Industrial Technology

Inductive sensors help get the beers in

When a drinks producer needed a method of conducting a final inspection check of cases of bottles after the lid of the corrugated cardboard case had been closed and sealed, it turned to Contrinex. A bottle count is performed by verifying the position of bottle caps through layers of cardboard at the top of each sealed case.

26th July 2021

Next generation Stratus ftServers optimised for edge applications

Stratus Technologies has announced the next generation of its Stratus ftServer line of fault tolerant edge servers. Offering up to 50% greater performance, Stratus’ latest ftServers provide computing power and reliability optimised for the industrial edge and for edge data center locations. Stratus ftServer computing platforms allow organisations to build distributed, edge-in architectures required to run advanced software applications, manage large scale I/O counts, and collect real-time data. In addition, the latest generation ftServer line offers expanded configurations for VARs, systems integrators, solution builders and end-users to fine-tune edge computing.

26th July 2021

Creating Digital Twins is quicker and error-free thanks to Festo

Festo has developed an award-winning online catalogue that provides designers with a time-saving tool kit and prepares the way for the creation of an Asset Administration Shell, or Digital Twin, for their machines. Preparing technical data for incorporation into Asset Administration Shells will become increasingly important for designers in the future, but the ability to collate complex data quickly and accurately also has relevance today in responding to the pressures and constraints of working under lockdown and recovery conditions.

26th July 2021

Analog Devices announces 10Gpbs iCoupler digital isolator

Analog Devices has introduced the first in a new series of iCoupler digital isolators that offers a total bandwidth of 10 Gigabits per second. The ADN4624 provides four channels at 2.5Gbps, allowing data to transfer seamlessly in the electrical domain and enabling new system architectures in digital health, instrumentation and smart industry. This device streamlines design and easily integrates isolation for safety or data integrity, it is a compact solution that meets medical standards and reliably isolates high fidelity video and imaging links, precision analogue front ends and serial interconnects as an alternative to cumbersome and specialised fibre solutions.

26th July 2021

Choosing the right conveyor belt for assured food safety

Running a food processing plant is not an easy task, not least because of the complexities of dealing with food safety and hygiene. Here Anna Marcol of conveyor and power transmission belt specialist Habasit, shares insights from a recent webinar delivered jointly by experts from Habasit and NGI, who discussed how hygiene-rated equipment and the right choice of belt type and material, are crucial in achieving food safety.

26th July 2021

5 questions to ask before you buy a geared motor

The global geared motor market is expected to reach approximately $32.9 billion by 2025. But, before plant operators and mechanical engineers invest in the latest geared motor technology, what are the key purchasing considerations? Here, Marek Lukaszczyk of gearbox, motor and drive manufacturer Weg, explains five questions to ask before you buy a geared motor.

26th July 2021

Ensuring greater safety in production processes

Black and yellow hatching is a striking feature that makes the new Warning and Protective Profile D30 R28-90° from the Item Lean Production Building Kit System impossible to miss. The profile offers maximum protection for people, frames and transported goods at exposed areas and in hazardous zones.

26th July 2021

Fan efficiency isn"t intuitive

Few would deny the importance of energy efficiency in ventilation fan systems – after all, by far the largest component of the lifetime cost of any fan system is the cost of the energy it uses, and every business is today mindful of the impact its operations have on the environment. But in the highly competitive field of ventilation fan efficiency, it pays to be cautious; it’s all too easy to be misled by claims that at best could be described as over enthusiastic, and at worst as downright misleading.

26th July 2021

Understanding the effects of PWM control on brushless DC motors

Brushless DC motors are increasingly popular options for a host of critical applications where size, performance and reliability are important considerations. But designers of motion systems can face challenges when selecting or developing PWM electronics to drive these motors. Matthieu Bouat, Application Engineer at Portescap, discusses the parameters that designers should consider when developing the electronic control aspect of the motion system, particularly where factors such as battery life and the overall size and weight of the package are key concerns.

26th July 2021

Stepper motors are quieter yet offer 40% more torque and 3% higher efficiency

EAO has introduced a new family of 56mm two-phase stepper motors that offer up to 40% higher torque than existing models to reduce cycle times and improve positioning speed in end-equipment such as precision medical devices, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, CCTV cameras, ATMs and XY positioning stages.

26th July 2021

Design Engineering

Inductive sensors help get the beers in

Next generation Stratus ftServers optimised for edge applications

Creating Digital Twins is quicker and error-free thanks to Festo

Analog Devices announces 10Gpbs iCoupler digital isolator

Choosing the right conveyor belt for assured food safety

5 questions to ask before you buy a geared motor

Ensuring greater safety in production processes

Fan efficiency isn"t intuitive

Understanding the effects of PWM control on brushless DC motors

Stepper motors are quieter yet offer 40% more torque and 3% higher efficiency