Machine Building

Food logistic system combines Motoman robot with Siemens PLC

A collaboration between Yaskawa and an intralogistics and packaging company has resulted in the development of an automatic robot-based palletising cell which takes robotics handling to new levels of sophistication. The food logistics system developed by MPS Food Logistics Systems based in the Netherlands features a Profinet interface which enables the Motoman handling robotic system from Yaskawa to be programmed and operated via a Siemens TIA portal.

20th September 2016

Lucozade Ribena Suntory targets energy savings with Wonderware

Lucozade Ribena Suntory, one of the leading soft drinks businesses in the UK and Ireland, has partnered with Wonderware UK & Ireland, to monitor and improve its energy performance.

20th September 2016

New SCADA system brings efficiency to Scottish malting plant

A grain drying and storage facility that supplies some of Scotland's leading distilleries has installed a new Movicon SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system from Products4Automation (P4A) to consolidate series of plant upgrades and expansions. The new software is providing control and visualisation for product movement, processing and storage, including the integration of biomass boilers and heat recovery systems.

19th September 2016

Subcontract machine shop buys first CNC VMC...from Fanuc

When James Camden Engineering Ltd had an issue machining some complicated aerospace parts, it turned to FANUC and its renowned ROBODRILL vertical machining centre for a solution. The Warwick-based subcontractor conducted a comprehensive review of the CNC machine tool market and concluded that FANUC offered the best combination of cost, performance, precision, technology and service.

19th September 2016

Clinical diagnosis benefits from design collaboration

Precision and reliability are two critical requirements of testing and analysis for clinical diagnosis; a collaborative project has now combined these with efficiency and cost effectiveness by designing a new modular microfluidic product. Integrating the design expertise of Bürkert Fluid Control Systems with the long-standing experience of Biosystems, a prominent manufacturer of analysis equipment, has resulted in the design of a new dosing unit that significantly reduces running costs for analysis instrumentation.

16th September 2016

Moulded-in bigHead fasteners improve functional performance

When an industrial composite products manufacturer needed to improve the functional performance of their outdoor luminaires which are used on marine platforms and oil rigs, they turned to bigHead Bonding Fasteners for a solution and were rewarded with additional production cost savings.

15th September 2016

Extracting business risk through teamwork

Reducing business risk, and capitalising on the advantages of a fully supported and future-proofed process control system, lie behind a recent successful migration project for Bespak Europe Ltd - a developer and manufacturer of complex medical devices.

14th September 2016

Harting RFID system key to Hi-Bay warehouse training model

Harting's Ha-VIS RFID system forms a key element in the Hi-Bay warehouse training model developed by INTACS Industrial Training and being demonstrated on the HARTING booth (Stand UK14) at the IMHX Exhibition (NEC, Birmingham, 13-16 September 2016).

14th September 2016

Free flow conveyor reduces car plant downtime

A car manufacturing plant in France has almost completely eliminated the downtime caused by friction wear on conveyors thanks to the installation of Tsubaki Double Plus free flow chain. The robust rollers are resistant to wear, even when a high degree of friction is generated as the crates, which carry small parts through the factory, accumulate on the conveyor.

14th September 2016

Luxury cruise ships to use more than 1000 drives from Danfoss

No fewer than 1080 VACON 100 FLOW AC variable speed drives from Danfoss Drives will be used by Finnish automation and electrification specialist VEO in the electrical systems of four large luxury cruise ships currently being built by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft. The drives, which range in size up to 250kW, will principally be used in HVAC and pump applications.

13th September 2016