Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation articles from October 2000

Industrial Maintenance & Plant Operation archives from October 2000

Behind the Black Gold.
October 1, 2000... Reliability Engineer Phil Goodman drew the lucky task of giving me a tour of the Marathon Ashland refinery in Robinson, IL, when I visited in early August. We drove around much of the 192-acre facility, him behind the wheel of my rental car...

Firestone-related fatalities climb in wake of new complaints.
October 1, 2000... The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it received 800 additional complaints about Firestone ATX and Wilderness tires last month, bringing the total to 2,226. The new complaints raise the number of reported tire-related...

Ford to build manufacturing campus in Chicago for suppliers.
October 1, 2000... Ford Motor Co. has announced it will spend $ 80 million over three years to build a manufacturing campus for auto parts companies that supply its Torrence St. assembly plant on Chicago's southeastern side. The 155-acre campus will be built near...

DaimlerChrysler working toward making vehicles 95% recyclable.
October 1, 2000... DaimlerChrysler Corp. said it is testing plastics recycling technology that could help make its vehicles 95% recoverable within the next few years. The Auburn Hills, MI-based automaker began a five-month pilot program last month that, if...

GE again leads magazine's 'Most Admired' list.
October 1, 2000... Fortune magazine released its annual list of "Most Admired" companies last month, ranking General Electric at the top for the third year in a row. Others in the top five included Cisco Systems (2), Microsoft (3), Intel (4), Wal-Mart (5). All...

OSHA proposes $2.5 million penalty against Phillips Chemical Co.
October 1, 2000... Failure to train workers properly was a key factor in a March explosion and fire at the Phillips Chemical Co.'s Houston Chemical Complex in Pasadena, TX, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The agency's conclusion...

Survey: Most MRO Supply Transactions Will be Internet-Based by 2004.
October 1, 2000... According to a recent survey of MRO buyers, suppliers and distributors, MRO purchases made on the Internet will double next year, and account for the majority of all MRO purchases by 2004. The findings show that 34% of the trading partners in...

Goodyear Engineered Products.
October 1, 2000... Goodyear Engineered Products has opened a 150,000-sq.-ft. distribution center near Columbus, OH, for its full line of industrial hose products. It houses more than 1,000 sizes and specifications. The company also operates a hose distribution...

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.
October 1, 2000... The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Washington, D.C., has posted its "Scrap Specifications Circular" on its Web site at www.isri.org. The circular contains guidelines for the recycling of nonferrous and ferrous scrap, glass cullet,...

BMW Manufacturing Corp.
October 1, 2000... BMW Manufacturing Corp. has launched a Web site (www.bmwusfactory.com) that allows visitors to view manufacturing activities in its South Carolina factory. It highlights the manufacturing of BMW's Z3 and M models and its X5 SUV. It includes a...

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc.
October 1, 2000... American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc., will expand its gear and axle manufacturing complex in Silao, Mexico, to include a forging facility. The company's two-year-old Guanajuato Gear and Axle plant will be expanded from 300,000 sq. ft....

Lucent Technologies.
October 1, 2000... Lucent Technologies will expand its specialty fiber optics manufacturing operations in the U.S. and Denmark to keep pace with the growing market for specialty fiber around the world. Included in the plan is a $9 million expansion of its...

Pirelli Cables and Systems North America.
October 1, 2000... Pirelli Cables and Systems North America will also expand its fiber optic cable manufacturing capacity by investing $83 million to enlarge its plant in Lexington County, SC. The project will add an estimated 260 jobs at the facility....

Deere & Co.
October 1, 2000... Deere & Co. has announced the formation of John Deere Tiantuo Co., Ltd., a joint-venture tractor manufacturing operation between Moline, IL-based Deere and the Tianjin Tractor Manufacturing Co., based in Tianjin, China. John Deere Tiantuo will...

Marathon Ashland, Robinson: A Refinery's Bold Bid for Survival.
October 1, 2000... It would be normal to expect that refineries are, by design, models of maintenance and safety efficiency. The superheated, pressurized omnipresence of thousands of gallons of volatile petroleum products, after all, cannot be treated casually....

SENSOR.
October 1, 2000... This magnetic reed switch position sensor provides control of the end stroke and positioning of pneumatic cylinders and valves. Its size makes it suitable for small spaces; its non-contact benefits allow for use in liquids, oils, grease and...

PROCESS METER.
October 1, 2000... The Universal Process Meter accepts all process inputs and displays them in any engineering unit. It can be used in applications such as indication of level, pressure or temperature, open channel flow rate/totalization, batch process control,...

VORTEX MASS FLOW METERS.
October 1, 2000... The Innova-Mass line of multivariable vortex mass flowmeters is rated Explosion Proof. They provide outputs for mass flow rate, volumetric flow rate, an RTD temperature sensor, temperature, pressure and fluid density via a vortex shedding...

ULTRASONIC SENSOR.
October 1, 2000... The ultrasonic sensor can be used with its Centro-Matic automated lubrication system's 60-lb. reservoir. It can detect the position of the follower plate with ultrasonic waves and reports when the reservoir is getting low on lubricant and when...

VACUUM INSTRUMENT.
October 1, 2000... The MC 300 Vacuum Instrument measures vacuum ranges. Sensors include thermocouple, cold cathode and convection. It features a large LED display; built-in self-diagnostics; selectable units; and recorder outputs for each sensor.

SURFACE PREPARATION TOOL.
October 1, 2000... The SRT-6 Spin Jet[R] surface preparation tool can be used to manually prepare surfaces with ultra-high pressure water jets. This semi-automated unit removes rust and coatings (e.g., paints, epoxies) from vertical surfaces, such as tanks and...

SCREWDRIVER.
October 1, 2000... A full line of Super Proto screwdrivers with ergonomic handles is now available. The handle has three sides and is made of two polymer materials. It conforms to the natural contours of the human hand, including the fingers and the palm, evenly...

DEBURRING MACHINE.
October 1, 2000... The new model BRM 2266 production deburring machine simultaneously deburrs top and bottom edges of cut rounds. It can process ferrous and nonferrous metals as well as plastic solids and cylinders from 2-in. to 6-in. in diameter and 2-in. to...

REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM.
October 1, 2000... The RC-460 is a wireless remote control system. The two-button control can be used to control lifts from a range of up to 150-ft. The range can be tuned for optimum signal strength and can be reduced if required. The user can transmit at the...

COLLET SYSTEM.
October 1, 2000... This new quick-disconnect collet system has been designed to reduce parts-changeover time. By actuating the spring-loaded collet latch, the old collet comes off. A new collet can then be attached in the same way. This system requires no...

BEARING ISOLATORS.
October 1, 2000... ProTech[TM] bearing isolators are engineered to provide bearing protection on almost any rotating equipment, including pumps, gearboxes, and electric motors. These isolators stop lubricant leakage while preventing outside contaminants from...

SORBENTS.
October 1, 2000... This expanded line of sorbents now includes more shapes and sizes, rolls, pillows, booms, and drum top covers for a variety of chemicals. Spill & Response Kits, which include sorbents ready for emergency purposes, are also available.

ELASTOMER WHEEL.
October 1, 2000... A new 2 1/2-in.-wide elastomer wheel is suited for applications related to material handling in a variety of industries, including automotive, aviation, medical and electronics, and food processing. Wheels are available in the R650, R500, and...

Common Sense Can Be the Key to A Successful CMMS Installation.
October 1, 2000... Sometimes I think most people view systems implementation as a survival test. I can understand a certain amount of trepidation from people who are responsible for a large-scale, multisite rollout. But people who have this responsibility for...

ACQUISITION BOARD.
October 1, 2000... PCI image acquisition board allows users to surpass the acquisition rates of IEE-1394 cameras and provide simpler cabling that parallel digital frame grabbers by using a high-speed serial data technology to link digital cameras with personal...

HOT BOX.
October 1, 2000... This Sahara Hot Box features a stainless steel spill pan to contain corrosive material that may leak from a drum. It is an energy efficient way to heat eight 55-gal. drums. The unit economically replaces inefficient homemade hot rooms and...

PRESSURE WASHER.
October 1, 2000... Designed for heavy-duty industrial duty in plant-type cleaning applications, the Avenger 1500-5 NG/LP hot water pressure washers deliver 1,500 psi and 5 gpm of cleaning power. The machines feature a powerful 5 hp 230V industrial electric motor,...

TRANSFER STATIONS.
October 1, 2000... Condensate Transfer Stations are an alternative to standard heating return units. Designed to eliminate cavitation at high temperatures, the stations eliminate problems that can arise when traps malfunction and condensate is transferred to...

METAL CONTAINERS.
October 1, 2000... These steel containers can be used for industrial material handling. The boxes have four-way access and have been designed for 4,000-lb. capacity. They have 13-gauge sides and bottoms as thick as 12-gauge. Box construction allows fully loaded...

PHOTOELECTRIC SENSOR.
October 1, 2000... The World-Beam [TM] is a new universally mountable photoelectric sensor that measures 35-mm high x 15-mm wide x 31-mm deep. The unit features an 18-mm threaded nose. Sensing modes include regular and wide-angle diffuse (proximity mode) with...

FAN.
October 1, 2000... The 20-ft. diameter HVLS (high volume, low speed) fan can circulate air over an area in excess of 15,000 sq. ft. It reduces the effective temperature 6[degrees] to 8[degrees] F through convection-assisted evaporation of perspiration from...

DE-WATERING AND SLUDGE PUMPS.
October 1, 2000... The P and SP lines of submersible portable de-watering and sludge pumps have been designed to operate continuously. De-watering pumps range from 1/2 hp to 100 hp. The SP line of sludge pumps features ductile iron volutes and vortex impellers....

ARM ASSEMBLY.
October 1, 2000... This microscope arm assembly is suitable for retrofitting most boom stand microscopes. A 10-year warranty is included. The scope arm uses a 1 1/2-in. square-mounting clamp on the work surface. The unit may also be bolted down with the four-hole...

POWER CORD.
October 1, 2000... The new 30338 series of portable GECI power cords incorporates an inline GFCI with a molded 5-15P plug line side and the customer's designated termination load side. This 120-volt, 15-amp GFCI also incorporates an automatic reset after primary...

LUMINAIRES.
October 1, 2000... The DuraBay series of 21-in. Glass High Bay luminaires is available in open, enclosed, or open and enclosed shrouded optical choices. It is made of borosilicate glass and features heavy-gauge mounting brackets and sliding latches.

PANEL INDICATORS.
October 1, 2000... DMP200 and DML300 are two new series of fully programmable, digital panel indicators. The DMP200 series consists of four universal input indicators that are suited to operate with linear and rotary potentiometers. The DML300 series of digital...

FULL-FACE PROTECTION.
October 1, 2000... Impact-resistant polycarbonate MonoShield[TM] is designed to clip directly onto MonoGoggle[R] protective eyewear products to provide full-face protection and distortion-free vision. Its one-piece, low-profile construction shields against splash...

GLOVES.
October 1, 2000... Nuaramid[R] Plus Gloves are cut-, abrasion-, fatigue- and flame-resistant. They can be used in applications such as sheet metal, glass-handling, canning, recycling, welding, injection molding and metal stamping. The gloves can be cleaned with...

EYEWEAR.
October 1, 2000... Willson[R] Stellar[TM] eyewear features a nickel-silver frame design and a six-base spherical curve lens offering a distortion-free field of vision. This protective eyewear allows insertion of prescription lenses and has an adjustable...

HARNESS KIT.
October 1, 2000... The Klein-Lite construction-grade tradesman's set consists of a fall-arrest harness and deceleration lanyard. The harness, with adjustable shoulder and leg straps, is made from lightweight polyester web material that provides chemical...

NITRILE GLOVES.
October 1, 2000... New Nitrotough [TM] N110 is an ultra-lightweight, palm-coated (nitrile) glove that provides dexterity and tactile sensitivity and protection from physical hazards. It is designed with a seamless, non-lining 100%-stretch nylon liner and a...

CONTAINMENT CADDY.
October 1, 2000... The Gator [TM] Spill Containment Caddy can manage 30 or 55 gallons of hazardous chemicals with its oversized spill sump. The Gator Tuft polyethylene construction is resistant to industrial chemicals. The large wheels roll easily and rounded...

EYE PROTECTION.
October 1, 2000... The Uvex Genesis protects the entire eye socket area with peripheral coverage and unobstructed vision. It consists of a lightweight external polycarbonate frame coupled with a soft elastomer internal frame. A ventilation space between the frame...

RESPIRATORS.
October 1, 2000... Two new lightweight particulate respirators feature electrostatically charged filter media to help make breathing easier and cooler. They are collapse-resistant and include a soft cover web on the inner panels to improve comfort against the...

TechCHECK.
October 1, 2000... Properly Selected Heaters Ensure Inside Comfort, Safety When planning for the winter heating season, proper selection of a comfort heat system is essential to getting the most for your investment in production and employee productivity. To...

RECEPTACLE.
October 1, 2000... The Smoker's Cease-Fire [TM] cigarette butt receptacle offers an oxygen-restrictive design that snuffs out burning cigarettes. The unit is constructed with a neutral gray flame-retardant housing and a galvanized inner pail.

INSPECTION MIRROR.
October 1, 2000... A new line of portable inspection mirrors can be used to look under or around vehicles, machinery, and equipment. A flat or convex acrylic mirror is attached to a 51-in, handle.

HAZ-MAT PRODUCTS.
October 1, 2000... Products are available for storing, dispensing, and collecting flammable and corrosive reagents. They include storage and disposal cans made from stainless steel and fitted, with Teflon [R] gasketing material.

SPILL-CONTAINMENT PRODUCTS.
October 1, 2000... Eagle [R] spill-containment and spill-prevention products have been designed to comply with EPA and DOT codes that regulate the handling of hazardous materials. The product line includes two- and four-drum spill platforms and salvage drums.

WATERLESS HAND WIPES.
October 1, 2000... Sani-Tuff waterless hand wipes feature a patented dual-texture wiper. The abrasive side removes tough soils such as oil, ink, grease, grime, and paint, while the other side provides smooth wiping.

ANTI-FATIGUE MAT.
October 1, 2000... The Ortho Mat features a PVC nitrile closed-cell rubber construction that is impervious to acids, chemicals, petroleum, and oils. It measures 3/4-in, in thickness and features beveled edges.

EYEWEAR.
October 1, 2000... New LSK eyewear has been designed to provide protection against stray light from today's most common lasers. It has a wraparound polycarbonate "uni-lens." The eyewear features adjustable lens inclination and temple length.

WORK BOOT.
October 1, 2000... Generation 2000 [TM] PVC protective work boots have a completely new design. Soles feature greater surface contact, providing increased stability. The lowered toe spring design also distributes weight better, according to the company.

SAFETY SYSTEM.
October 1, 2000... ValvGuard [TM] allows plant operators to monitor and test safety-related field devices on-line, as often as desired, and store the test results automatically for auditing purposes.

SAFETY LIGHT.
October 1, 2000... This hands-free shoulder safety light illuminates a 15-ft. area in fluorescent light. A harness holds the light and a battery pack. The tube light clips to the harness or extends on a cord.

WIRELESS MONITORING.
October 1, 2000... StatusPager interfaces with machine control, monitoring or alarm equipment, providing notification of conditions or trends via an alphanumeric pager and/or e-mail. Available in several models, the StatusPager DI can send 50 messages using two...

CLEANING SYSTEM.
October 1, 2000... Visionoil is a waterless cleaning system. It is a biodegradable emulsion made from vegetable oils blended with other cleaning components. The product can bind dust, loose dirt and water-insoluble impurities.

CALIBRATION SOFTWARE.
October 1, 2000... Version 1.90 QM6 Quality Manager calibration maintenance software package includes a database opening parameter. This feature allows direct navigation to a position in QM6. New communications drivers also included.

ABRASION-RESISTANT COMPOUNDS.
October 1, 2000... Wear Guard Abrasion-Resistant Systems protect machinery and equipment from abrasion damage. Filled with abrasion-resistant silicon carbide or alumina ceramic beads, these products are suitable for lining exhausters, pulverizers, ash handling...

TEMPERATURE CALIBRATOR.
October 1, 2000... The Fluke 724 temperature calibrator measure and source functions can test and calibrate almost any temperature instrument. Process instrument technicians, can simultaneously view input and output data on an easy-to-read (measure/source) dual...

PIPE AND DUCT LAGGING.
October 1, 2000... Seal[TM] LAG series combine a loaded vinyl noise barrier with a fibrous glass scrim reinforced aluminum foil facing on one side. It is available with quilted fiberglass decoupler on the back.

DUAL-PRIORITY VALVE.
October 1, 2000... The dual priority valve, or Hammer Valve's twin inlet ports, accept flow from two pumps. The valve also offers one relief control, solenoid connection, flow control, two bypass ports and a single priority port for the attachment. These features...

STEEL-BY-WIRE APPLICATION.
October 1, 2000... This new Steel-By-Wire system is available in Linde's new R 14 Active -- R 20 Active reach trucks. It replaces the hydraulic steering, employing fewer components and uses less power. It incorporates a variable-torque device, MR damper.

RODLESS CYLINDER.
October 1, 2000... The HPS Powerslide-2 uses Hoerbiger-Origa cylinders with an extensive use of plastics and a redesign of the aluminum barrel extrusion. The Powerslide-2 features Hepco double row bearings.

CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM.
October 1, 2000... Beeper-size carbon monoxide alarm uses solid-state infrared sensor that responds to carbon monoxide. Micro-controller intelligence self-tests every 10 minutes. When threatening levels of carbon monoxide are detected, an alarm sounds.

Conductor Bars for Crane Electrification Speed Steelmaker's Post-Fire Recovery.
October 1, 2000... One year after fire destroyed Worthington Industries' Monroe, OH, plant, the first new production coil exited the company's production line. Much of the company's fall 1998 recovery success was due to the equipment suppliers and installation...

Gravity-Fed Parts Handling System Improves Engine Plant's Kit-Making Process.
October 1, 2000... Automaker DaimlerChrysler designed its new 2.7L LH and JR engines to improve performance in its Intrepid and Concorde models. To satisfy the demand for these cars, the company's Kenosha (WI) Engine Plant set new production levels of 1,000...

PRIORITY VALVES.
October 1, 2000... The new FBCV series of Priority Valve are designed to minimize pressure drop in the bypass condition. These solenoid-operated valves are designed for control of rugged attachments and mobile applications.

PNEUMATIC SCREENER.
October 1, 2000... A new Blo-Thru Vibroscreen[R] vibratory separator employs twin screening decks to sift or scalp up to 60,000-lbs./hour of free-flowing material in-line with dilute-phase pneumatic conveying systems. Chambers above the top screen and below the...

HAND CLEANERS.
October 1, 2000... Naturally Tuff Orange is a newly formulated line of waterless industrial hand cleaners. These products are available in a variety of high-capacity and portable put-ups, including 55-gal. drums, flat top gallons and pump gallons. All...

FASTENING TOOL.
October 1, 2000... Twist'r[TM] is a twist-action powder-actuated fastening tool. It features an automatic-locking barrel that accommodates .22 caliber loads and drives pins from 1/2- to 3-in, in length. The tool also features a red handle and a rubber grab-rail....

GEAR REDUCER.
October 1, 2000... The MotionMaster 7300 (MM7300) is a geometric gear measuring system that includes a planetary gear set design, involute net-shaped gears, and an extruded aluminum housing. It also features a spring-loaded, rubber-coated lip seal, and a...

ADAPTERS AND UNIVERSAL JOINTS.
October 1, 2000... This 10-piece universal/adapter set contain five SuperKrome[R] adapters, three impact universal joints, and two SuperKrome universal joints. The set is packaged in a molded plastic case. The universal joints feature a 30[degrees] flex-angle. A...

DIESEL ENGINE.
October 1, 2000... The inverter-based PipePro[TM] 304 is a diesel engine-driven welding machine that also operates independently of the engine, using 230-V, single- or three-phase electric power. It provides 5- to 375-amps of CC/CV weld output from its 26-HP...

WIRE ROPE CUTTERS.
October 1, 2000... Drop-forged and finely ground alloy steel heads and drop-forged aluminum handles cut cleanly without crushing or deforming the ends of the wire. Vinyl cushion grip handles will not slip. These cutters are suitable for fire and emergency rescue...

PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER.
October 1, 2000... The Airmaster portable air conditioner operates independently of central systems. It is available with dual, flexible air nozzles that direct cool air where needed. It is suitable for settings where it is unnecessary or impractical to cool an...

REFRIGERATED DRYERS.
October 1, 2000... HPRD refrigerated dryers provide dry compressed air for high-pressure applications up to 900 psig maximum working pressure. The dryers feature smooth surface, self-cleaning, copper heat exchangers.

THERMOSTAT.
October 1, 2000... WK series thermostats are rated at 20 amps. These cold-capillary thermostats are UL-, CSA-, VDE- and OGEE-approved. They feature a temperature range of -31[degrees] F to 104[degrees] F with differentials from 40[degrees] F to 10[degrees] F.

DUCT FAN.
October 1, 2000... The Turbo [TM] in-line duct fan is available for duct sizes to 10 in. It features an external rotor motor with a non-overloading backwardly inclined wheel and is designed for use either as exhaust or supply duty.