MechChem Africa November-December 2023

⎪ Products and industry news ⎪

Bosch Rexroth Africa welcomes Fairtex

pressed enthusiasm over the new part nership with Bosch Rexroth Africa Development Manager, Louis Potter, saying: “We are proud to be expanding our business in Africa with Fairtex. We believe this collaboration will yield great opportu nities and results for both parties.” www.boschrexroth.africa

hydraulic components that can be applied in various applications. The distribution agreement, which began in 2023, will help serve the Group’s aim to expand its footprint on the con tinent. This is in addition to keeping its

Bosch Rexroth Africa Development, a company within the Bosch Rexroth Africa Group of Companies, has added a new distributor to its African network. The Fairtex Group (Fairtex) was appointed as a Nigerian distributor of the Group’s products and services. Fairtex is recognised as one of the largest engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies in the west African region with most of its work con ducted in the oil and gas, water treatment, and power generation sectors. Fairtex will be distributing the Group’s innovative drive and control technologies through out the region, including the full range of The new model T38 digital temperature transmitter from WIKA enables extremely flexible and stable temperature measure ment. The instrument offers a maximum of sensor connection combinations and a new type of drift detection. Head mounted and rail mounted versions are available in SIL and various Ex versions. The temperature transmitter, fully de veloped in accordance with IEC 61508, is designed for general application. With it, users can monitor their processes more SMC’s new electric actuator enables an electric drive to be controlled and used in the same way as a pneumatic solenoid valve. Electric drives are designed for get ting accurate speeds and adjustable accel eration and deacceleration. This, however, normally requires a PLC with some com plex logic involved to control the electric drives. With the new SMC EQ Electric Actuator, the setup is simple and easy to control. It works in exactly the same way as a pneumatic cylinder with the ability to be set up to act as a single solenoid valve; double solenoid valve; or a closed-centred valve. These e actuators can therefore be

promise to meet customers’ spe cific application and technical re quirements quickly, conveniently and cost effectively by being closer to customers. Training for Fairtex will be provided by Bosch Rexroth Africa Development, which will also provide complete support for the new distributor. Both companies have ex

Bosch Rexroth Africa management with members of Fairtex’s staff.

Universal temperature transmitter with drift detection

efficiently. In addition to many standard sensor characteristic curves, WIKA's newly developed True Drift Detection is implemented in the T38. This function immediately signals any deviation of the measured value from the characteristic curve. The T38 has six sensor connection terminals that can be configured as re quired, giving users the greatest possible scope for combinations. With the head mounted transmitter, specially designed set it up to suit different applications. The controller is integrated into the motor housing, so there is no need for an exter nal controller and actuator cables. This reduces wiring and saves space. With all these changes the mounting dimensions have been kept the same as the existing- electric drive product range. The motor cover is slightly bigger – since the unit has an integrated controller – and Metal M12 connectors are used for the power-, IO- and the communication-cables, thus providing improved connector rigidity. Setup is simple and completed in three steps.

trapezoidal terminals with a very large clamping area and access from the outside simplify the connection of sensors and the current loop. All variants of the new transmitter can be programmed using the HART ® protocol with a large number of open configuration tools. The T38 can also be parameterised quickly and easily via the USB interface using the PU-548 programming unit and WIKAsoft-TT software. www.wika.co.za Step 1, set the operation mode: there are three operation modes: single so lenoid mode; double solenoid mode; and closed centre mode. Step 2, set the stopping positions or the extend and retract distances. Step 3, set the speed, acceleration, and deceleration. With these three simple steps, setup is complete. The electric actuator is a very nice addition to machines that do not have access to compressed air or require an accurate acceleration and deceleration with controlled speed. The machine can be simply controlled as if a solenoid valve were being used. www.smcworld.com • • •

SMC introduces e-Actuator range.

SMC’s new electric actuator enables an electric drive to be controlled and used in the same way as a pneumatic solenoid valve.

40 ¦ MechChem Africa • November-December 2023