The client Beta LaserMike is a world leading manufacturer of Induction pre-heaters for the Wire and Cable industry. These are substantial electromechanical products that sit in an extrusion production line to heat the process wire prior to the extrusion of a plastic coating.
The wire is typically threaded over two pulleys within the Preheater. The whole line is driven at speeds of up to 40 Metres per second and this can give rise to a number of potential hazards. As the pulleys are driven by the line the equipment falls under the scope of the Machinery Directive and requires a Certificate of Incorporation. Beta LaserMike undertook an extensive compliance project to ensure that their products complied with the various European Directives when the Machinery Directive was first introduced. The compliance needed re-visiting with the introduction of the New Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC).
We reviewed the product range including all models and variants and identified the models they wished to continue with. We contacted Technology International who were the consultants that assisted Beta LaserMike with the earlier compliance project, to assess the work needed to bring the product range into compliance.
I had worked at Beta LaserMike as leader of the original compliance project and I was able to follow the same process to identify the work required to gain compliance with the new directive, and to minimize the impact on the business.
Opus21 took the bills of material, assembly drawings and other production information for all the Preheater variants, and with the assistance of Technology International identified critical components and areas that required re-work in order to meet the essential requirements of the new directive. These data then formed the basis of an action plan for the project.
Technology International, Opus21 and Beta LaserMike undertook the test work, Opus21 coordinated the project and identified the engineering work required, which Beta LaserMike executed in their Dayton facility. The collection of Declarations of conformity and test results for components was done by the offshore sub-contract manufacturer as part of their ISO9001 process. The whole was collated to form the Technical File.
Beta LaserMike have maintained the compliance of the Preheater range. It is fully compliant with the “New” Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) and is sold into the European Market as well as the rest of the world.
8 January 2012