Altus, a leading supplier of capital equipment in the UK and Ireland, will be supporting their supplier, Heller Industries, the market leader in reflow oven technology as they introduce an innovative new Vacuum Reflow Oven at SMTconnect, Nuremberg from 10-12 May 2022.

As electronic products continue to become smaller, more advanced and complex in construction, it is important to have soldering processes which can be adapted to achieve solder joints with fewer voids to increase reliability. Heller Industries’ new Nitrogen Vacuum Reflow Oven 1911MK5-VR is helping manufacturers to achieve the best results thanks to its ground-breaking design.

With 11 zones, a vacuum chamber, closed loop nitrogen atmosphere control and the company’s award winning COOL-PIPE flux management system, which traps the flux so it can be easily removed and replaced while the oven is running, it has all the elements to ensure fast throughput and process flexibility.

Mike Todd, Operations Manager Assembly, Soldering & Cleaning Products said: “Heller Industries will be introducing visitors at SMTconnect to their newest reflow oven, which is a real game-changer. Heller vacuum reflow ovens provide best-in-class performance for removing voids in solder joints and interfaces. The 1911MK5-VR not only achieves ambitious performance metrics to assist manufacturers in streamlining SMT assembly, but it targets voiding ratios of less than 2% and cycle times of 40 seconds for single lane implementation and 20 seconds for dual-lane systems, impressive figures that will positively impact those that use it.

Hart Door Systems has redesigned its logo and launched a refreshed website to improve the visibility of the company online.

“Both the identity and the website are important elements of the company’s marketing mix and refreshing the website and the overall identity go hand in hand. This is the first major overhaul of these elements for over seven years,” says Nick Hart, Hart’s managing director

“Within the web we have focused on four core sections – high speed doors, fire and security shutters as well as general industrial products, underlining our engineered for endurance mantra as well as emphasizing our World class technology and global delivery.

“Further the website is very visitor friendly with access to datasheets and other downloads so that we engage with our customers and potential customers.”

Hart has also taken the opportunity to modernize its logo as part of the process.  “It is clean and says everything about us – we are Hart after all and our business is designing and manufacturing door systems,” adds Mr Hart.

www.hartdoors.com    t: 0191 214 0404

The Water Jetting Association, the UK member organisation for water jetting, has introduced an annual audit system to help set uniformly high standards across the industry.

The measure is designed to ensure all members fully understand and meet the criteria for joining the WJA and continue to meet those standards as their membership is renewed each year.

It also promises to give members a commercial edge as they will be able to promote their audited status with a special WJA logo.

Jeff Haigh, a member of the WJA Ruling Council, is leading the audit initiative. He said: “Members have responded very positively to our new audit system.

“It is allowing us to be more certain that organisations seeking to join the WJA meet our criteria and that members continue to meet these standards as their activities develop.

“We’re also able to give companies who want to join the WJA better support and advice, as well as identifying where we can improve ongoing advice for members and raise standards still further.

Kenter, a Dutch energy metering and management company, detects partial discharge using Fluke’s ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager to prevent the degradation of medium voltage applications which can impact SMEs and large multinational organisations

 Kenter, a leading Dutch energy metering and management company with more than 30,000 customers, has transformed maintenance inspections through the fast and safe detection of partial discharge. Left undetected partial discharge can cause degradation of medium voltage installations which pose significant safety, efficiency and financial risks that are critical considerations in maintenance inspections.

Kenter is part of Alliander, the largest energy network operator in the Netherlands, and works to install, rent and maintain safe and reliable energy supplies to a wide range of businesses from small family-run bakeries through to electric vehicle manufacturers and large multinational chemical companies. Kenter offers innovative energy supply and measurement solutions to aid companies wanting to optimise their energy consumption. The company’s team of 300 maintenance specialists have greatly improved the speed and accuracy of scheduled maintenance inspections using an innovative handheld tool, the ii910 Precision Acoustic Imager from Fluke.

Managing maintenance schedules

Kenter provides 24/7 maintenance on the equipment required to deliver a safe and reliable power supply to customers nationwide. This service includes scheduled maintenance cycles which typically occur every three, five, six or 10 years. During scheduled maintenance, Kenter looks to coordinate a series of works to minimise disruptions to operations, including checking for partial discharge.

Partial discharge is typically caused by a minor defect which can result in thousands of smaller repetitive electrical discharges. The phenomenon often occurs around insulation on pieces of equipment, such as high-voltage lines, transformers, turbines, busbars and the inside of cabinets, and can impact energy supply due to mechanical, heat, and chemical damage to insulators and conductors.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions is supporting manufacturers with iCast™ LSR, a new fast and flexible digital manufacturing process for product development and small batch production of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) parts.

Trelleborg’s unique iCast^TM LSR process offers a cost-effective way for manufacturers to develop product variations or try out different design concepts before investing in serial production tools. In addition, the process enables the start of pre-series and series production with small batches, to close the gap between low and high-volume production.

Felix Schädler, Project Manager Innovation & Technology at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, says: “iCast™ LSR is an adaptable five-step modular process that utilizes digitization and new manufacturing techniques. It can dramatically cut concept to production time for prototypes from several weeks to a few days for the average part. This helps manufacturers meet the pressures of rapidly moving markets that are demanding faster new product introductions, improvements, and advancements.”

The Trelleborg iCast^TM LSR process starts with the submission of 3D part data and order details. A feasibility study based on artificial intelligence (AI) is triggered to confirm if the iCast^TM LSR process is suitable for production of the part. Upon completion of the feasibility study, the part design is analyzed, and the individual digital mold layout is created based on 3D data. If necessary, this undergoes mold flow simulation. In a virtual environment, this process identifies the optimum production process for the use of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies in order to achieve the best possible quality.

With iCast^TM LSR technology, quick and multiple design iterations of components in standard industrial grade two-component platinum-cured LSR can be made. These demonstrate the properties and quality levels of high-volume injection molded parts. Currently suitable for production of one to 2,500 parts, Trelleborg’s iCast™ manufacturing process can be utilized to produce a wide range of 2-D and 3-D LSR components including O-Rings, profile seals, diaphragms and custom-molded parts.

To view a technical webinar on iCast™ LSR digital manufacturing, go to: https://www.trelleborg.com/en/seals/resources/technical-library/webinars/webinar-icast

To find out more on iCast™ LSR digital manufacturing, go to: https://www.trelleborg.com/en/seals/products-and-solutions/latest-innovations/icast-lsr

How a new generation of condition monitoring technology is bringing new insights into machine behaviour

Condition Monitoring has long been understood to bring large benefits to plant operations, reliability and maintenance, and the most commonly used technique is Vibration Monitoring.  We can think about vibration monitoring as having developed in three separate phases – each one of which has led to new insights and understanding of machine behaviour.

The first generation – proximity probes for use in journal bearings prompted understanding of shaft bending resonant responses (eg 1x shaft speed)

Proximity probes such as those developed by Bently Nevada  in the 1960s measure the radial movement of the shaft relative to the machine casing and bearing journals.  These systems were mainly used to identify problems with large, supercritical machines like steam turbines and generators, where deflections of the entire shaft can be significant – effectively the shaft can be regarded as flexible.  Observations of the movement of the shaft position relative to the machine bearing housings led to the development of Rotor Dynamics as a separately identifiable mathematical discipline.  A key area of this work focussed on the different lateral bending modes of shafts, each with their own distinct resonant frequency.  This also led to new insights into understanding of elastohydrodynamic lubrication.

The second generation – seismic sensors prompt deeper understanding of rolling element bearing failures (eg n x shaft speed)

Whereas proximity probes measure relative movement between different parts of the machine, seismic sensors (most frequently piezo-accelerometers) detect movement of the entire machine in space.  These proved to be much more useful for monitoring progressive deterioration of Rolling Element bearings.  It was discovered that sensors with a high natural resonant frequency (around 20kHz+) were able to detect signals associated with the very early stages of deterioration in rolling element bearings.  This led to a deeper understanding of the deterioration process, which became classified into four distinct phases, as shown in figure 1 below. 

Figure 1- categorisation of rolling element bearing stages of deterioration.

The third generation – MBVI systems, sensing changes in torsional behaviour using the electric drive motor as a sensor, lead to new understanding of sub-harmonic behaviour (eg 1/n x shaft speed)

Model-Based Voltage and Current (MBVI) systems effectively use the motor as a sensor.  Whereas proximity probes and accelerometers detect signals in a radial or axial direction, the variation in motor current associated with variations in load create a signal related to torsional vibration.  The same phenomena that are detected by conventional Vibration Analysis systems are also detected by MBVI systems, but with different sensitivities.  Certain phenomena such as rubbing friction, flow turbulence and belt drive behaviour, show up much more clearly in the torsional domain, which results in new insights into machine behaviour.

Figure 2 - Comparison between the signals created in radial vs torsional directions for various commonly occurring machine phenomena

Advantages of MBVI systems include the ability to monitor inaccessible assets – because sensing is done in the switchgear (see figure 3) which is always accessible even when the machine itself isn’t; sensitivity to things conventional VA doesn’t see so clearly (torsional signals – including corrosion, belt drives, and rubbing); plus of course seeing electrical phenomena and energy consumption not visible to conventional Vibration Monitoring.

Figure 3 - Faraday Predictive S200 MBVI unit mounted inside motor starter cabinet

So What?

While there is no one Condition Monitoring technology that is perfect for every situation, MBVI systems offer a very wide range of coverage (Mechanical and Electrical and operational) across the entire machine (motor + transmission + driven equipment) all from one device, and have advantages when trying to monitor inaccessible machines. They also have advantages when monitoring Inverter driven machines.

For more information, contact Geoff Walker at Faraday Predictive – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 0333 772 0748.

Five easy tips to help your business go greener

April 2022:  Earth Day commences on the 22^nd of April. Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. It celebrates the importance of recycling in preserving our natural resources and securing the future of our planet.

Commercial waste from businesses has been a withstanding issue, with GOV statistics estimating that the UK generated 43.9 million tonnes of commercial and industrial (C&I) waste in 2018, of which 37.2 million tonnes (85%) were developed in England.

However, many businesses do want to go greener. A recent report found that over 60% of UK business owners would cut ties with suppliers that broke their environmental commitments. In addition, SME owners across the country are calling for more government funding to help businesses go green this year (87 percent), as over a third state their customers care about that their business is doing for the environment along with their own employees (24 percent).

In light of Earth Day, card payment specialists takepayments Limited have compiled a list of practical but straightforward tips to help businesses and SMEs go greener effectively. 

Five eco tips for businesses this Earth Day

1. Invest in recycled paper.

It's all well and good to recycle your office paper and have separate waste bins for recyclable and non-recyclable stuff, but if. Still, if you opt to buy non-recycled paper, it's counterproductive. Paper production necessitates an enormous quantity of energy. 

Use recycled paper for offices to guarantee your company is environmentally conscious. Recycled paper uses 28 percent less energy, and you'll be helping the UK economy as well (as the recycled paper is often made in the UK).

2. Shut down tech properly overnight.

Monitors and lights are easy things left on after everyone has clocked out. Making your employees shut off laptops and other equipment at the end of the day is a good way of lowering your carbon footprint. Although this may not significantly lower energy use, it will if you have a bigger office space.

3. Select green suppliers

Using a green energy supplier is a reasonably simple and environmentally friendly move your company can make. Many energy providers generate electricity from sustainable, renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydro. Some offer a combination of energy sources, while others guarantee 100% renewable energy.

4. Collaborate with other eco-conscious businesses

Do your research and, if possible, collaborate with other like-minded, environmentally concerned businesses. Numerous green partners range from sustainable raw materials suppliers to carbon-balanced office printers and even eco-friendly web hosting.

For smaller businesses, collaborating with other local eco-businesses in things such as giveaways on social media or using their services is a great way to communicate your efforts with your customers and help boost the local economy.

5. Invest in sustainable packaging

Encouraging recycling and reusing is critical in any industry. You could sell branded reusable items like shopping bags and coffee mugs in retail. If you own an office, make sure you have the appropriate recycling bins and encourage your employees to use the best green practices, as we do at Solve.

Even the most minor things don’t cost anything, like encouraging staff to bring their lunches in reusable containers. You could even give them branded eco lunch boxes –good marketing for your company and the environment!

Sandra Rowley at Takepayments Limited , said,    

“Days like Earth Day are a reminder for all of us to keep incorporating minor changes in our business practices. People more than ever are looking to buy from businesses that incorporate the most ethical and eco-friendly friendly practices. Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious every year, and companies need to adapt to that demand if they want to thrive long term.

Whether your organisation has the budget to invest in more long-term strategies or whether you’re an SME who wants to make small changes while getting the business off the ground, making a conscious yet committed effort towards sustainability will be rewarding not only for your business but also yourself.”

Earth Day celebrations, Scottish Government Minister Lorna Slater has urged more women to join the construction industry and use their skills to build a greener future to help protect the planet.

In a wide-ranging video interview with electrical trade association SELECT, Ms Slater said women have a vital role to play in the engineering sector and should be proactively recruited into renewables and emergent technologies.

And the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity said that any women considering a career in construction or engineering should “dive in and go for it” to help build a net zero society.

Ms Slater, who gained a degree in electro-mechanical engineering in her native Canada before moving to Scotland, said: “When I was considering engineering as a career, the main pathways into it were maths and physics, both subjects in which girls are historically under-represented, so we have to make these subjects more accessible to young women.

“By the time I started working, it was really normal for me to be the only woman in the room, and I guess I got used to that – but we shouldn’t. We shouldn’t allow that to be normal.

“We need to proactively tell girls what great careers they can have in the emergent industries. So we have to go out, encourage them, find out what the barriers are and then try to knock them down to get women in and encourage them to stay.”

Speaking to Fiona Harper, Director of Employment and Skills at SELECT, Ms Slater went on: “There are few role models and, where women are doing these jobs, it is important that we share that information as widely as possible.

“Figures show that the construction industry is 97% male and if you are part of the 3% it can feel lonely and unprotected. We need to achieve critical mass, because my experience is that, until you have about 30% of women, it still feels unsafe. With more women, the whole dynamic changes.”

Ms Slater, who joined the Scottish Government in her capacity as co-leader of the Scottish Green Party following the Bute house agreement, said other countries, such as China and India, were doing better in terms of gender balance in male-dominated occupations, and questioned if there was a cultural reluctance to change in the UK.

She said: “There are very good careers available, with lots of opportunities for collaboration – bouncing ideas around a team and coming up with a solution to a problem, perhaps a solution no one else had ever thought of before.

“We don’t talk enough about the creative aspect of being involved in professions such as engineering and perhaps if we did, it would make the industry more attractive to a much wider range of talent.”

Asked for her final message, Ms Slater, who worked in a variety of engineering sectors, including renewables, before entering politics, said there were important roles for women across construction and that if they were considering a career they should “go for it”.

She said: “Don’t hesitate, dive in, take that big step. You can help build the world you want to see – and your country needs you.

“I really hope that more women who wouldn’t otherwise think about engineering or construction give it a thought because these are good jobs and you get to be part of a team where you collaborate, work together and problem solve.”

Ms Harper, who is also The Secretary of the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB), said: “We are grateful to the Minister for taking the time to take part in our video interview and address this important issue.

“Women have a vital role to play in the modern construction sector and it is vital that we seek out female talent to help us develop the technology of tomorrow.”

Marked every year on April 22, Earth Day is a celebration which demonstrates support for environmental protection and includes a wide range of global events.

Sulzer and Nordic Water deliver complete solutions for the water cycle

Sulzer and Nordic Water will be presenting their combined offering for the water sector in Hall B1, Stand 321/420 and Hall A2, Stand 115/214 respectively at IFAT 2022. Visitors will be able to talk to a range of experts and learn how the solutions of both brands come together to offer opportunities for greater energy savings as well as achieving improved sustainability.

Attendees will be invited to explore solutions to support the whole process of collecting and treating wastewater on Sulzer's stand through a combination of live presentations and exhibits as well as a virtual reality experience. Starting with pumps and controls for pumping stations, the journey pauses with a live grinder display and continues through flood protection, static and submersible mixers, screens and turbo-blowers before finishing with sand filtration systems.   Across the complete product range, visitors will be able to see the defining qualities of Sulzer and how the company provides operators with better quality, energy efficiency and reliability. Both stands will offer opportunities to gain a hands-on experience with some products and a virtual tour of others using VR headsets.   On Sulzer's stand, there will be an opportunity to review the extended VUPX and XFP pump ranges as well as discuss the Monster Stack™ grinder, which offers a customized cutter stack that can be designed to match individual applications. In addition, there will be videos explaining the significant energy savings that can be made by switching to the HST turboblower as well as asset control systems that ensure pumps always operate at their most efficient point.   On the Nordic Water stand, visitors will be able to see a 3D-printed model of a treatment plant showcasing various pieces of the company's equipment as well as full size examples of filtration systems, bridgeless scrapers and pumps from Sulzer. There will be experienced staff on-hand to discuss the environmental and economic benefits of the latest in primary filtration and tertiary treatment including micropollutants, phosphate or innovative solutions for drinking water.   Visit Sulzer and Nordic Water at IFAT 2022, May 30 – June 3, on stands 321/420 and 115/214 respectively

www.nordicwater.com

www.sulzer.com