RESEARCH CENTRE HELPS IMPROVE MANUFACTURING
A specialist research centre has been set up as a collaborative partnership between Teesside University, the Institute for Manufacturing at Cambridge University and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI). The Centre for Resource Efficient
Manufacturing Systems (REMS) will research manufacturing processes and supply chains to help companies improve production processes by reducing emissions, saving time, reducing cost and minimising the resources they use.
The centre’s approach combines
the business-facing expertise of Teesside University, research skills of the Institute for Manufacturing and the manufacturing innovation abilities of CPI. Several UK-based companies have expressed an interest in working with the centre to understand their supply chains and investigate ways in which they can improve their manufacturing system to increase efficiency and reduce resource consumption. “There is a finite amount of raw
materials in the world and in the future some of the most important could start to run out,” comments director Dr Graham Hillier. “The challenge is to use the resources we have as efficiently as possible. The Centre will work with companies to help them understand how to make better products with lower environmental impact while still making enough money to succeed economically.
www.uk-cpi.com
Want to keep up to date? Then follow us on Twitter: @CI_FactoryEquipment and/or ‘Like’ us on Facebook!
TÜV SÜD SAFETY CERTIFICATION SERVICE
TÜV SÜD Product Service has launched a UK-based Safety Integrity Level (SIL) certification service so that manufacturers of safety-related controls can assure purchasers that their product functions according to the required performance levels. The initial phase includes a gap
analysis process to ascertain if the safety component will achieve the required SIL or performance level or if other measures must be taken before certification. This will minimise the process phase, saving costs for safety-related control
manufacturers and reducing time to market for newly designed products. “If a safety related control
function does not have the required integrity it may fail unexpectedly and the machine will lose function or worse, injure an operator,” says business director for machinery safety Paul Laidler. “Any claim of functional safety for a component, subsystem or system should be independently certified to one of the recognised functional safety standards. Our certification service will help manufacturers to assure customers that their safety control
system will reduce the risk to the required level once installed.” International standard IEC 61508
(Functional Safety of Electrical/ Electronic/Programmable Electronic Safety-related Systems) is the basic standard applicable to all industries. A SIL is determined primarily from the assessment of three factors with the highest levels requiring greater compliance with each: 1) improved reliability 2) failure to safety 3) management, systematic techniques, verification and validation.
www.tuv-sud.co.uk THORITE REBRANDS ITSELF AS “DIFFERENT”
something we've been doing for many years but now have the means to promote it more effectively." Sales director Alan Donkersley is at
Thorite's senior management has decided to highlight the company's skills, service and over £3 million of stock levels by developing a rebranding exercise designed to spell out each of the differences the company has worked so hard to perfect. Working closely with Rising Stars, part of Bradford Council's Business and Enterprise Programme and a specialist marketing agency Thorite has unveiled a new logo and corporate identity which is being applied to the company's promotional profile with two significant words: "we're different".
6 "A great deal of positive thinking
lies behind our fresh identity,” says managing director Stephen Wright. “Everyone who works at Thorite is proud of the expertise which singles us out in our specific fields but it took an outside specialist to research our market, interview our customers and pinpoint exactly what sets us apart. Our difference extends throughout our innovation and quality, independent advice, efficiency planning, system design and build, supply, installation and commissioning and engineering support, service and repair. It's
pains to stress that while the image change is important, what really makes Thorite different is based on in-depth industry knowledge and hand-picked personnel: "Our rebranding is all about refocusing the business on key markets and customers by ensuring we're equipped to meet the needs of modern manufacturing and processing industries both today and in the future. Our graduate-trained engineers can provide innovative pneumatic products selected to help customers work faster, reduce downtime and cut costs. We're incorporating the latest communication and control into our systems solutions to help customers improve their productivity."
www.pwc.com/uk / FACTORYEQUIPMENT FACTORY EQUIPMENT | APRIL 2014
Mechanical power transmission products such as bearings, couplings and speed reducers are now included within ABB’s 2014 short-form catalogue alongside variable-speed drives, electric motors, motion control, HMIs and PLCs. The catalogue brings together the latest technology and innovations into a concise, easy to use guide to help customers find the right products for their applications. A Product Quick Finder provides speedy navigation by offering a brief description as to where it can be used.
www.abb.co.uk
Industrial marking and traceability specialist Pryor Marking Technology has scooped the Innovation category at the prestigious Made in Sheffield Awards during a presentation ceremony attended by more than 300 representatives from the city region's top manufacturers. The company which manufactures a wide range of permanent marking systems along with data-matrix readers, verifiers and traceability solution was shortlisted for the SME category at the awards.
www.pryormarking.com
Strapping specialist Mosca Direct has appointed its first apprentice as part of a scheme to train the next generation of engineers and technicians and support the continuing growth of its business. Alex Woltman has joined the company on a 12-month training programme within Mosca Direct’s service department that will see him gain experience in all areas of the operation. Alex will attend regular study release and is enrolled with NCN who will look after the academic elements of the scheme to enable him to gain NVQ qualifications.
www.en-uk.mosca.com
From left: Mangesh Gharfalkar, Dr Graham Hillier, Dr Richard Court and Callum Campbell
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36