Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation articles from December 2002

Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation archives from December 2002

The Ludeca, Inc.
December 1, 2002... The Ludeca, Inc. compact smartAlign device for industrial environments features an on-screen help text to guide the operator in corrective shimming and horizontal moves. Alignment readings are in three "smart" steps: dimension, measure and...

Turck, Inc.
December 1, 2002... Turck, Inc. introduces levelprox, a level-detection sensor designed for use with metal storage tanks. Using ultrasonic sensing technology, levelprox can detect liquid levels inside a metal-walled tank without the need for an access port. The...

A-C Pump.
December 1, 2002... The Trash Hog solids-handling, selfpriming centrifugal pump from A-C Pump and Goulds Pumps is designed to handle raw sewage, sludge and debris-laden wastewater. It features a nonclog impeller; removable wearplate; a large, lightweight front...

Dwyer Instruments, Inc.
December 1, 2002... The Series SFI-800 Sight Flow Indicator from Dwyer Instruments, Inc., is a durable rotor-style flow indicator with optional output sensor. Units are constructed of FDA-approved wetted materials and there are no magnets in the rotor to attract...

Forward-thinking statements. (Editorial Comments).
December 1, 2002... A tough year has reached its 12th month. Most in industry, I would wager, would rather forget 2002 with its bear market, "soft" manufacturing growth (to use the federal government's latest term) and underlying sense of uncertainty. Not all felt...

U.S. crude-oil imports expected to rise through 2025. (Industry News Line).
December 1, 2002... A new government report shows that, despite the nation's energy-conservation efforts, the U.S. will import crude oil in growing quantities through the year 2025. The Energy Information Administration, a branch of the Department of Energy,...

General Electric, ExxonMobil, Stanford University form energy-research project. (Industry News Line).
December 1, 2002... General Electric announced last month it will take part in a multimillion dollar collaborative energy-research project with ExxonMobil, other corporations, and Stanford University. The Global Climate and Energy Project will identify and develop...

USDA says better tests needed for listeria. (Industry News Line).
December 1, 2002... Responding to October's record-setting recall of nearly 28 million lbs. of processed meat, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it is considering requiring companies to conduct their own tests for the deadly listeria monocytogenes bacteria...

Northrop Grumman to sell TRW automotive. (Industry News Line).
December 1, 2002... Defense giant Northrop Grumman Corp., in the process of buying rival TRW, Inc., said last month it will sell TRW's auto-parts business to a private investment company for $4.73 billion. The buyer, New York-based Blackstone Group, assembled what...

GM plant overhaul will take 18 months. (Industry News Line).
December 1, 2002... General Motors said last month that a $550 million overhaul it has begun at its Lordstown, OH, assembly plant should be completed in 18 months. The automaker expects to begin building a new small-car model at the refurbished facility in spring...

IMPO stock watch: defense stocks stirring? (Industry News Line).
December 1, 2002... Last month's heightened saber-ratting over war with Iraq may be responsible for a slight uptick in the stock prices of major aerospace/defense contractors General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and Boeing. Though Pentagon spending...

SC Johnson, the Racine, WI-based household products manufacturer, will acquire the household insecticide line of Bayer AG, the Germany-based maker of health-care and chemical products. (News Briefs).
December 1, 2002... SC Johnson, the Racine, WI-based household products manufacturer, will acquire the household insecticide line of Bayer AG, the Germany-based maker of health-care and chemical products. The agreement will give SC Johnson worldwide rights to...

New Jersey's Public Utilities Board said last month its Clean Energy Program will help state businesses install 3 megawatts of new solar-electric systems by the end of the year. (News Briefs).
December 1, 2002... New Jersey's Public Utilities Board said last month its Clean Energy Program will help state businesses install 3 megawatts of new solar-electric systems by the end of the year. The program provides incentives that can cover up to 60% of the...

Mack Trucks, Inc. (News Briefs).
December 1, 2002... Mack Trucks, Inc., said it completed a two-month promotional tour of high schools in nine East Coast states in November. The Allentown, PA-based truck maker said its traveling Mack School Tour program uses an historical exhibit, technologically...

Georgia-Pacific Corp. (News Briefs).
December 1, 2002... In response to reduced market demand, Georgia-Pacific Corp. suspended production last month at four plywood manufacturing facilities it operates in three southern states. The Atlanta, GA-based maker of paper and building products also said...

Environmental Protection Agency. (News Briefs).
December 1, 2002... A federal judge sentenced the nation's largest underground storage tank-testing firm in late October to pay $2.29 million for falsifying its tests. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Tanknology-NDE, International, Inc., Austin,...

Calendar.
December 1, 2002... * Jan. 14-16, 2003 * Orlando 2003 Advanced Productivity Exposition; Orlando, FL; Society of Manufacturing Engineers; 800-733-4763. * Jan. 27-29, 2003 * AHR Expo; Chicago, IL; American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and AirConditioning...

Brushless motors. (Product Round-Up: Motors & Drives).
December 1, 2002... When combined with a drive system, Brushless Dustproof motors can be used in closed-loop motion-control applications in hostile environments. Drive electronics can be removed. Empire Magnetics, Inc., 5780B LaBath Ave., Rohnert Park, CA 94928;...

Linear actuator. (Product Round-Up: Motors & Drives).
December 1, 2002... The ACS 800 Drive Low Voltage AC Drive family combines programming power in an enclosure design, bookshelf style, so the drive can be used in industrial applications. The drives feature the open-loop torque-control technology and a snap-on...

Electric rolling motor. (Product Round-Up: Motors & Drives).
December 1, 2002... The 41238 and 22488 electric rolling motors are designed for tube rolling. They feature dead handles for leverage, three-wire grounded plugs and a design that allows these motors to run to a stall without damage. Model 41238 is multifunctional,...

Linear actuator. (Product Round-Up: Motors & Drives).
December 1, 2002... The compact DuraPlus motor, designed for axial load capacity features actuator control due to a self-lubricating rotating nut and leadscrew combination. It serves as a drop-in stepper motor replacement. EADmotors, 1 Progress Dr., Dover, NH...

Temperature measurement and control system. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... The new OMEGA iR2 for applications in semiconductor processing uses a 2color ratio technique for measurement and temperature control. It comes with a compact lens and flexible fiber-optic cable, and features through-the-lens laser sighting....

Instrument and control switches. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... Configurable for specific applications, Series 24 and Series 31 detent switches feature double-wiping, silver-plated contacts and terminal screws. Instrument switches have "make-for-break" contacts; control switches have spring-return to normal...

Direct-drive compressors. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... These direct-drive series rotary-screw compressors are available in a range of flows. Units feature the Sigma Profile air-end, patent-pending Sigma Control system and one-to-one direct-drive technology. All units are fitted with a redesigned...

Steam Cleaning System. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... The KleenJet Steamer Ultra Steam Cleaning System for Industrial Maintenance targets bacteria found in tile grout, as well as mold and mildew. The chemical- and pesticide-free system removes these and oil, grease and dirt in hard-to-reach...

Mesh material. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... This high-visibility mesh material meets testing standards for ANSI 107-1999. The lightweight, fluorescent lime-yellow or orange vest is available with 3M Scotchlite Silver or White High-Gloss reflective. Rehab Plus Safety, 105 Industrial...

Junction boxes. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... All W Series junction boxes are rugged; many are rated NEMA watertight. Boxes and covers are fabricated from cast-iron protected by a hot-dip galvanized finish, with a neoprene gasket and stainless steel screws. Appleton, of the EGS Electrical...

Eight steps to precision torque control of fasteners. (Tech Check).
December 1, 2002... Torque is defined as the force causing rotation or torsion in machinery. In the manufacturing and assembly world, tightening, controlling or measuring torque on fasteners is imperative for production efficiency. An inadequately torqued fastener...

Training in a down economy: do you cut it or keep it? Two training experts present a variety of solutions manufacturers are using. (Cover Story).
December 1, 2002... Everyone in manufacturing believes training is important. But touch times Put that belief to the test. While true believers maintain or strengthen training efforts, doubters or those on weak ground cut back. Some say training is like...

Behavioral training gives workers standards for optimizing production. (Field Report).
December 1, 2002... Southern Clay Products is a Gonzales, TX-based producer of specialty clay minerals for global markets. It supplies manufacturers of paint, ink, grease, drilling fluid, plastic, paper and home- and personal-care products. At the site, clay...

The promises and challenges of wireless LANs. (CMMS Solutions).
December 1, 2002... The ability to connect computers without using cables is not a new concept. A variety of wireless solutions have been available for years. But cost and performance issues have kept wireless communications restricted to specialty niches in the...

Non-aerosol cleaners. (Product Round-Up: Cleaning Chemicals).
December 1, 2002... Liqui-Sol cleaners feature reuseable spray triggers. The adjustable triggers allow users to dial in just the right amount of coverage. Diversified Brands, div. of The Sherwin-Williams Co., 1825 25th Ave., Columbus, OH 43219; 800-925-3434. ...

Bioactive cleaners. (Product Round-Up: Cleaning Chemicals).
December 1, 2002... The BioTransport Package contains one portable dispenser and two cartridges of neutral disinfectant cleaner or degreaser. Apply these odor-eliminating products in difficult-to reach areas. Spartan Chemical Co., 1110 Spartan Dr., Maumee, OH...

Electrical-equipment cleaner. (Product Round-Up: Cleaning Chemicals).
December 1, 2002... NT Precision Cleaner is a moderately aggressive precision cleaner designed to remove contaminants from electrical and electronic equipment. The technology formula evaporates quickly, leaves no residue, is nonflammable, and is suitable for meat...

Gasket cleaner. (Product Round-Up: Cleaning Chemicals).
December 1, 2002... Chisel MC-FREE Gasket Remover helps strip off gaskets and gasketing materials from any type of metal in minutes. The aerosol spray liquid penetrates and cleans intricate shapes and uses a foaming action to lift off baked-on gaskets. Loctite...

Fluid monitoring system. (Product Focus: Instrumentation).
December 1, 2002... The ACCUGUARD II Compact is a new monitoring system suitable for most oils, ATF and petroleum-based fluids in medium-size operations. It controls tank totals and recorder levels. Preset metering enables easy dispensing of fluids while...

Flow indicator. (Product Focus: Instrumentation).
December 1, 2002... The LIE Series sight flow indicator is designed for observing the flow of media. It offers flanged ends faced and drilled to mate with ANSI Class 150 connections. The LIS Series is furnished with NPTF threaded ends and is available with other...

Signal analyzer. (Product Focus: Instrumentation).
December 1, 2002... The NI PXI-5660 RE signal and analyzer is a combination of spectral-measurement software and a broadband digitizer. The virtual instrumentation architecture delivers standard RE power, frequency, spectral, and vector measurements. It also...

Digital flow instruments. (Product Focus: Instrumentation).
December 1, 2002... The Digital Metaline and other high-capacity digital flow instrument product lines include flow meters and controllers. They feature multiple gas calibrations and stored gas conversion factors, differentiating them from analog versions. The...

Inspection systems. (Product Focus: Instrumentation).
December 1, 2002... Automated ultrasonic inspection systems range from two-axis immersion tanks to multi-axis, complex contour-following systems that can accept component dimensions and contours from CAD systems. A teach-and-learn mode allows operator input of the...

I/O module. (Product Focus: Instrumentation).
December 1, 2002... The MCR-RAD is an integrated and I/O module designed to eliminate cable and conduit for analog and digital signals in harsh industrial environments. It utilizes spread-spectrum frequency hopping techniques to guarantee a license free,...

Sound-level meter. (Product Focus: Instrumentation).
December 1, 2002... The Octave Band Analyzer provides real-time analysis of noise from any source, monitors facility noise, and stores the data for reference and analysis. It provides noise-level statistics for internal and external audits. Stored data can be...

Tool crib. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... The pre-assembled, modular tool crib stores critical tools. The units are suitable for hand and cuffing tools. Lista International Corp., 106 Lowland St., Holliston, MA 01746; 800-722-3020. Write in IMPO No. 100 or reply online at...

Screwdriver. (Product News).
December 1, 2002... The DWSE 6.3, a roofing/cladding corded power screwdriver for automobile-factory assembly work features the Marathon motor. Metabo Corp., 1231 Wilson Dr., West Chester, PA 19380; 800-638-2264. Write in IMPO No. 101 or reply online at...

Motion-control video. (Training AIDS).
December 1, 2002... A free online video entitled "Demonstration of Motion Control" shows engineers how to tune and program a Galil motion controller. In this 15-minute video, a motion-control expert uses the WSDK servo design kit software to demonstrate concepts...

Maintenance management training. (Training AIDS).
December 1, 2002... One- and two-day Maintenance Management and Maintenance Excellence seminars provide continuing education for maintenance professionals. Designed to include a focus on practical application in addition to maintenance management concepts, the...