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Heat treatment processes are a crucial component of many manufacturing processes, and thermal loop solutions have become increasingly popular for achieving improved temperature control and consistent outcomes. But many OEMs are missing opportunities where thermal loop solutions offer more than just greater control. In this article, Peter Sherwin, global business development manager for heat treatment at industrial heating technology supplier Watlow, explores the possibilities of thermal loop solutions.

A thermal loop solution is a closed loop system with several essential components, including an electrical power supply, power controller, heating element, temperature sensor and process controller. The electrical power supply provides the energy needed for heating, the power controller regulates the power output to the heating element, the heating element heats the material, and the temperature sensor measures the temperature. Finally, the process controller adjusts the power output to maintain the desired temperature for the specified duration, providing better temperature control and consistent outcomes.

Performance benefits

Heat treatment thermal loop solutions offer several advantages over traditional heat treatment methods, including improved temperature control and increased efficiency. The thermal loop system provides precise temperature control, enabling faster heating and cooling and optimized soak times. In addition, the complete design of modern thermal loop solutions includes energy-efficient heating and overall ease of use.

Thermal loop solutions can also be integrated with Industry 4.0 frameworks and data management systems to provide real-time information on performance. Combining AI and machine learning algorithms can also provide additional performance benefits, such as the ability to analyze data and identify patterns for further optimization.

The effectiveness of heat treatment thermal loop solutions can be measured using metrics such as overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). OEE combines metrics for availability, performance, and quality to provide a comprehensive view of the efficiency of a manufacturing process. By tracking OEE and contextual data, organizations can evaluate the effectiveness of their heat treatment thermal loop solutions and make informed decisions about optimizing their operations.

Supporting sustainability

Heat treatment thermal loop solutions provide several sustainability benefits, including reduced energy consumption and waste. The power controller regulates the power output to minimize energy waste, and the possible integration with renewable energy sources provides a complete power solution that spans from element design to recycling. The thermal loop solutions, in combination with insulation design and materials, provide energy-efficient solutions that contribute to sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of heat treatment processes.

When discussing these systems in the context of greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental impact, it's essential to consider Scopes 1 (direct emissions), 2 (indirect emissions from energy), and 3 (other indirect emissions), as well as the less common Scope 4 (avoided emissions).

At the component level, energy savings can be realized using current technology. Advanced Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCRs) provide predictive load management functions and hybrid firing algorithms contribute to sustainability by optimizing the energy usage of heat treatment processes. These SCRs offer real-time monitoring and control of energy consumption, while predictive load management systems use specific algorithms to manage peak power loads and adjust to optimize for local conditions such as load shedding or load sharing.

Adaptive thermal system (ATS) solutions are the next frontier of thermal loop solutions. Watlow has decades of experience with thermal systems to help engineers and designers to incorporate ATS technology into a variety of industrial processes and products.

ATS, which combines sensing, heating and control technologies, represents a different and more innovative approach to controlling thermal performance for complex systems, and provides a merged design between heater and control systems.

Regulatory compliance

NADCAP, the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program, is an industry-driven program that provides accreditation for special processes in the aerospace and defense industries. Heat treatment is considered a "special process" under NADCAP because it has specific characteristics crucial to aerospace and defense components. These characteristics include process sensitivity, limited traceability, critical performance requirements and potential risk.

NADCAP heat treatment accreditation ensures suppliers meet industry standards and best practices for heat treatment processes. The accreditation process includes audits, thorough documentation, and ongoing process control monitoring to maintain high quality, safety, and performance levels.

The aerospace industry's AMS2750TMG pyrometry specification and the automotive industry's CQI-9 Issue 4 regulations are crucial for ensuring consistent and high-quality heat-treated components. Adherence to these regulations is essential for meeting the stringent quality requirements of the aerospace and automotive industries and other industries with demanding specifications.

Continuous improvement is also emphasized by both AMS2750G and CQI-9 Issue 4, requiring manufacturers to establish a system for monitoring, measuring and analyzing the performance of their heat treatment systems. This development enables manufacturers to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions, ensuring that heat-treating processes are continuously improving and meeting the necessary performance and safety standards.

By integrating these regulations into a precision control loop, heat treatment thermal loop solutions can provide the necessary level of control and ensure compliance with AMS2750G and CQI-9 Issue 4, leading to the production of high-quality, heat-treated components that meet the performance required and safety standards.

Heat treatment thermal loop solutions provide several benefits over traditional heat treatment methods, including improved temperature control, increased efficiency, and improved sustainability outcomes. The integration with Industry 4.0 and data management systems, as well as the use of OEE metrics, further help enhance the performance of heat treatment processes. As Industry 4.0 digital transformation continues to evolve, heat treatment thermal loop solutions will play an increasingly important role in the future of heat treatment.

www.watlow.com

Chemical hazards in industries can cause serious harm to workers and the environment. To prevent these hazards, it is essential to have visual warnings and inspection recording in place. Visual warnings, such as labels, signs, and placards, can alert workers to the presence of hazardous chemicals and inform them of the proper precautions to take.

The purpose of the Chemtag is in case there is an accident or incident where the chemicals are stored or with a person coming into contact. It pulls the pertinent information off the COSHH safety data sheets and makes it immediately available for first aid or medical purposes.

1 = what fire extinguisher is required

2 = what's the immediate first aid action

3 = what's the immediate spill response

So the fire brigade know what they're dealing with and the ambulance can take the card, take the person and away they go.

Hazardous substances:

• Substances used directly in work activities such as adhesives, paints and cleaning agents
• Substances generated during work activities such as fumes from soldering and welding
• Naturally occurring substances such as grain dust
• Biological agents such as bacteria and other micro-organisms

The control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulations 2002 specifically requires employers to:

• Assess the risks to health from hazardous substances used in or created by your workplace activities. Decide what precautions are needed. If you have five or more employees you must make and keep a record of the main findings of the assessment, either in writing or on computer
• Prevent or adequately control exposure
• Ensure that control systems used are maintained properly and that safety procedures are followed
• Monitor the exposure of employees to hazardous substances
• Carry out appropriate health surveillance where your assessment has shown this is necessary or where COSHH sets specific requirements
• Prepare plans and procedures to deal with accidents, incidents and emergencies involving hazardous substances
• Ensure employees have suitable and sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision

Which Scafftag systems can help you?

• Permit Wallets: Provides ultimate protection and ease of viewing of permits / documents at the point of use.
• Chemical hazard inspection tagging systems: the pertinent information off the COSHH safety data sheets and makes it immediately available for first aid or medical purposes
• SafeTrak Inspection Software: Recording details of inspections and testing results

Find out more about Visual Tagging Systems >>

Scafftag – A Brady Business

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

Tel 0845 089 4060

www.scafftag.co.uk

• Schaeffler honours 19 suppliers with the Schaeffler Supplier Award
• Close partnerships with suppliers are key to long-term corporate success
• Schaeffler Supplier Day: focus on sustainability and digitisation in the supply chain

Birmingham, UK | May 25, 2023 | The global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler presented 19 of its suppliers with the Schaeffler Supplier Award at the Supplier Day in Herzogenaurach, Germany, in honour of their exceptional performance. Georg F.W. Schaeffler, Family Shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Schaeffler AG, and Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of Schaeffler AG, presented the awards in the five categories of Innovation, Sustainability, Cost Efficiency, Quality, and Supply Chain before an audience of more than 450 guests.

Andreas Schick, Chief Operating Officer of Schaeffler AG, said: “A close, trusting relationship with our suppliers is crucial to Schaeffler. Given the enormous challenges we are currently facing in global supply chains, close partnerships are now more important than ever and are key to long-term corporate success.”

The key topics of digitisation and sustainability in the supply chain occupied centre stage at the Schaeffler Supplier Day. Andreas Schick: “Digitisation offers considerable potential for new products and solutions, and Schaeffler is actively driving the company’s transformation forward with digital solutions along the entire supply chain. In conjunction with our suppliers, we will make joint use of the opportunities that digitisation presents to make value creation more agile, efficient, and ultimately, even more sustainable.”

The strategic importance of digitisation to Schaeffler is also reflected in all of the supplier awards in the “Innovation” category. The award was presented to suppliers for digital solutions developed in areas such as Industry 4.0, or for the joint development of online service portals. With awards in the “Sustainability” category, Schaeffler honours suppliers who support the corporate goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2040 by focusing extensively on using raw materials efficiently, recycling production waste, or generating electricity from renewable energies. The Schaeffler Supplier Award in the “Supply Chain” category is presented to top suppliers for excellent delivery reliability and particularly resilient delivery chains, while the awards in the “Quality” category honour outstanding quality performance. The awards in the “Value” category are presented by Schaeffler to honour strong partnerships, which are particularly important for the company’s competitiveness worldwide.

The recipients of the 2023 Schaeffler Supplier Award:

• RPK S. Coop., Spain
• FAIST Mekatronic, Romania
• POSCO, South Korea
• Shandong Golden Empire Precision Machinery Tech., China
• Trafilspec ITS S.p.A., Italy
• Draxton, Spain
• Edmund G. Friedrich & Co. GmbH, Germany
• Imperial Logistics International B.V. & Co. KG, Germany
• Kentpar Otomotiv Yedek Parça AŞ, Turkey
• Delux Bearings Pvt. Ltd., India
• hmmh multimediahaus AG, Germany
• Ravi Technoforge Pvt. Ltd., India
• UMBRAGROUP S.p.A., Italy
• NHB BALL & ROLLER LTD, India
• Statkraft Markets GmbH, Germany
• Hwacheon Machine Tools Co., Ltd, South Korea
• Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Japan
• Tyrolit – Schleifmittelwerke Swarovski AG & Co K.G, Austria
• Siemens AG Digital Industries, Germany

www.schaeffler.com

The deadline is rapidly approachingto investin a team of fast-rising innovators, who have already completed over 100 installations worldwide of their energy-saving wastewateraeration solutions.

Via Crowdcube, but only until June 10th, shares can be purchased in Mapal; a thriving business (established 2008) that has seen a significant increase in demand for its aeration technologies, which do notrequire a levelled floor and, importantly, cause no unwanted downtimebecause they canbe installed and maintained while the plant is operating.

Ilan Diamond, Mapal’s Chairman/Director, said: “With our systemsproving up to 50-60%moreefficient than traditionalmechanicalsurfaceaeration– and with nomovingpartsinthewater, there is huge potentialgrowth for what we offer.”

He added: “This investment opportunity will provide general working capital, enabling us to accelerate our healthy growth by furtherdeveloping our sales and marketing teams. We will also be able to fund a pre-sale trial (rental) fleet and continueour research & development into ammonia removal in aerated lagoons with fixed bio-media combined into our Mapal FFBA(Floating Fine Bubble Aeration) system.”

Some recent aeration methods partly address the higherthan ever energy (and maintenance) costs of conventional surface treatment, but requiring specific conditions, can also prove expensive as a new-build, with problematicalprocess interruption for upgrades. But from Israel, the UK, Brazil, Australia and across Africa, Mapal’s custom-made systemshave successfully supersededthese drawbacksfor municipal and industrial wastewatertreatment plants of numerous types, shapes and sizes.

Mapal’s Ilan Diamond, continued: “Our innovative and proven technology, togetherwithour strong customersupport, should see our sales grow from US$ 0.65 millionlast year to US$ 2.1this year, then US$ 3.0 million in 2025. We are very excited about the future for delivering the benefits of our equipment to theglobal wastewater industry.”

More details about investing in Mapal via Crowdcube* can be found at:

www.mapal-ge.com

https://bit.ly/3Iqjp9l

Thorite has been awarded Pro-Partner status by Piab Group, consolidating its position as the leading UK distribution partner for the global brand’s vacuum automation products.

The enhanced partnership recognises Thorite’s expertise in the sales and servicing of vacuum pumps, ejectors and accessories. It will strengthen collaboration between the Bradford-based company and Piab, which is headquartered in Sweden, to stimulate growth for both companies.

Thorite is the only company in the UK to have achieved Tier B partnership status with Piab – the highest in its business category – which is based on success in sales revenue, growth ambition, marketing support and workforce education.

Thorite’s Sales Director, Mark Yates, said: “We place enormous value on this recognition from our key suppliers.

“Vacuum is a key area identified for growth as part of our future development and our investment in training and education on its market applications is delivering some great opportunities. 

“The award of Pro-Partner status cements our relationship with the Piab brand and will deliver benefits for both companies and, most importantly, for our customers.”

www.Thorite.co.uk

We have seen a lot of development through the years and are grateful for the opportunity we have been given by our customers to do so!

We want to celebrate with you - by giving away some beer for you to enjoy.

So this summer you really can sit back, relax and enjoy a drink on us!

For a chance to win one of 5 crates of beer, all you need to do is register via the link below and fill out the questionnaire. You will need to answer the questions correctly – so hopefullyyou’ve been paying attention!

Good luck and thank you for all the support we have received in the past 40 years!

Enter here: https://www.testo.com/en-UK/summer-giveaway

AS-Schneider will rename its digital nameplate Digital Product Pass (DPP) to Digital Valve Plate (DVP). With this, the valve specialist draws a clear line between its solution for marking valves and manifolds and an initiative of the EU, which also operates under the name Digital Product Pass and is becoming increasingly important in the industry. Now, mix-ups are excluded and both solutions can be further developed in parallel.
Products in the process industry are usually delivered with a large number of technical documents. Depending on the project scope, hundreds of printed pages of drawings, material certificates, testing documents as well as maintenance and servicing information are generated. In order to advance the digitalization of mechanical components and to take a step towards Industry 4.0, AS-Schneider has already introduced its digital nameplate based on DIN SPEC 91406 under the name "Digital Product Pass" in 2019.
What was not known at the time, however, was that the European Commission was working on a Digital Product Pass of the same name as part of the Sustainable Product Strategy. In recent months, this EU Digital Product Pass has increasingly established itself as a fixed term in the industry, according to AS-Schneider.
In order to create clarity and avoid confusion, the valve specialist finally decided to rename its solution. DPP now officially becomes Digital Valve Plate (DVP). The name was created in reference to the administration shell as well as the Smart Valve introduced last year called

Product information

"Digital Valve Kit". Digital Name Plate als auch dem letzten Jahr vorgestellten Smart Valve namens „Digital Valve Kit“. "In this way, we are paving the way for both essential solutions: the implementation of the EU's Digital Product Pass and the expansion of AS-Schneider's Digital Valve Plate to provide relevant product information," describes Thomas Weisschuh, Head of Product Management & Innovation at AS- Schneider.

www.as-schneider.com

Hi-line Industries, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, is well known for the long-standing support it provides to the local sporting community in Burton upon Trent. The company is a main sponsor at both Burton Albion Football Club and Burton Rugby Football Club. Now, Hi-line’s Managing Director Steve Smith is adding to this tradition by raising thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK through his endeavours in White Collar Boxing, a series of high-profile fundraising events organised by Ultra, the UK's largest charity sports organisation.

Ultra White Collar Boxing (UWCB) is a unique opportunity for people to experience the wonderful world of boxing in a safe and enjoyable environment, while simultaneously raising money for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and getting into shape. The organisation is a spin-off of the original White Collar Boxing, which began in New York in 1988 when two ‘white collar’ workers, a doctor and an attorney, trained for a few weeks before boxing each other at a black-tie event. UCWB commenced in 2009, becoming a corporate partner of CRUK in 2013. Today, the organisation is one of CRUK’s largest fundraising partners, donating over £25 million to date. 

In memory of his late mother June Smith, Hi-line’s Managing Director Steve Smith decided to get involved when UWCB announced it would be staging a series of bouts in Burton upon Trent between 18 March and 18 April 2023. UWCB has now organised events in over 100 towns and cities in the UK. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Continued ……

All those agreeing to participate in a UWCB bout receive eight weeks of free training at a local boxing gym with professional coaches. Once training is complete, participants get paired with an opponent from the same group of trainees based on weight, fitness, ability and age to ensure a fair and competitive bout under strict safety guidelines.

Every participating boxer must pledge to raise at least £50 for CRUK, but Steve Smith wanted to do more, setting up a Just Giving page with a target of £3,000. At time of writing, the total had already exceeded £4,600.

“I wanted to raise money for research into cancer cures because this devastating disease must cease,” he said. “At Hi-line we have a long association with supporting local sport, so UWCB seemed the ideal opportunity to make a further contribution. I must offer my thanks everyone who has made a donation. We associate ourselves with success at Hi-line Industries and take our social and charitable responsibilities very seriously, so a massive thank you to all who have helped make this fundraising event so hugely successful.”

A video of the entire bout between Steve ‘Nitro’ Smith (wearing blue) and his challenger Matt Long is available to view on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3l9k42cKjA. Anyone wishing to support Steve Smith and pledge a donation to Cancer Research UK can do so at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-smith222

The company are also sponsoring a MotoX race team started by their Fabrication Manager, Darren Stretton. The team features a group of like-minded dirt bikers and ride at AMCA level, meeting throughout the Midlands. The all Yamaha team wear Hi-line blue with bikes in full Hi-line decals.

As long-time suppliers of premium valves for a range of industries, BM Engineering is proud to announce the launch of its new website. Its complete reconstruction has made it an easy-to-use hub for those in the process industry looking for high-end components for their system.

The previous edition of the website featured predominantly more informative content that provided knowledge about their products’ attributes and qualities. This has been substantially improved upon with their new website. Now, a dedicated ‘Knowledge Hub’ is available to keep readers up to date with the latest happenings and products. 

In addition, visitors to the all-new BM Engineering website will find new and improved details of BM Engineering’s brands, industries, key locations and case studies.

With e-commerce a major new focus of this website’s overhaul, you can now use it as a one-stop shop for ordering products with ease. Their new online shop interface offers the ability to make an account for the straightforward management of orders, e-receipts, and shipment tracking.

BM Engineering’s wide selection of products has been used within a variety of industries due to their universality, including:

• Food and beverage

• Pharmaceutical

• Paper

• Pulp

• Distillery 

• Brewing

• Dairy

• Renewables

For example, they had great success with the European division of American nail varnish producer, Kirker, who found their services to be second to none. Kirker depends on reliable ball valves that meet strict safety standards with nail varnish being a flammable substance. BM Engineering was able to supply 3” ANSI 150 flanged stainless-steel ball valves that were ATEX approved. Exd explosion-proof switch boxes and Exm solenoid valves were also used as a solution to effectively meet the required safety standards.

BM Engineering can supply valves and instruments to fit any purpose or application. Their specialist selection of products have been relied upon for decades for their superior quality. As a result, they have formed long-standing relationships with industry-leading manufacturers such as Inoxpa, Orbinox and Unitech SRL for a quality selection of products. 

With 40 years of experience in fluid control products, they are proud to stock Bürkert’s range of first-rate components. In the full BM Engineering range, you can find:

• Actuated Valves

• Ball Valves

• Butterfly Valves

• Flow Meters

• Globe Valves

• Non-Return Valves

• Steam Control Valves

• Steam Traps

• Safety Relief Valves

As a Glasgow-based company, BM Engineering is a key distributor across Scotland. They have decades of experience providing valves across key areas of Scotland, including the Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow. 

However, they also distribute to key areas across Great Britain within the north and south of England. Their supply reaches as far north as Newcastle and as far south as Bristol, making their stock easily accessible nationwide.

Blair Miller, Managing Director at BM Engineering, said: “I am incredibly proud of our new website’s overhaul on appearance, internal function and available information. They reflect an up-to-date appearance that is representative of our modern approach and ethos as a business.”

Brady Corporation’s new M610, M611 and M710 portable label printers offer the speed, versatility and durability to get any labelling job done right, at any time, anywhere. Discover their thousands of printer label options!

To maximally support users, the new portable printers from Brady offer countless options to design any label - via the onboard keypad, via PC, and via smartphone. These designs can be printed on the widest range of label materials, sizes and colours, fit for any identification job. All 3 printers also immediately recognise every loaded material, they auto-calibrate and warn whenever a label design would need a different label size.

Work the way your work demands

With Brady’s new high-end portable printing range, users decide how labels are created. Printers have label design wizards installed that can be operated with the on-board keypad, available in all key layouts.Alternatively, labels can be designed with Brady Workstation on PC, stored on the printer, or sent to the printer when needed via Wi-Fi.  

The new printers’ top feature perhaps is they can all be operated with the user’s smartphone, provided Brady’s free Express Labels Mobile app is installed. The app makes label design extremely easy, practical and fast for almost any label with any recent smartphone model.

Depending on the needs of the job, users can load printer consumables with precision pre-cut labels or rolls with continuous label material that can be auto-cut after printing. For large print jobs, Brady also offers compatible bulk rolls that maximise the portables’ fast print speeds of up to 76 mm per second.

Create premium labels from anywhere

Brady offers thousands of printer label options, including general identification materials and highly specialised solutions designed for maximum reliability in specific contexts. With the widest choice in label materials, sizes and colours, users will enjoy the freedom to clearly and reliably identify just about anything with a single label printer. 

The M610, M611 and M710 are all designed for use on the road and in busy workplaces. They are tough and rugged and can resist more than the occasional bump. All models offer a 1.8 meter drop resistance and military grade shock resistance, and they include a rechargeable li-ION battery that keeps users printing all day long, up to around 4500 labels per charge.

Any of the new portable label printers from Brady unlock a seamless identification ecosphere that offers a premium labelling experience. Thousands of authentic Brady label materials are automatically recognised by the printer, by Brady Workstation on a user’s PC, and by the Express Labels Mobile app on a smartphone. The printer will auto-adapt its settings, and the Brady Workstation software and Express Labels Mobile app for label design will immediately take into account the specific loaded material, so users can push identification to the limit without a single worry.

Effortless communication between label material, label printer and label design software results in first time right labels, all but no label loss, and fast identification in the office, and in the field. It also enables error-free printing of custom, fully personalisedlabel rolls that can be pre-printed in advance with a logo or any other information.

Available via Brady’s worldwide network of experienced distributors, the M610, M611 and M710 are ready to change the labelling experience of businesses in many industries, anywhere in the world.

Discover new portable label printers from Brady now!