Industrial Technology

Even smaller Smalley rings and springs

From medical devices to electronics, the world around us is getting smaller. As a result, a common question for TFC engineers, says the company, is “How small can you go?”

18th May 2016

CFD software drives Ilmor"s engine upgrade for Indycar

Step-change developments in the accuracy and resolution of renowned engine design company Ilmor’s CFD capability have slashed development times by around 50 per cent whilst also providing a 75 per cent reduction in prototype build cost for its 2016 Indycar engine development project.

23rd April 2016

British manufacturing welded to traditional techniques

Over reliance on traditional welding and inspection techniques is harming productivity and consistency, according to a new white paper. Adapt and change – How adaptive control of resistance welding can cut production costs and improve product quality, reveals that while welding is becoming increasingly automated, lack of adoption of new welding technology is holding industry back.

6th April 2016

Subcontractor produces fully CNC machined mountain bike

North Bucks Machining (NBM) has produced a fully CNC machined mountain bike, improving on conventional designs by removing the weaknesses of weld seams on the joined hollow tubes. The NBM design is built around solid aluminium billets and i-beam technology to scallop out the sides of the frame to reduce mass, with rib thicknesses machined down to 5mm while retaining structural integrity.

4th April 2016

Henkel"s hotmelt restores the boy king"s mask

Henkel doesn’t just manufacture and supply adhesives, it also uses its knowledge to create the very best bonding solution for the job. Many manufacturers benefit from this service that calls on both standard and bespoke formulations to optimise the process. Recently, however, Henkel’s expertise was put to test by a very different application.

24th March 2016

Gesipa highlights robotic blind riveting at MACH

Gesipa is bringing a new integrated robotic blind rivet nut setting tool to MACH 2016. The FireRex is suited to installation into applications such as assembly cells, semi-automatic workstations and can even be integrated into robotic applications.It allows greater flexibility due to the external pressure transmitter enabling the setting of blind rivet nuts at almost any angle into confined work areas.

23rd March 2016

Fastening lightweight composite car panels

The application of lightweighting composite materials for high-powered supercars and competition class cars with their inherent benefits in performance and form is well established. More recently the need to reduce CO2 emissions, improve fuel efficiency and counter the increased weight potential of comfort and added safety features has led many high-end luxury car manufacturers to utilise thinner and lighter composite materials, replacing traditional metals and plastics for body panels, exterior mouldings and structural fabrications. As this trend develops, potentially towards mid-range vehicles, the automotive industry is facing the challenge to drive down the manufacturing costs of carbon fibre and other lightweighting material components and is working with its suppliers to develop new production and assembly procedures. As a fundamental part of this process, Bighead, the UK company synonymous with the bonding fastener, has developed new assembly techniques to precision-fix its bigHead fasteners to its customers’ super thin products that can be flexibly and efficiently scaled from prototyping and small scale production all the way through to automated volume production.

23rd March 2016

Reliable attachment solutions for PCBs

The expanding line of PEM ReelFast surface mount fasteners from PennEngineering offers a variety of reliable attachment solutions for printed circuit board applications. Depending on type, the fasteners can be specified to mount, stack, or space boards; attach components to boards; create right-angle attachment points on boards; or enable repeated access without requiring loose screws.

23rd March 2016

Jet Press to supply Teonex pipe and hose jointing solutions

Fasteners and components distributor Jet Press has teamed up with UK-based world class manufacturer of pipe and hose jointing solutions Teconnex to supply its range of clamping products.

10th March 2016

Southco acquires Counterbalance Corporation

Southco has successfully acquired Counterbalance Corporation, a US-based manufacturer of modular torsion spring systems. Counterbalance’s patented position control technology is specially engineered to minimise the effort required to lift lids, covers, hatches and countertops.

7th March 2016