Fastener now comes in stainless steel

The process-free "Automatic" fastener is now being produced by Item in stainless steel, following higher than expected sales of other stainless steel components such as T-slot nuts.

Suitable even where vibration is present, automatic fasteners require only socket wrenches to fit (no drilling or tapping required), and are typically used as corner joints to build or modify aluminium frames where machining facilities are not readily to hand.

Automatic fasteners are a particular favourite of commissioning engineers who must work on site, but up until now could not be used in hostile or wet environments because even though zinc-plated, they would eventually corrode.

Profile system switches to stainless steel

MiniTec UK has expanded its Profile System range with a new and unique stainless steel profile for use as machine framing for harsh production environments, high temperature processes and other areas where aluminium profiles have limited use.

The new high grade SUS304 stainless profile retains the simplicity and cost benefits of its aluminium counterpart but has significantly improved temperature and load bearing characteristics as well as excellent corrosion resistance.

The 45 x 45mm square section profile is completely interchangeable with MiniTec's aluminium profile system and benefits from a stainless version of the time-saving Powerlock fastener that requires no premachining or special assembly tools.

When compared other manufacturer's stainless steel profile systems, the combination of a very competitive pricing policy and the simplicity of machine-free assembly makes the new MiniTec profile a very attractive machine framing choice.

Although extruded aluminium profile framing systems are now the preferred construction method for production machinery and test equipment in many areas of industry with well developed cost and time saving benefits, anodised aluminium has limited corrosion resistance which can inhibit its use in hostile, clean and outdoor environments.

The new stainless steel profile opens up a wide range of application opportunities for system integrators and OEMs of manufacturing, packaging and handling machinery used for industrial production of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, and medical devices.

The natural finish of the stainless profile will also be of benefit for clean room processing in semiconductor and electronics manufacture with the added advantage of excellent electrically conductive characteristics for ESD.

The new range is also highly well-matched to high temperature and caustic washdown processes and will be suited to outdoor framing construction and some architectural applications such as screens.

In addition to the stainless version of the Powerlock fastener, the range is complemented with stainless accessories such as end caps and mounting feet.
There are also hundreds of other accessories that may be used from MiniTec's aluminium Profile System range including mechanical, electrical and pneumatic components for guards, doors, panelling, conveying, handling, linear motion and workstations.

Ferramenta door levers in timeless stainless steel

It encapsulates the essence of simply defined, smooth lines in a variety of subtle stainless steel finishes.

The exquisitely crafted range of lever designs are available in timeless, Satin or Mirror-polished Stainless Steel as well as the increasingly popular Dual Satin and Polished finish.

Concealed bolt-through fixings at 38mm centres are compatible with most locks and latches to suit doors of 38 - 44mm thickness, while sprung roses are suitable for lightly sprung locks and tubular latches.

A number of matching escutcheons are available for Euro profile, oval cylinders and lever key functions.

The range comes with a 5-year guarantee.

Screw jacks come in stainless steel

A complete stainless steel screw jack is available from Power Jacks for linear motion applications where there is a high demand for corrosion resistance, hygienic installations and/or easy cleaning.

There are two series of stainless steel screw jacks the E-Series Metric screw jacks and the M-Series Imperial (inch) screw jacks.

The E-Series has six basic models in the range with capacities ranging from 10 to 300kN.

The M-Series has nine basic models in the range with capacities from 2 to 100t.
The screw jacks worm gearbox has a curved housing made from stainless steel and can be specified with a sealed gear cavity to keep water and other contaminants out.

Alternatively a standard gearbox construction can be specified.
The lubrication of the gearbox and the lifting screw can also be altered for the application for example food grade grease or nuclear grade grease.

As the requirements for each application can vary greatly so can the specification of the stainless steel screw jacks.

This can extend from a unit with just a stainless steel lifting screw and plated housing to a fully stainless steel screw jack.

Each screw jack has the same high standard array of options as other screw jack designs available from Power Jacks, which results in over 5000 available variants.
This allows the specification of the screw jack to be tailored to meet the requirements of the application taking all factors and conditions into account.

All stainless-steel screw jack designs are available for new installations or for retrofit replacements, offering compatible metric or imperial dimensions to standard alternatives.

Power Jacks stainless steel screw jacks have been successfully used in applications worldwide ranging from food processing lines to nuclear power stations to subsea oil wellheads.

Thainox to halt production for 1 month on weak demand

Thainox Stainless PCL, Thailand's largest stainless steel producer, said on Tuesday it planned to stop production for one month due to weak global demand.

The shutdown would help the firm save costs at its plant in Rayong on Thailand's eastern seaboard, and allow it to carry out maintenance work, it said in a statement. It had sufficient inventory to serve the market, it added.

"However, during this period, the customers will still be able to place an order and we continue to deliver the finished products as usual as the Bangkok office and other departments not directly related to production continue to work," it said.
Thainox, Southeast Asia's largest stainless steel maker, has an annual capacity of 300,000 tonnes of stainless steel, widely used in the construction, automobile and household sectors.

Around 60 percent of its output is sold on the domestic market and the rest exported, according to the company's website. Thainox gets its raw materials, including hot-rolled coils, from abroad.

Kim Eng Securities said in a research note the company was now running at a low utilisation rate of 53 percent, mainly due to a lack of hot-rolled coils.
Thailand's Mahagitsiri family, which founded the company, recently raised its stake to 58 percent. South Korea's POSCO owns 15 percent, and other major shareholders include Nippon Steel .