Particularly in smaller businesses, I think partnerships with suppliers are what make the business. We have some incredibly long relationships. There is more to it than price. Service and know-how are big things as well. However much information is on a drawing for a machined part, processed component or even in a description on a [...]
After thirty years of manufacturing our Micropac pressure and hydrostatic test pumps, we know a thing or two about leaks. The easy job is pressure testing your job up to a “proof pressure”, checking that it does not leak or has not permanently deformed and signing it off. Job done! The science is in diagnosing [...]
I think we all get lulled into thinking that IT infrastructure is as solid as a rock. Just because all those problems that we had "a year or two ago" are all forgotten, does that mean that life will not become a nightmare next week? Every time something goes wrong, write it in a log. [...]
We certainly know our seals here, we've been designing pumps for 30 years! Here's some of what we've learnt: Think carefully about designing in a seal unique to one manufacturer. It is a right headache if they are suddenly on a 16 week lead. There are Chinese seals and Chinese seals. Bearing in mind that [...]
When I read a few years ago that the Tesla sports car used 17000 laptop batteries, I was quite incredulous. Jog forward five years and we might be seeing a significant event in the move to get the cost of battery storage down to a magic figure. Having announced plans to build a battery Gigafactory, [...]
Do you need to anodise, plate or paint your vulnerable metal components? Sarum Hydraulics shares its expertise, with 5 finishing processes you need to be extra careful with: 1. Any component or process where an air bubble inevitably lodges up inside. You obviously can't process it properly. Total disaster! 2. Anodising. When you design it, [...]
Wouldn't it be great to top up your hydraulic system from the tap? Some industries do this. They pay the extra cost of the system components from Danfoss or Tony Markham at the Water Hydraulic Company and use water. Some industries like mining or steel-making find water essential for safety reasons. Pressure testers like it [...]
There are good reasons for using aluminium. Mass is the big driver. The list of pluses goes on and on and you could select the benefits of extrusion, ability to produce deep and optimally profiled sections, advances in die casting, advances in metal forming, CNC machining advances, laser and water jet cutting and solid modelling [...]
“Make it all in 316 stainless”. Unfortunately that is not practical in the majority of marine installations. If you are using commercial hydraulic components and are not immersed or in a splash zone, you will use a strategy of protecting parts. Anything static can have various finishes applied, with incredible results. Where you start to [...]
Sometimes I think that the whole boating industry is peddling a big dream. Those sun filled days on perfect seas. I have had lots of wonderful days. Just the weather and that pesky salt water that get in the way on some of the others! The “Seawork” exhibition in Southampton (this year 10/11/12 June) always [...]
