InMotionOnline Feature Articles

New challenges for compressor manufacturers

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:25:10 +0000

Emerging technologies present new challenges for compressor manufacturers — a trend report from ACHEMA 2009 provides some details.

Valve actuation for solar plant

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 03:15:14 +0000

The Andasol 1 plant in the Spanish province of Granada is a parabolic trough power plant and is claimed as the world’s largest solar power plant. Intelligent electric actuators with digital control have been specified for valve control in all areas of the generating process.

Australia's CPRS now delayed

Tue, 12 May 2009 02:52:40 +0000

The introduction of Australia’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is being delayed a year, but legislation is still expected to be passed this year. This will give businesses affected by the CPRS some breathing space, but also provide some certainty if the legislation is passed.

Robotic hand, powered by compressed air

Tue, 12 May 2009 02:57:00 +0000

The Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech has developed a unique robotic hand that can firmly hold objects as heavy as a can of food or as delicate as a raw egg, and be dexterous enough to gesture for sign language.

Increased international cooperation on standards for energy efficiency needed

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:54:13 +0000

Cooperation on International Standards to promote energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions was given a major boost by a workshop in Paris, France, on 16–17 March 2009, which brought together 290 experts from the public and private sector. Presentations and discussion panels provided insights on the requirements and challenges related to energy efficiency and related standardisation work in a variety of fields, including industrial systems.

Pump trend report

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:50:03 +0000

At ACHEMA 2009, which will take place from 11–15 May in Frankfurt am Main, manufacturers of pumps, compressors and fittings will be the largest contingent of exhibitors once more. 950 from 4000 exhibitors will be from this sector. For them and the 180,000 expected visitors, surely energy efficiency will be one of the main themes again this year. Solutions that improve availability will also have high priority.

Compressed air maintenance

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:44:09 +0000

As rising electricity costs compel companies to examine their energy usage, advanced technologies are emerging which bring new efficiencies to old tasks, such as ensuring a clean flow of compressed air. John Davis, Business Development Manager for the Australian operation of Parker domnick hunter Filtration, explains.

Energy efficiency through the optimal interaction of system components

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:15:02 +0000

The products and technologies that help make more efficient use of energy in industrial applications are already available. However, maximising energy productivity is not necessarily straightforward.

Energy-saving technologies receive grants

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:20:59 +0000

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, has announced the first round of offers under the Climate Ready program. Two of the companies that received grants were Thompson Couplings and Robertson Technologies.

Choosing the right lubrication program

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:26:09 +0000

Choosing and implementing the right lubrication program for machinery used in the food industry will ensure that a plant operates more safely and efficiently, and could increase profits. Kimberly Eldridge and David Laing from Kluber Lubrication in Munich explain what you need to know about lubricants for the food and beverage industries.

Torquing sense for pumps

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:15:51 +0000

Plant monitoring and control is particularly vital in the continuous process industries, where multiple machines must act in harmony day after day — failure of a single machine can lead to massive consequential losses of production. With most machines driven through a rotating shaft, torque monitoring can identify problems before they become critical. Tony Ingham of Sensor Technology considers the techniques.

Bug's eye view for robots

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:22:58 +0000

The remarkable ability of insects to look in all directions at once has been emulated by a team of international scientists who have built an artificial ‘eye’ with an unobstructed all-round view. It may have potential uses for guiding robot vehicles and aircraft.

Laying foundations with compressed air

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 01:31:46 +0000

When TrimPile decided to take its pile-trimming and concrete-breaking business to the next level, the company chose air compressor and jackhammer technology from Sullair Australia.

Standard tackles recyclability of earthmoving machinery

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:33:12 +0000

A new standard, ISO 16714:2008, Earth-moving machinery — Recyclability and recoverability — Terminology and calculation method, has been released to provide manufacturers with a much needed and internationally agreed tool to evaluate the ability and potential of new machines to be recovered and/or recycled.

The hydraulics of wind power

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 01:29:35 +0000

Companies like AVN Energy, a Danish manufacturer of wind-power equipment, are creating the technology which now provides 20% of Denmark’s electricity production. AVN co-operated with The Trelleborg Group’s Sealing Solutions to develop seals for their wind power actuators.

Drive solution for the paper industry

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:46:29 +0000

Germany’s paper industry has a turnover of approximately 14.9 billion euro and a total of 3000 different kinds of paper are manufactured at around 180 production locations. Manufacturing paper using air motors ensures that the ravenous paper appetite of industrial nations is continuously satisfied.

Fluid energy transducer developed for sensors

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:45:35 +0000

Researchers of the Fraunhofer Technology Development Group TEG have created a fluidic energy transducer that has successfully managed to convert fluidic energy (from air or water) into electricity. The fluid transducer could enable sensors used in, for example, pneumatic plants to supply themselves with energy in the future.

Robotic ants building homes on Mars?

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:09:16 +0000

Recent discoveries of water and earth-like soil on Mars have set imaginations running wild that human beings may one day colonise the Red Planet. However, the first inhabitants might not be human in form at all, but rather swarms of tiny robots.

The importance of oil-free air for PET blowing compressors

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:14:55 +0000

Oil contamination is an invisible enemy in all bottling installations and aseptic environments. Atlas Copco’s ZD high-pressure compressors are suitable for PET packaging production and now offer the security of 100% certified oil-free air with a Class 0 certification.

Cylinder takes the stress out of bridge project

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:09:00 +0000

It looks like a menacing multi-barrel cannon of the type slung beneath fighter jets, but the purpose of this dark cylinder is constructive, not destructive. The Enerpac 900-tonne hydraulic stressing cylinder, supplied and customised by Jonel Hydraulics, will be used by Post Tensioning and Grouting to simultaneously tension dozens of high tensile stressing strands for bridge sections of the $NZ250 million-plus Tauranga Harbour Bridge crossing in New Zealand.