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Highland Spring Group is the largest producer of naturally sourced bottled water in the UK. They operate with highly critical assets throughout their manufacturing plants, including blow moulders, rinsers, fillers and labellers. If one of these assets goes down, production comes to a halt. Therefore, it is key that the health and condition of these assets is continuously monitored and maintained to the highest standard, to ensure that assets run to their optimum and unexpected shutdowns are prevented. 

Highland Spring Group selected AVT Reliability® to assist them with their condition monitoring (CM) journey on line 4 at the Blackford site in Perthshire, Scotland. The line produces a total 119,000 plastic bottles of water per hour, in sizes ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 litres. 

Faraday Predictive provide systems that take a new approach to condition monitoring, effectively combining vibration monitoring with electrical monitoring and energy monitoring to give a very powerful range of capabilities all in the same unit. 

Because their technology uses the electric motor driving the machine as a sensor, the only measurements required are taken in the electrical switchgear, which means that inaccessible equipment can be monitored just as easily as anything else.  It also means the system can give you information on energy consumption, and how much this machine costs in electricity to run over the year, together with an indication of how much extra energy is being used because of developing problems within the machine – see image.

The SAACKE TEMINOX burner: A smart solution for industrial needs

According to the World Energy Outlook from the International Energy Agency, global energy demand will increase by more than a quarter by 2040, and industrial use of natural gas in particular will grow by around 45% over this period. At the same time, many countries are implementing more international and country-specific directives and laws such as the Best Available Techniques for Large Combustion Plants (≥50 MW) under the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive. Renewable energy can only partially compensate for this obvious contrast between increased energy demand and intensified environmental protection - smart industrial solutions are needed!

FLIR Systems announced four new additions to its Exx-Series of advanced thermal imaging cameras: the E96, E86, E76 and E54. Compared to predecessor Exx-Series cameras, the new cameras offer enhanced thermal resolution for more vibrant, easy-to-read images and on-camera routing capability to improve field survey efficiency. The new Exx-Series cameras are designed to help professionals detect the early signs of building issues, identify hot spots, troubleshoot electrical and mechanical systems, and prevent problems before they cause damage that leads to expensive repairs.

The E96, with a 640x480 resolution and eight-times digital zoom, is the most advanced Exx-Series thermal camera to date. It delivers improved measurement results over the greatest distance to target, so professionals can safely diagnose electrical faults or locate hidden anomalies at very high temperatures up to 1500 degrees Celsius (2732 degrees Fahrenheit), including in harsh industrial environments such as steel mills or kilns, to help keep the workplace running smoothly.

Valuekeep is a technological company specialized in developing and marketing maintenance and asset management software for the global market. The company has announced a new Valuekeep, a more modern, intelligent, sophisticated, and faster CMMS software.

The rise of new technologies combined with the imminent need to modernize facilities and maintenance departments has led Valuekeep to launch a new generation of cloud software, representing a disruptive evolution of its current offering.

When a UK specialist in automation and machine building was asked to manufacture face mask machinery in urgent response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it turned to the proactive team at NSK and the company’s long-life NH series linear guides.

Family-owned Sims Engineering (simsengineering.com) was established in 1982 to specialise in the design and manufacture of automated systems and special purpose machinery. Much of the work performed by this ISO9001-accredited business is destined for customers in the automotive, pharmaceutical and food sectors. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, the company responded immediately to a request for automated face mask manufacturing machines.

Sims Engineering is known for its ability to produce machines on short-lead times. The company had built face mask machines many years ago, so now it was a case of updating the design and manufacturing a reliable, innovative and efficient solution that would maximise productivity and quality.

The automated face mask manufacturing machines being manufactured by Sims Engineering are highly complex, with fully integrated cutting, folding and assembly to produce a fold-flat fabric mask. A high-precision punch and die set is used to profile-cut the mask’s fabric.

To help facilitate smooth, efficient and effective machine motion, the company turned to its long-term technology partner, NSK. For the past 20 years NSK has been supplying Sims Engineering with NH/NS series linear guides (and predecessor models) to suit the wide range of machines and systems built by the company.

For the face mask machines, the linear guides would have to exhibit fast speeds and high load capacity, while simultaneously offering minimal noise output and extended reliability. The company knew that NSK’s NH series would meet requirements.

NH series linear guides offer double the lifespan of conventional alternatives thanks to features like specially developed ball groove geometry. Further user benefits include high dynamic load rating, high productivity, long maintenance intervals, low noise output, ease of installation and standard accuracy that exceeds conventional alternatives.

Sims Engineering was pleased to discover that NSK’s workshop at its Newark, UK facility stayed open during lockdown. Just five days after the order was placed, NSK duly provided the first NH series linear guides.
 
As well as stocking standard units, NSK Newark has extensive capabilities to meet requests for specific lengths, coatings, seals and grease in short lead times. Although the facility holds stock of NH/NS linear guides in sizes 15 to 65 - supporting demand from across the UK and Europe - the in-house workshop is well equipped to meet special orders in lead times as short as five days.

Over the course of 2020, NSK has supplied Sims Engineering with many NH linear guides for its face mask manufacturing machines. Currently, three such machines are in production as demand for local face mask resources continues to grow.

All of the NH series linear guides for Sims Engineering are supplied with NSK’s K1 lubrication units, whereby lubricant is incorporated in a carrier medium and released little by little to ensure supply over a long time period. Meticulous sealing of the K1 prevents contaminants from reaching the running surface of the linear guide. In addition, far less lubricant is released into the surroundings than with conventional solutions.

As a further option, NSK has recently introduced the K1-L lubrication unit. The K1-L houses a new polyolefin-based carrier material with a much larger reserve of lubricant, leading to a service life which is typically double that of the K1 series.
www.nsk.com

On the 1^st of November 2020, the Board of Directors of Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd were delighted to announce that Mr James Winn, the great grandson of the founder of the company has been appointed to the Board.

James Winn has worked for the company for over 25 years and he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the management team.

With the new 3WA series, Siemens Smart Infrastructure is updating its Sentron portfolio of air circuit breakers.

As a core element of low-voltage switchboards, they reliably protect electrical installations in buildings, infrastructures and industrial facilities from damage caused by short circuits, ground faults or overload faults. At the same time, the new 3WA circuit breakers meet all low-voltage power distribution requirements in digital environments. They support software-based planning and engineering, digital testing and monitoring, and seamless integration in automation and IoT systems. For the first time, upgrades can be completed 100 percent digitally. Users simply download new features from the Internet and add them using an app. 

Saft’s new Compact range of maintenance-free nickel technology industrial backup batteries can be fitted in the same footprint and share the same charging protocols as lead-acid batteries. As a result, operators can upgrade to nickel technology in their existing cabinets and immediately improve reliability and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). 

The Compact nickel batteries are directly compatible with valve-regulated lead-acid (VRLA) battery chargers. Normally, nickel batteries require a boost charge to reach a fully charged state. However, the new Compact range requires only a single step charging voltage of 1.39 Volts per cell. This makes it possible to use them as a direct drop-in replacement for existing VRLA batteries. This development builds on Saft’s successful introduction of similar innovative features in its Uptimax block batteries. 

Delivering great wind protection and efficient ventilation.

Snickers Workwear jackets are well known for delivering performance and comfort at work - integral features of this new range of Windproof Jackets.

Sharp, stylish looks and market-leading GORE® WINDSTOPPER® and stretch CORDURA® fabric technology to make this jacket a must for winter on site or outdoor leisurewear.