PRODUCTS & PRACTICES
Illuminated tower beacon
RS Components has introduced
the RS PRO SMART-Q queue
management system, a
configurable beacon tower that
manages the flow of customers
and staff indoors. SMART-Q uses
green and red LED lights and
an acoustic signal to indicate
‘loudly and clearly’ when it is
safe for people to proceed. The
system is entirely self-contained,
which makes it quick and easy
to position practically anywhere,
such as at doorways or hallway
junctions. It requires no wiring,
as it is powered via an internal,
rechargeable battery, but it can
also run from a mains power
supply if available.
Ceramic dessicant filter media
Until now, desiccant in air dryers
has always consisted of loose
beads made of activated alumina,
molecular sieves, or silica gel.
Atlas Copco’s Cerades is the firstever
solid, ceramic desiccant,
according to the company.
In conventional heatless desiccant
dryers, the compressed air
flowing through the drying towers
must overcome resistance from
loose desiccant beads. With the
Cerades system, compressed air is
channelled straight through the
structural tubes. A no-resistance
airflow results in minimal
pressure drop across the dryer,
leading to lower operating energy
costs. The CD 20+-335+ range
has been designed for continuous
operation of 100% airflow, in
comparison to the industry norm
of 70% to 80%.
Sewtec video consultation
Sewtec Automation has launched
a video consultation service to
assist businesses seeking to
optimise manufacturing and
process capabilities during the
Covid-19 pandemic. The service
has been introduced in response
to the number of manufacturers
and process-led organisations
finding it challenging to offer site
visits from external suppliers.
ROCOL cutting fluid to
benefit engineers & the NHS
Lubricants specialist ROCOL
has announced that it will be
donating 5% from sales of its
semi-synthetic cutting fluid to
NHS Charities Together for the
remainder of 2020.
The new product, which
is called ULTRACUT 370 EP
and launches this month, has
been formulated for use on a
wide range of ferrous and nonferrous
metals. According to
ROCOL, its ‘two in one’ benefits
enable users to select a single
fluid for cutting and grinding
operations.
Ian Fenney, ROCOL
metalworking fluids segment
specialist, comments: “This
product has been developed
with our customers’
requirements at the forefront
of our thinking. It eliminates the
need for multiple barrels of fluid
in the factory, delivers excellent
value, and is suitable for use on
ferrous and non-ferrous metals,
including aluminium.
“As well as its cutting and
grinding capabilities, ULTRACUT
370 EP can be used in high
dilution ratios, promoting better
value for money. For cutting
processes, dilution ratios are
between 40:1 and 60:1, and in
grinding processes they are
between 50:1 and 75:1.”
Fenney adds: “As is the
case for many businesses, we
wanted to show our support
to the NHS and the amazing
work that people working in
the health service have done
during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As ULTRACUT 370 EP is bright
blue when diluted, it seemed
fitting to donate a percentage
of each barrel we sell for the
rest of 2020 to NHS Charities
Together.”
BCAS offers lockdown work safety guide
The British Compressed Air
Society (BCAS) is offering
a new training course for
businesses and employees
concerned about safe
working practices during the
Coronavirus pandemic.
Delivered via its new
online learning portal, the
‘Working safely during
Covid-19’ course costs
£4.99 per delegate and
details the government
guidance for maintaining
a secure workplace. It
covers the key workplace
types identified, including
outdoor work, factories
and warehouses, offices,
branches and vehicles and
is designed to fulfil the
employer’s requirement
to provide information and
training to its employees.
The comprehensive
course identifies the ways
in which Covid-19 is spread
from contaminated surfaces
or respiratory droplets, and
provides some practical
workplace hygiene rules to
help minimise risk. It also
offers useful guidance for
maintaining safe social
distancing when at a
workstation, in meetings,
when moving around the
office or factory floor and
when travelling in vehicles.
The guidance covered
will further explain the
need to remain vigilant and
implement both appropriate
social distancing and good
hygiene regimes, to help
maintain a safe and secure
workplace for all employees.
All delegates receive a
certificate in ‘Maintaining a
Covid-19 secure workplace’
upon completion.
Autumn 2020 www.operationsengineer.org.uk 87
/www.operationsengineer.org.uk
