'Right now Solar Gard worldwide including the New Zealand operation, are making a concerted effort to reach into those areas of industry where, for one reason or another, business owners have not given any thought to what benefits these products create,' local distributor Ross Eathorne told MSCNewsWire.

'Whilst the Solar Gard window film products are well know what isn't so well appreciated is how energy efficient effective these products are and how this can lead through to improvements on the client's bottom line.

Also many of our products have a role to play on the factory floor. For example metal shield is ideally suited to the operation of this type of machinery improving safety levels and easy replacement.

We are also very proud of our stainless steel film. A real gem that has so many applications. It's easily replaceable, very hard to tell apart from stainless itself, can be UV printed onto for example artwork, logo's, and promotional material. ‘The product can go on just about any flat surface, both inside and outside.

Great also to go on top of existing stainless steel which has been scratched or damaged without having the inconvenience and cost of replacing the sheet.

Why not come through to me with your questions on the stainless steel film and other products in our range The stainless steel film pictured here isbeing applied to a subway system in Los Angeles where there is a high volume pedestrian count so a sturdy graffiti proof product was essential.

Location: 3D/89 Ellice Road, Glenfield, Auckland Contact email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 A new extreme-duty Flexicon® flexible screw conveyor with purpose-built hopper transfers bulk material received from front end loaders.

The conveyor consists of a heavy-gauge stainless steel screw that rotates within an 8 in. dia. (200 mm) stainless steel tube. Since the conveyor is driven at its top end by a 20 hp (15 kW) variable speed electric motor and gear reducer, material exits the discharge housing prior to contacting any seals or bearings. The tube interior and removable screw are smooth and crevice-free, allowing rapid, thorough cleaning.

Rugged enough to withstand incidental contact with front-end loaders, the heavy-gauge stainless steel hopper holds up to 8 tons (7 tonnes), or 200 cu ft (5.7 m3), providing an ample supply of material for the high capacity conveyor to run continually as a front end loader replenishes the material.

Self-contained on an all-stainless skid equipped with forklifting tubes, the system can be deployed in multiple indoor or outdoor locations with a single power connection, conveying a broad range of free-flowing and non-free-flowing materials from fine powders to largeaggregates including abrasives, corrosives and materials with bulk densities up to 150 lb/cu ft (2400 kg/m3).

Material is conveyed at a 40 degree incline before discharging into downstream processing equipment or storage vessels.

The simple design is said to deliver efficient performance and high reliability while reducing maintenance and cost.

The system is also available constructed of carbon steel with durable industrial coatings.

|  A Flexicon release  |  March 07, 2017  ||

The latest Alleasing Equipment Demand Index for New Zealand shows businesses expect to substantially grow their asset base this year - and they are increasingly likely to consider leasing as a funding option.

In a first for the quarterly Index, which launched in August 2015, more than half (51.2%) of the 250 businesses surveyed indicated they have plans to increase their asset base. For the first quarter of 2017, the average growth is expected to be 8.9%.

This is the first time the quarterly increase has exceeded 8%. Just 3% cent of businesses have plans to lower their asset base, by an average of only 3.4%.

This is also the first time the Index has included responses from executives in larger corporate businesses, which are defined as those turning over between NZ$100 million and NZ$250 million annually.

This was the most positive group of all surveyed for the Index, with over half (56.9%) indicating they want to add to their asset base in the first part of the year.

SMEs are also bullish about their plans to expand their asset base. A majority (55.2%) of businesses with an annual turnover of between NZ$5 million and NZ$20 million intend to bump up their asset base in the first quarter.Lower corporates (those with revenue of NZ$20 million to NZ$100 million) are the least positive, with 41.5% planning to boost their assets in the first quarter.

Leasing opportunities

The survey shows that businesses lease a relatively small proportion (16% or NZ$128 billion) of their assets. Moreover, 14.3% of businesses say unproductive assets hamper their growth.

Alleasing says this indicates there is a substantial opportunity for New Zealand businesses to leverage their balance sheets to invest in new plant and equipment.

The survey indicated there is considerable appetite among businesses to change their capital structure, with 13.1% stating they would like to refinance their existing assets through new capital structures.

However, nearly 20% of the businesses surveyed said capital constraints were restricting growth. Both small and large businesses are affected by constrained access to capital, with more than one-fifth of both groups naming lack of capital as a concern, compared to just over 17% of mid-market businesses.

The highest anticipated demand for new assets came from the agricultural sector where nearly two-thirds (62.5%) of businesses aim to invest in assets. More than half (51.4%) of businesses in the manufacturing sector are also looking to buy assets.

|  An  Asset Finance release  |  March 06, 2017  ||

Outright asset purchases may reduce opportunity to grow

More than half of New Zealand businesses are planning to increase their asset base in the first quarter of 2017, with the vast majority purchasing equipment to increase their asset base rather than replacing existing equipment. The bullish intentions resonate with other indices for business and consumer sentiment in New Zealand, reflecting strong economic growth as the economy tracks at 3.6 per cent, one of the highest rates in the developed world.

However, the latest round of the Alleasing Equipment Demand Index (the Index) has revealed that the way businesses are choosing to fund their assets, could hinder their growth prospects, with almost one in two intending to use equity or internal cash flow to fund their acquisitions.

The Index found that 51.2 per cent of businesses intend increase their asset base this quarter. This is the first time since the Index began in August 2015 that the quarterly increase has moved above 50.0 per cent. In comparison, only 3.0 per cent of businesses reported their intent to decrease their asset base.

Of those businesses looking to increase their asset base, the average increase is 8.9 per cent, another new high. In addition, more than 70.0 per cent of the assets earmarked for acquisition this quarter are part of new investment capital expenditure.

The sample group was divided into three segments, based on annual turnover, and for the first time included ‘upper corporate’ businesses with turnover in the $100 million to $250 million band.

This segment proved to be the most bullish, with 56.9 per cent planning an asset base increase, closely followed by 55.2 per cent of SME’s ($5-20m annual turnover). This leaves lower corporates ($20-100 million) at a significantly lower 41.5 per cent planning an increase.

While businesses are planning acquisitions, the biggest source of funds is internal, with 46.8 per cent saying they will use equity or internal cash flow to fund the purchases.

Commenting on these results, Alleasing Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Blizzard, said: “While this shows that New Zealand businesses are self-reliant, it also reveals significant potential for further growth if these businesses opt to fund their assets another way.

“Our research has found that one in five businesses are suffering from capital constraints, which are inhibiting their ability to expand. Nearly half of these businesses would like to achieve growth through M&A, but a lack of access to capital is frustrating their plans.

“The Index shows that while confidence is strong, major opportunities are being missed because businesses aren’t able to access sufficient capital. This could be a result of banks becoming cautious of how many loans they grant prior to the upcoming implementation of Basel III. If businesses want to grow and remain profitable, they will need to find alternative capital sources instead of relying on outright purchases.”

Leveraging an alternative capital source has the potential to release significant funds for cash flow or business investment. Index data reveals that 16.0 per cent of the asset base of New Zealand businesses is leased or financed. Based on recent data from Statistics New Zealand, this equates to businesses owning assets worth more than two times the value of the nation’s GDP. That is nearly $1.8 trillion of assets, of which, $992 billion are financial assets owned by the finance and insurance sector (i.e. rented or leased). This suggests that businesses across the country hold just over $800 billion in non-financial assets*.

Applying the result from the Alleasing Index, 16.0 per cent of this is leased or financed, leaving a balance of $672 billion in owned assets, compared with national GDP of $255 billion.

“Not all of these assets could be leased or re-financed, but it is clear that adjusting even a small percentage could have a significant impact. By releasing these funds back into a business the capital constraints that are inhibiting growth may be overcome,” says Alleasing’s Daniel Blizzard.

*Non-financial assets are classified as machinery, equipment, transport vehicles, non-residential buildings, marketing assets etc. as stated by Statistics New Zealand.

Download your copy of the New Zealand Equipment Demand Index.

|  An Alleasing release  |  february 16, 2017  ||

A Ferret news item around the release of a lightweight and durable rope guide providing greater flexibility, reliability and safety on small or mid-sized wire rope hoists, to Australia and New Zealand.

Wire rope hoists are used in a wide variety of industries including construction and infrastructure, mining, manufacturing and materials handling, automotive, cement, primary production, process engineering, ports, shipping and logistics.

The guide has a rigid construction, allowing it to withstand extreme and demanding environments.

Kevin Williams, national parts and sales support manager, Konecranes Australia and New Zealand, said it was simple to install and does not require any speciality tools other than spanner or ratchet.

“Rope guides optimise the performance of wire rope hoists, by guiding the rope as it extends or retracts, making sure it’s straight and not causing additional wear. They are an essential part of maintaining a long rope life,” Williams added.

The universal and patented design allows for a range of drum diameters with fast installation and its roller wheels provide smooth transition movement, which can reduce drum wear.

A variety of accessories, sensors or other equipment can be directly fitted on the frame. This modular design allows for the fitting of additional features such as drum cleaning, side-pull prevention and rope measuring.

|  A Ferret release  |  February 6, 2017  ||

Connected machines deliver double the bending length and press force – single-machine operation boosts capacity – ToolShuttle with space for 60 meters of tools – shorter set-up and search times, higher productivity bold

The sheet-metal plates that demonstrate the power and precision of the TruBend Series 8000 are famously big and fat – and now the TRUMPF machines for bending large-format components can actually deliver twice the performance. How? In a tandem version. Bending expert Babette Kopp from TRUMPF Machine Tools in Teningen explains: “If you utilize two machines as just one, it gives you the option of doubling the bending length, that is, up to 8100 millimeters, and also of doubling the press force – and that adds up to 10,000 kilonewtons. In other words, the parts portfolio can be expanded significantly, because compared to any stand-alone machine in the 8000 series, the user can bend longer material.”

The tandem version comes as standard with a C-frame with a throat depth of 820 millimeters and a maximum distance between table and press beam of 820 millimeters. This, combined with the fact that the table width is a mere 140 millimeters despite the enormous bending forces, further increases bending flexibility and part variety. Of course, each machine can also be operated individually, for double the capacity with less setup work.

Rapid speed is also no problem in tandem operationFor safe operation in stand-alone mode, the two machines are separated from each other at the push of a button by a protective door. In tandem operation, the door moves back automatically, so that bending can take place along the entire length. To ensure maximum process reliability, the BendGuard safety systems of the two individual machines are connected to one another – so the entire bending length is directly under control on the tandem machine, enabling rapid speed even in connected operation.

Surface-mounted version for easy installationInstallation of the tandem is uncomplicated because, unlike other large-format bending machines, it arrives as standard in the production hall as a surface-mounted version. Costs for elaborate machine foundations are no longer necessary. Instead, the two stand-alone machines are individually loaded from the truck and simply connected to each other. Here, the tandem partners are fixed together precisely using tensioning screws with fine threads. In addition, the machine tables are bolted using solid connecting elements – ensuring stability and accuracy during tandem operation for the best possible bending results.

Fewer tool changes for more productivity and part varietyWith the TruBend Series 8000, high-quality bending is guaranteed by means of mechanical crowning with a precisely adjustable crowning curve. Thanks to the selective adjustment option of the crowning and precise synchronization of both machines, the tandem version offers bending results that are just as good as those of the stand-alone machine. The CNC-controlled crowning ensures constant angle accuracy along the entire bending length.

In contrast to the eight-meter-long stand-alone machine, the TruBend Series 8000 tandem version enables lower tool offset (I-axis) along the entire bending length. This allows a great variety of different bends, and also folds, using the same combination of upper and lower tools. The number of tool changes decreases, while productivity and part variety are both increased.

ToolShuttle – storage space for a full 60 meters of toolsFor even more productivity on large-format TRUMPF machines, the ToolShuttle now offers a special storage system for upper and lower tools. Babette Kopp explains: “With the ToolShuttle, users are being given a tooling concept for heavy tools for the first time. It enables simple and ergonomic setup while minimizing setup and search times.” For TRUMPF bending machines in the 8000 Series weighing up to 600 tonnes, the ToolShuttle has room for up to 28 upper and 32 lower tool compartments – that adds up to total storage space for more than 60 meters of tools! In order to avoid tilting of offset tools, special storage compartments ensure correct support. Further storage space is provided by practical drawers in the lower part of the ToolShuttle.

Easy transportation of heavy tools – with the intelligent transfer unitVia a moveable transfer unit with three tool holders at the top and bottom respectively, the tools are brought to the bending machine. This not only protects the operator’s back: if he equips the upper and lower transfer unit with new tools and moves them to the bending machine, he can also push the tools to be changed into one of the free tool holders at the same time. This means that he can equip and remove tools in just one operation. A useful additional option: The turning unit makes it possible to turn heavy and/or offset tools through 180 degrees without any effort at all.

| A Trumpf release  |  February 2, 2017  ||

You don’t get much closer to the spirit of engineering than in the beginnings of waterjet cutting.

“I got started years ago, in about ’71,” said Dr. John Olsen, one of the originators of waterjet technology and currently VP of operations at Omax Abrasive Waterjets. “I had been reading about some experiments done on rock cutting in England and a friend of mine and I thought it would be fun to try and build a pump and cut something. That was a kind of back-alley operation; it was in my garage and his garage.”  Dr. John Olsen is pictured above holding a tilting head waterjet with two linear actuators.

It might sound like many of the stories you hear about start-ups in Silicon Valley today, but the connections between waterjet and computing technologies run deeper than that, as Dr. Olsen explained:

“Oddly enough, one of the biggest changes that made abrasivejets practical was the advent of the PC. A jet is not a very rigid tool—it bends all over the place and makes taper and what-have-you. To make precision parts, you need quite a bit of computing power to predict what the shape of the jet will be so that you can compensate for it. At the time, we were told ‘Nobody will ever accept a PC on the factory floor. Doesn’t that sound funny today?”

> > > Continue here to the full article images and guide

Atlas Copco (IW 1000/325), the world’s largest maker of industrial compressors, plans to split into two listed companies in a move that will see the departure of its longstanding Chief Executive Officer Ronnie Leten and could spark takeover interest.

A newly created company with sales of about 28 billion kronor (US$3.1 billion) will focus on mining and construction tools, and will be spun off to shareholders in a tax-free distribution, the Stockholm-based company said in a statement Monday. Under the plan to be put to shareholders next year, Atlas Copco will retain the compressor and vacuum businesses that have revenue of 74 billion kronor in the year through last Sept. 30.

“The new company is a business that a large player like Caterpillar or Komatsu might be interested in buying,” Swedbank analyst Anders Roslund said by phone. “I don’t think that’s imminent, but it’s an interesting and well-run business.”   > > > Continue to full article

Smart sensors offer advanced functions that make setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting machinery and equipment much more efficient writes  Kevin Zomchek of Rockwell Automation for Machine Design

Sensors are essential in capturing basic diagnostics from industrial machines and equipment. As the people maintaining the machines are nearing retirement, a new, younger workforce is emerging that is comfortable with technology and the data that comes with it. As a result, manufacturers need to find ways to transfer that domain knowledge from the retiring generation into today’s smart machines to aid the upcoming generation of maintenance engineers. It will be key to manufacturer success to capture contextual data to provide more predictive diagnostics and leverage data across the manufacturing enterprise. A new wave of smart sensing technology is fulfilling this need–bringing deep insight into the health of industrial machines.

Sensors enabled with IO-Link technology can communicate more data, allowing machines to operate more effectively. In fact, standard sensors are limited to indicating the presence and/or absence of an object, while smart sensors can provide up to 32 bytes of cyclical data including diagnostics not only for the sensor but about the application environment. Some examples are sensor status, dirty lens indication (in the case of photoelectric sensors), and sensor internal temperature (for proximity sensors). Plus, these smart sensors offer other advanced functions that make setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting much more efficient, including the storage of multiple machine profiles to simplify parameter adjustments during line/shift changes as well as automatic device replacement, which feeds previous sensor configurations directly to new sensors as they are replaced.

| Continue to the full article & diagrams here  |  January 17, 2017  |

January 2017 Edition

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