April 2018

50 47 35 14 28 44 70 58 72 CONTENTS 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 systemwithout the written consent of the publishers. Paid subscriptions UK: £95 per annum Europe: £125 per annum Rest of World: £160 per annum Printing: Warners Midlands PLC., PE10 9PH ISSN 0950 5490 Copyright: DFA Media Ltd 2018 NEXT ISSUE The May issue of Drives & Controls will contain our annual supplement on motors, plus a look at developments in linear motion, and news from the aerospace and defence sector. UPDATE 13 Comment 60 Gambica Column 63 ABB Back to Basics 65 Design Data 65 Multimedia 67 New Products 73 Products & Services IN DEPTH Follow us onTwitter @DrivesnControls Drives MagazineWeb site www.drivesncontrols.com Drives ShowWeb site www.drives-expo.com Join us on Facebook Drives & Controls Drives & Controls REGULARS DRIVES & CONTROLS APRIL 2018 Vol 34 No 4 Editor Tony Sacks t/f: 01732 465367 e: tony@drives.co.uk Production Manager Sarah Blake t: 01233 770781 e: sarah.blake@dfamedia.co.uk Customer Liaison Chelsea Moss t: 01732 370340 e: chelsea.moss@dfamedia.co.uk Financial Clare Jackson t: 01732 370340 e: clare.jackson@dfamedia.co.uk ADVERTISING Director of Sales Nigel Borrell t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 m: 07818 098000 e: nigel@drives.co.uk Sales Manager Sara Gordon t: 01732 370341 f: 01732 360034 m: 07505 867211 e: sara.gordon@dfamedia.co.uk DFA Direct Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Eastern US Karen C Smith-Kernc e: karenkcs@aol.com t: +1 717 397 7100 f: +1 717 397 7800 Western US & Canada Alan A Kernc e: alankcs@aol.com t: +1 717 397 7100 f: +1 717 397 7800 Italy Oliver & Diego Casiraghi e: info@casiraghi.info t: +031 261 407 f: +031 261 380 Commercial Director Ryan Fuller t: 01732 370344 e: ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk Publisher Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370346 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Reader/Circulation Enquiries Perception-MPS Ltd t: 01825 701520 e: dfamedia@dmags.co.uk HEAD OFFICE DFA Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge KentTN9 1BE t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: info@dfamedia.co.uk www.drivesncontrols.com 55 56 3 News A round-up of the latest business and industry developments from around the world. 14 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 28 Gearboxes When critical gearboxes fail, there is a temptation to carry out minimal repairs and to get them back in service as soon as possible, thus minimising downtime costs. But this means that they will probably fail again. Is there a better way to deal with the problem? 31 Machine Vision A group of machine vision leaders ponder the state of the industry and where it might head in the future. We also look at embedded vision, examine whether you need colour cameras, and explain how machine vision is solving problems in a bottle-making plant. 41 Conveyors and Materials-Handling How the world’s largest mineral water bottling plant has turned to gravity to help it move 7,000 pallets every day. Plus the materials-handling technology at one of Europe’s biggest iron mines, and a look at conveyor chain reliability. 49 Machine Tools An innovative five-axis tool and cutter grinder is using an open CNC platform to achieve the sub-picometre accuracies needed to produce precision tools. Plus how a collaborative robot is lending a hand to a small machining sub-contractor. 55 Hannover Fair Preview This month’s Hannover Fair will be bigger than ever with the addition of the Cemat logistics and supply chain event. It also marks the debut of the new annual Integrated Automation, Motion & Drives event. 56 Boiler Efficiency A Yorkshire boiler-maker is using the PID function in a variable-speed drive to help stabilise control of its boilers and to improve operating efficiencies for its customers. 58 Food Industry A novel UK-developed robotic system for packing milk bottles into shelved trolleys operates twice as fast as conventional designs. The automated system has been designed to meet the exacting standards of the dairy industry. S1 SHOW CATALOGUE Included in this month’s issue is the catalogue for the cluster of manufacturing and engineering exhibitions, including the Drives & Controls Show, taking place at the Birmingham NEC this month.