Drives & Controls March 2024

50 CONTENTS n Drives & Controls is a controlled circulation publication. If you live in the UK and want to subscribe phone 0333 577 0801 or fax 0845 604 2327. Alternatively for both UK and overseas subscriptions please subscribe online at www.drivesncontrols.com. If you have any enquiries regarding your subscription, please use these numbers. The content of this magazine, website and newsletters do not necessarily express the views of the Editor or publishers. The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising from information in this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced or stored in a retrieval system without the written consent of the publishers. Paid subscriptions UK: £110 per annum Europe: £145 per annum Rest of World: £180 per annum Printing: Warners Midlands PLC., PE10 9PH ISSN 0950 5490 Copyright: DFA Media Group 2024 NEXT ISSUE The April issue of Drives & Controls will contain a feature on machine vision, a section devoted to developments in conveyors and material-handling, and a look at what’s been happening in the machine-building sector. UPDATE 14 Comment 15 Back to Basics 45 Gambica column 46 New Products 48 Design Data and Multimedia 49 Products & Services IN DEPTH Follow us on X @DrivesnControls Drives Magazine Web site www.drivesncontrols.com Follow us on LinkedIn @ Drives & Controls Join us on Facebook Drives & Controls Drives& Controls REGULARS DfAmedia group 36 32 28 18 5 46 DRIVES & CONTROLS March 2024 Vol 40 No 3 Editor Tony Sacks t: 01732 465367 e: tony@drives.co.uk Consultant Editor Andy Pye t: 07808 137312 e: andy.pye@dfamedia.co.uk Production Manager Sarah Blake t: 01233 770781 e: sarah.blake@dfamedia.co.uk Operations Manager Emma Godden-Wood t: 01732 370340 e: emma.godden-wood@dfamedia.co.uk Marketing Manager Hope Jepson t: 01732 370340 e: hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk Financial Finance Department t: 01732 370340 e: accounts@dfamedia.co.uk ADVERTISING Sales Director Damien Oxlee t: 01732 370342 m: 07951 103754 e: damien.oxlee@dfamedia.co.uk DFA Direct Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370340 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Italy Oliver & Diego Casiraghi e: info@casiraghi.info t: +39 031 261407 f: +39 031 261380 Managing Director Ryan Fuller t: 01732 370344 e: ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk Chief Executive O•cer Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370346 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Reader/Circulation Enquiries Perception-MPS Ltd t: 01825 701520 e: cs@perception-sas.com HEAD OFFICE DFA Media Group 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BE t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: info@dfamedia.co.uk www.drivesncontrols.com 5 News A round-up of the latest business and industry developments from around the world. 18 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 28 Machine Vision Sales of 3D machine vision systems are growing more than twice as fast as the total vision market. A research analyst specialising in the sector examines the reasons for this rapid expansion and looks at some of the technologies involved. 30 Food and Beverage A UK cereal producer has doubled its output to 86,000 cases every 24 hours by replacing a manual palletising and labelling operation with an automated installation. Plus how smart 2D proŒle sensors are helping to measure the bread rolls and other ingredients on a sandwich production line. 36 Bearings and Belts Using low-friction graphene as a lubricant for bearings can deliver substantial energy savings. and could result in better, or even limitless, bearing wear. Plus tips from an expert on how to reduce the risk of conveyor belt breakdowns. 41 Talking Industry Last month's Talking Industry panel discussion covered network connectivity, including trends in networks, the move to 5G private networks, and time-sensitive networking. We report on the conversation. 42 Building Services An expert explores how regenerative braking systems can improve lift e“ciency and deliver signiŒcant beneŒts for building owners. 43 M&E Week The organisers of Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2024 are continuing to announce new activities designed to enhance the visitor experience. We look at some of the latest. 44 Robots The International Federation of Robotics identiŒes the Œve main technological trends that it believes will drive the global automation sector during 2024. 41 Average net circulation January to December 2022 43 44 42 Subscribe for your FREE copy now 21,157

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