Used throughout the water, petrochemical and power generation sectors to move large volumes of water, vertical suspended pumps are essential assets. By optimising performance and efficiency in these important pumps, both operating and maintenance costs can be significantly reduced. Jason Simcoe* and Seth Tate*look at how various aspects of vertical pump performance can be improved.

Karl Metcalfe, technical support for the AEMT, looks at the knowledge and responsibilities that are expected when it comes to managing electric motors in zoned areas.

Luca Lonoce, pump retrofit specialist at Sulzer, looks at the benefits of a pump retrofit project.

The theme of the second in the series of Talking Industry panel discussions was Increasing Automation in the post-COVID era. Chairman Andy Pye reflects on a session which set out to look forward to the opportunities, but couldn’t quite shake off the barriers from the past.

Various countries around the world have taken different approaches towards energy usage and possible energy reduction. Across Europe, the Commission has concentrated on components within the Energy Related Products Directive (ErP).

The turbocompressor has become a mainstay of modern water treatment technology. Ideally suited for the production of large volumes of compressed air at relatively low pressure, they rely on bearings that can spin at high speeds with minimal resistance and for extended periods. Today, the market is dominated by two rival technologies: air foil bearings and active magnetic bearings. Edward Paro of Sulzer compares their strengths and weaknesses.

John Smith* gives guidance to help optimise machine performance coming out of lockdown.

Bondlok UK a leading adhesives and sealants company has announced it has “bonded” with the University of Bolton which will help students to learn the latest in motorsport industry techniques.

While end users in the process industries began to digitise their plants decades ago with the introduction of “smart/intelligent,” digitally integrated process transmitters and final control devices, pumps and valves have often been last in the queue. Andy Pye, consultant editor for PWE, reports.

Alistair Binks, general manager of technical and life sciences translation specialists Albion Languages, explains to Plant & Works Engineering how the COVID-19 pandemic has driven businesses to focus inwards, looking with a critical eye at their more “fragile” business areas, or those markets which they may have relied upon too heavily so far.

Steven Horn, European product manager, Mueller Electric Europe takes a look at static electricity and grounding in the industrial workplace.

Vibration analysis has long been the instrument of choice to use for bearings and other rotating equipment. More commonly, ultrasound is being used in conjunction with vibration analysis to help technicians confirm the condition of mechanical assets. PWE reports

Modern process control valves offer a wide range of features and benefits for industries that require precise control over fluids, steam and other gases. With so many control valves on the market, it is important to establish the features that will deliver the most cost-effective design for a particular application. Damien Moran, field segment manager, hygienic -pharmaceutical at Bürkert, looks at some of the basic differentiators as well as some recent design developments

Case Study: A switch to Mobil DTE 10 Excel hydraulic fluid has helped MPact Polymers reduce the energy used by processing equipment at its Pinetown site by 7%. The move also helped optimise equipment performance, which reduced unscheduled maintenance, while the hydraulic fluid’s long life cut waste oil disposal costs.

A new modelling approach for hybrid bearings gives a more accurate picture of their performance and helps engineers justify their use in the correct application, writes Guillermo Morales-Espejel, Principal Scientist at SKF Research and Technology Development.

The aim of the EU Eco-Design Directive is to improve the environmental impact of energy-intensive products by optimising their design. Since pumps require a lot of energy, some inevitably fall within scope of this directive. Better design could significantly reduce their energy consumption. However, considerably more can be achieved if the pump is not viewed in isolation, but as part of the overall system along with its electric motor and controller.

Jonathan Wilkins, director of industrial automation parts supplier, EU Automation, discusses what manufacturers should consider when choosing which type of robot to invest in.

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics returns to Farnborough between February 11th-13th 2020, and will again include a range of exhibitors spanning the full panorama of engineering activity. PWE reports.

Tobius Antius, CEO of food process automation company Novotek AB, explains how, with automation and systems, manufacturers can help to minimise the creation of food waste in manufacturing.

PWE takes a look at the potential benefits that can be achieved when retrofitting pumps.

When it was first introduced a little over a century ago, the heavy-duty belt conveyor revolutionised the mining, quarrying and cement industries. Maintaining this machinery, however, has always been a slow, expensive and dangerous task. PWE reports.

Staged every three years, PPMA Total Show (1-3 October 2019, National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham) is the UK’s largest processing and packaging machinery exhibition. PWE reports.

Chris Muscavage, field technical service engineer, at Sulzer, looks at the importance of pump performance testing and how it can improve plant reliability.

Are you taking the risks of hydraulic piston seal failure seriously enough? PWE takes a look at the heavy demands placed on these seals and describes the development of new solutions to overcome their challenges.

In modern paper and cardboard production there are endless dosing tasks, for which precision and high reliability are especially critical. Mindful of these factors, European carton maker Moritz J Weig GmbH is increasingly turning to Qdos peristaltic pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG). PWE reports.

Precision sensor technologies are not only proving their value during the production and testing of wind turbines, but also in the real time condition monitoring of operationally active onshore and offshore wind farms, says Chris Jones, managing director of Micro-Epsilon UK.

Chains are often given little attention as components in machines or logistics systems. For the overall system, however, they are of great importance: without a drive chain the machine will not run, and without conveyor chains the logistics will not work. Chain manufacturer, Renold, offers tips on how to make chains last longer with the help of the correct lubrication.

Progressive cavity pump specialist SEEPEX has developed a new system to improve dewatered sludge handling, enabling long distance transfer with reduced operational costs by using a combination of PC pump technology and dense-phase conveying.

Heat, contamination and unpredictable weather constantly threaten to disrupt the performance of offshore oil and gas facilities. These unforgiving conditions can be detrimental to the performance of drilling equipment, pumps and extraction machinery — but what steps can be taken to ensure quality engineering at sea? Chris Johnson, managing director of SMB Bearings, explains why, sometimes, it’s the little things that count.

It can be a challenge to maintain efficiency in manufacturing processes that rely on rapid temperature change, they are energy intensive and will often form a natural bottle-neck in an overall process. Implementing a new control strategy that is both more accurate and responsive can therefore bring improvements to both productivity and process efficiency. PWE reports.

Finding the most effective solution to upgrade a pumping station can be a complex process. Striking the balance between improved performance and minimised costs requires experience and excellent technical abilities. ECS Engineering Services recently delivered a cost effective refurbishment project for the Environment Agency that initially had some very ambitious costs. PWE takes a closer look.

When selecting sensors for displacement, position, distance and profile measurement tasks, engineers should consider the various types of sensor filtering before making a purchasing decision, says Chris Jones of Micro-Epsilon.

For anyone involved in works management, Southern Manufacturing offers a wide range of relevant products and services, from health & safety solutions, through all kinds of production hardware to management software and consumables.

As we move along the road towards Smart Manufacturing the subject of cyber-security is becoming arguably even more important. Chris Evans, marketing & operations group manager, Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. Automation Systems Division, reports.

The new Yokogawa WT5000 is the first of a new generation of precision power analyser that offers measurement accuracy of ± 0.03% combined with stability, noise immunity and plug-in modular flexibility to meet the measurement needs of today’s developers of energy-efficient systems. PWE reports.

Automation has always lent itself to the manufacture of mass produced disposable medical devices and the bulk processing of samples - for two main reasons; initially for speed and repeatability, and then because human presence poses one of the biggest contamination risks in a clean production or processing environment. PWE reports.

Lesley Eaton, business development and marketing manager, SEEPEX, looks at how progressive cavity pumps can overcome the toughest processing challenges.

If damage to bearings can be detected early, the potentially extensive downtime and repair costs arising from failure in service can be avoided. Phil Burge, marketing and communications manager at SKF looks at the tell-tale indicators of bearing wear and puts forward the argument for condition monitoring.

With bearing failures accounting for around 40% of all pump and rotating equipment malfunctions, it’s easy to accept downtime for repair and replacement as simply part of the deal. But there is a quick-gain, low-cost way to maximise pump efficiency and minimise downtime by selecting the appropriate bearing housing seals, says Chris Carmody of AESSEAL.

When selecting a non-contact capacitive displacement sensor, a number of key factors need to be considered, including target size and shape, guarding method and bandwidth. As well as clean environments, the sensors can also operate in dirty, dusty industrial areas too, says Chris Jones of Micro-Epsilon.

Sawyer completes jobs quickly and accurately, works safely alongside co-workers and is an integral part of the workforce. However, Sawyer is not your average employee — he is a robot. Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director at obsolete industrial parts supplier, EU Automation, explains how advances in technology are changing the way that humans interact with robots.

Kieran Doyle, managing director at Oilgear, explores the innate features and processes that can ensure hydraulic pump performance is not simply defined by basic certification, but offers further benefits to the application that reduce the risks of downtime.

By withstanding contaminated and poorly lubricated conditions, hybrid bearings are less prone to surface distress than their all-steel counterparts. Phil Burge, marketing and communications manager at SKF explains the structure and materials of hybrid bearings and how these features help extend machine service life.

Alex Myers, retrofit sales director at Sulzer, looks at the latest technology for improving efficiency and reducing operating costs.

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics returns to Farnborough from February 6-8th 2018 for its 20th anniversary event. PWE reports.

The evolution of asset security definition means a multi-faceted approach is needed. PWE reports.

Refinery operators have a pressing requirement to improve the efficiency of flow control in their plants and they want to know from the Distributed Control System (DCS) if valves are open or closed. In a typical refinery, 10% of valves are actuated and 90% are manually operated. This poses a serious problem for end-users if the DCS does not accurately know how many manual valves are opened or closed, which limits the efficiency of their business operations.

Bredel 65 hose pumps from Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group are now providing constant efficiency in ball-milling processes at a high-volume battery plant in China. PWE reports.

A motor control centre (MCC) sits at the heart of an industrial plant. If well maintained, an MCC can last for decades, but despite their sturdiness, even the most reliable MCCs have to be retired at some point. Pat McLaughlin, operations director of Boulting Group, explains the early warning signs that an MCC needs replacing. There are several reasons for replacing an MCC, but the most common ones include obsolescence, incompatibility with new legislation or the condition of the MCC deteriorating. Technological advancements that allow the design of intelligent, more efficient MCCs are another reason why companies sometimes opt for an upgrade.

Climate control of enclosures using water cooling is highly efficient, especially if there is already a central cold water supply available in the production plant. The new Hygienic Design air/water heat exchangers from Rittal are ideally suited to the food industry, where hygiene standards are exceptionally stringent. PWE reports.