Hi-line Industries, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, has announced its acquisition by US multinational Ingersoll Rand. The company says important to note is the assurance of complete customer continuity. Hi-line will continue to build and sell all of its products with no price increases. Steve Smith will also remain as Managing Director to maintain the next-day delivery expectations of customers.

When Britain’s largest working siege machine returned to Warwick Castle recently to form the centrepiece of a new show - The Legend of the Trebuchet - the castle needed a way to provide the correct tensioning for this ancient and medieval warfare. Hearing the call to arms, Hoist & Winch duly supplied a class-leading Hadef electric winch offering 1500 Kg pulling force (safe working load) with supporting frame and foundations.

Brixworth Engineering, manufacturer of the renowned Benco engine stands, has announced it has produced its largest-ever side-mounting turnover stand. Supplied to the Croydon facility of a leading power transmission specialist Voith Turbo, the Benco 1050 (an upgrade to Brixworth’s standard Benco 1000 engine stand) is helping this  plant to inspect and service a variety of engines and transmissions.

Birmingham-based Armac Martin, a leader in design-led luxury brass hardware and accessories, relies heavily on compressed air for its CNC machining requirements. However, the company’s existing system was constantly operating at full capacity, leading to unnecessary energy expenditure. By collaborating with FPS Compressors and its preferred local distributor Compressed Air Systems UK - Birmingham, Armac Martin adopted a new system capable of variable compressed air supply. The project led to an impressive 46% reduction in energy consumption compared with the company’s previous compressor.

HI-LINE INDUSTRIES, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, has announced it has established a new Technical Division that further elevates the level of support available to its valued nationwide distribution network. With highly qualified and accredited technicians, Hi-line’s Technical Division uses an unbranded fleet of vehicles whenever the need arises to provide support for a third party.

FPS AIR COMPRESSORS says its new Contain-Air solution will transform the way companies gain quick and economic access to compressed air systems. The company says as a turnkey product, the ground-breaking Contain Air portable compressed air room arrives on-site pre-installed and ready to use, providing unparalleled convenience, cost reductions and space savings to boost the competitiveness of UK businesses.

HI-LINE INDUSTRIES has announced that as of 2024, its entire popular and high-performing Tundra range of refrigerant air dryers will transition to R-513A, a refrigerant with zero ozone depleting potential (ODP) that helps customers to enhance their sustainability credentials. Hi-line says although it attributes the success of the Tundra range in compressed air applications to its ultra-reliable performance, energy efficiency and reasonable price tag, the introduction of R513-A and its zero ODP means there really is no need to go anywhere else for refrigerant air dryers.

With the launch of its next-generation DT80 distance sensor, SICK says it has revised the standard for measurement precision in countless industrial applications in a compact and robust device. Equipped with high-performance time-of-flight measurement technology, the SICK DT80 1D laser distance sensor achieves unparalleled accuracy of +/- 2 mm with a resolution of 0.1 mm at ranges up to 80 metres.

When the Horseshoe Inn, a historic 17th Century pub in a small Staffordshire village, wanted a large horseshoe symbolic of its name made from heavy-grade steel, it was unsure where to turn. Fortunately, businessman and Managing Director of manufacturing company HI-LINE INDUSTRIES, Steve Smith, lives nearby. Hi-line says it takes its support for local businesses very seriously, particularly ones that play such an important role in the community. The company therefore gladly stepped in to manufacture the customised horseshoe on the pub’s behalf free of charge.

Fabrication shops across Europe are upgrading their fleets to inverter technology machines that meet EU Ecodesign Directives to improve energy efficiency and lower utility bills. ESAB says with its new “Ultimate Line-Up” of welding and cutting equipment — which features state-of-the-art digital technology — fabricators also gain advanced functions. ESAB showcased the Ultimate Line-Up at the Schweissen & Schneiden trade fare. The improved arc performance, productivity and quality attracted positive reviews from metal workers in every segment, as the Ultimate Line-Up features MIG, MMA, TIG, multi-process and manual plasma cutting equipment.

SICK has announced it has launched an Industry 4.0 on-premise data intelligence platform that empowers manufacturing and logistics organisations to optimise their operating performance. SICK Field Analytics can be quickly and easily set up to provide meaningful, application-specific condition monitoring and process insights, independently of an organisation’s existing machinery and systems.

SICK has announced it has pioneered the addition of IO-Link to two of its most compact and industry-standard identification devices. Both the SICK CLV61X fixed-mount 1D bar code reading scanner and the RFU61X UHF RFID read/write device were first to market with IO-Link variants, enhancing the integration versatility of SICK’s identification portfolio.

Regardless of whether the business is an automotive workshop, a small-to-medium sized manufacturing company or indeed any type of operation that simply needs dry and clean compressed air, FPS AIR COMPRESSORS says its new G-TEC Air Compressor provides a complete compressed air workstation with ‘game-changing’ capabilities.

WILLIAM HUGHES says it has adapted quickly to a serious increase in demand from an automotive seating customer, thanks to a major investment in robotic welding cells and associated tooling and fixtures.

MENZEL ELEKTROMOTOREN says its motor customers in the UK appreciate its fast delivery capability. Two of them recently contacted the company after experiencing motor failures, which meant that the water supply to 30,000 households was threatened and production in a cement plant was halted. After delivery times of only six and ten days, respectively, both the pump and the cement mill could be restarted in the shortest imaginable time. Faced with unexpected downtime due to equipment failures, customers often cannot afford to wait for a motor manufactured from scratch – standard delivery times in higher output ranges start at six months. Menzel says it has proven a strong partner in an emergency, quickly configuring suitable motor systems for a wide range of high-output applications.

By releasing the new MGF X Line range of oil-free compressors into the UK market, FPS AIR COMPRESSORS says it is providing dental labs running CAD/CAM-driven milling machines and 3D printers with a proven way to utilise a continuous and highly reliable source of clean, dry compressed air without risk of contamination.

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.

The XD4 pump from VARNA PRODUCTS delivers up to 4 gpm (15 l/m) of oil flow. It is a self-priming and quiet-running vane pump for use in a wide variety of transfer applications with non-corrosive fluids such as oils and coolants. It can produce over 60 psi (4.1 bar) pressure at nominal voltages of 12 thru 24vdc.

CS INSTRUMENTS says its new Indoor Ambient Condition (IAC) sensor helps with this measurement task and with monitoring intake conditions. The intake or ambient air influences the compressed air generation and treatment. This should be monitored and evaluated stationarily with suitable measuring technology.

HI-LINE INDUSTRIES, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment says it is well known for the long-standing support it provides to the local sporting community in Burton upon Trent. The company is a main sponsor at both Burton Albion Football Club and Burton Rugby Football Club. Now, Hi-line’s Managing Director Steve Smith is adding to this tradition by raising thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK through his endeavours in White Collar Boxing, a series of high-profile fundraising events organised by Ultra, the UK's largest charity sports organisation.

With energy bills likely to remain high for some time, users of compressed air must consider every potential energy-reducing measure. In tandem with growing demands to reduce carbon footprint as the UK transitions to a net-zero future, many companies are looking at compressed air technologies for the solution. Air dryers, which are essential to improve the quality of compressed air and protect valuable assets, are no exception. With this thought in mind, HI-LINE says its latest Tundra range of refrigeration air dryers is its most energy-efficient to date, helping companies reduce costs, remain competitive and boost their green credentials.

SICK has announced it has expanded its proven, non-contact magnetostrictive linear encoder portfolio with the launch of a versatile product family for wide-ranging industrial applications. SICK says the DAX linear encoders precisely determine the absolute position of pistons in hydraulic cylinders, as well as reliably monitoring linear motion in many common industrial machines.

FPS AIR COMPRESSORS has announced it is releasing the range of Fini direct-drive compressors into the UK. Comprising MiniCUBE and CUBE models, the former is said to be the most compact solution in its market segment and comes as a single-phase solution if preferred in the 2.2kW model. Where higher air requirements are necessary, the CUBE is available in models up to 7.5 kW, providing a direct replacement for a piston compressor while producing 30-35% more output.

FPS AIR COMPRESSORS says it can provide a number of tips and initiatives to reduce the energy consumed by compressed air systems. In particular, the company offers the new NOBEL PM series of oil-injected rotary screw compressors, which feature IE4 permanent magnet motors, variable speed drives and an extended airflow range for a high level of energy efficiency and quiet operation.

HI-LINE INDUSTRIES, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, is reporting continued growth in year-on-year sales, with results for the last quarter well ahead of forecast. The company says this positive news is a reflection of the added value provided by its products and services, which help UK users of compressed air to achieve genuine competitive gain.

SICK has unveiled its next-generation family of large-bore hollow-shaft incremental encoders, the SICK DGS80. The company says an innovative design concept has opened up versatile integration possibilities for the DGS80 across wide-ranging industrial automation applications, aided by a radically-streamlined specification process and easy installation.

WILLIAM HUGHES, a specialist manufacturer of springs and wire components, has announced it has enhanced the capabilities of its 80 m2 Class 7 cleanroom with its investment in a digitally controlled Ultrawave Neon 60 Ultrasonic Cleaning System.

TOMRA Food, one of the world’s largest peeling solutions providers, has installed a BABCOCK WANSON VAP600RR Coil Type Steam Boiler into its test centre in Dublin, Ireland, where it is being used to carry out tests and demonstrations for food peeling applications.

Reducing energy consumption in today’s highly competitive industrial environment is likely to be higher on most, if not all of today’s manufacturers’ agendas, especially due to current higher energy costs. With automation playing an increasingly important role in many applications maximising the efficiency of robots will be of significant interest across all manufacturing sectors.

Estimates suggest that Class 4 moisture content according to ISO 8573-1 is acceptable in the majority of compressed air system applications, thus supporting the use of refrigeration dryer technology. However, where applications demand higher levels of moisture removal, desiccant tends to be the go-to technology. The long-standing problem here is the higher cost associated with desiccant dryers, which is why HI-LINE INDUSTRIES, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, is addressing this issue with its new Hi-Plex dual technology dryers. This hybrid solution combines Hi-line’s established refrigeration and PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) air treatment technologies, creating an energy-efficient system at low capital cost compared with standard heat-regeneration desiccant air dryers.

RIELLO says its RS and RLS 310 to 610 ranges of burners with electronic cam control are proving increasingly popular with specifiers and end users that want to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

HPC discusses Specific Power: The energy efficiency rating of a compressor is called Specific Power – the lower it is, the more you save in energy and money.

As part of its environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) agenda, HI-LINE INDUSTRIES, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, provides extensive support for the sporting community in the Burton upon Trent area. The company is a main sponsor at both Burton Albion Football Club and Burton Rugby Football Club.

Industrial process heating equipment and solutions specialist BABCOCK WANSON has announced it has launched the TwinPack range of twin-furnace firetube boilers for steam outputs from 30 t/h to 58 t/h, providing maximum efficiency with very low CO² and NOx emissions.

HI-LINE INDUSTRIES, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, has announced it has appointed Steve Smith (pictured) as its new managing director. Replacing Mike Thurlow, who has retired, Smith is part of the company’s original team, joining as marketing director in 2000 when the business began trading. He has purchased Thurlow’s 50% share of the business and is now busy making plans to drive even greater success at Hi-line.

Industrial process heating equipment and solutions specialist BABCOCK WANSON has announced it has launched two new electric boiler ranges: the VAP EL 400V three-phase, 50Hz electric steam boiler, with models from 16 to 360 kW; and the e-Pack industrial electric boiler, with models from 500 to 17,000 KG/H.

A joint venture to meet the needs of process industry customers in the south has been launched in Bramley near Basingstoke. ENDRESS+HAUSER has collaborated with one of its authorised service providers, Electroserv, to create the new service hub, which comprises a wet flow calibration rig and electrical, temperature and pressure calibration facilities as well as meeting and office space.

RIELLO RX premix packaged burners are available in outputs up to 3MW, offering NOx levels of less than 40mg/kWh, with high turndown ratios of up to 8:1, across a wide range of models.

Sensing and Instrumentation specialist BAUMER has a very clear message for the upcoming PPMA Show - “From Process to Packaging, we are your one-stop-shop for Sensors”.

A BABCOCK WANSON BWD40 Fire Tube Boiler has been installed into Meantime Brewing’s Greenwich, London site, which is used in multiple aspects of brewery operation. The 4 tonne BWD40 is a replacement for the existing 2.5 tonne boiler, which had come to the end of its working life.

For Bridgnorth Aluminium, protecting against Legionella contamination and managing the water quality of its cooling tower system is essential. As part of a partnership, VEOLIA WATER TECHNOLOGIES UK (VWT UK) has assisted with water treatment and compliance services at the specialist’s production site.

SPX Cooling Technologies, a full-line, full-service industry leader in the design and manufacture of evaporative cooling systems and air-cooled heat exchangers, is commemorating the 100-year anniversary of its Marley brand, and says this is a name synonymous with the development and advancement of energy-efficient and sustainable evaporative cooling towers and components. SPX Cooling says it will celebrate this milestone throughout 2022 with a company timeline, video history, and events for employees, alumni, representatives and customers.

SICK says as manufacturers face rising energy bills, it has launched the FTMg with Monitoring App, an Industry 4.0 solution that can help them see the data they need to reduce energy consumption through better control of compressed air.

Industrial process heating equipment and solutions specialist BABCOCK WANSON has announced it has launched the E-VAP horizontal Rapid Steam Generator, with steam outputs from 1700 to 5700 kg/h produced in 5-15 minutes from cold.

RIELLO RX premix packaged burners are available in outputs up to 3MW, offering NOx levels of less than 40mg/kWh, with high turndown ratios of up to 8:1, across a wide range of models.

WIELAND Electric says its new IP67 Ethernet switch enables reliable operation even under the most adverse environmental conditions

The new Easidew Advanced Online Dew-Point Hygrometer from MICHELL INSTRUMENTS measures dew point, moisture content and now also pressure. It features a touch screen interface for set up and operation. Michell developed the Easidew Advanced Online as a versatile, premium-performance hygrometer system. Incorporating the latest Michell ceramic metal-oxide technology, the hygrometer provides stable, reliable and repeatable trace moisture measurements.

SANDHURST INSTRUMENTS and H&B Sensors have announced that they have entered a strategic partnership and this collaboration means an all-inclusive service for every measuring solution. From temperature, depth and pressure sensors to remote calibration equipment, each company can be helped with its decision-making process, with accurate, robust, reliable and proven measuring equipment. The partnership offers bespoke instruments, tailored and made to individual and specific requirements.

BRAMMER BUCK & HICKMAN, a leading UK supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services, has released two new brochures, produced with bearing manufacturer SKF, aimed at the construction and aggregates industries. The new brochures address the specific challenges faced in these demanding sectors, along with SKF product solutions and advice on bearings best practice.

For any company looking to improve the life and energy efficiency of its compressed air system, HI-LINE INDUSTRIES now offers its range of class-leading Vertical Air Receivers from stock to help factories and plants quickly take advantage of these innovative devices. Hi-line says its high-quality painted and galvanised vessels are available immediately at extremely competitive prices. Vertical Air Receivers are a type of pressure vessel that receive air from the compressor and hold it under pressure for future use. Storing compressed air allows the system to average the peaks in compressed air demand over the course of a shift, delivering steady air flow. The air in the tank is even available when the air compressor is not running.