October 2018

What are the different types of compressed air dryers?

Compressed air dryers are an important addition to air compressors and allow particles such as oil and water vapour to be safely removed. Filtering and drying compressed air can reduce the chances of corrosion and other issues, improving the life of equipment and reducing the need for maintenance. Many air dryer types can effectively remove contaminants and water vapour, producing quality compressed air which is suitable for sensitive applications. Air dryer types include membrane, desiccant, deliquescent and refrigerated air compressor dryers. What is an air compressor dryer? Air compressor dryers use a number of different methods to remove moisture and water vapour from compressed air, depending on the air dryer types. Each type of air dryer has its own advantages and disadvantages which can make them more appropriate for certain situations. The amount of water vapour in air is measured as its ‘dew point’. The lower the temperature of air’s dew point, the less water vapour it contains and the drier it is. While some air dryer types can remove almost all the water vapour in air, lowering dew point becomes increasingly more expensive and difficult as water vapour is removed. Refrigerated compressed air dryers Refrigerated dryers are a popular compressed air dryer type as they are the most cost-effective to own and operate. Refrigerated air dryers work by cooling compressed air down until the water vapour condenses into a liquid form, which is then drained away. Refrigerated dryers are the best choice to dry air for general purposes, as they remove the largest amount of water with the least amount of energy use. This can greatly reduce the problems associated with wet compressed air without spending more resources to completely remove water vapour. Pros: Cost efficient Cons: Does not completely remove moisture Membrane compressed air dryers Membrane dryers work […]

Lightweight scanning solution

The Faro 8-Axis Design ScanArm 2.5C is the first colour capable portable lightweight 3D scanning solution providing an unprecedented ergonomic experience with both the 7-Axis or 8-Axis models. Using the new Faro Prizm™ full colour Laser Line Probe with powerful 3D design and modelling software, the 8-Axis Design ScanArm delivers high-resolution colour point-cloud data enabling more insight into object design and creation, geometry, surface composition and differentiation between materials. The colour information is also used in high-quality 3D visualisation of rendering objects in gaming, movies and online marketing. The added eighth-axis enables real-time rotation of the object being scanned – eliminating wasted time, reducing risk to delicate objects and supporting more complete scan output. The 8-Axis Design ScanArm 2.5C is the ideal solution for any organisation that may have the need to develop or manufacture parts and after-market products characterised by different coatings, materials, co-moulded parts or surfaced finishes without existing CAD models. In addition, you can reverse engineer legacy parts to design changes or replacement, create digital libraries to decrease inventory and warehouse costs, design aesthetically pleasing free form surfaces or leverage the power of rapid prototyping. This lightweight and easily manoeuvrable ScanArm is available in lengths of 2.5m, 3.5m and 4.0m and seamlessly scans challenging products, objects and prototypes. The Design ScanArm 2.5C comes equipped with dual, hot swappable batteries that enable continuous operation with no need for external power when the application requires measurement in the field or shop floor. Faro kinematic iProbe’s easy connect/disconnect combined with a simplified quick release, makes the device effortless to operate regardless of skill level or 3D scanning experience. The Faro 8-Axis Design ScanArm 2.5C is the ideal colour capable 3D scanning solution for any organisation that may have the need to: • Capture and digitise objects and props in full […]

Aurecon and Seequent lead on NZ’s largest transport infrastructure project

Global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon and Seequent, a developer of revolutionary visual data science software, are leading the way for digital engineering on New Zealand’s largest transport infrastructure project ever to be undertaken. Auckland’s City Rail Link (CRL) project is a 3.45km twin-tunnel underground rail link up to 42 metres below the city centre, transforming the downtown Britomart Transport Centre into a two-way through station that better connects the Auckland rail network. Infrastructure projects this size are challenging enough, without the added complexity of building them in a city located on a volcanic field. Embarking on a massive project like the CRL through an area of complex geology, including volcanoes, requires a very clear assessment of the ground conditions. This demanding task fell on the shoulders of Aurecon. To help attain and communicate this detailed technical analysis, Aurecon used Seequent’s 3D geological modelling solution, Leapfrog Works, which is specifically designed for the Civil Engineering and Environmental industries. Helping reduce risk on infrastructure projects Critical in any major infrastructure project, Aurecon needed to carry out detailed technical analysis of the ground conditions to identify the risks and then clearly communicate and mitigate these risks to the consortium of engineers and architects involved. Philip Kirk, Geotechnical Team Leader, Aurecon, says, “We didn’t want the construction team to encounter unexpected ground conditions that would compromise or delay the project. We had to get it right.” Seeing the complex volcanic geology To make informed decisions on structural design, services locations and construction methods, engineers and construction teams needed to ‘see’ how these ground conditions interacted. Using Leapfrog Works, Aurecon’s ground engineering and engineering design colleagues were able to readily visualise in 3D and were quickly surprised by how effective a communication tool Leapfrog Works was. A key feature in the development of […]

Quiet ZC cordless pump offers portability, speed and safety

Enerpac’s ZC series high performance pump An international leader in high pressure hydraulic tool technology, Enerpac, is introducing to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea compact and outstandingly powerful cordless hydraulic pumps ideal for jobs that require a combination of portability, speed and safety. The 700 bar (10,000psi) ZC Series pumps combine the performance of an electric pump with the convenience, portability and stumble-free safety of a battery pump that is ideal for applications where emissions and noise are concerns. The new generation cordless pumps – featuring a rechargeable 82V lithium ion battery with long run times, even under extreme site conditions – work well in remote locations where there is no access to power, as well as indoor uses where trip hazards, ergonomics or size are a concern. Available in single-acting, double-acting and Power Seater Post Tensioning models (weighing 29.7-33.3kg), the pumps provide a high-flow cordless solution for applications such as: lifting, shifting, cutting, pressing, gear pulling and other workshop maintenance tasks; foundation work; post-tensioning and rail, road, civil engineering and infrastructure development on sites as diverse as mining and energy, construction, oil and gas exploration and development; water and pipeline projects. These advanced technology pumps – with impressive run times and national service backing from Enerpac – are among the first of a stream of high-technology products Enerpac is introducing to save users time and money. The ZC-Series is a high-flow cordless solution with an 8-litre reservoir capacity, 0.52l/min flow at rated pressure and reduced noise level of 80 dB a maximum. They are designed to handle, for example, 50 lifting cycles with an RC1006 95-ton cylinder, or 90 cycles of the equally widely used RC504 cylinder on a single charge. ZCs save users time and money by eliminating the need for a generator and extension cords. […]

Kemppi releases tough, cost-effective X3 MIG Welder

Leading international welding equipment manufacturer, Kemppi, has launched the new Kemppi X3 MIG family, an evolution of its popular HiArc MIG range. The X3 is a basic and cost effective MIG alternative to Kemppi’s premium FastMig welding family, but with a high duty cycle and robust design is suitable for the tough and demanding conditions found in the metal fabrication industry. Available as a gas-cooled MIG/MAG welding package with carbon arc gouging, the X3 MIG Welder delivers excellent performance with up to 500 amperes at a 60% duty cycle. The machine is equipped with a wire feeder for 300mm wire spools and accepts wire diameters from 0.8 to 1.6mm, and with cored wires up to 2.0mm. It also offers outstanding welding control to deliver quality welds. The MIG/MAG process of the X3 MIG Welder has been carefully tuned at the Kemppi welding lab to give the arc excellent stability. This makes the arc easy to manage and minimises spatter, even when using inexpensive CO2 shielding gas. With less spatter, the need for post-weld grinding is reduced, and welders can use more of their time for productive welding. In addition, the machine has a range of functions that fine-tune the start and end of welds, improve the quality of the weld and help boost productivity. These include Crater Fill, Burn Back, Hot Stop, Soft Start, Hard Ignition and Creep Start. Plus, the machine is also very energy efficient. Kemppi is the number one pioneer in welding inverter technology, and the X3 MIG Welder uses the latest IGTB inverter technology to reduce its energy usage and minimise costs. A practical, no-nonsense machine for the professional welder, the Kemppi X3 MIG Welder is both robust and rugged. The system’s wire-feeder features a fully enclosed and impact resistant dual-skin cabinet to protect the wire […]

Aurecon appoints CSIRO leader to manufacturing practice

Will bring advanced technical capability and strategic thought leadership to Aurecon’s manufacturing business. Global engineering and infrastructure advisory company Aurecon has appointed Dr Ingrid Appelqvist as its new Client Director for Manufacturing. The appointment of Dr Appelqvist, effective September 17, comes as Aurecon grows its manufacturing work in response to Australia’s and New Zealand’s growing importance as a food supplier to Asia. The Australian Trade Commission says that by 2050, 60 per cent of the global demand for food will come from Asia.[1] Dr Appelqvist is a distinguished food scientist with a strong track record as a leader. She joins Aurecon from CSIRO, where she led the Food Structure group at the Agriculture and Food Business Unit – a position that saw her working on healthier foods that retain palatability and nutrition-uptake in the body. Her expertise in food design includes advanced food manufacturing processes and technologies, an expertise she will facilitate for Aurecon’s agri-food clients. Dr Alex Wonhas, Managing Director – Energy, Resources and Manufacturing at Aurecon, said the hiring of Dr Appelqvist will bring advanced technical capability and strategic thought-leadership to Aurecon’s manufacturing business at a time when Australia’s and New Zealand’s agri-business industries are gearing up for growth. “There is growing demand for high-quality and innovative food products from Asian markets. The ANZ agri-food-dairy industry has an opportunity to capture the most lucrative segments of these value-chains,” said Dr Wonhas. “Dr Appelqvist will help our clients implement leading-edge technologies and processes to give them an advantage in these growth markets.” Dr Wonhas said advanced manufacturing techniques – underpinned by new innovative process technologies, sensors, automation and machine learning – could enable higher quality and higher margin products. Aurecon’s food manufacturing practice takes a supply-chain view of the industry and focuses on quality of the product, food safety […]