News Industry Comment An end of line test breakthrough
While it’s important to remain positive, the fact of the matter is that it’s still tough times for many British businesses. Indeed, according to the Office for National Statistics, manufacturing output fell by three percent in the year to March 2013. However, it is also a fact that where there is difficulty, there is also opportunity, and hard times can prove a good catalyst for innovation. Nowhere is this better highlighted than at this year’s Total Processing & Packaging exhibition taking place at the NEC, Birmingham, on 4th-6th June, which will see over 300 exhibitors on hand to demonstrate just how processing and packaging professionals can improve efficiency, accuracy and consistency while focusing on innovation. A full show preview is included in this issue on pages 36, 39 and 41. In addition, we also have packaging as our industry focus this month, featuring several intuitive case studies from across the sector plus a look at how packaging machine builders can enure compliance with safety regulations. Other features in our May issue include manufacturing software, energy management and robotics & motion control which, along with the latest products and case studies, looks at increasing the take-up of robotics within British industry in order to help keep the country competitive on a global stage. Joe Bush - Editor
GB INNOMECH HAS designed and delivered a new end of line testing system for Molecular Products. The new machine car- ries out final leak and flow tests on filled single use carbon diox- ide absorption canisters. Essex-based Molecular Products produces and fills the plastic canisters with medical grade soda lime for use in anaes- thetic and ventilation machines, as well as re-breathing apparatus for the emergency services. Each filled canister then needs to be pressure and flow tested to con- firm the integrity of the unit and to ensure there are no blockages in the inlet/outlet tubes or through the device.
One of the challenges with the previous test system was that can- isters tended to jam when coupled to the machine for testing, leading to delays and reduced throughput. Innomech has overcome this by using a clamping mechanism with a ‘spongy donut’ material that requires near zero product inser- tion and removal force by the oper- ator. Easy to change dust traps
have also been incorporated to pre- vent particulate matter from con- taminating the machine and interfering with the hermetic seal that is essential during the test. Innomech and Molecular Products have also developed and designed in a new, more accurate leak test, using a ‘direct differen- tial’ methodology that gives an absolute leak measurement in ml per minute. This approach is not only much more sensitive than its predecessor for identifying manu- facturing problems but also enables Molecular Products to
Ready for take-off in Oman
SHERBORNE SENSORS HAS been selected by global defence, aero- space and security company BAE Systems to supply two custom variants of its A263 series Servo Accelerometers. The contract fol- lows the decision by the Sultanate of Oman to purchase 12 Typhoon and eight Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft.
The Hawk is currently being used to train pilots for 21 of the world’s air forces. Sherborne Sensors’ flight qualified accelerometers have been ordered under a sole source of supply con-
Inspired by nature
tract by BAE Systems, and will be used within the Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) of the Hawks. BAE Systems is to commence deliveries to the Sultanate of Oman in 2017. “The purpose of HUMS is to increase safety and reliability while reducing operating costs by providing critical component diagnosis and prognosis,” said Mike Baker, managing director, Sherborne Sensors. “Our accelerometers are renowned for their precision, repeatability, and survivability and are employed
EACH YEAR, FESTO’SBionic Learning Network provides new inspiration for automation tech- nology. This year, with its new ‘BionicOpter’, Festo are showing how principles from nature can be applied in automation.
Following the deciphering of bird flight with the SmartBird in 2010, Festo’s develop- ers took on their next biggest challenge in the Bionic Learning Network - modelling the dragonfly at a technical level. The BionicOpter is an ultralight flying object. Just like its model in nature, the BionicOpter can fly in all directions and execute the most complicated flight manoeuvres.
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across a wide range of military air- craft platforms. As a trusted sup- plier of flight qualified sensors to BAE systems for more than ten years, we are delighted to con- tinue supporting British industry in a very high technology sector.”
www.sherbornesensors.com
“This is essential for our long term reputa- tion as a competent partner with a high level of problem solving skills,” emphasised Dr Heinrich Frontzek, head of Corporate Communication and Future Concepts. “What we need to do is simplify the challenges involved in production sequences and guaran- tee intuitive control of machines and plants. The current projects from Festo’s Bionic Learning Network provide visionary approaches on how to do this.” To view the full story visit
www.connectingindustry.com/bionicopter.
www.festo.co.uk/bionicopter
MAY 2013 Automation
offer its customers even greater product quality assurance. Martin Sexton, engineering man- ager at Molecular Products, com- mented, “Innomech was briefed to double our test throughput with a new machine while eliminating some significant operational prob- lems with our previous system. However, what they have delivered is a system to take our production capacity to an even higher level and with added features making it more suited for a demanding 24/7 manufacturing environment.”
www.innomech.co.uk
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