HAP 0921

www.hpmag.co.uk HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS September 2021 5 CONTENTS Editor: Ed Holden t | 01892 615806 e | ed.holden@dfamedia.co.uk Editorial Coordinator: Leslah Garland t | 01732 370340 e | leslah.garland@dfamedia.co.uk Managing Director: Ryan Fuller t | 01732 370344 e | ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk Sales Manager: Andrew Jell t | 01732 370347 e | andrew.jell@dfamedia.co.uk DFA Direct: Ian Atkinson t | 01732 370340 e | ian.akinson@dfamedia.co.uk Germany: Andrew Jell t | +447952 864475 e | andrew.jell@dfamedia.co.uk Eastern US: Andrew Jell t | +447952 864475 e | andrew.jell@dfamedia.co.uk Western US and Canada: Andrew Jell t | +447952 864475 e | andrew.jell@dfamedia.co.uk Italian Sales Office: Oliver & Diego Casiraghi t | 031 261407 f | 031 261380 e | info@casiraghi.info Production Manager & Designer: Chris Davis t | 01732 370340 e | chris.davis@dfamedia.co.uk Reader/Circulation Enquiries: Perception t | +44 (0) 1825 701520 . e | dfamedia@dmags.co.uk Operations Manager: Ewa Hodden – e | ewa.hodden@dfamedia.co.uk Project Liaison Manager: Emma Floyd – e | emma.floyd@dfamedia.co.uk Finance Manager: Caren Brown – e | caren.brown@dfamedia.co.uk Chief Executive Officer: Ian Atkinson – e | ian.atkinson@dfamedia.co.uk Published by: DFA Manufacturing Media Ltd, 192 The High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1BE t | 01732 370340 f | 01732 360034 e | info@dfamedia.co.uk w | www.hpmag.co.uk In co-operation with Printer: Warners, UK © Copyright 2021, DFA Media Ltd ISSN 1366-1981 H&P isacontrolledcirculationmagazine,published8 timesa year.PleasecontactDFAMediawithanysubscriptionenquiries. Paidsubscriptionsarealsoavailableonanannualbasisat £110.00 (UK),£145.00 (Europe)or£180.00 (Restof theWorld) P+P included.Thecontentof thismagazine,websiteand newslettersdonotnecessarilyexpress theviewsof theEditoror publishers.Thepublishersacceptno legal responsibility for loss arising from information in thispublication.All rights reserved. Nopartof thispublicationmaybeproducedorstored ina retrievalsystemwithout thewrittenconsentof thepublishers. 38 20 6 NEWS 16 INSIGHT Ian Simpson, divisional managing director of Flowtech Fluidpower plc, considers the importance of omnichannel. 20 APPLICATIONS Maintaining the efficiency of farm equipment by using more sophisticated bearings can help to maximise crop yields in the face of an expanding world population, writes Marcelo Borges da Silva of SKF Group. 22 HYDRAULICS 38 KNOWLEDGE BASE 40 INTEGRATED SYSTEMS The global focus on reducing our carbon footprint is challenging engineers and scientists to explore alternative power sources and develop them into viable products that can be integrated into everyday lives. Tony Brennan of Bürkert looks at how fuel cell technology will progress and what it takes to develop concepts and prototypes. 42 PNEUMATICS Filling containers with compressed air or other gases such as nitrogen can be achieved more profitably and economically with the new Flow Control Motion App from Festo, developed for use with its VTEM Motion Terminal. 44 COMPRESSED AIR Featuring inPASS technology, Atlas Copco’s new air filters are claimed to significantly simplify maintenance and reduce costs while delivering a high level of performance and reliability. 48 BCAS Our regular news and events update on the British Compressed Air Society. 50 BFPA Hydraulics & Pneumatics’ issue-by-issue briefing on current activities and views involving the British Fluid Power Association. 52 NEW FACES 54 WEB LOCATOR 55 PRODUCTS & SERVICES DIRECTORY 42