Fulton Limited – the leading heat transfer specialist – has supplied an oil-fired, skid-mounted steam boiler system to Neal’s Yard Remedies, a UK-based manufacturer of natural, organic health and beauty products including essential oils, moisturisers, shower gels and soaps. The 60J oil-fired boiler was supplied with the necessary ancillary items including hot-well, water softening, chemical dosing and blowdown vessels.
Commenting for Neal’s Yard, a spokesperson says: “The Fulton boiler was suited to the processes demanded from Neal’s Yard Remedies and was of a style and type that was ideal for the location of the company’s new plant room, which is situated on a mezzanine floor.”
This is Neal’s Yard’s first steam boiler installation and it replaces an old electric element heating process, which used de-ionised water – an important ingredient in most products – introduced into small mixing vessels and heated using electric elements to produce a steam jacket. The new process line uses steam from the Fulton boiler to provide indirect heat – in excess of 90 degrees – to a heating pot containing products such as coconut oil. Two larger mixing vessels on the same line are also indirectly heated and contain only naturally-occurring products, blended to produce cosmetics including hand lotions, shampoos, face polishes, etc.
While the new process line features a much larger heating pot and mixing vessels, Fulton’s boiler system quickly raises steam and bring the vessels up to temperature, making it a very efficient way for the company to produce the indirect heat required for its processes.
The skid-mounted Fulton system has been designed to future-proof the Neal’s Yard operation and allow for the addition of a second boiler, which will be used during maintenance and shutdown periods and to cope with increased demands in throughput.
“The combination of larger vessels and a move to a steam-based process has enabled us to more than doubled the potential throughput of the new line.” says the Neal’s Yard spokesperson.
The Fulton name has been synonymous with steam since the company first introduced the vertical tubeless steam boiler in 1949 and Fulton was established in Bristol in 1966. Today, Fulton is still one of the world’s leading manufacturers, producing an unrivalled range of heat transfer solutions, including steam and thermal fluid systems, but increasingly these are ordered by customers as part of bespoke turnkey systems designed to meet exacting specifications.
Fulton’s renowned ‘J’ Series vertical gas- and oil-fired steam boilers includes eight models covering outputs from 96 to 960 kg/h. Its tubeless design, invented by Fulton, eliminates the coils and tubes traditionally used in steam raising plant and enables the Series ‘J’ to raise its full steam output in just 20 minutes. The simple design and robust construction from top quality materials make them ideal for arduous applications in a wide range of industries.
Fulton’s heat transfer solutions can be delivered as fully-prefabricated plant rooms or complete skid-mounted units, built to fit a prepared location and connect direct to pre-installed services. Using the latest CAD equipment, its design team can accommodate the most sophisticated engineering specifications in surprisingly compact spaces, locating components in the best possible position to suit the installation.
Further information on the products and services available from Fulton can be found at www.fulton.co.uk, by emailing sales@fulton.co.uk or by calling +44 (0)117 972 3322.
Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division has announced the launch of the NRH27C, a non-contact rotary position sensor which is suitable for use on specialty on- and off-highway vehicles utilizing CANbus communications.
Developed by Curtiss-Wright’s legacy brand of Penny & Giles, the NRH27C extends the company’s recently-introduced NRH271 and NRH272 family and shares many similar features and benefits. These include a low-profile sensor body, small footprint, CANbus J1939 communications and a fully encapsulated, IP69K-rated design that offers exceptional performance against water, dust, shock, vibration and temperature. This makes the range ideal for use by OEMs of on- and off-highway vehicles that are destined for use in challenging environments, and as a cost-effective solution for medium volume applications where a degree of customization may be required.
Within the CAN messaging structure of the vehicle, the NRH27C’s two independent Hall-effect sensing signals allow for error checking of the positional data, which addresses the needs of safety-critical applications. Additionally, an on-board diagnostic function means predefined error messages can be sent to define the present state of the sensor. The versatile, factory-programmeable electronics can also be easily set to different Baud rate, Node ID and Frame rates according to system requirements.
• CANbus SAE-J1939 output
• Wear-free with no mechanical degredation
• Optimal combination of performance, safety and cost
• Concentric magnet assembly offsets up to 2mm
• Multiple magnet options
Contained in a 9.5mm low-profile housing and available with industry-standard AMP Superseal, Deutsch DT04 series connectors, or simple 18AWG flying-leads for customer termination, the NRH27C can be powered from a 5Vdc regulated or 9-30Vdc unregulated supply and provides a full 360° output range.
Sales Inquiries: Please forward all sales and reader service inquiries to cwig.uk@curtisswright.com.
For more information on Curtiss-Wright Industrial products, visit www.cw-industrialgroup.com or call +44.1202.034000
Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division has today announced it will be attending ProMat 2017 in Chicago. The show is an ideal opportunity for Curtiss-Wright to showcase the latest innovations from its product brands of PG Drives Technology, Penny & Giles, Williams Controls and Arens Controls.
Sales Inquiries: Please forward all sales and reader service inquiries to Curtiss-Wright Industrial, Tel: +44.1202.034000; email: cwig.uk@curtisswright.com.
For more information on Curtiss-Wright Industrial products, visit www.cw-industrialgroup.com or call +44.1202.034000.
GAST – the leading designer and manufacturer of precision air products and member of IDEX Corporation’s Health & Science division – is introducing a new range of vacuum pumps and compressors to its extensive portfolio. These new products are simple in operation, robust and an effective source of compressed air. The three pump and compressor ranges include sixteen oil-free and oil-lubricated rotary vane models and, in a first for the organization, four claw pump models.
Announcing the new ranges, Gast Group's Andrew Lidington explains that the company has extensive knowledge of the pneumatic industry and its customers’ needs continually drive the development and introduction of new and innovative products.
“GAST is already renowned as a world-class manufacturer of vacuum pumps and compressors and these additions to our portfolio will provide customers with products that, compared to our traditional offering, can deliver even greater flow and deeper vacuum. The addition of claw pumps also perfectly complements our portfolio and opens up new industries and sectors that we haven’t been able to participate in previously.” says Andrew.
“Using simulation software and the latest manufacturing techniques, we believe that the performance of our new rotary vane and claw pump models are class-leading. The range is also more environmentally-friendly than ever and, thanks to extended maintenance schedules, total cost of ownership is also significantly improved.” he says.
GAST Claw Pumps
Claw pumps are an often-overlooked technology due to a slightly higher initial cost. However, compared to oil-free rotary vane, claw pumps use significantly less horsepower to provide similar vacuum capability. They also provide 100% duty cycle and, with no carbon vanes and significantly less gear lubricant to replace, are quicker, easier and cheaper to maintain.
With only moderate energy consumption and very high efficiency, GAST’s four new claw pump models – PA.155, PA.315, VA.155 and VA.315 – use contactless rotors that are synchronized by gears without any lubrication in the pumping chamber. This frictionless operation avoids any residue (generated by rubbing during rotation) from contaminating the air supply; and means lower maintenance and operating costs, longer lasting performance and improved total cost of ownership.
With nominal capacities from 186 to 360m3/h at 60Hz, vacuum capability to 25.5”HgV and pressures up to 17psi, the GAST claw pump range is ideal for numerous vacuum, compression, aeration, extraction and drying applications in sectors including printing, environmental, medical, bulk material handling, CNC machining and vacuum hold-down.
GAST Oil-Free Rotary Vane Pumps
Adding to an already impressive portfolio of rotary vane pumps, two new oil-free models – SB.16 and SB.40 – being introduced feature an industrial Monobloc design with the rotor assembled directly on the motor shaft. This direct-drive design means fewer moving parts, making these new dry vacuum pumps extremely compact, reliable and easy to maintain. Additionally, a rear centrifugal fan ensures optimal cooling of the pump and each model is equipped with protective filters at the inlet and silencers at the outlet. Both models are also suitable for use as compressors.
A third model, the SC.100, has the rotor installed on the shaft and fixed by two bearings, with the motor being connected by a flexible coupling. The fan is installed between the pump housing and motor to ensure optimal cooling; and a robust and compact housing provides protection and keeps noise levels extremely low.
GAST’s new oil-free rotary vane models offer nominal capacities from 19 to 150m3/h at 60Hz. All models provide vacuum in excess of 26”HgV and are ideal for applications including printing, conveying, wood/plastic presses, automated packaging and pick and place operations.
GAST Oil-Lubricated Rotary Vane Pumps
Ideal for applications as diverse as laboratory conditioning/refrigeration appliances, mass spectrometry, packaging, medical equipment, thermoforming machines and glass and marble machining, GAST’s new ten-model range of oil-lubricated rotary vane pumps – including the LB.8, LC.12, LC20, LC.25, LC40, LC60, LC106, LC151, LC.205 and LC.305 – are ideal where the intake flow may require higher flow and deeper vacuum.
Additionally, and for applications where intake vapour is considerable, a WR version also features an integral system that separates oil and water condensate, which is then expelled when the pump is stopped.
All six oil-lubricated models offer nominal capacities from 9 to 365m3/h at 60Hz and total final pressures between 1.5 and 0.08 Torr.
Summarising, Andrew Lidington says that, thanks to their advanced performance, durability and ease of maintenance and serviceability, GAST products are trusted globally to operate in critical applications. “The introduction of these new pumps now provides us with a comprehensive product line, which will allow OEMs to minimize their product development timeline and investment and get to market faster than their competitors.” he says.
For further information on Gast’s new vacuum offering, call +44 (0)1527 504040, email gastgroup.uk@idexcorp.com or visit www.gastmfg.com.
Just three-and-a-half-years after their introduction, Fulton Limited – the leading heat transfer specialist – is celebrating having welcomed its 1,000th trainee onto its City & Guilds Accredited training course.
The City & Guilds-certified, one-day training course was introduced by Fulton in 2013 and offers a mix of theoretical and practical operational assignments which, the company claims, bridges the gap between the more expensive courses (that can cost many thousands of pounds per employee), and cheaper, straightforward ‘toolbox’ training.
Commenting for Fulton, customer services manager Jeff Byrne says: "This is a real milestone for the company. We are delighted to have welcomed Muhammad Ateeb Farooq, our 1,000th trainee, who successfully completed the course and gained the City & Guilds certificate. We operate the courses throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland and at our Bristol-based manufacturing facility, which has a dedicated training room.”
He goes on to say that with no two boiler systems being the same, Fulton prefers to run its training courses at customers’ own facilities, so technicians and engineers learn on the equipment they will be monitoring day-to-day. However, Fulton’s in-house facility can accommodate training for its range of electric, gas, oil and dual-fuel-fired vertical and horizontal steam boiler systems.
City & Guilds certification adds value to the training courses and supports both the Safe Management of Industrial Steam and Hot water boilers Guidelines BG01 (SAFed) and INDG-436 (HSE) regarding operation and training.
The Fulton Operator Routines & Maintenance course is designed for boiler operators and covers basic day-to-day operation and monitoring; and provides employees with the knowledge required to monitor a boiler and ensure it is running efficiently and safely. It also includes training in operational procedures, daily blowdowns, and checking of water levels, alarms, etc. the course also examines the importance of correctly treated feedwater and what boiler inspectors will look for during routine insurance inspections.
“We have always promoted the benefits of operator training to our customers and enjoy seeing technicians and engineers grow in confidence as they improve their knowledge.” says Jeff.
Fulton’s training has proven to be invaluable to employers, with operators managing more of their own maintenance and repairs and avoiding costly call-outs that require no more than the simple flick of a switch to resolve.
“Real examples like this prove that a Fulton one-day Operator Routines & Maintenance course could potentially save the cost of many expensive and unwanted engineers’ visits.” says Jeff.
For further information on Fulton’s City & Guilds Accredited training programme, call 0117 972 3322, or email jeff.byrne@fulton.co.uk.
AL-KO Kober Limited – the leading manufacturer of premium components for the automotive, commercial and leisure industries – has appointed David Kirkley as Commercial AMC Sales Manager.
David’s responsibilities will include supporting existing and generating new Commercial AMC (commercial vehicle chassis systems) customers and generating, supporting and developing customers and wholesalers in AL-KO’s towing and trailer components sector.
No newcomer to the company, David was appointed as sales manager for Bradley Doublelock (an AL-KO Kober company) in 2014 and played an important role in the recent relocation and integration of the company into AL-KO Kober’s UK headquarters in Warwickshire.
Commenting for AL-KO Kober, a spokesperson says: “As an internal appointment, we can be sure that David hits the ground running in his new role. He brings experience and a proven track record to his new role; and I am sure he will continue to consistently deliver growth in this business development role.”
David has a degree in mechanical engineering, is a Chartered Engineer and member of the IMechE. His work experience has also seen him work for Tier 1 suppliers to commercial vehicle OEMs, including responsibilities for design phases on Ford Transits and project management for turbo systems for Mercedes-Benz models.
AL-KO Kober Limited – the leading manufacturer of premium components for the automotive, commercial and leisure industries – has launched the AL-KO Ranger, a new manoeuvring system for single-axle touring caravans up to 1,800kg.
Designed as a lower-cost, entry-level alternative to the company’s premium Mammut mover, the AL-KO Ranger features manual engagement onto the wheels when required and can be quickly disengaged once the caravan is in position. The motor units, situated in front of the axle to prevent damage from road debris, provide effortless and accurate manoeuvring control in even the narrowest of spaces, as well as on steep terrains up to 18% and for getting over obstacles up to two centimetres in height. The unit’s soft start and soft stop technology also provides enhanced, controlled and precise bump-free manoeuvring.
Commenting for AL-KO Kober, a spokesman says: “The new AL-KO Ranger motor-mover is an attractively-priced alternative for those people who want the combination of the trusted AL-KO brand name with a cost-effective price point, coupled with the benefit of easier manoeuvring of their caravan. Thanks to its easy-to-operate remote control, the mover provides millimetre-precise accuracy and completely effortless manoeuvrability. With the ability to complete a 360-degree rotation of single-axle touring caravans on the spot, the AL-KO Ranger puts the caravan in the right place, whether at home or on site.”
The AL-KO Ranger’s mechanics – including its aluminium rollers and motor units – are protected within a plastic housing mounted via a clamp mechanism to the underside of the caravan’s chassis. The electronics can be installed inside one of the caravan’s storage spaces; and an LED display on the controller and push-button remote control alerts users to various working limits of the motor mover.
Like AL-KO Mammut, the new Ranger is provided with a five-year warranty according to AL-KO Warranty Terms.
The AL-KO Ranger mover can be retrofitted to most caravans, including non AL-KO chassis caravans, and can be purchased from most caravan dealers, mobile fitting companies and caravan accessory outlets.
Stocks of the motor-mover – which has a suggested retail price of £1,099.00 including installation – are available from caravan industry wholesaler, Leisure Plus, based in Hixon, Staffordshire.
For further information on the AL-KO Ranger or the company’s range of leisure-sector solutions, visit www.al-ko.co.uk, email ranger@al-ko.co.uk or call 01926 818500.
AL-KO Kober Limited – the leading manufacturer of vehicle chassis systems for the automotive, commercial and leisure industries – has been working in partnership with Manchester-based commercial vehicle bodybuilders Alloy Bodies to create the HiLo, an all-new, low-floor ‘Aero Luton’ conversion based on the Citroen Relay ‘back-to-back’ cab.
The Citroen Relay HiLo is the latest addition to the Alloy Bodies range and is an ideal solution for manually-handled loads in a multi-drop environment. By adopting a low-floor AL-KO Kober chassis conversion to create a Luton-style commercial vehicle, the HiLo offers a range-topping 1,335Kg payload, increases volume by approximately 1.5 cubic meters, provides easy access and offers a low centre of gravity to improve on-road stability.
Commenting for Alloy Bodies, business development manager Anthony Clayton says: “Our first partnership with AL-KO Kober was in 2009 when a commercial vehicle OEM asked us to create a concept using its AL-KO converted chassis. Unfortunately, the concept was eventually shelved by the OEM as it was deemed that demand wasn’t significant enough at that time.
“However, when a UK-based Citroen dealer and customer approached Alloy Bodies and asked that a solution be developed for the ‘back-to-back’ Relay cab, we knew that AL-KO had the best and only solution for the project in the UK.”
As trends in the market have progressed, AL-KO Kober’s chassis systems have become more attractive because they offer a low-frame which, when coupled to the right build solution, is better suited to carrying freight thanks to its ease of loading and potential for increased payloads and volumes.
The order potential from the Citroen dealer was significant, so Alloy Bodies knew from the outset that they needed to work closely with AL-KO Kober’s engineering department as this wasn’t simply a case of building a box frame on a chassis. It instead required a design partnership where Alloy Bodies were building the bodywork to suit the chassis and AL-KO Kober were building the chassis to suit the bodywork.
Commenting for AL-KO Kober, a spokesperson says: “It became apparent after some very early conversations that we needed to get our design teams working together to provide the right solution. The partnership worked very well and was quite refreshing for both Alloy Bodies and the Citroen dealer who, historically, were used to chassis manufacturers telling them that they can have anything they want, as long as it’s one of five or six chassis styles!”
They go on to say that the downside for the off-the-shelf approach to chassis supply is that commercial vehicle OEMs or bodybuilders often have to add components to a chassis, or remove parts from it, to suit the final build.
For Alloy Bodies, the ultimate goal was for AL-KO Kober to deliver the Citroen cab to them with its chassis ready for the Luton conversion. Says Anthony Clayton: “It’s preferable to avoid any substantial remedial works to factory chassis as it affects throughput, so it was a considerable advantage for us when AL-KO Kober happily designed-in and integrated some of our own designs to its chassis to reduce our build process.
“The partnership has been a real benefit to us. Improving efficiencies and adopting a pre-engineered approach on a new product shows how technology is continually shaping our industry. Commercial vehicle body building in the UK has been somewhat of a ‘cottage industry’, historically using people skills to design and develop bodywork instead of opting for a wholly-engineered approach from concept to creation. To maximise our considerable investment, most of our new products are now designed and modelled with 3D Solidworks.”
As AL-KO Kober’s spokesperson explains, by creating an engineering partnership during the vehicle’s design and build, the benefits are clear. Alloy Bodies and AL-KO created systems and components that were as light as was structurally possible which, in turn, created a vehicle that was Alloy Bodies’ easiest to assemble and lightest yet.
“Because AL-KO Kober ensured that the chassis was delivered to Alloy Bodies as specified and ready for conversion, the concept HiLo was assembled in no time and with no issues during the build cycle.” they say.
What’s more, having invested over £500,000 with COP and Type Approval; introducing ISO management and manufacturing systems; and introducing 3D systems in 2012, Alloy Bodies now has EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval of the Citroen Relay, AL-KO chassis system and its HiLo conversion to add to its comprehensive list of Type Approvals.
The partnership between the two companies also provides a flexible approach to the ordering and build processes, with Alloy Bodies offering the AL-KO chassis within its costs, or AL-KO offering the HiLo solution within its conversion costs. Either way, the UK-based Citroen dealer can arrange for the ‘back-to-back’ cabs to be delivered direct to AL-KO Kober’s manufacturing facility in Warwickshire, which helps to reduce the overall build time.
And, far from seeing a reduction in the number of standard Luton-based conversions the company builds, the HiLo conversion on the AL-KO Kober chassis has enhanced sales for the company and now accounts for about 25% of all conversions for Alloy Bodies.
Summarising for Alloy Bodies, Anthony Clayton says “The low-floor ‘Luton’ sector, and our share of it, has seen significant growth over the past decade and we are certainly manufacturing more HiLo conversions year on year.
“Even as market leader, we’re not the only company offering a low-floor solution in the UK. But, with almost 50 years of body building heritage and experience, we know we have brought to market a solution that innovates and will stand the test of time.”
Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division has today announced its attendance at the International Fluid Power Exposition (IFPE 2017) in Las Vegas. The show, which is co-located within the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 exhibition, is an ideal opportunity for Curtiss-Wright to showcase the latest innovations from its product brands of Arens Controls, Penny & Giles and Williams Controls.
Commenting for Curtiss-Wright, Senior Vice President & General Manager of the Industrial division, Kevin Rayment says: “This is one of the few industry trade shows in North America where most of our legacy product brands will be exhibited together. Products from the division’s diverse portfolio are suitable for a wide range of applications within off-highway specialty vehicles, from wheeled loaders, skid-steer loaders, excavators, compactors, heavy haulers and articulated dump-trucks, to telehandlers, mobile cranes and aerial work platforms.”
The product brands within Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division have extensive experience in designing and manufacturing solutions for the monitoring and control of vehicles operating in extreme conditions, including applications throughout the construction and off-highway sectors.
Arens Controls products will include by-wire shift selectors for automatic and automated manual transmissions; and off-highway mechatronic controls including mechanical lever shifters and hydrostatic lever controls. Key products include electric and hybrid vehicle power management systems such as traction inverters, voltage converters and inverters and power distribution modules.
The Penny & Giles branded products will include finger- and hand-operated, multi-axis joystick controllers, position sensors and examples of custom HMI systems demonstrating the growing capability for integrated operator controls.
Finally, the Williams Controls brand will be represented by a range of floor-mounted electronic throttle controls, including suspended and rocker pedal versions; with complementary systems that include lever-operated and rotary electronic hand controls and new Hall-effect rotary position sensors.
Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division has today announced that it will be attending the 33rd International Seating Symposium at The Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center, Nashville, USA, and showcasing a range of medical mobility products, including the recently-launched CJSM2-BT joystick module from its PG Drives Technology family brand.
As one of four established specialist business units of Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division, PG Drives Technology has been designing, manufacturing and marketing sophisticated mobility control systems for over 40 years and is now one of the world's foremost suppliers of these products.
New at this show will be the company’s R-net CJSM2-BT, a Bluetooth- and infra-red-enabled version of its popular CJSM2 Joystick Module. Integrated Bluetooth technology enables wheelchair users to control personal computers, Android tablets, iPhones, iPads and other smart devices from the joystick module. The infra-red communication is widely used to remotely control household appliances such as TVs, DVD players and multi-media systems, as well as some home-automation equipment.
Also on display is the R-net LM, a Lighting Module that provides a compact and cost-effective solution providing 12V or 24V control of lamps. Lighting and turn-signal indicators are mandatory for most European markets and their safety requirements, which are based on the automotive industry, are tough to meet. However, the LM complies with all relevant standards and features constant-brightness control of 12V lamps and turn-signal fault detection. When lighting control is required in conjunction with high-specification seating, the R-net LM module also complements the ISM-8 or Complex Seating Module (CxSM).
To complete its impressive suite of mobility products, the company will also be showcasing its other LED and LCD Joystick modules for the R-net system, add-on modules for R-net, and the VR2 range of control systems, which set new standards of performance and value for mainstream wheelchair controllers.
