News

Industrial equipment, services and inspection news and information for manufacturing, process, facilities and related fields.

22/09/2011 STEMNET award seeks out technician inspiration STEMNET has announced a nationwide hunt for technicians who can inspire the next generation and help to fill the skills gap described as critical to the future of the UK's economy. » Read More

21/09/2011 Italian food plant saves €192,600 on NSK scheme An unnamed Italian snack food company is savings €192,600 per annum on production and maintenance costs, since using NSK's AIP (asset improvement programme), according to the bearings specialist. » Read More

21/09/2011 Berson ultraviolet treats hospital wastewater Isala Hospital in Zwolle, the Netherlands, is trialling Berson's medium pressure UV systems for the firs time, for treating hospital wastewater prior to discharge. » Read More

20/09/2011 Electric motor loading is key to energy efficiency, warns Weg Determining that electric motors are properly loaded enables users to make informed decisions about when to replace them and which to prioritise. » Read More

20/09/2011 BASF targets world class asset performance Chemical manufacturer BASF is driving its asset utilisation towards world class to increase capacity and, in turn, boost productivity and profitability at its Antwerp site (pictured). » Read More

19/09/2011 Waste wood powers new Plymouth energy centre A new energy centre, which will convert 40,000 tonnes of waste wood into renewable heat and power each year, is being built in Plymouth. » Read More

16/09/2011 Speedy Hire lights the way to greener plant sites Speedy Services has invested £2.5 million in the most environmentally efficient lighting on the market. » Read More

15/09/2011 GKN shaves £20,000 off energy bill with ABB drives ABB low voltage ac drives are saving GKN AutoStructures in Telford £20,000 a year in energy costs on its Toyota components production line. » Read More

14/09/2011 Breakthrough in sight for cheaper solar cells Researchers at the University of Surrey are reporting a novel approach to increasing the efficiency of solar cells by using tiny structures, typically ten thousandth the width of a human hair. » Read More

13/09/2011 Kingfisher recertified for wear protection operations Wear protection specialist Kingfisher Industrial has passed its annual integrated management system (IMS) audit, maintaining its registration to ISO 9001:2008, ISO14001:2004 and OHSAS18001:2007. » Read More

12/09/2011 Mitsubishi set to launch intermediate range of PLCs Mitsubishi Electric Automation Systems Division, which this month is celebrating 30 years of manufacturing variable speed drives, has a new marketing manager in the form of Amaechi Oduah. » Read More

12/09/2011 World’s first liquid air energy storage plant uses Atlas Copco Atlas Copco compressors are performing an essential role in an innovative cryogenic process developed by Highview Power Storage to store off-peak electric energy by liquefying air. » Read More

09/09/2011 On-site energy utility set to revolutionise UK CHP plants American utility firm EuroSite Power is to launch in the UK, promising "to revolutionise" small-scale CHP (combined heating and power) plant provision, with a service-based approach. » Read More

09/09/2011 Top marks for Fulton's modulating burner at Cardiff trials Cardiff University is reporting improved boiler efficiency, better consistency of steam delivery and reduced maintenance on its Fulton boilers, following a 12-month trial of the firm's prototype modulating burners. » Read More

08/09/2011 Penny urges uptake of cranes to cut manual handling accidents With latest statistics from the HSE revealing that 31% of fatal, serious and over-three-day injuries across all industries were due to manual handling, Penny Hydraulics says that engineers need to turn to lifting gear – including cranes on ... » Read More

08/09/2011 Indian steel firm cuts energy and maintenance with new steam traps Thermal Energy International is reporting that a major steel plant in India is saving on energy, replacement steam traps and maintenance, having replaced conventional thermodynamic traps with its GEM Venturi orifice-based units. » Read More

07/09/2011 Energy Institute launches guidance on safety critical tasks New guidance is now available from The Energy Institute (EI) and DNV (Det Norske Veritas) on managing human factors in the analysis of safety critical tasks. » Read More

07/09/2011 VOC emissions data may be invalid, warns Quantitech Plants that use certain flame ionisation detectors (FIDs) to achieve their MCERTS environmental certification may be using invalid data – and hence invalid emissions certificates. » Read More

07/09/2011 Mori Seiki sponsors WorldSkills 2011 machining challenge Five UK finalists from across the UK will be competing with the best young engineers in the world at the WorldSkills 2011 machining events in London from 5—8 October, using Mori Seiki X-Class CNC machines. » Read More

06/09/2011 EU motor regulation will improve compressor efficiencies The new EU motor regulations, introduced last June, will drive more efficient compressor plant, while also reducing carbon and energy costs, according to rotary vane compressor manufacturer Mattei. » Read More

06/09/2011 GE Energy completes $3.2 billion Converteam acquisition Energy and automation systems giant GE has completed its $3.2 billion acquisition of Converteam, which specialises in power conversion, power electronics and electrical drive equipment. » Read More

05/09/2011 ABB secures major contract with Spirax Sarco ABB has secured its single largest UK OEM account to date for PLC and HMI (human machine interface) products, following the signing of a two-year agreement with Spirax Sarco. » Read More

05/09/2011 Flir offers 20 percent discount on new for old IR cameras Flir is repeating its trade-in programme for old infrared cameras, and offering a 20% discount against list price, regardless of age or brand. » Read More

02/09/2011 HSE hits out at lax machine guarding The HSE has hit out at manufacturers for failing to do enough to protect workers from dangerous machinery. » Read More

02/09/2011 Catalytic oxidation cuts finishing running and energy costs Air pollution control specialist AirProtekt says equipment supplied to an unnamed aerospace finishing plant to abate VOC fumes and odours has effectively cut plant running costs and energy consumptoin. » Read More