The new Inventory Management Solution from Lambda calibration Ltd.

Lambda Calibration Ltd, the Chorley based UKAS calibration laboratory are pleased to announce their new Inventory Management Solution.

The Inventory Management Solution (IMS) enables clients to have free web access to their measuring equipment calibration records. The client can generate “recall” and “overdue” reports and even export the measuring equipment inventory to a spreadsheet. Calibration certificates can be downloaded, viewed or printed calibration certificates. Simple and easy to use, this new Inventory Management Solution has already been a useful tool for existing clients of Lambda calibration Ltd enabling the storage and viewing of calibration records going back years.

To access the system simply click on the IMS link at the top of the page. Complete the on-line form and submit it. Lambda Calibration will then review the details entered. Once the account has been approved, Lambda will activate the chosen username and password and an email will be sent. The new IMS account can then be used.

Lambda have made the system extremely easy to use as many of their clients are busy and do not have the time to learn a complicated new system. There is a help section inside which will only take you a minute or so to read should it be required.

Lambda Calibration Ltd is an independent laboratory providing UKAS accredited gauge, meter and equipment calibration services throughout the UK and Ireland. With years of experience spanning all sectors and UKAS accreditations across multiple disciplines, Lambda is a genuine “one stop shop” for all measuring instrument services including gauge, tool, electrical, meter, pressure calibration, instrument, temperature, thermometer, torque and torque wrench calibration.

For more information on all the UKAS calibration services offered by Lambda Calibration Ltd, visit http://www.lambda-cal.co.uk

Precision Polymer Engineering, a Unit of IDEX Corp. to announce latest ultra-high and extreme low temperature seals at Offshore Europe.

High performance seals specialist, Precision Polymer Engineering, a Unit of IDEX Corp., is announcing its latest developments in ultra-high temperature and extreme low temperature resistant Perlast perfluoroelastomer and Endura seals for HP/HT/LT offshore applications, at Offshore Europe on Stand No. 3E80.

For continuous use at high temperatures, without loss of mechanical performance, PPE has developed perfluoroelastomer Perlast G75TX for processes up to 327°C (621°F), together with fluoroelastomer V91J for continuous exposure at 250°C (482°F). Overcoming the traditional weakness of perfluoroelastomers at low temperature, all-round sealing performer Perlast G92E is now capable of sub-zero operation down to -30°C (-22°F) at pressures up to 5,500psi.

Endura seals for demanding applications
The Endura range of oilfield elastomers has been specifically developed by PPE for use in downhole, surface and subsea oilfield equipment and offers excellent rapid gas decompression (RGD) resistance. Many of the Endura materials have been tested to international RGD standards such as NORSOK, TOTAL and NACE. Over the past 25 years, PPE has supplied O rings and custom seals for systems operating in the most inhospitable subsea environments in the world at temperatures from -46°C (-51°F) up to +327°C (+621°F).

PPE has sales offices in Aberdeen, the US (Houston), Europe and Asia, in addition to extensive manufacturing and technical development resources at the company’s Blackburn facility in Lancashire.

PPE is a world leading designer and manufacturer of high performance sealing solutions. The company’s elastomers product range is used in many demanding manufacturing environments around the world. Applications as varied as semi-conductor manufacturing, food processing, pharmaceuticals, marine engineering and power generation benefit from PPE’s innovative, robust and reliable sealing solutions.

Founded in 1974, PPE has over 35 years specialist sealing expertise, offering an unrivalled range of products from over 170 elastomer materials. The company’s materials scientists and applications technologists are working at the forefront of elastomer technology, developing new materials for specialist applications. These include PERLAST®, the world’s leading perfluoroelastomer for critical sealing applications such as semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturing, and ENDURA® which was specifically developed for use in the oil and gas industry.

For details of PPE’s range of Perlast and Endura O rings, T-section rubber seals, special profiles and custom-made seals and rubber gaskets, visit http://www.prepol.com

Industrial Steel Partitions and steel partitioning are easily overlooked as a solution to your office needs.

Steel partitions provide a tough yet flexible way of dividing your workplace as an alternative to more traditional stud and board or block-built partitioning systems.

Just as modern building techniques trend towards prefabricated buildings, the industrial steel partition and steel partitioning sections are created (and painted to the colour of your choice) in a factory. They arrive ready-made and are simply bolted to existing industrial steel partitioning wall panels on site, in situ. No wet trades, no plasterboard dust and no decorators – it’s simple, quick and easy. You’ll hardly know installation has ever happened (well, other than the fact that you have new great looking offices made from our steel partitions ready to use).
Read the rest of this entry »

Calibration, basically involves the comparison of a measuring instrument, the Unit Under Test (UUT) to a Standard of known accuracy.

The standard comparison for calibration would ideally be more accurate than the UUT and have its own calibration certificate which can be traced back through an unbroken chain of calibrated standards to an appropriate standard held by a National Laboratory. In the UK, this would be the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).

UKAS Calibration is essentially calibration undertaken by a laboratory which has been independantly audited and subsequently accredited by UKAS to carry out the work.
Read the rest of this entry »

Rubber seal and gasket manufacturer invests in new production equipment.

High performance rubber seals manufacturer, Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE), a Unit of IDEX Corp., has invested in new production equipment to meet growing demand for Endura seals by leading oil and gas companies around the world.

PPE specializes in standard and customised rubber seals for demanding applications in the oil and gas industry as well as semiconductor manufacture, chemical and food processing and pharmaceutical manufacture. Through a combination of innovative elastomer compounding, seal design expertise and rapid, precision manufacture, the company is able to meet customers’ most challenging rubber gaskets needs.
Read the rest of this entry »

Chlorine Monitors are used in many applications requiring the measurement of residual chlorine concentration for chlorine monitoring or residual chlorine dosing control.

A residual chlorine analyzer or meter has various applications including:

•    Continuous chlorine monitoring
•    Water treatment plant residual chlorine control
•    Secondary chlorination free chlorine control
•    Distribution monitoring for total residual chlorine
•    Cooling tower chlorine monitoring and control
•    Pasteuriser chlorine dosing control
•    Seawater chlorination control
•    Chlorine in seawater monitor

The membraned amperometric chlorine sensor is enhanced with a third, reference, electrode which eliminates zero drift. pH correction is often not required at all. (NB. These chlorine sensors are often known as polarographic chlorine sensors although this is a misuse of the word polarographic).

The chlorine sensor used by the Residual Total Chlorine Meter and the Residual Free Chlorine Monitors are both largely pH independent meaning that both chlorine analyzers are bufferless and reagentless. They both utilize amperometric chlorine sensors and both show remarkable sensitivity and stability. For those making a chlorine measurement at high pH (>pH 8.5) on variable pH water it is possible to provide pH compensation from either a pH sensor connected to the chlorine analyser or from an external pH meter.
Read the rest of this entry »

Industrial Air Power Ltd is the authorised distributor for Ingersoll Rand Industrial Technologies products throughout Wales and the South West of England. The two companies have made a dramatic shift from being suppliers of equipment to providers of solutions. We are fully conversant with all aspects of air generation and equipped to carry out energy audits on any installed system, regardless of size or manufacturer.

A full system audit includes leak detection, measurement of energy consumption, and flow measurement including pressure, temperature and final air quality.

As utility rates continue to rise and firms continue to look to green initiatives, energy consumption has become a growing concern for manufacturers.

One of the largest energy users within a plant is the compressed air system. Energy recovery provides a cost-effective way for manufacturers to reduce their energy bills while simultaneously benefiting the environment by capturing the thermal energy created through the compression process and putting it to work. Where the heat produced from a compressor can be fully utilised, simple payback periods of less than two years are frequently achieved.

Having already worked with Carbon Trust on a variety of projects, Terram called on its expertise when faced with rising energy costs. The specialist manufacturer of geosynthetic materials, employing 95 staff at its manufacturing plant near Pontypool, worked with Industrial Air Power to eliminate energy inefficiencies and redesign and install a new air compressor system. The result was an industry best in terms of energy usage and savings of £202,000 per annum. It also produced:

* Energy savings of approximately 11.25 million kWh over five years
* Cost savings of approximately £1m in five years
* Emission savings of 7,390 tonnes CO2 in the same period
* Payback of approximately 24 months

David Roberts, control engineer at Terram Ltd, said: “The savings we are seeing now are unbelievable but just as important is the fact that we are reducing our carbon emissions and therefore benefiting the environment.”

Although Terram had already started to investigate the costs for new compressed air systems, it hadn’t looked at where, when, how much air was being used. Carbon Trust helped it identify this and used Industrial Air Power to design a system to meet its needs.

Having a tailor-made system installed in turn allowed Terram to capitalise on secondary savings such as heat recovery and compressed air leak reduction.

Ongoing monitoring of the fully automated system allows the savings to be quantified. Monitoring also ensures that the focus on savings is maintained and remains a high priority for Terram.

The new compressor system was located into the steam boiler house. This enabled Terram to recover the waste heat generated by the compressors and use this to raise the temperature of the water in the hot well, which feeds the boiler. Increased water temperature in turn reduces the amount of gas needed to generate steam.

The aggregated savings from the installation of the new system and implementation of the measures identified represented an 11.8 per cent reduction in the site’s energy consumption and overall a 38.7 per cent reduction in the electrical energy consumption directly associated with the generation of the compressed air.

An annual CO2 saving of 1,214 tonnes has been achieved plus an additional 264 tonnes from a reduction in gas usage due to the heat recovery process.

From monitoring the system, it was calculated that Terram was using on average 85m3/min of compressed air with an efficiency of 8kW/m/min, which equated to 7.2 million kWh per annum. By installing a new compressor set supplied by Industrial Air Power, it was calculated that the efficiency could be improved to 6kW/m3/min. Post-installation monitoring has proved that the new machinery provides an average efficiency of 5.8kW/m3/min – delivering significant savings. The gas savings are on top of this.

The benefits to Terram have been fourfold: a significant reduction in energy costs, the ability to protect plant integrity, reduced maintenance cost and the added benefit of reduced gas consumption from the increased water temperature in the steam boiler hot well.

Installing new Ingersoll Rand two stage fixed speed air compressors along with a Nirvana two stage trim compressor, fully automated via a control system provided Terram with primary energy savings. Secondary savings came as a result of the heat recovery process, lower maintenance costs and the leak reduction programme.

The exercise has been successful in achieving reductions of CO2 emissions and the overall costs of supplying the service of compressed air to the business.

A Carbon Trust Wales consultant worked together with Industrial Air Power and Terram engineers providing impartial, independent advice enabling the company to make an informed decision and deliver value for money. Carbon Trust independently validated the energy savings and confirmed that they exceeded Industrial Air Power’s initial projections.

Through our experience in carrying out hundreds of compressed air audits we have identified the majority of existing compressed air systems include one or more of these deadly sins. This will have and adverse affect on your reliability, productivity and energy consumption.

* System over-pressurisation resulting in increased artificial demand
* Excessive waste through air leakage
* False loading of compressors due to lack of system automation and volume
* Inefficiency caused by cycling fixed output compressors
* Excessive pressure drop

If you would like advice on calculating your savings potential and increasing your company’s profitability contact Industrial Air Power on 01656 658961, email sales@airpower.co.uk

The right pallet racking system in a warehouse is paramount and each pallet racking requirement is different.

The pallet racking market has changed considerably, and has become somewhat commoditised and often price driven. This has lead to companies setting up as brokers for a wide range of pallet racks, manufactured in both the UK and overseas, including the Dexion pallet racking. This allows the pallet racking supply company to design warehouse racking systems to any budget or specification. Their professional, detailed understanding of system design and load capabilities are coupled with the best possible system price.

Pallet Racks come in a number of variants, basic details of which are included below. By analysing your operation and liaising directly with your fork lift supplier (or introducing a new one), recommendations can be made that’s best for you.

Wide Aisle Racking
Ideal for storing palletised and non-palletised goods.
Wide aisles allow full manoeuvrability of fork-lift trucks.
100% access to individual pallets.
Fully adjustable beam levels to suit varying pallet heights.
Can use conventional fork-lift trucks.
Narrow Aisle Racking
Offers the same flexibility found with wide aisle racking, but increases storage capacity by reducing aisle width and storing pallets to a greater height.
Allows access to individual pallets, whilst retaining full system adjustability.
Requires a specialist fork-truck but this can be a cost effective investment, offset by the added value of better access and use of space.

Push Back Pallet Racking Liverpool
Pallets are loaded in sequence onto sloping wheeled carriers running on steel channel supports. During loading, pallets are pushed back to utilise the full depth of the racking. Gravity pushes the next pallet to the front when one is removed.
Pallets are loaded and retrieved from one face only to optimise space.
Quick and easy access is by level, rather than by lane.
Provides good occupancy rates within a high-density system and a variety of pallet types can be stored together.
Conventional fork-lift trucks can be used.