The monthly news from Bennett Engineering [September 2022]

How are you predicting?

Predictive Maintenance. A buzz word or something manufacturers need to embrace? This isn’t a new concept, John has been around in manufacturing long enough to have seen this wrapped up with different words.

Right now though it might be one of the best tools you could use because there is lots of evidence it helps to save costs in any factory or production process. According to some experts there’s a 50% financial loss saving to be made if you use this measure.

But how do you know where to get started? How can you predict what’s going to fall over next?

Your operators will have an insight, lots of your equipment can provide real-time data, your maintenance team will know what they spend most of their time and budget on. All it needs is someone to start the process of being predictive or preventative or just grabbing the bull by the horns if you don’t want to stick a label on this activity.

With decades of experience in this area (and no hair to prove it) please don’t hesitate in talking to John or Craig (whose a whizz on the data side) on 01509 363 060.

Banging the drum for 3D printing

Only when that material and that process is relevant will the drum be banged though.

In the instance of the medical accessories Bennett Engineering have been producing additive manufacturing was the correct choice due to:

• Material durability
• Ease of production
• Unit cost
• Varied order quantities

As you can see in the image the gauge holders are made using additive printing and in this instance a material called MJFPA12 which is a HP nylon plastic. This material is very durable and has been selected to withstand the conditions within which it will be used.

Are you using 3D printing for parts or products?

The smart move

Love it or loathe it technology has progressed significantly over the years and whilst the manufacturing industry might have been slower than some sectors to adapt there’s good reasons behind that from our experience.

On a recent site visit to an undisclosed location our engineering team were clearly in a smart factory. It wasn’t just that it was a clean bright high tech environment that made the penny drop.

The ability to extract data from the start of the process to the finish (and any point between) gave us an insight into how to solve one of the challenges they were facing (which was very much a mechanical engineering thing).

Their predictive analysis tool enabled us to have the ‘what if’ conversations in a much different way to when there is a lack of digitalisation in a setting.

An interesting spot this month for the team.

What are your technology based plans over the coming year?

A long journey

Did you know that the longest train journey you can undertake across the world is 18,755km and will take you approximately 21 days?

You can go from Portugal to Singapore on this train journey.

It will take you through 13 different countries including Spain, Belarus, Mongolia and Thailand to name but a few.

This journey has only recently become possible with the opening of a line in Laos.

You might still have to make a stop and change train stations but it’s feasible according to rail experts.

Is it one you’d do?

Coin making