Editorial

Thorite launches energy efficiency awareness campaign Manufacturers urged to monitor unseen leaks ‘Behind Closed Doors’

Compressed air and fluid power specialist Thorite has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the unseen energy inefficiencies in compressed air systems which can lead to excessive costs.

The ‘Behind Closed Doors’ campaign urges customers to monitor what is happening in compressor houses, where leaks which go unnoticed or ignored can cause inflated energy bills. 

It is calculated that powering a compressor accounts for 86% of the cost of ownership over a five year period, yet almost a third of the energy used is wasted due to inefficient practices.

Carl Davenport, Thorite’s Marketing Manager, said of the campaign: “Previously, it was easy to have an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach to compressors. So long as they were working as expected, the only time any attention was paid to them was during a service.

“In some cases, it could be argued that the cost of repairing a small leak in the air system might be higher than the cost of wasted energy.

“However, with energy now costing roughly double what it was a year ago - 25.46p p/kWh as of December 2022 - there’s now no longer an excuse to let leaks and inefficiencies continue to inflate energy consumption.

“We’ve launched the ‘Behind Closed Doors’ campaign to raise awareness of the financial impact compressed air leaks can have and help customers identify how they can make significant savings.”

Thorite launched the campaign at the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics show, where it also showcased new products in its range of energy saving solutions.

This included the MSE6-E2M from Festo, a unique energy efficiency module which delivers smart system monitoring, downtime reporting and leak detection, as well as automated shut-off and start-up of idle machines. 

It can achieve energy cost savings totalling thousands of pounds, and reduce carbon emissions by up to 3.2 tons per year.

Thorite recently created a dedicated team to focus on helping customers reduce energy use and rein in associated costs.

At the show, Duncan McGuire, Thorite’s Business Development Manager for the Southern region said: “Reducing energy use is hugely beneficial to our customers’ bottom line, operational efficiency and sustainability goals, so we’re passionate about offering them a wide range of options to help identify and eliminate waste.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer the MSE6-E2M as a part of our growing range of energy saving solutions.”

Other solutions offered by Thorite include:

  • A compressor data logging service, which can accrue significant but often hidden costs.
  • Leak testing, reporting and remedial work. 
  • Ultra-low consumption electric double diaphragm pumps, such as Graco’s ‘QUANTM’
  • Low-cost solenoid operated isolation valves, costing as little as £60, which are wired into the compressor’s start-stop button, controlling the air supply and automatically shutting it down when the machine it is powering stops.
  • Air blower sensors which optimise the blowing process to prevent energy waste.
  • Customised smart systems control panels to increase productivity and efficiency for process-driven enterprises.
  • Cost-efficient software upgrades to master controllers to make air generation more intelligent, dependable and efficient.
  • Voltage optimisers to regulate electricity input and eliminate excess energy use.

Thorite’s ongoing commitment to supporting customers with energy reduction has seen them shortlisted for the prestigious Institute of Customer Service’s 2023 Customer Satisfaction Awards, in the category of Customer Focus.

Babcock Wanson acquires Parat and PBS Power Equipment to strengthen its pan-European market position for the energy transition

 

DBBA1733 7BF2 4CB8 8C24 6ADEE3E91ED8

With the support of its majority shareholder Kartesia, Babcock Wanson Group reaffirms its commitment to becoming the pan-European leader in solutions for the energy transition of Europe’s manufacturing industry. The integration of Parat and PBS Power Equipment at the end of the year mean the Group has made three acquisitions in 2022 alone, following the acquisition of Donau Carbon Technologies in October. 

Babcock Wanson welcomes Norwegian company Parat, world leader in high voltage boilers and PBS Power Equipment, a key player in Central Europe for industrial boiler solutions, which have strengthened the Group’s position in the European industrial sector. 

Parat is a long-standing player in industrial and marine boilers and more specifically in the electric segment (electrode technology). Based in Flekkefjord, Norway since 1842, Parat develops, manufactures and distributes electric boilers primarily in Europe but also across various regions in the world, thus assisting industrial players with their decarbonisation strategies. This family-owned company has established its leadership in high-voltage boilers and has experienced strong growth over the past few years. Parat's growth is notably linked to the solutions it can offer for electrical grid regulations and the decarbonisation of industrial processes like food processing, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and paper manufacturing. Electrode boilers enable electrical capacities to be converted into thermal energy (hot water or high-pressure steam) with unmatched reliability and responsiveness. Parat employs about 100 people, all based in Flekkefjord and with extensive experience in the sector. 

Yngve Halvorsen, CEO of Parat and former majority shareholder, says: “We were looking for a sustainable solution to support our strong growth and confirm our position as world leader in this market. The project proposed by Babcock Wanson and its majority shareholder immediately seemed coherent to us as not only do they provide significant capacities to expand our operations further, but we also share the same values.” 

PBS Power Equipment (“PBS”) is a Czech company based in Trebic recognised for its high-quality industrial burners and boilers. PBS is a former subsidiary of PBS INDUSTRY, itself majorly owned by Czech-based private equity firm Jet Investment. It provides customised energy solutions to help manufacturers optimise their energy consumption and limit their environmental impact. The company has operations across Eastern Europe and has strong ties with blue chip customers, addressing their entire scope of requirements in this market. 

Karel Pleha, director at PBS, comments: “Joining Babcock Wanson Group allows us to join a highly relevant organisation, active in the same markets as ours, providing synergies for both businesses. We will be able to strengthen our product and service offering to our customers and share knowledge and skills across the newly-formed organisation to increase our market share.” 

Cyril Fournier-Montgieux, CEO of the Babcock Wanson Group comments: "We are delighted to integrate these companies within our group, all of which have different profiles and geographic reach but are in line with our overall ambition. They allow us to strengthen further our market-leading position in Europe while also aiding our target to become the leader in solutions for the decarbonisation of the industrial sector. Parat offers us a local presence in Northern Europe but above all the leadership in the industrial electrification initiative. In parallel, PBS brings us closer to our customers in Central Europe but also strengthens our offer in high efficiency combustion solutions.” 

This ambitious external growth programme, combined with strong organic growth in its historical markets, has enabled the Babcock Wanson Group to make a great leap forward. All this is made possible by the partnership between Babcock Wanson and its main shareholder Kartesia, which supports the group's growth. 

Julien Rigon, Director at Kartesia: "We have been at Babcock Wanson's side since 2016 and strengthened our collaboration in July 2021 by becoming the group's majority shareholder as we firmly believe in the management team's project and its capacity to deploy it. 2022 has allowed us to accelerate this ambition and add extra capabilities to the group, which represents a major milestone in its history. We are extremely proud of the work that has been done so far with Babcock Wanson to create a leader in Europe’s energy transition and look forward to the next period of growth for the business with Kartesia’s operational and financial support.” 

For information on Babcock Wanson, go to www.babcock-wanson.com

AirBench Ltd are pleased to announce the release of their new downflow booth models, the VertEx DFB.0

 
B137F47F 8624 47B1 B091 16C86BD6A7B5
DFB is designed for use in high-end manufacturing environments, including food and pharmaceutical manufacturing; but can also be applied in wider industry settings. Manufactured as standard in polished T304 stainless steel, the DFB is also available in T316 stainless, or as a powder coated mild steel unit.
Developed in response to a customer request for a UK manufactured downflow booth direct from the manufacturer, DFB is now available to order.
Downflow booths function by providing a flow of clean, filtered air downwards from the roof of the enclosure, over the operator. This ensures the operator remains in a clean air zone at all times. Air is drawn in at the base of the unit, through primary and secondary filters, before being recirculated back through the final stage H13 HEPAs to the operator. A percentage of air is exhausted back to the workspace, ensuring the booth remains in negative pressure at all times.

AirBench offer a full installation and commissioning service for the DFB range.

Visit airbench.com/dfb for more information, or contact AirBench Ltd on 01206 791191 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Babcock Wanson Launches FM Pack Water Tube Boilers for High Quality Steam

24105BF6 CBB2 4004 915A F844F613FDF6

Industrial process heating equipment and solutions specialist Babcock Wanson has launched the FM Pack range of Steam Water Tube Boilers, for steam outputs from 4.5 to 80 t/h. 

 

Suitable for applications requiring high steam output, high pressure steam or superheated steam, the FM Pack range provides high quality steam, from dry saturated to high temperature superheated and, due to the heat exchanger design, have the ability to provide very high operating pressures, from 10 to 95 barg. 

 

Babcock Wanson has designed these latest Steam Water Tube Boilers for optimum efficiency, durability and longevity. The casing is pressurised to maintain the flue gas outlet temperature, avoiding corrosion risk due to condensation, plus there is a complete separation between tubes and casing and minimal refractory components. All parts of the boiler have been designed for easy access for maintenance.

 

For applications where poor types of fuel gases are used, the FM Pack boiler is available in a specially constructed variant, making it suitable for use in locations around the world.

 

This flexible approach can also be seen in FM Pack’s adaptability to different types of burners to ensure the boiler can work with different fuels in compliance with emissions regulations such as the Medium Combustion Plant Directive.

 

For maximum efficiency, FM Pack boilers can be connected to an external economiser.

 

The FM Pack boilers join Babcock Wanson’s existing range of water tube boilers, which includes boilers designed for operation at 150 barg at outputs of up to 150 tonnes per hour, plus Standard Fasel water tube boilers, following the acquisition of this renowned specialist in boiler technology and burner technology. 

 

Babcock Wanson offers a complete range of products and services for boiler houses and other process heating needs, from steam boilers, thermal fluid heaters, rapid steam generators and hot water boilers to VOC and odour treatment by thermal oxidation, water treatment or process air heating solutions. The company aims to help optimise customer’s energy production with high quality products and efficient service.

 

For more information, please contact Babcock Wanson on 020 8953 7111 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to https://www.babcock-wanson.com/products/steam-boilers/water-tube-boilers/

Reekoh partners with IFS Ultimo to accelerate data integration for industrial asset owners and operators

 

 

ABE07FF5 EBB9 4205 AB1D 8212B46455D1

Leading Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software provider IFS Ultimo has entered a technology partnership with industrialIntegration Cloud software specialist ReekohThe partnershipenablesReekohtooptimize industrial data operations and integration around asset management. ForIFS Ultimo customers, the partnership will drive more value and increase the ROI they get from their existing asset data and business processes. 

IFS Ultimo Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software helpscustomers gain a better grip over their assets, realize higher uptime, control costs,and create a safe and healthy working environment. Reekoh delivers unprecedented data integration capabilities for industrial asset owners and operators. Designed with support for Edge, On-Premise, Cloud, and Hybrid environmentsand powered by a market-leading library of over 250 pre-built integrations across the OT and IT landscape, Reekoh is the most scalable and robust solution for unifying and integrating operational and business systems.

By using the ReekohIntegration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) and integrations with IFS Ultimo EAM, customers can rapidly unlock fragmented data from silos and assets within their OT and IT infrastructure, use data-driven insights to automate business actions, and accelerate digital transformation. 

Patrick Beekman, Partner Solution Manager at IFS Ultimo, said:Reekoh is growing rapidly in line with market demand for tools that can enhance and simplify digital transformation through an integration approach. At IFS Ultimo, we are also scaling our footprint with other mutual partners such as AVEVA. It makes sense to bring these threads together on the Reekohplatform to generate greater options and outcomes for customers. Reekohdrastically simplifies the ingestion, transformation, and integration of any kind of data into Ultimo EAM to power greater asset management processes and insights, as well as connecting those insights from EAM to other relevant business systems and back down to the asset level.

Dale Rankine, CEO and Founder at Reekoh, added: “As an industrial integration platform, Reekoh’s purpose is to help customers connect their Edge and Enterprise systems to drive a deeper level of value and ROI from their data and business processes. Partnering with best-of-breed vendors like Ultimo, who serve as a critical system for customer operations, means that Reekoh's out-of-the-box integration capabilities can achieve this purpose more quickly.

About IFS Ultimo

IFS Ultimo is a SaaS EAM solution from IFS, focused on maintenance & safety and well known for a rapid deployment, ease of use and an unparalleled time to value. Details about IFS Ultimo can be found at Ultimo.com.

About IFS

IFS develops and delivers cloud enterprise software for companies around the world who manufacture and distribute goods, build and maintain assets, and manage service-focused operations. Within our single platform, our industry specific products are innately connected to a single data model and use embedded digital innovation so that our customers can be their best when it really matters to their customers—at the Moment of Service™️. The industry expertise of our people and of our growing ecosystem, together with a commitment to deliver value at every single step, has made IFS a recognized leader and the most recommended supplier in our sector. Our team of 5,000 employees every day live our values of agility, trustworthiness and collaboration in how we support our 10,000+ customers. Learn more about how our enterprise software solutions can help your business today at ifs.com.

About Reekoh
Reekoh is the Industrial Integration Cloud provider; a leading integration platform (iPaaS) and toolkit that removes time, cost and risk from industrial digital transformation. Reekoh delivers agile, low-code data integration between all physical (OT, IoT, IIoT) and digital assets (IT) across a wide range of industry segments (Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Energy, Built Environment and more) to accelerate the digital maturity of enterprise customers. With offices across Australia, the US and Asia, and global customers and resellers, Reekoh is the solution that asset owner-operators are turning to for enterprise data integration at scale.

 

www.reekoh.com

Snack attack continues for hungry Chopper Pumps

At a London-based snack-food manufacturer, Landia has just supplied its 25th pump in a partnership that is now celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Supplying branded and private-label snack and crisp products for both independent and major retailers within the UK and across Europe, the food manufacturer began using Landia long-shaft chopper pumps two decades ago to transfer effluent from below-ground pits to its wastewater treatment plant.

First supplied as 5.5kW units, but in more recent years as 7.5kWsome of the original smaller chopper pumps are still working, with only a bare minimum of basic wear and tear parts ever required.

Landia’s MPG-I long-shaft vertical chopper pumps are designed with a fan-cooled motor that sits above the liquid surface and is therefore well protected. The pump contains no seals, which makes it extremely robust and tough.

This latest long-term landmark for Landia follows its recent milestone with North Wales-based KK Fine Foods (manufacturers of high-quality meat, fish and vegetarian meals), where its wastewater mixing and aeration system has completed five years of uninterrupted service. Landia has also provided numerous wastewater pumping, mixing and aeration solutions to the food and drink industry, including at Hook Norton Brewery, 2 Sisters Food Group and Aspall Cyder.

AFB6E1B8 3226 4D0E 8E10 6127FFA776C3

 

 

Hi-line reports sales growth and major plans for 2023

Hi-line Industries, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, is reporting continued growth in year-on-year sales, with results for the last quarter well ahead of forecast. This positive news is a reflection of the added value provided by the company’s products and services, which help UK users of compressed air to achieve genuine competitive gain.

To support its growing sales, Hi-line has completed a management reshuffle that will ensure its expanding customer base can take advantage of even higher service levels. Following on from the appointment of Steve Smith as Managing Director in May 2022, Brad Beesley is now General Manager, heading up the Sales Department. In addition, Darren Sims now sits at the helm of the Technical Department as the company’s new Technical Director, while Craig Watson takes up the role of Business Administration Manager to lead Hi-line’s Administration Department. All report directly to Steve Smith.

Everything about Hi-line at present centres on growth, emphasising the success story of this forward-thinking UK manufacturing business. By way of example, spring 2023 will see the start of an extension to the company’s UK headquarters in Burton-upon-Trent. This significant project will provide a huge boon to the in-house manufacturing processes, while simultaneously increasing warehouse space. 

In another notable investment, Hi-line’s Technical Department is looking to implement new software that will further enhance the company’s CRM (Customer Relationship Management) activities. The new software suite, which will be of great benefit to Hi-line’s service contract customers, will integrate with the company’s cloud-based Xero accounting software.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Continued ……

Hi-line also takes its corporate sustainability responsibilities extremely seriously, which is why the company is currently installing a series of electric vehicle chargers at its Burton-upon-Trent facility. This activity precedes a number of electric vehicles currently on order, which will drive down carbon emissions and support Hi-line’s position as an industry flagbearer for environmental issues. Many of the company’s products also underpin this ethos, largely via innovative technologies that help to reduce energy consumption.

In a further environmental project, Hi-line will be self-sufficient with solar energy by 31 March 2023, delivering a huge milestone in the company’s carbon-offset programme. 

As a final positive note, Hi-line reports that recruitment is currently at an all-time high, with the company set to announce more appointments in the near future, likely filling vacancies in the Logistics and Technical Departments. In addition, two local apprentices have just started their BCAS (British Compressed Air Society) Apprenticeship Scheme at Hi-line Industries, facilitating the vitally important succession of industry skills. 

“We’re really happy with our impressive sales performance as it means we can reinvest in our business to deliver even more growth moving forward,” says Managing Director Steve Smith. “Investments in new floor space, staff members and green technologies – alongside our newly conceived management structure – will mean that Hi-line remains on a progressive and secure footing. The future is looking extremely bright for Hi-line and I look forward to seeing what we can achieve in the years ahead.”

e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This article can also be foud in the issue beloiw

 

How to cut the energy consumption of compressed air systems

FPS Air Compressors can provide a number of tips and initiatives to reduce the energy consumed by compressed air systems. In particular, the company offers the new NOBEL PM series of oil-injected rotary screw compressors, which feature IE4 permanent magnet motors, variable speed drives and an extended airflow range for the highest level of energy efficiency and quiet operation. This industry-leading performance helps to counter the current trend of spiralling energy costs, which look likely to remain high for the foreseeable future. Compared with the operating costs of a standard compressor. As an example, a user operating a 37 kW Nobel DVPM air compressor can enjoy savings of up to £25,000 a year or more.

Compressed air usage represents a significant proportion of electricity costs at manufacturing plants, food production facilities, machine shops, packaging plants, garages, body shops and woodyards – essentially any facility using compressed air. A big part of the solution is to get savvy about specifying the optimal technology, notably the compressor. The energy costs linked to an air compressor’s operation during its service life represent more than 80% of total lifecycle costs.

There are three principal compressor metrics to consider: specific energy; greater FAD (free air delivery) performance; and a wider operating range to suit varying demand.

The specific energy value reveals how much power (kW) is used to generate a specific volume of compressed air (1m³). Users unfortunately often overlook this highly accurate measure of an air compressor’s energy efficiency. However, NOBEL PM series models from Power System deliver a 3-8% better specific energy performance in comparison with competitor alternatives.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Continued ……

Regarding the second metric, the maximum available capacity is important because a compressor with better FAD performance is able to cope with peaks in demand that would otherwise require an additional or even larger, higher energy consuming compressor. NOBEL PM models provide extremely high maximum capacity figures compared with competitors. For example, the 22kW NOBEL 24 DVPM has an FAD performance delivering over 4500 l/min, which is almost 10% better than industry peers. 

The third metric considers the operating range of a variable-speed compressor. This factor is important in satisfying the fluctuating demands of production and in preventing the air compressor from entering an ‘idle’ state, which is extremely wasteful in energy. To avoid this situation, NOBEL DVPM models operate with a wide range of between 15% and 100% of available capacity. 

There are many reasons for the high-efficiency performance levels of NOBEL DVPM air compressors, not least the introduction of permanent magnet motors and high-performance inverters. These technologies help compressed air users to take advantage of IE4 ‘Super Premium’ class efficiency, the highest available according to IEC 60034-30-1. Further innovations include an efficient intake regulator and a minimum-pressure valve that minimises pressure loss to reduce energy consumption.

Notably, the volume of compressed air generated by the cutting-edge NOBEL PM series aligns exactly to system requirements, achieved by regulating the speed of the electric motor. In other words, the system provides a continuously adjusted air output to match actual usage, meaning that users only expend power, for the volume of air required. 

Such impressive performance offers incredibly fast ROI (return on investment), with NOBEL PM series compressors typically paying for themselves in circa 12-18 months, sometimes less, when replacing an equivalent fixed-speed compressor.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Continued ……

The high efficiency levels combine with a direct transmission system featuring a flexible coupling that minimises component wear and reduces noise, and optimised controls in the form of the new and intuitive LOGIN multicolour touchscreen controller. Featuring an internal memory card for data recovery, LOGIN is ideal for remote control and multi-compressor management for up to eight compressor and as part of IoT digitalisation/connectivity projects. 

These advanced technologies, alongside the use of latest-generation air-end units, has facilitated the creation of the most innovative and reliable compressor available. The result: maximum energy savings and a subsequent reduction in CO2 emissions. The extremely compact, Italian manufactured NOBEL PM series compressors are not only an ecological choice, but they also offer among the lowest noise values in their category – as low as 58 dB(A).

A full NOBEL PM range is available from 18.5 to 90 kW, with the 24, 39 and 45 DVPM models typically offering the best performance in their market segment. An optional refrigerated dryer is available with integrated inlet/outlet filters to deliver clean, dry compressed air. A five-year warranty is available subject to terms and conditions.

For further information please visit https://www.fps-compressors.co.uk/energy-saving-air-compressors

Further information is available from:

FPS Air Compressors Ltd, Unit 5, Tower Estate, Warpsgrove LaneChalgroveOxfordshire OX44 7XZ

Telephone: 01865 892 620                    ​​e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.fps-compressors.co.uk/energy-saving-air-compressorsAD00F725 45EA 4EB4 A042 CB95A274C095

 

This article also featured in the December/Jan issue below
 
 

 

AirBench are pleased to announce the launch of a new range of wet filtered downdraught benches.

AirBench WB is designed specifically for flammable dusts which produce sparks when worked – for example titanium. WB uses a unique double-pass system of baffles to quench sparks in the integral water bath; filtering dust by passing through multiple water sprays.

Airflow is generated using a high-efficiency centrifugal fan, selected specifically for the high pressure needed to induce a water spray.

To date, filtration of this grade has required ducted installations. WB is a huge step forward in that it can be installed by the user, in under an hour; simply position and join the two sections, connect to power and water, and work can begin.

The UK’s most advanced solution to titanium dust extraction, now available from AirBench Ltd.

Visit www.airbench.com/wb for more information, or contact AirBench Ltd to discuss your extraction issues

 


 

 This article also featured in the DecemberJan issue below 

 

 

 

A Unique Effective Cost Saving Solution to Oil Spills

Picture3pvl

At PVL and Industry Superstore we are pleased to announce our partnership with TEST1 in conjunction with marketing their highly effective Foamflex200 product ranges in the UK.

  • TEST1’s FoamFlex200 is an innovative patented absorption technology for hydrocarbons and their derivatives. The product is an open cell oleophilic polyurethane foam with hydrophobic effect. This allows intact recovery of spilled hydrocarbons without water.
  • Foam Flex200 can absorb, for about 30 times its own weight, any hydrocarbon. The added difference is (compared to other products in the marketplace) ids that by wringing it out, just like a normal sponge, it can be reused over 200 times.
  • One kilogram (1 kg) of FoamFlex200 can absorb about 6.000 Kg of hydrocarbons. FoamFlex200 allows an improvement in the performance of the reclamation activities in terms of costs, efficiency, effectiveness, timing, minimizing the environmental impact.
  • FoamFlex200 is a fast, versatile, easy to use response method. FoamFlex200 performs the absorption of tons of oil with a minimal amount of product.
  • Its compact stowage size and effectiveness in any condition makes it the ideal emergency equipment specification for confronting unexpected spills. The speed of deployment and rapid absorption characteristics of FoamFlex200 limits damage due to weathering phenomena: sedimentation, stain expansion, toxic exhalations.

This website is owned and operated by: MSL Media Limited

msl logo
www.mslmedialtd.com

Co. Number: 05359182

© 2022 MSL Media Ltd. All rights reserved. E&OE

ems logo mobile