Mechanical Technology October 2015

⎪ October 2015 contents ⎪

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ON THE COVER

Features Special report 8 Vacuum trucks and telehandlers launched at Bauma

At IFAT and BAUMA Conexpo 2015, the Goscor Group of Companies launched several exciting new machines, including a range of proudly South African vacuum and cleaning machines and the new Bobcat Roto telescopic handler. Power transmission, bearings, bushes and seals 10 Work harder and smarter in times of crisis In the light of increasingly tough economic condition in South Africa, Raymond Obermeyer, the new MD of SEW Eurodrive, talks to MechTech about his vision for maintaining the company’s positive growth path.

12 Intelligent bearing trialled in railway and wind sectors 15 Self-contained servo drive reduces energy consumption 16 Advances in motor protection systems 19 New angled support pedestal for Cooper split bearings Computer-aided engineering 20 Adding value: from CAD design to manufacturing efficiency

MechTech talks to Robert Pereira, product manager for DS SolidWorks at MECAD Systems, about the company’s South African heritage, the niche advantages of SolidWorks and the add-in software tools from its partners. 22 Optimisation drives 3D printing design 25 ATS announces statistical process control software Hydraulic and pneumatic systems 26 South Africa’s mobile vacuum OEM MechTech visits the manufacturing facilities of Highpoint Vacuum and talks to engineering manager, Jean Visser, about the company’s designs, its vacuum pumps and the sophisticated hydraulic systems used. 30 Cabinet-free hydraulic drive control 31 Variable speed rotary screw compressor – order to installation in seven weeks Structural engineering materials, metals and non-metals 32 Pitting corrosion repairs in process vessels This article from AESSEAL, the South African distributor of modern Belzona paste grade epoxy surfacing materials, describes the repair of an amine reboiler vessel at a gas terminal in the UK. 34 Materials Engineering in Practice: the micro environment reality Innovative engineering 36 The bounty of nothingness Krishan Chawla, Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Alabama; and Gary Gladysz, partner/owner of Empyreus LLC, explain how to understand the role of voids and how to use them profitably to design new materials. Regulars 1 Comment 4 On the cover: Product customisation and evolutionary development 6 Industry forum 38 Products and services 40 Nota bene

Product customisation and evolutionary development MechTech talks to Brian Abbott and Ernst Smith – SMC Pneumatics South Africa’s team of product managers – about the company’s different approach to customisations and specials and how these enable the company’s offering to better match the specific needs of global customers.

For more information contact: Brian Abbott or Ernst Smith,

SMC Pneumatics SA +27 11 588 2407

babbott@smcpneumatics.co.za, esmith@smcpneumatics.co.za www.smcpneumatics.co.za

Mechanical Technology — October 2015

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