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Press Releases & Editorials

Email Newsletter 2000

By working closely with plant engineers at Ciba Specialty Chemicals, FTL Technology are now regarded by Maintenance Engineer Jeff Sewell as a key supplier for critical and complex sealing applications.

Following the initial installation of a Meridian MECO Modular Seal in January 1994, we have provided a complete maintenance programme to ensure the correct operation in a difficult application.

Periodic removal, inspection and, when necessary, refurbishment of the seal has allowed engineers at FTL Technology to develop the seal further from its original design. Through utilising the latest low friction polymers available and listening carefully to improvements recommended by Ciba Speciality Chemicals, this once difficult application now appears run of the mill.

Fresh approach to waste solutions

For the safe processing of hazardous and aggressive waste products the reliability of equipment is vital.

Shanks, one of the UK's leading waste management companies, was experiencing unreliability on an Auger System due to persistent process product leakage. Working in conjunction with the customer, FTL Technology was able to identify that the major factor in leakage and subsequent failure was the original specified sealing system.

From their experience in Heavy Duty Sealing Solutions, FTL Technology proposed an alternative sealing system combining Mechanical Face Seals and non contacting labyrinth rings.

To provide continuous lubrication for the system a self-contained power pack was also designed and specified. The brief covered the modification of existing, and design of, new seal housings; and assisted by the customer, installation and commissioning of the new system. Small changes were made to fine tune the design, and the Auger is now running trouble free and has to date completed over six months successful service.

Glycodur shows its worth

FTL Technology are continuing to promote the Glycodur® range of plain wrapped bearings across a wide range of industries.

The product is ubiquitous in the automotive industry and is used extensively in the light to medium industrial market.

Typical application include struts and brakes on mountain bikes, derailleur pinions, chains, conyeyor rolls, pneumatic cylinders, workshop cranes, fork trucks, pallet trucks, lifting platforms, jacks, gear pumps, solenoid values, wheels and office chairs.

The benefits of using the Glycodur® range include: lead free composition, high performance materials when compressed to the competition, lubrication free thermoplastic materials and a solvent free coating process.

Happy "birth" of new piglets

A further development of FTL Technology' patented Centreline Multidimensional Suspension System (CMSS) has been applied to a new design of pipeline pig for dewatering the Statoil Norne-heidrun project, which incorporates a 10" flexible riser and 170km of 16" pipe. The duty is similar to that of the previously reported Asgard commissioning pigs, except that the suspension system must be able to progressively expand (or collapse) from 10" diameter to 16" diameter, as opposed

Trials are at present underway in Stavanger to prove the integrity of the pig train which has four suspension modules.

The two front modules are flexibly joined to the two rear modules as the pig has to negotiate a "y" piece in the gas pipeline.

Further Information
For further information relating to any of the above products, please contact Tony Snowdon on 0113 252 1061 or e-mail tonys@ftltech.co.uk