The future of safety engineering and manufacturing and processing now focuses around the digital and this creates new opportunities and challenges for plants operators, and enables them to enhance efficiency, increase flexibility, while making their plants more safe and secure. Andy Pye, Talking Industry Chair looks at some of the discussion points.

Marek Lukaszczyk, Europe and Middle East marketing manager at the motors and drives specialist WEG, looks at how Industry 4.0 has evolved to now support increased equipment life in pumps

With a myriad of new product launches, new technologies and live demonstrations of the latest smart manufacturing solutions, PPMA Total Show 2022 is set to be an important event for members of the processing, packaging machinery, robots and industrial vision communities. PWE reports.

By applying the 3 Rs waste hierarchy - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - to bearings, we can make a genuine difference, explains Alan Stewart, Brammer Buck & Hickman Bearing Product Manager – SKF Products.

While there are some similarities between RFID tags and barcodes, there are also significant differences. Tony Coghlan, Managing Director at Turck Banner explains how his company is specialising in harvesting these extra benefits.

A petrochemical processor was recently forced to make an emergency shutdown to reveal that it was being supplied with counterfeit bearings. Most people do not fully appreciate the scale of the counterfeiting problem or the risks it creates. At a time of rising demand and growing pressures on supply chains, Chris Johnson* asks if the problem of counterfeiting may be on the rise.

Roller chains used to drive food packaging machines have to ensure stable motion. With produce destined for demanding supermarkets, conveyors driven by roller chains must maintain the quality of packaged produce, as well as high throughput. PWE reports.

If you think that valve position sensors are uninteresting devices and that there’s little to choose between them, read on, says Andy Walker of ifm electronic.

Clive Jones* explains how to optimise a new thermal fluid system.

How would you expect to monitor water levels at a group of water reservoirs dispersed over a large area reservoir and control water pumps accordingly? Ian Loudon* spoke to PWE about what is needed for industry to overcome these challenges

With the launch of Gates’ GT4, the company highlights how it has conducted the most comprehensive ratings development plan in its history in order to provide its customers with the most accurate predictive tools in the industry. PWE reports.

Mike Keefe* explains the differences between stepper and servo motors and when it is appropriate to use each technology

Andy Pye reports on the final Talking Industry session of the year. It covered the burgeoning applications of additive manufacturing (3D printing). Additive manufacturing (AM) uses CAD data or 3D object scanners to deposit material, layer upon layer, in precise geometric shapes

The Swiss company Kaesaro connects sensors and actuators in cheese cellar robots with Murrelektronik’s F&B Pro connectors designed for the food industry. This in turn has benefited both cleanability and longer maintenance intervals. PWE reports.

Fifteen water injection pumps are optimising production at Iraq’s largest oil field. PWE reports.

Clive Jones* gives advice on choosing the right heat transfer system for your application.

We’ve seen a gradual increased presence of robots on manufacturing factory floors, and industries that have embraced automation have seen an increase in efficiency and productivity. Gary Livingstone* reports

From worn bearings to a damaged seal, seemingly minor issues can quickly escalate and lead to the shutdown of an entire pump system. Luckily, a careful preventive maintenance strategy can help pump owners identify potential threats before disaster strikes. Brian Tait* explains how.

It is vital to check your seals constantly whether the machinery is being used or not. Especially during periods of no use, this is the perfect time to check your seals for any signs of damage and wear that you may need to address. It’s important to do this as seal failures can lead to equipment problems which may be detrimental to your equipment and business.

PWE reviews the concepts of mine water and mine water management as well as the most common pumping applications.

Gates (NYSE: GTES), a leading global provider of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions, has announced it has introduced MEGASys MXT with XtraTuff

The fifth in the Talking Industry series of online panel discussions focussed on developments in, and issues surrounding, robotic and advanced automation technologies. Andy Pye, who chaired the session, reports on some of the highlights of the lively session.

Sean Robison* explains what modern technologies to implement that can improve overall equipment effectiveness and operational resiliency.

In a wireless age, the use of cables may be losing its function in some industries, however for others, the role they play is as important as ever. In the case of the manufacturing, as technology becomes increasingly integrated, so does the prominence of cables. Stewart Beer* reports.

Chris Evans* looks at the effect the pandemic could have on the future adoption of automation in manufacturing within SMEs.