Page 46 - Food & Drink Business August 2018

PRODUCT NEWS
SAFER OVENS WITH
FLOW SWITCH/
MONITOR
THE FS10i Flow Switch/Monitor from Fluid Components International (FCI) has been designed to aid specifiers and designers of industrial-grade ovens and furnaces.
The flow switch, or monitor, which is available from AMS Instrumentation & Calibration, provides a ruggedised, reliable ventilation component which meets the requirements of safe operation of ovens, furnaces and systems.
The dual-function flow switch/ monitor is useful in air flow safety-related applications due to its low flow detection and repeatability, no moving parts reliability, and SIL 2 compliant integrity.
The FS10i provides both a relay output for low flow trip point detection and a continuous 4-20mA flow monitoring output. The trip point and user-settable functions are easily user-set in the field under actual operating conditions using tactile feedback buttons.
The switch/monitor operates over a wide flow range from 0,076 MPS to 122 MPS, and repeatability is ±0.5% of reading. It is designed for simple insertion into 13mm or larger diameter venting pipes and square ducts.
The FS10i is fast- responding and highly repeatable to both increasing and decreasing changes in flow rate. It offers long-life with no routine maintenance installation in rugged industrial plant environments. It has no moving parts to
clog or foul and requires no routine maintenance, which saves time and expense.
OMRON ROLLS OUT NEW ROBOTS
AUTOMATION tech company Omron has announced a new SCARA robot with enhanced performance.
Named the i4, the new robot can save space during installation and allow easier configuration into existing production lines, and according to its maker, is fast, repeatable, easy to operate and flexible for multiple configurations and applications.
To meet the challenge of having to produce a high-mix, low volume of products and shorter product life cycles while dealing with labor shortage issues, the i4 line features better communication through EtherCAT, enabling synchronisation between other automation devices. This facilitates advanced assembly, inserting and mounting processes that require high accuracy and demanding throughput, as well as quality control with vision integration.
Also, i4 visualises working data and supervises its status with built-in signals for preventive maintenance, allowing users to mitigate unplanned downtime. The SCARA line meets the demands of mass customisation, allowing manufacturers to produce high mixes of products at low volume to offer a wider array of goods to people.
PALLET TRUCK PACKS A PUNCH
CROWN Equipment has boosted its pallet truck line-up with a compact new model.
Part of the Crown WP series, the WP 3010 has an AC drive motor combined with the e GEN regenerative braking system for performance, reliability, long battery life and maintenance-free braking.
The WP 3010 Series’ short (500mm) head length, fork length of up to 1150mm, built-in charger and low weight (279kg without battery) makes it suitable to back-of-truck work. It has a load capacity of 1600kg, heavy-duty gearbox, helical gear set, optimised steel structure and high-tensile steel forks. The WP 3010 Series also features the same cast aluminium Crown X-10 handle with the ergonomic controls used on the rest of the WP Series range.
Crown Equipment sales and marketing director Craig Kenchington says the WP 3010 Series’ competitive pricing will open up another market segment.
“Crown has made a power pallet truck with compact dimensions, so it’s ideal for moving and positioning loads quickly and safely in confined storage spaces,” he says.
“It has also compacted the entry price of the Crown WP Series model line-up, which means you no longer need to sacrifice quality, longevity and ergonomics to have an affordable power pallet truck.”
LONG-TERM MOISTURE CONTROL
MICHELL Instruments’ QMA601 process moisture analyser has been updated with an option that makes it suitable for continuous catalyst regeneration (CCR) reforming processes. Its fast response and stable measurements provide operators with reliable moisture control over longer periods without the need for frequent maintenance, according to the company.
In CCR reforming, a moisture analyser is a necessary part of the process to ensure the desired moisture levels remain constant, however, the presence of hydrochloric acid soon compromises sensors, increasing maintenance costs for the operator.
To prevent frequent and expensive maintenance, Michell engineers developed an updated version of the QMA601 which further extends life of the QCM moisture sensor, making the moisture analyser more cost-efficient in the CCR application. There is also a new sample system option which includes a valve isolating the sample to the sensor while allowing a filter drain/ bypass flow to continue to purge through the sample line.
QCM is often specified for gas and petrochemical processing applications, and Michell’s QMA601 process moisture analyser uses this technology, which gives it a lower detection limit of 0.1ppmV and an upper range of 2000ppmV.
The QMA601 analyser has a full-colour touch-screen interface which allows interrogation and operation in situ, with no need for a hot-works permit. All data logging and readings are easily visible, and the main display also incorporates real-time trend graphing and alarm indicators. The analyser is fully certified for use in hazardous areas around the world, with accreditations from ATEX, IECEx and cCSAus.
46 | Food&Drink business | August 2018 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au