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SAB Bröckskes presents SABdynamic 900 and 910, a new generation of CSA and UL/cUL approved cables – made in Germany for worldwide use. The special cable manufacturer thus extends its range by permanently flexible control and data cables, which are equally suitable for drag chains and robot-compatible torsion applications. Both cable variants can withstand over 10 million bending cycles and over 10 million torsion cycles up to ±180°/m or 5 million up to ±360°/m. An added advantage of the new generation is the reduced cable capacitance. The SABdynamic 900 and 910 data variants achieve very high signal integrity, due to the reduced material thickness of the SABIX-based insulating sleeve. Therefore, they ensure interference-free and loss-free data transmission for real-time applications even with cable lengths over 20 m. The new SABdynamic 900 and 910 cable series, each manufactured in control and data versions, are designed for voltages up to 350 V and 600 V respectively and can withstand temperatures between -40 °C and 90 °C. In addition, they have an excellent TMPU-tested oil resistance according to EN 50363-10-2 and VDE 0207-363-10-2 as well as good chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, solvents and hydraulic fluids.

They are UV-resistant according to HD 605, ozone-proof according to DIN EN 50396, saltwater-resistant according to UL 1309 as well as RoHS-compliant and LABS-non-critical. In addition, both versions are PFAS-free, which offers users operational safety even in the event of a PFAS ban. Thanks to the halogen-free material mix with a flame-retardant, self-extinguishing PUR jacket, both product series meet the approval criteria for the North American market. SAB Bröckskes supplies S900 Data by default in the format 12 x 0.14 mm² as a multi-core

unshielded cable as well as in four multi-pair shielded variants. The S910 Data version is available in three standard versions. SAB Bröckskes offers standard control cables as two multi-core unshielded and two multi-core shielded options. On request, the manufacturer develops and produces bespoke solutions with customer-specific dimensions, different sheath colors and individual cable designs.

www.sab-cable.com

Dan Widdel has become the new President of Illinois-based Lakeside Equipment Corporation, who since their formation back in 1928, have become a highly renowned provider of wastewater treatment systems, including screens, grit collectors, clarifiers, screw pumps, and biological processes.

With Lakeside for 25 years, Dan steps up to replace retiring President, Karen Wolk, who served the employee-owned company for 40 years. Karen had been in the head role for the past three years, following the sudden passing away of Lakeside’s much-admired President, Steve Eckstein.

“This is a huge honour for me to follow in the footsteps of those who have led Lakeside Equipment Corporation so diligently for almost a century,” said Dan Widdel.

“Despite some challenging times in our long history, including the Pandemic, and the tragic loss of our former President, we have stuck together as a very solid team, determined, no matter what, to deliver the very best solutions for our customers. I would like to sincerely thank Karen Wolk for her huge contribution in pushing Lakeside forward”.

Jim Snyder (Lakeside’s Production Manager), who has been with the business for 43 years, moves up to become joint Vice President, sharing the new mantle with Jim McKee (National Sales Manager), who has been at Lakeside for 25 years.

Meanwhile, Jamie Marshall has joined Lakeside as its new Controller. She recently completed her Master of Business Administration, together with achieving a human resources graduate certificate.

In the power industry, where transformers, reactors, and substations operate continuously under harsh environmental and electrical conditions, ensuring long-term reliability is essential. Often underestimated, one of the key factors contributing to equipment degradation is vibration. Cork-based vibration control solutions offer an effective way to enhance performance and significantly extend the operational life of power systems.

Power transformers and associated equipment inherently produce mechanical vibrations, mainly due to magnetostriction in the core materials, the operation of cooling system elements such as fans and oil pumps, and resonance between mechanical structures and electromagnetic forces.

These vibrations can lead to material fatigue and micro-cracking, structural damage to tanks and enclosures, loosening of mechanical joints, and accelerated aging of seals and insulation systems. Without adequate mitigation, the result is increased maintenance costs, unplanned downtime, and reduced equipment lifespan.

Amorim Cork Solutions is a leading developer of cork rubber materials for vibration control. Cork’s unique cellular structure, consisting of millions of microscopic air-filled cells, gives it inherent compressibility, elasticity, and damping properties. When combined with engineered rubbers, cork becomes a high-performance vibration isolation material that performs reliably in demanding transformer environments.

Designed to tackle both internal and external sources of vibration, Amorim T&D solutions are engineered for real-world challenges: internal pads protect key 

transformer components by absorbing vibration and reducing mechanical wear; core clamping mechanisms prevent direct metal-to-metal contact, thereby reducing vibration transmission paths; compressed layer dampers dissipate structural vibration across the transformer tank walls, lowering noise levels and protecting the transformer’s integrity; and external vibration pads isolate the entire transformer from ground-transmitted disturbances and are particularly effective during transport between facilities.

These solutions deliver proven results: up to 10 decibels of noise reduction and more than 95% vibration isolation in real-world transformer installations. In fact, Amorim T&D materials such as VC2100 and VC6400 have achieved isolation rates of up to 98% in transformers weighing as much as 48 tons with excellent recovery and low creep.

Beyond performance, cork’s environmental credentials make it a uniquely sustainable material. As a 100% natural, renewable, and recyclable resource, cork plays a significant role in environmental sustainability. Each ton of cork harvested contributes to carbon sequestration, capturing up to 73 tons of carbon dioxide. This makes Amorim T&D's vibration control solutions not only technically robust but also aligned with environmental goals across the power industry.

Vibration control is not simply about reducing noise. It is a strategic function that enhances equipment durability and operational reliability across the power sector. With Amorim T&D’s advanced cork-based technologies, companies can safeguard infrastructures, increase time between maintenance cycles, and contribute to a more sustainable energy infrastructure.

www.amorimcorksolutions.com 

Kimberly-Clark Professional Enhances WypAll® Industrial Cleaning Cloths with More Absorbency and Durability
Kimberly-Clark Professional has upgraded its WypAll® X70 Medium Duty and X80 Heavy Duty Cleaning Cloths, delivering stronger performance and better value for industrial and manufacturing customers. Both cloths now feature improved absorbency and nearly 10% larger sheets in Jumbo Roll and Pop-Up™ Box formats to handle spills more effectively and reduce downtime. The redesigned X70 absorbs up to 20% more oil and water, while the X80 introduces a tougher surface texture for superior durability. Backed by material science expertise and customer insights, these innovations give users greater confidence in tackling demanding cleaning tasks. 

For more information, please visit https://www.kcprofessional.com/en-us/brands/wypall/right-purpose-wipes/x70-x80-cleaning-cloths

 The disruption caused by the irrational, massive, change in Inheritance Tax on companies is far reaching and damaging, says Doug Hart, Chairman, Hart Doors. There has been much mention of the affect IT changes on farmers but not the devastating effect on manufacturing industry particularly those in family ownership.  

The removal of the working capital under this tax regime weakens the fragile financial balance at best and could force a sale at worst. Many companies, frequently multi-generational, exist through hard work and long hours frequently all balanced on a knife edge of profit or loss while fighting  for survival.  

The imbalance of risk created by employee rights, increasing red tape, exponential increases in financial risk from inflation and legislation are a massive disincentive and these factors will take many out of business.  

The backbone of the country is manufacturing and engineering, far from being a leech on society is a fundamental to a healthy society and if it is disincentivised and blead to death will be the total end for private enterprise  causing total reliance on other countries exposing the economy of this country hugely.  

Looking at World disruption now, ‘Great Britain’ will we become as a small, if hardly existent, player. The change in Inheritance Tax will accelerate this by effectively removing at best working capital and at worst forcing the sale of companies. 

This could be through amalgamation, close down or relocation out of the country, destroying our manufacturing base a bit at a time. This ongoing erosion of small companies and their highly specialist skills is continuing at increasing pace.  

In Newcastle in times past you could get anything in engineering done thanks to huge skills and capacity resource. This has virtually gone. We are increasingly buying foreign made product produced by multinationals from countries with advantages against us.  We shall see our wealth creating manufacturing industry destroyed irrevocably.  

The uncertainty currently through over spending by the Government as to where they are going to steal money from next in the upcoming budget is a major worry and is preventing developments  going ahead.  

It is interesting to note the great announcement about infrastructure and job creating projects which included the Scotch Corner to Penrith duelling project. Sadly this much needed project  has now been ever so quietly shelved.  

www.hartdoors.com

• Global survey of maintenance professionals reveals dramatic increase in interest in next-generation technologies since 2023
• Aging workforce and recruiting experienced staff remain most pressing trends according to Ultimo Maintenance Trend Report
• Almost half (49%) of industrial businesses lack internal expertise to adopt advanced tools like artificial intelligence (AI)

Emerging technologies like AI, machine learning (ML), and digital twins are rapidly transforming enterprise asset management (EAM), according to the latest Maintenance Trend Report from Ultimo. Yet, despite this technological leap, survey data emphasizes that effective asset maintenance remains, at its core, a human endeavor.

The survey of 200+ maintenance professionals worldwide shows a dramatic increase in interest in next-generation technologies since the last Ultimo EAM Trend Report in 2023. When asked which innovations will have the most positive impact on their maintenance and business practices, respondents named contextual intelligence (68%), up from just 8% previously, automation and robotics (49%), and machine learning (41%). Interest in digital twins has more than doubled since the last survey, now at 40%.

Despite these gains, workforce challenges continue to dominate organizational concerns. The aging workforce was identified by 63% of respondents as the most pressing trend impacting maintenance strategy, highlighting the urgency of knowledge transfer and workforce planning. Half (50%) of respondents said recruiting experienced staff was the primary source of disruption over the past year.

"From global instability to changing regulations, socio-economic and political shifts are creating uncertainty across industries. In this environment, agility is critical," said Berend Booms, Head of EAM Insights at Ultimo, an IFS company. “EAM can also serve as a catalyst for innovation. Internet of Things (IoT), AI, ML, digital twins, and predictive analytics are rapidly transforming industrial businesses. They unlock smarter decision-making, greater efficiency, and a sharper competitive edge.”

While EAM has long been a staple of asset-heavy industries, its potential is now being unlocked thanks to real-time insights from data captured and analyzed by technologies like IoT and predictive modeling - the latter of which has tripled in perceived impact since the 2023 survey. Still, almost half (49%) of respondents cite a lack of internal expertise as a key barrier to adopting these advanced tools.

The future of maintenance may be enabled by AI, but it will still be guided by people. Modern EAM systems have evolved from static log repositories into engines of foresight. By leveraging AI and maintenance data, they deliver actionable insights that help teams shift from reactive fixes to proactive strategies. From spotting recurring failures to optimizing workflows, EAM now acts as a strategic advisor driving efficiency, preventing downtime, and maximizing the impact of every maintenance dollar. 

Ultimo is helping clients to capitalize potential with AI-powered EAM features that require no in-house model training or heavy infrastructure investments. These tools are designed to lower the barrier to entry while delivering immediate operational gains.

As Ultimo’s Maintenance Trend Report makes clear, technology alone isn’t the solution. It’s the blend of human expertise and intelligent systems that will shape the future of maintenance success. The report features insights from research firm Verdantix, as well as industrial AI and digital twin Cloud platform company, TwinThread, safety and risk management company, ABS Consulting, and asset performance management company, MaxGrip. Download a copy at www.ultimo.com/report. 

Tough industrial-grade labels that stand up to UV, moisture, and more. Crisp, custom designs for any panel component, printed on-site with a Brady printer. Find the ideal labeling solution for your panels now!

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Electrical panels are the nerve center of operations, and clear identification is critical for both safety and efficiency. Brady's industrial-grade labels are engineered to withstand the harshest environments, from intense UV exposure to extreme humidity, moisture, and gas. Designed by expert R&D teams, these labels won't fade or detach, ensuring permanent legibility and reliable compliance with demanding industrial standards. Each product is backed by technical data sheet - detailing rigorous test results, giving you complete confidence in their performance.

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