PandCT.com Spotlight Features

Energy efficient solution for Honeytop Speciality Foods

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

When Honeytop Speciality Foods, the leading supplier of naan and flatbreads, needed a new compressed air system installed at their factory, they turned to Airchannel because of their ability to design, supply and install energy efficient compressed air solutions.

Linear rail for hostile environment

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Engineering components that are resistant to the ingress of wood dust are crucial to the reliability of a new automated production line being built by project engineering company, 3think Limited. This Halifax based company has designed, manufactured and is currently installing a bespoke automated line at a large timber engineering company. This special purpose machine automatically produces frames for timber framed houses and these can be up to 6m long and 3m wide. The process requires up to 8 nails per second to be fired into the frame to achieve the necessary productivity.

Simulation reduces costs and risks for RTS Flexible Systems

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The company’s world-leading intelligent vision system combines with Visual Components simulation software to help the packaging systems maker optimise design, increase product performance, and accelerate manufacturing.

Data tracking in the production of CIS modules

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG in Schwäbisch Hall (Germany) has been producing solar modules using CIS technology since October 2006. Manufacturing printed circuit boards (PCBs) on glass substrates is a difficult job. These CIS coating pioneers were world leaders in developing solar modules with dimensions of 1200 mm x 600 mm at their Marbach pilot installation back in 2000. Since the start of production in Germany, Würth Solar has collaborated with AIT Göhner GmbH, a Stuttgart-based integration partner of Cognex, to implement data tracking using In-Sight ID readers in order to boost productivity and optimise product quality. Current production yield is at 90 per cent and rising.

Connectors enable installation and maintenance of electrical equipment in hazardous areas without a ‘Hot Work Permit’

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

For process manufacturing companies, the replacement, repair, servicing and maintenance of electrical equipment that is located within a potentially explosive atmosphere, is often time consuming and costly.

Today, around 65% of all electrical maintenance carried out is corrective action and 35% is preventive. With preventive maintenance, more than 50% of all apparatus serviced is not actually broken.

Evonik Degussa: A case study in explosion proof wireless networks

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

As part of its continuous improvement initiative, Evonik Degussa Seal Sands recognised the need to measure and improve the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) of its critical equipment. Better monitoring of equipment was an essential part of the drive to enhance overall efficiency in the plant. Chris Steel, Continuous Improvement Manager at Evonik Degussa Seal Sands, explains how installing an explosion proof WLAN has enabled quick, efficient assessment of OEE to be extended to the extreme environments and Zone 1 hazardous areas found in its plant.

Simulation reduces costs and risks for RTS Flexible Systems

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The company's world-leading intelligent vision system combines with Visual Components simulation software to help the packaging systems maker optimise design, increase product performance, and accelerate manufacturing.

Visual Components industrial simulation software is playing a key role in the design and manufacture of the end-of-line, automated pick and place robotic systems for packaging operations made by RTS Flexible Systems Ltd.

Measuring Boiler and Furnace Temperatures

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Large boilers and furnaces use thermocouples to monitor temperatures at strategic locations to locate “hot spots,” identify tube dry-out and tube blockage conditions, monitor efficiency and uniformity, and optimize operations. In some cases, hundreds of thermocouples are installed. In almost all cases, the thermocouples are welded into place, which creates a horrendous problem when maintenance is needed.

Measuring molasses temperature with a WORM

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

A rigid sensor couldn’t measure temperature accurately in a conventional thermowell, but a custom thermowell and a WORM RTD flexible sensor measure the molasses perfectly.

Biogas process control development

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Biogas is a not a new technology, having been used in developing countries for many years. However, the process has never been commercially optimised in order to make it more cost-effective and it remains underused in the UK. Biogas production on farms in the UK has had a chequered history and there is only one centralised anaerobic digestion system currently in operation, this being Andigest at Holsworthy in Devon. Here two tanks each of 4,000m³ are producing biogas, which is burnt in generators with the resulting electricity being put into the national grid.

As sweet as a chestnut

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

A leading global provider of quality capital equipment and turnkey systems for liquid processing industries has supplied and installed a system incorporating three new milk tanks at Chestnut Dairies as part of an ongoing major investment project.

Chestnut Dairies turned to Tetra Pak CPS, with whom it has had a 25 year long association, to supply the new equipment at its site in Hull as part of a modernisation programme.

Vishay Systems installs custom-designed reel optimizing system in european tissue paper mill to improve manufacturing efficiency

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. (NYSE: VSH) announces that it has delivered and installed a Reel Optimizing System in SCA's Ortmann Mill, located in Pernitz, Austria. SCA is a global consumer goods and paper company. Its Ortmann Mill produces toilet paper, facial tissue, and napkins for European markets. Vishay is the major producer of strain gages and strain gage-based load cells, as well as systems based on strain gage technology.

Airedale doesn’t buy ELGA deioniser!

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Airedale Chemicals in Keighley is a world leader in the manufacture, supply and distribution of dyestuffs, chemical auxiliaries and performance chemicals. The company serves a wide range of industries including textiles, pharmaceuticals, water treatment and aluminium all of whom rely on Airedale’s quality control for the purity of their chemicals.

ELGA keeps the presses turning

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Aylesford Newsprint in Kent supply on average 400,000 tonnes of 100% recycled newsprint to National, Regional and European press rooms each year, but supplies of newsprint could have been seriously affected when the mill's water treatment plant failed. Fortunately ELGA Process Water was on hand to come to the rescue with emergency mobile water treatment plant.

Leading plastics manufacturer chooses METTLER TOLEDO weighing and counting technology

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:00:00 GMT

igus® UK Limited, a leading manufacturer of polymer products, has selected a METTLER TOLEDO BBK462 counting scale for its 2,800 sq/foot plastics facility in Northamptonshire. The plant holds approximately 4,000 individual components and, due to the bespoke nature of the products, the counting process is very labour intensive. The shop floor is divided by racks of components, which each department can customise according to customer requirements.