Food Manufacturing

Safety light curtains are sealed to IP68

Virtually the entire range of Leuze Mayser safety light curtains and grids can now be supplied with protection to IP68, meaning they can cope with water jet washing. This opens up a whole new range of applications, particularly in the food, beverage and similar industrial sectors where stringent wash-down procedures are the norm.

12th July 2007

MultiSight sensor performs multiple inspections concurrently

Rockwell Automation is launching the 48MS MultiSight, a fully self-contained, multi-function vision sensor that can handle up to ten different inspections simultaneously and pass a simple OK/Not OK signal to an external PLC or process controller. Incorporating the camera, optics, lighting, communications and pass/fail controller in one package saves a great deal of installation time and hardware cost, and can significantly reduce the total cost of ownership.

3rd July 2007

Magsafe monitors four switches from one control box

Smartscan's latest innovation in magnetic safety gate interlocking, known as Magsafe, now offers the ability to monitor up to four magnetic switches from a single low-cost control box. This additional option allows Smartscan to offer customers even greater flexibility in their safety gate/access control designs.

1st July 2007

Mecmesin expands Orbis range of torque testers

Mecmesin is introducing four new closure-torque testing systems as an extension of its highly successful Orbis range. The existing Orbis and Orbis TE systems, launched in 2002, are used throughout an array of manufacturing and processing industries as well scientific institutions to assess the closure and release torques of screw-lid containers. The 'TE' denominates an additional facility to measure slip and bridge torques of tamper-evident closures.

25th June 2007

Cable pull switch features stainless steel housing

Rockwell Automation is promoting the stainless steel version of its Allen-Bradley Guardmaster Lifeline 4 cable pull switch, designed for applications where hygiene and/or corrosion resistance are essential requirements. The 316-bodied Lifeline 4 is suitable for both internal and external use, providing users with emergency stop access along exposed conveyors and around awkward machinery. The Stainless steel Lifeline 4 is said to be one of the only investment cast stainless steel cable pull switches of its type on the market.

24th June 2007

Laser module helps to compensate for tube spring back

Unison has developed a laser measurement module for its all-electric tube bending machines that dynamically measures the accuracy of bend angles and automatically compensates for any errors. It allows manufacturers to bend tubing to the required angles without scrap - thereby overcoming the common problem caused by variances in the 'spring back' characteristics of materials from different metal production batches with minor differences in grain and temper. The new module is targeted at manufacturers of precision and high-value tubular parts, such as those used in shipbuilding applications.

20th June 2007

ETV100 Electrothrust drive gives improved performance

The latest addition to Parker Electromechanical's ET Electrothrust range of linear actuators offers enhanced performance and an extended working life. Derived from the proven ET100 electric cylinder, the ETV100 utilises the same basic design in combination with higher performance key components.

19th June 2007

Corrosion resistant roller chain for humid environments

Iwis introduced a range of corrosion-resistant roller chains at this year's Hannover Fair. The corrosion resistant chains have, the company says, an exceptional fatigue and a high breaking strength. The CR chains from Iwis have an outstanding resistance to chemicals and a higher corrosion resistance than plated or coated chains. In combination with a lubrication tailored to the particular application, CR chains are an excellent choice if durability is an issue.

11th June 2007

Orbital welding sets increase productivity and save cost

ESAB is launching three new products to increase productivity and reduce costs in orbital welding. First, the Aristo MechTig C2002i is a compact, robust, user-friendly power source that features an integral water cooler and high-specification controller with graphical interface, program library and auto-generation of welding programs. Second, the Aristo MechControl 2 control unit has the same control features as the Aristo MechTig C2002i but without the power source and cooler. Third, the Aristo MechControl 4 is similar to the Aristo MechControl 2, with additional arc voltage control (AVC) and weaving control.

16th May 2007

Automation reduces levels of giveaway in pre-packed foods

Reducing the amount of packaging used for products like vegetables is, in this environmentally conscious era, a priority for supermarket buyers and customers alike. But significant challenges often need to be addressed in order to achieve these reductions, as TA Smith, otherwise known as Tasco, recently discovered.

11th May 2007

Products