Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation articles from March 2000

Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation archives from March 2000

Who Wants to [ldots] Make a Fair Salary?
March 1, 2000... How long did it take you to reach the point in your career where your salary adequately reflects your experience and value to your employer? More to the point, are you making that salary today? If you're like most working Americans, half of...

U.S. trade deficit reaches all-time high in 1999.
March 1, 2000... Despite the nation's healthy economy, large trade deficits with other countries caused a record U.S. trade deficit of $271.3 billion in 1999. According to information released last month from the U.S. Department of Commerce, deficits with...

Phillips, Chevron to form joint venture.
March 1, 2000... Phillips Petroleum Co. and Chevron Corp. agreed last month to combine their worldwide petrochemical operations into a 50/50 joint venture. The new company, to be named later, will be based in Houston, TX, and combine the olefins, polymers and...

Joint GE, U.S. project produces advanced turbine.
March 1, 2000... Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, U.S. Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC) and General Electric jointly announced last month that GE's new, advanced H System gas turbine was available for commercial use. The Feb. 18 announcement was made at GE's...

Worldwide use of industrial robots on the rise.
March 1, 2000... Worldwide orders for industrial robots surged by 20% in 1999 to record levels, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). The group, which surveys the robot market with the International Federation of Robotics,...

President's budget includes 11% increase for OSHA.
March 1, 2000... President Clinton's budget for fiscal year 2001 includes a request for an 11.6% increase for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA's $426 million budget for fiscal year 2001 includes $44.4 million more than the $381.6 million...

GM to build new plant in Michigan, expand another.
March 1, 2000... General Motors Corp. has announced it will build a $558 million Cadillac assembly plant in Lansing, MI. The decision reverses an earlier plan that would have used suppliers to build entire sections of cars. The plant, scheduled to open in 2001,...

National PE&M Show in Chicago this month.
March 1, 2000... The 51st annual National Plant Engineering MRO & Management (PE&M) show comes to Chicago this month. Held March 13-16 at the city's McCormick Place complex, the event is part of National Manufacturing Week, the industry's largest trade-show...

Alemite Corp.
March 1, 2000... Alemite Corp.'s welding reels are one-piece cassettes that include anti-lockout ratchets, power spring cassettes and a metal arbor. The anti-lockout ratchets prevent lockup when the hose is extended. Severe-duty welding reels feature gasket...

Conbraco.
March 1, 2000... Conbraco's hose-connection backflow preventers are designed with two mechanically independent spring-loaded check valves separated by an atmospheric vent. These backflow preventers offer protection against back-siphonage and low-head back...

Curtron Products.
March 1, 2000... Curtron Products, a division of TMI, Inc., introduces the accordian strip door, an energy-efficient see-through barrier suitable for situations where obstructions exist on both sides of a doorway.

Meco System.
March 1, 2000... The Meco System's 3000 bearing is an alternative to rolling-element bearings. It is suitable for different kinds of chemical environments and its high lubricity makes it suitable for dry-running applications.

DRAWING TEMPLATES.
March 1, 2000... Modern, timesaving drawing, designing and sketching aids are available. The company produces templates for a number of applications, including: office layout, architectural, military, data processing and landscape.

THICK FILM HEATER.
March 1, 2000... Thick film technology, which allows manufacturers to save space in product designs, utilizes conductive inks and insulating material layered over a substrate of quartz, stainless steel or beryllium oxide. They may be designed to fit around...

RAIL ALIGNMENT SET.
March 1, 2000... This rail alignment kit includes two easy-to-use, compact hand pumps; two 10-ton cylinders with 2- and 4in. strokes; two 6-foot hydraulic hoses with leak-free couplers; and several attachments. The set allows rail crews to accomplish a broad...

FLAP DISCS.
March 1, 2000... This expanded abrasive fiap disc line provides costeffective solutions for a variety of surface conditioning applications. The company offers Tiger [Discs.sup.TM] for medium- to high-production environments, Bob [Cat.sup.TM] discs for use in...

ASSEMBLY TOOLS.
March 1, 2000... The new D-Series push-to-start hand-held assembly tools control torque by automatically adjusting the output for each fastening application. The unit includes a perimeter-cooled motor that lowers the tool's operating temperature and increases...

MEASURING INSTRUMENTS.
March 1, 2000... The products in the 350 Series include the Test Gauge Smart Manometer, the Calibrator Smart Manometer, the Precision Altimeter Tester, the Precision Airspeed Tester and the 355 Precision Absolute Manometer. The 350 Series products are...

TEMPERATURE CONTROL.
March 1, 2000... The 2600 Series Temperature/ Process Control is now available in a portable desktop cabinet for remote maintenance, repair and telecommunications applications. The control, designed to monitor and control temperature and processes, can be used...

ISA Certification Program Ensures Technicians are Experienced.
March 1, 2000... Today's controls and instrumentation technicians play an increasingly important role in product quality and workplace safety. These issues prompted the International Society for Measurement and Control (ISA), Research Triangle Park, NC, to...

New Filtration Technology Keeps Cooling Tower Water Clean.
March 1, 2000... Every cooling tower has its unique dirt conditions, space constraints and other special characteristics. Filtration systems must take these into account in order to maintain particle free water. Orival filters are versatile enough to meet...

TRANSMITTERS.
March 1, 2000... This series of transmitters uses noncontacting LVDT technology. The transmitters are made of welded, hermetically sealed stainless steel and use a hermetic connector with bonded ground for electrical terminations. A mating connector is supplied...

PIPETTE PUMP.
March 1, 2000... This pipette pump has a collar for pipette insertion.and works with glass or plastic pipettes. The design guarantees a secure hold on the pipette. One hand is left free to perform other tasks. The knurled thumb wheel allows the user to dispense...

PRESSURE SWITCH.
March 1, 2000... Designed for hazardous and corrosive atmospheres, this explosion-proof differential pressure switch detects low pressures in gases or liquids. A pressure-sensitive diaphragm seals off the enclosure.

EXTRACTION ARM.
March 1, 2000... The stainless steel Flex Arm removes harmful fumes and works easily with limited space. It operates with a static-safe nozzles and end pieces and features high-airflow capacity with minimal pressure loss, The arm can be mounted directly to the...

SWAGER.
March 1, 2000... This heavy-duty production-swaging machine features a vertical die head with a pass-through head design, which allows the material to feed through the die head in one, non-stop motion, It can accommodate small sizes of tube and pipe, hydraulic...

PLC.
March 1, 2000... The Visual-KV is a PLC with two-color data window to monitor PLC data and change parameters in real time. Features include operator interface with a backlit display of comments in the ladder diagram that requires no extra software or power...

GEARMOTORS.
March 1, 2000... Stealth Servo Gearmotors feature an integrated design that includes helical planetary gearing with a brush-less DC servo motor in a compact, electromechanical package. The units are designed with separate gear housings and motor housings, and...

ASSEMBLY SYSTEMS.
March 1, 2000... Two Injected Metal Assembly systems combine specialized die casting and assembly technologies into a production method that replaces multicomponent, multistep assembly processes. The technology allows the assembly of components made from a...

POLISHED SAMPLER.
March 1, 2000... The electroplated finish on wet-table surfaces reduces scum and solids buildup. The manufacturer says the stainless steel finish will reduce cleaning intervals and maintenance time. Both the stainless steel removable funnel and reservoir have...

POWER CHISELS.
March 1, 2000... These air-powered chisels eliminate manual hammering and can be supplied with different types of chisels for removing weld flux and for chipping stone or concrete. They feature a compact stroke and a thumb-trigger. They are designed for...

LUBRICANT.
March 1, 2000... Advantex 10 General Purpose Lubricant cleans, penetrates and protects delicate parts and mechanisms. It is a multipurpose, high flash-point lubricant that loosens frozen and corroded parts and leaves a thin, protective lubricant coating to help...

PLASTIC PUMPS.
March 1, 2000... The cantilever thermoplastic pump is for dry running conditions or where immersed bearings cannot be tolerated. These recessed-impeller centrifugal pumps are for solids and stringy materials, and the magnetically driven thermoplastic ANSI pumps...

PUMPS.
March 1, 2000... These mag-drive pumps provide leak-free performance, especially under low-flow conditions, says the company. The mag-drive design does not require conventional shaft seals, thus eliminating the escape of potentially harmful process fluids....

LADDER.
March 1, 2000... The Combo Roiling Ladder/Stock Transport can manage up to a 400-lb. capacity. The system is suited for moving fluorescent lights, wood molding, shelving posts, shelves arid maintenance products. The unit is made of all-welded construction arid...

Look Before You E-Leap.
March 1, 2000... Some of our leading business philosophers predict that every company will soon be involved in some form of e-commerce out of necessity. This has caused a rush among companies, large and small, to determine how and where they fit into the...

ROBOT.
March 1, 2000... The robot uses a cam-actuated drive system, powered by an induction motor. A clutch/brake unit transmits output of the induction motor through a speed reducer.

ELECTRIC LIFT.
March 1, 2000... The battery-operated lift can travel in confined spaces. The unit features polyurethane casters and rear casters that are double locking hand-held pendant control on coil cord, on-board battery charger, sealed lead-acid batteries and quiet...

DISPENSER.
March 1, 2000... The dispenser uses controlled air pressure to apply silicones and epoxies without repetitive hand motions. Its "Teach" function sets deposit size. To apply fluid, the operator presses an electric foot pedal.

GE Industrial Systems.
March 1, 2000... GE Industrial Systems, a Plainville, CT-based business unit of the General Electric Co., has acquired the assets of Zenith Controls, Inc., Chicago, IL. Zenith manufactures power switching systems and controls. The new entity, will be called GE...

DuPont Co.
March 1, 2000... DuPont Co. has formed a joint venture with Internet Capital Group, a Wayne, PA-based Internet holding company, with the intent to further the development of B2B e-commerce for customers in apparel manufacturing, chemical production,...

Benjamin Moore & Co.
March 1, 2000... Benjamin Moore & Co., Montvale, NJ, has announced a company-wide restructuring that will close eight of its 16 paint-manufacturing plants and eliminate 300 jobs nationwide, 20% of the company's payroll. Also to be closed are a company-owned...

Goodyear Engineered Products.
March 1, 2000... The Goodyear Engineered Products industrial hose plant in Norfolk, NE, celebrated in January the production of the one-billionth foot of hose at the facility since opening in 1978. The plant makes 750 different hose products which meet more...

Dow Corning Corp.
March 1, 2000... Dow Corning Corp., Midland, MI, has announced that its 561 Silicone Transformer Fluid has earned a renewal of the Blue Angel Environmental label in Germany. Among other factors, the distinction requires that the product exhibit low toxicity and...

Honeywell, Inc.
March 1, 2000... Honeywell, Inc., will close one of the Richmond, VA-area polymer plants it acquired in a December 1999 deal with Allied Signal. The 27-year-old plant in Hopewell, VA, is one of six in the area operated by the company's Performance Polymer unit....

CLEANER.
March 1, 2000... This cleaner uses formula without chlorinated solvents, ozone-depleting substances or VOCs. It is nonflammable and plastic safe. It removes light oils, dirt and fingerprints from electrical connectors, printed circuit boards, relays, switches,...

CERAMIC.
March 1, 2000... A new alumino-silicate ceramic can be used to produce high-temperature combustion liners, brazing fixtures and electrical and thermal insulators. The product is suitable for oxidizing, reducing or vacuum atmospheres. It will not outgas in...

COAXIAL VALVES.
March 1, 2000... The company is adding a manifold version to its coaxial valve line. The modular valve design may reduce material and installation time, says the company. Both direct-acting solenoid and eternally controlled models are available. In sizes to 1...

VISES.
March 1, 2000... Company's Quick-Action Vises include the Solid-Jaw version that will grasp round, square and odd-shaped objects up to 2-in. O.D. and the Belt version that is suited for plastic pipe or other delicate-surfaced objects up to 4 1/2-in. O.D. and...

RIDER.
March 1, 2000... The SC 4000 Series Sit-down Counterbalanced Rider is a three-wheel lift truck designed to improve visibility and operator comfort. Visibility developments include an "operator-forward" design that positions the operator closer to the mast for a...

SPREADER.
March 1, 2000... The hydraulic spreader has a low-profile closed height, so it can fit into spaces as tight as 1/8 of an inch and open a full 3 in., which also enables the spreader to double as a 5-ton capacity toe jack. The tool provides five tons of spreading...

GRINDER PUMPS.
March 1, 2000... The G-Series of electrical submersible grinder pumps units are standard with an impeller and reversible grinding wheel that are made of hi-chrome for longer wear. Also new is a high-head grinder, model G1500H, which is a single-phase unit. All...

SHREDDER.
March 1, 2000... The shredder shreds solid waste and helps in the safe destruction of substandard pharmaceutical, hospital waste, refuse, drums, containers and packaging. The units reduce build volume and cut storage disposal costs, says the manufacturer. The...

PURCHASING SYSTEM.
March 1, 2000... A document-moving software system guarantees compatibility of documentation while expediting the purchasing function and lowering the cost of bid request and fulfillment, says the company. Way2Bid 2000 is designed to increase the speed and...

What Are You Worth?
March 1, 2000... A Guide To Salaries in Plant Maintenance and Engineering When you're sitting at the lunch table shooting the bull with your on-the-job buddies, you discuss a lot of things. But one topic you probably don't touch on is compensation. So how...

MOISTURE SEPARATORS.
March 1, 2000... The new SEP Series line of moisture separators with welded type "T" entrainment separators is designed to remove excess moisture from steam systems. In applications, moisture-laden gas (steam or air) enters the SEP Series and is deflected in a...

SAFETY SWITCHES.
March 1, 2000... The SI-LS100 and SI-LS83 safety switches feature a rotating actuator head. The switches can be wired to a safety-relay module, which actuates machine control elements to halt dangerous motion when a mechanical guard is opened. The actuator...

CASTERS.
March 1, 2000... Company is replacing its standard caster with a new thermoplastic rubber (TPR) caster. The new gray-colored caster is resistant to chemicals, oils and acids, non-marring and will provide longer life than the previous standard caster, says the...

BOLTED PUMP.
March 1, 2000... A 3-in. air-operated, double-diaphragm pump in plastic-bolted configuration is available with ANSI inlet/discharge ports. The polypropylene-construction Teflon-fitted pump is capable of flows to 237 gpm. The bolted design offers excellent...

HOSES.
March 1, 2000... A complete range of small-diameter metal hose is available in both stainless and galvanized steel. The flexible square lock design is available from 1/8-in, inside diameter and is designed for mechanical protection, electrical wiring armor,...

POSITION SENSOR.
March 1, 2000... Three housing styles enable this new sensor to be used as a drop-in, plug-in upgrade for pots, encoders and other less-rugged or accurate linear feedback devices. The new housings include a rod style and two profiles. They are suited for linear...

BUNDLING NETS.
March 1, 2000... These electroplating bundling nets allow users to batch parts for processing, cleaning and drying. The plastic net bags reduce damage from part-on-part contact, and parts can be grouped by size or other specifications. The company says its...

CONTROLLERS.
March 1, 2000... Three new motion-controller boards control both servo and stepper motor applications for PCI, Compact PCI and PXI systems. The PCI-7324 closed-loop board controls stepper-motor applications for PCI systems.

ACCESSORY SYSTEM.
March 1, 2000... The FlexWorks Accessory System is a modular workbench accessory that features an overhead light, support bracket and tool rail. The system can be retrofitted to existing workbenches. The overhead light brackets allow lights to pivot, enabling...

SENSORS.
March 1, 2000... These magnetostrictive linear-position sensors are available with Profibus DP compatibility, which offers process engineers more machine control through improved transmission speeds, says the company. A Temposonics III position sensor...

AMPLIFIER.
March 1, 2000... The MacroDrive amplifier for brushless servo motors interfaces with any motion controller that uses Macro, a nonproprietary interface. Applications involve control of multi-axis stations.

TRACKING SYSTEM.
March 1, 2000... The Tracker is a hardware and software tracking system that integrates into existing equipment for access control, cashless vending, time and attendance and event tracking in harsh environments or remote locations. The system automates...

LOAD RELAY.
March 1, 2000... Electronic load relays are the logical solution for AC load switching applications where low maintenance and high reliability are required, says the manufacturer. The power semi-conductors use zero-voltage crossing technology, thereby producing...

PRESSURE GAUGE.
March 1, 2000... Model LPI is a loop-powered four-digit pressure gauge. The unit is incorporated into connector and operates across gauge, absolute or differential pressure ranges. The bright red display is 5/16-in. tall and has over-range, under-range and...

MULTIMETERS.
March 1, 2000... The Metrahit 20 multimeters offers built-in memory and some models feature infrared interface and an auto-input blocking system. Measurements include voltage and current, resistance, temperature, and capacitance. Events counting and duration...

INTERFACE.
March 1, 2000... Model MKDR-05 monochrome inter-face offers LCD display. and a keyboard macro editor so the user can configure the UniOP keys. Slide-in legends allow customizing. The unit also provides scaling of displayed data.

ThermaCAM: The World Standard for Infrared Predictive Maintenance.
March 1, 2000... FLIR Systems ThermaCAM PM 595 sets the pace for thermographic inspection, offering unique camera and software capabilities to make your predictive and preventive maintenance tasks easier, faster, and more accurate. Based on the technology...

INERT VALVES.
March 1, 2000... This family of inert solenoid valves was designed to control a range of industrial or chemical fluids. Offering a compact size, bubble-tight shutoff and life expectancy in millions of cycles, the valves are available as individual units or can...

COMPUTER.
March 1, 2000... This Windows CE-based handheld computer for the manufacturing, control and instrumentation industries is suited for PLC applications needing a data-reliable, affordable device with easy programmability and extensive communications capabilities,...

PRESSURE TRANSMITTER.
March 1, 2000... The Cerabar M pressure transmitter offers housing, technology and electronic options to meet application requirements. The modular design of the unit enables it to be used in all industrial environments, providing gauge and absolute pressure of...

FILTRATION SYSTEM.
March 1, 2000... New water-reuse technology filters rinses to 100 microns. The system utilizes standard filter bags, which may be reused a number of times before needing to be replaced.

MODULAR PUMP.
March 1, 2000... The new Masterflex(r) L/S(R) Digi-Staltic(r) Pump contains a microprocessor and may be used as a dispenser, a diluter/dispenser and a general-purpose transfer pump. A dual pump head feature ensures constant flow rates and a high rate of...

DIP TUBES.
March 1, 2000... Edlon-PSI dip tubes lined and covered with PTFE provide protection from corrosion and contamination. Features include flange drilling according to customer specifications, siphon breaks and bends, custom length between tank mount and connecting...

BUTTERFLY TRANSPORTATION VALVES.
March 1, 2000... Series 130 and 140 Apollo(R) Butterfly Valves are specifically designed for use in the transportation industry. Both valves offer undercut discs and come in sizes ranging from 2 to 12 in. Cast-in top plates on both valve configurations provide...

MOBILE FLUID HANDLING SYSTEMS.
March 1, 2000... Unique answers to fluid handling problems may be obtained through the company's mobile fluid handling carts. These systems allow personnel to quickly and easily transport heavy loads such as oil, cans, tools and filters throughout the plant....

Self-Cleaning Water Filters Keep Spray Nozzles Clear.
March 1, 2000... CitiSteel USA, located 15 miles south of Philadelphia in Claymont, DE, is a discrete producer of low-alloy, high-strength steel plate. CitiSteel is in its 11th year of operation at the facility located on the banks of the Delaware River. Makeup...

SENSOR KIT.
March 1, 2000... The kit is offered with company's digital thermocouple thermometer, separate detachable-handle thermocouples, and integral-handle thermocouples. The kit also includes an assortment of probes, such as an exposed-tip probe and master probe.

METERS.
March 1, 2000... This submeter is wireless and radio -frequency-based. It features a compact housing, and an interface to company's automatic meter reading system and alternative third-party billing service providers.

PRESSURE REGULATOR.
March 1, 2000... The 67CF Series instrument air-supply regulator is available for all pneumatic or digital instruments. The company says laboratory leak testing demonstrates that the units have tight shutoff. Setpoint capabilities supply high-tech instruments.