Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation articles from March 2003

Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation archives from March 2003

Bird-X.
March 1, 2003... The Bird-X Critter Blaster PRO electronic repeller features eight audible harassment sounds that irritate animals and birds, blocking their communication and causing them to leave. Sounds from the programmable unit change constantly, preventing...

Dixon Valve and Coupling Co.
March 1, 2003... The Model 3030 SQ swing check valve for flow reversal from Dixon Valve and Coupling Co. is designed to protect food-grade and sensitive dry bulk contents. Cast-aluminum construction features a sealed cartridge for critical components....

Gateway Safety, Inc.
March 1, 2003... Scorpion lightweight protective eyewear from Gateway Safety, Inc. features polycarbonate lenses, hard-coated for scratch-resistance and set in a contemporary wrap-around style. Adjustable-length ratchet temples with four positions offer a...

Devcon.
March 1, 2003... Devcon Deep Pour Grout is a solids, filled-epoxy compound suitable for forming mounting pads, rebuilding spalled concrete, setting anchor bolts and leveling machinery. It is easy to mix and pour, withstands vibration and resists industrial...

Words of wisdom. (Editorial Comments).
March 1, 2003... It's busy at Stihl, Inc.'s, Virginia Beach, VA, facility. Manufacturing processes flow with such high-speed coordination that I can't help but think my mere presence there might slow things down just a hair. I speak with Bob Myers, an assistant...

Bethlehem Steel board votes to sell. (Industry Newsline).
March 1, 2003... The board of directors of Bethlehem Steel Corp. voted last month to sell most of its assets to the International Steel Group (ISG), headquartered in Cleveland, OH. The Bethlehem, PA-based steel maker, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy...

OSHA fines Georgia plant owner $258,000 after fatal explosion. (Industry Newsline).
March 1, 2003... The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the Durango-Georgia Paper Co. $258,000 last month for safety hazards at a paper plant it operates in St. Mary's, GA. The plant was the site of an explosion on August 17, 2002, that killed...

Dow details cutbacks. (Industry Newsline).
March 1, 2003... Dow Chemical detailed a series of company-wide cutbacks last month after posting a $182 million fourth-quarter operating loss, which was much higher than anticipated. The Midland, MI-based company said it would shut down two Texas-based...

Report predicts growing U.S. dependence on natural-gas imports. (Industry Newsline).
March 1, 2003... A report from an energy research group predicts that increasing U.S. demand for natural gas, coupled with a decline in North American production, will create a supply gap that can only be filled by greater imports of liquified natural gas....

GM to retool Georgia plant for expanded minivan line. (Industry Newsline).
March 1, 2003... General Motors said it will invest $150 million to retool its Doraville, GA, assembly plant to build a new line of minivans in 2005. The automaker said the decision will enable it to retain the plant's current level of 3,600 employees. In...

Rules established for keeping power data secret. (Industry Newsline).
March 1, 2003... Federal energy regulators approved rules last month that will keep secret certain information about U.S. power plants, transmission lines, and oil and gas pipelines. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission cited post-September 11 security...

Steel platform. (Product Focus: Material Handling Equipment).
March 1, 2003... The Style A Roil-A-Reel is a structural steel platform equipped with a mounted heavy-duty ball bearing roller assembly at the front and an adjustable roller assembly at the rear. The rear roller can be adjusted without tools to any of six...

Lift stacker. (Product Focus: Material Handling Equipment).
March 1, 2003... Model SM 15/20 is a remodeled power lift stacker for light-duty material handling applications. It is available with either a single mast or a telescopic mast for lifts. Standard features include hydraulic lifting/lowering using a high-pressure...

Modular conveyor. (Product Focus: Material Handling Equipment).
March 1, 2003... A modular conveyor features snap-together plastic belting and a direct-drive system. The all-plastic belting has no hinge pins and is driven by a variable-speed, direct-drive, brushless DC motor. The multi-level configurations are...

Transporter/Rotator. (Product Focus: Material Handling Equipment).
March 1, 2003... The container transporter/rotator combines three functions in one machine. It can be used to transport containers from a staging area to a work cell and back again. Lift and tilt are controlled independently so containers can be positioned at a...

Vacuum tube lifter. (Product Focus: Material Handling Equipment).
March 1, 2003... The VT series vacuum tube lifter features a three-pad attachment so one person can palletize 5-gallon pails without damaging the pail tops and seals. It has an easy-to-grip handle with up/down controls that can be adjusted to match hand...

Belt drive. (Product Focus: Material Handling Equipment).
March 1, 2003... This motorized roller, available in two sizes, is a high-power lightweight stainless steel belt drive specifically designed for food applications. Models 138E and 165E are equipped with 2- and 3-stage helical/spur gearboxes. The unit may also...

National Manufacturing Week. (News Briefs).
March 1, 2003... National Manufacturing Week takes place Mar. 3-6 at Chicago's McCormick Place complex. Sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers, the week features six trade events, including the National Plant Engineering and Facilities...

Stihl, Inc. (News Briefs).
March 1, 2003... Stihl, Inc., will invest $60.8 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Virginia Beach, VA, creating 200 new jobs. The Germany-based manufacturer of chain saws and other outdoor power equipment said it will construct a 228,000-sq.-ft....

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (News Briefs).
March 1, 2003... Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., celebrated the production of its first Endeavor SUV at the company's manufacturing facility in Normal, IL, last month. The model is the sixth to be produced on a single assembly line, using the company's...

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. (News Briefs).
March 1, 2003... Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc., has chosen a 2,000-acre site in San Antonio to build its sixth North American vehicle assembly plant. The company said it will build 150,000 Tundra full-size trucks annually at the new site, beginning in...

Clean Edge, Inc. (News Briefs).
March 1, 2003... A report from a San Francisco, CA-based consulting firm predicts that the market for sources of pollution-free energy will grow from today's $9.5 billion to $89 billion by 2012. Clean Edge, Inc., tracked trends for solar photovoltaics, wind...

Calendar.
March 1, 2003... * Mar. 3-6 * Plant Engineering MRO & Management Show; Chicago, IL; Reed Exhibition Cos.; 203-840-5307. * Mar. 19-21 * World Packaging Machinery Expo; Las Vegas, NV; National Packaging Expo; 800-859-9247. * Mar. 20-21 *...

Stihl, Inc.: where quality is the culture. (Cover Story).
March 1, 2003... The top-producing plant for this leading Germany-based maker of outdoor power equipment is in Virginia. Executives at the award-winning facility credit company culture and dedicated employees for nearly 30 years of continuous improvement. ...

Gloves. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... Truline Interceptor gloves, with jersey liner, guard hands from dangerous chemicals. Processed in an autoclave to remove contaminants and enhance its chemical-resistant properties, they feature double-dipped PVC and a non-slip finish. Arbill...

AC drive. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... The ALTIVAR 58 TRX AC adjustable speed drive features direct connectivity for Ethernet networks and increased power ratings for industrial applications. It uses sensorless vector control and is available with operator interface and card...

Direct-drive compressors. (Product Round-up: Compressors).
March 1, 2003... ASD series rotary-screw compressors feature the optimized Sigma Profile airend, Sigma Control system and one to-one direct-drive technology. They include an oversized airend connected to the motor. Kaeser Compressors, P.O. Box 946,...

Scroll air compressor. (Product Round-up: Compressors).
March 1, 2003... The P18H36 high-pressure scroll air compressor is an oil-free, liquid-cooled unit that offers compressed air for medical equipment, fuel cells and natural gas boosters. It uses a pancake-type brushless DC motor. Air Squared, Inc., 7014 Rock...

Compressor control system. (Product Round-up: Compressors).
March 1, 2003... The Vantage High-Performance Control System is standard on state-of-the-art compressors, including centrifugal, rotary screw and reciprocating units. It features an operator-friendly interface with a backlit LCD display. An operation log...

Industrial compressors. (Product Round-up: Compressors).
March 1, 2003... These industrial compressors feature a speed-regulated drive system. The motor consumes only the amount of electricity needed to generate the requested amount of compressed air. Available freestanding or mounted, the units use...

HVAC Staplegun. (Product Round-up: Hand Tools).
March 1, 2003... The PowerFast Outward Clinch Staplegun was designed to fasten insulation wrap around ductwork and pipes. It includes a bottom-load magazine and staple reload window. Desa International, 2901 Industrial Dr., Bowling Green, KY 42102;...

One-hand wrench. (Product Round-up: Hand Tools).
March 1, 2003... The wrench features a one-piece comfort grip handle and a narrow profile for work in tight places. The longer handle provides greater leverage. Tighten and loosen without removing wrench from pipe. Reed Manufacturing Co., P.O. Box 1321, Erie,...

Planer. (Product Round-up: Hand Tools).
March 1, 2003... The Model Ho0882 high-RPM planer is designed for edge and surface planing. It features a motor that provides rapid "chatter-free" stock removal and a double-sided tungsten carbide cutting blades. The large front-adjustment knob allows...

Cordless drivers. (Product Round-up: Hand Tools).
March 1, 2003... These cordless impact drivers and impact wrenches feature an internal in pacting mechanism that allows users to drive large fasteners without kickback. It makes them suitable for HVAC, electrical and automotive applications. Hex quick-release...

Ball bearings. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... This ball bearing line is made for equipment used in processing and manufacturing. They include corrosion-resistant mounted bearing units, made of composite, HDi heavy-duty cast-iron, and XDs extreme-duty stainless steel. MRC Bearing Services,...

Transformer test system. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... The PF-401 benchtop test system for transformers is a go/no-go system for production testing or incoming inspection. LED display shows primary test voltage, no-load current and core losses. The system generates data reports. Alpha-Core, Inc.,...

Liquid-application transmitter. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... The compact Liquid Smart Transmitter uses non-contact ultrasonic principles. It is suitable for corrosive or sticky materials and other factors that make contact level measurement impractical. Programming and setup is accomplished magnetically....

Liquid leak amplifier. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... The Liquid Leak Amplifier method used with ultrasonic inspection is suitable for detecting low-level pressure or vacuum leaks that produce minimal or no turbulence. Bubbles don't have to be visible to be presented ultrasonically. The method...

Moldable-foam packing system cuts material and labor costs for sprayer manufacturer. (Field Report).
March 1, 2003... For many years, Wagner Spray Tech Corp., a Minneapolis, MN-based manufacturer of painting arid decorating products, used folded corrugated inserts to protect its professional-grade paint sprayers during shipment. A recent switch to foam-in-bag...

Heat sensor. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... The LHS Linear Heat Sensor is a flexible, durable fixed-temperature fire detector cable designed to protect a range of industrial fire applications. Typical applications include belt conveyors, aircraft hangars and hazardous areas. The LHS...

Shaft couplings. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... NOMAR rigid shaft couplings are available in a threepiece design that allows for exchange or adjusting of coupled shafts, particularly where the shaft cannot be axially detached. The design accommodates a small variation between the sizes of...

Ethernet card. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... Total Web Solutions (TWS) is an Ethernet card and Web-reporting real-time power data anywnere, anytime via the Internet, with no active X controls. Electra Industries/GaugeTech, 1800 Shames Drive, Westbury, NY 11590; 516-334-0870;...

Pilot mixer. (Product News).
March 1, 2003... The IKA Process Pilot mixer is suited to chemical and food processing uses. A modular, beltdrive system connects the servomotor and mixing chambers allowing each mixer to operate at identical tip speeds. IKA Works, Inc., 2635 Northchase Pkwy....

How to upgrade a leaking metal roof. (Tech Check).
March 1, 2003... According to the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MIBMA), pre-engineered metal buildings account for more than half of all new, low-rise one- and two-story, non-residential construction in the U.S. With this abundance of metal...

Hazmat spec sheet. (Literature Rack).
March 1, 2003... This spec sheet profiles safe, over-the-road transport and on-site storage methods for heavy weight acids, caustics, pigments, dyes, paints, coatings and other liquids. A full-color spec sheet for the Integra I hazardous-material tank describes...

Pumping halogen bromine. (New Literature).
March 1, 2003... Article TL-159 59 is part of a series of data sheets that presents comparative information on metals and plastics considered for the handling of corrosive, abrasive, hazardous and other difficult-to-handle aggressive fluids. Each article...