Twiflex Limited

Regular maintenance of the propulsion shaft and propeller is required to ensure that all components are operating efficiently and safely during the operational life of a ship or ocean going vessel. Part of the process requires aligning and locking the shaft in place to enable this work to be carried out by the ship’s engineers. Twiflex has launched a Turning, Locking & Braking (TLB) System that provides a compact solution to allow the shaft position to be set and locked when the vessel is stationary.

The end of 2015 brought the announcement that one of Germany’s power transmission brands would be partnering with UK manufacturer, Twiflex, to provide the German market with direct access to a wide range of heavy duty braking systems. Both brands are owned by Altra Industrial Motion, meaning that OEMs, end-users and resellers are all able to benefit from the expertise of two leading manufacturers from a single point of contact.

As a member of the Altra Industrial Motion Group, Twiflex has provided a parking and emergency brake for use on hoists at a gold mine in Elko County, Nevada. The VCSD-VR brakes are installed on a motor pinion, operating on a 1.168m diameter disc to produce a total torque of 128kNm.

A new TLB (Turning, Locking and Braking) system is being launched by Twiflex at the SMM in Hamburg this September. Part of the Altra Industrial Motion Group, the company will be demonstrating its ability to provide innovative solutions for controlling propeller shafts at sea or during routine maintenance.

The complete range of heavy duty brakes from world brand Twiflex, are now being offered from backstop, brake and clutch specialist, Stieber GmbH, who are part of the Altra Industrial Motion group. Stieber can also provide local application engineering support and package bespoke mounting equipment and ancillary components to meet customers’ exact specifications.

Escalators are a huge contribution in keeping London’s Underground system running smoothly with 430 escalators on the network. Nearly 90 million passengers make more than 1.3 billion journeys every year on the underground, all of which would not be possible without Twiflex’s braking systems for the escalators.

The range of modular brake systems from Twiflex Ltd has been further expanded with the launch of the new VSD series, which incorporates several of Twiflex’s newest technological improvements. Designed for use in a variety of industrial braking applications, the VSD series is simple to install, adjust and maintain.

Specifying a brake which will operate reliably and efficiently, with minimal maintenance intervention, is a challenge that must balance initial expenditure with the through-life costs. The main factors to consider include more than simply the duty (whether the brake is being used for dynamic stopping, static holding or continuous tensioning), but also what sort of environment the brake will be located in; whether there are particular space constraints; the operating medium; and if access for periodic maintenance will be possible or not.

Heavy duty braking system designs are as diverse as the different industries in which they are employed. From marine and mining to metal working and paper processing, systems are required to perform static, dynamic and emergency braking with precise controlled force. Quality is of the upmost importance in these products as the cost of a short service life can often be extremely high for the end-user. However, as with all things mechanical, it is possible to improve the reliability and life span of all braking designs with good specification, correct installation and correct maintenance procedures.

When coal processing plants are an appreciable distance from the mine, how best to transport the coal from one to the other is a key consideration. It is not unusual for the processing plant to be tens of miles away, which might at first glance suggest delivery by truck. But overland conveyors can often provide a far more economical solution, providing cost reductions in the order of 20-40% or more.

When Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia, Canada, commences production in 2013, it is anticipated that it will produce 81 million pounds of copper and 194,000 ounces of gold annually – vital at a time when demand for copper in particular is at an all time high and likely to outstrip supply for years to come

Twiflex Limited’s new technologically advanced VCS MK 4 caliper brakes have been engineered to provide a 50% increase in pad area, providing improved stopping and holding in a wide range of critical applications, including mine hoists, conveyor drives, cranes, ship loaders, wind turbines, and drill rigs in industries including mining, steel, pulp and paper, and marine.