Abstract: The invention relates to an effluent treatment process and to a plant for treating effluent. The plant comprises a pair of elongate vessels, one vessel being for aerobic and the other being for anoxic metabolisation of effluent by microorganisms in the form of biomass-coated particles, each vessel having a downcomer zone and a riser zone. The first riser zone of the vessel for anoxic metabolisation communicates with the downcomer zone of the vessel for aerobic metabolisation.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for cutting metal sheet having two rotatable drums, wherein the metal sheet passes between the drums for cutting. Each of the drums has a cutting blade moved into and out of cutting position by an axial actuator rod. The cutting blade includes two sets of rollers bearing against one of a pair of profiled side surfaces of the axial actuator rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to an effluent treatment plant and to a method for treating effluent. The plant comprises a pair of elongate vessels (5, 12), one vessel (12) being for aerobic and the other (5) being for anoxic metabolisation of effluent by microorganismas, each vessel having a downcomer zone (4, 11) and a riser zone (7, 14). The first riser zone (7) of the vessel (5) for anoxic metabolisation communicates with the downcomer zone (11) of the vessel (12) for aerobic metabolisation.

Abstract: An apparatus for coiling successive lengths of metal strip onto mandrels changes the strip path from a path leading to the mandrel currently being wound to a path to a new mandrel when the current strip ends and a new strip appears. The new mandrel has a mandrel strip guide that includes a chain of driven mandrel guide rollers located around the new mandrel in its initial position to receive the leading edge of a new length of strip and guide it around the mandrel. Adjacent rollers in the chain have interlocking grooves and flanges. Similar chains of rollers are used to guide the strip between the shears and the mandrels. The new mandrel is positioned in an initial position such that the strip path to it is a straight path, and the mandrels are mounted on a carousel which moves that mandrel to a second position such that the strip path to it is an angled path, the first segment of which is common with the first part of the straight strip path.