PWE (Plant & Works Exhibition) - 2008 preview

The 2008 PWE (Plant & Works Exhibition) takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 22-24 April. Pre-registration is now available at www.pwe08.com/pwe08/show_home1.asp - and the following preview will help you to plan your visit.

Technical Training Solutions (www.technicaltrainingsolutions.co.uk) will be highlighting its range of engineering skills training courses, including Electrical and Mechanical Maintenance Skills, PLC Maintenance, 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, AC Inverter Drives, Pneumatics, Hydraulics and others. With the emphasis on safety and a practical hands-on approach wherever possible, the courses provide useful skills in short, highly-focused training events. Consolidation schemes ensure that trainees get the opportunity to practice their new skills in the workplace. Many of the courses have originated via requests from industry; a policy of continuous improvement over twenty-six years has ensured the evolution of the courses to the highest standards.

Flir Systems' (www.flir.uk.com) thermal imaging cameras are now highly compact - and getting smaller - and much lighter but no less robust. They are also packed with many more features but on average cost 20 per cent less than their forerunners of just a few years ago. This growth path has given Flir Systems' thermal imaging cameras much greater application scope. Flir Systems will be showing its latest-generation infrared cameras, which is claimed to be the widest range in the industry. Choices include the high-performing ThermaCAM T-Series that fully integrates thermal and visual imaging. This camera introduces a wealth of time-saving features to make the job easier and quicker for the advanced, frequent user of infrared. For find-it-fix-it applications Flir Systems says it set a new benchmark with its InfraCAM SD. This excellent value-for-money camera allows up to 1000 radiometric .jpeg images to be stored on a removable SD card.

Whitelegg Machines (www.whitelegg.com) will show its innovative Motor Condition Monitoring equipment and supporting software. Highlighted will be Baker's new power quality testing software - a package designed specifically to monitor single- and three-phase systems, and look at harmonic distortion, total distortion, voltage unbalance, voltage level, plus harmonics up to the 100th order. Visitors can experience for themselves the Baker Explorer motor performance tester offering non-intrusive monitoring of electric motors via their power cables. The Explorer is suitable for monitoring all sizes of LV and HV electric motors and, in particular, large underwater pumps and rolling mill machinery. Where routine inspection access is difficult or impossible, the Explorer can help to avoid catastrophic failures and expensive downtime. The Explorer can look at a wide range of variables within the motor's performance profile and, unlike many competitive systems, torque analysis to deliver a very clear mechanical indication of motor and load condition.

Thermoteknix (www.thermoteknix.com) will be showing the ThermaScope range of high-temperature camera systems that improve safety, combustion control and efficiency, reduce pollution, save money and increase profitability. ThermaScope solid-state technology is claimed to deliver unmatched reliability, ease of use and service. The ThermaScope is available both as a low-cost, high-resolution video system (HTV) and a fully radiometric model (SLK) with powerful software with unlimited spot and area real-time measurement and alarm functions. Thermoteknix will be demonstrating ThermaScope, as well as the innovative VisIR Ti 200 camera with simultaneous thermal and visual display, C-Safe infrared inspection ports for thermographic surveys, and Condition RED - which Thermoteknix says is the first package to fully integrate an IR camera and analysis system to create an automated asset management and thermographic reporting system. It supports Flir, Agema, Avio and other major camera brands.

Wymark Limited (www.wymark.co.uk) manufactures the Greasomatic automatic single-point lubricator, which is helping the world's industry to lubricate its machinery. Since its inception, Wymark has grown steadily and is now firmly established as a market leader in Britain in its key field - the manufacture of single-point lubricators. The Greasomatic is supported by a range of high-performance specialised lubricants and the company also manufactures the Rustroy rust-destroying primer for iron and steel surfaces.

Artesis (www.artesis.com) supplies a predictive maintenance system that is said to provide all the benefits of traditional condition monitoring systems at a fraction of the complication and cost. It uses an intelligent, model-based approach to provide complete monitoring and diagnostic capabilities for most electric motor-driven equipment, using the electric motor as a clever transducer to provide information about the state of the driven equipment. Each monitoring unit covers a complete motor and the equipment driven by it, and is typically installed in the motor control cabinet. Since connections are required only to the motor supply cables, installation costs are low, with no need to access the driven equipment for sensor installation. The system trains itself to recognise normal performance then continuously monitors the equipment for possible faults. Upon detecting a fault, the system provides a diagnosis of mechanical and electrical problems and indicates severity. The user can then make decisions on the most appropriate intervention.

T Card Direct (www.tcardsdirect.com) will be demonstrating its planning and progress system that is widely used throughout industry to manage maintenance and health and safety. Also demonstrated will be the latest Kanban, Production Control and Planned and Preventative systems. These provide a cost-effective tool that increases workflow and productivity. A tangible overview of work is essential for the smooth running of any business. The T Card systems generate information as well as forming a key part of quality assurance and continuous improvement work cultures.

Alpha Lettering Systems (www.alphalettering.co.uk) will be displaying and demonstrating a range of desktop label and sign-making systems, including the CPM-100, which can print on a variety of media including vinyl and polyester in up to seven spot colours, then cut each label and/or text to size. The CM200 is a desktop in-house sign making system for creating larger signs hat include software and safety symbols. The CJPro is suitable for creating durable warehouse labels with bar codes. Sequential numbering, database access and graphic symbols are all built into the dedicated software.

Apollo Connect (www.apolloconnect.co.uk) provides a complete M2M (machine-to-machine) system for organisations wanting to remotely monitor and control plant and equipment. The company provides an inclusive end-to-end service, from GSM modems through to dedicated servers.

ATS Electro-Lube UK (www.ats-electro-lube.co.uk) will be showing its full range of robust and reliable automatic lubricators for use with oil or grease. The range includes single-point lubricators for direct mounting to the bearing, and multi-point refillable high-pressure units for up to 12 lubrication points. All lubricators are self-contained and require no external power connections, making them simple to install and reliable in operation. The multi-point automatic lubricators can be supplied as a kit with all necessary pipework and fittings included; a working multi-point unit will be shown on the stand. Also on the stand, and being shown for the first time in the UK, will be the Titan range of lubricators that use a standard grease cartridge as the reservoir, thereby providing a quick and convenient method to recharge the unit and eliminating any possible contamination. The oil-filled version of the Titan will also be shown; this has a 1.2-litre refillable reservoir.

Fluke (UK) (www.fluke.co.uk) will be exhibiting a wide range of rugged and reliable portable test instruments suitable for industrial maintenance applications. These include the new Fluke Ti10 and Ti25 thermal imaging cameras with a patent-pending technology that integrates infrared and visual images in full-screen or picture-in-picture views for enhanced problem detection and analysis. Starting at under 3000, the rugged thermal imagers are designed as complete, effective and easy-to-use thermal imaging cameras for everyday predictive and preventative maintenance and troubleshooting. Also on show will be a wide range of power quality test tools as well as Fluke's diverse range of Test and Measurement tools.

Hansen Transmissions (www.hansentransmissions.com) supplies drives for a wide range of applications, such as bucket elevators, cement kilns, conveyor systems, industrial mixers, paper mills and pulpers, water treatment systems, screw pump drives and brush aerator drives for waste water treatment plants. Hansen not only repairs and services its own products but also provides the same high standard on other manufacturers' gear units. The company pledges to get an engineer to any site in the UK and Eire within 24 hours - and within 72 hours globally. This service is available 365 days per year. On show at the exhibition will be a working model of an in-line P4 conveyor drive and the latest range of S4 in-line parallel and right-angled geared motor units. Visitors to the exhibition will be invited to take part in a prize draw to win a Ninendo DS.

SPM Instrument UK (www.spminstrument.co.uk) will be showing the very latest in multi-function data collection, in the form of the new Leonova Infinity. The Leonova Infinity is a very special instrument, characterised by its colour screen, low weight and state-of-the-art technology onboard. It is capable of being used for vibration analysis, shock pulse, shock pulse spectrum, laser alignment and balancing - and more. Also on show will be laser alignment products from Easy Laser.

Pruftechnik (www.pruftechnik.co.uk) is launching a number of new laser alignment and condition monitoring systems. Leading the product launch are three systems with ATEX intrinsically safe certification. Both the Optalign Smart and Aligneo from the laser alignment group are now available ATEX approved for use in petrochemical installations. Complementing these products is the ATEX version of the vibration analyser Vibxpert, which is claimed to be the fastest intrinsically safe data collector and analyser available today. In addition to these systems, 2008 sees the launch of three new systems for geometric applications including precision measurement of structures such as machine foundations. Using the Hydralign system (also ATEX approved), long-term measurements are recorded with high accuracy. Inclineo and CSD Check join this product portfolio. Inclineo is designed for precision measurement of flatness and levelness of machine surfaces, while CSD Check introduces laser measurement to the marine industry for checking crank shaft deflection on marine turbine engines.

The Society of Diagnostic Engineers (www.diagnosticengineers.org) will be introducing its services at PWE. The Society believes that the work and status of diagnostic engineers should be recognised as occupying a very high place in industrial society, and that such engineers should be appropriately rewarded and honoured. Membership of the Society is not based solely on an artificial assessment through academic achievement, but is widespread and offered to those who have shown practical knowledge and experience. The Society aims to be of direct, immediate and positive assistance to all who are concerned with the servicing and maintenance of machines, plant and structures, or who have a concern for the well-being and whole-life effectiveness of all industrial systems. Furthermore, the Society believes that diagnostic skills require knowledge of many disciplines and an understanding of the operating principles of machines, instruments, controls, of strengths and functional capabilities.

InfraTec Infrared Sensors and Measurement Technology (www.infratec.co.uk) will be showing a full range of thermographic cameras and software. The VarioCAM range of cameras is modular in design so the system can be tailored to the customer's requirements with a resolution of up to 1.23 magapixels. InfraTec says that using the innovative resolution enhancement feature results in outstanding image clarity. This metal-housed but still lightweight range of cameras is manufactured to high standards by Jenoptik and supported by the IRBIS family of software developed specially by InfraTec. Thanks to the modular design of this product, a multitude of applications can be covered by the one range, from predictive maintenance, building thermography and quality control, through to research and development.

SoftSols (EMEA) (www.softsolsgroup.com) describes Agility as an extremely affordable, easy-to-use maintenance management system (CMMS). Agility provides all the features required to easily manage breakdown and preventive maintenance work orders and the associated spare parts and resources for small maintenance departments through to multi-site corporate businesses. With Agility, customers can link documents, drawings, manuals and photographs to any record and the system will keep all users informed of work order status changes through customisable email messages and Red, Amber, Green KPI charts. These capabilities mean that engineering information and best practice is easily accessible and all departments within the business are kept informed of the progress being made by the maintenance team. Agility is an attractive, easy-to-use browser-based package built on the Microsoft .Net platform and SQL Server 2005. The latest version, including new Mobile PDA functionality and web services for corporate integration, will be on display at PWE.

Teekay Pipe Couplings (www.teekaycouplings.com) provide a fast and cost-effective means of repairing or replacing all types of pipes without welding, flanging or hot working, even in locations where access to the pipework is limited. Teekay Couplings are available for working pressures up to 40bar and are fully rubber-lined with EPDM, NBR, HNBR or Viton gaskets suitable for most media and temperatures from -4 to 250degC.

And finally...

Remember, you can pre-register at www.pwe08.com/pwe08/show_home1.asp. Your PWE visitor pass will also give you access to a number of co-located events:

Drives & Controls (www.drives08.com) - read our preview at www.machinebuilding.net/n/n0848.htm.

IFPEX (www.ifpex08.com) - read our preview at www.machinebuilding.net/n/n0858.htm.

MACH (www.mach2008.com) - read our preview at www.machinebuilding.net/n/n0866.htm.

Electrex (www.electrex08.com) - read our preview at www.machinebuilding.net/n/n0875.htm.

Subcon (www.subconshow.co.uk).

Air-Tech (www.airtech08.com) - read our preview at www.machinebuilding.net/n/n0871.htm.

IP&EE (Independent Power & Energy Europe) (www.ipee.co.uk).