Drives & Controls April 2022

50 CONTENTS n Drives&Controls is a controlled circulation publication. If you live in the UK and want to subscribe phone 0333 577 0801 or fax 0845 604 2327. Alternatively for both UK and overseas subscriptions please subscribe online at www.drivesncontrols.com. If you have any enquiries regarding your subscription, please use these numbers. The content of this magazine, website and newsletters do not necessarily express the views of the Editor or publishers.The publishers accept no legal responsibility for loss arising from information in this publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be produced or stored in a retrieval systemwithout the written consent of the publishers. Paid subscriptions UK: £110 per annum Europe: £145 per annum Rest of World: £180 per annum Printing: Warners Midlands PLC., PE10 9PH ISSN 0950 5490 Copyright: DFA Media Ltd 2022 NEXT ISSUE The May issue of Drives & Controls will contain our annual supplement on electric motors, plus a look at developments in linear motion technologies, and applications in the scientific, pharmaceuticals and medical engineering markets. UPDATE 14 Comment 15 ABB Back to Basics 56 Gambica Column 57 Design Data and Multimedia 60 New Products 71 Products & Services 73 Appointments IN DEPTH Follow us onTwitter @DrivesnControls Drives MagazineWeb site www.drivesncontrols.com Drives ShowWeb site www.drives-expo.com Join us on Facebook Drives & Controls Drives & Controls REGULARS S1 SHOW CATALOGUE Included in this month’s issue is the catalogue for the cluster of manufacturing and engineering exhibitions, including the Drives & Controls Show, about to take place at the Birmingham NEC. 30 18 6 60 52 DRIVES & CONTROLS APRIL 2022 Vol 38 No 4 Editor Tony Sacks t: 01732 465367 e: tony@drives.co.uk Consultant Editor Andy Pye t: 07808 137312 e: andy.pye@dfamedia.co.uk Production Manager Sarah Blake t: 01233 770781 e: sarah.blake@dfamedia.co.uk Project Liaison Manager Emma Floyd t: 01732 370340 e: emma.floyd@dfamedia.co.uk Marketing Executive Hope Jepson t: 01732 370340 e: hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk Financial Caren Brown t: 01732 370340 e: caren.brown@dfamedia.co.uk ADVERTISING Sales Director Damien Oxlee t: 01732 370342 m: 07951 103754 e: damien.oxlee@dfamedia.co.uk Sales Manager AndyWylie t: 01732 370341 m: 07939 607855 e: andy.wylie@dfamedia.co.uk DFA Direct Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370340 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Italy Oliver & Diego Casiraghi e: info@casiraghi.info t: +39 031 261407 f: +39 031 261380 Managing Director Ryan Fuller t: 01732 370344 e: ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk Chief Executive Officer Ian Atkinson t: 01732 370346 e: ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Reader/Circulation Enquiries Perception-MPS Ltd t: 01825 701520 e: cs@perception-sas.com HEAD OFFICE DFA Manufacturing Media Ltd 192 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BE t: 01732 370340 f: 01732 360034 e: info@dfamedia.co.uk www.drivesncontrols.com 36 5 News A round-up of the latest business and industry developments from around the world. 18 Technology Cutting-edge innovations in motion, power transmission, controls and related technologies. 30 Talking Industry The theme for the tenth in the series of Talking Industry online panel discussions was connectivity. We report on the lively debate by the six-person international panel on topics including 5G, the IIoT and financial incentives for research and development. 32 Machine Vision Examples of the wide range of applications emerging for machine vision technologies including: guiding massive AGVs as they transport reels of yarn; detecting flaws in battery coatings; checking the precision of ceramic ball bearings; and spotting defects on the surfaces of railway rails. 40 Conveyors and Materials-Handling How a linear-motor-based transport system is being used to move paper bags flexibly and gently on a packaging line, plus how a supplier of fastening components is using a robot palletiser to replace a previously manual process, thus saving time and cutting errors. 44 Machine Building A French manufacturer is producing bespoke kitchens using a robotic machining cell to drill and assemble components. Plus how a linear transport system is adding flexibility to a pizza-packing line, and how a Dutch manufacturer of skylights is saving £4,500 a year by adopting a pallet-building machine. 50 Machinery Directive The Machinery Directive has not been revised for around 15 years and many people believe it is due for an update. But proposals for a new Machinery Regulation, issued by the EC last year, have stoked controversy. 52 Drives & Controls Show The 2022 Drives & Controls Show and its collection of allied manufacturing events are almost upon us. We provide a round-up of the some of the last- minute exhibitors, and report on some of the technologies that will be on show. 50 42 64 46