Plant Works & Engineering March 2022

A Winchester-based process design company has announced the appointment of a new MD to lead the company through a period of significant change and growth. OLG CONSULTING, which has offices in Colden Common, Hampshire, was formerly known as BPE Design & Support before an important brand realignment project last year. The business was purchased by On Line Group in 2020, which rebranded to OLG in 2021, and saw BPE follow suit with a new look and new name, OLG Consulting. The company has now announced new MD, Bill Warbey, will be taking the helm. Bill was instrumental in building OLG Consulting into the successful company it is today having previously been one of the original shareholders of BPE Design & Support. w | https://olgconsulting.co.uk/ Owners and users of work equipment have even greater access to Thorough Examination services following a rise in CFTS accreditations last year. The scheme recently added dozens more locations to its ever-growing nationwide network of certified providers so users of lift trucks and agricultural equipment anywhere in the UK can easily find a local accredited examiner. “In 2021 we welcomed 47 new Thorough Examination providers, representing a 7% increase in UK membership in just one year,” said CFTS chairman Geoff Martin. “We also increased the number of providers in Ireland by 38%. Indeed, in the past year CFTS examiners conducted over 90,000 Thorough Examinations of work equipment — an 11% increase on 2020.” w | www.thoroughexamination.org Siemens, working in conjunction with BRAMMER BUCK & HICKMAN, a leading UK supplier of industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services, has donated protective facemasks to two overseas charities. The facemasks were ordered by Siemens through Brammer Buck & Hickman – Siemens’ preferred supplier – at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, as one of a number of measures to keep their staff safe. The masks were welcomed and used by Siemens’ factory staff and those deemed critical workers – including hospital maintenance and those working within power stations. However, with government rules and advice in 2020 regularly changing to reflect the shifting nature of the pandemic, the demand for disposal facemasks was considerably reduced. Rather than retain these facemasks, Siemens has donated them to two charities for use overseas: Collective Aid and Medaid UK. w | https://uk.rubix.com Facemasks donated to charities To meet the demand for faster, more efficient production, ABB has announced it is adding two new members to its OmniCore controller family. Available for a range of robots across ABB’s portfolio, the new E10 and V250XT controllers offer best- in-class motion control, as well as 20% energy savings and future-proofing through built-in digital connectivity and 1000+ additional functions to meet changing requirements. The company says these two new controllers extend the possibilities for enhanced robot control in a variety of industries, from electronics assembly to automotive, logistics, and general manufacturing. “The growing demands of the industry for quicker, more diverse production and greater responsiveness to changing market conditions calls for solution that bring new levels of speed, accuracy and flexibility,” says Antti Matinlauri, head of product management for ABB Robotics.” w | https://new.abb.com/products/robotics/controllers/omnicore New robot controllers New managing director CFTS expands nationwide network ENERGY ASSETS has announced it is expanding its electricity meter data collection capabilities to near universal coverage across Britain’s industrial and commercial markets. The company, a leader in energy metering and analytics, has broadened the reach of its automated meter reading (AMR) service to cover around 99% of all power meters serving private and public sector organisations. This enhanced AMR capability widens the potential scope of the company’s Data Collection and Data Aggregation (DCDA) services to a growing customer base of energy suppliers, brokers and end users. “I doubt there’s ever been a time when energy consumption data has been so critical for companies as they look for ways to mitigate the impact of escalating costs,” said David Sing, Energy Assets group managing director (Assets). w | www.energyassets.co.uk Universal coverage As part of the Group’s network development strategy, RUBIX says it continues to extend its engineering, motion control and automation services offer in the UK with the acquisition of Leicester-based KJN Automation Limited (KJN). Established in 1997, KJN is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of aluminium profile and associated products and accessories. KJN’s workshop in Leicester is a one-stop shop for customers requiring aluminium profile solutions across the country. The company is renowned for supplying high-quality aluminium profile solutions and components, and for its expertise in precision engineering; value-added services include turning, milling, grinding, spark eroding, sawing, fabrication and welding, as well as bespoke CNC machining and CAD design services. KJN’s dedicated design team can design and build bespoke workstations and panelling. w | www.aluminium-profile.co.uk w | www.rubix.com 44 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk March 2022 Industry Update Acquisition strengthens UK portfolio