Machine Building

DesignFlex pressure switches improve crop duster design

Technological improvements involving World Magnetics' DesignFlex pressure switches come in all shapes and sizes and nowhere are they better demonstrated than with the USA based crop-dusting innovator Earls' Flying Service. For nearly 40 years this small but dynamic Company has pioneered improvements in aerial spraying that have become industry standards such as advanced gate controller design for fertiliser economy and GPS guided spraying for improved farmland productivity. Its latest development was to find a better way to determine when the airplane runs out of fertiliser.

13th April 2015

BSI installs AIRnet pipework in newly upgraded test labs

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has installed Atlas Copco's AIRnet piping system as part of a £4million upgrade of its test facility in Hemel Hempstead. The upgrade involved replacing the old galvanised steel piping with Atlas Copco's modular aluminium AIRnet system, which was fitted quickly to ensure the efficient and reliable delivery of compressed air to users within the facility.

10th April 2015

Tsubaki fit & forget chains improve sawmill productivity

Automated sawmills require reliable machinery to continue operating in difficult conditions, even when lubrication systems seem to be at odds with the constant accumulation of sawdust and woodchips. However, one of the major European sawmill businesses found a solution in the form of Tsubaki's Lambda chain that has significantly cut maintenance costs and improved productivity.

8th April 2015

Autoclave uses compact Bürkert process valves to meet targets

The latest Logiclave type vertical closing autoclave from ESTS claims to reduce running and maintenance costs by up to £60,000 over an average 10-year operating period. The secret to achieving this figure is low maintenance, high reliability and low energy consumption. This is largely made possible by the use of an innovative flash steam generator and a combination of Bürkert Type 2000 angle seat steam valves and rotary ball valves.

7th April 2015

High-pressure spiral hose reduces downtime in SA coalmines

Eaton's Aeroquip X-FLEX very high-pressure spiral hose has been performing to expectations and helping manufacturers servicing continuous miners operating in highly abrasive environments in South Africa to meet their contracted coal extraction rate terms by increasing uptime and decreasing maintenance and service times.

2nd April 2015

Brewing system manufacturer uses all-in-one PLC+HMI controllers

SABCO has standardised on Unitronics all-in-one PLC+HMI devices for controlling the brewing systems that it manufactures for the commercial and home brewing markets, including its popular Brew-Magic line.

2nd April 2015

LDS vibration test system used in low-carbon mobility research

Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick has invested in an LDS V8 combo shaker, to support its government-funded research into low-carbon mobility.

1st April 2015

Ultra-powerful all-electric pipe bender at US shipbuilder

Unison has commissioned what is believed to be the largest all-electric tube bending machine ever produced, at Newport News Shipbuilding - supplier of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines to the US Navy.

1st April 2015

QC of alcoholic beverages relies on Watson-Marlow OEM pumps

Zeutec Opto-Elektronik of Rendsburg, Germany has adopted 114 series OEM peristaltic pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group in technology that partners the company's latest SpectraAlyzer 2.0, a near-infrared (NIR) analyser for alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer and spirits. Zeutec, a supplier of spectrometer systems, now relies on the peristaltic pumps for use in an auto-sampler, which is used to prepare samples ready for analysis by the SpectraAlyzer.

30th March 2015

Machining project shows correct coolant choice saves energy

A growing number of manufacturers are realising substantial financial and environmental benefits from the employment of sustainable business practices. Indeed, one aerospace manufacturer recently found a considerable margin for saving energy in CNC machining processes, with correct coolant selection.

30th March 2015