Machine Building

Profinet and OPC UA used by Audi for predictive maintenance

Unplanned downtime always slows production. There are a plethora of ideas and approaches for implementing preventive maintenance at production companies, to be sure, but they often fail in practice. The challenge mainly lies in accessing the data which could point out a flaw and then processing it in such a way that it can also be used. An experience-based example from Audi demonstrates that precisely these opportunities are opened up by combining Profinet and OPC UA.

27th February 2020

Switch to VSD blowers cuts energy costs by 25 per cent

By replacing its traditional lobe air blowers with modern Atlas Copco VSD rotary screw blowers, Scottish Water's Nigg wastewater treatment works now achieves uninterrupted operation, with a reduced maintenance programme and savings of up to 25 per cent in energy costs − plus the potential for further savings when the system is fully optimised.

27th February 2020

A mile of custom conveyor chain manufactured in record time

Renold's UK chain centre has manufactured one of the largest lengths of a customer specified conveyor chain that it has produced so far this year, and has done so in record time.

24th February 2020

A year of maxon supporting Emirates Team New Zealand

maxon are proud to have been working closely with Emirates Team New Zealand's design and engineering team for more than one year providing advice on integrated drive solutions.

19th February 2020

Essentra Components helps Bax Metaal meet tight timescales

Essentra Components' customer Bax Metaal is based in the Netherlands and is at the forefront in technologies that enable them to produce custom products in composite sheet metal and tubular constructions. When they needed components to produce frames for a newly developed bed range, Essentra Components supported them to beat tight deadlines in order to deliver on their customer's brief.

18th February 2020

Engineering subcontractor relies on PSL Datatrack

ANR Manufacturing is a specialist subcontractor for both the electronics and engineering industries. The company has now relied on PSL Datatrack production control software for almost 20 years to ensure careful monitoring and control of every project. Benefitting from the modular structure of PSL Datatrack, ANR has been able to gradually invest in the software over the years as part of their continuous improvement policy and now run a much larger system than was purchased at the outset.

14th February 2020

maxon is flying to the Sun

Solar Orbiter has started its mission to provide scientists with new data about the Sun. Swiss research and industry have played a significant role in the construction of the space probe - with drives from Obwalden among the contributions.

13th February 2020

NSK lubrication units save roof tile plant EUR4950 per year

A ceramic roof tile manufacturer is saving €4950 a year by switching to NSK K1 lubrication units for its handling machinery. The move has considerably reduced the previous labour and downtime costs associated with re-greasing the integral linear guides.

12th February 2020

Savings for brick maker from compressed air and vacuum makeover

Atlas Copco's compressed air and vacuum systems upgrade for Manchester-based brick maker Wienerberger Ltd is resulting in significant savings in energy costs, estimated to be around £38K per annum, along with reduced CO2 emissions and production downtime, plus the added benefit of a short-term payback.

7th February 2020

Podium finish for Bulgin-sponsored school ROV team

A school robotics team sponsored by Bulgin won third place overall in the 2019 MATE (Marine Advanced Technology Education) International ROV competition, with connectors from Bulgin featured in the design. Among the 24 other schools that qualified in the Explorer age group final, a California-based high school's robotics team had decided to use Bulgin's PX0413/03P rear panel mount connectors in their design.

5th February 2020