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News Industry Comment


It struck me recently how much of the new technology we see


coming into the industrial


sector actually started life in consumer products. Compared to just a few years ago when industrial devices had to be rugged and therefore lacking some of the features and finesse of their consumer equivalents, we are seeing a definite convergence of technology. I've been to a few product launches recently where the main focus has been on remote monitoring and control of industrial machinery mainly with the use of handheld touch screen devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Fitted in a ruggedised case, these are performing a multitude of tasks and removing the need for specially designed products. Another technology originally designed to power consumer electronics, power tools and medical devices is the lithium battery. These can be found in most mobile phones and laptop computers, but the latest application is to power pallet trucks. German materials handling manufacturer Jungheinrich first unveiled the technology earlier this year, but it is now in operation and proving to live up to its promise of lighter batteries that last longer and charge faster. It’s an interesting concept and one that Jungheinrich expects to develop and become the standard motive power provider for larger materials handling products in the future. There is currently a price penalty, but weigh this up against the features and benefits and lithium starts to make a lot of sense. Jungheinrich is understandably very excited about this development and we’ll be looking at it in more detail in the next issue.


Neil Mead - Managing Editor Welding centre is first step to satisfy skills shortage


The UK needs at least another 38,000 trained welders to satisfy demand according to Adrian Hawkins, MD of Weldability Sif and national chair- man of the Association of Welding Distribution. Hawkins was addressing delegates attending the launch of a welding skills training initiative at the North Hertfordshire College in Stevenage. Around 200 students will benefit from the skills centre directly and many others are expected to be attracted to it in the future. The Stevenage centre is a pilot for a series of 40 similar operations in col- leges around the UK. Hawkins said: “With the coming energy boom expected to make the UK self sufficient in energy from 2020, this project alone will require some 20,000 trained welders. When this is combined with a recent decline in the availability of existing welders, we will need at least another 38,000 trained welders to satisfy UK demand. John Hayes MP, Minister (pictured above) who opened the skills centre said: “On 15th June, I set


out my vision for further education. A future that is characterised by innovation, vocational excellence and a renewed sense of enthusiasm for skills. This partnership between Weldability-Sif, The Welding Institute, Cambridge and Stevenage Skills Centre to deliver training to meet demand and to overcome the current skills gaps in the UK welding industry is a great example of making this vision a reality. “It is so inspiring to hear from those who have benefitted from this training programme, he said adding “investment in all kinds of competencies is necessary to build an economy that works.” www.weldability-sif.com


Have your say on energy legislation


Businesses are concerned current UK energy regulations will not raise the investment needed to ensure the country’s low carbon future, and are calling on the gov- ernment to simplify or scrap some existing legislation to ensure targets can be met. These are the findings of a con- sultation by npower among busi- ness energy users, which found that one in three do not believe legislation such as the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme (CRC), Climate Change Levy (CCL) and Climate Change Agreements (CCAs), the Renewables Obligation and Feed In Tariffs will help ensure the £200bn investment needed for the UK’s energy infrastructure is achieved. The results of npower’s consul- tation, which is still ongoing, will be fed back to government as part of its Red Tape Challenge initiative. The government con- sultation on the energy sector for- mally opens on 25th November. npower asked businesses


which energy legislation they would keep, see simplified or scrapped completely.


The CRC received most atten- tion, with over two thirds of busi- nesses wanting to see the scheme simplified and more than half believing it should be scrapped. Over a third would like to see it merged with existing regulation. Wayne Mitchell, interim industrial and commercial mar- kets director at npower, said: “We urge the business commu- nity to make sure their voices are heard. This is a unique opportu- nity on an unprecedented scale to have a say on energy legisla- tion – and our own consultation reveals a mixed bag of views. “However, one thing is clear – businesses want simplification not only to help them manage their own obligations, but to also help the UK meet its carbon reduction targets and help raise the investment needed for low carbon generation. There is still time to have your say at www.npower.com/redtape.”


Microsite to cut energy wastage


Rotary vane compressor manu- facturer Mattei has launched a new leakage management microsite designed to help com- pressed air users to reduce energy wastage. The site www.leakagemanage ment.co.uk and gives details of the company’s services, which include undertaking leak detec- tion surveys and audits and insti- gating repair management programmes, thereby enabling customers to make savings. It is estimated that the average compressed air system loses 30 per cent of the air it produces through leaks in the system. www.mattei.co.uk.


Events


MAINTEC 2012 28 February - 3 March, NEC, Birmingham www.easyfairs.com


Drives & Controls 17-19 April, NEC, Birmingham www.drives-expo.com


4


New safety service offers manufacturers peace of mind TÜV SÜD Product Service, a prod-


uct safety testing specialist, has launched its ATEX Safety Service to reassure manufacturers with processing facilities in a poten- tially explosive atmospheres that they comply with the European ATEX Workplace Directive. Jean-Louis Evans, MD of TÜV SÜD Product Service, said:


“Explosive atmospheres include apparently benign industries such as waste recycling and food processing, not just more obvious ones such as oil & gas or chemi- cals. The legal repercussions are significant if they get this wrong and a service such as ours pro- vides a simple route to ensure that they get it right.”


The service will support man- ufacturers interpret and comply with regulations to reduce risk to their workers. Comprehensive site safety reviews include the identification of possible ignition sources, equipment inspection, as well as practical control and mitigation techniques. www.tuvps.co.uk


NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011 Factory Equipment


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