If there’s one thing that continues to hamper the UK manufacturing sector, it’s the ongoing struggle for greater productivity. As many factories are turning to capital equipment and modern machinery in an effort to speed up production lines and improve worker output, drive technology is becoming critical to enabling better plant automation, ensuring maximum productivity, and reliability throughout the entire production cycle. Marcus Schneck, CEO at norelem UK, looks at the importance of standard components in drive technology.

Industrial processes across the globe require pumps to operate reliably and efficiently. The latest pump designs and coating technologies offer significant improvements in the long-term performance of industrial pumps. By minimising the effects of corrosion and erosion, users can enhance productivity and reduce running costs. PWE reports.

While variable speed drives (VSDs) provide an important energy saving technology, Mitsubishi Electric’s Matt Handley questions how many of the installed base of drives are actually set up to run at their maximum efficiency.

Hannover Messe 2016 had a clear message: integrated industry has well and truly reached the mainstream. To prove its point, the show featured over 400 application examples of fully digitalised processes for the manufacturing and energy industries. The fourth industrial revolution, it seems, is well underway. However, to ensure that the factories of the future don’t remain castles in the air, it is necessary to shine a stronger spotlight on the benefits for industry, employees and society in general. This is precisely what the organisers of Hannover Messe 2017 (24–28 April) say it will do. PWE reports.

Hannover Messe 2016 had a clear message: integrated industry has well and truly reached the mainstream. To prove its point, the show featured over 400 application examples of fully digitalised processes for the manufacturing and energy industries. The fourth industrial revolution, it seems, is well underway. However, to ensure that the factories of the future don’t remain castles in the air, it is necessary to shine a stronger spotlight on the benefits for industry, employees and society in general. This is precisely what the organisers of Hannover Messe 2017 (24–28 April) say it will do. PWE reports.

Heat recovery should be a serious consideration for any business running a compressed air system. Andy Jones, managing director at Mattei, talks through the options.

Factories, warehouses and other ‘shed’ type buildings provide special challenges for HVAC systems. Eduard Kovac of Hoval explains how decentralised ventilation units can meet many of these challenges.

Ken Revell, Business Line Manager Sales & Marketing for Atlas Copco’s Compressor Technique Service Division, looks at how small parts can make a big difference to production equipment performance and reliability.

When it comes to specifying pumping equipment, many companies, particularly those under increasing pressure to cut costs, could actually be making decisions that will cost them more in the long run. Steve Schofield, director and chief executive of the British Pump Manufacturer’s Association (BPMA), explains how lifecycle costing can help to reveal the true cost of a pump.

As the legislation surrounding the efficiency of electric motors continues to tighten, the volume of variable speed drives (VSDs) in service increases. Brian Park, service centre manager for Sulzer Glasgow, looks at the advancing technology and the maintenance processes that need to keep pace.

PWE looks at how at software simplifies life-cycle management, and automates asset discovery.

For many businesses that require temperature control solutions in their day-to-day operations, equipment is often purchased and then run until the point of failure. Equipment hire offers a practical alternative says Russ Baker, UK sales director of the hire division at temperature control specialist ICS Cool Energy, who discusses the four key benefits of hire vs purchase.

PWE spoke to Cliff Warne, UK sales manager at Axflow, to discuss the differences between Rotary Lobe and ECP pump technologies.

When measuring the position of moving targets in production and process automation environments, it is important to understand the different methods of sensor triggering, their impact on measurement cycle times and the benefits they can offer over continuous measurement. Chris Jones, managing director at Micro-Epsilon UK, explains.

Mark Fairhurst*, takes a look at the importance of security in an increasingly connected world.

Valves aren’t necessarily the most exciting tool in any building’s toolkit, but whilst unseen and unsung, valves are not only heroes in their own right but absolutely vital to make any building management system run smoothly. Simon Garratt, marketing manager, field devices, at Schneider Electric, reports.

KSB and Ferrier Pumps Ltd recently continued their long standing partnership working on a flood prevention scheme for Renfrewshire Council. PWE reports.

If measurements from two non-contact laser displacement sensors are evaluated together, the thickness of an object can be determined. However, the accuracy of thickness measurements is determined by a number of important factors and not just linearity explains Chris Jones, managing director at Micro-Epsilon UK.

Russ Baker, UK sales director of the hire division at ICS Cool Energy, outlines why a business continuity plan is so important and the basics of putting one in place.

When referring to modern technology, companies bandy the word "smart" around a lot, especially when talking about energy efficient devices. We have smart meters, smart grids and even smart cities. In November 2015, for the first time in history, the National Grid resorted to paying large companies to turn off their heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in an effort to keep the lights on in Britain. Nick Boughton, sales manager of systems integrator Boulting Technology, discusses a smarter approach to energy efficiency.

Less blade wear and greater uptime of a billet mill saw are among the benefits from retrofitting an ABB motor and variable-speed drive (VSD) at Tata Steel’s Stocksbridge plant. The motor and drive improves control of the saw, preventing trips and stoppages that can damage the blade. PWE reports.

Trevor Dunger, product specialist for pressure and level for ABB’s UK Measurement Products business, explains the growing importance of calibration in promoting good practice and profitability.

Boulting Technology helped to upgrade Thames Water’s 90 year old Littleton raw water pump station. The water company wanted to increase the performance of the site, while also making it more flexible, reliable and energy efficient. It also wanted to implement an automated system that would speed up pump start-up procedure. Thames water wanted all this without losing any of the pump station’s 1920’s charm! PWE reports.

SEW Eurodrive has supplied and commissioned a new drive package for Sheffield based Bedford Steels. It replaces one originally installed in 1951 and is expected to significantly reduce the company's energy consumption, increase production and simplify the maintenance regime. PWE reports.

The Programmable Logic Controller, or using the less tongue-tieable acronym, PLC, has become a stalwart of the automation industry and can be found in countless automated manufacturing processes across the world. Jonathan Wilkins of industrial automation components supplier European Automation discusses the top five problems with PLCs.

The world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology –Hannover Messe - returns to Hannover, Germany between 13-17th April 2015. PWE reports.

Within many sectors of industry, minimising energy consumption and maintaining plant uptime are essential to optimising production costs. Process heat recovery is one significant approach to reducing energy consumption, while improving process performance will contribute to plant efficiency. Heat exchangers when used for heating, cooling, condensing or evaporation play a major role in recovering energy from process gases and liquids, so it follows that their efficiency will influence operating costs. Geoff Mahoney, AxFlow product manager plate heat exchangers reports.

Thermal fluids are used in a variety of sectors including manufacturing pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, textiles, petrochemicals and food. Dr Chris Wright, head of research and development at Global Heat Transfer describes common problems with heat transfer systems and thermal fluids in the food manufacturing industry. He also outlines his key recommendations for ensuring a harmonious and healthy relationship between plant, fluid and system.

PWE spoke to Durapipe’s valve and flow control department manager Geoff Rogers to discuss the challenges his department is faced with on a daily basis.

Sebastião L. Nau and Daniel Schmitz, research and technological innovation department at WEG, explains how reducing efficiency losses is key to achieving IE4 class efficiency with induction motors.

PWE spoke to Dave Clark, commercial & engineering project manager at Veolia Water Technologies, about a bespoke water treatment system for Tata Steel.

Correct sizing of pipework and valves for steam applications ensures reliable and efficient operation. Ian Webster, hygienic processing segment manager at Bürkert UK looks at some of the basic calculations that should be understood by design and maintenance engineers in order to achieve a safe and efficient process.

Motors are the workhorses of industry, so commonplace that they are often taken for granted. Now, with the world economy growing and new regulations about energy efficiency coming in, many users will be installing new motors over the next few years. Lucie Hodkova of Rotor UK offers this checklist of things to remember when dealing with new motors.

Klaus Allion, managing director at ANT Telecom, outlines how investing in a unified communication system that integrates lone workers can make your budget – and your mobile workforce – go further and work harder.

The demands for improved energy savings combined with precision operation has increasingly led engineers to specify permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), which are more efficient and accurate than an induction motor and a fraction of the cost of a large servomotor. Rick Munz, IHP product manager at Regal, explores this motor option.

A logistics company instructed a national refrigeration contractor to supply and install a new refrigeration plant totalling 1500KW for a new site in the South West.

The provision of an instrumentation service, calibration and maintenance facility necessitates substantial investment in equipment, staff, training, spares and consumables. However, Quantitech has found that the provision of a rental fleet provides considerable synergistic benefits. PWE reports.

The climate in most industries at the moment is focused towards cost reduction to protect margins. While this is to be commended, and can offer real benefits to a business and its customers, it is important that when it comes to procurement the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is considered over initial cost savings. While some components may seem like the cheapest solution in the short term, they can quickly prove expensive if regular maintenance, repair and replacement work becomes necessary.

Flowserve, provider of fluid motion and control products and services, is using ABB variable-speed drives (VSDs) and motors for quick and easy testing of its new pump variants at different speeds. PWE reports.

SEW-EURODRIVE was formed in 1931 by Christian Pähr. The company’s focus on continual product development and outstanding commitment was highlighted at a recent event at its Industrial Gear Plant Bruchsal (GGW), in Germany, attended by PWE.