Plant Engineering articles from February 2004

Plant Engineering archives from February 2004

Managing compressed air.(Forum)(Correction Notice)
February 1, 2004... The December 2003 article on "Managing compressed air systems" mislabeled the two curves shown in Fig. 1. The flat red curve should be for variable speed air ends and the V-shaped red curve should be for fixed speed air ends.

Fire-safe buildings.(New Books of Note)(Book Review)
February 1, 2004... Fire Protection Engineering in Building Design by Jane I. Lataille, P.E., is an excellent reference on incorporating fire protection standards compliance into the design of buildings. This handbook should prove useful for engineers involved...

Maintenance benchmarking how-to.(New Books of Note)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
February 1, 2004... There are a number of books on benchmarking available. Benchmarking Best Practices in Maintenance Management by Terry Wireman is distinctive in that it focuses exclusively on maintenance. This book provides users all the necessary tools and...

Manufacturing needs our support.(Comment)
February 1, 2004... I'd be willing to bet that as a youngster you spent many happy hours building things. Whether it was an Erector set, Legos, plastic models, or sand castles, you probably--like me--took great pride and satisfaction in the things you made. ...

Smoke-free policy: how far can you go?(Human Side)
February 1, 2004... Long-time maintenance department Supply Room Attendant Rose Krause's eyes were tearing, her nose and throat were becoming irritated, and she was getting a headache again. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There was no doubt in Krause's mind...

Training: is it an affirmative-action obligation?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... When an opening for Instrument Repairman Junior Grade was announced, Arthur Gomez was one of the first to apply. Gomez was a Latino employee with a better-than-average performance record as a mechanic grade two. Maintenance Manager Pete Schiffo...

Don't get tripped up by company manual.(Human Side)
February 1, 2004... In helping to frame the Company Manual, it never dawned on Human Resources Manager Don Gulden when he inserted the phrase "permanent employee" that it would come back to haunt him. Gulden rued the day that Maintenance Department Welder...

Asked to report two hours early.(Human Side; question regarding pay for carpenter called in to work early)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Carpenter Grade II Lou Golden worked on the day shift. One day, an hour after returning home, he received a call from his boss. "Lou, do me a favor. We're jammed up with work and two guys are out sick. Do you mind coming in two hours early...

Cell phone use, distractions, and accidents.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Truck drivers (along with construction workers) are the employees most at risk for on-the-job fatalities. Cell phones don't help the cause. As HR Matters E-Tips, published by Personnel Policy Services, Inc., points out, "It's no surprise that...

Can she refuse an assignment due to an unsafe job?(Human Side)
February 1, 2004... It was another one of those days. Maintenance Foreman Joel Danzig should have listened to his mother, he thought, when she had urged him to go to college and become a lawyer or doctor. Anything but a supervisor. Not only was the department...

Think twice before firing "Old Kelly".(Human Side)
February 1, 2004... Electrician Joe Kelly may not be the best worker in the maintenance department, but he's not the worst either. In Maintenance Supervisor Harry Rich's opinion, however, he's the most rambunctious. Or as Rich himself states the case, "He's a...

Can you fire a regular employee and keep a temp?(Human Side)(Brief Article)(Short Story)
February 1, 2004... When layoff time rolled around, Carpenter Grade II Frank Shea was stunned to find his name on the list. "You screwed up," he complained to Maintenance Foreman Howard Young. "My name's on the layoff list, and Jerry Braxton's still working."...

Innovation: the large and small of it; This is Part 1 of a two-part series. The second part will appear in the March issue.(Management Side)
February 1, 2004... The concept of innovation has been around for a long time. Webster's dictionary defines innovation as "the introduction of something new; a new idea, method, or device." For most people today, innovation, more often than not, conjures up images...

Software and process reviews enable continuous improvement.(Plant Electronics)
February 1, 2004... Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series on the value of software and process reviews. The second part will appear in the March issue. Too often organizations view the completion of a software implementation project as the end...

2004 National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show.(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... The 2004 National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show is one of six events taking place during National Manufacturing Week, which also includes the National Design Engineering, National Industrial Automation, National Enterprise IT,...

Label maker.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... GlobalMark industrial label maker helps produce professional, full-color industrial grade labels and signs, on site, in minutes. Signs and labels such as OSHA and ANSI safety signs and warnings, equipment ID, and security warnings can be made...

Fuse usage.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... MRO Plus (material reduction opportunity plus) is designed to help inventory managers at industrial manufacturing facilities streamline their inventory and reduce costs through a simple analysis of their annual fuse usage. It provides the...

Predictive maintenance.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... SmartSCANNER is a joystick-operated combination tool for corrective and predictive maintenance that offers data collection and machine analysis and correction in one instrument and one database. Shaft-coupling alignment and rotor balancing...

Maintenance software.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... MPulse maintenance software version 5.5 is a flexible CMMS for work order management. Features include history reporting, inventory control, and management reporting capabilities. Mobile Works uses Palm OS for remote operation, and MPulse...

EAM/CMMS software.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Synergen offers a leading EAM/CMMS software solution that supports the maintenance, inventory, purchasing, and operational accounting for capital-intensive organizations. Synergen, Inc. synergen.com Booth 119

Test instrument.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... 5MHz MultiScope model 381285 features a high-resolution viewing area with a 160 X 160 pixel high-density graphical display and electro-luminescent backlighting. The graphical mode oscilloscope display allows the observation of actual voltage...

Dispersion speakers.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Wide-area dispersion speakers are engineered for more efficient largearea sound coverage and higher-quality reproduction of voice, tone, and live public address. By mounting the transducers in a vertical line, sound radiates in a cylindrical...

Spill containment.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Ultra-twin IBC SpillPallet provides spill containment for two IBC tanks and is available with optional bucket shelf for either or both sides to catch small leaks or spills during dispensing. One continuous sump holds 535 gal and meets EPA...

Breathable glove.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Mach 5 is a breathable and dexterous glove constructed with Ironclad's patented iBreathe fabric, engineered to wick away sweat and foster maximum airflow for coolness and comfort. Odor-free and antibacterial iBreathe is a one-way capillary,...

Air control nozzle.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... FINZ is a versatile air control nozzle utilizing a tip design that provides a quiet curtain of air. The eductor-style orifices entrain air from around the nozzle, reducing noise levels and maximizing air flow to the area sprayed. Several...

Condition analysis.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Ultraprobe 10,000 is a multilevel, digital ultrasonic condition analysis system with onboard sound recording and data-logging. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] UE Systems, Inc. uesystems.com Booth 452

Vertical fan.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... An 8-ft, enclosed vertical fan is ideal when high-volume/lowspeed fans cannot be installed on the ceiling because of obstructions or when a movable fan is desired. The fan effectively cools mezzanines and provides a comfortable environment for...

Self-cleaning filter.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Auto-Vac filter removes virtually all suspended solids from liquid slurries. With the aid of a diatomaceous earth filter media, solid particles as small as 0.5 micron are removed from the liquid being filtered. Solids are continuously removed...

Water boiler.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... KN-10 one million BTUH water boiler includes a selfadaptive design to automatically respond to its installation and operating environment in a manner that retains efficiency and safety over the life of the boiler. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Vacuum cleaner.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... CFM 137 industrial vacuum cleaner features oversized filters to resist premature clogging. An external filter shaker handle keeps the main filter free of clogging dust and maintains maximum suction performance. Vacuum can filter up to 99.999%...

Decision support.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... SKF Reliability Systems formed a technology venture named @ ptitude to develop industrial decision support systems. @ptitude solutions are an effective alternative to manually accessing, analyzing, distributing, and storing information used to...

Seal kits.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Hercules Bulldog offers the largest selection of hydraulic and pneumatic seals and seal kits and specializes in heavy equipment, refuse, material handling, and manufacturing industries. It also carries a large inventory of replacement...

Material storage.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Valley Craft's storage and handling devices are designed for users in need of durable, reliable storage solutions in their work environments. Vari-Tuff brand high-capacity cabinet and portable cabinet lines are crafted of heavy-duty steel and...

Metal safety flooring.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Metal safety flooring products represent state-of-the-art technology in antislip metal plate, grate, ladder rings, and more. Super-hard 62 Rockwell on a "C" scale surface provides unparalleled durability and traction in even the most demanding...

Technical references.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Industrial Press has published technical references serving numerous fields and releases the 27th Edition of Machinery's Handbook in April. The new edition brings together volumes of information and data gathered, revised, and improved upon by...

Space cooler.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... PC7 personal space cooler is ETL verified and offers an ideal cooling solution for individuals in any small business or office. The portable, self-contained unit includes a remote control, requires no installation, and can be plugged into a...

Batteries.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... JASCO Battery offers a variety of batteries for almost any use, including emergency lighting, alarms, power tools, programmable controls, two-way radius, and uninterruptible power systems. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JASCO Battery...

Insulation resistance.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... 1550B MegOhmMeter combines insulation resistance testing up to 5000 V with measurement storage and PC interface software, making it ideal for installation testing, preventive maintenance, and commissioning, The tester automatically calculates...

Infrared camera.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Model E4 provides a radiometric jpeg image format that allows image post-processing on the camera or on a PC. It also features three independent, movable spot temperature cursors and audible beep alarming for high, low, or...

Clamps.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Oetiker manufactures various clamp styles in both zinc-plated steel and stainless steel with designs providing speed of installation, tamper resistance, and low-profile posture with a powerful, constant seal, which will hold against pressure,...

Leak detection.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Oil-Glo 44 fluorescent leak detection dye is formulated for large-capacity industrial systems and comes in two variations--one fluoresces better under ultraviolet light and the other better under blue light. Regardless of the type of inspection...

Hydraulic oil.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Shell TELLUS PLUS contains carefully selected and carefully balanced additives to provide optimal antiwear performance in vane, piston, and gear pumps. Advantages over competitors include oxidation stability, filterability, hydrolytic...

Matting.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Ortho Mat antifatigue matting gives immediate foot and leg comfort to employees performing standing and walking tasks. The level horizontal surface provides comfort while maintaining nonslip characteristics, even in high concentrations of oil,...

LED lamps.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... 3200K warm incandescent white LEDs and LED lamps are available in a variety of configurations, sizes, dispersion angles, packages, and standard electrical bases. Solid-state construction renders LEDs impervious to electrical and mechanical...

Lever hoists.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... LB lever hoists combine well-known, premium-quality features and high performance in a new lightweight, low headroom design. The size and handle length have been reduced for ease of operation, transportation, and storage. Corrosion-resistant...

Measurement instruments.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... Raytek designs, manufactures, and services a complete line of infrared, noncontact temperature measurement instruments, including the ThermoView Ti30 thermal imager. This imager provides fast image scanning and radiometric measurements and...

Label holder.(National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show Product Preview)
February 1, 2004... AngleVision combines a heavy-duty, clear plastic insertable label holder with a flexible "C" channel snap that retrofits the 1.00-1.12-in. diameter tubing used by major work station manufacturers. Tilt holder to any desired angle for maximum...

IR thermography on the spot.(Instruments & Controls)
February 1, 2004... Key Concepts * Successful IR thermography requires good equipment and a trained operator. * A list of targets is needed to select the right camera. * Try an IR camera before buying one. ********** IR thermography is used...

Avoiding common causes of O-ring failure.(Power Transmission/Maintenance)
February 1, 2004... Key Concepts * O-rings should be tested in service conditions * Compression set failure is common to static and dynamic applications. * Abrasion failure occurs primarily in applications involving motion. ********** ...

Guide to data capture scanning technologies.(Material Handling)
February 1, 2004... Key Concepts * Linear imaging and laser scanners each have their own advantages and limitations. * Neither type is suitable for all applications. * Analysis of basic application factors helps determine which type of scanner is...

User's view of steam traps.(Fluid Handling/Maintenance)
February 1, 2004... Key Concepts * There are four main types of steam traps. * Traps can discharge continuously or intermittently. * Lightly loading a large trap can shorten its life. ********** Steam traps are a pain in the neck to maintain....

IR sensor/transmitter.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
February 1, 2004... OS136 model miniature, low-cost, infrared (IR) sensor/transmitter features a 3/4-in. O.D. X 3 1/2-in. stainless steel NEMA-4 housing. Sensor/transmitter is useful for applications that require temperature measurement in hard-to-reach, confined,...

Improved pen arm.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
February 1, 2004... Improved pen arms are available for the company's 4-in. temperature and 4-in. pressure chart recorders. Product improvement features updated design pen arm for faster and easier pen and paper changes. New arm lifts completely off the chart,...

Smart color sensors.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
February 1, 2004... SpectroCam uses an internal spectrograph to split incoming light into its constituent wavelengths. Complete spectrum of a sample can be learned and small deviations detected. Sensor system is highly sensitive to color and has unlimited...

SCR power controller.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
February 1, 2004... The 7300A 3-phase silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) power controller is rated at 16-40 A, 100-500 Vac, with a 0-5-Vdc, 0-10-Vdc, or 4-20-mA control input. The controller offers zero-cross firing for fixed resistance loads or phase-angle firing...

Intelligent IR camera sounds alarms.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
February 1, 2004... ThermoVision A20 intelligent infrared (IR) camera allows users to remotely monitor and instantly identify thermal anomalies and irregular heat patterns in devices, events, and processes before failures occur. The ultracompact IR camera accepts...

Clamp meter.(Instruments & Controls: Products)
February 1, 2004... Model 200 clamp meter measures ac current to 400 A, ac/dc voltage to 600 V, and resistance to 20 M[ohm]. Features include high resolution, 3 1/2-digit display, and compact size, which allows meter to be used in tight locations. Functions...

Automation site relaunch.(Instruments & Controls: Web)
February 1, 2004... Relaunched web site features easy navigation and organization according to industries served, which include electronics, pharmaceuticals, automotive, paper converting, and others. The layout of the site invites first-time visitors to navigate...

Forum for Welding questions.(Tools & Welding: Suggestions)
February 1, 2004... Welding Talk Forum is an interactive chat room located at www.hobartwelders.com. There are three different forums: Welding Processes, Welding Projects, and Welding Products. The forum averages 25 to 35 questions each day and seldom does a...

MIG buying guide.(Tools & Welding: Literature)
February 1, 2004... A free MIG Welding Buyer's Guide helps make purchasing a MIG welding power source easier. This easy-to-understand guide explains how to select the welder and answers many commonly asked questions. The guide explains duty cycles, how to...

Flatness laser.(Tools & Welding: Products)
February 1, 2004... MG-2000 Laser Flatness Kit consists of a precision laser supported on a rotational mount for aiming the beam. Locking mechanism and micrometer adjustment allow for fine angular control. The laser beam is projected to a digital receiver on an...

Portable power.(Tools & Welding: Products)
February 1, 2004... Ranger 3 Phase delivers up to 11,500 W peak (10,500 W continuous) 3-phase power. The unit can also be used for ac or dc stick and TIG welding, MIG and flux-cored wire welding, and arc gouging. At 100% duty cycle, the power source is rated 225 A...

Cordless recip saw.(Tools & Welding: Products)
February 1, 2004... WSR 650-A is a 24-V reciprocating saw that has superior cutting performance. The tool combines efficient gearing and a battery antidischarge system to prevent a full drain of the battery. A counterbalance feature yields less vibration...

3-jaw puller.(Tools & Welding: Products)
February 1, 2004... A 3-jaw puller holds the jaws snug against the object being pulled when seating the puller, and prevents the jaws from slipping off under load. A centering point helps seat the tool and direct power straight, eliminating cocking. The hex...

DAQ software.(Software & Computers: Products)
February 1, 2004... instruNet World Plus is a data acquisition (DAQ) software program for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP that enables users to digitize, plot, control, analyze, and save to disk A/D, D/A, and digital I/O data from instruNet hardware. Software enables...

Enhanced EAM/CMMS.(Software & Computers: Products)
February 1, 2004... Synergen Series EAM/CMMS software has been enhanced with expanded compatible unit (CU) functionality, which provides new tools to streamline design, construction, and regulatory reporting activities. A CU is a design element used by engineers...

HMI touch screen terminals.(Software & Computers: Products)
February 1, 2004... Magelis XBT-G family of Ethernetenabled, touch-screen terminals comes in 5, 7, 10, and 12-in. screen sizes. Touch screen family offers a comprehensive dynamic object library that reduces configuration time; Ethernet TCP/IP, Modbus, and...

Energy savings calculator.(HVAC: Suggestions)
February 1, 2004... ENERGY-CALC is an online program that estimates dollars saved by using gas humidification rather than electric. It allows users to select items from pull-down menus and calculates annual energy savings. In many locations, savings are so...

Refrigerant purger.(HVAC: Products)
February 1, 2004... HPP-3 Series high-pressure refrigerant purger is designed to provide high-efficiency, automatic, noncondensable purging from high-pressure refrigerant (R-12, 22, 134a, 500, etc.) systems in large-tonnage process cooling chillers. It removes...

Large fans.(HVAC: Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Airvolution industrial, high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans with Whisperfoil airfoil blades are the ideal solution for cooling and ventilation of large, open environments. They are designed for maximum performance and energy efficiency in...

Making push-nuts.(Solutions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * Problem: A push-nut is removed from a shaft to make repairs. The nut is dropped and can't be found. What can you do to reassemble the parts and keep them on the shaft? [GRAPHIC OMITTED] * Solution: Get a brass washer that fits on the...

Sounds of music.(Solutions for right circuit shut off)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * Problem: When working alone on electrical circuits it can be difficult to tell which switch at a distribution panel cuts off the circuit. Is there a way to tell when the right circuit is shut off? * Solution: Plug a radio into an outlet...

Wire feeder.(Solutions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * Problem: When pulling wire, sometimes you end up with a long loop that has to be fed into a junction box. Many times the wire will twist and can't be fed. What can be done to prevent the wire from twisting? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] *...