Automation delivers five-fold increase in productivity

Faced with increased international competition and a steep drop in mining construction, Kmar Engineering sought to automate its structural steel coping process. As a result, the company achieved a 500% increase in production, better finishes and dimensional tolerances, and the ability to produce a wider range of profiles, including pipework.

Sensorless vector drives prove the difference for machine builder

A Melbourne-based company that produces large-screen printing machines for export has improved its machine performance with sensorless vector drives.

Wittenstein alpha SC+, SPC+ and TPC+ right-angle gearboxes

Using new materials, innovative gearing designs and improved lubrication, the SC+, SPC+, and TPC+ operate cooler, leading to longer lifetime and increased speed.

Novel ethernet-based motion control architecture improves plastic bag machine

Modern plastic bag-making machines often have two servomotor based axes - web feed and cut/seal - plus a mechanically linked third axis for 'picking off' the finished bags. UK machine builders Hartech Engineering and GPL Machinery have developed a machine that also implements servo control on the third axis to provide programmable control of the pick-off action.

DEHN + SOHNE DEHNsecure DC surge protective device range

The DEHN + SOHNE range of DC surge protective devices, DEHNsecure, protects DC applications, including LTE (4G) GSM sites.

ADLINK Technology AMP-204C and AMP-208C motion controllers

The AMP-204C and AMP-208C are DSP-based 4- and 8-axis advanced pulse-train motion controllers, enabling high pulse output and encoder input frequency up to 6.5 and 20 MHz respectively.

Strides in automation: streamlining the factory floor

In the last 150 years, factoIn the last 150 years, factories have gone from totally manual operations with each work station operated byries have gone from totally manual operations with each work station operated by a single worker, to fully automated and integrated processes that can sometimes be operated 'lights out'.

This paper looks at the transformation of plant operations and the growth of automation intelligence.

Motion programming comes of age

Motion control systems have been evolving for decades now, as applications have demanded an increasing level of innovation and simplification. Complex operations are becoming easier to implement, at higher speeds and with greater accuracy.

Rio Tinto moves 100 million tonnes using autonomous haul trucks

Rio Tinto is celebrating a milestone in the Pilbara region: 100 million tonnes moved by autonomous haul truck (AHT) since trials commenced in 2008.

Festo H-gantry EXCM planar surface gantry

The H-gantry EXCM is a ready-to-install system that allows fast positioning at speeds of up to 500 mm/s and repetition accuracies of the order of ±0.05 mm, which makes the compact H-gantry suitable for applications in electronics production and small parts assembly.

Aerotech Sensor Fusion data acquisition system

Sensor Fusion is a 3U data acquisition device that provides precise time alignment of motion and data acquisition functions.

Cutting CCA’s carbon footprint

Coca-Cola Amatil is reducing the carbon footprint of its 600 mL PET bottles by 22% with the help of stainless steel.

Dematic delivers at Tesco’s fourth Dotcom store

Dematic has provided Tesco with an automated materials picking and handling system for the company’s fourth ‘Dotcom store’ that went live in January 2012. Dematic technology will also feature in Tesco’s fourth and fifth Dotcom stores.

Robofair shows advances in robotics and mechatronics

The fourth annual Robofair, the biggest yet, showcased national and international advances in robotics and mechatronics.

AMCI SMD23E 3-in-1 integrated motion control package with ethernet

The SMD23E integrates a stepper motor, drive and controller into one compact package, with an optional encoder available for move verification.