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Ceres Power’s pioneering clean energy technology has won the 2023 MacRobert Award. Honouring the UK’s top engineering innovations, the MacRobert Award was presented to Ceres in recognition of a ground-breaking fuel cell technology that promises to make a major contribution to decarbonising the world at the scale and pace required to save the planet. 

The Academy’s Royal Fellow, HRH The Princess Royal, presented the winning team behind the Ceres SteelCell with the MacRobert Award gold medal and a £50,000 prize at the Royal Academy of Engineering Awards Dinner in London on 13 July. 

Run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the MacRobert Award is the UK’s longest running and most prestigious award for UK engineering innovation. Ceres joins an illustrious list of previous MacRobert Award winners, many of which have transformed the world we live in. From the CT scanner to the first television graphics system and the Raspberry Pi mini-computer, MacRobert Award winners have demonstrated the sheer capability of UK innovators to develop world-leading, commercially viable products across all sectors of engineering. The 2022 winner, Quanta Dialysis Technologies, has made portable, high-performance dialysis a reality.

To win the MacRobert Award, innovations must demonstrate outstanding engineering ingenuity, commercial success and tangible social benefit. Ceres’ pioneering clean energy technology includes fuel cells for power generation and electrolysers for green hydrogen. The judging panel was impressed with the solid oxide cell based on common low-cost materials, which is combined with an innovative deposition technique and a highly differentiated stack technology. This technology means that just one cell is enough to light a room but the 250 megawatts of capacity set to come on stream in 2024 could power half a million homes. 

Ceres has pioneered the use of commonly found materials: a gadolinium-doped ceria ceramic membrane as an electrolyte that operates at temperatures in the range of 500–600C. This is a ‘Goldilocks’ temperature for performance, fuel flexibility, cost and robustness. Ceres’ licensing model has enabled it to establish partnerships with companies such as Bosch, Doosan, and Weichai, to deliver systems and products at the scale and pace needed to decarbonise power generation, transportation, industry, and everyday living.

The judges were also impressed by the truly reversible technology. Running in one direction it can use multiple fuels to generate electricity highly efficiently when and where it is needed. Run in reverse, it generates green hydrogen at high efficiencies and low cost, an innovation the MacRobert Award judges praised as a huge breakthrough in the clean energy revolution. 

Professor Sir Richard Friend FREng FRS, Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award judging panel, said: “Engineering innovation is the driving force behind economic growth and a sustainable future.  It is impressive to see what Ceres Power has achieved with its SteelCell technology. The innovation promises to be a huge game changer for hydrogen generation and marks a significant breakthrough in clean energy technology, providing the tools for companies to reach net zero, even in the most hard-to-abate sectors.

“The engineering heroes behind the UK's world-changing engineering innovations deserve to be celebrated. Ceres’ spectacular work continues the UK’s proud tradition of world-leading engineering innovation and highlights the important contribution the UK can make in tackling the ongoing climate crisis.” 

Dr Caroline Hargrove CBE FREng, Chief Technology Officer at Ceres, said: “As a UK technology business, Ceres is playing an important role in decarbonising the global energy system, and we are thrilled to gain the recognition of the Royal Academy of Engineering as the winner of the 2023 MacRobert Award.  

“The UK is a science and technology powerhouse; as a nation we have invented some of the world’s best technology that we see all around us today. At Ceres, we believe the same can be true of hydrogen and fuel cell technology. 

“We have an incredibly talented team of nearly 500 scientists and engineers, pioneering electrochemical technologies that are enabling the world’s most progressive companies to deliver clean energy at scale and pace. And we need to succeed, to ensure that we can deliver a net zero future for our families, for society and for all our benefit.”

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A fuel management specialist in the South has been named by The Sunday Times as one of Britain’s fastest-growing privately held companies at 14th place with annual sales growth of 174.98% over three years.

SDM Fuel Solutions, employing 45 people and led by Managing Director Simon Mayne, has seen annual sales exceed £6.1 million, with that figure on course to more than triple this financial year.

The company was founded by Simon, 37, and his late father in the family’s garden shed in the village of Binsted, near Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

With roots in the repair and maintenance of boats at marines, SDM Fuel Solutions expanded into tank cleaning after the son decided to see for himself what was involved in cleaning diesel tanks.

The company is currently based at Ower, just west of Southampton, and has plans to build a highly sustainable headquarters near Romsey on eight acres of disused land which would generate its own renewable power.

Simon said: “We’ve gone from starting out in a garden shed to a 20ft container to a warehouse and then offices for 75-plus people, with the exciting ambition for the new HQ, which would accommodate up to 200 people and includes a staff café, kitchen garden and a tree hide.

“I know my dad Simon, who passed away at 58, four years ago, would be incredibly proud of what has been achieved by his family and colleagues - The Sunday Times accolade will bring a wide smile on his face as he salutes us from above with a mug of tea.“

Simon’s father was well respected on the Isle of Wight – he owned SDM Marine Services, which managed the conversion of the Isle of Wight lighthouse from manned to unmanned.

He was joined by his son, who came from a background in superyachts, in 2009 and they initially focused on fuel treatment.

Then, in 2011, came the eureka moment; younger Simon saw a commercial future in tank cleaning, having seen first-hand how badly it had been done elsewhere.

Simon added: “Intrigued, I took a £300 course on tank cleaning and came back home on a Red Jet ferry across the Solent stinking of diesel.

“I said, ‘Dad, this is the way we should be going’, and our wives agreed – they were the ones who said we should really do this, they pushed us.

“As a result, SDM Fuel Solutions, incorporating my dad’s initials, was borne, with us growing tank cleaning and additive services in the marine sector. A massive fuel specification change in the industry also led to demand.

“We subsequently expanded into the tech sector, including FTSE 100 companies - data centres must have diesel generators as emergency back-up in case of outages because these are mission-critical business systems.

“The power generators need to run smoothly at a moment’s notice; there can be no room for contaminated fuel as this puts resilience at risk.“

As well as cleaning tanks that can hold up to 2 million litres, the company’s services include 24/7 emergency fuel, fuel polishing, fuel recovery, fuel sampling and site surveys, fuel uplifts and transfers, hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel, gas-to-liquid fuel, bespoke Jetstream filtration, fuel sampling kits, fuel testing, fuel cleaning and land decontamination.

Meeting The Sunday Times’ eligibility criteria, SDM Fuel Solutions has grown from a turnover of £250,000 to £6.2 million within four years due to significant commercial demand; a spin-out property division, which purchases and redevelops petrol stations, is expanding.

Simon put the success of the company down to ‘’great people and timing – we really have dialed in to employing great people, aligned with a long-term growth strategy underlined by our ‘inch-wide, mile-deep’ philosophy.

“The rate of growth is such that I’d be disappointed if we didn’t hit £30 million turnover by the last quarter of 2024. We are also looking at the water industry now as there is opportunity there.“

He also applauded the ‘pivotal work’ of three colleagues who particularly helped his father – Dean Scott, who held the fort while his dad was ill, Carl Shephard and Craig Chiverton.

SDM Fuel Solutions entered The Sunday Times listing following a suggestion from the company’s business coach, James Akin-Smith.

The Sunday Times citation reads: “The father-and-son team Simon and Simon Mayne dreamed of owning their own yachts rather than working on other people’s boats, so they set up SDM in 2011 to do just that. Based near Southampton, its main business is testing fuel for contamination and cleaning tanks. Mayne Sr died in 2019, leaving his son, 37, to achieve their dreams. Working with fellow directors Carl Shephard, 39, and Craig Chiverton, 38, Mayne Jr expects SDM’s sales to grow almost fivefold in two years, from £6.1 million last year to £30 million by 2024.”

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Like automation, Contrinex sensors are used in a wide variety of applications, and in this installation are trusted to ensure the safe and reliable control of weathertight doors on shipping.

CUSTOMER APPLICATION

On ships, water-tight doors rely upon compressing seals around the perimeter of their frame, when they close. Double-acting hydraulic cylinders are used to open and close multiple linked latches that secure the doors when closed, maintaining their correct fit against the seals.

Designers required an affordable and highly reliable means of confirming the status of the latches, which would withstand the aggressive marine environment, being resistant to seawater, corrosion, vibrations and shock.

Contrinex has the advantage of offering a range of ‘Maritime’ inductive sensors which are approved to the DNVGL-CG-0339 environmental test specification for equipment to be installed on ships and offshore units. For example, the sensor’s EMC protection meets maritime requirements, particularly regarding power supply variations and low-frequency immunity, as well as being highly corrosion resistant, and IP68/IP69K rated.

DNV is an internationally accredited certification body that establishes and maintains technical standards for the construction and operation of ships and other offshore mobile structures in international waters. DNV is authorized by 130 maritime administrations to perform certification or verification on their behalf.

CUSTOMER SOLUTION

A high-pressure rated inductive sensor was selected which is capable of operating in installations of up to 500 bar (7,255 psi) and at a peak pressure of 800 bar (11,603 psi). The sensors are embedded into the side of the double-acting hydraulic cylinders which drive the door’s power locking mechanisms. The sensors are located at either end of the cylinder to monitor the presence of the metallic cylinder tie rod, as it reaches the end of its travel, showing whether the door locks are fully open or fully closed.

A member of Contrinex’s uniquely robust ‘700 Series’ of inductive sensors, the sensor features a front face and cylindrical housing which is machined from a single piece of stainless steel. It’s thick front face provides extraordinary abrasion resistance and the sensor’s unique technology gives it unmatched abilities to resist shock and impact damage. This impact resistance is typically demonstrated by showing how a sensor survives being used to hammer nails into a wooden block.

In the Maritime range of sensors, V4A/ AISI 316L stainless steel is used to provide high corrosion resistance to seawater and a salt-laden atmosphere. The sensor’s location inside metal doors on the perimeter of ships also meant that their wide temperature operating range (-25°C to +70°C) and Contrinex’s industry-leading temperature stability and temperature-resistance is important for reliable service.

The sensor also contains the IO-Link communication protocol so that parameters can be auto-updated from the PLC to a new sensor when it is installed. IO-Link is also ideal for implementing the sensors into Industrial IoT (IIoT) and Industry 4 systems, for example for the continuous monitoring of sensor status.

Combining exceptional durability in harsh environments with extended working life, Contrinex’s DNVGL-approved inductive sensors are an affordable, risk-free option for marine systems integrators and equipment designers.

PRODUCT ADVANTAGES

• Operating pressure up to 500 Bar (7,255 psi), Peak 800 Bar (11,603 psi)
• Uniquely robust 700 Series - One-piece stainless-steel (V4A /AISI 316L) housing and sensing face
• Practically unlimited number of pressure cycles
• -25°C to +70°C - Excellent temperature stability & temperature-resistance
• High immunity to EMC to electromagnetic interference meeting maritime requirements
• IO-Link – Ideal for Industry 4 and offering Plug and Play swap-out

Click to download the Weld-immune Inductive Sensor brochure, or Click to download Contrinex’s Product Overview brochure to find out more.

Call 0121 58 222 58 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss how PLUS Automation can help you #MakeSenseofSensors using Inductive, Machine Safety, Photoelectric, Pressure, Process, RFID and Ultrasonic sensors from CONTRINEX, ReeR & SATRON.

We have over 2,000 sensors in UK stock, with much more stock held in Europe, or available with short manufacturing lead times, plus a collection of distributors, many of which hold stock - We would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about improving your automation and machine performance, or just how to reduce your costs.

As leaders in the designing  of manufacturing of products for the management of flammable liquids and hazardous materials, our goal is to create essential pieces of equipment that become the standard in every laboratory and facility that uses harmful substances. Our equipment meets the highest ANSI standard design and never compromises on safety or efficiency. We create products at such a high standard so our clients enjoy hassle-free protection.

Whilst we hope there is never the need for your safety showers to be used, having one is imperative on site should be working around harmful substances.

Our tank-fed ranges are designed to be positioned in easily accessible areas and are easily activated even if vision is compromised. The tray firmly shuts off water flow and keeps nozzles free of airborne pollutants when it is upright. Filling, inspection, and cleaning are all made easier with the wide rear aperture. The FDA-approved tanks are self-contained and do not require a water source. Drain pipes and wall/shelf mounting bracket are included, and we always strive for superior build quality.

Keeping up with current ANSI standards can be a challenging task. Our main feed washes can be conveniently located in open areas and are constructed at an ANSI-compliant height. Suitable for all areas. A specifically constructed valve with an inbuilt, heavy-duty stainless steel stop-plate is included in the system to handle harsh operation without failure. Low operating torque ensures consistent and simple on/off operation and is especially appreciated in emergency situations. 

Many clients choose Aqua’s products due to their superior reliability and longevity. Built from corrosion-resistant materials, these assets deliver tepid water to even the most remote locations.

Aqua Safety Showers can keep your workers safe with our wide range of products and units available. For a bespoke quotation, please get in touch with our sales team today who will generate a quote specific to your needs with our best possible pricing.

We are on hand to help in any situation, big or small.

www.aqua-safety.com

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The Teledyne FLIR Scion® series of long-range monoculars, built to equip law enforcement professionals and military personnel with superior thermal surveillance, is now available to customers in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region at an attractive 15% discount.

This not-to-be-missed promotion also includes a free rechargeable battery, providing a limited-time opportunity for law enforcement agencies, police forces and border guards to enhance their service performance at a reduced price.

Featuring Teledyne FLIR’s high-performance Boson® thermal core for sharp, reliable vision in complete darkness, Scion long-range (up to 1120m) thermal monoculars are ideal for a host of applications, from maintaining a safe stand-off distance during law enforcement operations, to scanning distant ridgelines for a lost backpacker. Feature-rich Scion PTM and OTM monoculars are available with 9 or 60 Hz refresh rate and include: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® connectivity; 2 GB of internal storage; a microSD™ card slot to record both geo-tagged video and still images; a rugged IP67-rated housing; picture-in-picture zoom; and GPS functionality. Additionally, a ‘Lock Span Mode’ creates highly detailed images by eliminating unwanted temperature detection. The promotion is valid until 31 December 2023.

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection is unveiling its GD1 laser-based gas detector with full SIL2 3rd party approval. This ground-breaking development means that the GD1 SIL2 is the market´s first open-path gas detector for hydrogen sulphide (H2S) safety-related applications

The global importance of SIL (Safety Integrity Level) has grown substantially in the oil, gas, petrochemical and other process industries over the past 10 years. It makes sense, therefore, that devices such as gas detectors demonstrate their suitability and competence in line with the latest SIL2 third-party certification. The GD1 from Teledyne GFD first entered the market in 2011, with well over 1600 units since deployed at oil and gas exploration and production (Onshore & Offshore) companies throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world.

With its new certification, the GD1 is now suitable for use in systems with SIL2 requirements. To provide some context, a typical SIL1 ATEX-certified gas detection device/system will come complete with the functional approval according to IEC 60079-29-3 and require regular maintenance. The step from SIL1 to SIL2 requires built-in automatic self-testing of hardware components and this means reduced maintenance intervals for sensors, and reduced downtime. GD1 complies to the latest standard for IEC 60079-0:2017 (IECEx).

Teledyne GFD´s innovative GD1 will prove attractive in SIL2 applications for several reasons, not in the least its unique customized tunable laser diode that eliminates environmental effects from sun, rain or fog. In fact, the GD1 can operate with up to 98% obscuration, boosting overall site safety. This capability is possible because light emitted by the detector travels as a cone from one point to another, rather than as a conventional straight beam. In other words, the beam expands after transmission and is almost a meter in diameter when it reaches the receiver mounted 75m away.

It can therefore penetrate harsh environments that competitor solutions may find difficult. With its fast and fail-safe laser, the GD1 performs real-time dual automatic calibration and automatic proof testing, thus eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing maintenance costs. Further advantages include low power consumption (15W), very long lifespan and a high sampling/detection rate of 8000 times per second thanks to its ultra-stable optomechanical construction. All these added-value characteristics mean the GD1 can replace multiple standard detectors to cover the same risk, making it an economic solution that typically demonstrates real cost savings within two years. 

HAIX UK Sales Manager Simon Ash discusses investing in high-quality footwear creates better choices for the environment.

Every year, around 149 million pairs of shoes are thrown into landfills in the UK. As footwear is manufactured, transported, worn and discarded at a rapid pace, the impact spreads far beyond the environment. Fast-paced supply chains often rely on cheaper materials and manufacturing processes that are outsourced overseas, resulting in a commodity-driven process that causes social and environmental damage.   

Consumers, non-governmental organisations, governments and other stakeholders are ramping up the pressure for businesses to commit to supply chain transparency and ethical production across a broad spectrum of industries. However, in the world of workwear, there still needs to be a fundamental shift from solely encouraging ethical procurement of well-designed and superior-quality boots to considering both this and the maintenance and repair of the shoes.   

Partnerships like the one HAIX has with the Boot Repair Company can generate working relationships that complement both customers and the environment by minimizing workwear’s social and environmental impacts.  

The Boot Repair Company, formed from two family businesses with over 120 years of experience, specialises in repairing boots made for fire, police, ambulance and other emergency services workers. All HAIX boots are manufactured in Europe which meets socially responsible guidelines, thoroughly designed using considered material choices and construction methods to withstand multiple terrains, environments, and activities that will provide years of protection and use Of the services available, repairs such as a full resole can double the enduring life expectancy of HAIX footwear, further  preserving the investment and quality of the PPE.  

The Boot Repair Company’s Director, Tom Forbes, suggests that, “Regularly inspecting safety boots is particularly important for emergency service workers to avoid unnecessary injury. However, while a sole will become worn with use, a nicely broken-in upper can escape virtually unscathed and have tons of life left in it. We’ve found that HAIX boots can be re-soled around three times because the thick upper leather is so strong. The timeframe for a repair will depend on occupation, the job hazards encountered, how often the boots are worn, and even the wearer’s size and weight.   

Ultimately, good boots are like old comrades. We take pride in knowing that we can minimise waste and help more people keep their footwear for longer.”  

To help achieve a circular footwear economy, we need an industry-wide shift to make ethical workwear maintenance as important as ethical procurement practices. Businesses are required to maintain their premises, equipment and company vehicles, to a high standard, with all of these being highly considered choices. Why does this not extend to their footwear?

For safety boots, there is a business case as well as an environmental case for investing in high quality, durable footwear that wearers will get many years out of, and subsequently be able to access boot repairs to extend the life even further. Footwear that is also made as durable as possible means that wearers can minimise waste and organisations can buy better, not buy more.   

Using high-quality materials can extend the life of footwear and encourage prolonged use. HAIX shoes are put through their paces to ensure that they exceed the minimum standards as much as possible, including undergoing a series of over 100 material and quality assurance tests, replicating the day-to-day challenges of wearers, who spend most of their time on their feet. Setting this high standard for footwear results in boots that are higher quality, and last longer.  

www.haix.co.uk

We spoke to Daniel Frith, Operations Manager at UK’s leading safety company, Arco, about the dangers of exposure to airborne contaminants and how to mitigate the risks. 

How can workers be exposed to airborne contaminants? 

Daniel Frith: Airborne contaminants can occur from a variety of outputs depending on the occupational setting via substances such as dust, gases, fumes, mists, or vapours present in the air. As a result, some industries are more susceptible to the presence of harmful substances such as construction, manufacturing and mining. Manufacturing roles such as brick and tile manufacture, ceramics and stone working, foundry work are particularly prone to harmful effects, even dusts created by foodstuffs that we consider to be safe can be hazardous, if there is continuous exposure. Output is often invisible to the naked eye, and workers are not aware that they are exposed.  

What are the dangers of being exposed to these kind of hazardous substances? 

Daniel Frith: Every year, thousands of workers in the UK experience damaging lung-related effects from airborne contaminants such as lung cancer, asthma or lung scarring because of airborne contaminants they have breathed in at work. In 2022, there was an estimated 19,000 new cases of breathing or lung problems made worse by work, according to the HSE. The severity of harmful effects will ultimately depend on duration, frequency and degree of exposure to the substances. 

Is it difficult to control exposure to airborne contaminants? 

Daniel Frith: As a result of the variety of airborne contaminant transmission and the often-imperceptible output, the HSE has identified a concerning trend: that employers are often unaware that their workers are being exposed to hazardous substances or that their existing controls may be insufficient. This lack of awareness gives rise to several issues including the sources of exposure being missed, the deterioration of existing controls and incorrect utilisation of the implemented safeguards.  

What is the law on protecting workers from harmful exposure? 

Daniel Frith: The UK has a strong framework and reputation when it comes to health and safety and the approach towards airborne contaminants is no exception. The primary legislation that addresses harmful airborne contaminants in the workplace is the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) which outlines that employers have a legal duty to access risks associated with hazardous substances and make decisions on what measures to use to protect the health of their employees. It is important that employers are engaged with airborne hazard safety not only for the health of their employees but to also avoid enforcement action. 

What do employers need to do to eliminate the risk and protect workers? 

Daniel Frith: Employers can use the Hierarchy of Control as a way to determine which actions are most necessary to control hazards in the workplace. The first level of control is the elimination of the hazard entirely - removing a toxic chemical for example. The second level is substitution and involves offering a safer alternative to the hazardous substance. The first two actions can be the most difficult to adopt for reasons such as cost and design and so the third level - local exhaust ventilation systems (LEV) - is the level of control used most often. The use of LEV isolates workers from the hazard by removing the substance at the source. The fourth level is administrative controls such as reducing the frequency of exposure to hazards. The fifth and final level is the use of personal protection equipment (PPE) such as gloves and masks to minimise exposure to hazards. Levels four and five are useful actions but should be combined with other control methods to offer the most protection. 

What is the process for installing LEV into the workplace? 

Daniel Frith: There is a systematic approach to installing LEV in the workplace to make sure that it is fit for purpose and effective. The first step is a risk assessment - anticipating, recognising, evaluating and controlling the hazards. It is advisable to engage with an expert throughout this process so that the most suitable methods are chosen - installing an ineffective system can be very costly. Arco Professional Safety Services can offer risk assessment guidance and support businesses to identify workplace hazards and implement practical measures to eliminate or reduce them. Undertaking a comprehensive COSHH assessment and workplace air monitoring can help you to identify your hazardous substance/s, evaluate the usage risks, determine the required control measures and ensure they are working effectively. 

How often do LEV systems need to be monitored and checked? 

Daniel Frith: Regular inspections of LEV systems should take place to ensure the smooth running of the device. A Periodic Test Examination (TExT) should be conducted at least every 14 months with records kept for at least five years. This requires a competent examiner who has the correct knowledge, skills and practical experience and can be conducted by a trained employee or an outside contractor. Detailed information from the examination should be kept for the lifespan of the LEV system.  Business owners should work with an expert safety partner to ensure systems are compliant.   At Arco we have a dedicated team with the knowledge and experience to produce a 14-monthly TExT Report to ensure you remain compliant to COSHH Regulations and that equipment is in good working order and provides the necessary protection. 

To read more on LEV, please visit Arco’s advice page: https://www.arco.co.uk/expert-advice/hose/LEV or contact us on: 01482 383288 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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To save lives and safeguard assets in a variety of environments, military personnel need to be able to move undetected. Often, their very lives and the security of their mission depend on it

Teledyne FLIR integrator Thermal Vision Research is working with a leading manufacturer of life-saving protective equipment for military applications, BCB International, to do exactly that. With 160 years of experience in developing protective technology, BCB International provides bespoke camouflage materials that conceal equipment and personnel across a spectrum of different wavelengths to ensure that secrecy and safety work as one. Precise insights vs prohibitive environments In these environments, being able to move around undetected is key - but this extends beyond the limitations of human sight and CCTV surveillance: they must also be able to transcend thermography to ensure invisibility

As camouflage technologies improve, so too does thermography so that it can better pinpoint anomalies and provide insight when it’s needed most. However, on this occasion, the goal is not to be seen at all.

Using a custom rig built by TVR using FLIR thermal imaging cameras, BCB is able to test their newest and most advanced camouflage netting up close under a wide range of frequencies to see what shows up on thermography - and what does its job. To ensure that their nettings are up to the challenge, they use three different FLIR thermal imaging cameras that operate across different wavelengths: a FLIR A62/61 for shortwave, FLIR X8500 for medium wave and FLIR A70 for long wave applications. This process means that the manufacturer can streamline critical testing in both a lab and field environment with the mobile rig, detecting anomalies from -45°C to 70°C.

Rigorous quality checks made possible with thermal inspection As BCB ‘s range of high-tech camouflage materials (such as those used in military uniforms and netting) are 1/2 designed to be fire resistant with anti-thermal properties to mask ambient heat emissivity, they must be able to conceal troops and equipment in almost any environment.

To ensure this, BCB worked with TVR in a closed environment, with the thermal imaging rig set up at a distance of 10 metres - which puts the high-tech camouflage under much greater scrutiny than it might face at long-range in the field. Andrew Howell, Managing Director, of BCB International explains:

“We need to see what shows up by thermal imaging so we can see what accurately conceals and what doesn’t - and for this, we use FLIR thermography. “This process is paramount to our operations as it allows us to identify any issues as they arise and means we can mitigate shortcomings before the product is deployed. We can see what works and what doesn’t, and in this scenario, if we can see something, we set to work refining it so that it can better protect personnel, vehicles and installations on the ground.” Matthew Clavey, Director of integrator Thermal Vision Research, adds: “Whether the camouflage netting is being deployed over a tank or over artillery or supplies, they'll invariably have different wavelength requirements. This is why it’s so important to test the heat emissivity of different materials across the spectrum of thermographic wavelengths - so we can track where heat is visible and identify any thermal dissipation to ensure this front-line defence technology performs as expected.”

www.flir.com

Once again, REMBE GmbH Safety+Control is challenging the status quo of autonomous protective systems. Thus, the globally increasing environmental influences and weather extremes prompted REMBE engineers to test the protective effect of REMBE explosion vents also against weather-related water and air permeability.

Particularly in plants and processes with high demands on water and air tightness, explosion vents that are directly exposed to weather conditions due to their installation position often represent a potential point of entry and thus a hazard for the bulk materials themselves. REMBE therefore applies what is legally required for construction elements such as windows and doors to the various explosion vents in the explosion protection area. Within the framework of large-scale weather simulations, the REMBE explosion vent types ODV, EDP, EGV-HYP, as well as the new vent duct cover KAD-LIC have been tested for their properties of air permeability, watertightness and their resistance to wind load. BS EN 14351-1, the product standard for windows and doors, served as the basis and classification.

The results of the weathering test are extremely impressive. A comparison of the test results with real weather conditions shows that storms with wind forces of up to 14 on the so-called Beaufort scale (bft) - this corresponds to wind speeds of up to 166 km/h - have no influence on the protective effect of the explosion vents. Even in heavy rain in conjunction with wind speeds approaching 120 km/h, the explosion vents exhibit a high degree of tightness. A comparison with the windows used in the construction industry illustrates the high weather resistance: The REMBE explosion vents achieved the same and in some cases significantly better test results than the currently available windows for residential buildings.

What is the added value of weathering testing?

The REMBE explosion vents thus not only protect the plant in the event of an explosion through targeted explosion venting, but also ensure effective protection of the bulk materials themselves from external environmental influences during normal operation. The risk of contamination by water, dust and air as well as collateral damage due to swelling or excess weight is thus minimised.

Fig. 1: Examples of the tested explosion vents (left: Explosion vent EDP; right: Explosion vent EGV HYP)

• Certified weather resistance
• Effective protection of the plant and its products from environmental influences
• Air leakage of < 0.75 m³/h m joint length
• Impervious to driving rain up to a wind force of 12 bft (120 km/h) and a precipitation rate of 440 mm/h
• Wind stability up to a wind force of 14 bft (166 km/h)

www.rembe.de

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