Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) members have called for industry stimulus packages and a review of the viability tests on Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans (CBILS).

Digital twins are software representations of industrial equipment and assets, underpinning the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and are vital to many systems used in design and operation of industrial plant. Mikael Rudin, Digital Strategy and Architectures, ABB Industrial Automation, discusses how in the future, the functionality of these systems will be improved by machine learning, making smart machines even smarter. Autonomous operation will then become a realistic prospect, enabling completely new ways of operating equipment and plant.

RRC have created a new course delivery option that blends the dynamic of classroom based learning with RRC’s highly regarded Online Learning. RRC are now offering Live Online courses for:

• NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health & Safety
• NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management
• IOSH Managing Safely

The company behind driverless pods and an autonomous luggage dolly for the aviation sector has pivoted operations to support the UK’s search for additional PPE.

GreCon Limited is located just outside of Newcastle upon Tyne and is a member of the Fagus-GreCon Group.  With a wealth of experience as a global market leader, GreCon demonstrates a strong understanding of customer needs and provides turnkey solutions for a wide variety of industries including wood manufacturing, recycling, biomass, pharmaceutical, food, hygiene and more.

Contact-free Biometric Technology for use in the Manufacturing and Associated Industries.

The wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) — helmets, gloves, masks and goggles are commonplace within engineering and industrial settings – but this may now be a prerequisite when following the COVID19 guidelines. What’s more, employees may need to be identified and authenticated prior to entering their place of work via access control or time and attendance technology.

In recent years, the ‘REMBE Safety Days’ series of events has repeatedly made Brilon a meeting place for global explosion safety and process safety.  The content of the events was to present and discuss current topics in these areas as well as to create a platform for networking. In November 2019, 150 participants from five continents were welcomed to the Sauerland region. Unfortunately, no live events can take place due to the current situation. In order to nevertheless enable such an important exchange of knowledge, REMBE is offering a digital version of the REMBE Safety Days. 

Slack and Parr Limited is a privately owned UK based company, established in 1917 in Kegworth, near Derby. We are a world leader in the manufacture of ultra-high precision Gear metering pumps, and In 1978 established a Hydraulic Division initially manufacturing hydraulic power packs, fuels pumps, flow meters and flow dividers.

The Preparation Group’s contracting division PPC prepares thousands of square metres of different surfaces every month in readiness for final applications to be applied. We provide a One Stop Shop for environmentally friendly solutions for all types of surface preparation. Manufacturing machines and equipment at our premises in Lincoln UK. Our contracting division operations provides us with the confidence to recommend the correct machines and processes required for all your flooring solutions.

Croft Filters has over 30 years of specialist manufacturing experience creating bespoke filters for a wide range of industries including Chemical, Oil and Gas to the Food and Beverage sector.

APEX Dynamics, a leading supplier of high-precision gearboxes to the food, packaging and automation sectors, is urging customers to be on their guard against a wave of counterfeit products that have infiltrated the UK market in the last 12 months.

WEISS specialise in high speed automation focusing on the benefits of its comprehensive product range along with automated production and assembly processes. WEISS indexing and direct drive rotary tables along with the new LS-Hybrid transfer system constitute the basis of the automation solutions. WEISS products are still setting new standards in terms of speed, precision, and durability combined with WEISS linear motors, multi axis gantries, pick & place modules, direct drive torque motors, and delta robots.  „Today, WEISS provide system integrators with a complete range of rotary and linear products all from one supplier“ says Brendan Hayes General Manager at WEISS UK Ltd.

The FBDi (Fachverband Bauelemente Distribution e.V.) presents a new guideline on the subject of ‘Product Analyses and 8D-Report’. The trigger for the development of the guide is that in almost 80% of the complaints about electronic components with requested product analyses or 8D-Reports no fault can be found by the manufacturer. In order to increase quality and throughput speed and to enable realistic assessments, the FBDi Competence Team Quality developed the qualified action guide, which is now available for download in German and English on the FBDi website.  (https://www.fbdi.de/wissen-teilen.html)

Wilkinson Star, a major distributor of welding equipment, consumables and air compressors, is the new exclusive UK and Eire distributor for Weltek airfed grinding and welding systems.

The main concern for the manufactures of “high-purity” chemicals is ensuring that these chemicals are produced in a manner that guarantees the highest level of purity. When these chemicals are not manufactured according to strict specifications for purity, nightmarish scenarios can result for both the manufacturer and the end user. And because many of these products can be highly toxic and dangerous to handle, keeping them fully contained is also a must.

Compact, inexpensive, yet fast acting describes the GEMÜ 550 Angle Seat Globe Valve range for CIP/SIP applications. The valve spindle is sealed by a self-adjusting gland packing providing reliable valve spindle sealing even after a long service life. A wiper ring fitted in front of the gland packing protects the seal against contamination and damage. With an all stainless-steel actuator, spindle, body and even the switchbox or positioner, it exactly suits cleanroom and utilities process lines. And using our glowing LED 1235 switchbox it lights up the whole area!

Three new tools that will produce tens of thousands of critical parts for a new breathing aid designed to support Covid-19 patients are being manufactured in Telford.

Protolabs has created a dedicated 20-strong team to work with existing customer Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains to develop injection mould tooling in just three days.

Wire manufactured in the West Midlands is helping support the UK’s unprecedented drive to build more ventilators.

Alloy Wire International has been commissioned to produce more than 5 kilometers of material that will be used to produce crucial parts for use in life-saving equipment destined for the groundbreaking Nightingale Hospital in London.

One of the UK’s leading training providers has developed a new way of making sure apprentices are able to continue their learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In-Comm Training, which operates three technical academies in Aldridge, Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury, will be delivering all courses via a virtual platform, ensuring its 750 learners still have access to industry experienced trainers and assessors when they need them most.

We will not be able to meet at MACH show (rescheduled to 2021) but Seeley International experts are ready to guide you through the best cooling solutions for your company.

– In a time where we all need to stand together to battle the debilitating corona virus, Procentec wants to help those who work around the clock to maintain our way of living.

For the duration of this corona crisis, Pieter Barendrecht CEO of Procentec, offers companies that are currently hard at work creating a vaccine or antidote, or companies that are critical to keeping everything running, our newest Diagnostic solution – Osiris as a Software – for free.

Safety & Health Expo 2020 is the UK’s largest dedicated event for the international health and safety profession. Taking place at ExCeL London on 19–21 May 2020, it connects you to thousands of professionals and hundreds of leading exhibitors showcasing the latest solutions, ideas and innovations within the sector.

The growth of technology

Ten years ago, the idea of a 3D printer was unthinkable. They are like something from a futuristic movie – something radical, which would generally never come to fruition. Yet here we are, and here they are. They have been used to create such wild and wonderful things as hovercrafts and acoustic guitars, although they are more commonly used for smaller items and have revolutionised engineering. In fact, it is said that in the future they will even be used to build large-scale constructions like skyscrapers.

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), which owns and runs the MACH exhibition on behalf of the industry, has taken the decision to reschedule MACH from April 2020 to January 2021.

Ultrasonic Clamp on Flowmeters can provide solutions for onsite flow calibration, and with the latest user-friendly wizards, obtaining reliable and accurate measurements should pose no problems. A recent study conducted by four different engineers on the same pipe installation paints a different picture, with alarming issues in measurement reproducibility.

As customer demands for accreditation, safety, quality and value increase, the Hultafors Group continues to stay one step ahead of the competition.

The Hultafors Group’s PPE portfolio already includes market-leading tools, workwear and protective wear brands such as Snickers Workwear, Solid Gear and Toe Guard safety footwear, Hellberg Safety and Hultafors Tools.

There’s one thing that Professional Tradesmen and Women can’t do without if they want to get their jobs done properly – Healthy Hands!

So take good care of your most important tools and choose a pair that’s right for your work to ensure the ultimate in dexterity, durability, comfort and protection.

Looking for safe and robust manual diaphragm valves for use in sterile or hygienic applications? The GEMÜ 653/654 BioStar diaphragm valve has a stainless-steel bonnet and is available in two versions. The GEMÜ 653 with high temperature plastic handwheel and the 654 with a stainless steel handwheel to allow minimal heat sink for safe manual operation.

As customer demands for accreditation, safety, quality and value increase, the Hultafors Group continues to stay one step ahead of the competition.

The Hultafors Group’s PPE portfolio already includes market-leading tools, workwear and protective wear brands such as Snickers Workwear, Solid Gear and Toe Guard safety footwear, Hellberg Safety and Hultafors Tools.

The Anti-Counterfeit Forum’s 11th annual seminar, to be held on Wednesday 1st April 2020 at BAE Systems Park Centre in Farnborough, will focus on current trends and threats and new developments in combating counterfeits in the supply chain. As well as current and emerging new threats, delegates will also be able to hear about current and developing best practice for the management of counterfeits in the supply chain, current and developing new methods for the detection of counterfeits and how to access further information, much of it free of charge.

There’s one thing that Professional Tradesmen and Women can’t do without if they want to get their jobs done properly – Healthy Hands!

So take good care of your most important tools and choose a pair that’s right for your work to ensure the ultimate in dexterity, durability, comfort and protection.

An increasing number of manufacturers are looking to mitigate their risk by choosing to use strategic outsourcing according to one industry boss.

Tony Hauge, CEO of PP Control & Automation, believes recent uncertainty, Brexit and global trade wars are making firms reassess how they balance short-term term pain with the medium and longer-term picture and how they can best manage capacity and inventory whilst protecting their cash.

After adding lots of hand-held refractometers last year, PCE Instruments have recently launched a new tabletop Abbe refractometer that stands out by its high accuracy (4 decimal places). It measures the refractive index and the sugar content in % Brix, it has 100 memory locations and users can save user profiles and samples.

Accredited calibrations for pressure, electrical, flow and air velocity instruments via UKAS Laboratory 0604, offering reliable, quick turnaround and affordable sensor calibration for process & control instruments. Many of the calibrations are also available as onsite services, both traceable and ISO 17025 accredited.  Bespoke services are available for thermal uniformity surveys of for ovens, freezers and autoclaves.