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Cheap, lookalike hydraulic cylinders give companies headaches

Global advanced industrial tools and services leader Enerpac says the NZ market is falling victim to cheap, lookalike hydraulic cylinders that are causing significant headaches when they fail in service. Enerpac New Zealand Hydraulic Specialist, Mr Neville Stuart, says that unlike genuine Enerpac branded gear, lookalike cylinders have not been engineered for rugged conditions and optimum durability and are not backed by Enerpac’s nationwide service and warranty commitments. “Everyone is conscious of working within budget limitations, so when a $2,500 cylinder is available for under $500, it looks like a good deal. But what costs are incurred when that cylinder breaks down prematurely?” asks Mr Stuart. “It can be ten times that amount in terms of lost time, and hundreds of times that amount in terms of safety liability if they fail.” “Not only does production grind to a halt, but you now have to seek a replacement part, because there is no warranty or service with lookalike brands,” he says. Enerpac equipment is used in major projects where safety, precision and uptime are critical, in industries such as building, construction, civil and mechanical engineering, electrical utilities, manufacturing, mining and exploration, metal processing, oil and gas and transport maintenance. “At the end of the day it’s a case of ‘cheap comes out expensive’ because when you add up all the bills, a lookalike cylinder ends up causing far more costs, downtime, delays and other problems.” Mr Stuart has been raising awareness of New Zealand’s lookalike cylinder problem for years but says that the lookalike brands are persistent because they know they can make a quick dollar, then disappear before things go wrong. “The lookalike cylinders are usually painted in an almost identical yellow, and catalogues can even use similar part coding systems, but at the end of the day, if […]

Siemens expands additive manufacturing portfolio through acquisition of Atlas 3D

Atlas 3D helps designers define optimal part orientations for ‘right first time’ 3D printing Cloud-based, GPU-accelerated Sunata software can reduce downstream 3D printing errors caused by thermal distortion up to one hundred times faster than other solutions on the market Siemens announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Atlas 3D, Inc., a Plymouth, Indiana-based developer of software that works with direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) printers to automatically provide design engineers with the optimal print orientation and requisite support structures for additive parts in near real-time. Atlas 3D will join Siemens Digital Industries Software, where its solutions will expand additive manufacturing capabilities in the Xcelerator portfolio of software. Sunata software uses thermal distortion analysis to provide a simple, automated way to optimize part build orientation and generate support structures. This approach allows the designer—rather than the analyst—to perform these simulations, thereby reducing the downstream analysis that needs to be conducted via Simcenter software to achieve a part that meets design requirements. Siemens plans to make the Atlas 3D solution available through its online Additive Manufacturing Network. “We welcome Atlas 3D to the Siemens community as the newest member of our additive manufacturing team. Our solutions industrialize additive manufacturing for large enterprises, 3D printing service bureaus, design firms and CAD designers,” said Zvi Feuer, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing Engineering Software of Siemens Digital Industries Software. “The cloud-based Sunata software makes it easy for designers to determine the optimal way to 3D print parts for high quality and repeatability. The combination of Sunata with the robust CAE additive manufacturing tools in Simcenter enables a ‘right first time’ approach for industrial 3D printing.” “Siemens is a leader in additive manufacturing, with the most integrated and functionally robust solutions in the industry, so we are excited to join the team,” said […]

Is 5G ready for manufacturing?

High profile scandals aren’t typically good for the technology sector. Whether it’s diesel emissions, large data breaches or cyber-attacks on mission-critical infrastructure, scandal has the power to cripple a technology even before it’s gotten off the ground. Despite what recent headlines may have you thinking, 5G has the potential to be a hugely positive force in the world of manufacturing, heralding in a new era of technological innovation. While 3G and 4G offered incremental improvements in speed and bandwidth, 5G will be the first cellular, wireless platform to truly offer reliable integration with machine-to-machine and industrial IoT systems. It will do this in three ways. The first is enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB); 5G offers peak data rates of 10 Gbps and can handle 10,000 times more traffic than its predecessors. Secondly, it offers Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC). This means it has a radio latency of less than 1 ms and an availability of over 99.9 per cent, making it ideal for industrial use where uptime is critical. Thirdly, it offers Massive Machine-type Communication (eMTC), allowing it to handle a density of one million devices per square kilometre. It can also deliver ultra low-cost machine-to-machine communications and can last up to 10 years on battery, great for battery operated low power devices. So, what does this mean for industry? Well, not only will 5G open the door for real-time wireless sensor networks and location and asset tracking, it will also enable plant managers in smart factories to rely on seamless communication with a fleet of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) without worrying about network dropouts. What’s more, manufacturers that may have been sceptical of adopting the likes of augmented and virtual reality technologies will be able to take full advantage of them for real-time simulation and predictive maintenance. In industrial […]

Universities’ employ hydraulics to test concrete screw anchors

Australian university researchers are working to enhance safety and predictability in concrete construction projects by testing the strength and resistance to pull-out failure of screw anchors increasingly used in Asia-Pacific building, construction and infrastructure projects. The researchers at Edith Cowan University (WA) and Swinburne University of Technology (Vic) are using powerful Enerpac industrial hydraulics to test, measure and accurately predict the tensile loading capacity and failure point of screw anchors used to connect structural and non-structural elements to concrete. The series of hundreds of tests involved in the ongoing programme use an Enerpac RRH307 double-acting 30-ton capacity hollow pull-cylinder mounted in a reaction frame with load cells, displacement transducers andstrain gauges to measure results of multiple tests, including predicting the tensile strength of screw anchors failing under pull-out failure mode. The test rig developed by the School of Engineering researchers from both universities is powered by an Enerpac ZU Series portable electric pump with a powerful 1.25kW universal electric motor featuring high oil flow and bypass pressure. This provides the portability, reliability and power-to-weight ratios required to conduct multiple tests to the point of bolt destruction in many cases. The hydraulic tools involved are the same types used extensively in demanding industries using screw anchors, including building and construction; infrastructure and civil engineering; road and rail bridges and other structures; and mining, oil and gas and bulk handling facility construction and testing. The testing conducted by the two universities involves multiple types and diameters of screw anchors, using concrete of different compressive strengths and age. Aspects of the research compare results achieved in experiments with the predicted values of the Concrete Capacity Design (CCD) method. Test method A reaction frame with a clear span of 500mm was used to support the hollow cylinder jack and a hollow load cell. According to ETAG […]

Integrated tech company opens global headquarters in Adelaide

TT Fuel, a technology company manufacturing fuel supply systems, has consolidated its operations in Adelaide while launching a new fuel terminal. Opened by the Premier of South Australia, Steven Marshall, the new headquarters brings together the entire team of TT Fuel into a space that includes engineering, manufacturing, software development and a 24-hour global support desk. The Australian-owned company designs and manufactures fuel storage and handling systems for both industrial and retail customers. The company has grown into a global technology company since being bought by venture entrepreneurs in 1989 from a South Australian university spinoff. TT Fuel Group Director John Casey said they had contemplated moving the company out of South Australia but decided to stay because the state offered an excellent workforce and enviable lifestyle. “The exceptional lifestyle and ease of getting around Adelaide is conducive to creating a congenial workplace that makes it easier to keep the best people,” Casey said. He said that consolidating the company’s workforce at the new HQ in Torrensville, an inner suburb of Adelaide, would help the company fulfil its ambition to expand with new products and software such as its TT8800 Outdoor Payment Terminal, right, and T-POS retail point of sale terminal. Both products were officially launched at the new headquarters. The TT8800 is built to allow for secure automated management of unattended retail refuelling sites, especially in remote locations. It is connected to the 24-hour monitoring system at the new headquarters and is able to handle all types of payment cards so anyone can buy fuel at any time. The T-POS system allows fuel retailers to manage all sales on one screen while monitoring wet and dry stock levels in real time and control the operation of forecourt equipment. TT Fuel systems operate in some of the harshest environments in the world, […]

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Elastic Wearlon sheaves take stress out of wire rope applications

Wire ropes used in a broad range of equipment – including lifting, winching and conveying applications – can benefit from durable sheaves and rollers (bottom right) made from engineered plastics, which protect against metal-to-metal contact and harsh abrasion from metal alternatives. Wire rope is integral to lifting, shifting and power transmission across a host of industries, starting with mining in the 1830s and extending since across wide swathes of industry. Uses today encompass cranes and lifting, cargo handling, elevators, construction, primary and food product harvesting, power generation technology (such as tendons in windmills), winching and conveying in manufacturing, minerals processing and materials handling and fixed and mobile plant used in paper and timber processing. Wire rope’s big initial advantage over the chains it originally replaced was that it would not snap catastrophically where there were flaws in chain links or solid bars, but rather individual strands could fail while others around them would take up the load safely and flexibly without shock. However, even the best quality wire rope will ultimately wear and potentially fail if it is subjected to constant abrasion, such as that induced by uneven metal-to-metal contact across sheaves and where lubricants attract grime to gradually compromise strength while attracting impurities into industrial processes. To help protect against such issues, Cut To Size Plastics custom-engineers sheaves and rollers for wire ropes using some of the world’s hardest-wearing engineering plastics, formulated to reduce wear and maintenance and enhance safety in a wide range of machinery and materials handling equipment. Examples of such sheaves are fabricated from Cut To Size’s internationally proven Wearlon range of hard-wearing cast polyamide engineering plastics, such as the LiNNOTAM products of the globally respected Licharz organisation. These products are formulated both for OEM use and metal replacement in applications involving transmission of mechanical force […]

Adaptalift Group forklifts – HysterUT and Yale UX ranges

Australian materials handling leader Adaptalift Group is backing the new Hyster UT and Yale UX Series lift trucks to satisfy a strong need in the Australian market for quality-engineered, cost-effective forklifts suited to lower frequency applications typically limited to 1,000 hours a year. The new Hyster UT Series and Yale UX Series diesel or dual-fuel counterbalance forklifts, pallet trucks and stackers, in six different capacities from 1.5-3.5 tonnes, deliver an attractive, affordable and uncomplicated range for enhanced user choice across many industries. The new ranges provide an attractive option for customers who require quality materials handling equipment – backed by service provided by the dealer network and support of the globally leading Hyster-Yale Group – but don’t need advanced functionalities for their tasks. Adaptalift Group is a major dealer for both Hyster and Yale in Australia, and is demonstrating its full support for the launches of the reliable new forklift ranges through strong local stock levels. Adaptalift Group, which has more than 38 years’ experience in the materials handling industry, is uniquely positioned to offer both the new Hyster and Yale lift trucks, which will add to their fleet of approximately 10,500 units across Australia, backed by a workforce of more than 400. Customer benefits Hyster and Yale’s new ranges provide a simple approach to materials handling – backed by 24/7 service – which is particularly attractive to customers whose materials handling equipment is required to work intermittently over a working week, on an as-required basis, typically up to 1,000 hours a year. Not only do the new ranges fill a gap in the market for a high quality, low usage forklift backed by reliable service, they also have outstanding features for the user. For example, the 3-piece overhead guard, comfortable seat and access step. The new Hyster UT and […]

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Cemintel’s Territory range secures AS5113 EW classification

Light weight building innovator, Cemintel, has secured the first AS5113 EW classification for a fibre cement system. Cemintel’s Territory range acquired the additional rating to its existing CodeMark certificate following recent testing; demonstrating conformance to the rigorous Standard. Cemintel’s intelligently engineered, flexible systems and prefinished fibre cement cladding solutions aim to set new standards for design, performance and safety in Australia. Securing the AS5113 EW classification for the Territory range is a natural extension of the organisation’s commitment to developing quality, locally engineered building solutions. “Derived from the Japanese values of simplicity, nature and quality, the Territory range draws on traditional building materials like stone, timber, concrete and metal for inspiration; providing builders, designers and architects with a flexible, high performance, palette for iconic external designs,” says Paul Manks, General Manager of CSR Cemintel. “With the Territory range now meeting all of the criteria of the AS5113 EW, the most comprehensive fire safety rating for external walls available in Australia, designers and property owners can be even more confident that they are making a safe and aesthetically striking choice.” Standards Australia introduced AS5113 in March 2016. The Standard sets out procedures for a large-scale test that provides a reliable indication of the facade system’s resistance to the spread of fire. “While organisations in Australia may have tested to the AS5113 Standard, attaining EW certification is challenging; many systems have failed to pass the debris requirements. Following the Territory test, no debris was apparent and the wall was deemed to be in good condition.” “The classification has been added to the CodeMark certification to give the industry increased confidence in the compliance of the products and systems. The prefinished Territory range met all of the requirements, with no concessions required for any of the Pass criteria needed to receive the EW […]

HandySCAN 3D scanner meets Boeing’s requirements

Creaform, the worldwide leader in portable 3D measurement solutions and non-destructive testing (NDT) solutions, has announced that its HandySCAN 3D metrology-grade 3D laser scanner can now be used for recording physical attributes of aircraft dents and blends on all models of Boeing commercial airplanes. Boeing has released a service letter with guidance on the use of 3D scanners for measuring dents and blends on airplanes. The SmartDENT 3D solution and the flagship HandySCAN 3D scanner were used in the process of guiding Boeing’s quality requirements for the service letter. “Creaform is proud to see leaders such as Boeing, turn to 3D scanning solutions for surface defect inspection. With SmartDENT 3D, our goal is to provide the most accurate damage assessment to our customers, so they can make informed and safe decisions, while getting their aircraft back flying with minimal down time,” said Jérôme Beaumont, Global NDT Business Manager at Creaform. Overview of SmartDENT 3D benefits: Speed: 80 times faster than the pit gauge technique. It is the fastest and most reliable aircraft surface damage inspection tool available on the market. Metrology-grade measurements for aircraft maintenance: The scanner is accurate to 0.025 mm (0.0009 in.) and has a resolution of up to 0.100 mm (0.0039 in.) with high repeatability and traceable certificate. Intuitive pass/fail assessments: With its intuitive design and real-time software visualization, Creaform’s NDT solutions ensure short learning curves and minimal operator experience influence on the accuracy of results. Live visualisation and portability: Weighting less than a kilo, the handheld scanner is the perfect tool for work in hangars or directly outdoors. Users can easily perform 3D surface inspection of any part of an aircraft on which they would use manual techniques—including on and under wings. In addition to complying with Boeing’s service letter, Creaform HandySCAN 3D scanners are listed […]

Gamma helmets new benchmark for welder safety

Kemppi has launched its new Gamma range of helmets for welders The personal gear offers welders the best protection for the eyes, face and respiratory system, and it also integrates work lights for clear vision and safety in low light working conditions. The Gamma range reduces work fatigue, increases comfort, and helps guard against welding related health hazards. Designed to deliver maximum protection and safety for welding professionals, the Gamma family now sets the global benchmark. Intense light and heat from the welding and cutting arcs are known hazards in welding workshops. However, welding also contaminates the surrounding air. Welding and cutting fumes, which contain dangerous elements that are generally not visible to the naked eye, pollute the breathing air and can pose serious health risks. Typically, welders can breathe 4,000 litres of air in an 8-hour work shift, and if the lungs are unprotected, tiny fume particles can pass deep into the lung structure and can cause serious health risks through long and short-term exposure to the contaminated air. The new Gamma series protects welders from 99.8% of airborne fumes and particulates. ‘The Gamma series, when used together with the new powered filter unit, meets the highest European Total Inward Leakage (TIL) classification for respiratory performance, class TH3 as well as Australian and New Zealand standards,’ said David Green, Managing Director, Kemppi Australia. “This places the Gamma series in a category all of its own when it comes to delivering maximum overall protection for the welder.” Powered from either a battery powered filter pack or an airline breathing source, the Gamma GTH3 respirator models work on the ‘positive air pressure’ principal to exclude dangerous welding fumes, and supply clean and fresh breathing air into the breathing zone. These helmets ensure the welder enjoys a safe, cool and comfortable breathing […]

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