Musketeer provides complete cost-effective solutions in the modern world of applied hydraulics and
pneumatics technology
- Turnkey systems designed, installed and maintained
- Distributes & services ALL MAJOR RANGES of hydraulic and pneumatic equipment
- Distributes & services ALL MAJOR RANGES of accumulators and associated equipment
- Refurbishes & upgrades hydraulic power units and cylinders
- All repeat and/or rework is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations
BLADE
The BLADE (Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering? project was completed in October
2004 and was officially opened by HM The Queen in February 2005. 
BLADE embodies a unique, cross-disciplinary approach to solving today's increasingly complex
engineering problems. The state-of-the-art experimental testing facility brings together
renowned experts across numerous engineering and non-engineering disciplines and includes an
earthquake laboratory with 15m reaction wall and a 3m by 3m shaking table; an automatic control
and test laboratory; materials testing laboratory; and an electrical power drives
laboratory.
BLADE is more than just a building - its mission it to research and develop 'performance-based
engineering'. This is the multi-disciplinary design, analysis and monitoring of engineering
systems for their full life cycle. It's departure from traditional engineering analysis, as
BLADE considers realistic in-service dynamic loads and the response of systems up to their
nonlinear failure limit.
HIGH TECH INSTALLATION
Musketeer Engineering designed, manufactured, installed and commissioned the main hydraulic
system, which has many unique features, such as one plant room servicing the four laboratories,
each of which has independent control for its individual requirements with the in-built ability
to share surplus capacity with each other, under password protection.
"The Plant Room has variable capacity (on demand) up to 1,250 litres per minute at a
working pressure maintained at 207 bar," explained Fred Smith. "The system
will support expansion up to 1,750 litres per minute. The pipework is based mainly on the Voss
Zako 10 degree flared and flanged connection system, installed in order to limit the effects of
pressure drop in respect of sustained high flow rates. There is approximately 4.5 kilometres of
high-grade hydraulic tubing installed at various levels and sized to accommodate the capacities
currently required and for future expansion in each laboratory.
"It was an interesting and exciting project to work on as well as providing a high
profile for Musketeer Engineering. In fact, our involvement with BLADE has subsequently led to
us being approached to provide expertise and services, for similar types of installation, at
various locations on the UK mainland.
