Food Manufacturing

Softline extrusions feature smooth faces on all four sides

Thinking Space Systems is now supplying the Kanya Four-sided softline extrusion in 40x40mm and 40x80mm sizes. These profiles feature smooth faces on all four sides, but with strips that can be peeled away to reveal T-slots into which fasteners can be attached.

24th May 2010

New drying system gives Britvic a productivity boost

On a poster in Britvic's premises in Leeds it says: "Our vision in production is to become the world leader in soft drink manufacture by 2012". It will involve Britvic evaluating every stage of the production process if this goal is to be achieved. One step in attaining this goal is the recent installation of a new bottle drying system that is helping to minimise downtimes to maximise production output whilst also reducing energy consumption.

20th May 2010

Drives cut production costs for Ginsters

Eight ABB standard drives are saving Ginsters bakery a potential 17% per annum on its chilled water energy bill following installation on chiller pumps at its Callington bakery in Cornwall. The bakery, which employs 370 staff producing in excess of three and a half million pastry products a week, was keen to investigate its energy use to improve efficiency and cut costs at the plant.

20th May 2010

Atrato high-accuracy, low-cost ultrasonic flowmeter

Titan Enterprises is launching the Atrato high-accuracy, low-cost ultrasonic flowmeter at the 2010 Mtec Exhibition. The company claims the device represents a breakthrough in small-bore flow metering, using patented technology that enables the direct through-meter to handle flows from laminar to turbulent.

17th May 2010

BOA smart camera range gains colour model

DALSA's BOA smart cameras for end esers, vision integrators and OEMs are now available with a colour option. Colour imaging is important in a host of applications and industries including food, meat, print, pharmaceuticals, PCB assembly, part presence and/or detection and quality and grading.

12th May 2010

AUTONOmotor gearmotors use sensorless brushless DC motors

In response to OEMs seeking higher energy efficiency and power density as well as simpler assembly and increased design life for their equipment, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp is introducing a new line of sensorless brushless DC (SBLDC) parallel-shaft gearmotors with powers up to 1/6HP (124W). The new 34 frame AUTONOmotor gearmotors are powered by totally enclosed, non-ventilated (TENV) brushless motors that are sensorless to reduce cost, size and wiring complexity while offering improved reliability and noise immunity compared to brushless motors with shaft-mounted rotor position sensors.

29th April 2010

Stainless steel housing stands up to tough industrial environments

Equipped with a robust stainless steel housing and 19" display, the new IP65 Automation Panel 920 provides true ease of operation with a high degree of reliability, even under the toughest operating conditions. The one-of-a-kind sleek design made of robust, environmentally-friendly materials makes this B&R operating unit the ideal HMI system for industrial applications with high demands for hygiene.

28th April 2010

Screw blowers are 30% more energy-efficient than lobe types

Atlas Copco Compressors' new ZS oil-free, energy- saving positive displacement screw blowers is designed to save money through improved energy efficiency. According to Atlas Copco, the new blowers are, on average, 30 per cent more energy-efficient than conventional lobe-type units.

25th April 2010

Bionic elephant's trunk could be used as a robot arm

At the 2010 Hannover Fair Festo is launching its latest bionic concept project. Festo uses bionic concepts in the same way the car industry uses concept cars - they are not saleable products but are used to prove research ideas and demonstrate design concepts, intended to stimulate dialogue with customers, suppliers and partners. Known as the Bionic Handling Assistant, the latest concept offers a flexible and safe means of moving objects from one position to another. It could revolutionise the design of materials handling systems and potentially opens up a host of entirely new application areas involving direct, non-hazardous contact between humans and robots. These include equipment for use in hospitals, rehabilitation and care homes for the elderly, as well as agricultural machinery and even domestic appliances - anything, in fact, that requires risk-free mechanical assistance.

23rd April 2010

Vibration sensors with industry-standard M12 connectors

Variohm EuroSensor is offering three new vibration sensors with industry-standard M12 connectors from its USA distribution partner Meggitt Wilcoxon Research. Aimed at vibration monitoring for preventative maintenance on motors, pumps and other rotating equipment, the general-purpose accelerometers are based on proven 786A and 787A piezoelectric accelerometers but now include the universal four- and five-pin M12 connector that is commonly used across food, beverage, pharmaceutical and many other industries.

9th April 2010

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