News

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

28/01/2013 Boost for UK robotics and autonomous systems A £1 million funding competition aimed at helping to develop robotics and autonomous systems technology in the UK has been launched by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts. » Read More

25/01/2013 Applications invited for Register of Professional Energy Consultants The Energy Institute (EI) and the Energy Systems Trade Association (ESTA) are calling for applicants to join their Register of Professional Energy Consultants (RPEC). » Read More

25/01/2013 Emerson integrates UPS with AMS suite asset management Emerson Network Power's industrial uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) now generate self-diagnostic data for parent company Emerson's AMS Suite asset management system. » Read More

24/01/2013 Staffordshire firm prosecuted for guarding failure Bathgate Slate Technologies in Staffordshire has been fined £4,000 with costs of £5,464 after a worker sustained hand injuries and lost the tip of a finger using a poorly-guarded machine. » Read More

23/01/2013 Cambridge firm and consultant fined over chemical exposure Cambridge instrument firm Prior Scientific Instruments and a health and safety consultant have both been fined for failing to protect employees from hazardous chemicals. » Read More

23/01/2013 Continental truck tyres reach for the skies Continental tyres are reaching new heights, having being installed on the London Eye. » Read More

21/01/2013 Explosion prevention system for mobile equipment Pyroban has launched a new gas detection system aimed at mobile industrial vehicles used in 'enhanced safety areas'. » Read More

21/01/2013 Network processor targets industrial Ethernet applications Industrial communications specialist HMS Industrial Networks has launched a network processor targeted at real time industrial Ethernet applications. » Read More

18/01/2013 Paper mill upgrade turns to Control Techniques drives Two lines at SCA's Trafford Park paper mill, which were recently updated with new ac drives from Control Techniques, have seen throughput and accuracy increase alongside operational reliability. » Read More

17/01/2013 £2m submarine gas cylinder contract goes to CSC Sheffield-based Chesterfield Special Cylinders (CSC) has won the £2million contract to supply high-pressure gas cylinders for the Royal Navy's sixth Astute class nuclear submarine, HMS Agamemnon. » Read More

16/01/2013 Commercial interest hots up for biomass boilers A growing number of firms, manufacturers and agricultural businesses are signing up to a scheme that allows them to install biomass technology for nothing, while benefiting from reduced energy costs and carbon emissions. » Read More

15/01/2013 Schaeffler automotive plant wins excellence award Schaeffler UK's automotive component manufacturing plant in South Wales scooped top prize at this year's Wales Quality Award 2012, for the plant's achievements in manufacturing quality. » Read More

15/01/2013 ABB app reveals compressed air energy savings Users of pneumatic valve positioners can now assess the energy efficiency of their valve installations with ABB's compressed air calculator app for the Apple iPhone and iPad. » Read More

14/01/2013 REACH remains largest elephant in the room, says EEF Smaller companies are running the risk of unlimited fines, or even prison, by failing to comply with the REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) Directive on hazardous substances. » Read More

14/01/2013 Financed variable speed drives could change competitiveness Up to £2,512 million of energy cost savings could be made in the UK within five years, if industry fully implemented variable speed drives (VSDs) on electric motors, according to a new report from Siemens Financial Services. » Read More

11/01/2013 James Walker Technology Centre rates Carbolite ovens’ accuracy Carbolite ovens are making a significant difference to the accuracy and consistency of product testing conducted at the James Walker Technology Centre in Cockermouth, UK. » Read More

10/01/2013 Northumbrian Water halves steam energy with Spirax Sarco Northumbrian Water reports that it has halved energy demand for steam raising at its Bran Sands anaerobic digestion plant with the help of Spirax Sarco. » Read More

10/01/2013 Good vibrations from MEMS based energy harvester A team from the University of Cambridge's Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction has developed a mechanical amplifier that can convert ambient vibrations into electricity more effectively. » Read More

09/01/2013 Time pressures threatening safety says Maintec survey More than one third of maintenance professionals say the pressure to reduce UK manufacturing plant downtime is threatening health and safety. » Read More

09/01/2013 First IE4 synchronous reluctance motor and driveinstallation is game changer The world's first IE4 synchronous reluctance motor and drive package (SynRM) from ABB has replaced an induction motor-based variable-speed drive (VSD) package at South Staffs Water in the UK – and made waves in the industry. » Read More

09/01/2013 New compressors bring six percent energy savings at Vernacare 2012 Best Factory Award winner Vernacare, which manufactures products to manage human waste disposal, says that the installation of two new compressors is cutting plant energy consumption by 6%. » Read More

08/01/2013 Siemens takes engineering automation portal to the next level Siemens Industry has extended the range of its Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal engineering framework for control and automation systems development. » Read More

08/01/2013 Hand injury leads to fine for fabrication company Coalville-based fabrication firm Kenray Forming has been fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,932 after a worker had part of his finger severed in a packaging machine back in September 2011. » Read More

08/01/2013 Infrared thermometer and thermal imager gap plugged Electronic test and measurement giant Fluke has unveiled what it sees as a new class of infrared temperature measurement device. » Read More

07/01/2013 Bulk bag unloading plant solves toxic dust problem An automated system that completely contains toxic dust during sodium silicofluoride powder (Na2SiF6) additions at large-scale water fluoridisation plant has been developed and implemented in Australia by ProMinent Fluid Controls. » Read More