FEATURE MACHINE BUILDING, FRAMEWORKS & SAFETY Taking the standard route ta In a world where manufacturers are facing


digitisation, automation and new technologies, standard components can be used to help


simplify these challenges and act as the backbone of good, solid, engineering. Marcus Schneck, CEO of norelem, explains how


M


anufacturers across industry are facing new challenges as a result


of digitisation, automation and new machinery. The automotive industry in particular is shifting towards a more consumer and sustainability- focused market, which is providing manufacturers with the opportunity to diversify and innovate. But rather than adding to this


complexity by developing new and unproven methods, materials, machinery and bespoke components, automotive engineers can instead specify tried- and-tested standard components. Take the electric vehicle market as an


example. According to BloombergNEF (BNEF), electric cars will make up 57% of passenger car sales worldwide by 2040. However, in 2018 when the global EV market reached five million, there were only 632,000 public charging outlets supporting this. One potential solution to this problem is the solar-powered car. The shift towards solar-power isn’t too


far away, especially when you consider student engineering competitions such as the biennial World Solar Challenge. Created to find ways of harnessing the power of solar energy, the 2019 edition of the event saw 53 teams race 3,000km from Darwin to Adelaide. In addition to testing the engineering talent of young engineers, this can help to build commercial awareness. Standard components could help young engineers realise how costs can be kept down, and how to engineer solutions that meet real-world scenarios. Supported by norelem, three


university teams demonstrated how they used standard components in their vehicles. RWTH and FH Aachen came sixth place; Jönköping University took tenth place in the Challenger Class race; and HS Bochum came in fourth in the Cruiser Class race. Alongside this, RWTH and


12 APRIL 2020 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS


FH Aachen’s team took home the Event Safety Award and David Fewchuck Spirit of the Event Award. Using standard components in this area


of car production not only gives engineers of the future a technologically open platform, but they can then adapt these parts to other applications. As the future of automotive embraces alternatively fuelled vehicles, the use of standard components will only help this transition.


BUILDING ENGINEERING SKILLS According to a recent report by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), 60% of engineering and tech firms are concerned that the lack of skilled engineers poses a threat to business. Alongside this, the latest UK ‘State


of Engineering’ report shows that the demand for engineers with a Level 3 skillset stands at 124,000, but only 22,000 students graduate at this level every year. It’s thought that 203,000 engineers with a skill set of Level 3 or more will be needed every year to meet demand through to 2024. So another initiative that is allowing


engineering students to build their skills and gain valuable experience is the annual Formula Student competition.


COMBINED ELECTRO-MECHANICAL PLE SAFETY LOCK SOLUTION


SICK has combined its proven MB1 mechanical safety bolt for enclosed hazard areas with its advanced TR110 non-contact safety lock to deliver a high-performance PLe (EN ISO 13849) safety solution with maximum machine availability. With IP67 or IP69K rating, these deliver a robust electro- mechanical door locking and monitoring package for the highest level of personnel protection in machinery and integration into advanced, factory-wide, safety systems. Together, the rugged SICK MB1 and TR110 are easy to fit and


reliable, offering built-in safe release for engineers working in a hazard area, safe options open or shut locking, and actuator coding to protect against unwanted manipulation. The SICK MB1/TR110 combination provides the highest


level of safety for door and locking monitoring to PLe (EN ISO 13849) with one device. The TR110 has a locking force up to 3,900N with a rugged metal locking device for mechanical security and a high coding level for the actuator, to deliver EN ISO 14119 manipulation protection.


SICK (UK) T: 01727 831121 www.sick.com/gb/en/


Here, university teams design and build formula-style race cars then take these to race events around Europe. For the 2019 event, norelem donated


standard components to the engineering teams at Southampton University (Southampton University Formula Student Team SUFST) and the University of Birmingham (UB Racing) to help them build their cars. To aid design, students had access to products from norelem’s THE BIG GREEN BOOK which features over 45,000 standard elements.


Rather than developing new and unproven methods, materials, machinery and bespoke components, automotive engineers can instead specify tried-and-tested standard components


STANDARD COMPONENTS FOR SMES While automation is pervading every industry, many small-to-medium automotive manufacturers may find that the initial outlay, maintenance and servicing of new machinery prevents them from deploying robotics. Again, here is where standard components can be an excellent choice for small-to- medium sized production lines, as they save time and reduce cost. With drives, controls, belts, pulleys, gears and more all available in various standardised sizes and materials, manufacturers can quickly and easily automate different parts of their processes, without the need for bespoke, costly components. By understanding how to apply


standard components effectively, automotive manufacturers can effectively reduce costs, save time, and focus on meeting consumer needs.


Norelem www.norelem.co.uk 


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