News

New UK technical requirements lead to changes in conformity marking

Leading motors, drives and automation manufacturer WEG is updating the marks on its products following regulatory changes introduced due to Brexit. From January 1, 2023, products commercialised in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) will require mandatory UK conformity assessed (UKCA) markings to indicate that the products adhere to UK standards for safety and ecodesign whilst products commercialised in Northern Ireland will continue to retain CE Marking. WEG’s safe area motors, drives and control gear products have already been certified as compliant under the new provisions and have achieved UKCA marking, allowing them to continue to be sold, installed, and used in the UK under the new guidelines.

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, manufacturers are expected to comply with UK regulations and standards and to display the new UKCA marking on their products — from January 1, 2023, a CE mark will no longer be valid. At present, goods solid in the United Kingdom are only required to carry the CE mark to indicate conformity with European standards. The certification puts WEG ahead of the curve, as manufacturers now have until December 31, 2022, to transition to the new regime following a recent BEIS announcement of a one-year extension to the process.

ION Science, a global leader in the field of gas detection and VOC (volatile organic compound) analysis and the UK’s only OEM in the sector, have recently received approval for a brand-new research and development facility at their headquarters in Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire.

The new research and development centre compliments ION Science’s main building that was developed in 2017. Both structures have been designed by local architectural practice Gary Johns Architects, and are intended to be environmentally friendly, in-keeping with the surroundings of local villages, and deliver superior facilities for long- and short-term growth of the business.

Brian Grunes, Arco Professional Safety Services Confined Space training expert offers guidance on the risks of confined space working and the upcoming changes to the City & Guilds training accreditation

Draeger Safety UK showcased a wide range of its latest technologies at the 2021 British Tunnelling Society (BTS) Conference and Exhibition to reflect their leading position in the field of medical and safety systems.

The systems comprise different technologies centred around the quality of breathing air and the environment. They include the BG ProAir breathing apparatus; Oxy MK III self-rescuers; portable gas detection technologies; and the Dräger X-plore® 8000 powered air-purifying respirator. They also include impairment testing and policy solutions and the latest PPE.

Pipeline operators and specialty hot tapping service companies have a more precise and safer solution in pipeline intervention solutions.

The newly engineered Enerpac LSA Line Stop Actuator Series provides cost-effective isolation of pipelines to allow for maintenance and modifications, avoiding interruption of service and costly shutdowns. Used in conjunction with the Enerpac hot tapping range, the LSA Series applications include tie-ins and line bypasses, for example. 

The new Enerpac HMT 13000 Interchangeable Torque Wrench is an extension to the previously introduced HMT product line. 

Like the other models in the HMT series, the HMT 13000 offers the same advantages and low cost of ownership. The series is also cost effective because the cassettes have up to 25% less internal components than other manufacturers, reducing the risk of failure and cost of repair. 

The HMT 13000 distinguishes itself through its speed, durability, and efficiency. It is designed to be interchangeable with different tools in the market. When it comes to speed, it offers best-in-class output to weight ratio and is up to 25% faster than leading competitors. As for durability, superior alloys make this tool lightweight and give it a 2.5x longer life expectancy than comparable tools. 

Hi-line Industries, an established and reputable UK manufacturer of high-quality compressed air purification equipment, is able to offer a cost-effective and proven way of meeting the ongoing demand for replacement compressed air filters.

Rather than pay for expensive and often low-efficiency OEM filters, an increasing number are turning to Hi-line’s vast range of alternative elements, which frequently provide an ‘upgrade’ on competitor solutions at less cost.

Cyber defence expert Naval Dome and the offshore division of a supermajor have completed a joint project to identify and mitigate cyber risks common to offshore deepwater drilling rigs.

Findings from the two-year project, culminating in the installation and pilot testing of Naval Dome’s Endpoint cyber defence system aboard drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, indicate that the minimum industry guidelines, regulations and security techniques are out of step with current platform technology, connectivity requirements and cyber-attack methodology.

In a joint research paper presented at an Offshore Technology conference in Houston last week, the authors state: “Activities over two years have demonstrated shortfalls and real challenges that need to be addressed if we are to create a more cyber-secure deepwater drilling rig environment.”

In presenting the Cyberdefence of Offshore Deepwater Drilling Rigs paper to conference delegates, Adam Rizika, Head of Strategy, Naval Dome, said: “Where systems installed on offshore platforms had traditionally been isolated and unconnected, limiting cyber hack success, the increase in remote monitoring and autonomous control, IOT and digitalisation has made rigs much more susceptible to attack.”

Ultra-high pressure water jetting is proving its importance in keeping the development of the UK’s critical off-shore wind farm development programme on track.

Offshore wind farms are now vital to meeting the UK’s electrical energy requirements for the rest of the 21st Century and beyond. New turbine farms are being installed at a rapid rate. 

Meanwhile, the first farms, installed two decades ago, are already reaching the end of their lives and are being decommissioned, creating new and demanding demolition challenges.

Ultra-high water pressure (UHP) jetting specialist RGL, a member of the Water Jetting Association,  is developing technology that enables power companies and demolition contractors to overcome these challenges safely and sustainably.

Safety io GmBH (a software subsidiary of MSA – The Safety Company) has recently achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification for its information security management practices. This comes after an extensive independent external audit by Bureau Veritas, an accredited independent body. 

Protecting workers when the seconds count

Safety io protects workers and work sites in the industrial and fire service sectors by relentlessly creating, refining and expanding software tools that improve operations and outcomes.

Safety io offers two safety platforms – the Grid, for industrial customers, and the FireGrid, for fire service customers – and two independent Grid services: Fleet Manager, which helps ensure customers' detectors and colleagues are ready for work, and Live Monitor, which provides customers with the information they need to take action when seconds count.  These platforms are supported by web and mobile application experiences.