Glass Bottle Redesigned with Confidence Using Clear SLA 3D Printing
Orora earns client buy-in on new beer bottle design using color-matched 3D printed appearance models with identical heft and hue of glass
Packaging redesigns are a serious undertaking. On the marketing side, changes are visual and emotional; on the manufacturing side, changes cost money. Before making the investment to overhaul its glass bottle tooling systems, the maker of Australia’s James Boag’s Premium Lager needed to know an update to its bottle would not be change for change’s sake. It needed to be sure the new bottle would look good and be well received by customers. Ideally, this confidence would come before spending major time and capital on the project.
As the supplier of Boag’s bottles, Orora had skin in the game to validate the design quickly and accurately. Orora’s Innovation & Design team put wheels into motion by contacting 3D Systems On Demand Manufacturing, a long-time partner, to develop a state-of-the-art 3D printed prototype. Keeping Boag’s existing supply chain processes top of mind, a new-look bottle was designed to comply with the manufacturing infrastructure already in place to help avoid expensive and time-consuming changes.
3D printing a lookalike for glass
To get Boag’s buy-in on the new design, a credible appearance model was needed for evaluation. To be convincing, the 3D printed models needed to have the same clarity and hue as glass as well as the same in-hand heft. 3D Systems’ On Demand Manufacturing experts accounted for weight disparities by adjusting the interior wall thickness of the design file based on the density of the selected stereolithography (SLA) resin, and then got to work on color-matching to achieve the iconic green of the classic Boag bottle.
Using 3D Systems’ leading SLA 3D printing technology and VisiJet® SL Clear resin, 3D Systems’ On Demand Manufacturing experts printed four SLA prototypes. “Successful lab testing of 3D Systems’ clear materials verify they are the best solution for transparent 3D prints,” said Dr. Don Titterington, Vice President of Materials R&D, 3D Systems. “Used in a variety of demanding applications, clear materials deliver high-performing, cost-effective choices for functional, transparent prototypes.”
Once printed, the bottles were put through an in-house finishing protocol to bring them to final product quality. This included wet and dry sanding, applying a surface tint, and a final clear coat to deliver a glass-like sheen. With just a few simple steps, clear SLA prints can be transformed with incredible results. According to 3D Systems’ Tracy Beard, general manager for On Demand Manufacturing’s facility in Lawrenceburg, TN, thousands of clear parts are produced each week in the Lawrenceburg facility alone. “The materials are versatile enough to be quickly finished and tinted for perfect prototypes,” Beard says.
Fast feedback for fast progress
The appearance models were ready within a week, allowing Orora and Boag to quickly transition the new design to customer trials and gauge the public’s reaction. They filled the 3D printed bottles with liquid, outfitted them with a label and cap, and put them in a shop for monitoring. Feedback from these in-store trials indicated that the new design was a hit, clearing the new design for production.
“The new James Boag’s Lager bottle has set a standard within Orora for the way packaging design and 3D prototyping can come together seamlessly with short notice,” said Orora’s Innovation & Design team. “It’s the sort of technology innovation that’s giving us a critical edge when it comes to developing best-practice bottling design and manufacturing solutions for our customers.”
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Bonfiglioli HDO 170: The Answer to a Tight Problem
A compact but powerful Bonfiglioli HDO 170 drive selected for its durability and reliability under all conditions is helping power a Transmin low profile feeder (LPF) for a Sun Metals zinc refining operation.
Bonfiglioli’s HDO 170 drive – which has been operating efficiently and productively since commissioning – was engineered and assembled in Australia to provide a space-saving solution for Sun Metals, who needed to fit the LPF with attached drive into a tight space in their existing pit. It features a 75 kW motor that produces 127,700 Nm of torque.
“The compact design was one of the major benefits of using a Bonfiglioli drive for Sun Metals’ LPF. Additionally, the service and support from the Bonfiglioli team is always prompt and professional,” says Tony Warren, lead design engineer, Transmin.
Transmin is a world-class provider of innovative engineered equipment, supplies and services to the manufacturing, mining, resources and bulk materials handling industries, with engineered equipment currently deployed in over 60 countries.
The Transmin LPF handles zinc concentrate at 400tph and is positioned beneath a large hopper, which is filled by side tipping trucks. The zinc concentrate is then fed into the process plant for refining into zinc metal.
“The reliability of Bonfiglioli’s drives is first-class. We’ve used their drives in numerous projects across Australia, including some in harsh conditions, and their durability and reliability have always been outstanding,” says Mr Warren.
“Transmin’s LPF is essentially a hybrid feeder delivering the advantages of both belt and apron feeders, plus additional unique benefits over conventional feeder technology, including the ability to change direction using a bend transition. A reliable drive is essential to power the LPF and provide consistent performance for our customers like Sun Metals,” he says.
Mr Warren adds that apart from the quality that is engineered into the heavy-duty drive, it’s the service from Bonfiglioli that sets it apart. “Their team worked with us from day one to provide a custom-tailored solution for Sun Metals, and they were there throughout the entire process. They have also been helpful and available for any after-sales service we have needed.”
HDO drives
Bonfiglioli’s HDO bevel helical gear reducer series optimises performance with compact dimensions and flexibility. The gear case is made from nodular cast iron to guarantee rigidity in all circumstances while the gears are integrally ground finished on their profile to ensure quiet and vibration-free operation even in the harshest conditions.
“The HDO series is ideally suited to Australian industry, because it is optimised for reliable performance in the harshest conditions and can be easily customised to suit individual applications,” says Fred Whalley, WA sales manager, Bonfiglioli.,
About Bonfiglioli
Bonfiglioli is a worldwide designer, manufacturer and distributor of a complete range of gearmotors, drive systems, planetary gearboxes and inverters, which satisfy the most challenging and demanding needs in industrial automation, mobile machinery and renewable energy. Bonfiglioli serves more industries and applications than any other drive manufacturer and is a market leader in many sectors. Established in 1956, Bonfiglioli operates in 22 countries on 5 continents and has over 3,650 employees worldwide. Bonfiglioli has been operating in Australia for more than 25 years.
Advanced features
Bonfiglioli HDO drives, which can provide torques from 8,990 – 209,900 Nm, are engineered with advanced design features including:
• Top torque density
• Superior performance
• Silent and vibration-free operation
• Total ruggedness and reliability
• Standards compliance
• Extensive customisation
The post Bonfiglioli HDO 170: The Answer to a Tight Problem appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
Universal Robots Launches E-Series Range
Universal Robots, a pioneer and market leader for collaborative robots (cobots), is continuing to evolve its ground-breaking, collaborative automation technology with the introduction of the flagship e-Series cobots.
The e-Series cobot platform includes technology advances that enable faster development for a wider variety of applications. Improvements include the ability to economically deploy even more applications, thanks to greater precision and sensitivity provided by a built-in, tool-centric force/torque sensor.
Like other Universal Robots offerings, the e-Series offers unparalleled convenience. It takes just one hour to unpack the cobot, mount it and program the first task. A wrist-join-tool communication interface reduces production line integration time and complexity, and all joints can be replaced in 2-6 minutes.
A re-designed intuitive and responsive-touch user-friendly interface streamlines program development by simplifying programming to a few clicks on a new lightweight, wide-screen teach pendant.
Safety has also improved with 17 safety functions, including customisable stopping time and distance, making collaborative automation easier. Certified by TÜV Nord, all safety functions are in compliance with the industry best-practice EN ISO 13849-1 and EN ISO 10218-1 (Cat. 3 PLd) machinery safety standards for unobstructed human-robot collaboration.
www.universal-robots.com
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Selfa Arctic: The World’s First Hybrid Fishing Boat
Electric now meets diesel on the high seas.
Selfa Arctic, the world’s first hybrid fishing boat began operations off the coast of Norway. Fuel savings are close to 70%.
Diesel is the single largest cost for the global fishing industry, as well as its main source of greenhouse gas emissions. Catching a metric ton of North American salmon consumes 886 litres of diesel, according to a study by Australian researchers.
Other types of fish require even more fuel, driving up costs for fishermen and consumers alike. And with the advent of carbon pricing, diesel will not only be expensive to buy, but also to burn.
Since one litre of diesel produces more than 2.5 kg of CO2, the combined carbon emissions from global fishing operations are huge.
ONE OF A KIND
Selfa Arctic AS (Norway) built ‘Karoline’ for fisherman Bent Gabrielsen from Karlsøy in the northern part of Norway, in collaboration with researchers at SINTEF and Siemens who was the main supplier for the onboard electrical systems. The small, one-of-a-kind vessel is equipped with two battery packs that have a total capacity of 195 kWh, as well as a diesel engine for off-grid charging if necessary, which together power the boat for a full day of fishing in the Norwegian Sea.
Running on diesel to and from the fishing grounds, Karoline switches to electricity for fishing, loading and unloading. It runs electric-only for almost three hours every day, and the batteries are fully recharged in port overnight. The boat’s electrical supply has proven faultless after three years of operation.
Karoline is a pilot project, and the vessel’s performance is being closely monitored by SINTEF researchers. The data collected are being used to design new hybrid boats with an engine featuring an optimal mix of power sources for different tasks. The researchers hope to build even more energy-efficient boats in the future.
CONCRETE BENEFITS
Fuel savings and emission cuts are the two obvious benefits of a hybrid fishing boat. But hybrid vessels also reduce noise and exhaust from diesel engines, improving working conditions for fishermen.
Additionally, during the period in which the engine runs on electricity, sounds from pumps and other machinery become more audible, thereby improving onboard maintenance and safety.
Karoline is operating successfully in the harsh climate north of the Arctic Circle, so the vessel can be expected to function smoothly in any waters.
MARKET POTENTIAL
Small, motorised fishing boats number more than 2.5 million globally, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Small boats particularly dominate in inland fisheries, where they account for as much as 91% of all motorised vessels. With increased electrification across all sectors of society, the market for hybrid fishing boats is potentially massive.
Selfa is currently working on new and upgraded versions of its hybrid fishing boat. Technology and experience from the Karoline project has also been utilised for developing low and zero emission products for the fish farming industry.
The post Selfa Arctic: The World’s First Hybrid Fishing Boat appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
Pump Up Your Process
To help ensure optimum process efficiency and performance, SPX Flow offers one of the widest range of process pump solutions in the marketplace.
From its Johnson Pump and Bran+Luebbe pump portfolios, cleverly designed pumps offer specific benefits to industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical, water treatment, paint, power generation, pulp and paper and pharmaceutical.
Advanced engineering facilities and expert personnel further ensure SPX Flow provide the right solution for customers’ needs, covering everything from a standard pump to a complete pump package.
The Johnson Pump CombiSump and CombiSumpMag are vertical long shaft sump pumps designed for use with thin liquids.
They have a large submersible depth and ensure increased reliability with highly effective silicon carbide axial and radial bearings, which are permanently lubricated by the pumped liquids.
Both models are designed for low net positive suction head (NSPH) values with optimised hydraulic performance, meet a wide range of duties, and offer easy maintenance in compact form.
www.spxflow.com
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A & G Price: New Zealand’s Engineering Phoenix Rises
It was a tragic day for the New Zealand engineering landscape when A &G Price, one of New Zealand’s largest and oldest engineering companies, was put into voluntary liquidation in July 2017.
That could have signalled the end of some 149 years of trading, and for most it would have.
But Gareth Hoole, a liquidator at Ecovis KGA, armed himself with his vision of the operation’s potential. He had a plan that would see the entire plant reopening, and not only to fulfil partially completed orders but to continue to trade by taking on new orders. This, Hoole reasoned, would mean the company could be sold as a going concern.
However, eight months and a dozen or so interested parties later, the sheer scale shadowed such potential – ever so apparent that A&G Price was a much bigger entity than most were willing to take on.
Enter Chris and Jackie Reeve to change the playing field.
The couple could see the potential in the company and its associated benefit to the entire Thames community. They stepped up and purchased it and on April 3 – in its 150th year – A & G Price Ltd officially reopened with a team of 34 loyal staff.
None of the equipment had been removed during the liquidation so the company was immediately in full capability to service the engineering needs of medium and heavy industry.
A & G Price is the only one-stop heavy engineering shop in New Zealand – and arguably Australia – with a fully-integrated engineering works that includes design and project management, ferrous and nonferrous foundry with a melt capacity to 10 tonne, computer-controlled high temperature heat treatment, full machine, fabrication, fitting, NDT, blasting and paint shops all on the one site.
Utilising a library of reference material that would be the envy of most consultancies, and backed by the expertise captured in a work archive of more than 100,000 technical drawings spanning 150 years, A & G Price Ltd has the ability to bring customers concepts to reality, or improve on existing machinery to maximise production.
The foundry has the ability to produce castings from as small as 300 grams in all grades of cast iron, SG iron and steel, most common grades of stainless steel, brass and bronze. All of these grades can be welded in the 104-metre long fabrication shop, with 20-tonne lifting capacity and full complement of presses and plate processing machinery, welding technicians ticketed to ASME IV and a wealth of knowledge spanning three centuries for fabricating exotic materials, weld overlaying worn-out equipment or welding dissimilar grades of material. In short, A & G Price has the ability to undertake all welding requirements to the highest standards.
These components can then be machined in its large machine shop capable of manufacturing complex components a few mm’s in size to CNC milling machines up to 10-metres long and turning capacity to 6.15-metres diameter x 40 tonne. With highly-skilled staff experienced in handling and machining large heavy items or smaller mass-produced components, customers can be assured all their requirements will be delivered in spec and fit for purpose.
The entire works is certified to operate under ISO9001 2015. Its QA department includes fully-qualified NDT technicians for MPI, dye penetrant and ultrasonic inspection, and can offer full traceability and compliance to any standard and acceptance level. This is common-place for the company’s military, rail and hydro-electric customers but is becoming more common-place as other industries realise the cost of down-time and the benefits of receiving quality components.
To talk about your upcoming engineering and manufacturing needs, call A & G Price on +64 7 8686060 or visit www.agprice.co.nz to see more about the company’s capabilities and previous contracts.
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Trusted to Deliver – Gresswell Safety Valves
Wherever there is a risk of a dangerous over-pressure event, you will probably find Gresswell relief valves. Since the 1930’s Gresswell has been designing and manufacturing safety valves to suit a wide range of pressure systems.
Over the years, their quality, safety and reliability has been put to the test in a variety of aggressive environments where the threat of over-pressure is potentially lethal.
Gresswell valves are used in diverse applications such as boiler systems, pumps, enclosed pressurised systems as well as in the shipping, oil and gas industries. Made in the UK, valves are produced in iron, bronze, brass and stainless steel.
All valves have CAT IV PED certification and CE Mark certification. They are factory tested and supplied pre-set and are available in 0.5Bar (7PSI) to 20.7 Bar (300 PSI). They are suitable for most liquid applications where a small discharge ensures the system’s safe pressure is not exceeded. Valves are suitable for steam, gases and vapour applications where a low discharge is suitable.
Gresswell has appointed Tecpro Australia to be the exclusive Australasian distributor.
tecpro.com.au
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New Range of Nut Caps From Hi-Q Components
Hi-Q Components announced that it now manufactures a new range of protective nut caps. The new range will allow more competitive pricing, range of colour and better quality than the company has been able to source overseas to date.
All sizes, M5, M6, M8, M10, M12, M16, M20, will be available in three stock colours (white, black and grey). Other colours are available to order.
Hi-Q nut caps are made in New Zealand and manufactured in UV stabilised linear low-density polyethylene. The design and material will allow flexibility of fit to different nut types and material.
In the last 15 years, Hi-Q has added a large range of protective products to its extensive range of plastic components.
The protective products include many protective plastic caps and plugs and masking products.
Many of the plugs and caps are used extensively in engineering, automotive, aviation and hydraulics for contamination control and protection during servicing and shipping.
Hi-Q has many other protective caps and plugs that are used for health and safety protection.
A few of these include protection caps for nuts and bolts, scaffold tube, warratah stakes and reinforcing bars.
Phone: 0800 800 293 | E-mail: sales@hiq.co.nz
Visit: www.hiq.co.nz
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A Welding Solution: Time to Move to Improve Staff’s Air Quality
Family-owned Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs has supplied mobility products for more than 25 years, and is a major brand for wheelchairs in New Zealand and Australia.
The company’s Christchurch-based manufacturing plant employs six full time welders, with other production staff, needing effective fume extraction.
As the company has grown, Melrose decided to centralise its extraction system but wanted the flexibility for each extraction point to cover two bays. NZ Duct+Flex visited the site to see how best to achieve effective fume extraction to fit with the workshop’s activity.
NZ Duct+Flex’s own installation team has installed hundreds of the blue and yellow European sourced fume arms for welding fumes, and here, six 160mm/4m reach arms were used, with a mobile FumeCube, for specialist work carried out in different parts of the workshop.
“Our suppliers have been around for decades and their products have been tried and tested and enhanced over this time,” says sales manager, Geoff Ebdon. “All our fume solutions are also sourced from two major European suppliers ensuring value for money and products that actually do the job.”
Annette Melrose confirmed that all is running really well, with greatly improved air quality for staff.
The fume arm range is very robust with metal tube arms and hoods, external hinging meaning the debris being exhausted cannot cause the hinging to wear or become jammed (low maintenance).
All fume arms are in stock, available for immediate delivery from 75mm dia/1m up to 160mm dia/4m reach. Extraction arms can be driven by a fume fan, or for larger workshops with a centralised system, a JKF fan can be used.
For mobile solutions there are one or two arm fume cube units – a solid but compact mobile unit with pre-mesh filter for sparks, pull out cartridge filter and fan all in one unit.
For more information contact NZ Duct+Flex 0508 69 38 28 or visit www.nzduct.co.nz.
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Enerpac Talks Torque
Enerpac’s latest X-edition S-Series square drive and W-Series hexagon hydraulic torque wrenches have been further enhanced to set new benchmarks in safety, simplicity and performance.
Ideal for a huge range of tasks – including assembly and maintenance in general industry, oil and gas and power generation machinery and plant – the new torque wrenches feature an ergonomic design and a range of additional features designed to achieve more uptime.
Enerpac W series torque wrenches weigh from only 1.4-12kg yet have terrific and precisely repeatable torque from 2712-47450 Nm. They are complemented by the equally versatile S series of double-acting square drive wrenches, which ranges from 2.7-31kg with outputs of 1898-34079 Nm.
Every Enerpac torque wrench also comes with a certificate of performance (calibration), which provides end users with assurance that the tool meets the stated performance expectations that are critical for safety, joint integrity and traceability.
Enerpac
Phone: +64 (02) 166 7716 | neville@enerpac.co.nz
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Glass Bottle Redesigned with Confidence Using Clear SLA 3D Printing
Packaging redesigns are a serious undertaking. On the marketing side, changes are visual and emotional; on the manufacturing side, changes cost money. Before making the investment to overhaul its glass bottle tooling systems, the maker of Australia’s James Boag’s Premium Lager needed to know an update to its bottle would not be change for change’s sake. It needed to be sure the new bottle would look good and be well received by customers. Ideally, this confidence would come before spending major time and capital on the project.
As the supplier of Boag’s bottles, Orora had skin in the game to validate the design quickly and accurately. Orora’s Innovation & Design team put wheels into motion by contacting 3D Systems On Demand Manufacturing, a long-time partner, to develop a state-of-the-art 3D printed prototype. Keeping Boag’s existing supply chain processes top of mind, a new-look bottle was designed to comply with the manufacturing infrastructure already in place to help avoid expensive and time-consuming changes.
3D printing a lookalike for glass
To get Boag’s buy-in on the new design, a credible appearance model was needed for evaluation. To be convincing, the 3D printed models needed to have the same clarity and hue as glass as well as the same in-hand heft. 3D Systems’ On Demand Manufacturing experts accounted for weight disparities by adjusting the interior wall thickness of the design file based on the density of the selected stereolithography (SLA) resin, and then got to work on color-matching to achieve the iconic green of the classic Boag bottle.
Once printed, the bottles were put through an in-house finishing protocol to bring them to final product quality. This included wet and dry sanding, applying a surface tint, and a final clear coat to deliver a glass-like sheen. With just a few simple steps, clear SLA prints can be transformed with incredible results. According to 3D Systems’ Tracy Beard, general manager for On Demand Manufacturing’s facility in Lawrenceburg, TN, thousands of clear parts are produced each week in the Lawrenceburg facility alone. “The materials are versatile enough to be quickly finished and tinted for perfect prototypes,” Beard says.
The appearance models were ready within a week, allowing Orora and Boag to quickly transition the new design to customer trials and gauge the public’s reaction. They filled the 3D printed bottles with liquid, outfitted them with a label and cap, and put them in a shop for monitoring. Feedback from these in-store trials indicated that the new design was a hit, clearing the new design for production.
“The new James Boag’s Lager bottle has set a standard within Orora for the way packaging design and 3D prototyping can come together seamlessly with short notice,” said Orora’s Innovation & Design team. “It’s the sort of technology innovation that’s giving us a critical edge when it comes to developing best-practice bottling design and manufacturing solutions for our customers.”
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Bonfiglioli HDO 170: The Answer to a Tight Problem
A compact but powerful Bonfiglioli HDO 170 drive selected for its durability and reliability under all conditions is helping power a Transmin low profile feeder (LPF) for a Sun Metals zinc refining operation.
Bonfiglioli’s HDO 170 drive – which has been operating efficiently and productively since commissioning – was engineered and assembled in Australia to provide a space-saving solution for Sun Metals, who needed to fit the LPF with attached drive into a tight space in their existing pit. It features a 75 kW motor that produces 127,700 Nm of torque.
“The compact design was one of the major benefits of using a Bonfiglioli drive for Sun Metals’ LPF. Additionally, the service and support from the Bonfiglioli team is always prompt and professional,” says Tony Warren, lead design engineer, Transmin.
Transmin is a world-class provider of innovative engineered equipment, supplies and services to the manufacturing, mining, resources and bulk materials handling industries, with engineered equipment currently deployed in over 60 countries.
The Transmin LPF handles zinc concentrate at 400tph and is positioned beneath a large hopper, which is filled by side tipping trucks. The zinc concentrate is then fed into the process plant for refining into zinc metal.
“The reliability of Bonfiglioli’s drives is first-class. We’ve used their drives in numerous projects across Australia, including some in harsh conditions, and their durability and reliability have always been outstanding,” says Mr Warren.
“Transmin’s LPF is essentially a hybrid feeder delivering the advantages of both belt and apron feeders, plus additional unique benefits over conventional feeder technology, including the ability to change direction using a bend transition. A reliable drive is essential to power the LPF and provide consistent performance for our customers like Sun Metals,” he says.
Mr Warren adds that apart from the quality that is engineered into the heavy-duty drive, it’s the service from Bonfiglioli that sets it apart. “Their team worked with us from day one to provide a custom-tailored solution for Sun Metals, and they were there throughout the entire process. They have also been helpful and available for any after-sales service we have needed.”
HDO drives
Bonfiglioli’s HDO bevel helical gear reducer series optimises performance with compact dimensions and flexibility. The gear case is made from nodular cast iron to guarantee rigidity in all circumstances while the gears are integrally ground finished on their profile to ensure quiet and vibration-free operation even in the harshest conditions.
“The HDO series is ideally suited to Australian industry, because it is optimised for reliable performance in the harshest conditions and can be easily customised to suit individual applications,” says Fred Whalley, WA sales manager, Bonfiglioli.,
About Bonfiglioli
Bonfiglioli is a worldwide designer, manufacturer and distributor of a complete range of gearmotors, drive systems, planetary gearboxes and inverters, which satisfy the most challenging and demanding needs in industrial automation, mobile machinery and renewable energy. Bonfiglioli serves more industries and applications than any other drive manufacturer and is a market leader in many sectors. Established in 1956, Bonfiglioli operates in 22 countries on 5 continents and has over 3,650 employees worldwide. Bonfiglioli has been operating in Australia for more than 25 years.
Advanced features
Bonfiglioli HDO drives, which can provide torques from 8,990 – 209,900 Nm, are engineered with advanced design features including:
• Top torque density
• Superior performance
• Silent and vibration-free operation
• Total ruggedness and reliability
• Standards compliance
• Extensive customisation
The post Bonfiglioli HDO 170: The Answer to a Tight Problem appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
Universal Robots Launches E-Series Range
Universal Robots, a pioneer and market leader for collaborative robots (cobots), is continuing to evolve its ground-breaking, collaborative automation technology with the introduction of the flagship e-Series cobots.
The e-Series cobot platform includes technology advances that enable faster development for a wider variety of applications. Improvements include the ability to economically deploy even more applications, thanks to greater precision and sensitivity provided by a built-in, tool-centric force/torque sensor.
Like other Universal Robots offerings, the e-Series offers unparalleled convenience. It takes just one hour to unpack the cobot, mount it and program the first task. A wrist-join-tool communication interface reduces production line integration time and complexity, and all joints can be replaced in 2-6 minutes.
A re-designed intuitive and responsive-touch user-friendly interface streamlines program development by simplifying programming to a few clicks on a new lightweight, wide-screen teach pendant.
Safety has also improved with 17 safety functions, including customisable stopping time and distance, making collaborative automation easier. Certified by TÜV Nord, all safety functions are in compliance with the industry best-practice EN ISO 13849-1 and EN ISO 10218-1 (Cat. 3 PLd) machinery safety standards for unobstructed human-robot collaboration.
www.universal-robots.com
The post Universal Robots Launches E-Series Range appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
Selfa Arctic: The World’s First Hybrid Fishing Boat
Electric now meets diesel on the high seas.
Selfa Arctic, the world’s first hybrid fishing boat began operations off the coast of Norway. Fuel savings are close to 70%.
Diesel is the single largest cost for the global fishing industry, as well as its main source of greenhouse gas emissions. Catching a metric ton of North American salmon consumes 886 litres of diesel, according to a study by Australian researchers.
Other types of fish require even more fuel, driving up costs for fishermen and consumers alike. And with the advent of carbon pricing, diesel will not only be expensive to buy, but also to burn.
Since one litre of diesel produces more than 2.5 kg of CO2, the combined carbon emissions from global fishing operations are huge.
ONE OF A KIND
Selfa Arctic AS (Norway) built ‘Karoline’ for fisherman Bent Gabrielsen from Karlsøy in the northern part of Norway, in collaboration with researchers at SINTEF and Siemens who was the main supplier for the onboard electrical systems. The small, one-of-a-kind vessel is equipped with two battery packs that have a total capacity of 195 kWh, as well as a diesel engine for off-grid charging if necessary, which together power the boat for a full day of fishing in the Norwegian Sea.
Running on diesel to and from the fishing grounds, Karoline switches to electricity for fishing, loading and unloading. It runs electric-only for almost three hours every day, and the batteries are fully recharged in port overnight. The boat’s electrical supply has proven faultless after three years of operation.
Karoline is a pilot project, and the vessel’s performance is being closely monitored by SINTEF researchers. The data collected are being used to design new hybrid boats with an engine featuring an optimal mix of power sources for different tasks. The researchers hope to build even more energy-efficient boats in the future.
CONCRETE BENEFITS
Fuel savings and emission cuts are the two obvious benefits of a hybrid fishing boat. But hybrid vessels also reduce noise and exhaust from diesel engines, improving working conditions for fishermen.
Additionally, during the period in which the engine runs on electricity, sounds from pumps and other machinery become more audible, thereby improving onboard maintenance and safety.
Karoline is operating successfully in the harsh climate north of the Arctic Circle, so the vessel can be expected to function smoothly in any waters.
MARKET POTENTIAL
Small, motorised fishing boats number more than 2.5 million globally, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation. Small boats particularly dominate in inland fisheries, where they account for as much as 91% of all motorised vessels. With increased electrification across all sectors of society, the market for hybrid fishing boats is potentially massive.
Selfa is currently working on new and upgraded versions of its hybrid fishing boat. Technology and experience from the Karoline project has also been utilised for developing low and zero emission products for the fish farming industry.
The post Selfa Arctic: The World’s First Hybrid Fishing Boat appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
Pump Up Your Process
To help ensure optimum process efficiency and performance, SPX Flow offers one of the widest range of process pump solutions in the marketplace.
From its Johnson Pump and Bran+Luebbe pump portfolios, cleverly designed pumps offer specific benefits to industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical, water treatment, paint, power generation, pulp and paper and pharmaceutical.
Advanced engineering facilities and expert personnel further ensure SPX Flow provide the right solution for customers’ needs, covering everything from a standard pump to a complete pump package.
The Johnson Pump CombiSump and CombiSumpMag are vertical long shaft sump pumps designed for use with thin liquids.
They have a large submersible depth and ensure increased reliability with highly effective silicon carbide axial and radial bearings, which are permanently lubricated by the pumped liquids.
Both models are designed for low net positive suction head (NSPH) values with optimised hydraulic performance, meet a wide range of duties, and offer easy maintenance in compact form.
www.spxflow.com
The post Pump Up Your Process appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
A & G Price: New Zealand’s Engineering Phoenix Rises
It was a tragic day for the New Zealand engineering landscape when A &G Price, one of New Zealand’s largest and oldest engineering companies, was put into voluntary liquidation in July 2017.
That could have signalled the end of some 149 years of trading, and for most it would have.
But Gareth Hoole, a liquidator at Ecovis KGA, armed himself with his vision of the operation’s potential. He had a plan that would see the entire plant reopening, and not only to fulfil partially completed orders but to continue to trade by taking on new orders. This, Hoole reasoned, would mean the company could be sold as a going concern.
However, eight months and a dozen or so interested parties later, the sheer scale shadowed such potential – ever so apparent that A&G Price was a much bigger entity than most were willing to take on.
Enter Chris and Jackie Reeve to change the playing field.
The couple could see the potential in the company and its associated benefit to the entire Thames community. They stepped up and purchased it and on April 3 – in its 150th year – A & G Price Ltd officially reopened with a team of 34 loyal staff.
None of the equipment had been removed during the liquidation so the company was immediately in full capability to service the engineering needs of medium and heavy industry.
A & G Price is the only one-stop heavy engineering shop in New Zealand – and arguably Australia – with a fully-integrated engineering works that includes design and project management, ferrous and nonferrous foundry with a melt capacity to 10 tonne, computer-controlled high temperature heat treatment, full machine, fabrication, fitting, NDT, blasting and paint shops all on the one site.
Utilising a library of reference material that would be the envy of most consultancies, and backed by the expertise captured in a work archive of more than 100,000 technical drawings spanning 150 years, A & G Price Ltd has the ability to bring customers concepts to reality, or improve on existing machinery to maximise production.
The foundry has the ability to produce castings from as small as 300 grams in all grades of cast iron, SG iron and steel, most common grades of stainless steel, brass and bronze. All of these grades can be welded in the 104-metre long fabrication shop, with 20-tonne lifting capacity and full complement of presses and plate processing machinery, welding technicians ticketed to ASME IV and a wealth of knowledge spanning three centuries for fabricating exotic materials, weld overlaying worn-out equipment or welding dissimilar grades of material. In short, A & G Price has the ability to undertake all welding requirements to the highest standards.
These components can then be machined in its large machine shop capable of manufacturing complex components a few mm’s in size to CNC milling machines up to 10-metres long and turning capacity to 6.15-metres diameter x 40 tonne. With highly-skilled staff experienced in handling and machining large heavy items or smaller mass-produced components, customers can be assured all their requirements will be delivered in spec and fit for purpose.
The entire works is certified to operate under ISO9001 2015. Its QA department includes fully-qualified NDT technicians for MPI, dye penetrant and ultrasonic inspection, and can offer full traceability and compliance to any standard and acceptance level. This is common-place for the company’s military, rail and hydro-electric customers but is becoming more common-place as other industries realise the cost of down-time and the benefits of receiving quality components.
To talk about your upcoming engineering and manufacturing needs, call A & G Price on +64 7 8686060 or visit www.agprice.co.nz to see more about the company’s capabilities and previous contracts.
The post A & G Price: New Zealand’s Engineering Phoenix Rises appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
Trusted to Deliver – Gresswell Safety Valves
Wherever there is a risk of a dangerous over-pressure event, you will probably find Gresswell relief valves. Since the 1930’s Gresswell has been designing and manufacturing safety valves to suit a wide range of pressure systems.
Over the years, their quality, safety and reliability has been put to the test in a variety of aggressive environments where the threat of over-pressure is potentially lethal.
Gresswell valves are used in diverse applications such as boiler systems, pumps, enclosed pressurised systems as well as in the shipping, oil and gas industries. Made in the UK, valves are produced in iron, bronze, brass and stainless steel.
All valves have CAT IV PED certification and CE Mark certification. They are factory tested and supplied pre-set and are available in 0.5Bar (7PSI) to 20.7 Bar (300 PSI). They are suitable for most liquid applications where a small discharge ensures the system’s safe pressure is not exceeded. Valves are suitable for steam, gases and vapour applications where a low discharge is suitable.
Gresswell has appointed Tecpro Australia to be the exclusive Australasian distributor.
tecpro.com.au
The post Trusted to Deliver – Gresswell Safety Valves appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
New Range of Nut Caps From Hi-Q Components
Hi-Q Components announced that it now manufactures a new range of protective nut caps. The new range will allow more competitive pricing, range of colour and better quality than the company has been able to source overseas to date.
All sizes, M5, M6, M8, M10, M12, M16, M20, will be available in three stock colours (white, black and grey). Other colours are available to order.
Hi-Q nut caps are made in New Zealand and manufactured in UV stabilised linear low-density polyethylene. The design and material will allow flexibility of fit to different nut types and material.
In the last 15 years, Hi-Q has added a large range of protective products to its extensive range of plastic components.
The protective products include many protective plastic caps and plugs and masking products.
Many of the plugs and caps are used extensively in engineering, automotive, aviation and hydraulics for contamination control and protection during servicing and shipping.
Hi-Q has many other protective caps and plugs that are used for health and safety protection.
A few of these include protection caps for nuts and bolts, scaffold tube, warratah stakes and reinforcing bars.
Phone: 0800 800 293 | E-mail: sales@hiq.co.nz
Visit: www.hiq.co.nz
The post New Range of Nut Caps From Hi-Q Components appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
A Welding Solution: Time to Move to Improve Staff’s Air Quality
Family-owned Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs has supplied mobility products for more than 25 years, and is a major brand for wheelchairs in New Zealand and Australia.
The company’s Christchurch-based manufacturing plant employs six full time welders, with other production staff, needing effective fume extraction.
As the company has grown, Melrose decided to centralise its extraction system but wanted the flexibility for each extraction point to cover two bays. NZ Duct+Flex visited the site to see how best to achieve effective fume extraction to fit with the workshop’s activity.
NZ Duct+Flex’s own installation team has installed hundreds of the blue and yellow European sourced fume arms for welding fumes, and here, six 160mm/4m reach arms were used, with a mobile FumeCube, for specialist work carried out in different parts of the workshop.
“Our suppliers have been around for decades and their products have been tried and tested and enhanced over this time,” says sales manager, Geoff Ebdon. “All our fume solutions are also sourced from two major European suppliers ensuring value for money and products that actually do the job.”
Annette Melrose confirmed that all is running really well, with greatly improved air quality for staff.
The fume arm range is very robust with metal tube arms and hoods, external hinging meaning the debris being exhausted cannot cause the hinging to wear or become jammed (low maintenance).
All fume arms are in stock, available for immediate delivery from 75mm dia/1m up to 160mm dia/4m reach. Extraction arms can be driven by a fume fan, or for larger workshops with a centralised system, a JKF fan can be used.
For mobile solutions there are one or two arm fume cube units – a solid but compact mobile unit with pre-mesh filter for sparks, pull out cartridge filter and fan all in one unit.
For more information contact NZ Duct+Flex 0508 69 38 28 or visit www.nzduct.co.nz.
The post A Welding Solution: Time to Move to Improve Staff’s Air Quality appeared first on NZ Engineering News.
Enerpac Talks Torque
Enerpac’s latest X-edition S-Series square drive and W-Series hexagon hydraulic torque wrenches have been further enhanced to set new benchmarks in safety, simplicity and performance.
Ideal for a huge range of tasks – including assembly and maintenance in general industry, oil and gas and power generation machinery and plant – the new torque wrenches feature an ergonomic design and a range of additional features designed to achieve more uptime.
Enerpac W series torque wrenches weigh from only 1.4-12kg yet have terrific and precisely repeatable torque from 2712-47450 Nm. They are complemented by the equally versatile S series of double-acting square drive wrenches, which ranges from 2.7-31kg with outputs of 1898-34079 Nm.
Every Enerpac torque wrench also comes with a certificate of performance (calibration), which provides end users with assurance that the tool meets the stated performance expectations that are critical for safety, joint integrity and traceability.
Enerpac
Phone: +64 (02) 166 7716 | neville@enerpac.co.nz
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