WCA March 2010

news

From November 2009, Joachim Uhing KG GmbH & Co will sponsor five teams of students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Kiel University of Applied Sciences to allow the future engineers to gather first-hand engineering experience. The startIng! project for freshmen students was launched several years ago and simulates a typical engineer’s professional life. Sponsor companies present a problem that the teams must solve within a week. The teams compete for the best solution. Employees of the sponsors and upper division students act as coaches. The problem Uhing set was to optimise an existing non-contact spool flange detection system, used to automatically reverse traversing gears. A particular requirement was to reduce the space requirements and to increase resistance against damage and soiling. The realistic experience of an engineer’s daily work gave the participants the opportunity to put their vocational choice to a test. All of the offered solutions being feasible, they were presented to a jury of academics and employees of sponsoring companies for judging. The winning team solved the problem of keeping the transmitter and receiver of a light barrier clean using rotating segmented discs. Uhing’s favourite suggestion was to exchange the delicate optical sensor with a robust ultrasonic sensor, a solution that not only reduces the mechanic complexity but also solves several aspects of the problem. Uhing is currently investigating whether the theoretical approach can measure up to the metrological precision of a light barrier. Joachim Uhing KG GmbH & Co – Germany Website : www.uhing.com Student project sponsored by Uhing

Software cooperation

minimise scrap and handling costs, while maintaining highest delivery performance. InnoVites BV – The Netherlands Email : info@innovites.com Website : www.innovites.com

InnoVites BV has contracted Crypsis to co-develop technology that allows InnoVites’ customers to reduce material costs. Crypsis applies its state-of-the-art optimisation technology to determine the optimal cutting plans in cable manufacturing and distribution operations. InnoVites integrates this technology into its ERP business software, helping its customers to

Crypsis – India Email : contact@crypsis.net Website : www.crypsis.net

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Wire & Cable ASIA – March/April 2010