Hi-line Industries, an established and reputable UK manufacturer of high-quality compressed air purification equipment, has released the 2021 version of its energy-efficient Tundra refrigeration dryers.

Most notable among the enhancements is a switch of refrigerant to R513a in models up to and including Tundra 115 (115 cfm, 195 m3/hr capacity). A HFC/HFO blend, R513a refrigerant has no ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) and a much reduced CO2 impact in comparison with the previous R134a refrigerant. As a result, customers can rest assured that Hi-line is continuing its commitment to sustainability in manufacturing by minimising its carbon footprint.

With manufacturing and service industries under pressure to reduce carbon emissions, as part of the government’s ‘Net Zero’ roadmap, leading industrial compressor brand, ALUP, has launched an upgraded range of oil-injected air compressors, which have a significantly lower environmental footprint.

ALUP’s innovative Sonetto models feature a revamped air end element, which facilitates a market-leading increase of 15% in Free Air Delivery (FAD) output and a reduction in energy consumption on selected models of up to 12%. 

At the same time, its development of a full range of options allows the compressor to operate on a low duty cycle typically seen on piston machines, where the demand for air is intermittent. The combination of an anti-condensation oil heater, tropical thermostat and a larger 500-litre air receiver thereby allows the unit to operate on very low duty cycles and also avoids the issue of condensation forming within the oil. 

Pumps are often designed to operate at a single point known as the Best Efficiency Point (BEP). As components begin to wear, a pumps performance begins to decline, with operation away from this point leading to issues such as accelerated bearing or seal wear, vibration, excess temperature rise or cavitation.

Quite often declining performance can start gradually, before quickly accelerating until failure if performance issues are not addressed in a timely fashion.

Pump maintenance is needed to restore performance, reliability and ensure process performance is restored to original design criteria.

The automotive giant has revolutionised the fabrication of jigs, tools and fixtures across its Barcelona manufacturing line, reducing costs by 95% and lead times from one week to just one day.

Having successfully integrated 3D printing into its production process in its Barcelona factory, automotive giant Nissan now has the proven capability to expand its use of the technology in the UK. 

The car manufacturer has been using 3D FFF (fused filament fabrication) technology from BCN3D – a world leading developer and manufacturer of integrated 3D desktop solutions – to create tools, jigs and fixtures for its manufacturing line in Spain and the time and cost savings have been so impressive that it could soon roll it out to more manufacturing sites. 

CMT expands the CMA advanced mobile valve family

The power management company Eaton has announced the launch of the CMT mobile valve section, a streamlined new section option for the CMA advanced mobile valve. With the capability to control two bidirectional services from one section – an industry first – the CMT valve section increases design flexibility and reduces CMA valve bank size, weight and overall system cost.

Following an intricate diving operation, ESD (the joint venture involving Galliford Try, MWH Treatment and Black & Veatch) has completed the successful upgrade of its mixing operation at Scottish Water’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in St Andrews, Fife.

In 6m-deep zero-visibility wastewater, three divers (and a dive manager) ensured that there was no interruption to the crucial aeration process in the oxidation ditches, which since 2002 has been served by three very low rpm Landia mixers.

Winn & Coales International Ltd expands corrosion prevention and sealing products portfolio as they acquire the Viscotaq™ business, including Amcorr Products and Services, Inc

Winn & Coales International Ltd (‘Winn & Coales’), leading manufacturer of corrosion prevention and sealing products announce today, the acquisition of the global Viscotaq™ business, including Amcorr Products and Services Inc (‘Amcorr’), manufacturer of viscoelastic protective coatings.

Parker Hannifin the global leader in motion and control technologies, has announced an innovative oil condition monitoring technology that is set to help marine operators reduce downtime, reduce costs, and protect assets.

Developed in close collaboration with marine experts, the DIGI Plus has been designed to offer rapid on-site and on-board oil condition monitoring to improve productivity and increase uptime for the marine industry.

With unplanned downtime as a core concern of Finnish cement producer Finnsementti, part of the CRH Group, they chose to use the wireless condition monitoring solution from Schaeffler, OPTIME. This allowed them to monitor practically every rotating machine at the plant on a largely automated and permanent basis, thus reducing their risk.

David Stevens, Technical Authority and Skills Competence Manager for AVT Reliability®, explains the important role that ‘smart sensors’ play in improving reliability while delivering cost-efficiency.

A company looking to digitalise its condition monitoring (CM) programme should carefully consider the capabilities of the technological tools currently on the market, to ensure they get the best return on investment. 

The selection of sensors - the device fixed to a rotating machine to take measurements such as vibration and temperature - is a good place to start. 

Fixed sensors with low price tags are available, but they require physical monitoring, cannot be configured to the process, and produce no analytical data.