Eastington-based Arc Energy Resources – one of the UK's leading specialists in weld overlay cladding and quality assured fabrication services – will once again be supporting this year's Stroud Festival of Manufacturing & Engineering and hopes to encourage pupils from the county's local schools and colleges to choose a career in engineering.
Director Rosemary Robinson is proud of the skilled engineers the company has assembled, a team that is qualified to internationally recognised standards and specifications, and capable of delivering quality products from enquiry to delivery and the service beyond.
Explaining the company's approach to people management, Rosemary says that if Arc Energy Resources is to maintain its standards and plan for the future, it is essential to continue to recruit and train skilled staff. "Recruiting and training has proved a major challenge recently. A decade ago there was a pool of skilled staff who moved between companies, many of them having served apprenticeships in large organisations." says Rosemary. "Today this resource no longer exists. Manufacturing became unfashionable with government and education and was allowed to decline. Fewer apprenticeships were served, fewer students entered engineering and, as experienced engineers retired there were fewer, new engineers trained to replace them."
Since last year, Gloucestershire Engineering Training has begun to offer welding and fabrication apprenticeships in Gloucester, which, thanks to its accessibility, they have been very happy to take advantage of by sponsoring their latest apprentice, Tyron Cleaver who has started his first year there.
A recent success for Arc Energy Resources is Charlie Fryer who, at just 14, enjoyed a week's work experience with the company in 2005. Encouraged by the 'experience', Charlie applied for and was accepted for an apprenticeship at Arc Energy Resources on leaving school. And in July 2013, having undergone extensive on- and off-site training and an often intensive course at Gloucester College, Charlie completed his apprenticeship and is now employed by the company as a Project Engineer. And the story doesn't end there because Charlie, now 23, has completed an HND in Mechanical Engineering and is now working towards a degree. Lee Crosbee (22) and Kieran Kellett (24) have continued with their apprenticeships in Fabrication and Welding.
Summarising, Rosemary Robinson explains that the skills and experience the Arc Energy Resources team brings to the company is invaluable in ensuring that it remains the partner of choice for the supply of weld overlay cladding and complex weld fabrications.
If you're considering a career in engineering, Arc Energy Resources will be exhibiting at the Stroud Festival of Manufacturing & Engineering on 24th November at Stroud Leisure Centre and will be on hand to offer advice.
Having reviewed and restructured its European distribution network to focus on a more distributor-driven approach to industrial sales, the Gast Group – a leading designer and manufacturer of precision air products and member of IDEX Corporation’s Health, Science & Safety division – has seen numerous successes since the creation of a partnering agreement with BCAS Limited, which covers the supply and service of GAST and JUN-AIR ranges in London and the south east of England.
BCAS Limited’s knowledge of compressed air systems and 25 years of experience with the JUN-AIR range of air compressors provides a unique proposition for end users and OEMs, and one recent and high-profile example of this relationship has seen JUN-AIR compressors supplied to the laboratories of the technical department of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the governing body of the sport of tennis.
Commenting for BCAS Limited, sales and marketing director Christine Peaden says: “BCAS Limited is delighted to be working with such a professional organisation as the International Tennis Federation (ITF). We also have every confidence in JUN-AIR as a premium brand – from quality and performance, through to support and personnel – and are always happy to recommend their products to our customers.”.
As the International Tennis Federation’s sports engineer James Spurr explains, as in any sport, rules have to be established and enforced and the responsibility starts with governing bodies. “The mission of the ITF is to protect the nature of the game of tennis and we do that in a number of ways. One key element is to protect the skills traditionally required to play the game and our interpretation of that is when on court, you want the best player to win, not necessarily the player with the best equipment!
“It may then come as a surprise to many, but the document describing the rules of tennis is fairly small and, while including the familiar rules, it also details the equipment that players can use at official tournaments.”
However, while protecting tennis and ensuring it can be enjoyed by both players and spectators, the governing body also has a responsibility to encourage innovation within the game. The ITF’s technical department and its laboratories are therefore solely focussed on equipment, such as the ball and racquet, and must ensure that regulations are met. At the same time it must also encourage manufacturers to be innovative, as it is in their best interests and those of the sport, to develop new technologies.
“Innovation is encouraged at the International Tennis Federation,” says James: “but we must ensure that evolution does not become revolution because competitors and spectators are generally uncomfortable with that; and there are examples from other sports where such change has occurred and governing bodies have had to step in and retrospectively make changes to the rules.”
The ITF’s laboratories apply a number of fixed and mobile devices to test tennis balls and racquets and take direct measurements such as court speed. The results are used to investigate where performance comes from – how the modern tennis player interacts with the ball using speed and spin; how the ball interacts with the various playing surfaces; and how the player moves around the court. However, the one core objective of the ITF’s laboratory is ball approval.
To ensure that tennis balls can be used at official tournaments such as Wimbledon and the Australian and US Opens, manufacturers submit samples of approximately 300 different ball brands to ensure that each design falls within the ITF’s specification of a tennis ball, and therefore gain the all-important ITF-approved status. Here, tests are pneumatically driven using compressed air from JUN-AIR oil-free and oil-lubricated compressors.
Here, automated machines using oil-lubricated 12-25 JUN-AIR compressors are loaded with up to 12 tennis balls to be tested for stiffness. Pneumatic grippers move tennis balls from a carousel onto two electro-mechanical platens, which stress and measure each ball a number of times on their various axes. Another durability test uses compressed air powered cannons driven by oil-free OF302-4B JUN-AIR compressors to fire six tennis balls 20 times onto a steel surface at 90mph (the typical speed of a forehand return or second serve). This replicates their typical usage over nine games. As the balls degrade with use and become lighter; and as the compound breaks down and the felt wears, a secondary bounce test measures rebound height from a 2.5m-drop, after which the balls are returned to the platen-based deformation machine for additional testing.
The technical department is also responsible for conducting field tests at locations all over the world; and ahead of major tournaments such as the Davis Cup and the Fed Cup. Here, the team has access to eight portable oil-free JUN-AIR compressors (including four of the company’s portable i40-4B iSeries models) contained in flight cases.
Court Pace Rating (CPR) – the speed of the court – is measured using a similar cannon-based setup as the laboratory. Using compressed air, tennis balls are fired at approximately 75mph onto eight different locations of the court, which can be grass, clay or acrylic surfaces. The ball is fired between two light-gates to measure the horizontal and vertical components of the ball speed prior to and following impact. After some number crunching, the CPR is a number between 0 and 100 (but preferably between 24 and 50) that determines if the court pace falls within the permitted parameters for a tournament.
“The reason for field testing of court speeds is to prevent the risk of injury or accidents associated with low-friction courts; and to prevent any one nation having too much home advantage by practising on a court that is slower or faster than those of the visiting nations.” says James.
Fortunately, as tests are usually carried out in the days/weeks before a tournament, if the court is deemed too fast or slow and therefore too dangerous to play on, it can be replaced within hours and additional tests carried out. However, in extreme cases the host nation could forfeit the matches, or be penalised financially or through the deduction of team points.
Commenting on the compressors’ performance, James says: “Ball tests are carried out daily during the laboratories’ busy periods so the JUN-AIR compressors are well used. However, apart from routine maintenance and inspections, during which oil levels on the oil-lubricated compressors are checked and topped up if required; air tanks drained of water; and air filters cleaned of debris from the balls’ felt covering, we have never had a failure and the compressors are always running well.”
The JUN-AIR OF range of oil-less air compressors offer an unrivalled combination of low noise levels, reliability, long life and low maintenance. With decibel ratings as low as 47dB(A) when housed in attractive soundproof cabinets, models in the OF oil-less range have the lowest noise levels available, making them ideal for installations within laboratory environments and even in or near individual workstations.
The compact and self-contained JUN-AIR iSeries compressed air package consists of a rocking piston compressor and air receiver and is available with three compressor combinations and two different tank sizes, providing airflow rates from 28 to 56 lpm at 7 bar, a maximum pressure rating of 7 bar and tank sizes from 4 to 25 litres.
With noise levels below 45 dB(A), the JUN-AIR oil-lubricated piston compressor range comprises nine models offered in combination with five different receivers (from 4 litres to 150 litres) to create a wide range of complete compressor offerings.
Commenting for Gast Group, European sales director Andre Goodson says: “We are delighted to be involved with such a high-profile sporting body and grateful to BCAS Limited for providing the International Tennis Federation with expert advice on the JUN-AIR product and its on-going servicing and maintenance. Their 25 years of experience with JUN-AIR puts them in an enviable position and we believe that the combination of BCAS’s knowledge of compressed air systems and Gast Group’s vast range, gives the partnership a unique proposition for end users and OEMs.”
For further information call Gast Group on +44 (0)1527 504040, email gastgroup.uk@idexcorp.com or visit www.jun-air.com.
Following months of extensive laboratory trials, Q8Oils is delighted to announce that its Q8 Volta range of high-performance turbine oils has been approved for use on a number of gas and steam turbine circulation systems; and now meets the MAN Turbo SPD 10000494596 specification and Alstom Power’s HTGD 90117 specification.
Unlike many conventional turbine oils that are based on Group I or Group II base fluids, Q8 Volta is created using a high-quality Group III base fluid that has been specifically developed to offer outstanding resistance against ageing and oxidation. It also provides a long, trouble-free service life, excellent protection against rust and corrosion, outstanding water separation performance and features rapid air-release properties.
Commenting for Q8Oils, energy specialist Tony O’Keeffe says: “Our laboratory tests confirm that Q8 Volta is unlike other turbine oils that simply meet OEM specifications, it is a quality oil designed and developed to last the five to ten years demanded by the latest gas and steam turbines.”
The new Q8 Volta range includes four turbine oils. Q8 Volta 32 and Q8 Volta 46 are developed specifically for conventional gas and steam turbines; and Q8 Volta EP 32 and Q8 Volta EP 46 for geared systems. All the oils in the range can also be used for either gas or steam turbine applications and will exceed the necessary industry standard specifications including DIN 51515-1 & 2, BS 489, ISO 6743-5 and ISO 8068.
Editors Notes
To ensure that Q8Oils develops oils that oxidise slowly, laboratory tests to artificially age oils are carried out over a ten-week period, during which lubricant breakdown (e.g. antioxidant decrease) is compared with performance indicators. Oils that oxidise slowly are not commonplace because most are designed to meet fresh oil specs and additives that perform well when fresh will not necessarily age slowly.
Each test is carried out in a controlled environment, with the oil temperature set to 135 degrees centigrade and an airflow rate of 6 ltr/hr. Steel catalyst bars are used to increase the speed of the oxidation process and therefore shorten the test duration. The pictures accompanying this press release show three oils (Q8 Volta EP 46 and two competitor products) following a ten-week laboratory test.
Cool-phase, the award winning natural cooling, ventilation and heat recovery system from Monodraught is now available to architects, consultants, specifiers and building contractors through BIMobject.com a major worldwide source of free-to-use Building Information Modelling (BIM) content.
The Cool-phase BIM objects are data rich and are able to integrate with leading BIM software. The 3D digital representations have been built with the full product data and technical properties. This enables designers of buildings to create a fresh and healthy indoor environment for their concepts without using compressors or hazardous coolants. At the same time
Cool-phase offers a significant reduction in the running costs of the future building and assists with life cycle analysis.
Architects and consultants wanting to reduce the communication time on construction projects between customers and suppliers are now able to download full technical data on Cool-phase systems directly from the cloud. The BIM objects integrate automatically with their 3D models, allowing Cool-phase systems to be dragged and dropped into their own projects, improving visualisation and highlighting items such as fixing points and duct positions.
The key benefit of BIM is to increase productivity within construction. BIM allows centralised storage of data, linking important information between all teams involved in the process. Dimensional details direct from the manufacturer allow a greater degree of accuracy, ensuring close coordination on site and reducing complications. This can result in reduced lead times and lower overall construction costs.
Monodraught’s Technical Director, Nick Hopper says the launch of the Cool-phase BIM Objects continues Monodraught’s long history of integrating products within Building Simulation and CAD software.
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) today announced that its Industrial division will be attending this September’s REHACARE International Trade Fair & Conference in Düsseldorf, Germany. The Company will promote its PG Drives Technology business, showcasing a range of medical mobility products, including additions to the popular R-net and VR2 wheelchair control systems.
Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division has extensive experience in designing and manufacturing solutions for the monitoring and control of vehicles, including applications throughout the on-highway commercial vehicle sector. As one of four established specialist business units, PG Drives Technology has been designing, manufacturing and marketing sophisticated mobility control systems since 1976 and is now one of the world's foremost suppliers of these products.
On display for the first time at REHACARE is the second-generation R-net joystick module, which sets new standards in user-interfaces. The module contains a large, hi-resolution, VGA display with stylish graphics, as well as mechanical paddle switches for ease of use, a light sensor to automatically set screen brightness and a loudspeaker to provide clear audible warnings.
In addition, new R-net modules for Gyro drive control and Bluetooth control of iDevices will be launched. The Gyro module allows for improved drive-performance and straight-line driving on front-wheel-drive configurations, while the iDevice module permits the R-net system to connect with iPhones and iPads, as well as Windows PCs and Android devices.
To complete this impressive suite of new products, a compact joystick module for the VR2 wheelchair control system is also being shown and, being the smallest available on the market and primarily targeted at wheelchairs for indoor use, allows operators a closer approach to tables and minimizes the risk of collision with doorways.
PG Drives Technology’s modern UK design and manufacturing site is backed by a fully-equipped sales and service facility in the USA and general support offices in Taiwan and Hong Kong. The company also boasts a global network of authorized service centers, systems integrators and distribution partners.
Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division is a recognized leader in the production of critical controls and assemblies for specialty vehicles, including sensors, electronic throttle controls and joysticks. For further information about products and other innovative solutions available from Curtiss-Wright’s Industrial division, please visit www.cw-industrial.com or call +44 (0)1425 271444.
About Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE:CW) is a global innovative company that delivers highly engineered, critical function products and services to the commercial, industrial, defense and energy markets. Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, Curtiss-Wright has a long tradition of providing reliable solutions through trusted customer relationships. The company employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.curtisswright.com.
Advanced Insulation (www.aisplc.com)
Since its formation in 2007, Advanced Insulation has become a single source provider for insulation and fire protection systems to the oil and gas industry, and represents one of the most respected and progressive names in topside and subsea insulation worldwide.
Advanced Insulation offers a wide range of products to meet the growing demand for fire protection and thermal insulation systems adaptable for elevated service temperatures and pressures.
AL-KO Kober (www.al-ko-co.uk)
Since 1931, AL-KO Kober has been manufacturing premium, high quality components used in the Automotive, Commercial and Leisure industry.
The extensive range of chassis components, premium accessories and spare parts are engineered to last, ensuring whatever product you have purchased, you will benefit from the generations of development and enjoy a lifetime of service.
Arc Energy Resources (www.arcenergy.co.uk)
Arc Energy Resources is one of the UK’s leading specialists in weld overlay cladding and fabrication for the oil & gas industry. The company’s expertise provides protection against corrosion and wear for a variety of process and pipeline equipment for use in any hostile environment.
The company recently made a major investment in two new Rotating Head welding machines costing £500,000. This has increased productivity and extended the size and scope of work it can handle, which now includes complicated component geometries for the full or partial cladding and fabrication of a huge range of component sizes weighing up to 15 tonnes. The company’s in-house designed cladding workstations feature state-of-the-art control systems developed to suit its customer’s specialised engineering requirements, and can clad bores up to four metres diameter and areas of restricted access within bores as small as 20mm diameter. Arc Energy also offers in-house test weld, heat treatment, PMI and NDT facilities.
Industry certifications include ISO 9001:2008 quality management, ISO 3834-2 fusion welding of metallic materials, and the internationally renowned ASME U and R Stamps, as well as ISO 14001:2004 environment management, Investors in People and OHSAS 18001:2007 Health & Safety management system.
Curtiss-Wright Industrial Group, which includes the legacy brands of Arens Controls, Penny & Giles, PG Drives Technology and Williams Controls, is a recognized leader in providing components and sub-systems which enable customer specific solutions for on- and off-highway vehicles. These include medium- and heavy-duty trucks, buses and motor coaches, construction and agricultural vehicles, materials handling, and other specialty vehicles, as well as sophisticated wheelchairs and scooters for medical mobility.
We are a leading provider of electronic throttle controls, transmission shifters and sensors for commercial off-highway equipment and heavy trucks, so helping to address the long-term trend towards attaining higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions. We also supply operator controls and advanced motor controllers for hybrid and electric vehicles, such as buses, forklift trucks, pallet stackers, wheelchairs and rehabilitation chairs.
With a proud legacy spanning more than 85 years, Curtiss-Wright is a global innovative company that delivers highly-engineered, critical-function products and services to the commercial, industrial, defense and energy markets. Building on the heritage of Glenn Curtiss and the Wright brothers, we have a long tradition of providing reliable solutions through trusted customer relationships.
Further information is available from the Curtiss-Wright Industrial website (www.cw-industrialgroup.com) or by calling +44 (0)1202 034000.
Euchner (UK) Limited (www.euchner.co.uk)
Safety for people, machines and products has been the maxim of this family-owned company since 1953. Stefan Euchner is the third generation to take the helm.
As specialists in industrial safety engineering, Euchner develops and manufactures products and solutions tailored to the requirements of customers from a wide range of sectors. Using its guards on machines and installations helps to minimise hazards and risks, which in turn protects people and processes. For its 800 employees around the world, safety is the watchword.
Further information is available from the Euchner (UK) Limited website (www.euchner.co.uk) or by calling +44 (0)114 256 0123.
Industry Superstore (www.industrysuperstore.co.uk)
Industry Superstore is a one-stop-shop for a wealth of budget-friendly, high-quality products tailored to industry!
Further information is available from the Industry Superstore website (www.industrysuperstore.co.uk) or by calling +44 (0)1892 664499.
Exmac Automation Limited has many years experience in the design, manufacture, and installation of unit conveyors, conveyor systems and associated materials handling equipment for most industry sectors.
Exmac Automation is part of the MacDonald Humfrey group of companies and are market leaders in the supply of automated materials handling equipment to the automotive, aerospace, white goods, warehouse & distribution, nuclear, pharmaceutical and food & beverage industries.
The group supplies to most industry sectors and have over 250 employees with many years experience in the design, manufacture and installation of unit conveyors, conveyor systems and associated materials handling equipment.
Projects have ranged from individual standard conveyors and bespoke handling applications, through to complete turnkey contracts involving conceptual and process design, installation and commissioning.
We are ISO 9001 accredited and constantly strive to achieve continuous improvements in the overall quality of our products and service.
Exmac Automation has has established a reputation for supplying high quality, robust systems at competitive prices.
In-house resources enable us to provide clients with a single source for complete systems integration including simulation, engineering, machining, fabrication, assembly, controls, installation & commissioning and after sales service.
Our 70,000 sq ft facility in Worcester has extensive design, manufacturing and assembly resources. Our skilled team of customer focussed automation professionals offers a broad base of knowledge and experience in a wide variety of industries.
A large workshop enables us to carry out comprehensive pre-installation assembly and factory acceptance tests on all projects.
Fulton Limited (www.fulton.co.uk)
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. Fulton is still one of the world’s leading manufacturers, producing an unrivalled range of multi-fuel steam boilers. But increasingly these are ordered by customers as part of bespoke turnkey systems designed to meet exacting specifications.
Today Fulton Limited is an important design and manufacturing base in Fulton’s global network that also includes production facilities in the USA and China. The company’s UK facility makes it possible to manufacture products more efficiently and assemble completed units for whenever and wherever they are needed throughout the UK and in export markets.
Once just a steam boiler manufacturer, Fulton now specialises in ready-to-ship skid mounted and fully packaged boiler plant rooms to meet the current demand for off-site fabrication. The company puts great emphasis in providing sales and application advice and a full commissioning and after sales service to a growing customer base in hospital and healthcare facilities, food and beverage processing, laundries and other applications.
Design and manufacturing resources are shared and coordinated around the world, but no matter where your product originates, it will always be produced to the highest quality in a facility that is wholly owned and managed by the Fulton Group, which remains a privately owned family business.
Fulton’s heating and hot water systems can be delivered as fully prefabricated plant rooms or complete skid-mounted units, built to fit a prepared location and connect direct to your 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.
In every sense, today’s Fulton boiler systems are solutions that fit the requirements of the modern age of steam.
Gast Group (www.gastmfg.com / www.jun-air.com)
Since 1921, Gast Manufacturing, Inc. has been designing and manufacturing quality air-moving products. Our vacuum pumps, compressors, air motors, gear motors, vacuum generators, regenerative blowers and Smart Air technology meet the many challenging applications of OEMs and end-users worldwide.
For industrial manufacturing, health care lab, or environmental cleanup applications, Gast provides a full range of ideally suited and cost-effective solutions to any pneumatic problem.
Monodraught (www.monodraught.com)
In the current climate of soaring energy prices and the fear of global warming, increasing attention is being focused on Monodraught’s range of energy-free products.
Monodraught has always sought to invent, explore and develop innovative technologies that harness the wind and sun. Products include Windcatchers, Sunpipes, Suncatchers, Sola-vents, Sola-boosts and Cool-phase.
Nexen Lift Trucks (www.nexenlifttrucks.com)
Disillusioned with the ever-increasing complexity of new forklift trucks and the failure of the major manufacturers to provide a high level of support to their dealer networks, the decision was taken to develop its own range of forklifts.
In 2003 Nexen Lift Trucks was established with the vision to design and manufacture its own range with a combined 70 years experience of the lift truck rental industry. Nexen's ultimate goal is to build worldwide brand recognition based on its product's design and build quality as well as outstanding reliability at competitive prices.
In 2007 Nexen completed the purchase of the second largest lift truck manufacturer in Taiwan, creating the Nexen Motor Corporation. Initially the existing models were improved whilst a European based design team was established to develop a completely new range of trucks from the ground up to meet Nexen's standards.
Q8Oils (www.Q8Oils.co.uk / @Q8OilsUK)
Q8Oils has become a major player in the global lubricants market. Our success is founded on significant corporate resources, a commitment to product development and uncompromising standards of quality and service.
Q8Oils has a unique and innovative approach producing some of the world´s finest quality lubricants. Manufactured in its state of the art plant at Leeds, West Yorkshire, Q8Oils represent the very best and latest in lubricant technology. With over 1000 grades of finished lubricants, base oils, process oils, extracts and waxes.
We are dedicated to serving the needs of our customers by striving to understand, anticipate and satisfy their needs faster and better than our competitors. To achieve this our objective is to develop and supply products and services which reflect customer demands in each of our market sectors.
TLV Euro Engineering (www.tlv.co.uk)
TLV Euro Engineering UK is part of TLV, an internationally-established designer, manufacturer and provider of steam traps, condensate recovery pumps, pressure reducing valves and other specialist steam solutions. The company plays a leading role in the promotion of efficient energy systems and increased environmental conservation on a worldwide scale through its products and consulting and engineering services.
Rockatek (www.rockatek.com)
Cheltenham-based Rockatek Ltd is an engineering consultancy that offers design, analysis and physical testing services that set it apart from others. Its directors have over 40 years’ experience in complex engineering product optimisation and development; and its engineers specialise in engineering solutions for harsh environments and value improving reliability and performance.
Verco (www.ver.co.uk)
Founded in 1965, Verco quickly built a reputation for supplying quality refrigerated glass door and open chill cabinets to supermarkets, convenience and forecourt stores. Verco is now a leading supplier of retail refrigeration and the largest UK manufacturer of glass door cabinets.
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