Harmonic approach to gear technology
Much of today's plant machinery uses high-ratio planetary gearboxes to provide a wide range of operating speeds and output torques for use in applications such as turbo systems for compressors and pumps, mobile equipment and machine tools. Due to their design, with several smaller planetary gears around an input pinion or sun gear, these systems enable high reduction ratios to be achieved via a single stage.
HES Tractec takes Molson Coors Brewery up a gear
UK brewery Molson Coors has installed 20 Comer gearboxes, supplied by HES Tractec, to power the rotating floors of four germination vessels at its maltings site in Shobnall, Burton-upon-Trent.
Lubricate the parts
Just a decade ago, outside the automotive industry, synthetic lubricants were in low volume production. PTFE-based lubes, for example, were expensive problem solvers, aimed only at applications where mineral oils just couldn't handle the extremes - primarily of temperature and pressure. Today, it's a very different story.
Corus opens doors on high power gearboxes
Hybrid gearboxes, installed to open and close fume capture doors at Corus steelworks' iron desulphurisation plant in Scunthorpe, have proved themselves strong, durable and capable of very high torque, despite low energy input.
Gearing up
Choice of gearbox type, not just sizing, is critical to the performance, efficiency, reliability and cost of any application. Brian Tinham takes advice from Brevini sales manager Dave Brown
Go easy on energy
The oil price might fall below $100 per barrel, taking other energy prices down with it, but it may also climb to $200, according to energy industry insider Mike Brooks of St Omer Consulting. The point: plant managers should be planning projects to deliver energy savings right now - and not just incremental improvements, but serious cuts, taking advantage of new and existing technologies.
Welsh Water improves efficiency with new gearboxes
Welsh Water is reporting improved efficiency at one of its sewage treatment works since replacing old worm gear drives on six half-bridge scrapers with planetary gearboxes that were a direct fit for the original boxes.
Wet engineering
With the likely passing of the European Environmental Liability Directive 2004/35/EC into British law in December - extending the existing 'polluter pays' principle to water sources, inhabited land, and protected species and habitats - industry is going to have to clean up its act, or face big bills for damage. So says Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).