I don’t think it is the first time that people have faced reality and realized that a massive proportion of their gas could be cut off. Despite a relatively mild winter in much of Europe, relatively high stocks plus the prospect of an alternative supply in the form of shale gas, there is no instant [...]
Over thirty years as a hydraulic designer and manufacturer, what processes have we found to be winners? 1. Thermal deburring. I can understand why some big OEM's insist on it. It is never an excuse not to deburr properly, but thermal deburring gives that extra comfort if used as it is meant. Make sure that [...]
The issue of shelf life You wouldn't buy sausages when the shelf life was just about to expire and expect them to be good three weeks later; so why do we do this with elastomeric seals and sealants? Why would any manufacturer buy materials that are nearly past their sell-by date when for the same [...]
Having been a fan of Mermaid Ford marine diesels for years then moving over to Yanmars on two different boats, I am a great fan. I think they are Japanese engineering at its finest. Whatever the benefits of common rail diesel engines, will a marine diesel stuffed with electronics really be as reliable as mechanical [...]
A Micropac pressure test or filling pump is a mighty useful tool. It inherently has a much greater fluid capability than most units as long as you keep a few pointers in mind. A Micropac is designed for a wide range of fluids. Our pumps cope with a massive range of viscosities because we use [...]
A hydrostatic pressure or proof test is a very blunt tool. Pressurise it up to a factor in excess of working pressure and check there is no leakage or deformation which would indicate design, manufacturing or safety issues. Unfortunately, our experience has been that a blast of high pressure is not the miracle tool if [...]
Having only been closed on average a few times a year since its commissioning in 1982, I read that the latest March closure was the 48th so far in 2014, very close to the recommended annual limit of 50. This certainly tells me something about flood risk. With the recent storm surges on tides in [...]
Manufacturing hydraulic pumps is demanding. We know. We have been at it for 30 years. The five hydraulic workshop products that I personally think make life a whole lot easier are: 1. Ultrasonic cleaner. Forget the watchmaker units, although I am sure they do the job for small bits. For pump bodies and larger components, [...]
Modern technology tends towards the sophisticated, but this is not always a good thing. We have been reminded in recent months about the power of wind and water, and it is a common complaint that sophisticated technology is more prone to failure in extreme conditions. It can be too hot, too cold, too windy, too [...]
How low temperature hydraulics has to be able to work with very cold conditions in large areas of the world. The UK only sees moderate cold weather, even in Scotland. That can cause drama, as we know. Maybe we find it difficult to visualise that massive chunks of Russia, [...]
