Challenging business conditions have once again been cited as keeping the Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) result for May below the expansionary figure of 50, yet only just. The PriceWaterhouseCoopers / AI Group report details how manufacturers are finding the current market conditions and reports accordingly.
Jumping 4.4 points from April to 49.2 in May, the Australian PMI is at least headed in the right direction despite continuing the trend of seven consecutive months of contraction.
One of the areas of concern from the May PMI result is the contraction of the otherwise-buoyant Food, Beverages and Tobacco sub-sector. The result of 49.3 is the first contraction for this sub-sector in 14 months and as noted by AI Group, is the single largest manufacturing sub-sector at around 20%.
Other factors firmly at play that affected the May PMI result include both the first federal budget brought down by the new coalition government and the resurgent strength of the Australian dollar.
Proving that there is no common theme across the manufacturing landscape, four sub-sectors expanded and four contracted in May.
The gulf between selling prices and input costs continues to remain high, increasing the pressure on margins that has been prevalent for more than 36 reporting periods.
To download a two-page précis of the report, click here… PMI May 2014
Multinational manufacturer SureGuide Australia has partnered with All Torque Transmissions to deliver to market one of the highest quality conveyor tracking products available. Using experience garnered from the South African mining industry (the world’s leading producer of chrome, platinum, vanadium and manganese and third largest coal exporter), SureGuide has helped a multitude of customers with their high-quality conveyor belt tracking units.
Requiring no more maintenance than standard idler frames, the Troughing SureGuide (TSG) is a mechanical frame which immediately responds to belt misalignment. Designed to accommodate belt widths ranging from 600mm to 2100mm, the TSG also fits to existing structures which assists in decreasing the cost burden.
As the belt drifts off centre it comes into contact with one of the side sensor arms. As the belt forces the arm outward the frame is misaligned by means of a direct mechanical linkage between sensor arm and frame. As one arm moves outward the other will move inward, but the “inward arm” will never touch the belt. The misaligned frame is pivoted on a central pin with a bearing ball used to allow easy movement and to handle the load.
The amount of frame misalignment required to move a belt is rarely more than 4 degrees. Therefore the pressure on the belt edge to bring the frame to this angle is negligible. The frame will only steer the belt as far as it is out of centre.
Manufactured using special hardened steels and alloys and precision-turned via CNC machining, the SureGuide Return Tracker is designed for extended operational life. A key feature of the SureGuide Return Tracker design is the use of an oil bath for bearing lubrication, which also assists in increasing operational flexibility.
All Torque Transmissions and SureGuide have partnered to distribute the full range of SureGuide products, specifically for the Victorian and Tasmanian markets. Contact us to discuss your requirements, or follow the link to the SureGuide website, where there is more information about the advantages of the new SureGuide product range.
The DC motor was – for many years – the mainstay of the entire electric motor industry. Capable of delivering full torque all the way down to 0 r/min, DC motors remain one of the best forms of variable speed control in power transmission.
All Torque Transmissions are distributors for Baldor electric motors, who specialise in the DC motor range. All Torque keeps IEC flange-mounted DC motors in stock, both in Braeside and Preston alongside some NEMA-mount. More importantly, stocks are available directly from the national warehouse in Sydney on short lead times.
Thyristor Control Permanent Magnet
Thyristor Control Blower Cooled
Thyristor Control Permanent Magnet
DC motors do not exist in a vacuum; they normally require a controller to enable them to operate.
All Torque Transmissions compliments its range of DC motors by supplying premium DC controllers from US manufacturer KB Electronics.
KB DC Controllers come in three distinct variations: chassis mount, NEMA1 mount and NEMA 4X mount.
KB Chassis Mount DC Controllers
DC motors continue to offer design flexibility in applications that require high torque delivery and/or speed control. All Torque Transmissions is a firm supporter of the Baldor and KB Electronics product range of DC products, and will continue to be so for both new and existing applications.
VSD technology has come a long way in a little time. 
Exhibit A: The ParaJust VSD, which was distributed in Australia by Charles and Hunting back in the 1970s.
The original ParaJust VDS series was available in five sizes, although the straightness of their catalogue left a lot to be desired! DC drives had long held sway in the industrial speed control sector (some would argue that they remain very competitive to this day).
The development of AC drives focused mainly on bridging existing 415 volt three phase motors for operation with 240 volt three phase.
Another featured claim of the ParaJust was the relatively low speed drift of .25% over sustained periods. Nowadays, we routinely expect speed to remain constant from 0.1% right down to 0.01%!
Exhibit B: The WEG CFW500, available in 16 individual sizes, is the modern evolution of the original variable speed drive.
With both single phase and three phase input options, standard inputs up to 7.5kW and various feedback options, the CFW500 is WEG’s cost-effective variable speed drive for everyday applications. The CFW500 also accommodates various plug-in modules to support a range of outputs – outputs that weren’t around back in the day of the ParaJust.
It is also intriguing to see how the efficiencies of electric motors have changed over time. The ParaJust 15 Amp drive was rated as the equivalent of 4kW, whilst the CFW500 has 4kW rated at 10 Amps.
One feature that both the ParaJust and the CFW500 share is a sexy, sleek design. It’s just that the definition of sleek has evolved over the years.
Mangrovite is a brand of gearbox that has lapsed from the Australian landscape as a new product, although it lives on and is still available thanks to a linkup with Barlow and McKay.
McKay (now Barlow) represented Mangrovite and it’s range of AC geared motors for many years.
The available range was quite extensive, starting at 0.06kW and going all the way up to 30kW.
Gearbox frame sizes:
1000 (28mm output shaft)
2000 (38mm output shaft)
4000 (45mm output shaft)
6000 (65mm output shaft)
8000 (65mm output shaft)
Some of the technical details of the Mangrovite gearbox were quite impressive:
Gears and pinions were manufactured from nickel chrome case hardening steel, double quenched and tempered. In addition, they were de-burred and profile ground where necessary to improve accuracy. All bores and bearing seatings were ground to fine tolerances.
Output shafts were manufactured from 60-70 ton nickel molybdenum steel and ground on all operating diameters.
Gears were keyed to shafts for positive drive, and ease of service in the field in the event of exceptional overload.
The majority of gear units were foot mounted, although flange mount was available on request.
As you can see from the below dimension drawings, the Mangrovite gearbox design is very similar to the Barlow design, allowing for bolt-in replacement in many cases.
