With industrial furnaces being one of the biggest energy consumers, it’s no surprise that manufacturers are investing in research and development to create more energy-efficient solutions. Chris Johnson* explains why high-temperature bearings will be crucial in making industrial furnaces more energy-efficient

SICK has announced it has added the UC40, a powerful and compact cube sensor, to its market-leading family of ultrasonic sensors. The company says the SICK UC40 sets the standard for wide-ranging ultrasonic detection duties up to 5m. Equipped with push-lock mounting and IO-Link, it can be quickly integrated in machinery, on conveyors and on automated mobile vehicles.

RSK, a global leader in the delivery of sustainable solutions, says it will nearly quadruple its turnover from this year’s £1.2 billion to more than £5 billion in 2030, doubling its family of environmental and engineering businesses from 200 and 400.

Time is running out to prepare and submit nominations for the 2023 AEMT Awards Programme. With the final entry date set as 5pm on Friday 8 September, the AEMT again looks forward to recognising and rewarding business and professional excellence across the electrical and mechanical repair sector.

Schneider Electric, has announced it has launched a Managed Security Services (MSS) offering to help customers in operational technology (OT) environments address the increased cyber risk associated with the demand for remote access and connectivity technologies.

RARUK Automation has announced a new partnership with Vention and says t The new deal will enable RARUK Automation to offer Vention’s high-quality, custom framework solutions for robots to UK customers.

ASG Tooling has announced a recent major contract award win with Airbus. The company says the contract, worth $2.4 million, solidifies its position as a trusted partner in the aerospace industry and highlights its expertise in providing innovative solutions for complex transport container requirements for both land and sea.

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), the voice of the UK’s engineering-based manufacturing sector, has appointed a new Acting President.

Applus UK is the newest member of EEMUA’s Associate Scheme. The company’s Tank Inspection Team falls within scope of the Associate status.

At its recent AGM, the Association for Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) announced the appointment of James Stevens as its new honorary President, taking over the position from outgoing President, Central Group Director Shaun Sutton.

Electromechanical repair specialist, Fletcher Moorland, has announced it has launched an initiative to support the younger generation entering engineering, design, and manufacturing careers.

The inaugural Talking Industry Live conference took place at the MTC on 25 April. Moving from its on-line format to a physical version, the event started with a keynote session dedicated to a case study in digital transformation, followed by three themed discussions. Chair Andy Pye takes a look back over the day.

Robotics, sustainability and productivity will all be highlighted in Future Lab at UKCW Birmingham this October - a showcase of technology, disruptors and change-makers who are at the leading edge of innovation in the industry.

The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has appointed Cliff Warne as Executive Director.

Smart Machines & Factories’ and Talking Industry’s Aaron Blutstein talks to John Kraus, Chief Executive for Engineers Without Borders UK, to find out a bit more about the origins, philosophy and the role the organisation is playing to help reimagine engineering practice so that engineers can respond effectively to the complexity and uncertainty of pressing global challenges such as climate change

At a time when national electrical grids are under extreme pressure, unexpected outages can prove to be a considerable challenge. When a power plant in Germany experienced the sudden failure of a boiler feed pump, output dropped by more than 40%, which affected both the local grid and company profits. Needing to resolve this situation urgently, Sulzer was called in to repair the asset and investigate to secure the reliability of the power station. PWE reports.

Special Report – Talking Industry Live Review

Although there’s no doubt that inflationary pressures and supply chain delays continue to cause concern to manufacturers, what isn’t perhaps so widely appreciated is that last year was also reported to be the hottest year on record by the Met Office. Without being alarmist, that is another serious issue that we cannot ignore. Rising temperatures are a global trend and they will have a major impact on your electrical equipment. Christian Westwood, Rittal UK’s Service Manager, explains further.

The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (S.I. 2000 No 128) (PSSR) relate to pressure systems for use at work and the risk to health and safety. Vanda Jones, Executive Director at the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) outlines the responsibilities as an owner or operator

Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2023, produced in association with The Manufacturer, has become the biggest industrial sector event in the UK in just its second year, according to statistics released by event organisers The Nineteen Group. Over the course of the live shows on the 7th and 8th June, 10,355 manufacturers, designers, engineers and maintenance professionals attended the event at the NEC which had 342 exhibitors.

Serving as a reminder that air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths every year in the UK, Clean Air Day 2023 will take place on Thursday 15th June.

Held at ExCeL London in May, GEO Business showcased cutting-edge technologies, ground-breaking innovations, and an insightful education programme. With over 3950 total attendees, the packed-out event served as a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and exploration of emerging trends.

Following 2022’s record-breaking heat and forecasts of similar temperatures this summer, an industry expert is calling for proactive contingency planning to protect cold chains and avoid short-term supply shortfalls.

Opportunities for businesses in Cumbria to diversify into the space industry are being brought to the region in June. iSH, the Industrial Solutions Hub, is hosting Space Week across West Cumbria from June 26-30.

Three manufacturers have scooped awards for eco innovations developed as part of a groundbreaking R&D programme.

By Matt Hale, International Sales & Marketing Director, HRS Heat Exchangers

Donaldson, a leading manufacturer of filtration solutions, has announced it will be exhibiting its venting and industrial air expertise at The Battery Show Europe in Stuttgart, Germany, between May 23rd – May 25th, 2023.

As part of its campaign to inspire the next generation of robotics engineers, automation expert FANUC UK has announced it will showcase a suite of education-themed initiatives at Automation UK in Coventry in June

Radwell International has announced it has launched a new UK field buying division headed by Andrew Duke and Daniel Jones.

Turck Banner spoke to PWE about four different applications in the production efficiency category; increasing yields in meat processing, increasing efficiency in assembly stations, Edge Guiding to reduce waste and picking solutions to eliminate errors and returns.

Chris Johnson, managing director of ceramic bearings specialist SMB Bearings, explains the specifications, capabilities and differences of full ceramic and hybrid bearings.

Digitalisation and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) represents the next level of industrial automation. Consultant editor at DFA and chair Andy Pye summarises some of the discussions from the recent Talking Industry episode

The British Compressed Air Society (BCAS) has launched a new compressed air installation best practice guide (BPG 101). As one of the only truly impartial guides in the UK, the guide covers ‘installation’ in terms of the collection of equipment and processes within the compressed air system. PWE reports.

Real time process control for food manufacture has come a significant step closer, thanks to pioneering research work at University College Dublin into viscosity measurement techniques for characterising the flow and mixability of highly non-Newtonian fluids.

ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation business has announced it is expanding its presence in Ireland with the opening of a new office in Dundalk, Co Louth.

The Government’s new Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which came into effect on the 1st of October - is encouraging compressed air users to act now to minimise their compressed air energy consumption for the long-term through a series of low-cost measures. PWE reports.

As energy prices continue to soar across Europe, operators may be tempted to delay the recommended maintenance intervals and routine service on compressed air systems in order to save cost. However, this can be an expensive mistake says Gary Spence, Service Operations Leader from CompAir

Gary Wilde, Technical Services Officer at the British Pump Manufacturers Association (BPMA) offers some basic information and guidance on purchasing, maintaining, and designing pump systems for optimum energy efficiency, CO2 reduction and capital expenditure payback time.

PWE spoke to Trenton Roncato Juraszek, mechanical project analyst at the global motor and drive manufacturer WEG to discuss the importance of digitalisation in industry, and how it can help you to remain competitive in an evolving technological landscape

Delta, a  leading provider of power and thermal management solutions, has announced it has been honoured for the second consecutive year as one of the Top 100 Global Innovators (2023) by Clarivate for its superior innovation and patent intellectual property portfolio.

Atlas Copco, founded in Stockholm in 1873, has celebrated its 150-year anniversary. During a century and a half, Atlas Copco says it has been driving development and delivering breakthrough innovations to customers in many different industries.

By: Dave Palmer, general manager for the UK and Ireland at ICS Cool Energy

Manufacturers face the ongoing challenge of delivering goods in greater volumes and speeds while keeping prices competitive in an overcrowded market. Automation that features software integrated solutions are helping manufacturers meet these challenges by providing precision and versatility through intelligent systems that increase order fulfilment and improve quality control. Steffen Thierfelder, managing director, Northern Europe of Dematic UK and Ireland, explains more.

ABB has announced it has enhanced its industry-leading RobotStudio robot programming and simulation software with cloud-enabled functionality.

When it comes to power transmission chain, Tsubaki told PWE that buying a quality product results in significant life-time cost savings.

When selecting sensors for measuring thickness, the first step is to choose an appropriate method and measurement technology. The material, surface and thickness of the target play a crucial role in deciding which option is best for the application, says Glenn Wedgbrow*.

Everybody is talking about digitalisation – and sometimes it is the simplest applications that demonstrate its power to transform. By opening a window to visualise their compressed air energy consumption in real time, production teams are defending against rising costs and achieving operating efficiencies with relatively little effort. PWE spoke to Darren Pratt, Industrial Instrumentation Product Manager for SICK UK.

PWE spoke to Kieran Bennett, Industry Manager – Food & Beverage at Bürkert, who explains how to specify a control valve.

The humble potato has been voted as the UK’s favourite vegetable, according to a new public poll. But do you know how they end up on your plate? Here’s how industrial motor manufacturer, WEG has partnered with Technidrive to provide equipment for an automated cart system for plant propagator, John Gabbie & Sons, to help produce over 52 million seeds a year.

Beth Ragdale, product manager of the energy industry at Beckhoff UK, discusses how automation technology can help support the wind industry