Page 46 - Food&Drink March 2022

PRODUCT NEWS
A MAGNETIC GRIP
THE MHM gripper range from SMC uses magnetic technology for product handling on irregular surfaces.
SMC Corporation Australia New Zealand product manager Guiomar Fernandez said the MHM is the answer to the problem of regular vacuum pads being unable to gain sufficient absorption of workpieces on uneven or perforated surfaces.
“With a holding force of up to 1000 N, it keeps hold of the workpieces even when the air is shut off, offering peace of mind when it comes to reliable and safe movement of workpieces. Furthermore, with a residual force of 0.3 N or less, cycle times are reduced, and productivity output is improved,” Fernandez said.
The MHM series is ideal for cobot applications where suction pads and grippers will not perform optimally due to uneven or porous surfaces. Suitable for a range of transfer applications, the holding force of the MHM can be adjusted by changing the distance between the magnet and workpiece by the adjustment bolt. Made from Fluororubber, the bumper prevents damage to the workpieces, delivering cost savings.
“End effectors, primarily in the form of grippers, enable the business end of the cobot to handle and manipulate parts with a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials.
“The bumper also prevents the workpiece from slipping during operations, improving safety. Featuring three mountable surfaces and the option to mount auto switches, the MHM offers flexibility and greater process control,” Fernandez said.
MONITORING YOUR EVERY NEED
PAESSLER has expanded its PRTG Hosted Monitor solution, with the monitoring-as-a-service now available across multiple markets with a diverse range of licensing options.
PRTG Hosted Monitor is a service built on Paessler’s award-winning PRTG Network Monitor. With its widespread functionality in IT monitoring, and easy integration into systems and networks, PRTG solutions enable IT professionals to monitor classic infrastructure, data centre environments and services, and IoT/OT devices at the same time within one tool.
Paessler CEO Helmut Binder said PRTG supports tech environments that are under pressure.
“With PRTG Hosted Monitor, IT professionals have the necessary flexibility to scale and adapt as required, as well as obtain a full 24/7 holistic view of their IT environment. They can check its health, ensure problems are dealt with immediately and feel confident that should the situation change, their IT is able to adapt with them,” Binder said.
The monitor offers more than 250 predefined sensors out of the box and is able to monitor any device that has an IP address associated with it. Its benefits include: IT monitoring without server hardware; combined cloud and IT infrastructure; and OpEx instead of CapEx.
PUMPING UP THE AR
WATSON-MARLOW Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG) has launched the first in a series of augmented reality (AR) apps. Developed to enhance the customer experience and post-sales support for its products, the first app has been built for its Certa Sine pump. This is a pump renowned for meeting the highest standards in hygiene and cleanability, improving process efficiency and minimising total cost of ownership.
The Certa AR app allows customers to easily identify the tools required for Certa Sine pump maintenance tasks while providing information and clear step-by-step visual guidance. While the app has been intuitively designed so that users do not need previous experience of AR, it also targets the digital native skillset, whose learning excels when utilising visual, digital technology. By laying AR visual instructions over a customer’s own pump, the app aids customer understanding of a task and saves time previously spent consulting written product manuals.
The app was developed in-house by WMFTG’s new Digital Transformation department. Head of Department, Matthew Thomas said, “The growth of this department demonstrates WMFTG’s continued commitment to the pursuit of creative and accessible customer focussed solutions.
“There is a new generation of employees with the skills and preference to consume instructions using visual, digital technology and this app makes learning new skills much more accessible.”
SMALL FORMAT FOR A LARGE IMPACT
TREOTHAM’S range of Wenglor inductive sensors with increased switching distances features enhanced performance in miniature design.
There are eight new sensors from the I03 and I04 series in the compact D3 and M4 housing for detecting metallic objects in confined systems. Practically no larger than a pin head, the robust sensors in V2A stainless steel housing demonstrate their strengths exactly where space is most limited.
In total, there are now sensors in nine different formats in this range, with five connection types and in 15 different housing lengths.
The I03 series sensors have a diameter of just 3 mm (D3) and a smooth housing, while the I04 series has an external thread with a total diameter of 4 mm (M4). With both series, the housing is just 22 mm long.
The almost invisible miniature sensors detect precise switching signals in places where virtually no installation space is available. Increased switching distances of up to 1 mm, a robust PUR cable connection (two meters), a high IP67 degree of protection and a broad temperature range between –25°C and +70°C ensure high performance and long service life.
Wenglor product manager Maria Boos said, “Thanks to flush mounting, the sensors can be integrated mechanically protected in systems.
“The optional PNP/NPN and NO/NC variants also enable convenient handling with existing systems. Thanks to the LED adjustment aid, the sensors can also be easily installed. The bright LED shows the status clearly, even over long distances.”
The monitoring of drive shafts in chain conveyor systems in the packaging industry is also one of the key advantages of these sensors.
46 | Food&Drink business | March 2022 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au