Over 100 new B&R products UL certified
In addition to meeting all criteria for UL compliant construction, several new automation components from B&R Industrial Automation Corp., Roswell, Ga., offer durability in even harsh conditions. More than 100 new components recently underwent strict safety inspection for UL certification with numerous stress tests including temperature and high voltage testing. The new servo drives also meet the strict test criteria: A unique cooling concept allows a variety of arrangements and withstands tough environments. Newly listed X20 SafeIOs also offer high resistance to failure under increased operating loads, and can be used for centralized or decentralized tasks. For more information, visit www.br-automation.com.
Dorner offers after-hours service hotline
Customers of Dorner Mfg. Corp., Hartland, Wis., now have access to the company's conveyor experts outside of normal business hours, including Saturdays and Sundays. Experts are now available “24/7” to quickly address any maintenance issues or answer other service-related questions to keep facilities up and running. The new hotline is (888) 417-3515.
Norgren names rail sector technical director
Norgren Inc., Littleton, Colo., a global supplier of pneumatic and fluid control solutions, has named Charles “Chuck” Stack to the new position of director, U.S. Rail Sector. Increasing commitments to infrastructure and development indicate that the rail market is poised for growth. Norgren's fluid power components fit numerous application design challenges facing today's rail manufacturers, according to Stack. For more information, visit www.norgren.com/rail.
Ruland, Belden start joint venture
Ruland Manufacturing Co. Inc., Marlborough, Mass., and Belden Inc., Broadview, Ill., have started a joint venture called PTMotion GmbH, headquartered in Berlin, Germany. The companies have joined forces in Europe to better serve OEM customers in Germany and other European markets, generate new business, and manage distributor relationships, according to company sources. Managing director Ralf Gabriel, long-time sales engineer for Belden in Germany, heads the new company. Founded in 1939, Belden makes precision universal joints and power transmission assemblies. Ruland, established in 1937, manufactures zero-backlash motion control couplings and precision-honed shaft collars.
WAGO celebrates 30th anniversary
WAGO Corp., Germantown, Wis., celebrated 30 years of North American business in September. Established in 1979 in a small suburban Milwaukee office by one employee, the company now operates out of a 75,000 sq. ft manufacturing complex. Today, 143 employees serve industrial and electrical customers with 17,000 interconnect, electronic interface, and automation components. WAGO Corp. is the North American subsidiary of WAGO Kontakttechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Minden, Germany. Visit www.wago.us for more information.
Sumitomo wins Green Excellence award
The 2009 Frost & Sullivan Green Excellence through Product Value of the Year Award for Gear Drives and Gear Motors Market was recently awarded to Sumitomo Drive Technologies for its Hyponic gear technology. This award is in recognition of the gear design that delivers outstanding energy efficiency of 80 to 90% from all gear ratios, 30:1 to 1,440:1. The innovative design completely seals the gears and uses eco-friendly food-grade grease lubricants, which eliminates further lubrication, guarantees zero maintenance, and ensures that the gear can be mounted in any direction. Visit www.smcyclo.com for more information.