Reliable technology
As a function of quality management, reliability is defined as a measure of the degree to which a system does what it is intended to do. Clearly, reliability is crucial, and all manufacturing processes require safe and reliable operation of valves, whether the fluid controlled and directed is harmless or hazardous, from air handling, fluids, vapours, gases and waste.
Working order
This year's Maintec exhibition seems set to do rather more than what it says on the tin - with a focus that extends from predictive maintenance to wireless systems for plant data gathering. As well as around 150 exhibitors - including Blackburn College, C-Cubed, Corus Northern Engineering Services, Flir, Fluke, FSI, GE Energy, Monitran, Pruftechnik, RMS, Schaeffler, SoftSols, T-Mac, Vega and Whitelegg Machines - there is a powerful programme of seminars and a new lunchtime briefing on the first day.