Swiss food company Delica AG has replaced its control system and drive technology for more productivity, less waste and faster packaging, using Omron controllers (PLC) supplied by Staveb Automation AG. PWE reports.

HADLEY GROUP reports it has reaffirmed its commitment to continually improve its UK production capabilities with an investment into a new corrugated curver at its Oldbury facility.

OGM says it has introduced an innovative new service to reduce the lead-time for producing mould tooling by up to 50% - the new Rapid Production Mould Tools (RPMT) service will help both to compress lead-times and enhance still further the quality and finish of most types of mould tool inserts.

MAKITA has introduced two heavy duty cordless angle grinders to its industrial range powered by twin 18v batteries to give 36v power to the brushless, high performance motor and says these new cordless grinders deliver remarkable mains machine type performance with the added benefit of total manoeuvrability.

CHICAGO PNEUMATIC has announced the Super Duty 1-1/2” Impact Wrench - the CP6120 Series. The company says with a special 2-jaw clutch they offer the user an unbeatable combination of power and ergonomics.

MAKITA says its angle grinders are recognised as rugged, hardworking machines serving many areas of industry including steel work, construction and heavy duty plant maintenance. The company says now a new generation of six 180mm and 230mm mains powered grinders has been launched, bristling with a host of new features and proven technology. Makita says all are powered by a new, heavy duty 2,000 watt motor specified for tough industrial operation and a new design of rear D-shaped handle protects operator’s hands from contact with the material surface and a new design of side handle provides more comfort and greater machine control.

For the fourth successive year, C.K TOOLS says it has launched its annual Winter Wonderland promotion and with more deals than ever before, the promotion will be the most successful to date and is now well underway. The company says containing over 150 products, Winter Wonderland 2017 includes newly launched ranges and added value products to new kits and some of the company’s most popular tools and accessories and also offering fantastic discounts across C.K tools, C.K Magma, Kasp and Avit ranges, the promotion will give tradesmen great value.

TUFNOL COMPOSITES reports it has supplied specialist products to the new state-of-the-art bridge across Scotland’s Firth of Forth, the Queensferry Crossing.The company says isolation washers manufactured from its high performance glass laminate are forming preloaded connections with the bolts that attach critical components to the bridge construction and have been specially designed to cope with the forces that will be placed upon them every day, 365 days a year.

C.K. TOOLS, a leading hand tool brand, reports it has launched an enhanced range of one of its most popular products, the C.K Waterpump Pliers. The company says already regarded by tradesmen as one of the most durable plier options on the market, the improved range consists of three sizes: 175mm, 250mm and 300mm and with each size offering extra wide jaw capacities of 38mm, 57mm and 58mm, the new C.K Water Pump Pliers are up to 80% greater than DIN standard to assure the highest quality and durability for electricians.

CARL KAMMERLING INTERNATIONAL a leading provider of quality hand tools reports it has extended its popular range of screwdrivers with the introduction of C.K dextroVDE Slim Screwdrivers, designed to provide quick and easy access to recessed screws and fixings. Already reportedly named the number one screwdriver brand chosen by electricians, the new C.K dextroVDE Slim Screwdrivers feature a slim shaft, while retaining all the features electricians value from the dextroVDE range.

MAKITA says its 10.8v CXT tool range is growing in popularity, driven by the very compact size and low weight advantages combined with outstanding performance and durability. For example, the company says the new Makita TD111D impact driver with brushless motor delivers an outstanding 135Nm of tightening torque yet weighs just 1.1kgs with an overall length of only 135mm from chuck to back of body and continues with performance like this the 10.8v CXT range is proving attractive to all property installation professionals.

WILKINSON STAR reports it has launched a new all product catalogue featuring a range of products from industry leading brands and the very latest product information and technical data. The company says the catalogue also features helpful user tips on, for example, air equipment consumption guides and easy selection of welding torch parts with full colour breakdown images.

Ovako says the latest wear resistant WR-Steel and next generation M-Steel were on show at MSV Brno Trade Fair and both offer manufacturers significant production advantages.

SANDVIK reports it launched new generation Sanmac at IMTS in September, offering a stainless steel material which can significantly increase machining rates.

SANDVIK reports its Distribution Center Venlo (DC Venlo) in the Netherlands has undergone a major refurbishment and upgrade project while also introducing new product lines and initiatives to advance its service provision for customers and this includes reductions in international lead times by weeks.

As the pressure mounts for designers to develop smaller, lighter and stronger components, OVAKO says its clean engineering steels, with their increased fatigue strength, can turn possibilities into reality. The company says today, more than ever size and strength are major factors in component design and engineering steels from Ovako facilitate the production of stronger, lighter, more efficient and compact components, also with its increased fatigue strength BQ-Steel offers outstanding high performance characteristics for all types of applications.

ESAB WELDING & CUTTING PRODUCTS has announced a limited-time promotion on the purchase of selected arc welding equipment and accessories, now until December 31, 2015 for customers in the UK. ESAB says receive a high street shopping voucher in the “Power Up Your Shop with ESAB” promotion simply by purchasing from ESAB’s POWER LINEUP of solutions:

Late in 2014 the technicians of an Egyptian Propane Dehydrogenation plant had to face the truth - several heat exchangers had failed unexpectedly and caused a production shut-down.

LEE SPRING says it is going to use the FAST (Fastening & Assembly Solutions and Technology) exhibition – which takes place on 22nd April, in the Silverstone Wing at the Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire – to unveil new products.

HERAEUS NOBLELIGHT reports it has moved its applications laboratory from the Technical University of Kaiserlautern, in Germany, to Cambridge, UK, the headquarters and manufacturing facility of its Arc and Flash division where it will provide expert resource in developing Xenon flash lamp technology to meet the latest industrial challenges.

The philosophy of Augsburg based Bernd Siegmund GmbH is said to be to manufacture elaborate, flexible, indestructible and exclusively designed clamping and welding tables. These robust and hard wearing tables are now available in the UK from Birmingham based SURFACE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS (SURTECH).

Jonathan Wilkins, marketing manager at European Automation, explains how food and beverage manufacturers can remain productive in the context of increasing raw material prices, energy prices and pressure from retailers.

MAKITA reports it has introduced additional mains powered grinders to its range offering many features and benefits for the operator. There are various models in the 115mm and 125mm range all of which feature a new design of slim-line machine body. The company says this provides the best possible ergonomic grip around the barrel which has a perfect circumference and shape, and allows convenient and comfortable grip for best possible comfort and machine control. All models feature the new design of wheel cover which can be moved to any desired position for protection whilst the grinding wheel is exposed for work. The wheel cover position can be altered without the need for tools. The spindle lock button is conveniently placed on top of the transmission housing.

ESAB says Control Industrial Contracting Co. Ltd. (CIC) of Abu Dhabi purchased its first ESAB Warrior 500i multi-purpose welding machine in 2013 because of its versatility and the support services that ESAB could offer. The company says it immediately proved its suitability for the welding applications required and since then has gone on to invest in 47 more.

Now available from SURFACE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS (Surtech) is the extended range of welding, jigging and fixturing tables from the Siegmund Group.

Dewalt says it is a brand with a reputation for providing high quality professional power tools. The company’s lead design engineer for drills was tasked with designing a high power right angle drill that was lightweight, compact and portable.

The established range of LEISTER air heaters for production processes has taken a further step in its evolution, with a new series of process heat units now available for connectivity directly into a PLC control system enabling even better control and functionality for systems designers and line production managers alike.

 NORBAR has warned that care is needed in the choice of tools to prevent vibration white finger (VWF). Commercial vehicle operators and power tool purchasers are reported to be largely unaware of the potential personal injury risks regarding the use of impact guns as a bolting device.

The UK's best apprentice welders from across the nation's shipyards have been celebrated at a prestigious ceremony. The final of the annual ShipWeld competition, sponsored by ESAB, was held at BAE Systems Maritime – Submarines, Barrow in Furness.

WILLIAM HUGHES reports it is the sole supplier of specialist  compression springs to Eaton Fluid Power in Havant. Today, being a sole supplier to a global manufacturing company is a well-earned accolade.

NORBAR TORQUE TOOLS has launched a new electronic torque tool, the EvoTorque, designed to offer users unprecedented joint control. Norbar, a world leading torque company, has designed the EvoTorque to ensure that operators have the correct torque output from hard through to soft joints by utilising patent pending motor technology and control software.

DAWSON SHANAHAN says its exhibit at Advanced Engineering UK 2013 is a must-see for anyone wishing to benefit from the highest degree of flexibility in machining, as well as previously unheard of short cycle times.

NETHERLOCKS has received new EX certification for the Netherlocks FAITH Partial Stroke Testing (PST) system, recognising the addition of a dedicated grounding means for the system.

ESAB reports it provides a comprehensive range of consumables for all the major arc welding processes used with nickel alloys, dissimilar welds, cast iron, cryogenic applications and for nickel alloy cladding. MMA electrodes, MIG Wires, TIG Rods, SAW Flux-Cored Wire and Strip Cladding Combinations are all available.

SAFETYKLEEN has supplied Loughborough College with two spray gun cleaners that will be used in the College’s new paint shop. The College has a Technology Centre, which caters for engineering, motor vehicle and electrical installation students.

SPIROL disc springs can provide a solution for design engineers in their on-going challenge to increase the productivity of turret punch presses. Traditional turret punch press tool designs have included coil springs to facilitate the pushing of the punch through the sheet metal and to pull it out.

ESAB's Coreweld 46 LS metal cored welding wire is designed for high speed thin plate welding to a minimum thickness of 1.0 mm. It is reported to out perform solid MAG welding wire in terms of both the quality of weld produced and productivity. Coreweld 46 LS can ensure major reductions in welding costs with both mechanised and robotic welding and fabrication processes.