Tools and tech: Manufacturing and maintenance innovation from ABB, Meltric, Motion Industries and more

Manufacturing relies on high-quality equipment and tools, and innovations made to make each piece of industry slightly better than before never stop. Here are five recent new product announcements that caught our eye.

Meltric’s new P66 industrial plug and receptacle provides electric connectivity safely in hazardous environments. Suitable for industrial, seaport, or mining operations, the P66 is safe to operate between -40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit and has IK10 impact resistance and IP66/IP67 protection for dust and water. It’s rated to deliver 660 amps at 1,100 volts AC and 1,500 volts DC and can be configured as a 90-degree or 180-degree connection.
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Motion Industries, Inc.’s new Motion Lube Caddy is made to haul lubrication and ease maintenance of heavy machinery. To make removing used oil easier, the caddy has dual reservoirs in 40- and 75 gallon capacities, as well as a 150-gallon hoistable capacity. It also has an air-operated pump with a 500psi back pressure capacity that can be operated in manual, automatic, or kidney loop mode. According to Motion industries, the cart is useful for manufacturers to change lubrication oil in gearboxes or hydraulic systems, but can be customized for unique applications.
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Festo’s new monitoring and predictive maintenance system, Festo AX Motion Insights Electric, monitors electric axes and servo drives for wear and anomalies. According to Festo, the system can integrate with the company’s Smartenance maintenance management system by identifying when maintenance is needed and passing the information to Smartenance, which manages the required tasks. Festo says MIE also features “plug-and-play” installation, AI integration and a user-friendly interface.
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ABB’s new vertical hollow shaft motors are designed for vertical turbine pump applications. According to the company, the new motors reduce downtime with a top-mounted coupling and hollow shaft that simplifies routine servicing. ABB also said the pumps deliver consistent torque and feature a stationary and non-reverse ratchet to prevent reversing due to backspins. The pumps are available in 15 to 500 horsepower with multiple voltage and frame options. In a statement, ABB Product Manager Terry Bell said the motors are suited for irrigation systems and municipal water supply applications.
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IPR Robotics’ new rail system can be used to extend a robot’s reach. The StackTrax Dual 7^th Axis system, according to IPR Robotics, can save space compared to overhead or gantry systems and still improve a robot’s working area. The system combines two linear axes into a single system with a wide payload range and is compatible with “all major robot brands,” the company said. In a statement, IPR Robotics president Anthony Leo said the StackTrax fills a gap in the market between complicated by large-footprint gantries and simple but limited single-rail systems.
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