October 2019

MASTER ABRASIVES has announced it has installed its first two vending machines at Doncasters Precision Castings Deritend in Droitwich. Deritend is using vending machines for its consumable abrasive products such as burrs, mounted points and belts, all supplied by Master Abrasives. Andy Wright, business development & sales manager from Master Abrasives, explains: “Vending machines are an excellent way to improve stock management and productivity in industrial settings by reducing the time it takes staff to locate and withdraw consumables. The software gives them an audit trail of the issued items and ensures only approved equipment and tools are accessed to be used for the correct application, resulting in less scrap and approved parts being produced by approved methods.” w | www.master-abrasives.co.uk MEWA, a textile service specialist, has announced the launch of the MEWA MULTITEX hazardous fluid trapping mat in the UK and says this mat is the perfect underlay for repair and maintenance tasks, or in sensitive areas around machinery and equipment. It is so absorbent that it can soak up to three litres of fluids before needing to be replaced. MEWA’s MULTITEX absorbent mat offers a simple and efficient way to keep the workplace and floor free from contamination and hazardous fluids. It replaces the need for sand, granules or plastic tubs and is a reusable solution that offers a cost-effective way to manage hazardous waste. The secret of the mat’s success is that it immediately transports fluid from the outer fabric to the absorbent, inner core. https://corporate.mewa.co.uk/newsroom/ all-videos/ By Karl Lycett, Rittal’s product manager for climate control – £480,000…. Is a lot of money! But that is what I was told it costs one of the UK’s largest automotive manufacturers PER HOUR when they experience downtime on their paint plant. Your overheads may not be as substantial as the above example, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the old adage you hear in every corner of business and production is true:Regardless of your industry and the product you manufacture, production downtime is a crucial performance indicator to monitor because of the direct impact it can have on your bottom line. More downtime equals increased spares/maintenance costs, taken directly from your profit. This could have been invested to meet more pertinent business objectives, purchasing new machinery etc.. Visit www.pwemag.co.uk to read the full release. e | klycett@rittal.co.uk w | www.rittal.co.uk / www.friedhelm-loh-group.com The modernised PSF series of MIG/MAG welding torches from ESAB Welding & Cutting Products includes the new PSF 520W water-cooled torch. The company says it features a 100% duty cycle rating at 500 A with both mixed gas and CO2, to take on demanding jobs with wires up to 1.6 mm in diameter. The PSF 520W features a dual-circuit cooling system that brings cooling water all the way to the seat of the gas nozzle, as well as to the conductor tube. The torch stays cooler and more comfortable in high-heat and high arc-on time applications, such as pulsed MIG welding and using large diameter Flux-Cored wires. Additional benefits of reduced heat through dual-circuit cooling include better wire feedability, longer consumables life, a more stable arc and lower spatter adhesion. w | www.esab.com Enhanced industrial performance CASELLA, air sampling, noise and vibration specialist, has announced it has won Occupational Health and Safety’s 2019 ‘New Product of the Year Award’ for its VAPex Personal Low Flow Sampling Pump. Casella’s VAPex Personal Low Flow Sampling Pump was selected as the best new product in the Industrial Hygiene: Air Sampling category by a panel of three highly qualified judges. Tim Turney, global marketing manager at Casella, said “We’re thrilled that the VAPex has been recognised among this year’s best products by a publication as well regarded as Occupational Health & Safety. We’re proud that the user-focused features of the VAPex have put it ahead of other air samplers, following in the footsteps of our other award-winning products.” w | www.casellasolutions.com/uk/en.html Sampling pump wins award Climate control maintenance is no false economy…. Global engineering group SANDVIK has announced it will showcase its cutting-edge 3D-printed stainless steel guitar at the upcoming Engineering Design Show on 16 October 2019 in Coventry. The innovative instrument was engineered collaboratively by highly skilled specialists from Sandvik Machining Solutions, Sandvik Coromant and Sandvik Materials Technology, who employed the latest techniques in additive manufacturing and metallurgy to deliver both high precision and extreme durability. Swedish rock legend Yngwie Malmsteen has put the guitar through its paces, first by playing his trademark tunes and then – in true rockstar style – attempting to smash it. Experts from Sandvik will take to the stage at Engineering Design Show 2019 to share the secrets in a presentation entitled ‘Designing the Unbreakable Guitar’. w | materials.sandvik / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1hxZyD9VGI First vending machines installed Smash-proof, all-metal guitar 22 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk October 2019 Maintenance Matters Oil-trapping mat