News

BEKA associates, the Hitchin based company specialising in process control displays for use in hazardous areas, has appointed Olivier Lebreton as its new Managing Director. Olivier joined BEKA in October 2013 and became Technical Director in June 2018.

As Managing Director Olivier will be responsible for all company operations but will initially retain his technical director responsibilities. He is a chartered engineer and a member of the IET with 20 years’ experience managing design projects for many different applications including, oceanographic equipment, safety critical products and hazardous area instrumentation in France, Canada and the UK.

Introducing a controlled solution to remove objects from shafts for maintenance that is safer, faster and easier to operate.

The new series of Enerpac Lock-Grip Pullers provide maintenance crews a safer, faster and synchronized way to remove gears and bearings from a shaft. Objects are firmly controlled during the extraction process with the unique locking mech-anism design, nearly eliminating the risk of flailing. Compared to other puller de-signs, the synchronized movement of the Lock-Grip Pullers jaws cut setup time in half.

Peter Cairns, Hart’s Area Sales Manager, says there are several Hart doors on site already. “This depot is one of the busiest in the country, with an average of 250 carriages maintained there each night. We have several Speedors on site some of which were nearly 30 years old,” says Mr Cairns.

The latest contract was to replace the ageing Speedors in this very busy depot with Hart’s highly energy efficient, Insulated Roller Shutters.  “The installation was challenging requiring specific bracketing and in-fills for the new doors,” adds Mr Cairns. 

These NEW slim-fit stretch trousers deliver extreme working comfort all day, every day.

Hi-tech fabrics and body-mapping designs in the NEW multi-purpose ALLROUNDWork 4-Way Stretch Trousers from Snickers Workwear ensure maximum working mobility wherever you are on site.

The 4-way stretch fabrics integrated into these Work Trousers deliver maximum freedom of movement for all kinds of work all year round as well as improved ventilation and overall comfort. 

Atexxo Manufacturing has released an Apple iPad mini 5 which is suitable for use in Zone 1 and Zone 2 hazardous locations. The explosion proof iPads are originally manufactured by Apple then converted and certified according to ATEX and IECEx by Atexxo Manufacturing.

This makes the ATEX and IECEx tablets suited for safe use in gas/vapour Zone 1 and zone 2 hazardous areas. Sim-card can be installed by the end-user themselves, or eSim can be used. The devices are suited for Apple (open) DEP enrollment program.

Pyroban has launched Blue EX Spot™, a driving path warning system for ATEX compliant lift trucks operating in Zone 1, 2, 21 and 22 hazardous areas. One light covers all Zones and has entered the market at an RRP of just GBP 280+VAT.

“Blue EX Spot is an off-the-shelf explosion proof blue spot light that can be fitted to any existing Pyroban equipment already working in the field,” says Darren Boiling, Materials Handling Sales Manager for Pyroban. “It increases safety where visibility is poor, such as in warehouse aisles or at crossings where IBCs and drums containing flammable material are handled.”

The dangers of explosive environments are obvious in the petroleum and chemical processing industries, but many other industries can create explosive atmospheres that are not as obvious but still represent a serious danger.

Examples illustrating this are facilities that process grains, sugar, metal powders, and wood products. In 2018 grain handling facilities in Nebraska and eastern France were destroyed or seriously damaged by grain dust explosions. In 2008 an explosion wrecked a sugar refinery in Georgia, killing 14 people and injuring another 40. Five workers were fatally injured in an iron dust fire in Tennessee in 2011. It is essential to understand the conditions that can create explosive environments and the proper equipment required to enter them safely. 

New Enerpac Lock-Grip Pullers are a simple, safe and cost-effective way to remove shaft-mounted parts

The new series of Enerpac Lock-Grip Pullers provide maintenance crews a safer, faster and synchronised way to remove gears and bearings from a shaft. Objects are firmly controlled during the extraction process with the unique locking mechanism design, nearly eliminating the risk of flailing. Compared to other puller designs, the synchronised movement of the Lock-Grip Pullers jaws cut setup time in half.

The UK government announced on September 1 that the new UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) marking can be used from 1 January 2021, however, to allow businesses time to adjust to the new requirements, the CE marking may still be used until 1 January 2022 in most cases.

The UKCA mark is a new UK product marking that will be used for goods being placed on the market in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). It covers most goods which previously required the CE marking, including the ATEX Directive.

Carrying out a product transfer with an ungrounded road tanker/tank truck is a static electricity hazard capable of causing extreme damage to plant and personnel.

The design and manufacture of a road tanker/tank truck must ensure that all metal items are bonded together. International Standards and Recommended Practices state that this bonding/continuity must be < 10 Ohms between metal items. Designated earth point/s must also be welded onto the vessel/body of the truck and be clearly marked and manufactured from corrosion resistance material.