FMA was recently involved in the process design and control requirements for the filtration, beer supply and CIP systems to Can Lines 2 and 3 for the GBP35M Merlin project at Coors Burton brewery.

FMA has a long-standing relationship with Coors Brewers - their track record spans both complete turnkey operations as well as specific control systems. Indeed, the company was only recently involved in the process design and control requirements for the filtration, beer supply and CIP systems to Can Lines 2 and 3 for the GBP35M Merlin project at Coors Burton brewery. This involved the complete re-automation of the existing two KG filters and the horizontal leaf PVPP filter, plus the addition of a second horizontal PVPP filter to create two discrete filter lines - whilst ensuring maintained production throughput for existing packaging requirements.

FMA involvement in "Merlin" also focused upon the concurrent electrical installation and control system for the new beer supplies from the BBTs to can lines 2 and 3 via the use of an existing CIP unit.

A Rockwell Controllogix solution was used to upgrade the existing PLC control system for filtration and provide control over beer supply for the can lines.

Using their considerable process knowledge, FMA was then able to provide a detailed functional specification incorporating filtration, CIP and beer supply requirements as well as operation of all new and existing process plant.

Full liaison took place with OEM equipment suppliers and thorough software simulation procedures were embarked upon.

A considerable part of the success of this complex project was down to the thorough simulation testing and operator training carried out by FMA and Coors.

Hazardous area equipment specialist Hawke International has introduced cable gland selection software on the latest version of their electronic catalogue.

Hazardous area equipment specialist Hawke International has introduced cable gland selection software on the latest version of their electronic catalogue. Designers can drill down, using context relevant help, to find the right gland for their needs. Operators may either specify environmental requirements and cable characteristics or use cable manufacturer's codes and product descriptions to access the data sheet for the relevant product.

"Previously, selecting the correct cable gland was a time consuming exercise - our software has changed this," explained Mike Connelly.

The software not only leads the enquirer to the right product but also shows alternative and similar products that can be considered.

"Improving gland selection achieves greater safety with a possibility of substantial cost saving in some cases," added Mike.

The CD will save time for project designers and electrical engineers.

The interactive catalogue features the complete Hawke portfolio including glands for hazardous and industrial areas complying with either European or North American standards.

Full technical sheets are called up in PDF format for previewing.

The selection software can automatically generate enquiries for printing or faxing.

Enquiries can also be saved for easy recall in the future.

There is even a simple one-button operation to export enquiry data to Microsoft Excel.

In addition to accessing data sheets and generating enquiries, users can view product certificates and obtain useful installation advice from the training videos, which are also included on the CD.

The CD is part of a programme of ongoing product development and user support.

Mike Connelly commented, "The software is a first for our industry, but we are still moving forward.

Additional cable data is being added all the time.

We will also be making these tools accessible via the web and adding multi-language capability in the near future."

In any shift pattern, there is always a "Best Operator" at operating the plant: Startim from MTS is designed to integrate with existing plant control systems in the same way that a good operator would.

Imagine your best operator always on the job! In any shift pattern, there is always a "Best Operator" at operating the plant in normal and abnormal conditions. If only they could operate the plant 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and never retire, profits would be up and the future a little more secure. The bad news is that they can't, the good news is that Startim can.

Startim is designed to integrate with existing plant control systems in the same way that a good operator would.

However it also automates the coordination, preparation and planning best practices appropriate to current plant operating conditions and constraints to deliver a total control solution.

Startim delivers most benefit in improving plant transitions between operating conditions.

These plant transitions may be as complex as site start-up or shutdown; or for a particular processing plant, may involve grade changing, product changeover, improved recipe management or emergency shutdown or recovery.

As a manager, using a total control solution such as Startim you will know that your plant is being operated within all plant safety guidelines, with an audit trail of automated actions and manual interventions.

Experience of using Startim on a number of processing units has demonstrated the practical benefit of defining current best practice for operating procedures and automating their complete implementation.

Repeatability and reliability then become the cornerstones of delivering and improving on current best practice with all its present day financial rewards.

Additionally, a system that takes best practice and retains it as 'Corporate Memory' can significantly reduce future risk.

Rittal's new 4 pole Maxi-PLS is a fully modular partially type tested system for numerous applications such as power distribution, variable speed drives, process and the utility industries.

Rittal's new 4 pole Maxi-PLS which utilises the popular TS8 enclosure range is a fully modular partially type tested system for numerous applications such as power distribution, variable speed drives, process and the utility industries. The components are supplied ready to install, allowing fast assembly without any form of drilling, sawing or bending. When considering a conventional ACB enclosure typically taking 24-36 hours to build, 4 pole Maxi outstrips this by taking an average of just 1 day.

With options of 2000amps or 3200amps the possibilities are endless and Maxi-PLS integrates with all commercially available Air Circuit Breakers to offer maximum investment return.

With a system so simple to purchase, install and later modify Maxi-PLS not only eliminates high labour costs but also takes away the worry of having to cope with a large power distribution system.

More information can be found in the new power distribution catalogue, available from Rittal, which also contains a full range of products to accessorise Maxi-PLS solutions.

Poeton Industries Limited, a world leader in surface coating technology, has won a substantial order from its Gloucestershire neighbour Spirax Sarco thanks to investment in a new coating process.

Poeton Industries Limited, a world leader in surface coating technology, has won a substantial order from its Gloucestershire neighbour Spirax Sarco thanks to a recent 90,000 GBP investment in EDEN - a special environmental dialysis system designed to reduce waste from the coating process. Cheltenham based Spirax Sarco, a supplier of products and services worldwide for the control of steam and other industrial fluids, adheres to a strict environmental policy when selecting its supplier partners. The company placed the order with Poeton after sample coatings proved that the combination of the new Poeton semi-automated electroless nickel line and the EDEN environmental system, provided consistently high standards of corrosion protection for a range of steam traps and control and metering products.

Explains Poeton managing director Colin John: "EDEN provides continuous and very precise control of the electroless nickel solution, which means we achieve much more consistent plating rates and finer tolerances".

A spokesman for Spirax Sarco agrees: "We were impressed with the Poeton ability to deliver such a high quality, 'right first time' corrosion resistant coating, and equally impressed with the more attractive finish it provided for our cast iron components".

The steam traps are coated with Apticote 400, a nickel composite coating that combines the protection of low friction polymers with the natural hardness and corrosion resistance of nickel to provide superior wear, abrasion and chemical resistance.

To ensure on-time delivery for the Spirax Sarco monthly production schedule, Poeton also provides a weekly collection and delivery service and has the flexibility to operate its electroless-nickel lines 24-hours a day to meet any increases in demand.

To discuss surface treatments, sample part processing or technical advice call Poeton Industries now.

EDEN - Electro Dialysis for Electroless Nickel - works by continuously cleaning the process solution in the two electroless nickel plating lines.

It has reduced monthly volumes of spent process solutions by 1500 litres and virtually eliminated the generation of hazardous heavy metal waste.

Poeton believes it is the first UK surface treatment specialist to install the EDEN environmental system.

The tube clamp system from Automation Supplies is a versatile approach to tube clamping, using one unit for multiple diameters of tube sizes from 20 to 50mm.

Automation Supplies is a new company offering a range of exciting new engineered products from one source, based on the popular and increasing use of established modular parts and assemblies to achieve cost effective solutions. The tube clamp system is a comprehensive range of round and square tube connection clamps and joints for making small or large frames from steel, stainless steel and aluminium. The two way connector clamp GN133 is a new addition to the range allowing a rigid 90 degree connection of two tubes which have different outside diameters.

The clamp is made from cast aluminium and is available in finishes of black plastic coated, natural aluminium, and to special order in any RAL colour.

The different combinations of tube diameters able to be used with this tube connection element are 20, 25, 30, 40, 42, 45, 48 and 50mm.

Tube clamping can be specified via the use of cap screws or adjusting handles in steel and stainless steel.

A full catalogue of the tube connection system is available for download or in print from the Automation Supplies website.

This component can also be adapted to be used with the linear adjustment system that forms part of the tube clamp system.