Plant Engineering articles from August 2006

Plant Engineering archives from August 2006

From system integration to Silly Putty, solutions abound.
August 1, 2006... Bob Vavra, Editor Here's why manufacturing is such a fascinating topic to cover: Sometimes the solutions to the problems faced daily on the plant floor are solved with dazzlingly effective technological advancements we would have deemed...

Tips & Tricks.
August 1, 2006... By Staff Maintenance ideas that help save time, money, and aggravation Involve key staff in CMMS training Staff When implementing a CMMS, it is critical that the work order system is accurate in parts used, cause codes, work...

Plant Engineering earns three awards in ASBPE competition.(American Society of Business Publication Editors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff PLANT ENGINEERING magazine received three writing awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors, including two national awards presented at the ASBPE convention in Chicago July 20. Senior editor Jack Smith...

Schneider Electric to showcase innovations at company event.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Schneider Electric will debut its first "Initi@tive 2006: the Gateway to the New Electric World" in the United States on Sept. 28-30 in at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando. The event follows similar...

New version of LabVIEW debuts at NI Week event.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff National Instruments unveiled LabVIEW 8.20, the 20th anniversary edition of the LabVIEW graphical system design platform for control, test and embedded system development, at its annual NI Week event in Austin, TX. Company...

MESA conference to focus on manufacturing excellence.(Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff The Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association's 2006 Plant to Enterprise conference will be at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando from Oct. 9-12. The theme of MESA's 2006 conference is, "Solving the Puzzle of...

IMTS prepares for biennial event in Chicago Sept. 6-13.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff The International Manufacturing Technology Show will host more than 1,200 exhibitors at Chicago's McCormick Place on Sept. 6 through Sept. 13. IMTS, held every other year, is sponsored by Association For Manufacturing Technology...

Refinery manager to address ISA on Katrina damage, recovery.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff In his years of higher education, on-the-job experience and management successes, Peter Batey didn't have training for the kind of devastation that Hurricane Katrina brought to his refinery. "We faced an unbelievable...

Reader Feedback.(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Clearing up the controversy over CO2 use as refrigerant Boy-oh-boy am I confused. In the July issue of PLANT ENGINEERING on Page 16 you have a article concerning CO2 and its use as a refrigerant. I quote: "Because of its...

Study: Performance management tools are underutilized.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff According to a new AberdeenGroup research report, manufacturing performance correlates directly to frequency of measurement, yet 84% of manufacturing companies are still relying on spreadsheets and ad hoc performance monitoring...

Regulatory reform improving, but slowly, NAM tells House.(National Association of Manufacturers.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Regulatory reform is a major thrust of the Bush Administration's agenda to help manufacturing become more competitive, and the Environmental Protection Agency has been especially responsive to the need to improve regulations, but...

Abanaki has solutions book for oil skimming applications.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Abanaki Corporation, the leading U.S. supplier of oil skimming equipment, announced its first engineering sourcebook for oil skimming applications. Called the "Solutions Sourcebook," the 28-page handbook offers application notes...

NEMA has new arc flash white paper.(National Electrical Manufacturers Association)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff "Arc-Flash Analysis - Utility System Parameters Critical for Accurate PPE" is the title of a recently-released white paper from the Low Voltage Distribution Equipment section of NEMA. The report highlights the need for utility...

Process optimization and training market poised for explosive growth, ARC finds.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The real-time process optimization and training market is expected to grow by nearly 10% per year over the next five years. The market was about $670 million in 2005 and is forecasted to reach more than $1 billion in 2010,...

ABB sees profit growth in 2Q; automation leads the charge.
August 1, 2006... By Staff ABB reported a sharp increase in orders and profitability for the second quarter of 2006. Earnings before interest and taxes increased to $640 million from $371 million in the same quarter a year ago, reflecting good growth in the...

Fluke offers updated electrical safety video.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Fluke Corporation has updated its Electrical Measurement Safety interactive video aimed at reducing hazards for people measuring electrical circuits, and helping reduce risk and liability for employers. Electrical safety...

Converting from manual to automatic scheduling in a union environment.
August 1, 2006... By James Fitzpatrick, Tugboat Software In large manufacturing operations with huge crews working 24/7, just getting the right people in the right jobs is difficult. In union environments, it becomes even more challenging since workers'...

World-class maintenance: Opportunities and challenges.
August 1, 2006... By Anthony M. Smith and Glenn R. Hinchcliffe Most discussions of world-class maintenance have a rather lengthy list of ingredients that must be in place to qualify as such. Our experiences suggest which key ingredients should be pursued to...

The endless journey.
August 1, 2006... By Kevin Campbell, Senior Editor Lean manufacturing can have tremendous effects on a company, but it requires a big commitment For some manufacturers, Lean manufacturing is a goal. For others, it is a destination. It shouldn't be...

Putting stakeholders first in satisfying quality, safety and other requirements.
August 1, 2006... By David Hoyle, C Eng. MRAeS Many readers will have encountered ISO 9000 registered organizations that failed to keep their promises. It is often the case that organizations have approached the standard with the wrong objective in mind....

Consumable manufacturing leads and follows innovation.
August 1, 2006... By Bob Vavra, Editor In a world of increasing manufacturing customization, there are still some things made to conform. Gasoline is still gasoline, at whatever price. Corn flakes are still corn flakes. Viagra is still Viagra. In the...

Food process manufacturers find old, new ways to stay efficient.
August 1, 2006... By Kevin Campbell, Senior Editor Security. RFID. Uptime and downtime, and maintenance and maintenance-free. For those in the manufacturing sector, these are just a few of the buzzwords that are dealt with daily. Here's another one: margin....

Oxygen transmitter.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The SPECTRACAP sensor measures oxygen concentration optically by measuring the absorption of light from a tunable diode laser. The device can be flange-mounted directly into a process without sampling or sample conditioning...

Cordless drill/driver.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The PowerMaxx cordless drill/driver features a 4.8-V battery that drives up to 95 #10 x 1-inch screws on one charge. It is useful for assembly work, carpentry, electrical work or any other application that requires getting into...

Double-level terminal blocks.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The four-conductor connection of the UT double-level screw terminal blocks is an alternative to standard feed-through terminal blocks when it comes to potential distribution. The universal FBS plug-in bridge system allows cross...

Terminal enclosure catalog.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The 90-page catalog detailing more than 500 increased safety terminal enclosures and systems is free upon request. It includes primers on increased safety, covering its design principles, areas of use, applicable standards,...

Portable air condition.
August 1, 2006... By Staff MovinCool portable air-conditioning units can help prevent mold and mildew damage. The spot-cooling technology effectively aids in drying out and dehumidifying mold-prone areas on an ongoing basis, or in the event of a disaster...

Ti5X Series infrared.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The Ti50 and Ti55 are designed for advanced technicians and professional thermographers working in demanding environments or applications. The Ti5X cameras feature a 25-micron, 320 x 240 uncooled vanadium oxide microbolometer...

Bulk bag unloader.
August 1, 2006... By Staff An FIBC can be placed in the bulk bag unloader by forklift, hoist or crane from floor level. As an option, a hoist on a monorail can be furnished, if desired. A bag frame holds the suspension loops of the bulk bag and can be...

Mounting adaptor.
August 1, 2006... By Staff Designed for use on any NEMA or IEC motor frame, the mounting adaptor includes a mounting plate to support the SGR and standoffs to provide clearance for bearing housings or slingers. Ordering the all-in-one package by motor frame...

Interlock switch.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The T4012 interlock switch features a compact, glass-filled NEMA 6 thermoplastic housing, making it suitable for use in most applications, including washdown environments. When used with the optional stainless steel actuator,...

Conduit connectors.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The connector's body and gland nut are constructed of stainless steel, offering the corrosion resistance of non-metallic fittings and the strength, durability and ultraviolet resistance of conventional metallic fittings. Designed...

Thermal imaging camera.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The high-definition 640 x 480 detector in the P640 delivers 307,200 pixels vs. 76,800 in an IR camera with a 320 x 240 detector. The P640's image quality allows a professional thermographer to see much more image detail to help...

Adjustable drain valve.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The EDV-2006 terminator solenoid drain valve removes condensate from air systems. It drains compressed air equipment, including filters, dryers, drop legs, receiver tanks, separators and after coolers. The valve has adjustable...

Power event monitor.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The TVSS power event monitor notifies facility personnel of harmful transient voltages where and when such surges occur. The power monitor helps users gauge and monitor power surges, whether onsite or remotely, via Ethernet. The...

Pneumatic nutrunners.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The QA4 series of pneumatic nutrunners are easy to maintain and service, the company reported. They are configurable in straight or angle configurations, shut-off or stall to 55 Nm (40 ft.-lb), fixed or floating spindles and come...

Turbine solution.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The XM-121A absolute shaft module measures turbine shaft vibratory motion relative to free space. The modular, open design of XM machine condition monitoring and protection technology allows users to expand the XM-121A system to...

Oil-skimming equipment.
August 1, 2006... By Staff Oil skimming is a cost-effective means of cleaning industrial waste water prior to disposal or discharge, the company reported. Abanaki's Model 8 oil grabber has a low-maintenance design and removes up to 40 gallons of oil per...

Rotating message board.
August 1, 2006... By Staff Rotating kiosk bulletin towers are the latest workplace solution product, the company said. The free-standing rotating four-sided organizational system allows large amounts of information to be displayed, viewed and processed...

Voice-order fulfillment.
August 1, 2006... By Staff EASYpick voice-order fulfillment system is now compatible with select mobile computing units available from the industry's top manufacturers. Mobile computing units, which resemble PDAs, offer touchscreens, bar-code and RFID...

Coulometric titrator.
August 1, 2006... By Staff The AQ-300 offers fast and accurate results. This reliable, easy-to-use coulometric titrator has six built-in calculation modes to accommodate solid, liquid and gas samples. It includes a statistics package with one-touch...

Vacuum pump.
August 1, 2006... By Staff A modular, high-capacity vacuum pump inlet trap for new or retrofit installation with 300-mm wafer fabricators and processes such as nitride, TEOS, TiN, AlO3, and BPSG. The MV multi-trap, 16-inch vacuum inlet trap features a first...

Help Smiley survive, and gain automation knowledge in new game.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Smiley is a survivor. Even though he's shipwrecked on a desert island, he has all the tools he needs to survive. But he's going to need some help. Smiley is the lead character in a new online game sponsored by...

Early Top Plant entries earn a timely bonus.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff PLANT ENGINEERING 's Top Plant award annually honors outstanding manufacturing facilities whose excellence keeps them ahead of the curve in a competitive global market. That excellence is reflected in our past winners - S&C...

Gates offers white paper on selecting drive systems.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Selecting the proper drive system can save you thousands of dollars over the life of the drive. Whether designing a new power transmission system or converting to a new drive, design engineers and plant maintenance managers have...

Gorbel offers online crane specifications.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Selecting the right overhead crane for any industrial application is important, for reasons of efficiency, safety and productivity. Now, qualified architects and engineers may specify cranes online at the website of Gorbel Inc., a...

Fluid handling solutions detailed in white paper.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff Manufacturers looking to improve the efficiency of their operations are taking a closer look at industrial fluid storage and handling. That's the subject of a white paper by Stephen Dunkel, Systems Coordinator at the IFH Group,...

OSHA site adds steel manufacturing info.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff OSHA recently launched a new topics page on its Website (www.osha.gov ) aimed at assisting employers and employees with information on OSHA workplace standards for steel product manufacturing. Basic Steel Products, a new...

Registration now open for National Safety Congress.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... By Staff The 94th National Safety Congress and Expo is Nov. 3 through Nov. 10 at the San Diego Convention Center. The Expo, which is Nov. 6 through Nov. 8, brings together more than 750 safety products suppliers, offering an array of...

Taking a FIRM approach to understanding inspections.(Column)
August 1, 2006... By Sherman Williamson, OSHA Department of Enforcement The last two columns have described the procedures and rules by which OSHA is bound when writing regulations. In this column, we'll look at the policies and procedures for inspections....