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Trelleborg Sealing Solutions exhibits its technical solutions in elastomers, high-performance plastics and composite materials at Global Industry 2023 in Lyon, France, from March 7 to 10, 2023.

Located in Hall 9 on stand 3A108, attendees can experience Trelleborg’s innovative technologies including high precision micromolded components; multicomponent technology which creates a single component from multiple assembled parts; and a wide range of Isolast^® Perfluoroelastomer (FFKM) materials. These are specifically engineered to meet demanding performance requirements including high temperatures and the presence of aggressive chemicals.

Also featured are Trelleborg’s HiSpin^® high-speed rotary seals designed to enhance the performance of the next-generation axles of electric vehicles, which are set to make up 30% of all traffic by 2030; FoodPro^® E75F1, a specially engineered material for universal use in food and beverage applications, which meets all global standards for food contact materials, and Advanced Composite Materials, custom-designed and manufactured to produce parts for a wide variety of applications.

Frederic Vitrat, Managing Director of Trelleborg Sealing Solutions France, says: "As a world leader in polymer solutions for sealing, damping and protecting critical applications in demanding environments, we provide customers with innovative solutions that accelerate their performance in a sustainable way. We work in partnership with our customers from the initial design concept to the development of the right solution for their application, enabling them to reduce time to market and adding value to processes and products.”

Pierre-Jean Guiho, Trelleborg Business Development Manager, adds: “Our unique digital tools allow us to share our in-depth knowledge and experience with engineers developing new systems or optimizing existing production equipment across a wide range of industries. Our five-step process includes specification, testing, optimization, validation and manufacturing, with specific tools created for each stage. This allows a customer to involve us at each phase of product development or equipment improvement.”

Trelleborg’s technical experts Jean-Philippe Perot, Pierre-Jean Guiho, Emmanuel Louison, Antoine Charrier, Eric Mary, Loïc Favre and Naren Sampath will be on hand to provide attendees with advice and expertise in sealing technologies, development and manufacturing.

For more information on Trelleborg’s latest innovations, go to: https://www.trelleborg.com/en/seals/products-and-solutions/latest-innovations

This article can also be found in the issue below.

Easy modular construction and environmentally safer than existing stressing systems

The Enerpac RP70A lightweight rail stressing kit for railway maintenance crews that is easier to transport and assemble and up to three times lighter than similar tools, is now Network Rail approved. The RP-70A hydraulic rail stressor and Enerpac ZC3-Series battery powered stressing pump provide a cordless, zero emission, rail stressor kit for rail track thermite welding.

Traditional fully assembled rail pullers are too heavy for operators to comfortably transport and deploy safely and quickly. The RP70A stressor uses modular components that can be assembled and installed on site without the need for tools, making preparation for rail stressing easier and safer. Assembly typically takes less than 2 minutes.

National Rail Registration

Registered with UK National Rail under Certificate of Acceptance PA05/06958, the Enerpac rail stressing kit is designed for railway maintenance crews who assemble and install the rail puller directly on site when adjusting the gap between rail ends for rail stressing, rail welding, repairing rail failures and servicing insulators. The durable, easy-to-assemble components, where each component is either a one or two man lift, including ZC3-Series pump and hose set, are up to three times lighter than similar tools. The complete kit can be transported in an optional specially designed steel transport frame.

The Enerpac RP70A stressor has a 70-ton pulling and 35-ton pushing capacity while holding the rail in neutral length during the thermite welding process. It uses aluminium, double-acting hydraulic cylinders enclosed within steel sleeves to protect the cylinder rods from damage, particularly weld splatter. For ease of handling and lifting, the RP70A includes certified lifting eyes.

The stressor is interchangeable with a range of powerpacks and is compatible with the cordless Enerpac ZC3-Series battery powered pump for a complete clean energy solution. This is especially useful when conducting rail stressing in tunnels and other enclosed spaces.

“For rail maintenance engineers faced with track that’s inaccessible without the cost and delay of using a crane to install a fully assembled rail puller, the Enerpac RP70A is the perfect solution,” says Patrick Frencken, Key Account Manager North West Europe, Enerpac. “What’s more, when used in combination with an Enerpac ZC3-Series battery powered pump you have a far greener and safer operation compared with a gas/petro-powered hydraulic pump.”

To learn more about the latest Enerpac tools, visit the Enerpac Innovations page on www.enerpac.com.

With some 20 projects completed in Hong Kong, Hart Door Systems arranged a visit to its head office and its production facility in Newcastle upon Tyne for staff from its Hong Kong distributor, AUB, which provides door access solutions for commercial, institutional and residential projects in south east China, in particular Hong Kong and Macau.

Hart’s export manager, John Loftus, says AUB’s experienced team’s in-depth market knowledge and product know-how “has been invaluable in the development of this part of the Far East as an important export destination for Hart”.

With Hart’s continuing development of new products “we felt it was timely to host a visit to Newcastle to learn more about Hart and its products,” says Mr Loftus.

He adds: “Hong Kong is a very interesting location given the extreme climate challenges and the restricted land availability which means many buildings have to be high-rise. As an example we recently completed the installation of Typhoon resistant shutters on an 18 storey building.”

Typical Hart products include its Terror Screen LPS1175 SR rated shutters for high security and its  Typhoon-grade roller shutter which withstands the extreme weather conditions. Examples of successful Hart contracts include 21 typhoon resistant shutters for the Terminal 1 Remote Transfer Facility and Midfield Baggage Hall for Hong Kong International Airport.

“Further orders include steel shutters for the Hong Kong Central Government and for the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the HK$3.5 billion replica of the capital’s celebrated Palace Museum at the West Kowloon Cultural District which opened last year,” adds Mr Loftus.

“By giving consultancy, design, manufacture, shipping and offering installation and maintenance training from a single source, Hart Doors simplifies project management and helps customers like AUB to feel confident in their industrial door purchase wherever they are in the World. 

“To be able to offer knowledge, advice and cradle to grave support is crucial when working on export projects.”

This article can alo be found in the issue below.

This rechargeable headlamp is cULus, ATEX, and IECEx listed Intrinsically Safe. A Lithium-Polymer rechargeable battery powers the XPR-5554G. The dual top-mounted switches provide high or low spotlight, high or low floodlight, and our exclusive Dual-Light, which gives users the ability to turn on both the spotlight and the floodlight simultaneously for maximum safety.

Rechargeable devices manufactured in the last five to ten years now offer the option to use a USB connector to charge the device. As USB connectors made their way into the commercial industry, specifically the hazardous environment industries, limitations of USB charging have become apparent. In an ATEX/IECEx or Intrinsically Safe (IS) environment, certified electronic devices are required to be sealed to prevent flammable gases and dust from entering the device. This requirement reveals the convenience of USB as a potentially dangerous liability when not designed to strict engineering guidelines. To solve this, manufacturers have added rubber caps or plugs into the exposed USB port to prevent exposure to outside contaminants. These caps serve as an adequate solution if they remain in place and are not torn off or damaged. However, the rubber cap solution exposes new limitations due to the rugged nature of working in IS hazardous environments. When you consider the expense of replacing or servicing a safety-certified device due to an inexpensive rubber cap being torn off and invalidating its safety rating, it became evident that a permanent solution was needed.

The solution engineers sought to create was a hermetically sealed IS device with a new connector that did not compromise the products exterior. Traditional USB connectors are designed to be pushed through a hole in the product and use the compression friction of the dongle pressing against the port to keep the cord connected. A magnetic coupler overcomes this weakness by placing a magnet in the charging cord head and a ferrous alloy metal disk inside the product. When held in proximity to each other, the magnet automatically snaps into place and seamlessly completes the charging circuit without allowing dust, gases, or liquids into the IS rated device. When charging is complete, the user can be confident that they can now reenter a hazardous environment with their safety rating intact. A sealed solution saves money on equipment service costs while boosting worker confidence and protection.

Because of the knowledge and expense required to engineer IS-certified magnetic coupled products, a limited number of companies can achieve this. Nightstick has developed a unique line-up of trademarked Magmate™ portable LED products with ATEX/IECEx Zone 0 and Class I Division 1 ratings.

Nightstick, a global manufacturer of over 50+ Intrinsically Safe professional, portable LED lighting products, exceeds industry performance, quality, and safety standards. Locate a dealer near you at www.nightstick.com

This article can also be foud in the issue below.

With the new VSE9xx diagnostic modules from ifm electronic, vibration monitoring and analysis can be carried out directly in the field, eliminating the need to route signals from accelerometers back to the control panel. The compact modules feature robust construction and an IP67 protection rating, allowing them to be mounted in almost any field location without additional protection. They use standard M12 connectors to facilitate speedy installation and retrofitting, and they are compatible with all commonly used acceleration sensors.

Modules in the VSE9xx range accept inputs from up to four acceleration sensors, and also have two auxiliary inputs – one pulse, one analogue – which can be used to collect additional information related to condition monitoring, such as speed and temperature. They can accept accelerometer inputs covering the frequency range of 0 to 12 kHz, with a sampling rate of 100 kHz. The modules evaluate the signals from the sensors in real time and will provide local alarm outputs. Additionally, they will provide full spectrum process data for further analysis by ifm electronic’s proprietary evaluation software or a third party analytics package.

Ideally suited for adding vibration monitoring to existing equipment as well as for use in new equipment designs, VSE9xx modules are available in four versions which differ only in their networking compatibility. The VSE903 is for use with TCP/IP systems, the VSE950 with PROFINET, the VSE951 with Ethernet/IP and the VSE953 with Modbus/TCP. All types provide robust separation between the automation and IT networks.

Harrowing statistics from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Workstate that quarry workers are twice as likely to be killed in an accidentthanconstruction workers, and thirteen times more likely than those workingin manufacturing.There’s no doubt the industry can be dangerous, but how can mechanical automation support health and safety in the sector?Here David Strain, technical director at integrated automation systemexpert, Technidrive,explains. 

Data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows that over 3,500 quarry workers have suffered an injury reportable to HSE since 2000, with 31 of those being fatal. There are several initiativesto improve safety in the sector, this includes Target Zero, a Quarries National Joint Advisory Committee (QNJAC) scheme that has helped to reduce quarry accidents by over 80 per cent since 2000.

While this invaluable scheme — which includes training conferences and the creation of informative material — hasachievedgreat things for the industry, the most effective way to minimisehuman risks in quarrying is to remove them from the most dangerousaspects. Automation is key to achievethis. 

Automated equipment is alreadywidely used to perform drilling, blasting, loading, hauling and sorting of materials. In addition to increasing speed and accuracyin these processes, automationcan remove the need for operators to work intimately with dangerous equipment.

However, one area that oftenrequires human intervention is the unblocking of jaw crushers. By nature, a jaw crusher must be incredibly strong. Rock enters the crusherfrom the topof the machine and gets compressed between two surfaces — the fixed and moveable jaw. The rock will continue to be crushed until it is small enough to fall through the opening. Unfortunately, these crushers occasionally get blocked by the rocks and stones. 

Naturally, prevention is better than cure. Every effort should be made by the quarryteam to prevent blockagesoccurring, for instance: designing quarry blasts to achieveoptimum rockfragmentation, reducing oversize material, and ensuring that filler buckets are appropriatelysized for the capacity of the crusher. However, occasional blockages are still inevitable.

In the past, operators have succumbed to dangerous methods of removing blocked stones. Questionable tactics include using a tooth on chain to get the jaw to bite — creating the possibility for the tooth to be ejected at high velocity. Or,using brute forcewith a jack hammer, sledgehammer or similar tobreak the stones or pry them from position. If you’ve ever seen a sling give way in this situation, you’ll think twice about this method.

Technidrive had witnessed these risks first hand and wanted to develop a system to remove human intervention in this dangerous job.The vision was an automatedsystem that unblocks a crusher using mechanical forward and reversing actions to shift the stones. The system would sense when the blockage had been freed and give anautomated signal to notify operators that the process was complete. 

Technidrive developed its innovativejaw crusher unblock systemin 2015, and it has since been deployed at quarries across Europe. The team began its design by carrying out torque and speed calculations to determine whatdrive system was needed. In addition to the motor, we needed a variable speed drive (VSD) that could control the speed and torque.

Crucially, the system couldoffer startupwhen starting the jaw crusher from full.To achievethis, the team developed its own innovativesoftwarewhich ensuredthe VSDcould be remotely activated in unblock mode and operators would be kept out of harm’sway.

Since theinitial development, Technidrive has created similar equipment for several other businesses in the quarrying industry. Treating each project on an individualbasis, the organisation has been able to design, manufacture and deliver bespoke turnkey systems to a number of different sites. 

When workingalongside earth-moving equipment, removing operators from the most hazardousaspects should be a nobrainer. While the quarrying industry will always be among the world’s most dangerous sectors, mechanicalautomation can play a crucialrole in reducing risk and supporting the industry’s efforts towards Target Zero.

For more information on Technidrive and the systems integrator’s jaw crusher unblock, visitwww.technidrive.co.uk or contact the team atsales@tec>hnidrive.co.uk. A video of the jaw crusher unblock system can also be found on the Technidrive YouTube channel.

National drainage and wastewater specialist Lanes Group plc is promising to transform the rehabilitation of vertical drainage stacks with a revolutionary LED pipe lining system.

The company has proven it can significantly speed up the previously difficult process of lining both rainwater and foul stack pipes, with less disruption, using far less energy and creating less material waste.

Laneshas become the first contractor in the UK to line tall building drain stacks using the BrawoMagnavityLED light cured in place pipe (CIPP) system supplied by trenchless technology specialist S1E.

It has lined six 47-metre cast iron rainwater stacks at a 12-storey block of flats in Birmingham, with five more blocks in the pipeline – and says the technology can be used to rehabilitate rainwater and foul stacks in office and factory buildings as well.

Mark Scott, Manager of the Lanes Birmingham depot,which is leading the company’s investment in the BrawoMagnavity technology, pictured,said: “We were able to install and cure each liner in just two hours, which is far quicker than is possible with conventional lining technology.

“This level of performance makes the technology a realgame-changer. It means stacks can be lined much more quickly, more sustainably, and to a consistently high quality standard.

“Property owners can now be confident, for the first time, that a significant maintenance headache can be resolved with a cost-effective,planned repair programme.”

Faulty rain and foulwater stacks are a prime cause of damp, mould and substrate damage in a wide range of high-rise residential, commercial and industrial buildings, which can trigger serious health problems for occupants and require costly repairs.

The BrawoMagnavityNano LED CIPP system provides a long-term cure for these problems by installing tough and waterproof liners insidedefective pipes, giving them a new design life of up to 50 years.

It can be used to line both vertical and horizontal pipes with internal diameters from 70mm to 250mm.Liners up to 50 metres long can be installed, including being ‘blind shot’ into a pipe from a single chamber. This means pipes runs of up to 100 metres can be lined between chambers.

A key innovation is the way the system’s LED light head is sent along the pipe, held in place by a powerful electric magnet, at the same time as the liner is inverted into it with compressed air.

The magnet is then switched off, allowing the LED light head, with its 96 individual lights, to be pulled back through the pipe while curing resin at a rate of up to 0.6 meters a minute.

Because the magnet guides the liner so effectively through the pipe, it can negotiate multiple bends of up to 90 degrees, something other CIPP lining systems fail or struggle to achieve.

The specialist 3D liners selected by Lanes for the high-rise stacks are flexible so accommodate the 70mm to 100mm changes in diameter in the pipes being lined.

The advanced odourless resin developed by Brawo is stable until exposed to LED light, giving the Lanes lining team all the time it needs to prepare the liner for curing. By contrast, ambient cure liners must be inserted in a specified time before the resin starts to harden.

Mark Scott said: “We can now line vertical stacks to a deadline and standard that would be impossible with hot water CIPP due to the weight of the water in the liner, and would be risky with ambient cure CIPP because of the unpredictability of curing times, and the production of toxic vapours.”

This artice can be also found in the issue below.

The Water Jetting Association has published a new edition of its Red Code of Practice with important new information and advice about water jetting in drains and sewers.

The code of practice by members and stakeholders, including the Health and Safety Executive, to ensure it sets the most up-to-date standards for water jetting practices.

WJA President John Jones said: “The WJA Red Code plays an essential role in setting recognised standards for water jetting in the drainage and water utility industries in the UK and internationally, so this is an important step forward.

“Drainage equipment and techniques are always evolving, in some areas very rapidly, so we were very keen to thoroughly update code.

“The HSE has liaised closely with us on key sections in the code of practice, because it sees it as a vital benchmark for safe practice.

“This gives our members and all interested parties working in the drainage and wastewater sectors confidence that the WJA Red Code is robust and authoritative.”

Code strengthened

The revision process has led to 3,200 changes to the Red Code. For example, its formal title has been extended to include surface preparation up to 275 bar.

This acknowledges the addition of new advice in the code of practicerelated to washdown activities, often carried out by drainage and wastewater operatives, especially where there has been a sewage flood or where larger wastewater assets are being cleaned.

Guidance on key activities has been strengthened – with 156 instances where the word ‘should’ for an action has been changed to ‘shall’ indicating that the action must be carried out.

There is new guidance for hire companies and their clients to clarify their roles and responsibilities for ensuring equipment is handed over in a safe condition and advice on the competency of users is understood.

The Red Code also includes additional advice on foot control valves (FCV), with clear guidance on the different types of FCVs, how they work and their safe use.

Safe operational culture

WJA Ruling Council member Jeff Haigh, the association’s auditing and service quality lead, has played a leading role in incorporating all the changes to the document, extending it in the process, from 79 to 109 pages.

He said: “Drainage and wastewater contractors have the opportunity to use the WJA Red Code as a firm foundation upon which to build a demonstrably safe and effective operational culture for its water jetting practices that will impress their workforce, clients and regulatory bodies alike.”

The Red Code also underpins the WJA’s City & Guilds accredited training courses so learned water jetting practices are aligned with the highest possible standards.

Course sizes increased

The courses include a drain and sewer practical module. This module was also reviewed in 2022, and a new interactive digital clickpad Q&A system introduced, as an alternative to the end-of-course questionnaire for assessing learning outcomes.

In another move, the  WJA has also increased the number of delegates it permits to attend all its City & Guilds accredited training courses.

It is now allowing WJA approved instructors to train up to 12 delegates at a time, as long as risk assessments for safety and training quality have been carried out.

Previously, 12 delegates could attend safety awareness and pressure washing courses, eight could attend surface preparation, drain and sewer, and tube and pipe practical modules, and six could attend the hydrodemolition module.

This article can also be found in the issue below.

EXAIR’s compressed air operated Reversible Drum Vac System attaches quickly to any closed head 30, 55 or 110 gallon drum. Its high powered vacuum fills a 55 gallon drum in less than two minutes. With the turn of a knob, the same stainless steel pump quickly empties the drum.

The Reversible Drum Vac System is a safe, maintenance-free way to recover coolant, hydraulic oils, liquid spills, sludge and chips, tramp oil, waste water and more. Coolant sumps can be easily refilled, floor spills vacuumed, or contaminated liquids transferred to filtration tanks in minutes. The flow rate in and out of the drum can be controlled with the knob, making it ideal for dispensing liquids. 

The Reversible Drum Vac is only one of the many industrial vacuums EXAIR offers. Check out the High Lift Reversible Drum Vac, EasySwitch Wet-Dry Vac, Chip Trapper, High Lift Chip Trapper, Chip Vac, Heavy Duty Dry Vac, Heavy Duty HEPA Vac and Vac-u-Gun. https://exair.co/190_562