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NORD serves up sweet energy and cost savings for industrial bakeries

NORD DRIVE-SYSTEMS offers robust, highly configurable drive solutions designed to optimize efficiency, ensure hygiene, and reduce the TCO for automated bakery systems. From industrial-scale mixing and portioning to baking, cooling, and packaging, NORD's modular product portfolio delivers precise, reliable performance across every stage of production.
Read the full article. You may learn something even if you are not in the baking industry.

Key considerations for battery-powered motors

Battery-powered motor applications require careful design considerations to pair motor performance and power consumption profiles in concert with the correct battery type. This Power Electric article covers power requirements, performance considerations, and battery choices to assist you in selecting an efficient motor and a battery with the appropriate capacity. Good technical info.
Read the Power Electric technical article.

Driving next-gen pump and fan applications: Sinamics G210X

The Sinamics G210X is a new frequency converter for advanced pump, fan, and compressor applications, combining easy engineering with robust design. Integrated functions, seamless TIA Portal integration, and a web server reduce PLC effort to speed up commissioning, operation, and diagnostics. IP55 protection, 3C3 coating, and S2 system redundancy ensure reliable operation in demanding environments.
Learn more.

New Exlar food-grade actuator

Curtiss-Wright's Actuation Division has expanded its Exlar line with hygienic electric actuators using FDA-approved materials and finishes. Designed for food, beverage, packaging, and pharmaceutical automation, the new GTF unit enables economical USDA, 3-A, BISSC, and EHEDG certification. Its IP69K washdown option, inverted roller screw, and compact servo-driven design deliver reliable, high-performance motion for hygienic machinery.
Learn more.

New Texas conveyor system is 42 miles long!

SEW-EURODRIVE is helping power one of the most ambitious bulk material handling projects in North America through its contribution to the Dune Express conveyor system, a record-setting 42-mile single-flight conveyor across the Permian Basin.
Read the full article.

Compact servo drives for harsh environs

Built on Copley's proven NanoPlus platform, the compact, 1.2-oz R-Series Nano servo drives withstand extreme temperatures, vibration, shock, and humidity. Available in R47 (CANopen) and R48 (EtherCAT) models, they suit space-constrained, harsh environments such as mil/aero robotics and gimbals. This commercial off-the-shelf series provides a hardened option without defense-specific development lead times.
Learn more from Copley Controls.

Hybrid actuator with force up to 14,726 lb

Kyntronics' new all-electric HyCore hybrid actuator is a compact, low-cost alternative to traditional hydraulic, pneumatic, and electro-mechanical systems. Engineered for OEMs, it delivers up to 14,726 lb of force. The self-contained design eliminates leaks and wear, providing precise control, shock-load tolerance, and high efficiency. It simplifies integration and lowers operating costs for mobile equipment, packaging, assembly automation, and more.
Learn more.

SDP/SI motion products: Best sellers

SDP/SI's best sellers aren't just popular -- they're proven. These are the motion components their customers return to time and again for precision, reliability, and unbeatable value. From belts and pulleys to gears, bearings, and couplings, each product has earned its place through consistent performance in real-world applications.
Learn more and see the full products list.

Automated part grinding and finishing in one unit!

Grinding large fabrications is a classic dull, dirty, and dangerous task perfectly suited for automation, yet traditional setups require multiple costly robots. At Automate 2026, Güdel debuted a single-robot solution that utilizes two extra degrees of freedom to finish massive surfaces without complex part repositioning.
Read the full article.

Rockford RBS ball screws and nuts now available

Automation-Direct now offers US-manufactured RBS ball screws and nuts for precise linear motion in OEM and maintenance applications. Achieving over 90% efficiency, they feature low friction, high accuracy, and minimal wear. Available in various diameters, lengths, and leads, these precision-matched components handle axial loads with minimal backlash, providing a dependable solution that reduces maintenance and extends operational life. Great prices too.
Learn more.

Next-gen conveyor transports 3,000-kg payloads

Building on its established portfolio of twin-strand conveyors that are currently used in a variety of industry verticals, Bosch Rexroth is introducing the TS 7plus transfer system, which is the world's first freely configurable, fully electric conveyance solution to workpieces weighing up to 3,000 kg. TS 7plus transports material via conveyor rollers on freely configurable modular sections with lift/transverse, rotary, and positioning units, as well as stop gates. Great for automotive, battery, aerospace/defense, and more.
Learn more.

Next-generation air bearing linear slide

The A-123 noncontact nanoposi-tioning stage integrates a brushless motor, air bearings, and a 1-nm encoder, supporting 40-kg payloads over 750-mm travel. Its pressurized air film eliminates the friction, wear, and vibration of mechanical stages, ensuring zero particle generation. Customizable with options such as granite bases and isolation systems, it is ideal for semiconductor metrology, inspection, photonics, and more.
Learn more.

How to implement redundancy in stepper motors

Some of the recent research activities in the area of electric motor drives for safety-critical applications (such as aerospace and nuclear power plants) are focused on looking at various fault-tolerant motor and drive topologies. After discussing different solutions, this article focuses on a miniature permanent magnet (PM) stepper motor design that provides increased redundancy.
Read this informative FAULHABER article.

Teradyne Robotics unveils a multitude of deployable AI applications at Automate 2026

Teradyne Robotics, the company behind Universal Robots (UR) and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), will demonstrate how physical AI is transforming industrial automation at Automate 2026 in Chicago, June 22-25 at booth #1250. The demos presented are real, deployable, and ready for purchase. They include assembly, pick-and-place, palletizing, mobile robots, and more. A lot of good new offerings here. Check it out.
Read the full article.

Affordable nanometer-level precision focus stage

Zaber Technologies has launched the DMA Objective Focus Stage, a compact, linear motor solution for microscope OEMs. Starting at $4,500 with an integrated controller, it offers 50-nm repeatability and sub-15-ms settling times -- matching piezo precision at one-third the cost. Featuring plug-and-play architecture, a developer-friendly API, and a tiny footprint, it accelerates high-throughput workflows like spatial biology and digital pathology.
Learn more.

Fuel cell-powered mobile lights tested, proven, ready for commercial use

Mobile lighting systems powered by hydrogen fuel cells are cleaner, quieter, and now have a proven track record in applications such as nighttime construction, sports and entertainment events, and airport operations, making them ready for commercialization and broader use.

That's the conclusion reached by researchers at Sandia National Laboratories and others after a multiyear project sponsored by the Department of Energy's Fuel Cell Technologies Office and the Boeing Co. Project support also came from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Altergy Systems, and 11 other project partners.

Developed by Sandia National Laboratories and several industry partners, the fuel cell mobile light offers a cleaner, quieter alternative to diesel-powered units. As seen here (top center), the system has been used by airport construction personnel at San Francisco International Airport and in other applications. [Photo by Dino Vournas]

 

 

 

 

Over the past five years, Sandia and 14 institutional partners have been developing the fuel cell mobile light tower (H2LT) as a clean, efficient alternative to traditional lights powered by diesel generators.

California-based Multiquip Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of rental construction equipment, power generation, lighting, and other industrial products, has built six.

Airport equipment and maintenance personnel at San Francisco International Airport and Saunders Electric crews at various Hollywood-area entertainment and awards shows, including the Academy Awards, have already realized the benefits of the clean and efficient H2LT as part of their regular operations. Other systems have been used by highway construction crews at Caltrans and the Connecticut Department of Transportation. One system was even deployed at NASA's Kennedy Space Center to support the final space shuttle launch in 2011.

Market transformation and other successes
The goals of the pilot programs were to perform a variety of lighting tasks, assess the operation and reliability of the technology in a variety of potentially corrosive environments, reduce diesel emissions at deployment locations, and help promote hydrogen fuel cell technology in new markets. The project has been deemed a major success in opening up new fuel cell markets that complement broader hydrogen energy markets, including the light-duty vehicle market, said Sandia project lead Lennie Klebanoff.

Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors Co., Honda, and Hyundai have all announced plans for hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The H2LT developed by Sandia National Laboratories and its partners was deployed in 2011 at the site of the final space shuttle launch and observed by visitors, shuttle astronauts, and members of the international media. [Photo by Lennie Klebanoff]

 

 

 

 

"Since San Francisco International Airport and Saunders Electric are now using H2LTs as part of their regular operations, it is stimulating the demand for hydrogen in those regions and helping to create markets for its production and sale," he said.

A key educational component emerged during the project as well, said Klebanoff.

"Wherever the H2LT was used or displayed, we engaged with local fire and building-safety authorities and first responders, few of whom had prior knowledge of the physical or safety aspects of hydrogen and fuel cell technology," he said. "After hearing our technology descriptions and seeing the different ways the H2LT was being used, those groups rapidly welcomed the technology as both reliable and safe."

A paper describing the project, "Fuel cell mobile lighting: A fuel cell market transformation project," was published in the Aug. 13, 2014, edition of International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

Emissions-free, but quiet and tough
In addition to zero emissions, perhaps the most attractive feature of the fuel cell mobile light system is how quiet it is.

"The primary driver of the project from the outset was the lowering of greenhouse gas emissions, and, in fact, the H2LT system was not designed to minimize noise," said Klebanoff. "Still, hydrogen fuel cell technology by its very nature is dramatically quieter than diesel generators, and this noise reduction is something that really excites users," said Klebanoff.

The lack of noise, he said, is highly valued by highway construction crews, airport maintenance personnel, and stage crews on entertainment production sets. Users would rather not deal with the odors and noise of diesel-based equipment.

Another important conclusion that was reached was that the fuel cell power system manufactured by project partner Altergy Systems is compatible with the rugged world of construction. Caltrans used one unit in rain, wind, and snow in the Sierra Nevada range. The elements -- and towing the lights about 1,100 miles up and down bumpy mountain roads -- proved to be no problem for the robust fuel cell mobile lighting technology.

Cost-cutting strategies
The price tag for a prototype fuel cell-powered mobile lighting system initially was roughly triple that of a traditional diesel-powered system.

Multiquip is considering incorporating highly efficient light emitting diodes (LEDs) that will allow a reduction in fuel cell size; reducing the size of the hydrogen storage tanks; and decreasing the required tank pressure rating. The cost of the current LED technology used with the system also is expected to decline.

"We had great customer feedback and interaction from these prototype units and, most importantly, all deployment has proven the dependability of fuel cells in the rough environment of the construction industry," said Torsten Erbel, vice president for Product Management, Engineering and Customer Support for Multiquip Inc. "With this knowledge and the deployment of fuel cell-powered vehicles, the hydrogen infrastructure will quickly develop to support our commercial plans for the fuel cell mobile light, allowing us to bring the environmental benefits of hydrogen to the construction business."

"Overall, end users have been pleased with the performance of the hydrogen fuel cell mobile lighting system," said Klebanoff. "We're confident that the technology can now be commercialized and widely used in any application needing large-area lighting."

Sandia has decades of experience in hydrogen and fuel cell systems and leads a number of other hydrogen research efforts, including the Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) project, a maritime fuel cell demonstration, a development project focused on hydrogen-powered forklifts, and a recent study of California gas stations that can safely store and dispense hydrogen.

Source: Sandia

Published October 2014

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