Machine Building

Parker's electric drive delivers urban bus success

Parker Hannifin has successfully collaborated with Hungarian engineering firm evopro to provide an electro-hydraulic drive for an innovative zero-emission urban bus.

18th April 2017

Drive Lines enable handling of giant motor and pump parts

Drive Lines Ltd is a company that provides components used in the construction of portable workstations, also known as Crusers at Hayward Tyler, which are patent pending. The Crusers were named after the late Rob Cruse, who empowered Oliver Buhlinger, a young graduate to invent them. The Crusers were developed by continuous improvement engineer Oliver with the aim of increasing the mobility of the movement of products weighing up to 40 tonnes to improve work flow efficiency and safety. Drive Lines Ltd was initially a provider of screw jacks. Currently Drive Lines supply Hayward Tyler with couplings, gearboxes, cardan shafts, special combined bearings and profile rails used in the manufacture of the Crusers.

13th April 2017

Tough enclosures bring safety and endurance to road tankers

Fuel delivery tankers have a hard existence, yet must perform faultlessly throughout their long working life if they are to guarantee safety and efficiency. Leeds-based MechTronic has been the industry innovator for fuel delivery systems for a decade or more and relies on electrical enclosures from Spelsberg UK for its electrical and pneumatic control units.

13th April 2017

SKF helps meet the challenges of electric powertrains

Pure electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles are reaching the automotive mainstream. By 2020, higher production volumes and technological advances will mean electric vehicles are likely to be cost-competitive with their gasoline equivalents. By 2040, electric vehicles may account for 35 per cent of new car sales.

13th April 2017

Improve productivity with readychain pre-harnessed energy chains

Managing director of igus, Matthew Aldridge, outlines how readychain pre-harnessed cable and energy chain assemblies can help reduce labour costs using a lean production approach and improve productivity by saving time.

13th April 2017

ESAB column-and-boom welding automation solves capacity problem

ESAB has supplied an automated welding system to EWP Windtower Production AB for making longitudinal welds in sections of wind turbine towers. The highly efficient submerged arc welding system comprises a CaB 460C column-and-boom that manipulates a tandem single + twin welding head, with a FFRS Super flux feed and recovery system complete with heaters and filter unit; power comes from three ESAB Aristo 1000 welding power sources and control is via ESAB PEK controllers complemented by a GMH automatic joint-tracking system. In addition to this equipment, EWP Windtower Production AB is also using ESAB consumables, namely OK Autrod 12.22 copper-coated, unalloyed welding wire and OK Flux 10.71 agglomerated basic flux.

11th April 2017

Enhanced control for Land Rover BAR's America's Cup race

When Olympic hero Sir Ben Ainslie took the helm of Britain's hope to bring the America's Cup home for the first time in 166 years, he realised that his Land Rover BAR team needed the very best in British manufacturing, design and innovation.

10th April 2017

ABB enhances interaction with sentient robot at Design Museum

ABB has supplied a custom enclosure for the inaugural exhibition at London's brand new Design Museum. The exhibition includes an installation by artist Madeline Gannon with an interactive 1200kg ABB industrial robot that is separated from visitors by ABB's Jokab Safety Quick-Guard safety fencing. The fencing provides a protective and transparent barrier that allows the public to interact and play with the robot in safety while giving clear and uninterrupted visibility.

5th April 2017

21 Bredel hose pumps installed in sustainable energy project

Bredel hose pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) have been installed as part of a landmark abrasives handling project at the combined heat and power (CHP) plant of Dong Energy in Studstrup, Denmark. The project has seen the facility switch from coal to biomass fuel in line with its ambition to supply sustainable energy.

31st March 2017

Improving cable management for industrial cranes and gantries

When igus approached Kasen Cranes with a cable management alternative, the industrial cranes and gantries specialist was quick to spot an opportunity. Traditional cable management systems have many shortcomings and require regular maintenance, but users are often reluctant to consider alternatives. Kasen Cranes worked closely with igus engineers to implement a new system for its on-site demonstration gantry and then used this to showcase the benefits to customers.

30th March 2017