Food Manufacturing

Grease: How to avoid economic meltdown

A tub of grease costs next to nothing. A seized motor can bring a production line to a standstill, resulting in enormous accumulating losses. Magda Bartosova, Technical Advisor of Wellingborough-based motor specialist Rotor UK, says that remembering to lubricate electric motors will probably get the company accountant whining about trickle-spending, but...

18th July 2014

Design and components for pneumatic control automation systems

The use of pneumatic process control systems has been adopted by a wide variety of industries and as the complexity of these control systems grows, so it becomes even more important to ensure high levels of reliability and integrity. However, not every system requires a huge valve island or bus communication to achieve the required level of automation. Neil Saunders, General Manager at Bürkert Fluid Control Systems looks at the common components and processes involved; from the most basic design to a complete production line.

10th June 2014

Efficient integration of the drivetrain in any industry

Depending on the industry, environment and requirements of any given application, there are many different methods of transferring power from mains supply to machine. But no matter what the layout of the drivetrain, there will always be some approaches that offer smoother integration and better efficiency than others. Bauer supplies electro-mechanical application systems that guarantee every component is hand-picked for the application, and integrated as efficiently as possible.

12th May 2014

Advances in plastic quick connects benefit industrial equipment

Ken Davis of Value Plastics, a Nordson Company, explains why plastic quick connect tube fittings are replacing traditional metal quick connects in mission-critical industrial and laboratory applications, bringing benefits such as enhanced ergonomics, lighter weight and reduced costs.

31st March 2014

Trouble shooter's guide to motor maintenance and repair

A failed or underperforming motor can bring a busy production line to a complete halt, compromise a critical airflow, devastate a water supply or lead to any number of other issues. Here, Andrew McIntyre of TSJ Industrial in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire uses his wealth of field experience to suggest some simple solutions to potential problems.

6th February 2014

Mitsubishi Electric leads trend in motion and servo technology

User expectations for motion control and servo technologies are changing, with more emphasis being placed on ease of installation, energy efficiency, safety and productivity. Barry Weller of Mitsubishi Electric looks at the current trends and the future of these vital technologies.

15th January 2014

Industrial gearboxes and geared motors: addressing market demand

Manufacturers of industrial gearboxes and geared motors need to address the market demand for higher operating efficiency and global availability, according to Philip Crowe, Marketing Manager of Bauer Gear Motor GmbH.

6th December 2013

Keep on running with a Mitsubishi Electric service contract

With its "˜make today, sell tomorrow' scheduling, the food and beverage manufacturing sector has an almost total intolerance to production breakdowns. They have developed sophisticated techniques to keep the lines working and the distribution channels full. Guy Kennett of Mitsubishi Electric explains that other sectors can benefit by adopting similar systems.

16th October 2013

Sustainability and efficiency for pumps

Pumps are energy-hungry devices that make life difficult for engineering operators who are attempting to build sustainability. However, innovations in processes, management and technology are all enabling manufacturers to reduce waste and increase the productivity of pumps, and of plant as a whole. Andy Cruse of ERIKS explains how initiatives such as an organised action plan will significantly maximise pump efficiency.

30th August 2013

Direct versus Indirect measurement of shaft angle

As a rule, it's preferable to measure directly the position or speed of the object that you are interested in. In many cases, practical problems of physical environment or limited space mean that this can be a challenge, particularly when measuring the angle of shafts with a diameter greater than a couple of inches. The traditional approach is to measure angular position or speed indirectly - typically inferring the shaft's position from measurements made elsewhere. Mark Howard of Zettlex Ltd describes the traditional approach and a new, direct approach enabled by inductive sensors

9th July 2013

Technical Articles