Machine Building

One-way roller clutches: one idea, many applications

Schaeffler has seen an increase in demand for its one-way roller clutches, including applications on e-bikes (electric bikes) and motorcycles, as well as industrial applications in overrunning clutches for packaging machines and speed compensation devices for conveyor systems.

4th October 2016

Low-cost SCADA brings robot control to tissue packing line

A new control system installed on a robotic packing station at Northwood & WEPA's tissue paper manufacturing plant in Bridgend is providing great operator flexibility. By using Movicon SCADA software, the system integrator has completed the project at a very competitive cost, whilst also adding the ability to record and visualise comprehensive production data.

3rd October 2016

HepcoMotion's GV3 used in oil and gas pipe measurement tool

When Optical Metrology Services designed its latest weld inspection tool, the Auga, they turned to HepcoMotion to supply the linear motion system required for this ground-breaking new internal weld inspection tool.

30th September 2016

maxon drives help people to walk again

At the first Cybathlon in Zürich, researchers are presenting the world's best exoskeletons - devices that enable paraplegics to walk again. Motors from Switzerland play a central part in this development.

29th September 2016

New electric car world record with Lenze inverters

From zero to 62 mph in 1.513 seconds: Students of the Academic Motorsports Club Zurich (AMZ) succeeded in setting a new acceleration world record with their "grimsel" electric racing car. The electrically driven Formula Student racing car runs with inverters by Lenze Schmidhauser who are a sponsor and supplier to the motor sport competition for young engineers.

29th September 2016

Pilz provides safety products and services for fuel cell system

Pilz has provided safety products and consultancy services to help EMB develop innovative electric generators based on fuel cells, ensuring the prototype and initial production batch are safe to operate and maintain.

27th September 2016

Automatic CMS prevents unplanned downtime of pumps

Increased noise and vibration levels on two centrifugal pumps at the Perlenbach water treatment plant in Germany were causing bearing defects, which could have led to pump failure, posing a threat to water supplies. To prevent this, Perlenbach changed from regular patrol pump monitoring to a continuous online system from Schaeffler. The SmartQB, which now detects any signs of wear or damage to the bearings early before the pumps fail. Unplanned downtime of up to several weeks combined with significant damage amounting to several thousands of Euros was therefore prevented.

27th September 2016

Precision foot control for handheld optical instrument

Epipole Ltd, based in Scotland, is an ethical designer and innovator of medical optical equipment that is focussed on the affordable eradication of preventable blindness. Its hand-held epiCam digital retinal fundus camera provides a low-cost device to examine, record and store images of the internal structure of the eye - particularly for patients with diabetes where the early detection and treatment of a condition known as diabetic retinopathy can prevent the onset of blindness and other vision complications.

27th September 2016

Bottle cap inspection made easy with Gocator 3D sensor

The Gocator 3D distance and profile sensor, available from Stemmer Imaging, makes it very easy to implement applications such as checking for missing, incompletely assembled (loose) and cross-threaded bottle caps.

23rd September 2016

Brakes from Warner Electric used in stage and theatre production

In many modern stage productions, motion on the set is an intrinsic part of the magic. Performers fly through the air, stage elements rise and fall and lighting rigs shift dynamically to suit the action. Since 2013, advanced electric brake systems from Warner Electric, part of the Altra Industrial Motion group, have played a quiet but critical role in a growing number of major theatre and stadium shows; working quite literally behind the scenes.

22nd September 2016