RS Components Offers Battery-Recycling Service

RS Components has launched its battery-recycling service for customers in accordance with Part 2 of the Batteries Directive, Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009. As a producer of batteries, RS has registered with the recycling scheme operated by Batteryback.

Most portable and industrial batteries can be recycled at RS Trade Counters or, alternatively, Batteryback has established over 2,000 battery-collection points. RS customers can also arrange for Batteryback to collect waste batteries free of charge from its premises, provided the weight of portable batteries exceeds 30kg.

Lubriserv Offers Metalworking Lubricant Service

Lubriserv offers a complete metalworking lubricant service, supplying products, equipment and services to optimise the manufacturing process. The company's approach of looking at the total manufacturing process in order to optimise fluid performance, usage and waste and to improve the working environment is said to offer cost savings and allow customers to concentrate on their core business.

Lubriserv is the UK reseller for Lubra products and authorised distributor for Mobil and Nederman equipment. Lubra provides in-depth technical knowledge and is able to formulate new compounds that are continually improved to meet the needs of technically evolving machinery, processes and work materials.

This has led to the development of chemistries and products that are claimed to outperform conventional technology, especially in the metalforming area, where Lubra has niche high-performance products that do not contain mineral oils, chlorine or sulphur. Lubriserv also has access to Mobil's complete range of advanced industry lubricants and expertise to keep operations running efficiently.

The company supplies both synthetic and mineral lubricants for use in a range of industry sectors. Lubriserv also has access to Nederman's offering, including: swarf handling; transportation/conveying; cutting oil and coolant filtration/purification; chip processing and briquetting; oil-mist filtration; and machine and general cleaning.

Schunk Announces Service Robotics Forum

Schunk has organised its third Expert Day for service robotics on 24-25 February 2010. Experts will host lectures in English to share their knowledge with delegates and provide in-depth information on present research projects, trends and opportunities for the utilisation of service robotics.

The lectures will pay particular attention to current topics of service robotics such as safety, standardisation and European initiatives. Current research projects in the field of gripping, mobile manipulation and modular robotics will also be presented.

Sixlog Provides Biological Decontamination Service

Astro Pak has announced the launch of subsidiary Sixlog, which provides on-site biological decontamination services utilising proprietary IHP (ionised hydrogen peroxide) technology. Sixlog's services are aimed at a variety of industries, including life sciences, pharmaceutical, healthcare, first responders, transportation and public facilities.

The company performs decontamination services for equipment, rooms, entire buildings and modes of transportation such as ambulances, trains and cruise ships. IHP can be used in the open air and, once ionised, acts like a gas as opposed to a vapour, providing good distribution properties and destroying micro-organisms.

Braby Service Inspects And Dry Cleans Flour Silo

Braby Service, based in Lincolnshire, has completed its first order with OCS for the maintenance of a 30ft (9m) flour silo at Allied Bakeries in Cardiff. Contractor OCS employed Braby Service, the servicing division of Braby, to carry out a full inspection and a thorough dry clean of the internal walls of the silo.

With the use of specialist photographic techniques, pictures were taken to establish the internal condition of the silo and a full report was made to OCS and Allied Bakeries. Roger Neal, service division manager, said: 'The specialist photography is an integral part of the service.

'The exterior of the silo is usually very serviceable, but the internal condition is more difficult to establish. 'The option to take internal pictures of a silo helps us evaluate what may not normally be seen,' he added. The entire cleaning and maintenance project was completed in five days.

Revolvo Provides Flexible Large-Bearing Service

Revolvo is helping wind-turbine-maintenance companies to meet deadlines with its flexible service for large bearings. Flexible production allows the company to supply standard or bespoke solid and split bearings to order in sizes up to 1.5m outside diameter in a matter of weeks.

Revolvo also manufactures large, OE-standard solid bearings - cylindrical, taper-roller, thrust and deep-groove ball bearings - and can deliver them in a matter of weeks. This means that refurbishment projects can be delivered on-time and within budget by sourcing the bearings required for wind-turbine transmissions directly from Revolvo.

Revolvo manufactures solid bearings in sizes from 25mm bore to 1,500mm external diameter and SRB split roller bearings in sizes from 35mm bore to over 1,000mm internal diameter, plus imperial equivalents.

In addition, the company also manufactures inch, custom-designed and obsolete sizes of solid ball and roller bearings, which are used to keep older machinery in operation. All Revolvo bearings are produced to DIN PO/ABEC 1 standards, with up to P5 available on request.

Steatite Offers In-Vehicle Installation Service

Steatite Rugged Division is now able to offer its customers a comprehensive, specialist in-vehicle installation service. Steatite recognises that a mobile device or computer within a vehicle can help businesses achieve better workforce efficiencies and provide improved customer service. For the emergency services it can give access to information and facilitate communications that can improve and speed the response to an urgent situation.

These factors have created a customer demand to which Steatite has reacted by establishing its installation service. The capability uses Steatite Rugged Division's experience and expertise in supporting computing requirements for harsh environments. As installations are generally required to be completed at the customer's premises, Steatite's service provides nationwide coverage.

Offering a single source for the supply of a semi-rugged or fully rugged computing solution plus the carefully planned installation and set-up of that solution ready for use, can greatly simplify matters for the customer with minimum disruption of day-to-day operations.

A full vehicle installation can be complex and may encompass a pre-installation survey to understand customer requirements for the positioning of hardware. Docking and mounting arrangements and sometimes the need for peripheral devices such as printers and antennae may also need to be considered at this stage.

ABB's MSP Brochure Outlines Motor-Service Offering

ABB's Motor Service Partners (MSP) has released the 2009 edition of its motor service brochure, outlining services and products available to its customers. ABB Motor Service Partners is a network of independent motor-service companies, working together and with ABB to provide full lifecycle care of industrial motors and stocking a largest range of electrical motors to suit virtually all applications.

Many of the products are available at short notice. The ABB MSP network can advise on the best purchase for individual needs, help install, maintain and repair motors, and dispose/recycle them once their useful life is spent. The ABB MSP network exists to provide end users with a supply network of high quality products backed up by comprehensive support.

The network comprises of 12 independent motor specialists, located throughout the UK, who have collaborated to offer customers a full range of services related to low-voltage motors, including sales, application engineering and modifications, overhauls and repairs of standard as well as explosion-proof motors, energy efficiency programmes and stock management.

Burkert Sets Up Design-And-Build Service

Burkert has set up an extended design-and-build service for high-tech, pre-assembled Microfluidic systems and custom-designed process control cabinets. Meeting the needs of applications such as food, beverage, process, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical/biomedical, water and oil and gas, the extended service combines process and laboratory automation, valve elements, sensors, flowmeters, water treatment systems and networked communications into single-source customised systems, which deliver higher process efficiency and higher yields with reduced waste.

Burkert's service involves complete project responsibility, from conception through design, manufacture, assembly and testing. It covers small and large production runs, extends to integration of third-party equipment, and offers the benefit of simplifying equipment designs, making them more competitive, more compact and easier to assemble.

Irwin Hodgkiss, manager of Burkert's system division, said: 'At our Stroud facility we are providing products ranging from ATEX-certified control cabinets, to Microfluidic multi-station dosing and mixing units for DNA synthesis, to systems based on our mxControl, multi-parameter controller, which fully automate and optimise water treatment and purification processes. 'Additional support is provided by Burkert's modern and extensive European Systemhaus capability, with its highly experienced engineering staff.'.

APS Offers Hire Service To UK Businesses

Automated Packaging Systems (APS) is offering the option to UK businesses to hire - rather than buy - automated bagging and void fill solutions. The company has joined forces with nationwide tool and equipment provider HSS Hire to offer exclusive short- and long-term hire of its Freespace bagging system and Airpouch void fill system. The PS 125 Freespace is designed for low- to mid-volume operations.

It is said to be highly productive and flexible and has been adapted for a range of applications, from splitting bulk-purchase fittings and craft items to dispatching goods from offices. Capable of operating at speeds up to 25 bags per minute, it weighs less than 40kg and has a footprint of 550mm x 480mm, which means that it can be used in small spaces. The quiet, all-electric design does not require compressed air.

Freespace makes it possible for one person to sort and bag products at between four and six times their normal operating rate in a like-for-like bagging scenario, saving time and cutting the cost of bought-in labour. The bags are available in a range of sizes, from postcard to pillowcase. In addition, HSS Hire will also offer Airpouch: APS's desktop void-fill system that provides an immediate, lightweight and greener source of reprocessed protective packaging cushions.

Airpouch is claimed to be fast and simple to use, providing protective air-filled cushions at a rate of 15 linear metres per minute - enough to fill a family car every 10 minutes. The cushions offer protection and padding and are suitable for components, spare parts, CDs, books, electronics, pharmaceuticals and electrical items. Airpouch is used in mail-order centres and fulfilment houses, as well as for parts distribution, and will be available for hire on a weekly basis.