3 BENEFITS OF HVLS CEILING FANS IN YOUR FACILITY
Large warehouse fans can do a lot to improve working conditions at a facility. High-volume, low-speed fans have extra-long, slow-turning blades that move a great deal of air at once, which keeps facility temperatures consistent.
Here are a few examples of the advantages that facilities can experience with HVLS fans:
1. COMFORT AND SAVINGS AT THE SAME TIME
When it’s hot out, HVLS fans are a real relief. They stir up huge columns of air instead of just small sections, making them highly effective at cooling off anyone working on the floor.
Since the HVLS fans work so well at keeping people cool, there’s less of a need for air conditioning in facilities that are equipped with these appliances. An HVAC system is still good to have, but HVLS fans will supplement it well, which can reduce the cost of cooling. For facility managers trying to find the right balance between comfortable employees and affordable heating and cooling, pairing HVLS fans with an HVAC system is a win-win.
2. WORKPLACE SAFETY
Does your facility suffer from sweating slab syndrome? Many do. Sweating slab syndrome occurs when condensation builds up on cement floors. The floor becomes slippery, and workers are now at risk of falls. Equipment like forklifts may also have a hard time retaining traction. Because HVLS fans encourage evaporation, they are excellent for reducing moisture on the ground and alleviating this safety risk.
Heat stress is another safety concern that facility managers should be aware of. When temperatures rise, workers need to keep themselves cool and safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend increasing air velocity as a way to reduce the risk of heat stress. HVLS fans are perfect for this task.
3. PEST CONTROL
No facility manager wants pests in his or her building. However, some pests are tricky, especially those that can fly. Physical barriers like dock shelters or door screens can prevent creatures from flying into a warehouse, but these are most effective when paired with additional measures to keep pests out. HVLS ceiling fans can help with this issue too. Large turning blades will scare away birds, and the air movement can push bugs away as well.
3 Ways Industrial Ceiling Fans Can Benefit Your Work Environment
It’s not uncommon for large, open facilities such as warehouses, barns, and aviation hangars to battle undesirable climates. These work environments can quickly become uncomfortable for employees– sometimes too hot, other times too cold– and also might be the cause of extraneous expenses for your company.
When facing a facility maintenance issue of this sort, a high-volume, low-speed fan can be the ultimate solution. Originally designed for use in dairy barns to increase cow comfort, the technology has since evolved into what you see now– Large commercial ceiling fans (also called HVLS fans) that span greater than 7 feet in diameter and create small, turbulent air streams that quickly disperse and move a significant amount of air.These industrial fans are the best solution for a variety of applications in workplaces such as manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, warehouses, aircraft hangars, malls, gyms, atriums, hockey arenas, indoor swimming pools, and car dealerships.
Adding this type of innovative commercial ceiling fan to your facility is going to bring you a variety of benefits, but three major ones are outlined below.
Keep It Cool – with a fan
Or warm. Commercial fans help balance the temperature in your space by redistributing the air that typically gets trapped at ceiling level.
During the coldest times of the year, hot air is pushed back down to ground level where it is needed. In a process known as destratification, your HVLS energy-saving fan will draw heated air down and mix it with cooler air that settles near the floor.
In the summer months, these industrial ceiling fans blanket a massive area, moving air to create an expansive comfort zone with an evaporative cooling effect of up to 10 degrees. And while fans don’t technically cool the air around you, the circulating air encourages evaporation, which can make people feel several degrees cooler.
These commercial ceiling fans keep your employees cool, comfortable and working at their peak performance.
Control Costs
When you have a workspace that is temperature-regulated, by a HVLS ceiling fan, you will be able to turn your thermostat down and maintain the desired temperature while reducing energy consumption and saving money. A facility manager’s top priority is to keep everything running smoothly and ensuring the environment is right for the supplies, equipment, and employees. Your energy spend can and will be reduced with the implementation of an industrial ceiling fan.
Additionally, the best commercial ceiling fans encourage evaporation while they circulate air which means excessive moisture is controlled and your facility is safer from corrosion and rust which can cause expensive damage.
Protect The Environment
A really, really big reason to consider adding a really, really big industrial fan to your workspace is that along with saving money, and controlling the temperature, your commercial ceiling fan will also help you protect the environment. Industrial ceiling fans can greatly reduce the amount of energy consumed by heating and air conditioning systems. When commercial fans are used in combination with a standard HVAC system, companies generally see a reduction in air conditioning usage. This means the HVAC system is using less energy and in turn, emitting less greenhouse gas thanks to the HVLS ceiling fan.
Large commercial ceiling fans are typically seen as making a bold statement in a building’s design, but all you have to look at is the science behind the big fan to understand that these large fans are more than just for show and more about how they make people feel. Design is being redefined according to the human comfort of the end-user, and now more than ever, design is about helping the clients become more resourceful, resilient, and regenerative. From facilities as large as industrial warehouses to buildings as small as specialty coffee shops, large industrial fans in many shapes and sizes are being utilized—seemingly everywhere—to create environments where people want to gather and thrive.
These large commercial ceiling fans help thermally equalize a space by moving air in the most efficient way possible. The fans use their long airfoil blades to move high volumes of air at low speeds, which provides a balanced airflow without the kind of disruptive air movement that could blow the hat off of your head. The end result is a gentle breeze that circulates the air, improving comfort and indoor air quality. This puts less demand on HVAC systems, reduces moisture, and, most importantly, makes the occupants of a building feel more comfortable.
How Does Air Cooler Work?
Air coolers, also known as evaporative or swamp coolers, cool an atmosphere by evaporating water. As air flows over water, certain particles on the water's surface are carried away. These particles take the heat with them, and this allows the air to cool. This is the main mechanism behind air coolers. Continue reading the article to know more about them.

How Does Air Cooler Work With Water?
Sweating also functions in the same way: the water particles on the skin's surface bring heat away with them as they evaporate, cooling the skin. It is also known that these air coolers are able to make use of 75% less energy as compared to the central air conditioners.
Evaporative coolers come in a variety of styles. A fine mist is sprayed into the air and then whipped out by a fan in some methods. Since the water in this mist is made up of fine droplets, it evaporates easily and absorbs heat from the air. In some other methods, the air is made to blow through a material that has been wetted. It can be blown through a fine mesh or past wet sheets, for example. This wet material then cools as it evaporates, and this in turn cools the air.
Depending on the temperature, the air is only able to retain a certain amount of moisture. When the temperature exceeds that amount, water begins to condense out of the air at the same rate as it evaporates into it, and this leads to effectively preventing evaporative cooling.
How does Air Cooler Work Without Water?
Direct evaporation is used in both residential and industrial state shift coolers, which are described by an inside metal or plastic box with ventilated sides. A centrifugal fan or blower drives the air, and a water pump wets the evaporative cooling pads. Cooling units may be mounted on a building's roof, exterior walls, or windows. The fan draws in near air through vents on the unit's sides and damp pads to keep it cool. Heat in the air evaporates water from the sheets, which are continuously re-dampened to keep the cooling process going.

The Benefits and Application of Steel Pipes
Steel pipes have various advantages for your next industrial or residential project. Steel tubing is used in a variety of industries, from industrial manufacturing to sculpture. One of the applications for steel tube is in plumbing, where it is used to replace traditional plastic pipes with stainless steel pipes. Stainless steel piping is more expensive than plastic piping, but it has a number of advantages over the latter. Steel pipe buyers consider these advantages -
ANTI-STAIN AND ANTI-CORROSION
Corrosion is the number one adversary of metal piping. The exterior of iron, steel and concrete pipework will deteriorate due to soil and UV rays. Other types of piping inside walls appear to rust, become damaged by abrasion, or accumulate debris. However, due to corrosion resistance of stainless steel, this happens rarely. This gives stainless steel an advantage in areas such as sanitary water distribution and hospital applications.
VALUE
When you buy stainless steel 316 pipes, you're getting a durable product that will last for decades. It is a long-lasting substance that is simple to maintain and install. Because of its corrosion-resistant qualities, stainless steel is low-maintenance and unlikely to need to be replaced for decades.
STABILITY AND ADAPTABILITY
Stainless steel can be treated with various elements such as molybdenum, nickel, or nitrogen to improve its corrosion resistance. Stainless steel can endure high temperatures. By adding various materials to stainless steel, thin pipe walls can be achieved, resulting in a lighter finished product that is suited for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications.
ATTRACTIVENESS
Exposed stainless steel pipes and fittings are a good choice for commercial premises because the material is naturally bright and attractive.
ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY
Stainless steel is not a petroleum-based product. Unlike other pipe materials, it does not require any type of coating or lining. When you require disposing of or repairing stainless steel piping, it is 100% recyclable, reducing the environmental impact.
Steel, like iron, has helped building in particular since it is a more practical alternative to other metals. Steel is corrosion-resistant, making it more long-lasting and cost-effective. It also means that, because they can survive them, these pipes can be used in regions that are constantly exposed to the elements.
Steel pipes can be used for a variety of purposes.
DOMESTIC BUSINESS
Stainless steel 304 pipes are a popular choice in many homes since they are more durable, which means you won't have to replace them every few seasons. Any plumber would recommend stainless steel pipe for your tub, tap, and the rest of the structure, especially exposed pipes, because it is more resistant to the elements. They're also thought to be hardier.
INDUSTRY OF MEDICINE
If doctors use it, it must be safe, therefore that's another steel tick. Steel pipes have been utilized for everything in the medical field, including shattered bones, medical equipment, surgical tools, dental treatments, and even pharmaceutical assistance. Steel's versatility is a testament to its durability, protection, and adaptability.
INDUSTRY OF CONSTRUCTION
This is one of the most obvious uses for steel pipes. They are preferred by many construction companies because they are both pliable and sturdy. Steel pipes are utilized as building piles when the soil is too thin to support the weight of big structures. The structure itself, as well as its architectural style, are frequently included. In fact, construction companies are one of the major steel pipe buyers.
Steel pipes are frequently used in the construction of ships, oil refineries, and even space stations, and they are housed in a shipyard. Steel pipes are a good choice for building on the ground, in the ocean, or in space.
How It Works: Ball Valves
A ball valve is a device with a spherical closure unit that provides on-off control of flow.
Ball valves have a spherical closure unit that provides on/off control of flow. The sphere has a port (bore) through the center. When the valve is positioned such that the bore is aligned in the same direction as the pipeline, it is in the open position, and fluid can flow through it. When rotated 90°, the bore becomes perpendicular to the flow path, meaning the valve is closed, and fluid cannot pass through. Ball, butterfly, and plug valves make up the quarter-turn valve family.
The most common ball valve design is two way, which enables flow to linearly travel from the inlet to the exit. Three- and four-way ball valves enable flow to travel in multiple directions, including 90° angles.
Differences in ball movement
Trunnion-mounted ball valves feature additional mechanical anchoring at the top and bottom on the ball. This design makes them suitable for larger-bore and higher-pressure operations as well as reduces valve torque because the ball is supported in two places. The trunnion-mounted stem absorbs the thrust from the line pressure, preventing excess friction between the ball and seats; therefore, at full-rated working pressure, operating torque remains low.
CAMERON T30 Series fully welded ball valves are trunnion mounted. These ball valves deliver maximum strength and resistance to pipeline pressure and stress. Plus, their compact, spherical design also eliminates body flanges, thus reducing overall size and leak paths.
Floating ball valves are attached only to the stem, not held in place by a trunnion. This sometimes causes the ball to float slightly downstream, which then causes the ball to press against the seat, creating a positive seal.
Rising stem ball valves incorporate tilt-and-turn operation, eliminating seal rubbing—one of the primary causes of valve failure. When the valve is closed, the core is wedged against the seat, ensuring positive shutoff. When the valve is open, the core tilts away from the seal, and flow passes uniformly around the core face.
ORBIT rising stem ball valves leverage this operating principle, delivering fast, low-torque operation and long-term, reliable performance. They also eliminate localized high-velocity flow, which can create uneven seat wear in conventional ball, gate, and plug valves.
Differences in bores
Full-port (fullbore) ball valves have a bore internal diameter (ID) approximately equal to the pipeline ID, which reduces friction and pressure loss across the valve and eliminates flow restrictions. This type of bore is ideal when pigging may be necessary.
Reduced-port (reduced-bore) ball valves have bores that are one or two nominal sizes smaller, providing more restricted flow path that generally result in higher energy losses. Available in full and reduced ports, TK trunnion-mounted ball valves feature robust design, superior sealing, and stainless steel overlays. They are widely used in the oil and gas industry’s most severe service applications.
V-port ball valves have a “V”-shaped ball or seat. Also known as control valves, they control flow velocities when the application requires.
How It Works: Gate Valves
Very low friction loss, saving energy and reducing cost of ownership


All valves are designed to stop, allow, or throttle the flow of a process fluid. Gate valves—one of the original valve designs—are ideally suited for on-off, primarily liquid, service. A gate valve functions by lifting a rectangular or circular gate out of the path of the fluid. When the valve is fully open, gate valves are full bore, meaning there is nothing to obstruct the flow because the gate and pipeline diameter have the same opening. This bore diameter also determines the valve size. An advantage of this fullbore design is very low friction loss, which saves energy and reduces total cost of ownership.

Gate and segment
There are four primary designs for gate valves.
Slab gate valves comprise a single gate unit that raises and lowers between two seat rings and are primarily used for transporting crude oil and NGLs. The G4N fabricated gate valve in the GROVE valves portfolio and the WKM Saf-T-Seal slab gate valve are ideal choices for this application.
Expanding gate valves include two units—a gate and segment—in contrast with slab gate valves, which have one unit. The gate and segment units collapse against each other for travel and separate when the valve is fully opened or fully closed to affect a mechanical seal.
Wedge gate valves are engineered with a tapered gate with metal-to-metal sealing. In contrast with a slab or expanding gate valve, wedge gate valves are not piggable because of the void that is left in the bottom of the valve body when the valve is open. These valves do not have a bore through the gate itself; instead, the gate retracts into the valve body when open, which saves height space.
Knife gate valves are used to cut through extremely thick fluids and dry bulk solids. The design of this valve makes it inherently self cleaning because the knife is cleared of abrasives with each stroke as it passes the seat rings and skirts. The gate unit of this type of valve is thin compared with other gate valve types and is guided in place by the water-type body that sandwiches the gate.

How Smart Homes Work
When you're not home, nagging little doubts can start to crowd your mind. Did I turn the coffee maker off? Did I set the security alarm? Are the kids doing their homework or watching television?
With a smart home, you could quiet all of these worries with a quick glance at your smartphone or tablet. You could connect the devices and appliances in your home so they can communicate with each other and with you.
Any device in your home that uses electricity can be put on your home network and at your command. Whether you give that command by voice, remote control, tablet or smartphone, the home reacts. Most applications relate to lighting, home security, home theater and entertainment, and thermostat regulation.
The idea of a smart home might make you think of George Jetson and his futuristic abode or maybe Bill Gates, who spent more than $100 million building his smart home [source: Lev-Ram]. Once a draw for the tech-savvy or the wealthy, smart homes and home automation are becoming more common.
What used to be a quirky industry that churned out hard-to-use and frilly products is finally maturing into a full-blown consumer trend. Instead of start-up companies, more established tech organizations are launching new smart home products. Sales of automation systems could grow to around $9.5 billion by 2015 [source: Berg Insight]. By 2017, that number could balloon to $44 billion [source: CNN].
Much of this is due to the jaw-dropping success of smartphones and tablet computers. These ultra-portable computers are everywhere, and their constant Internet connections means they can be configured to control myriad other online devices. It's all about the Internet of Things.
The Internet of Things is a phrase that refers to the objects and products that are interconnected and identifiable through digital networks. This web-like sprawl of products is getting bigger and better every day. All of the electronics in your home are fair game for this tech revolution, from your fridge to your furnace.
On the next page, we'll take a look at the technology in a smart home.
Smart home hub security
Because smart home devices connect to the internet and communicate wirelessly, they are inherently at risk of attack. There have been several notable smart home hub security events in recent history, including:
In July 2019, researchers at BlackMarble found an issue with Zipato’s ZipaMicro smart hubs where a combination of three security flaws could be exploited to open a smart lock connected to the hub.
In May 2018, researchers from Pen Test Partners found a five-year-old software flaw in the Z-Wave protocol, dubbed Z-Shave, affecting an estimated 100 million chips in smart home devices sold by more than 2,400 vendors. If attacked, hackers could potentially intercept smart lock keys and unlock home doors.
In February 2018, researchers at Kaspersky Lab found vulnerabilities in an unnamed smart home hub that could potentially allow remote attackers to access the server and exfiltrate user data, resulting in a potential takeover of the entire smart home system.
In 2017, Rapid7 researchers found plaintext credentials stored in configuration files in the Android applications used to control the Wink Hub 2 and Insteon Hubs. Unless the phone had strong authentication, full phone encryption or used Android's built-in secure keystores, user data could be lifted from the app.
In 2016, a Cognosec researcher discovered a flaw in the SmartThings Hub that could potentially allow a robber to break into a smart home by opening smart locks and jamming motion sensors.
To prevent security issues within a smart home hub and entire smart home network, it is suggested to use multifactor authentication, change any default usernames or passwords, update software and firmware, and to never share serial numbers, IP addresses or other sensitive network information. The use of antimalware and avoidance of public Wi-Fi are also advised. Segmenting IoT traffic to a guest network is also an option.
What is a smart switch?
You’re probably familiar with those regular old light switches that you fumble for in the dark, but maybe you’re unclear on what a smart switch is. Good news: you’ve come to the right place.
A smart switch is still a light switch, but with advanced features that help automate your home. They resemble traditional switches and plug into the same spaces that traditional outlets are found, except:
They have radio wave capabilities that allow the switches to connect to a nearby wireless network and become part of the Internet of Things. This makes the devices “smart” and gives them an array of capabilities, including app or voice control.
Their design tends to be a bit more complicated. Some may have extra buttons for more specific light control, while others may come with additional sensors or light indicators.
Smart switches provide a solution for upgrading current light switches that you use every day, typically for built-in lights (as opposed to lamps, which are upgraded with smart plugs instead). Smart switches tend to cost around $50: At this price, You may not want or need to upgrade every switch in your house, but there are probably a few light switches that see very frequent use—these would make good candidates for a smart upgrade.
Benefits of using a smart switch
To get a better idea of how smart switches work and whether or not you want one, let’s look at the benefits and features that these switches provide. Note that other smart devices like smart bulbs also offer similar capabilities, but smart switches tend to be the most cost-effective solution if you’re already happy with your bulbs.
App controls: Smart switches often come with their own smart device app, based on the brand. You can download this app and use it to control the connected light from a mobile device. This means you don’t technically have to use the switch at all, although it’s still handy to have. For example, if you’re on vacation, you could turn on your light at home so that people think someone’s home.
Dimming options: Dimming does depend on the bulbs you are controlling, as not all bulbs support dimming, especially CFL bulbs. However, if your lights are compatible, most smart switches provide dimming options to control brightness until you find the levels you want. You do not need to have a dimmer installed on the actual switch on the wall. Advanced versions can automatically change brightness settings throughout the day, so you get lighter as it grows darker outside.
Smart bulb control: You can control both smart bulbs and smart switches remotely, but you can also link them together in interesting ways. Program a smart switch to turn on smart bulbs through your house, and it will manage those bulbs as well as the lights that it is wired to.
Scheduling: Most smart switch apps also allow you to create schedules for your lighting. This is an increasingly common way of saving energy and providing some extra convenience around the house: You can program lights to come up as you are heading home from work, for instance, or set a vacation program that only keeps a couple lights on at night for safety.
Sensors: Not all smart switches have sensors, but many do. The two most common are the motion sensor, which can detect movement and turn on lights automatically (common in office buildings for energy savings), and the touch sensor that’s used as a modern way of turning the light on and controlling the dimmer.
Integration with more advanced setups: Connect your smart switch to a whole ecosystem of smart devices, and you will quickly find that it can interact in a number of useful ways. You can create “scenes” with your lights that include automatic operation of multiple smart devices at one time. For example, you can connect your lights via the switch to a distant motion sensor, and have the lights turn on when motion is detected. Little scenes like these can change the way that you use your lights.
What is a Motion Sensor?
A motion sensor (or motion detector) is an electronic device that is designed to detect and measure movement. Motion sensors are used primarily in home and business security systems, but they can also be found in phones, paper towel dispensers, game consoles, and virtual reality systems. Unlike many other types of sensors (which can be handheld and isolated), motion sensors are typically embedded systems with three major components: a sensor unit, an embedded computer, and hardware (or the mechanical component). These three parts vary in size and configuration, as motion sensors can be customized to perform highly specific functions. For example, motion sensors can be used to activate floodlights, trigger audible alarms, activate switches, and even alert the police. There are two types of motion sensors: active motion sensors and passive motion sensors. Active sensors have both a transmitter and a receiver. This type of sensor detects motion by measuring changes in the amount of sound or radiation reflecting back into the receiver. When an object interrupts or alters the sensor’s field, an electric pulse is sent to the embedded computer, which in turn interacts with the mechanical component. The most common type of active motion detector uses ultrasonic sensor technology; these motion sensors emit sound waves to detect the presence of objects. There are also microwave sensors (which emit microwave radiation), and tomographic sensors (which transmit and receive radio waves).

What Gaming Chairs do Pros Use?
You may wonder if they use these pro gaming chairs for the sole purpose of appeal or if they serve any other purpose as well. TO answer that in brief, they sure serve a purpose beyond fancy looks. Even though these chairs add up to great overall aesthetics, they are beneficial for long hours of gaming, competing in a gaming competition, and daily long streaming sessions as they are designed ergonomically. They reduce the stress your back and arms take so when you game for long hours; your body does not take a toll.

Streamers and professional gamers often have to sit in the same chair for hours every day, and as we all have experienced, we go from a straight sitting position to a reclined one within the first hour. This can cause backache and shoulder pain in the short term; in the long term, it can cause permanent back problems, muscle damage etc. And when your main job is to sit in the same position every day for hours, like that of streamers, then it can start affecting your body pretty quickly.
A good seat is a racing essential, but there is a lot to know if you want to pick the right seat. This buyer’s guide is meant to help you get started, answering your questions to make sure you are making the right purchase. There are a lot of options, after all, and in the end, you need to make sure you’re asking yourself the right questions.
The chair has 20 years of innovation put behind it, making it one of the most comfortable. It has refined tilt mechanism, adjustable Posture Fit SL, and 8Z Pellicle suspension. You have 3D armrest support for your arms. Aeron is not a one size fit all, so it comes in three different sizes.

One thing you might notice is that it does not have lumbar support, that is because the ergonomics are so advanced that you don’t need one. It does not come with all flashy racing colors but with a mesh on the back which makes long hours of sitting comfortably on your back as well as skin. So, if you are someone who likes to keep their set up minimal and but does not like to give up on comfort, then Aeron is the chair for you. Check our detailed Herman Miller Aeron Review before deciding if it’s best for you.
If you have more questions about racing seats that haven’t been addressed, feel free to comment, and we’ll add your answer to this guide when we can.
When and why is a racing seat recommended?
A racing seat is recommended in a track setting, particularly in a car that isn’t used on the road. Any dedicated racecar should be fitted with a racing seat. A racing seat is meant to hold the driver in place. This increases driver control, providing a better grip on the steering wheel and better foot placement on the pedals. Better driver control means faster laps.
Racing seats are about safety. They are meant to protect you in the event of a crash. A good racing seat can prevent or lessen injuries, and even save your life. Sanctioning bodies require specific standards when it comes to the racing seat you use in your car for just this reason.
In many instances, racing seats also have the added benefit of weight savings.
What features are most important when choosing a seat?
First and foremost, you want the seat to comply with the rules and regulations of your track or sanctioning body. Make sure you know the rules and choose a seat accordingly. The type of racing you’re doing will dictate what type of seat you choose. Pick a seat with the proper support, good construction, and keep in mind any driver needs.
Just as with helmets, and racing suits, certification is important. Look for FIA or SFI approved seats to make sure they’re up to the standards of safety for the type of racing you’re doing.

What Are the Different Types of Forklift Seats?
There are several different types of forklift seats available as direct factory replacements or as upgraded seating. They include ultra-soft forklift seats designed for comfort and tilt-up models that offer little in cushioning, but plenty in the ability to tilt up to remove rainwater from the seat. Many models and styles of forklift seats are similar to other models, with only a small differentiating feature of the seat to differentiate the seat from others. Some seats offer leg and shoulder protection in the event of a rollover, while others provide high-back neck and head protection.One of the most uncomfortable features of the forklift, for many operators, is the seat. Many of the original forklift seats are manufactured from very hard foam to increase the seat's durability, and sitting on this type of seat for an extended period of time can be very uncomfortable. Replacing hard forklift seats with softer versions can not only increase employee morale, it can reduce injuries related to the unforgiving nature of the stock seat materials. Even the slightest bump can be transmitted through the hard seat and into the hips and spine of the operator, creating sore spots and injuries.Some forklift seats are available on a swiveling base to allow the operator to get on and off of the machine without twisting the torso, which can result in injury. The use of swiveling seats can also eliminate the possibility of banging the operators' knees into the steering gear and creating injuries. Choosing forklift seats that have adjustable tracks under the seat can provide comfort options for different-sized operators. This can also convert into better control and better operation of the forklift by placing the operator in a more comfortable seating position to the steering wheel, foot pedals and other mast controls.Seats equipped with armrests can also offer the operator a more comfortable operating posture. The arm rests can be used to place an inventory sheet on as the operator fills a specific order. When used in cold climates, electrically heated seating can often allow an operator to work much longer between breaks, thereby increasing the productivity of the operator during a typical shift. No matter the reason for changing forklift seats, the ultimate goal is often to provide a more comfortable machine for an operator to work from. This equates to less down time due to poor blood circulation in the legs and feet, as well as increased safety by allowing the operator to have better visibility from a seat that can be appropriately adjusted to suit her.
Integration of semi-active devices in Automotive Seating System (ASS) with intelligent control policies help attenuation of the vibration transmitted to the occupant. The current work investigates the effectiveness of a semi-active magnetorheological (MR) damper with ASS for a quarter car model with the application of suitable control algorithms. The system controller calculates the desired damping force using proportional integral derivative (PID), skyhook on/off, PID tuned using genetic algorithm (GA), skyhook continuous and modified skyhook controllers. The signum function damper controller estimates the command voltage required for tracking the desired damping force. The displacement and acceleration of the passive seat system was compared with the semi-active seat suspension system in time and frequency domains. The results from the frequency domain shows that the lowest resonance peaks for the seat system can be achieved using the modified skyhook control policy. The effectiveness of the modified skyhook controller is evaluated in terms of peak to peak (PTP) acceleration, root mean square (RMS) acceleration, frequency weighted RMS acceleration, seat effective amplitude transmissibility (SEAT), vibration dose value (VDV) and crest factor (CF) for enhancing the ride quality. The modified skyhook controller can dissipate the energy better than the passive system. The modified skyhook controller increased the occupant ride quality of SEAT, VDV and CF by 30.41%, 52.84% and 11.62% on account of small bump excitation and 31.76%, 53.27% and 11.02% on account of large bump excitation compared with passive system. The modified skyhook control policy attenuates the vibration better than other control policies addressed in this paper. ? 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

The most common type of fabric used in homecare equipment is nylon, since it is slightly less expensive than vinyl, especially when purchased as replacement upholstery.

Nylon, a synthetic fabric, is somewhat porous, and offers breathability when a patient sits. It is used commonly on ultralight, lightweight and rehab wheelchairs that are usually more expensive overall than standard wheelchairs, due to its porous nature.
Nylon takes longer to reach maximum body heat reflection, thus insulating the user better than vinyl.
A downside is that nylon is harder to clean. Because it is so porous, it absorbs more liquids like body fluids, which it almost permanently retains. This translates into more frequent upholstery replacement depending on the continence needs of the user, or other issues.
Vinyl: Here’s What You Should Know
Vinyl is also a synthetic material. It was created to simulate leather. That’s why it is also known by another nickname: leatherette. Vinyl is a non-woven material that is normally used in hospital settings.
It is non-breathable since it is not porous. As a result, it tends to be warmer than nylon, causing patient perspiration, since it does not allow airflow or ventilation.
Vinyl, a slightly more expensive material than nylon, is used for almost all standard wheelchair upholstery. Colors vary by manufacturer, with black and navy blue the most common. Vinyl upholstery comes in a much broader color range than nylon.
Health Considerations to Keep in Mind
As people age, they lose skin collagen and elastin, decreasing the skin’s tensile strength and making it more susceptible to tears or wounds. Also, this contributes to circulatory issues like the advance of vascular atrophy. If an individual uses a wheelchair for most of their mobility needs, they will have a tendency to develop pressure ulcers due to skin deterioration or muscle loss and pressure on extremities.
All of these issues should be points of discussion with a medical professional in the decision process for what type of wheelchair seat to get, along with the type of upholstery material used on the wheelchair.
Caring for Your Graham-Field Wheelchair
Normal wear and tear will cause all seat and back upholstery to stretch on a wheelchair. Room temperature does not affect nylon, so it takes longer to stretch than vinyl does. Vinyl is affected by temperature changes, and with normal wear and tear, vinyl seat and back upholstery will tend to stretch naturally, and much faster than nylon does.
The most important decision factor in choosing your wheelchair’s upholstery, though, is how easy the fabric is to clean and maintain from a hygiene standpoint.

Understanding the role of inductors in power electronics

Inductors are typically used as energy storage devices in switched-mode power devices to produce DC current. The inductor, which stores energy, supplies energy to the circuit to maintain current flow during “off” switching periods, thus enabling topographies where output voltage exceeds input voltage.
Due to the way they work—by not only altering electric field but the magnetic field around it—many people struggle to understand them.
What is an inductor?
An inductor is arguably the simplest of all electronic components. It’s a passive two-terminal electrical component that stores energy in a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. Typically, an inductor will consist of an insulated wire that’s wound into a coil, much like a resistor. This design was settled on following extensive trial and error methods that considered methods like Hanna curves and area-product.
When the current flowing through the coil changes, the time-varying magnetic field induces voltage in the conductor with a polarity which opposes the change in current that created it. As such, inductors oppose any changes in current that pass through them.
The induced magnetic field also induces an electrical property known as inductance—the ratio of voltage to the rate of change of current. Inductance quantifies how much energy an inductor is capable of storing.
Inductor design and key components
The design of an inductor is governed by electrical, mechanical, and thermal requirements of a given application. In general, it involves:
Selecting the core material
Deciding a core shape and size
Selecting a winding wire
The core material is an enamel-coated magnetic wire typically made of copper which is then coated in layers of insulating polymer material. The winding can form many shapes, including circular, rectangular foil, and square cross-section. A magnetic wire is chosen to confine and guide the magnetic fields, and this is insulated to prevent problems like short circuits and breakdowns.
The different types of inductor
Different applications require different types of inductor. In almost all cases, you’ll find that an inductor in a system is formed around a core material—generally iron or iron compounds—to support the creation of a strong magnetic field.
Iron core inductors
Iron is the classic and most recognizable magnetic material, making it the perfect choice for use in inductors. As above, iron in inductors takes the form of an iron core. They are typically used for low frequency line filtering due to their relatively large inductances. They are also used a lot in audio equipment. Inductors don’t always need to have an iron core, though.
Air core inductors
As the name suggests, air core inductors have no core—the core is open air. Since air has a low permeability, the inductance of air core inductors is very low. This means that the rate of current rise is relatively fast for an applied voltage, making them capable of handling high frequencies found in applications like RF circuits.
Ferrite core inductors
A ferrite is a ceramic material made by mixing and firing iron(III) oxide blended with small amounts of one or more additional metallic elements, such as nickel and zinc. When used in inductors, ferrite powder is mixed with an epoxy resin and molded to form a core around which a magnetic wire can be wound. Ferrite inductors are the most widely used type as it’s possible to finely control their permeability by tuning the ratio of ferrite to epoxy.
power inductors
A coil is a generic name for an electrode in the shape of a spiral. Among the different types of coils, there are coils called “inductors” which are used for electrical applications. Inductors can be further categorized into RF inductors used for signal processing, and power inductors for power supply lines. The power inductors discussed in this section form part of the voltage conversion circuit in a DC-DC converter or other device.
Here we will explain the operation of a power inductor in a DC-DC converter. A power inductor is used in a step-up, step-down, or step-up/step-down circuit to convert a certain voltage to the required voltage. Among those different circuits, it is primarily used in a type of circuit called a “switching regulator.”
Figure 1-1 shows an example of a switching regulator step-down circuit.
It uses an IC, power inductor, and capacitor to convert a DC input voltage to the required output voltage. The power inductor works with the capacitor to play the role of rectifying the rectangular wave output from the IC to a direct current.
If either one of these components is missing, the output cannot be properly rectified.
What is a transformer?
A transformer is a device that transfers electric energy from one alternating-current circuit to one or more other circuits, either increasing (stepping up) or reducing (stepping down) the voltage.
Where are transformers used?
Transformers are employed for widely varying purposes. For example, a transformer is often used to reduce the voltage of conventional power circuits to operate low-voltage devices and to raise the voltage from electric generators so that electric power can be transmitted over long distances.
Why is the iron core of a transformer laminated?
The iron core of a transformer is laminated to reduce eddy currents. Eddy currents are the small currents that result from the changing magnetic field created by the alternating current in the first coil. They need to be minimized so they won’t disturb the flow of electricity from the primary coil to the secondary coil.

transformer, device that transfers electric energy from one alternating-current circuit to one or more other circuits, either increasing (stepping up) or reducing (stepping down) the voltage. Transformers are employed for widely varying purposes; e.g., to reduce the voltage of conventional power circuits to operate low-voltage devices, such as doorbells and toy electric trains, and to raise the voltage from electric generators so that electric power can be transmitted over long distances.
Transformers change voltage through electromagnetic induction; i.e., as the magnetic lines of force (flux lines) build up and collapse with the changes in current passing through the primary coil, current is induced in another coil, called the secondary. The secondary voltage is calculated by multiplying the primary voltage by the ratio of the number of turns in the secondary coil to the number of turns in the primary coil, a quantity called the turns ratio.

Operation
Current transformers are unique because they usually have only one winding. The primary is connected to the line load in series. When the primary has a high current rating, the primary winding may be a straight conductor that runs through the magnetic circuit's center. This straight conductor indicates a one-turn winding. 
When the primary has a low current rating, the primary winding may consist of several turns wrapped around the core. This provides the required flux on low-current applications or to compensate for line drop to a power meter.
The secondary consists of many turns of wire wrapped around a core. The number of turns is determined by the desired turns ratio of the current transformer. The primary current of a current transformer is not controlled by the secondary, as it would be in a two-winding potential transformer. The secondary of a current transformer cannot affect the current in the primary, as the load on the feeder determines the primary current.
When the primary circuit is energized, the secondary of a current transformer must never be left open. When the circuit is operational, the load on the secondary maintains low magnetizing currents and thus low turn-to-turn potentials. When the secondary becomes an open circuit, the magnetizing currents rise, and the current transformer acts as a step-up potential transformer. The voltage can rise to a destructive level and cause a short between the turns as the result of the degradation of the insulation. Therefore, a current transformer should always have its secondary shorted when not connected to an external load.
What is a High Voltage Transformer?
A high voltage transformer is a type of transformer that operates at a high voltage level. High voltage transformers are normally used in high voltage labs for testing purposes. These high voltage transformers are subjected to transient voltages and surges during their normal operation when the insulation under test breaks down.
To withstand these impulse voltages, the insulation of these transformers must be carefully designed. These are usually single-phase core-type transformers.
This type of transformer is generally oil immersed. Bakelite sheets are used for separating high tension and low tension windings. The high voltage transformers used for HV cable testing also need to supply sufficient electric current.
This can generate a lot of heat, and as such the cooling system of these transformers is very carefully designed. Special care also needs to be taken to ensure proper transformer voltage regulation.
For insulator testing purposes, the required current is very less but, while the insulator breaks down during testing, there would flow huge current through the transformer. To limit this current, a high resistance is connected in series with transformer.

The Leather Knife Roll Designed by a Chef
You can tell a lot about a chef from their knife roll. Unfortunately, from what we hear often, finding a high quality knife roll to protect chefs’ knives doesn’t seem like such an easy task. That’s probably why this beautiful leather knife roll has got so many chefs excited.
Called the “perfect storage tool” by Food & Wine, the beautiful piece of kit is part of a collaboration between an award-winning chef, an artisan blacksmith and some outdoor gear craftsmen.
“Durability, balance and comfort” were the three key attributes that chef Chris Hastings (Hot and Hot Fish Club and OvenBird) looked to incorporate in the leather knife roll, and working together with Radcliffe Menge, the founder of Tom Beckbe, Alabama-based outdoor apparel company, they came up with the perfect piece of gear for professional chefs.
It comes in a full-grain vegetable tanned leather that is durable and elegant, and it is functional with space for 18 knives and eight additional pieces of hardware. Adjustable shoulder straps make this high quality roll bag comfortable and ergonomic.
The key feature of the knife roll is that it is balanced – knives are placed on both sides so the blades cross over one another in opposing pockets. A three-part interior flap system and two exterior belts make sure knives are secure.If you want to fill up your new leather knife roll with a set of equally good-looking knives - and have US$2,499 to spare - check out the limited edition chef knives also available on their website. Hastings and Menge teamed up with Will Manning, the blacksmith of Tennessee knife brand Heartwood Forge, who created the set that includes three knives - an elongated paring knife, a traditional chef’s knife and a cleaver-like knife that Menge calls the Butcher’s Haste.
Most slitter blades feature a beveled edge for optimal cutting power. A beveled edge allows a blade to slit material instead of creating standard cuts. When a slitting knife has the primary purpose of making punctures, it will have teeth. These teeth create smaller slits in progression, such as the ones found on tear-off paper products. Our sales engineers can help you determine which blade solution will work best for your application.
At York Saw & Knife, we manufacture all of our slitter blades in-house. As an original equipment manufacturer, you’ll appreciate our competitive prices and fast turnaround times that allow you to maximize your profits. If you get our blades as an end-user, we will listen to your needs to design a personalized solution. We consider your business goals our business goals.
APPLICATIONS FOR OUR SLITTER BLADES
Our slitter blades can slit a wide range of materials, including:
Paper: A slitting blade can create slits and perforations in paper for a variety of purposes. For example, a toothed slitter blade can create a tear-off line for tear-away paper products.
Corrugated products: Corrugated products such as fiberboard and cardboard need high-quality blades for the best cutting results. Our expertly made slitting knives can create slits in these materials while keeping their edge.
Food and meats: Slitting knives can slice and score a variety of food products. We can develop custom blades for applications like meat slicing and processing.
Foil and film: Our precision slitting blades have the sharpness needed to smoothly slit foil. You can also request a custom blade for slitting other delicate materials like film.
Textiles: Fabric requires a sturdy blade that retains its edge throughout regular cutting operations. Our team develops custom slitting blades for textiles that achieve the cuts you need.
Plastics: We can design slitting knives suitable for plastics of various thicknesses and compositions. Their sharpness and durability allow you to work with a wide range of synthetic materials.
And more
This list includes just a few of the possible applications for slitting knives. Thanks to our versatile capabilities, you can specify a slitting blade design for a variety of uses.
Long blade knives
In this article, we will introduce you to knives that have a blade length of at least 20 centimetres. It is obvious that long blades are particularly well-suited to larger ingre-dients, but these knives excel in different areas too, as you will find out:
Super Slicer: the cut-anything knife
There are some ingredients that demand a truly exceptional knife: the tough skin of a pineapple, for example, or the stalk of an artichoke. And the Super Slicer can easily handle both: the convex, outwardly shaped serrations of the blade ensure pow-erful and clean cuts - even with very fibrous, tough foods.
Salmon knife: sharp and flexible
Granted, there isn’t always a suitable knife for every possible situation. But, if you have a whole salmon in front of you, or at least half of one, you'll love this blade. The Salmon knife is very long, sharp and flexible, so you don't tear the fine flesh of the fish and you can cut wafer-thin slices.
Ham knife: also suitable as a carving knife
Of course we have the right speciality knife in our range when it comes to smaller hams. Thanks to its long, narrow blade, the Ham knife is also suitable as a carving knife, as you can use it to carve up roasts, hams or poultry – whether raw or cooked – very efficiently.
How to choose the suitable material for cutting knife blade of industrial shredders
Shredder blade is a kind of cutter that is equipped on industrial shredder or granulator. They are machines for crushing waste materials like rubber, tires, wood, paper, polymers, plastic, textiles and so forth. As we all know, industrial waste shredders are playing a critical role in the recycling industry. For one thing, they can save a lot of storage space. Data indicates a shredder can reduce the total volume of processed industrial waste by 30%-50% on average. For another thing, shredders optimize the value of industrial wastes by forming them into granule reaching a recyclable level.
As space is limited, we only pay attention to the cutter part of a shredder. Many variables to affect shredder cutter’s efficiency, such as cutting angle, numbers of knives, cutting velocity, chip load, etc. Above all, A primary factor is If the cutter material is suitable to deal with the industrial waste. That’s always the first thing on your concern.
Materials of shredder cutter out there vary, so do the materials of industrial waste, too.
Common trash wood includes cardboard, paper, solid wood, and plywood board. For brittle wood, such as branches, twig, cardboard, SK5 is a practical and economical option. The steel is a kind of carbon tool steel with nice resistance to wear, but poor plasticity and hardenability. SK5 is often used to make woodworking knives, and sample-sized dies. Its performance is not super outstanding, which results in its cheaper price, compared with other types of wood-processed steels.
However, for high-strength trash wood, such as stumps, plywood boards, and discarded furniture, SK5 is not competent. We’d turn to use high manganese steel, accordingly. High manganese steel is generally used to make a smashing hammer in mining and architecture industry. Its metal hardened depth can reach 10mm-20mm and remain as hard as HB500-550. When working at a high torque, the manganese steel will not be easily deformed or even broken like SK5. In addition to this, the high manganese steel is more affordable, compared with other alloy carbon steel.
2.For shredding plastic
In the plastic industry collectors and recyclers started their business pretty late compared to areas of scrap wood and paper&cardboard. Trash plastic can be generally a huge blend with at least the same amount of possible additives and fillers. They contain not only lower grade plastic but also high-value ones. Thus we need to recognize which type of plastic is in the input mixture.
The principle of the crusher blade is to use a set of running knives to smash the target (pulverized material). When the target (pulverized material) is broken by the crusher blade, the blade is gradually worn out.
There are many applications at different industries which are using crusher knives . Therefore, Jiuli Knives will base on the client's application to select the right material to produce the crusher blade, and it will influence the wear resistance and toughness of the crusher knife to be optimized, the product life of the blade to be increased, the pulverizing ability to be maximized and the thickness of the pulverized powder is uniform.
The slitter rewinder blades are mainly applied to rewinders for slitting of tissue paper. The quality of rewinder blades directly affect the production quality and efficiency. Seton developed circular tungsten carbide and inlay carbide rewinder blades to improve customers' use effect and blades' service life.
As for the selection of cutting tool materials, we can make recommendation according to customers' cutting materials, so as to ensure that customers can use the appropriate knives during production. The common specifications of blades may be not suitable for your machines, and if needed, please send us the samples or drawings. We will manufacture strictly in accordance with the design precision.

Benefits of CNG

Environmentally Friendly, Reduced maintenance cost, CNG Produces significantly less Pollutants than petrol/diesel, natural gas is cheaper & safer than Petrol/diesel, Green fuel.

Greenfuel:
Commonly referred to as the green fuel because of its lead and sulphur free character, CNG reduces harmful emissions thus reducing the effect of global warming. Being non-corrosive, it enhances the longevity of spark plugs. Due to the absence of any lead or benzene content in CNG, the lead fouling of spark plugs, and lead or benzene pollution are eliminated.

Safety:
CNG is less likely to auto-ignite on hot surfaces, since it has a high auto-ignition temperature (540 degrees centigrade) and a narrow range (5%-15%) of in flammability. It means that if CNG concentration in the air is below 5% or above 15%, it will not burn. This high ignition temperature and limited flammability range makes accidental ignition or combustion very unlikely.

Low operational cost:
The operational cost of vehicles running on CNG, as compared to those running on other fuels, is significantly low. At the prevailing price of fuel in Delhi, Operational cost of CNG vehicles is 66% lower than petrol and 28% lower than diesel.

Increased life of oils:
Another practical advantage observed is the increased life of lubricating oils, as CNG does not contaminate and dilute the crankcase oil.

Mixes evenly in air:
Being a gaseous fuel CNG mixes in the air easily and evenly.

Economical:
a) Easy on the pocket.
b) CNG delivers high performance at low cost, as it gives your vehicle a better mileage.
c)CNG does not contaminate or dilute crank case oil, giving engine an extended life.
Eco friendly:
a) The use of CNG significantly reduces harmful vehicular exhaust gas emissions like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other suspended particles.
b) It protects the environment by reducing the effects of global warming.
c) Non –toxic, non-corrosive, non-carcinogenic and hence improves public health.

Safe &Reliable:
a) CNG is lighter than air and hence disperses quickly without any dangerous accumulation.
b) CNG has a narrow flammability range making it much safer than other fuels.
c) CNG has a higher ignition temperature than other fuels, reducing chances of accidental and spontaneous ignition.

It matters how the electricity is made
Broadly speaking, most electric cars sold today tend to produce significantly fewer planet-warming emissions than most cars fueled with gasoline. But a lot depends on how much coal is being burned to charge up those plug-in vehicles. And electric grids still need to get much, much cleaner before electric vehicles are truly emissions free.
One way to compare the climate impacts of different vehicle models is with this interactive online tool by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who tried to incorporate all the relevant factors: the emissions involved in manufacturing the cars and in producing gasoline and diesel fuel, how much gasoline conventional cars burn, and where the electricity to charge electric vehicles comes from.
If you assume electric vehicles are drawing their power from the average grid in the United States, which typically includes a mix of fossil fuel and renewable power plants, then they’re almost always much greener than conventional cars. Even though electric vehicles are more emissions-intensive to make because of their batteries, their electric motors are more efficient than traditional internal combustion engines that burn fossil fuels.
Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) can offer an array of economic and environmental benefits to California residents. These may include the economic benefits of a low-cost, domestic fuel, developing a market for green jobs, improving regional air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing our dependence on petroleum and providing a pathway to a hydrogen economy.
Environmental Benefits
Natural gas vehicles can have an immediate and positive impact on the issues of air quality, U.S. energy security and public health. Here are some key benefits of using natural gas as a transportation fuel.
NGVs are Clean
NGVs are some of the cleanest vehicles in commercial production today, and produce only 5-10 percent of the emissions allowable, even by today's most stringent standards. NGVs produce 20-30 percent less greenhouse gases than gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles.
Overall, natural gas is one of the cleanest burning alternative fuels available today. NGVs can reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and reactive hydrocarbons which form ground-level ozone, the principal ingredient of smog, by as much as 95 percent. NGVs can also reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by as much as 30 percent, carbon monoxide (CO) by 85 percent and carcinogenic particulate emissions by 99 percent.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in place of gasoline or diesel can help reduce greenhouse gases.
A 2008 "well to wheels" analysis conducted by TIAX, LLC concludes that natural gas offers up to a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for light-duty vehicles, and as much as a 23 percent reduction for medium- to heavy-duty vehicles, when compared with gasoline and diesel. The chart below shows the amount of C02 that has been displaced since 1999 by SoCalGas? customers using vehicles powered by CNG instead of diesel. In 2008 alone, that number was almost 229,000 metric tons of CO2!
Clearly, NGVs present one of the cleanest choices for today and tomorrow.
Concept of LNG
LNG is a natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4) that has been converted to liquid form for ease of storage or transport. After being liquefied, it takes up about 1/600 the volume of natural gas in the gaseous state and about 45% the weight of water in equal volume. As a cleaner energy, natural gas is increasingly favored. LNG is proposed to be the prior choice of alternative fuels in many countries, for example, United States, Canada, Europe, and China. As a result, the ratio of natural gas in energy supply increases rapidly. While compressed natural gas (CNG) is just suitable for light-duty vehicles, LNG can be used in road transport, such as heavy-duty trucks and buses. In China, CNG buses and LNG buses were introduced into the bus fleet in Beijing in 1999 and 2012, respectively. After that, more and more cities in China have swift some diesel buses to LNG buses, for example, Guangzhou, Xiamen, and Shenzhen. Heavy-duty vehicle, whose total mass is 14 tons or more, is the main object of promoting LNG vehicles in Shenzhen road freight. Different from light-duty vehicle using diverse fuel (e.g. gasoline, diesel, CNG, and electric), heavy-duty vehicle uses diesel or LNG because the fuel’s energy density must be high enough to meet its power requirement. There are three main types of LNG heavy-duty vehicles in Shenzhen, namely, container tractors, engineering dump trucks, and engineering mixers.
LNG supply safety
The main sources of LNG supplied to Shenzhen include foreign imports and provincial imports. The former is mainly from Australia, Malaysia, and so on. The latter is the Second West-East Gas Pipeline Project, supplying natural gas of about 40?billion m3/year for Shenzhen. Natural gas is transported through pipeline in gaseous state, so it needs complex liquefaction process involving removal of certain components, for example, dust, acid gases, helium, and water. Besides, a small amount of LNG is transported to Shenzhen by cargo transport containers from Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and other gas fields. In addition, the contract of Russia’s gas project was signed. A diversity of LNG source markets appear.
Shenzhen has the largest number and the biggest LNG terminals in China. After all of the terminals have become fully operational, the supply capacity of LNG will greatly exceed 11?million tons/year, accounting for around 55% of that in Guangdong province. Along with picking up LNG at adjacent cities, LNG supply is totally guaranteed.
LNG fueling stations
The number of LNG fueling stations is still not enough in Shenzhen. Besides, the layout of LNG fueling stations is unreasonable. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Shenzhen Gas Co., Ltd is one of the largest automotive LNG suppliers. By the end of 2015, it had built 17 LNG fueling stations distributed at 6 districts, such as Nanshan, Baoan, Longgang, Yantian, Guangming, and Longhua . At present, nine of them have been put into use. Their clients include buses, coaches, container tractors, dump trucks, and engineering mixers. It just takes 3?min to refill a gas tank of LNG vehicle, which is shorter than refilling diesel to a diesel vehicle due to the high pressure of gas dispenser.
Due to the raising economy development of Shenzhen, environmental problems brought by road transport have become more serious. Promoting liquefied natural gas vehicle in the road freight is a key to reduce emissions, change the direction for road freight development, and build a resource-saving society. This article studies the application of liquefied natural gas vehicle in Shenzhen in-depth through official data sets, field investigation, expert consultation, and so on. Economic benefit analysis shows that liquefied natural gas vehicle has the advantage of saving considerable fuel costs for enterprises. Moreover, the Monte-Carlo method is used to evaluate the economic benefits considering a lot of factors. The economic analysis shows that the liquefied natural gas vehicle is more affordable than the diesel vehicle. Finally, the current issues of liquefied natural gas vehicles on the promotion are discussed and some advices are proposed to improve air quality and reduce emissions.

Good’s buffers as a basis for developing self-buffering and biocompatible ionic liquids
Every day scientists in laboratories across the world sit at their desks and painstakingly design experiments in the hope of making a discovery that will change how we think about a biological process. Because biological processes such as enzymatic activity are dependent on pH, one critical aspect of the experimental design is choosing a buffering system that will help maintain a stable pH without altering the results.

And, often, it is the choice of buffer that makes or breaks the experiment. It is possible that the buffer you are using in your lab might be the reason your experiment is failing. Here, you will find how a buffering system works, a description of the characteristics of a good buffer and a list of possible applications and characteristics of the most commonly used biological buffer series.

A buffer consists of a weak acid (proton donor, HA) and its conjugate base (proton acceptor, A -). In water, HA can dissociate into A- and H+. H+ then reacts with water to form H3O+. In the aqueous buffer solution, H3O+, HA and H+ exist in equilibrium with each other. The buffering mechanism consists of two reversible reactions where the concentration of proton donor and proton acceptor are equal.

Then, when a strong acid or base is introduced into this system by the scientist or by enzymatic activity during the experiment, the new ions from the introduced acid or base (H + or OH-) are absorbed by the buffer and the pH remains stable preventing changes in protein structure and function.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are frequently used in biomedical applications due to their magnetic properties and putative chemical stability. Nevertheless, their well-known ability to mimic some features of the peroxidase enzyme activity under specific conditions of pH and temperature could lead to the formation of potentially harmful free radical species. In addition to the intrinsic enzyme-like activity of IONPs, the buffer solution is an important external factor that can alter dramatically the IONP activity because the buffer species can interact with the surface of the particles. In our study, IONP activity was evaluated in different buffering solutions under different experimental conditions and predominant free radical species were measured by electron paramagnetic resonance using the spin-trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). The formation kinetics of the reactive oxygen species were studied by UV-visible spectroscopy with TMB and DAB peroxidase substrates. We found that the highest catalytic oxidation of peroxidase substrates and free radical generation were achieved in acetate buffer, while phosphate buffer inhibited the peroxidase-like activity of IONPs in a concentration dependent manner. When emulating the physiological conditions, a lower catalytic activity was observed at pH 7.4 when compared to that at pH 5.0. Also, in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), we observed an enhancement in the peroxidase substrate oxidation rate that was not accompanied by an increase in DMPO/adduct formation which could be related to a non-specific oxidation catalyzed by the chloride ion. Similar observations were found after the addition of a bicarbonate to HEPES buffer. TMB oxidation did not occur when the reaction was conducted with free iron ions from metal salts with the same concentration of the IONPs (0.33 Fe2+ and 0.66 Fe3+). However, we observed even higher catalytic activities than those when doubling the IONP concentration when they are combined with the free iron salts. These results indicate that MOPS Buffer solutions need to be carefully considered when evaluating IONP catalytic activity and their potential toxicological effects since under physiological conditions of pH, salinity and buffering species, the peroxidase-like activity of IONPs is dramatically reduced.

This work reports a promising approach to the development of novel self-buffering and biocompatible ionic liquids for biological research in which the anions are derived from CAPS Buffer (Good’s buffers, GB). Five Good’s buffers (Tricine, TES, CHES, HEPES, and MES) were neutralized with four suitable hydroxide bases (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium, tetramethylammonium, tetraethylammonium, and tetrabutylammonium) producing 20 Good’s buffer ionic liquids (GB-ILs). The presence of the buffering action of the synthesized GB-ILs was ascertained by measuring their pH-profiles in water. Moreover, a series of mixed GB-ILs with wide buffering ranges were formulated as universal buffers. The impact of GB-ILs on bovine serum albumin (BSA), here used as a model protein, is discussed and compared with more conventional ILs using spectroscopic techniques, such as infrared and dynamic light scattering. They appear to display, in general, a greater stabilizing effect on the protein secondary structure than conventional ILs. A molecular docking study was also carried out to investigate on the binding sites of GB-IL ions to BSA. We further used the QSAR-human serum albumin binding model, log K(HSA), to calculate the binding affinity of some conventional ILs/GB-ILs to HSA. The toxicity of the GB and GB-ILs was additionally evaluated revealing that they are non-toxic against Vitro fischeri. Finally, the GB-ILs were also shown to be able to form aqueous biphasic systems when combined with aqueous solutions of inorganic or organic salts, and we tested their extraction capability for BSA. These systems were able to extract BSA with an outstanding extraction efficiency of 100% in a single step for the GB-IL-rich phase, and, as a result, the use of GB-IL-based ABS for the separation and extraction of other added-value biomolecules is highly encouraging and worthy of further investigation.

Room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) have been considered as a new type of non-aqueous solvent for chemical synthesis, biocatalysis, electro-chemical devices, polymerization, engineering fluids, and other purposes. This wide variety of applications is a major result of their unusual and tunable physicochemical properties.1-5 ILs are salts that remain in the liquid state below the boiling point of water (100 °C). They are characterized by a high ionic conductivity, high chemical/thermal stability, non-flammability, and high solubility for a large range of materials. Several studies have shown that some ILs, either pure or in aqueous solution, can increase the stability of biomolecules like proteins, enzymes and DNA, which is expressed in the vast number of manuscripts published in this field.5-9 The cations and anions of biocompatible ILs are usually more complex than common salts, such as NaCl. The IL cations are often nitrogen-based, namely alkylammonium, dialkylimidazolium, alkylpyridinium and alkylpyrrolidinium, or phosphorous-containing compounds, such as the widely employed tetralkylphosphoniums. IL anions can be halides, nitrates, sulfates, alkylsulfates, alkylsulfonates, [BF4]−, [PF6]−, [CH3CO2]−, [CF3CO2]−, [Tf2N]−, and [R2PO4]−, among others.

Proteins remain in their native (folded) state under physiological conditions, whereas their denatured (unfolded) state is induced by thermal or chemical unfolding. The effects of ions on protein folding, enzyme activity, and protein crystallization are typically described by the Hofmeister series.10 Although it has been accepted that salt ions exert their effects indirectly by changing the water structure, recent results have questioned this model and shown that in most cases a direct interaction of the salt ions with the protein is involved.11 A particularly useful aspect of ILs results from the combination between chaotropic cations and kosmotropic anions that were shown previously to stabilize proteins.12 Another important aspect of ILs is that their polarity and hydrophobicity can be tuned by varying the alkyl side-chain length of the cations and by an appropriate selection of the cation core or anion nature. There are several reports showing that the enzyme activity increases with the IL hydrophobicity up to a maximum, and then decreases with a further increase in the IL hydrophobicity.12 In contrast, there are also some conflicting studies reporting a relatively high enzyme stability and activity in hydrophilic ILs.12

Proteins’ stability is strongly affected by the proton activity of the supporting solution and has an optimum pH that can be adjusted by the addition of an appropriate CHAPS Buffer. It is generally accepted that, at appropriate concentrations, hydrophilic ILs tend to, fully or partly, dissociate in aqueous solutions and into ions which form neutral or very weakly basic solutions. Certainly, this pattern is not always true because there are some functionalized ILs that work as Lewis acidic or basic catalysts. Adding a buffer to aqueous IL solutions, when dealing with protein stability, will not provide an adequate pH control since the IL acidity or basicity could swamp the buffer effect. Therefore, it is crucial to look for alternative pH control methods, and in particular in the design of ILs with buffering characteristics. Until now, few studies have reported the synthesis of ILs with buffering action.13-16 Nevertheless, those buffer-like ILs are not recommended for biochemical research because their anions are not inert. A number of criteria are required for a buffer to be used in biological and biochemical studies.17 They must be chemically inert, should not interfere with metal ion-protein binding, must be non-toxic, should not absorb light in the UV-visible region, should be commercially available at a low cost, their pKa values should be between 6.0 and 8.0 and should not vary with temperature, and must present high water solubility and low solubility in organic solvents. Good and his research team have designed MES Buffer (Good’s buffers, GB) that fit these criteria.
To evaluate the potential of these new ionic liquids as buffers in aqueous media their pH profiles have been measured. Fig. 2a shows the pH profiles of the investigated Good’s buffers, namely [N1111][GB]. The remaining profiles for other buffers are shown in Fig. S1 in the ESI.† The GBs display two pKa’s: the first dissociation constant (pKa1) is due to the deprotonation of the carboxylic or sulfonic group, and the second dissociation is due to deprotonation of the protonated amino group (pKa2). The inflection point at high pH of those titration curves is due to the deprotonation/protonation of the amine group of the GB/GB-ILs. The region of moderate slope before the inflection point is the buffer region. In this region, the pH is regulated by the equilibrium between the deprotonated and protonated forms. At the middle of this region, the concentrations of these two species are equal, and thus, according to the Henderson–Hasselbalch equation, the pH will be equal to the pKa2 and the buffering capacity is maximum at this point.

Best tufting machines and what you need to know
An improved carpet tufting machine with a precision drive system for laterally shifting the reciprocating needle bars of the tufting machine across a tufting zone in which tufts of yarn are made in a backing material advanced through the machine beneath the needle bars is disclosed. The precision drive system includes the use of inverse roller screw actuators which may be adapted for driving the several moving components of the tufting machine, to include not only the shifting of the needle bars, but also to reciprocate the needle bars toward and away from the tufting zone, rock the loopers and or knives of the machine, and to laterally shift the backing material in which the tufts of yarn are made with respect to the needles as the backing material advances through the tufting machine.

A plain cut or plain loop tufting machine with an improved pattern yarn feed and distribution device for use in tufting a graphic pattern into the face of a tufted article. An improved pattern yarn feed drive is provided with at least two separate yarn drive control sections which together provide an increased number of controls such that any one control is adapted to drive a predetermined number of tufting yarns selectively passed thereabout for minimizing the length between any one of the tufting yarns and its respective tufting needle. An improved tube bank configuration is used with the pattern yarn drive assembly, and comprises at least two tube bank sections, each of which is also constructed and arranged to minimize the length of the yarns passed therethrough from a respective one of the yarn drive controls to a respective one of the tufting needles. This improved construction minimizes the problems of yarn elasticity and yarn lag when feeding the yarns to the needles of the tufting machine, thus greatly reducing the likelihood of a loss of pattern definition occurring in the graphic pattern being tufted in the face of the tufted article on the tufting machine.

Rug tufting is a unique art in that you can create enormous works with relatively few materials. Once you’ve invested in a good tufting gun, you’ve got nearly everything you need to start tufting!

The problem is, choosing the right tufting gun is difficult. Amazon and other retailers are filled with cheap knock-off tufting guns that break down after your first few rugs.

To help you choose the right tufting gun for you, I put together this comprehensive buyer’s guide. First we’ll cover a few key details you need to know, then we’ll have a look at the best tufting guns, where to buy, and more.

If you’re just looking for a quick recommendation, check out any of the models listed below. They won’t do you wrong!

A tufting gun is a handheld FRS tufting machine used to make rugs. It’s much faster than manual methods like latch hook or punch needle, but a step down from industrial tufting machines for carpet.

Tufting guns have a lot of advantages over other rug making or weaving techniques. As mentioned above, they’re very fast. A medium-sized rug can be knocked out in a few hours.

They’re also relatively affordable. A few hundreds dollars will get you a solid machine, and the only supplies you need are yarn, backing material, and creativity.

Rug tufting has been around for decades, but it’s come back into style recently thanks to social media platforms like TikTok. And I’m all for it!

How does it work?
Tufting guns work very much like a sewing machine. It has a “foot” that rests against the backing material, then a large needle pushes yarn through the material, leaving some on the other side.

Depending on the type of tufting gun you have (or the settings), it will either leave a loop (loop pile) or a strand (cut pile) on the other side. More on that in the section below.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that you can run more than one thread of yarn through the tufting gun at a time. Use creative combinations to make interesting patterns, or just save time by pushing through more threads at once!

Loop pile vs cut pile tufting guns
The biggest decision you need to make before buying a tufting gun is whether or not you want a loop pile or cut pile model. There are some models that can do both (learn more about that below), but they tend to be more expensive and fairly difficult to adjust back and forth.

For beginners though, you should absolutely stick to a simple model.

So how do you know which one to choose? Well, there isn’t really a right answer here.

Both loop pile and cut pile tufting guns are great fun, and both can be used to create incredible pieces. Which one you choose will largely be personal preference.

For me personally, I’d probably lean toward cut pile because I like the feel of the finished rug, but again, that’s just personal preference.

Get inspired with the latest Tiny Workshops tours and interviews!

Best tufting guns
With all that background info out of the way, we can finally get to the main show: which tufting guns to buy and where to buy them!

You’ll find a lot of junk models (especially on Amazon), but I’ve selected four of the best tufting guns that are reliable and easy to use for both beginners and experts alike.

Note that all of the shops linked below sell both the tufting gun separately or a full kit with other tufting supplies. Tuft the World also sells an excellent starter kit, and you can save 15% with the code TINY at checkout!

For beginner tufters, the AK-I is the best tufting gun there is. It’s limited to cut pile tufting, but it remains a popular option because of just how easy it is to use.

This thing is easy to set up and hard to break, both of which are extremely common problems when tufting. Plus, it weighs just 3lbs (1.4kg), whereas other models can weigh five times that. It’s great for long tufting sessions.

The main problem with this model is availability. Most shops take pre-orders, and it can take 3+ months to ship. That’s a long time to wait for a new hobby.

Thankfully, the shop listed below seems to maintain stock. It’s based in New Zealand, but they use express air delivery so you can expect your machine in less than two weeks, no matter where to live.

To make matters better, they offer a variety tufting gun kits, as well. You can get your AK-I cut pile tufting gun with a frame, primary tufting fabric, yarn, or even a second loop-pile tufting machine (the AK-II, listed below).

Another place to buy the AK-I tufting gun is a specialty shop called Tuft the World. They have a variety of tufting supplies on offer, and you can save 15% on your purchase at checkout with the code TINY.

Next up is another single needle table tufting machine from the same manufacturer, but this time it’s aimed at loop-pile tufting.

All of the benefits of the model above still apply here: it’s lightweight, durable, and easy to set up. The only difference between the two is the type of rugs they can create.

However, it also suffers from the same big downside. It can be very difficult to get your hands on, and most shops deliver months after purchase.

Again though, the same New Zealand-based shop mentioned above offers great pricing and shipping times of just over a week. You may be able to find one a bit cheaper, but you won’t find one that’s more convenient! The same kits and bundles are available here, too.

If it’s sold out there, you can also buy this model from Tuft the World. Availability is a bit more limited, but you can still save 15% with the code TINY at checkout.

If you absolutely must have a tufting gun that’s capable of both cut pile and loop pile tufting, the KRD-I is one of the best around.

Featuring an improved design over its predecessor the KD-II, this is an industrial grade artificial turf tufting machine. It supports both 110V and 220V power, with a handy speed control knob to slow it all down when you need to.

However, this isn’t a tufting machine for beginners. Swapping between modes requires some expertise, so it’s best left for intermediate or advanced tufters who know their way around a basic machine.

Like this other models on the list, you can buy this one on Etsy at the link below, or at Tuft the World when it’s in stock. Remember to use the code TINY to save 15%!

Ok, so you’re a relative beginner but you still insist on getting a tufting gun capable of both cut and loop pile tufting?

Well, the AK-III is the model for you.

It has many of the same great design elements of the AK-I and AK-II above, but comes with extra parts and features that make it a combo tufting gun.

Although this model is relatively easy to use, there is one big caveat. This is an industrial-grade pneumatic tufting gun, so to use it you’ll need some kind of compressed air system.

That alone will likely add to your setup costs enormously, and the tufting gun itself is one of the priciest on the market.

Still, it can be a great investment for the truly dedicated tufter with a large budget. Buy it on Etsy at the link below, or from Tuft the World with the discount code TINY.

By last pick for the best tufting guns is the ZQ-II. It’s the older version of the KRD-I listed above, but it’s still a very capable machine.

Again, it’s capable of both cut pile and loop pile work, but it’s considerably heavier and more finicky to set up than the other models on the list.

That said, if you know someone who can show you the ropes, you’ll be tufting away in no time. You also don’t need to invest in an air compression system, which is great for small or residential workspaces.

Learn more at the link below, but be aware that supplies are limited to it may be sold out soon!

It’s a lot less violent than it sounds. Tufting is essentially a type of textile craft — much like embroidery or knitting — that’s traditionally used for making rugs. Hand-tufting has its roots in Persia (or modern-day Iran), where the world’s oldest carpet was found. In ancient Persia, the art of tufting varied between villages, which each developed their own weaving patterns and used different yarn colours and knots for their carpet creations.

Centuries later, the craft would arrive to the US by early settlers who wanted to make warm clothing. The world’s first mechanised tufting machine would be developed in Georgia in the 1930s, making chenille rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting very popular. Hand-tufting would see a revival in the ’50s, before falling into a decline with the prominence of latch-hooking, another way to make rugs, in the’ 70s.

Tufting seemed doomed to remain forgotten in the 21st century, but thanks to artsy (and bored) users on TikTok and Instagram, the craft has made a comeback — at least mechanically. Now everyone wants to pick up a tufting gun and punch yarn through a cloth canvas to create a rug resembling their favourite Marvel / Disney / Studio Ghibli character. It has even stirred a crafting frenzy among couples — what could be more romantic than a session at a rug-making workshop?

Whether you intend to DIY at home or attend that aforementioned workshop for your next date, read on for our guide to tufting in Singapore and discover all you need to know.

To control the yarn vibration in a reasonable range and to improve the quality of tufted carpet, it is very important to understand the vibration characteristics of yarn correctly. The transverse vibration equation of yarn is established using Newton’s second law in different paths, and then the yarn vibration characteristic curves in different regions are obtained. Firstly, the yarn path is divided and the optimal constitutive model of tufted carpet yarn is determined. Secondly, the transverse vibration is built by analyzing the force of yarn means. Then, the partial differential equation of yarn vibration is simplified as an ordinary differential equation by the Galerkin truncation method. The equation is solved numerically by using the Runge–Kutta method, obtaining the yarn amplitude in different regions. The vibration characteristics of the yarns after the jacquard parts are emphatically analyzed, and the effects of the speed, tension and damping coefficient on the vibration characteristics of yarns are also discussed. Finally, the results are verified by experiments.

Blister Machine Features Vacuum System for Reject/Transfer
In the compact TF1pro blister machine, a vacuum arm lifts ‘good’ blisters, precisely lowering them to the transfer actuator. Another key safeguard: an upper seal plate that retracts when web motion stops to prevent unnecessary heat exposure.

Pharmaworks, part of ProMach Pharma Solutions, introduces the TF1pro, the next generation system in its TF1 family of compact ba-600 linear pallet automatic blister card packing machine at PACK EXPO Connects. 

The system is particularly suited to small to moderate batch sizes and clinical trials for pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers and contract packers that frequently changeover. The fully servo-driven blister machine runs up to 100 indexes (200 blisters) per minute.

While smaller systems don’t always have the bells and whistles of high throughput machines, Pharmaworks added many features to maximize product safety and ease of cleaning, while also achieving fast changeovers, accuracy, and versatility.

Ben Brower, director of sales and marketing at Pharmaworks, said, “Two years ago, a large pharmaceutical company approached us and asked us to develop a compact blister machine with the most advanced cGMP features. With their design input, we developed the TF1pro, the only ba-350 turntable automatic blister card packing machine on the market that offers this high level of product safety and sanitation in a small footprint.”

Applications

The system accommodates tablets, capsules, softgels, vials, syringes, liquids, and more. The intermittent-motion TF1pro supports both thermoforming and cold forming applications and runs a wide range of base materials with a standard roll diameter of 500 millimeters, providing twice the production capacity of the ba-600h automatic hf double blister packing machine. The usable forming area is 120 by 165 mm with a depth of 25 mm. Optional product vision inspection and print vision inspection are available, as well as full serialization if needed. 

Processes and parameters, including temperature, pressure, and the timing of each step are PLC-controlled and programmed as a unique recipe in the TF1pro’s large HMI. The TF1pro offers either Rockwell Automation or Beckoff control systems.

Operation

As the base roll unwinds, an optional feature monitors roll diameter and alerts the operator when it's time to add fresh material at the splicing station. Power-driven rollers form a loop in the material, while a sensor ensures that the material loop is in the correct area. This touchless feature helps prevent excess drag on the material, meaning less stretch, saving on costs by allowing the use of small width base rolls.

Next, a splice detector that notifies the operator when there is a splice in the web, allowing the machine to track the splices and automatically reject that section of material.

The company reports that automated adjustment of heating plates, forming tools, and other change parts translates into a 30% reduction in changeover time versus other TF series machines. It features ergonomic components that slide in and lock, including the guide track on the feeding station. The heat area automatically retracts when not in use for operator safety and convenience during changeovers and maintenance. 

Sloped surfaces throughout the system eliminate the chance of cross-contamination from trapped product or debris, which also speeds changeover by simplifying machine cleaning. 

At the heating station, upper and lower plates apply contact heating to the base material. The heating station opens fully during machine stop to remove heat from the material. There are optional burnout detectors to determine that all heating elements are working correctly—these will stop the machine if an issue is detected.  

The warmed material is then indexed to the form station where upper and lower tools create blisters of predetermined shape, size and depth. These are change parts that permit toolless changeover, depending on the blister dimensions needed. 

Driven by a servo motor, the lower tool moves upward during the forming process and this travel can be changed and stored on the HMI to allow the most efficient motion for a given blister size. The blister cavity can be formed with air only or air-plus plug assist (for cavities up to 25 mm deep). 

The TF1pro is available with a wide variety of options, including selective forming that enables specific pockets to be turned on and off within the same tool. Pinhole detection for the lid material and/or the base material is available for cold forming. Additional options include a lid material splice table, a splitter, servo plug assisted cold forming and both helium and nitrogen gas flushing. 

Feeder options

Finished blister cavities are indexed to the feed area, a separate module on the TF1pro that can be tailored to almost any length needed up to twenty-five hundred millimeters. Open access from the front and rear in combination with feed area length allows automatic feed systems to nimbly dock and undock as needed or allow operators to manually fill blister cavities.

Pharmaworks offers several feed systems for its blister packaging machines. The machine on show used the FA1 feeder (also common are the FF1 and FT320) with servo-driven technology to pick and place product into blister cavities. This next generation FA1 feeder is enhanced for more reliable pick motion and features that speed cleanup and enable toolless installation. 

At the feeding stage, product is conveyed across a vibratory sift tray, where dust and debris are removed product is aligned in the feed track. The product populates each groove in the slanted track, enabling gravity to pull the product down the track. The end point of each groove is pre-engineered to match the blister cavity orientation on the web. (When feeding is done manually, operators can work from either side of the machine.) 

Before the blisters arrive at the seal station, the TF1pro’s advanced vision system inspects the product shape and color, and checks for broken or missing product. The vision system logs this information on good and bad blisters into the blister tracking register (BTR). The position of bad blisters on the web is identified, and these products will be rejected later.  

Lidding may be preprinted or printed online with the required lot and date codes. Several third party printers are compatible with the system while a Scanware print vision system checks and logs print quality. 

To ensure consistent and accurate seal integrity a load cell provides real time information on seal pressure. A secondary high-speed sensing system will detect any foreign object between upper and lower seal plates. If an object is detected, the sealing cycle will instantly stop and reverse plate travel. Another safeguard on the TF1pro is a retracting seal plate—if web motion stops, the upper seal plate retracts to the rear so that the web won't be exposed to unnecessary heat. 

Vacuum arm

The blisters are then perforated and die cut by the inverted die punch. The reject/transfer station uses a vacuum arm to lift the “good” blisters onto the outfeed conveyor while “bad” blisters simply drop down into the reject bin, which ensures consistent and accurate ejection. Positioning the die cutter in this way also provides space at the end of the web for direct coupling of a cartoning machine. Blisters can be manually packed as well. 

PACK EXPO Connects continues to bring the industry together in record numbers this week with over 17,000 attendees as of Wednesday. Even after the PACK EXPO Show closes, informative Jumpstart sessions, Innovation Stage presentations, and exhibitor live demos will be available on-demand until March 2021. Be sure to register today so you don't miss out! 

Blister packaging, or blister packs, are pre-formed packaging materials composed of a thermoformed plastic cavity and a pliable lid. In this type of packaging, the product is placed in deep-drawn pockets or cavities resembling a blister. A backing material or lidding mates to the flat area of the plastic cavity enclosing the product inside. Bonding the two structures is a heat-seal coating adhesive. Blister packaging has various types depending on the application. The most popular use of blister packs is packaging pharmaceutical products such as pills, tablets, capsules, and lozenges. Because of its low cost, cheap raw materials, and high operating speed, they are also used for packaging consumer goods such as foods, electronics, toys, and tools. Enumerated below are the benefits of using blister packaging.

“The conversations between Rohrer and Starview have been going on for quite a while,” said Sarah Carson, Head of Marketing at Rohrer. “But in the past year or two the pressure on consumer packaged goods companies to deliver on ambitious sustainable packaging goals by 2025 was increasing considerably, to the point that customer demand started to really ramp up. That included one significant customer who was so serious about the idea that it gave us a powerful business reason to invest in the R&D that it was going to take. Fortunately, we had already established a great partnership with Starview from the machinery side.”

“We had both intended to actually launch this last year at PACK EXPO in Chicago,” said Robert van Gilse, Director of Sales and Marketing at Starview. As we all know, COVID-19 put the kibosh on that plan. But then when customer interest in the concept grew the way that it did, says van Gilse, “We knew it was time to get really serious.”

On the machinery side, a key goal throughout the development process was to come up with tooling that would make it possible for existing customers already running automated Starview bp-260a/e automatic platen alu-pvc alu-alu blister packing machine to get in on the all-paper blister option by simply adding an auxiliary feeder to any one of Starview’s FAB (Fully Automated Blister) Series of machines. With this tooling in place, a flat paper blister is picked from a magazine feed and, thanks to precision scoring done by Rohrer, is erected and made ready to receive whatever product the customer happens to be packaging. Then it’s just a matter of applying the blister card and heat sealing card to blister.

As for the paperboard components that come from Rohrer, at the PACK EXPO booth demo the blister was a 14-point SBS and the blister card was a 20-point SBS. The virgin board is FSC-certified, notes Carson. She also says that Rohrer, a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, worked with that organization to make it possible for customers to easily get permission to use the SPC’s How2Recycle logo on their blister packages.

Printing, meanwhile, is done on an offset press, and both blister and card get an aqueous heat-seal coating. If customers so choose, a window can be die cut into the blister card to provide product visibility. Keep in mind that customers using this all paper blister are producers of products like kitchen gadgets or tooth brushes or pens as opposed to pharmaceutical or healthcare products where such a window would of course be out of the question.

When asked what the All-Paper Blister will cost compared to comparable alternatives, both Carson and van Gilse said there are so many supply chain variables percolating right now that it’s difficult to say.