Materials and Fastening

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic created a surge in global demand for medical equipment, with the subsequent knock-on effect of a huge demand for sheet metal fasteners, specifically for those companies producing essential equipment, including ventilators. TR Fastenings has focused on being as responsive as possible to meet this demand and is now further investing in its sheet metal range to accelerate growth of this product portfolio.

  With all the benefits of the internet it has become apparent that there are dangers - who of us has not come across the life-critical disease 'we have self-diagnosed' online, or the false news/conspiracy theory which can reinforce our worst fears?

Specially formulated UV adhesives that protect welded joints on cell contacting systems and battery packs of electric cars from corrosion have been developed by Panacol.

Although the industry calls it scrap, steel is a valuable resource as a secondary raw material. Whether it’s the steel contained in products at the end of their useful life, or the material left over from the manufacturing process, there’s more industry can do to reduce its reliance on virgin material. Here, Advanced Engineering UK interviews Mats W Lundberg, Sustainable Business Manager at Sandvik Materials Technology.

COVID-19 has disrupted many sectors, including the materials industry. Since the new year began, the demand for engineering materials, such as steel, aluminium, copper and polymers, has drastically changed. But how is the materials market performing now that we are slowly starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel?

Mouser Electronics has signed a global distribution agreement with Essentra Components, a manufacturer of plastic injection moulded, vinyl dip moulded, and metal items.

What happens when a plastic energy chain reaches its maximum service life? Usually, it is disposed of and incinerated with other plastic waste. With its ‘igus green chainge recycling program’, igus is now doing something completely new: users can send their plastic chains to igus for recycling – irrespective of the manufacturer. They can eliminate disposal costs and also receive a voucher for making purchases from igus. Customers and the environment both profit from this.

Now available from Dichtomatik, the authorised UK distributor of food and beverage related products manufactured by Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, come two sealing materials with high purity levels that are ideal for food industry applications, as well as those in the pharmaceutical sector. 

igus has developed its first plastic-steel hybrid energy chain for telescopic applications, such as cherry pickers, telehandlers and boom lifts. Compared to conventional steel energy chains which are sometimes used in these applications, the new YE.42 e-chain is half the weight. It also provides up to 10m unsupported travel, which is 50% more than for plastic energy chains. 

The range of products from factory automation manufacturer Festo has been extended at RS Components to include over 17,000 individual items. The new introductions span all of Festo’s most popular pneumatic and electrical device families, including cylinders, actuators, valves and pneumatic air preparation products.