop sales grow with Grob screwjacks

Revenues have doubled at the House of Tulips flower shop at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, following its reconstruction as a "˜flying glasshouse' that rises up 3m or more to provide total access to the merchandise from all sides. The glasshouse lifts up in the morning at the start of business, then is lowered again at night to provide absolute security.

1st November 2016

Reliable high-speed torque limiters for performance test stands

Motor test stands and roller dynamometers in the automotive sector place maximum demands on drive systems. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the frequently expensive test pieces and the sensitive measurement units reliably from overload damages. With its EAS-HSC and EAS-HSE high-speed clutches, mayr power transmission has developed clutches specially tailored to the requirements of test stand technology. They convince users through high quality and provide reliable protection without influencing the measurement signals.

27th October 2016