It is April 1, 1961, when an international success story begins in a small weaving mill in central Hesse - the standardization of enclosures. Rudolf Loh founds the Rittal company and changes the industry with one idea. What was initially smiled at is now a phenomenon: The standard enclosure is used in millions of product solutions in over 90 percent of all industries worldwide. Rittal is the innovation and world market leader for enclosure technology and IT infrastructure. 10,000 employees worldwide work on new innovations, industry solutions and business models. A small steel manufacturing company has become a global digital enterprise. What hasn't changed: Rittal is a family business - responsibility, solidarity and social commitment have always been a top priority.

Herborn, 1 April 2021 – Rittershausen in Dietzhölztal - no one knew in 1961 that a small township in central Hesse would one day give its name to a global company. Rudolf Loh bought an old weaving mill and founded Rittal. The idea: standard enclosures in standard production, immediately available from stock, faster and better than the individually manufactured enclosures for control components of machines at that time. Long delivery times and quality defects were now a thing of the past. The boom of the post-war years had changed industrial manufacturing. Machines were interconnected and produced products in large series in the wake of growing consumption. So, Rudolf Loh's idea came just at the right time.

Wood, the global consulting and engineering company, has entered into a new, three-year engineering framework agreement with Norway-based NEL Hydrogen, aligning with the company’s ambition to unlock sustainable solutions to global energy challenges.

Through the provision of its project execution expertise, Wood will work with NEL Hydrogen to support the delivery of large-scale green hydrogen production plants and play a leading role in the transition towards an integrated, lower carbon future.

Lewis Taylor says water jetting has taken him a long way: 4,461 miles to be exact. But more of that later.

He started working for an industrial cleaning company in 2010 at the age of 18. Now aged 29, he still loves the job he is doing and is looking forward to more success.

“Water jetting has been very good for me and opened a lot of doors,” Lewis explains. “It has allowed me to buy my own house, to build a home with my partner, start a family and start to build an interesting career.”

Enterprise Asset Management software company Ultimo and Internet of Things (IoT) system integrator Axians have announced a technology partnership that will meet the increased data needs of their customers and the needs of the next generation coming into asset management.

Stand-alone enclosures offer greater simplicity

Baying enclosures are frequently employed for free-standing use cases – but are not always the best approach. The advantages of stand-alone products such as the Rittal VX SE have often been overlooked. This represents a best-of-both-worlds solution midway between Rittal AX compact enclosures and the VX25 baying portfolio. VX SE offers even quicker time-to-delivery and faster, simpler assembly, greater safety, and compatibility with other Rittal systems. The VX SE range also includes a 300 mm deep version that is suitable for cramped environments for building services, e.g., when deployed as a distribution box.

Human-induced vibrations — the vibrations caused by human footfall — can spark images of unstable structures swaying and in some cases collapsing. But, in reality, the vibrations caused by human footfall are unlikely to result in anything as dramatic.  They are, however, likely to cause discomfort for structure users.  Any good engineer will want the people using the structures they have helped to build to be safe and comfortable. In essence, human-induced vibrations is an important topic of consideration in the design process.

Automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler and drive manufacturer Flender have joined forces to create a new, innovative and eco-friendly reusable packaging system.

The so-called “SMART Box” (Schaeffler Modular Adaptable Returnable Transport Box) replaces previous disposable transport boxes and is currently already used at several locations of the Industrial division for bearings with an outer diameter of 350 to 750 mm. Together, the two companies are making a significant contribution towards conserving resources and avoiding waste.

Investment in the latest appliance testing technology is helping a specialist electrical contracting business to introduce dedicated company-wide testing protocols and standards as part of a nationwide expansion programme.

Formerly known as South West PAT Test Ltd, the electrical contracting company started in 2006 by Managing Director Peter McCallum has recently rebranded as The Electrical Compliance Collective Ltd (TECC) to reflect its success in growing its operations across the South West, South East, East Anglia and the Midlands.

Industrial process heating equipment and solutions specialist Babcock Wanson has launched the SteamPack range of Fire Tube Steam Boilers, for steam outputs from 3500 kg/h to 8000 kg/h.

SteamPack boilers feature unique Babcock Wanson technology in the form of three-pass design and a water tube flue gas reversal chamber for operational flexibility, very high long-term efficiency and reliability and low operating costs.  The chamber is welded outside the pressure part body, and does not require any furnace tie rods or reinforcement, giving exceptional flexibility to the shell and furnace expansion allowing large steam load changes with minimal operational stress. This confers to the boiler an increased resistance to cold starts and a great structural strength for very long life. Being continuously cooled by water circulation, the flue gas reversing chamber does not require any refractories.

The youngest ever member of the Water Jetting Association is championing the promotion of his industry to talented young engineers and technicians.

Ross McDonald, aged 28, became a member of the Ruling Council of the Water Jetting Association (WJA) in 2018. He has also been a member of its Technical Committee since 2016.

The WJA, the member organisation for the water jetting industry, has just marked the 40^th anniversary of its foundation in October 1980.

Ross McDonald, Operations Director at water jetting contractor Hydroblast, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, now wants to showcase the industry to bright and talented young engineers and technicians.