< PreviousUnits 4b & 4c, Harpings Road, National Avenue, Kingston-upon-Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire HU5 4JF Tel: +44 (0)1482 440222 Email: esales@eyh.co.uk Web: www.eyh.co.uk eyh .co.uk EAST YORKSHIRE HYDRAULICS Hydraulic engineering - design, build, installation and service. • Complete hydraulic systems • Installation and commissioning • Hydro-pneumatic accumulators • Hydraulic equipment • Cylinders Single Source Hydraulic Solutions Design, build, installation and service of hydraulic systems, cylinders, accumulators and equipment. 20 Business Link www.blmforum.net PETROCHEMICAL SPOTLIGHT East Yorkshire Hydraulics Ltd has been providing professional hydraulic engineering services to industry for 40 years. It can provide a full design, build, installation and service lifecycle of services and products. Th ecompany provides a bespoke service for complete hydraulic system solutions, designed to precisely meet the requirements of our customers. The company works closely with its customers to ensure that the system is designed, not just to spec, but to the best solution. If there’s a way to improve things, you can be assured that the company will let you know about it. Design improvements can save time and money and our expertise ensures you are best placed to receive this service. East Yorkshire Hydraulics Ltd can design power packs for your specific projects as a bespoke design. It can build units that work with numerous fluid mediums including: * Mineral oil* Skydrol * Water glycols * Water The company has designed and built power packs for applications including: * Fire sensitive environments * Clean environments * Other special circumstances Its power units are in use in applications such as: * Steelworks* Bridges * Aerospace* Rail * Industrial It provides installation and commissioning services including: * Installation of system pipework including steel, stainless steel and tungum * Pipework installation to CES 18 * Flushing to a specified cleanliness level using its custom designed test rig * Cleanliness testing and sampling using its calibrated analysis equipment * System commissioning With the company’s expertise, it can ensure any hydraulic system is up and running quickly efficiently. To find out more, visit www.eyh.co.uk, email esales@eyh.co.uk, or call 01482 440222. East Yorkshire Hydraulics - hydraulic engineering expertise for forty years 16-20.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 07:59 Page 5Subscribe now and receive Business Link every month, delivered to your door Delivery Details Name: ............................................................................................ Position: ......................................................................................... Company: ...................................................................................... Address:......................................................................................... ........................................................................................................ Postcode:....................................................................................... Tel:.................................................................................................. 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Minimum term of 12 months / 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years Please charge my: Subscribe NOW 21.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 08:01 Page 122 Business Link www.blmforum.net FREIGHT, STORAGE AND MOVEMENT P ort operators have understandably been wary of the impact of the coronavirus crisis, putting special measures in place to ensure cargo continues to pass through ports, deliveries can still be facilitated, and the increase in demand from consumers and key sectors is met. These measures also extend to help safeguarding staff. Port professionals play a key role in enabling ninety-five per cent of UK trade and, fortunately, port workers have been identified as ‘key workers’ by the government since the start of the first national lockdown – and remain so as we begin to transition out of the third lockdown. Given what port operators have had to contend with over the last few years regarding Brexit, the pandemic has come at the worst possible time. The UK is currently in a six-month “easing-in” period designed to help it more smoothly enter its newfound independence and tradition relationship with the Bloc. Although many controls came into effect on January 1, this period will help ease some of the burden but, as experts and industry professionals have pointed out, the length of the period is unlikely to be long enough. Despite challenges with trade overseas, it’s critical for freight companies and storage specialists to enhance their offering and embrace automation in order to overcome existing challenges and sure themselves up for the future. The introduction of automated and autonomous equipment has further benefits when considering the high turnover rates of manual handling staff and the training periods required for new employees - both of which are costly. 24 Á moving moving Keeping things The coronavirus crisis and post-Brexit Britain are providing no shortage of challenges for port operators, freight forwarders and storage specialists, but investing in the latest technology can help to ease the strain. 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 10:55 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 23 FREIGHT, STORAGE AND MOVEMENT © Shutterstock /Mr . Amarin Jitnathum 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 10:57 Page 224 Business Link www.blmforum.net FREIGHT, STORAGE AND MOVEMENT While there has been concern that use of robots and automation will eliminate jobs, the wider automation of materials handling is sure to be a benefit with a bleak labour market and as the materials handling workforce ages and retires while service levels become more demanding. Robotic trucks also enable repetitive tasks like loading and unloading and strenuous activities to be completed cost effectively and allow staff to be redistributed to more value-adding and engaging tasks. They create support jobs such as engineers, technicians, software developers, and move staff to tasks like operating equipment, revising performance data and transport planning. Meanwhile, when integrated with other automation technologies, operations can be made even more efficient. For instance, the use of sensors on conveyor belts enables them to perceive when pallets are at the end of the line and notify a robot to collect and move it to the next location. The position of conveyors in automated and robotic systems is expanding here, particularly as this often requires a product to be in a precise position at an exact time, meaning investing in a conveyor that is reliable and efficient and engineered specifically to work with robots is essential. The popularity of AGVs is on the rise, after previously being thought of as untrustworthy, as they make the movement of materials and products effortless and remove operator error that causes many accidents, being able to detect objects from several feet away and move between people and other machines. While the idea of autonomous forklifts for instance is well established, improvements in navigation, adaptability, flexibility of technology and decreasing costs has seen the equipment become more of a reality. With the use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and AI programs, multiple AGVs like autonomous forklifts can be deployed at once, are able to communicate with each other and avoid colliding. They can also adapt to changes in warehouse layouts and are helpful in reducing loss from misplaced products as every movement they make can be tracked. Further, when connected to the IoT, software can be used by managers to monitor and optimise AGV traffic. When integrated with telematics systems, warehouse management systems or enterprise resource planning systems, one can get the best use out of a fleet © Shutterstock /Pakorn Khantiyaporn 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 10:57 Page 3www.blmforum.net Business Link 25 FREIGHT, STORAGE AND MOVEMENT through increased visibility into processes and units which allow one to adjust and optimise based on use, maintenance and congestion data and make changes in real time. Moreover, AGVs are set to make operations more fuel efficient. Removing a driver and the mechanics needed for operation from say a forklift dramatically decreases burdens - a lighter vehicle goes easier on fuel. Further smart forklift decisions, driven by computers and data systems automatically choose the most energy and time efficient route to products and delivery vehicles. While moving goods around a facility is a challenge of its own, getting them in and out also throws up potential problems for example when not unloading optimally, inefficiency, high costs and queueing appear. Ensuring the process is quick and smooth has a positive effect on the operation that follows. AGVs are just as beneficial in the loading dock as elsewhere as part of automatic truck loading systems (ATLS), which perhaps more usually involve conveyor belt systems integrated into vehicles. ATLS significantly reduce manpower needed at loading bays, minimise chance of product damage and accidents as well as ergonomic injuries associated with lift truck operation. Products are loaded and unloaded quicker, and at higher volumes, which also means fewer loading docks are required. © Shutterstock /Dmitry Kalinovsky Keeping Your Business Moving Hire, Service & Repairs T: 01469 574239 | M: 07711 496138 E: glcommercials@btinternet.com | W: www.glcommercials.com GL GL GL Commercials Commercial Trailer Specialists in Stallingborough, Grimsby 22-25.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 10:57 Page 426 Business Link www.blmforum.net MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS change Embracing Embracing new technologies are helping the engineering and manufacturing industries offset some of the major challenges they’re facing. 26-30.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 08:04 Page 1www.blmforum.net Business Link 27 MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS © Shutterstock /Denis Starostin The manufacturing and engineering industries are crucial to our economy, providing tens of thousands of jobs and helping to maintain the ‘Made in Britain’ brand on the world stage. But both industries are beset by challenges, whether keeping up with the rapid pace of technological change, taking steps to address staff shortages, or contending with the continuing fallout of the coronavirus crisis. As with other industries, the widening skills shortage has occurred as older workers reach retirement age, with a dearth of younger workers to replace them. In effect, it has created a bottoming out at both ends of the talent pipeline. As we’ve already specified, one of the key challenges facing these industries is keeping up with technological change. Innovation is part and parcel of the manufacturing and engineering industries, and while the “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” attitude can sometimes be prevalent, these sectors are by their very nature forward thinking. Searching for a more advanced, efficient or environmentally-friendly component, material or process is only natural. To that end, there has been a shift towards advanced manufacturing which, simply defined, means embracing and deploying new technologies, improved processes and management methods. This embrace of new technologies brings together a range of adjacent and complementary industries together – for example, digital technologies with more traditional sectors such as steel production. Once the preserve of futurists and the video games industry, both virtual reality and augmented reality are becoming a more common sight in the manufacturing and engineering space from design to training. For example, designing a new component used to occur on technical paper, with compasses, perimeters and rules. Later, it took place in computers with the advent of digital design tools. Virtual reality takes this process a giant leap further. Now designers and engineers have an immersive three-dimensional space where they can interact with a new product in real time and from every conceivable angle and direction. Virtual reality is also 28 Á 26-30.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 08:05 Page 228 Business Link www.blmforum.net MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS benefit training. Rather than having apprentices or new starters beginning with and practicing on existing machines – which might be needed or be costly to repair if broken – they can instead use virtual reality. Although not commonplace across the industry, it is growing in popularity, particularly as a means of attracting younger workers. Augmented reality is also having a greater impact on the manufacturing and engineering industries from plant management to design and prototyping. While virtual reality allows an engineer to design in an immersive environment like never before, augmented reality allows a designer to see how a new component would fit and work in an existing machine without ever having to build a costly physical prototype. As the name suggests, it offers an augmented version of reality, so through a tablet camera, an engineer can see existing machinery and equipment but can Online courses explore storage, discharge and handling of bulk materials The issues surrounding the safe handling and storage of bulk materials is examined during 2 on-line short courses; one looking at the difficulties encountered when handling and transporting biomass materials; the other concentrating on general storage and discharge issues associated with the handling of a range of different powders and particulate materials. The Wolfson Centre for Bulk Solids Handling Technology invite you to attend: 22 - 26 March: Biomass Operations and Handling Technology - an overview of handling and storage issues with different biomass materials 19 – 23 April: Storage and Discharge of Powders and Bulk Materials - a basic level course covering the operation, design and specifications of hoppers and silos for reliable discharge Fees are discounted for multiple attendances. Who should attend? If you are involved in the handling, storage, discharge or transportation of bulk materials, these courses will help you understand why issues occur and how to prevent them happening in future. Register here: https://bit.ly/2NDYZ3r 26-30.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 08:05 Page 3Tel: 01482 325676 • Email: sales@kingston-engineering.co.uk • www.kingston-engineering.co.uk Kingston Engineering are specialists in precision engineering, based in Hull. As one of the region’s leading companies in their sector, Kingston Engineering can provide specialised power screw products, specialist leadscrew and ex-stock power nuts and screws. In addition, they can provide expertise and guidance in factory and production machinery installation, commissioning, maintenance and repair. www.blmforum.net Business Link 29 MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS © Shutterstock /Gorodenkof f overlay digitally designed components and additions and see exactly how they will work or, just as importantly, if they don’t. Rather then having to go and redesign and produce another prototype, the digital version can instead be adjusted until it fits and works as desired. Then a physical protype can be printed. The cost-savings during design and prototyping can be huge but, of course, any virtual reality or augmented realty system and design software will require a significant investment. As with any expense, the initial cost must be weighed against the long-term savings in both time and cost. Perhaps the most ubiquitous example of advanced manufacturing, certainly the one which has proved most popular to date, is additive manufacturing. More commonly known as 3D printing, this approach has several applications in the prototyping stage where it can offer a quick and low- cost alternative in the design and development of new components, materials and parts. The biggest advantage of additive manufacturing, however, is the sheer precision it can offer. Any model designed in a computer can be perfectly replicated by the printer head in the desired material. This makes it particularly advantageous for manufacturing and engineering companies for producing small precision pieces. Often these can be costly and time consuming to produce, and their success isn’t always guaranteed. But 3D printing offers machine-precision, digital design and time savings. As the technology continues to develop, printing 30 Á 26-30.qxp_Layout 1 05/03/2021 08:05 Page 4Next >