Plant & Works Engineering February/March 2023

Process, Controls & Plant WILLIAM HUGHES, a specialist manufacturer of springs and wire components, has announced it has enhanced the capabilities of its 80 m2 Class 7 cleanroom with its investment in a digitally controlled Ultrawave Neon 60 Ultrasonic Cleaning System. The new Neon machine, which is Class I Medical Devices compliant to MDR (EU) 2017/745, compliments existing assets and capabilities in the ISO 14644-1 accredited cleanroom, which include further solvent and aqueous cleaning systems, a UV-inspection dark room and various cleaning verification systems, including filtration studies, NVR testing and microanalysis. As well as being used internally, the cleanroom is offered as an advanced subcontract facility. It is being regularly utilised by leading manufacturers in the aerospace, medical and hydraulics industries, where it is used for the cleaning and packing of small batch, precision-machined and fabricated parts. t | 01963 363377 e | sales@wmhughes.co.uk w | www.wmhughes.co.uk Investment boosts cleanroom capabilities How to cut energy consumption TOMRA Food, one of the world’s largest peeling solutions providers, has installed a BABCOCK WANSON VAP600RR Coil Type Steam Boiler into its test centre in Dublin, Ireland, where it is being used to carry out tests and demonstrations for food peeling applications. The VAP600RR is being used at high pressure - 29 bar – to produce steam which is used to peel potatoes and other vegetables. Steam peeling is the most efficient method of removing skin from vegetables, resulting in significant savings of raw material and energy. TOMRA Food is the leader in steam peeling and food sorting, and their solutions are present in the processing facilities of the world’s leading food producers. The TOMRA Food facility in Ireland is home to the company’s research and development team for steam peeling. t | 020 8953 7111 e | info@babcock-wanson.com w | www.babcock-wanson.com 26 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk February/March 2023 Steam boiler is top of the class HI-LINE INDUSTRIES, a UK-based leader in the design, manufacture and installation of energy-efficient compressed air purification equipment, is reporting continued growth in year-on-year sales, with results for the last quarter well ahead of forecast. The company says this positive news is a reflection of the added value provided by its products and services, which help UK users of compressed air to achieve genuine competitive gain. To support its growing sales, Hi-line has completed a management reshuffle that will ensure its expanding customer base can take advantage of even higher service levels. Following on from the appointment of Steve Smith as managing director in May 2022, Brad Beesley is now general manager, heading up the Sales Department. In addition, Darren Sims now sits at the helm of the Technical Department as the company’s new technical director, while Craig Watson takes up the role of business administration manager to lead Hi- line’s Administration Department. Hi-line says at present everything centres on growth, emphasising the success story of this forward-thinking UK manufacturing business. By way of example, spring 2023 will see the start of an extension to the company’s UK headquarters in Burton-upon-Trent. This significant project will provide a huge boon to the in-house manufacturing processes, while simultaneously increasing warehouse space. Hi-line says it also takes its corporate sustainability responsibilities extremely seriously, which is why the company is currently installing a series of electric vehicle chargers at its Burton-upon-Trent facility. This activity precedes a number of electric vehicles currently on order, which will drive down carbon emissions and support Hi-line’s position as an industry flagbearer for environmental issues. The company says many of its products also underpin this ethos, largely via innovative technologies that help to reduce energy consumption. In a further environmental project, Hi-line will be self-sufficient with solar energy by 31 March 2023, delivering a huge milestone in the company’s carbon-offset programme t | 01283 533377 e | enquiries@hilineindustries.com w | www.hilineindustries.com Sales growth and major plans for 2023 FPS AIR COMPRESSORS says it can provide a number of tips and initiatives to reduce the energy consumed by compressed air systems. In particular, the company offers the new NOBEL PM series of oil-injected rotary screw compressors, which feature IE4 permanent magnet motors, variable speed drives and an extended airflow range for a high level of energy efficiency and quiet operation. The company says this industry-leading performance helps to counter the current trend of spiralling energy costs, which look likely to remain high for the foreseeable future. Compared with the operating costs of a standard compressor. As an example, a user operating a 37 kW Nobel DVPM air compressor could enjoy savings of up to £25,000 a year or more. Compressed air usage represents a significant proportion of electricity costs at manufacturing plants, food production facilities, machine shops, packaging plants, garages, body shops and woodyards – essentially any facility using compressed air. FPS says a big part of the solution is to get savvy about specifying the optimal technology, notably the compressor. The energy costs linked to an air compressor’s operation during its service life represent more than 80% of total lifecycle costs. There are three principal compressor metrics to consider: specific energy; greater FAD (free air delivery) performance; and a wider operating range to suit varying demand. The specific energy value reveals how much power (kW) is used to generate a specific volume of compressed air (1m 3 ). Users unfortunately often overlook this highly accurate measure of an air compressor’s energy efficiency. However, NOBEL PM series models from Power System deliver a 3-8% better specific energy performance in comparison with competitor alternatives. Visit www.pwemag.co.uk for the full release t | 01865 892 620 e | sales@fps-compressors.co.uk w | www.fps-compressors.co.uk/ energy-saving-air-compressors