MU July / August 2016

10 MACHINERY UPDATE JULY/AUGUST 2016 www.machineryupdate.co.uk
News
Industry 4.0 training rigs
are for future engineers
Bosch Rexroth has
launched its new range
of modular mechatronics
training system mMS 4.0 rigs
which are aimed at supporting
the next generation of young
engineers.
The Industry 4.0 compliant
rigs form part of the Drive &
Control Academy training
offering and are a complete
engineering system built
with genuine industry
grade components.
The rigs come with HMI, RFID
and Open Core Engineering
from Rexroth with PLC
programming options
included, providing students
with a true hands-on industry
process experience.
Aimed specifically at
educational and industrial
institutions, the training
rigs are tailored to support
students and teachers as well
as customers and employees.
Additional enhancements that
may be absent from current
factory floors have also been
installed to help students keep
one step ahead of the evolving
engineering industry.
Consisting of three
individual stations, its
The new modular mechatronics training system mMS 4.0 rigs for youngsters
modular design allows
for complete flexibility
adapting to individual needs
appropriate for every learning
path, both in academic and
industry environments.
Suitable for beginners
through to advanced
engineers, the modular
hydraulic, pneumatic,
mechatronic systems are
perfectly tailored to suit the
qualification stages both for
education and industry.
As well as being supplied
with component kits, there is
also corresponding exercises,
eLearning, project manuals
and supporting material
provided for each training
system supplied.
“The launch of our new
training rigs offering is market
leading and aims to provide
the younger generation with
a better understanding in the
future of manufacturing,”
says Richard Chamberlain,
product manager service at
Bosch Rexroth.
“We firmly believe our
industry grade training rigs
will equip students with the
ability to stay ahead of the
curve,” he says.
W www.boschrexroth.com
Continuous improvement focus was factor
in SMC winning a service excellence award
SMC’s focus on continuous
improvement was a key factor
in it earning an award for
service excellence from global
company RS Components.
Each year, RS Components
presents four awards to
suppliers who enable them
to provide a convenient,
one stop shop service to their
customers. SMC was selected to
receive the Service Excellence
award for a second consecutive
year thanks to an ongoing
commitment to continuous
improvement
and applying
the learning
from previous
improvements.
RS said
SMC’s ability
to manage
expectations,
attention to
detail and
regular reviews
at both global
and local levels
were key factors.
The Service Excellence award is a reward for all
involved in keeping supply lines open and on track
Douglas Alderton was founder
of Alrad Imaging, and father of
current UKIVA chairman, Ian
Sad passing
of the Alrad
founder
We are sad to note the sudden
passing of Douglas Alan Alderton
in May, while on holiday in Spain.
Douglas was the founder of
UK Industrial Vision Association
(UKIVA) member Alrad Imaging,
and father of current UKIVA
chairman Ian Alderton.
Douglas was originally involved
in nuclear instrumentation,
working for companies such as
EMI and was a participant in
the first trade mission to China
following the Cultural Revolution.
In 1970, Douglas worked for
Wenzel Elektronik UK Ltd
to distribute nuclear
instrumentation and in 1976
completed a management buyout
to form Alrad Instruments Ltd,
with his wife Doreen as financial
director. Among the early
products sold were camera tubes
from Mullard, which eventually
allowed the company to diversify
into scientific imaging and then
into industrial vision as that
industry grew during the 1980s.
The Alrad Imaging name was
adopted in the early 1990s and
the company has been an active
member of the UKIVA since
then. Douglas and Doreen retired
from Alrad in 1995 with sons Ian
and Graham taking over running
the business; Ian as managing
director and Graham responsible
for finance at the company.