Food for thought
While not exactly laughing in the face of the recession, the food and soft drinks industry - the UK's largest manufacturing sector - is... more
Karcher cleans up the food industry
From bottling lines to staff canteens, meat processing to admin. offices, and vacuum mixers to loading zones, food manufacturing facilities... more
Why just spray when you can airspray
How many aerosol cans of oil, cleaner and other agents do you think you use in your plant over the course of a year's maintenance? Tens? Dozens?... more
Set your own conditions for online Condition Monitoring
The number of different Condition Monitoring and reporting options now available means more choice, but also more potential confusion. Dave Manning-Ohren,... more
Maintenance; looking beyond the bottom line
Is maintenance being taken seriously? There is still a nagging feeling that UK industry is still just looking at the bottom line. Having attended numerous... more
Get the ability to control the future
The future of electric motors is in the hands of the people defining the forthcoming IE4 specification. It's widely believed that IE4 will require... more
Why guns wont protect you
If you're still using grease guns for lubricating your machinery - even as management is putting more pressure on you to reduce costs - then... more
Its a tough job ... but somethings got to do it
If you were deliberately designing a tough operating environment for motors, drives and couplings, you would probably end up with something like... more
NSK Bearing material technologies maximise earnings potential for operators of recycling plants
The escalating cost of landfill, plus EU requirements for increased levels of recycling mean that recycling plants are coming under ever increasing... more
Making you an offer you cant refuse
In some circles, 'protection' has a bad name. But when you're talking about protective gear instead of men with baseball bats, there... more
Eliminating waste from waste and recycling
Even the Waste and Recycling industry hates waste: waste of money, waste of time, waste of energy. So the unique and innovative features found... more
Waste and Recycling - Which way now?
While the global population increases at such an alarming rate, there will never be a shortage of people creating rubbish. But according to Malcolm... more
Getting recycling taped - but not all wrapped up
Once people used to throw their rubbish away and think no more about it. It was 'somebody else's problem'. Now they recycle it instead,... more
The more intelligent solution
Changes in the way we think about waste and the way it is handled demand changes in the way waste and recycling processes are operated and controlled. more
New regulations demand new solutions
At the last count in 2010 there were 44 coal mines still operating in Kentucky USA, where coal mining is still a major industry. However new legislation... more
Making blockages a less tense situation
Two fatalities in just one year, related to the same piece of equipment, led to important improvements in worker protection. However, arguably... more
New strategies for Mine and Quarry fleet maintenance
Time was when mine and quarry production and maintenance departments might sometimes be at loggerheads over MRO scheduling. However, times have been... more
Its not just about the bearing
Getting the right bearing for the application is, of course, crucial. But proper education and training to go with it can make all the difference... more
Not just tough, but MegaTuff
Most hydraulic hose is not really that tough. That's why it needs spring guards and nylon sleeving to give it any chance of surviving more than five... more
Its a hard life but a long one for new NSK bearings
Even in a tough operating environment like a quarry, mine or construction site, there are some places that are tougher than others - and one... more
Saving your skin
When organisations think about personal protection, they tend to think about items such as safety gear for employees, or machine guards for equipment. more
Online condition monitoring with ERIKS Machine Webwatch
The first challenge with condition monitoring is not, 'what's the best method of monitoring vibration?' but 'what's the best method... more
An injection of all-round expertise
Chemical dosing equipment can be found everywhere from the oil and gas industries to petrochemical and pharmaceutical applications. The efficiency,... more
Vibration monitoring of Air Handling Units
Air Handling Units (AHUs) are widely employed in HVAC systems in locations such as hospitals, laboratories, data centres, museums,... more
Whats happening in Process?
by Patrick Raleigh, Editor, Process Engineering
For this issue, the guys at ERIKS asked me to comment on the current big happenings in the... more
No second chances
There aren't too many manufacturing, production or processing situations where, if something goes wrong, you can't put it right next... more
The smallest spark
When specifying equipment for operation in explosive atmospheres, it's not only the large equipment which needs to be considered. Even the smallest... more
Taking the heat
How do you keep tabs on the safety and performance of a process, when operating temperatures are up to 510°C, and operation is 24/7 at 100% capacity?... more
Repair, replace - and risk. Motors for hazardhous areas.
The requirements for motors which operate in hazardous areas are specific, demanding, and absolutely essential for the safety of the workforce... more
All possible protection
Brook Crompton motors are in widespread use at offshore oil and gas rigs and production platforms, oil refineries, chemical works, coal mines,... more
Fenner launches new range of ultra high strength Wedge belts for tough applications
Designed specifically for use in heavy duty and harsh conditions, the launch of the FENNER Ultra Plus 140 range of wedge belts follows field testing of... more
Refreshing the parts
If you’re a regular reader of Know+How, the chances are you’ve been doing your job for a good few years. In fact, you could do it with your eyes closed. more
Pump up the savings
Where would you imagine the major costs – and therefore potential savings – associated with a pump would arise? The purchase price? The cost of maintenance?... more
Economy drive?
Most modern electronic drives have a life of around 40,000 hours or 5 years of continuous operation. Some don’t even last that long, with environmental... more
Putting your hoses to the test
There are three ways to tell if a hose is damaged or faulty. You can wait until it contaminates a product and consumers complain. You can wait until it... more
NSK supports bearing maintenance
Incorrect specification, mounting and improper handling of bearings are the most common causes of premature bearing failure. So in addition to manufacturing... more
Getting the bigger picture on bearings
After three years as a local SKF Certified Maintenance Partner, ERIKS has been appointed the company’s first ever CMP with full UK coverage – meaning that... more
ERIKS announces national lubricant distribution partnership with Castrol
ERIKS and Castrol Industrial UK have announced a new partnership which will see ERIKS undertake the national distribution of Castrol Industrial’s impressive... more
Lean working and storage in the manufacturing environment
Many companies Now follow lean manufacturing principles – and this has affected the way storage systems are specified and used. Here Clive Woodward, Group... more
Behind the locked door…
There's something potentially highly dangerous hidden away behind that locked door. Something powerful. Something forgotten by everyone, except...the... more
The Maintenance Jigsaw -do you have a piece missing?
Maintenance is a complex jigsaw containing many parts, and it's essential to ensure you're not missing a vital piece. But while you're... more
The Magnificent Maintenance Engineer
There’s a time in every Maintenance Engineer’s working life when he feels like Clint Eastwood as The Man With No Name. Riding into town completely alone... more
Questions, questions, questions
Unless you’re on ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’, being asked lots of questions can be irritating. But sometimes it’s the only way to get useful information. more
Will it all come out in the jetwash?
The greatest enemy of the bearing unit is the jetwash. When food hygiene regulations require frequent wash-downs with high-pressure hoses, water and contaminants... more
Water – on tap!
Washdowns with high-pressure water can be the simplest of effective cleaning methods – especially now Kärcher has introduced the new HDC range of cleaning... more
Designed to be clean, and cost-effective
If you are designing a product for food machinery manufacturers, it makes sense to involve them right from the start. That’s what Festo did with its new... more
New ERIKS ‘metal detectable’ seals help food manufacturers detect contamination
ERIKS Sealing Technology has developed a new range of metal detectable seals for use in sensitive applications where the ability to detect and contain... more
Protect your products, profits, personnel
Foreign body contamination of foods or beverages can cause loss of profit through stock spoilage, machinery shutdown and repair costs, and – worse still... more
Materials testing adds to food safety
Extraction testing protects foodstuffs from migration contamination by ingredients used in rubber and polymer based components. Food safety is a critical... more
Clean-cut solution for hygiene
Whether it’s sizzling hot from the barbecue, finely sliced with a creamy sauce or slowly roasted in the oven, chicken is becoming increasingly popular... more
One pump fits all
The strudel is a type of layered pastry filled with any number of different fruit or vegetable fillings. This diversity was causing problems for a well... more
Unchained from lubrication
Chain and lubrication don’t have to be linked together, as the Renold Syno lube-free chain range proves.For food and beverage applications – where lubrication... more
Give them a big hand
In fact, give them any size hand you have, from 6½ to 10, and Ansell Healthcare will have a Starpack® 48-651 food handling glove to fit it. This new, 100%... more
Easier than a wardrobe
From MFI bookcases to IKEA wardrobes, self-assembly has been the big story in furniture for many years now. But whereas that’s more about cutting production... more
Smarter pumps for thicker pumping
Though the prime function of a mine or quarry is to extract and process minerals, they’re not the only things that need to be handled. There are also huge... more
Minor engineering details make bearings successful for miners
Even in the rugged environment of a coal mine, sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference. So the tough construction and high specification... more
How to clean up on maintenance
Somebody once advised to forget dusting because ‘after a year the dust doesn’t get any worse’. But he obviously wasn’t thinking about a quarry. And since... more
Between a lot of rock and hard place
Let’s face it; the quarrying, mining, aggregate and recycling sectors have been under pressure since the drop in market demand for building materials started... more
When the going gets tough, the tough bearings get going
There are no tougher environments for bearings to work in than quarrying and mining. Combining enormously heavy loads and shock loads with a dust- and... more
What keeps you awake at night?
We all know about condition monitoring, vibration analysis and thermal analysis as effective ways to keep an eye on your machines and be forewarned of... more
The most efficient route to efficiency
Energy efficiency is no longer something we can aspire to, or strive for. In more and more areas of our lives, our economy, our industries and our infrastructure... more
When energy-saving hots up
It’s easy to talk about preventative maintenance as an effective means of saving energy, but it’s harder to put it into practice. After all, identifying... more
Rolling up the energy savings
The need to save energy means it’s essential to look everywhere for ways to reduce consumption. Since rolling bearings are crucial to the transfer of rotational... more
A permanent reduction in CO2 emissions
The internal combustion engine has long been the villain of the piece where CO2 emissions are concerned. More recently, electricity generation – and, by... more
Tightening the belt on energy costs
Your belt drives are not the first place you might think to look when you are aiming to increase the energy efficiency of your plant. But when you consider... more
The best ideas are often the simplest
These days, if you ask the management of almost any company about their immediate and medium-term operational priorities, the odds are high that minimising... more
Saving energy: why, how and where?
A good place and a good way to start saving energy, reducing your energy costs and cutting your carbon footprint is to boil a kettle. Use the water to... more
Facing the challenges in food and pharma
Staying ahead in the food and pharmaceuticals industries is tougher than ever. In this section of know+how, we look at some of the issues facing manufacturers... more
Mechanical decisions
It’s old-fashioned, it’s almost always inefficient, it can be dangerous and it’s unnecessary. What are we talking about? It’s gland packing – the original... more
Breaking the mould
When it comes to hygienic processing environments, traditional lubrication technology may be a thing of the past.The problems of supplying and maintaining... more
Don't worry, be HACCPY
Using a non-approved lubricant in the food processing sector is a risky business – the cost of product contamination can be extremely high. But what is... more
Sealing technology for clean environments
On January 28 1986, Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The disaster was... more
Enhancing a stainless reputation
At ERIKS, we have a reputation for technical know-how and engineering skill. Our ability to design, build and install custom plant solutions, or to improve... more
Filter maintenance - don't get steamed up
If you use steam in your hygienic cleaning processes, you’ll be using sintered steel filters. Now, though, there’s a much more cost-effective alternative.In... more
There's something in the air
Although essentially straightforward, the BRC’s code of practice on air purity in the food industry has caused some misunderstandings. We look briefly... more
VALVES: your supplier can make a real difference
Sourcing valves and filters might seem straightforward, but there are times when choice of supplier can make a big difference to the efficiency and cost... more
First in filtration
ERIKS filtration solutions for the process industry are second to none more
Good news with Airpel and ERIKS
Industry: Potash MiningApplication: Clay removal from Brine sea water being pumped out of the mine into a storage tank.Problem: The pump was clogging up... more
Partnering your way to improved productivity
Minimising the unit cost of production has always been a key issue for plant managers. Today, it’s more important than ever. It’s also harder than ever. more
Pumps: keeping it clean
In today’s process industries, the demand for efficient, reliable and customised pump solutions is high. Here we look at some of the factors that are of... more
RX - the next generation of hygienic hose
All process environments are demanding, but sectors such as pharmaceuticals and food and beverage ask particularly tough questions of systems and equipment. more