Climate change is a leading concern for the British public. A recent YouGov poll found the environment is the third most important issue in the UK, ahead of both crime and the economy.

This statistic underscores calls from the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) for the UK to go green. Not only would this help protect our planet for future generations, but the MTA estimates a green revolution would also create up to a million jobs for the British manufacturing industry.

We’re used to having data easily accessible and at our fingertips 24/7. From weather forecasts to sport scores, instant connectivity and easily available data ensure we can be proactive as well as reactive.

Ease of data availability in Construction workplaces should be no different, especially when that data is a vital component of site safety and compliance. World-leading environmental monitoring manufacturer Casella is supporting environmental consultants and managers within the construction and demolition sectors with a new initiative to make environmental data more accessible. 

The Gas Safety Trust (GST) today (24 August 2020) launched its 2020 call for grants.

Applications are invited from researchers and academics related to prevention and better understanding of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Since 2013 GST has awarded almost £3 million to a range of gas safety programmes and projects.

The Trust, set up in 2005, is the UK’s principal CO research charity and has in recent years refocused its strategy on funding several strands of CO related research, to provide the underpinning empirical evidence that supports improved awareness and understanding of the effects of CO.

With fleets of vessels and aircraft forced into cold lay-ups and grounded due to the COVID-19 crisis, companies need to consider the risk of long-term damage due to uncontrolled humidity levels.

With the pandemic having a marked effect on demand for non-commercial shipping and flights, more aircraft and vessels than ever are being grounded or moored for cost-effective preservation. However, without an adequate moisture control strategy to protect their critical components, electrical technology and structures, the condition of these vehicles could soon deteriorate, according to Aggreko.

Field service technicians can benefit from a new app that calculates the liquid level in fire extinguishers. Using knowledge of the fill weight, the app indicates the fill level of liquid CO2 in the cylinder so that technicians can easily locate the exact liquid/gas boundary using a level checking device.

The level checking device could be a temperature sensing strip for example or an ultrasonic liquid level indicator like the Link Instruments’ ULLC2001.

MSC Industrial Supply Co. (MSC) is supporting autonomous manufacturing disruptor CloudNC in its objective to revolutionise the subcontracting market. 

MSC has been appointed by CloudNC on a two-year contract covering vending solutions across metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) categories. MSC will also provide engineering support to identify and deliver cost down efficiencies for CloudNC. 

Founded in 2015, CloudNC is on a mission to transform subcontract manufacturing activities. The UK-based precision engineering firm has introduced a pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) approach to manufacturing, using highly advanced CNC programming capabilities. 

AVT Reliability® has achieved a RoSPA Gold Award – the toughest health and safety award in the world – for the third year in succession.

The Warrington-based plant reliability specialist was recognised for its exemplary health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement, which help to ensure a safe environment for its colleagues and clients.

Managing Director of AVT Reliability®, Frederic Thomas, said: “We pride ourselves on ensuring that our clients’ critical assets are maintained to the highest standards so manufacturing environments remain safe and hazard-free.

Sheffield manufacturer, Mechan, is extending its portfolio of rail depot handling equipment, after developing a new product for longstanding client, Siemens Mobility Limited. 

The firm is now offering bogie lifters to the rail market, after designing and producing a set of 22 for a specialist overhaul facility in Lincoln. 

Bogie lifters work in pairs to raise a bogie frame to a comfortable height for maintenance and repairs to take place underneath. Siemens Mobility approached Mechan to tender for a set to replace aging equipment and the two firms worked together to perfect the design, ensuring it provided maximum efficiency and safety. 

With the UK Government continuing to ease lockdown measures, increasing numbers of companies and commercial premises are opening for business after a hiatus due to COVID-19.

To help protect the health of those making their way back to the office, factory, shop, pub, gym or any other place of work, a new ultra-effective surface sanitiser – Hi-KLEEN – is being introduced by Hi-line Industries. Spraying a single coating of HI-KLEEN on to surfaces such as doors, handles, handrails, chairs and desks will not only kill coronavirus, it will provide protection against further contamination for up to five hours.

Hi-KLEEN has been specially formulated to kill and inhibit both bacteria and viruses (including enveloped viruses such as coronavirus) on hard or soft surfaces subject to frequent contact. Simply spray at a distance of approximately 10–20 cm from the surface to be treated for effective protection. This odour-free, clear product is ideal for offices, factories (including food plants), conference centres, sports clubs, hospitals, health centres, educational facilities, care homes, entertainment/hospitality venues (including restaurants and pubs), and even transport. 

The Gerromatic radial shaft seal from Freudenberg Sealing Technologies comprises a stainless steel retaining element and a high-performance PTFE wave-shaped sealing lip that runs in a novel sinusoidal pattern on the shaft surface.

As the shaft rotates, each point of the sealing lip repeatedly covers a new area of the shaft that is wetted with medium. The Gerromatic radial shaft seal is available via Dichtomatik Ltd, the exclusive provider for Freudenberg’s food and beverage related sealing products in the UK.

The seal is intended for use in axially accessible installation spaces, whereby the metallic clamping ring enables an exceptionally tight fit. The Gerromatic rotary shaft seal withstands a high-pressure load of up to 8 bar, and temperatures of between  80°C and +200°C. In other applications, a sliding speed of up to 25 m/s can be achieved.