MechChem Africa June 2019

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Applications for Mentis expanded metal growing

truck bodies to walkways, tunnel linings and garden furniture, the uses are many and varied. Much of the attraction lies in the inherent structural integrity of expanded metal, as the strength is not compromised during the manufacturing process. Another great advantage is that light andair caneasilypass through, creat- ing opportunities for various innovative applications. While themesh is considerably lighter than the equivalent area of steel plate – as the original sheet can be expanded up to ten times – the network of rigid strands adds strength. It is either pro- duced as raised mesh called Mentex ® , or as a flattened mesh known as Flatex ® . Normally manufactured from high qual- ity local mild steel, both the Mentex and Flatex can also be manufactured market. For example, its banded V-belts are ideal for vertical drive shafts, clutching drives, and V-belt drives. These are ideal to minimise vibration and belt whip, especially in heavy-duty shock-load applications. The banded or joined construction prevents rollover and reducesvibrationtendencies.Productivity is maximised by eliminating groove mis- match or belt turnover problems, which are common on driveswith a combination of long belt spans and/or pulsating loads.

from any other ductile metal. These are available in a range of thick- nesses andmesh sizes. ‘Mini meshes’ have openings as small as 1,4mmby2mmand a thickness of 0,4 mm, while larger meshes have openings up to 115 mm by 300 mm openings and a thickness of 6 mm. While expanded metal is normally supplied un- painted, it can be finished with painting, stove enamelling, plating or galvanising. Lance Quinlan, national technical sales consultant at Andrew Mentis, says the application of expanded metal is re- ally limited only by the imagination of the designer or engineer, and the material is widelyused insectors asdiverseasmining, construction and food. Expanded metal has even been used in the building of grain silos, and for decorative purposes. www.mentis.co.za

With almost 70 years of experience in the manufacture of expandedmetal products, Andrew Mentis has been supplying a growing range of applications using this high quality and versatile material. From screens, grates, scaffolding and

Mentis expanded metal provides screening from harsh sunlight without obstructing light.

BI set to add ContiTech belts to its extensive range

Bearings International (BI) is set to add to its extensive basket of premium brands and world-class products following a visit by theContiTechPower Transmission Group todiscuss a local distributionagree- ment for its belt products for industrial and heavy-duty applications. The ContiTech Power Transmission Group develops and manufactures drive belts, matched components, and complete belt-drive systems for vehicles, machines and systems for bothOEMs and the after-

ContiTech belts are ideal to minimise vibration and belt whip, in heavy-duty shock-load applications.

ContiTech alsomanufactures specialty belts for constant speed delivery and ex- cellent rigidity, while retaining flexibility and strong gripping traction. Power trans- mission belts are supplied in traditional, classic, and narrow-profile V-belt forms, with particular attention paid to features such as total lifetime cost, quiet running, and increased efficiency. A premium synchronous belt range is also available where minimal elongation is necessary, a synchronous drive and/or high efficiency up to 98% is requested, with no metal-to-metal contact, and no need for constant lubrication. BI’sKarlWeindinger, generalmanager: sales forWestern Europe and Africa says, “As a global belt manufacturer, we rely on key partners to import and distribute our products.Weareexcitedattheprospectof strengtheningour cooperationwith theBI family, which is predicated on represent- ing some of the top brands and products globally.” www.bearings.co.za

Pressure sensor with IO-Link for intelligent machines

WIKA has introduced a new, flexible pressure sensor with IO-Linkinitsportfolio.Themodel A-1200 is used for pressure monitoring or as a PNP/NPN switch, especially in intelligent machines. The new pressure sensor can be integrated into series

tion that can be controlled via IO-Link, which enables its location to be clearly identified during maintenance. The A-1200 is available in a variety of versions, including an exceptionally robust one for measurement applications in harsh environments. This variant of the sensor is shock-resistant up to a load of 1 000 g and designed for medium temperatures from -40 °C to +125 °C. www.wika.co.za

productionwithout any great effort. It is easy to configure and can be supplied with preset parameters on request. The IO-Link interface continuously transmits all measured values and information fromthe integrated diagnos- tic function, whichmonitors themeasurement quality of the A-1200. In addition, a 360° LED display (green, yellow, red) gives visual information about the instrument status. The pressure sensor also offers a blinking func-

36 ¦ MechChem Africa • June 2019