Plant Engineering articles from February 2009

Plant Engineering archives from February 2009

Signal conditioning delivers improved application results.
February 1, 2009... By Jeff Thornton, Red Lion Controls Signal conditioning is used to convert, amplify or isolate a signal from one device to another. The most common application is converting a sensor signal such as a thermocouple, RTD or process signal and...

Study: Wireless use in food, beverage.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Staff KEYWORD: WIRELESS Increasing population and growing consumer demand for packaged foods has forced the food and beverage industry to look at new technologies that provide flexibility, easiness of operation and constant tracking...

What's happening in batch automation these days?
February 1, 2009... By Dennis Brandl, BR&L Consulting, ISA 88 The big thing in batch automation is to go small and to go fast. Batch automation systems follow the ISA 88 standard with a lot of success, but there has always been a concern that systems built to...

Understanding wireless network architecture.
February 1, 2009... By Patrick McCurdy, Phoenix Contact One of the initial considerations when planning an industrial wireless implementation is the scope and sophistication of the network. Many times simple objectives such as communication to a single remote...

Shock data logger.
February 1, 2009... Staff The OM-CP-TSR101 three-axis shock data logger measures and records instantaneous shock levels. Unit downloads at 115,200 baud. Features include built-in accelerometers and programmable start time. Omega Engineering ...

Signal conditioners.
February 1, 2009... Staff Signal conditioner series includes analog, isolator, RTD, thermocouple and analog-to-frequency modules, which offer the option of programmable multi-function units or single input/single output models. ASI www.asi-ez.com

Wireless I/O.
February 1, 2009... Staff Wi-ModPak is a series of wireless I/O modules with up to eight I/O points per device. Modules come in 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz versions, have 256-bit encryption and are Modbus/Profibus compatible. Eurotherm www.actionio.com

Plug the Skills Gap at a grass-roots level.
February 1, 2009... Bob Vavra, Editor There were 793,000 people in manufacturing who lost jobs in 2008. Here's a story about one person who got a job in manufacturing in 2009. Julie Nechchat is a student at Valencia Community College in Florida. She went...

The Skills Gap.
February 1, 2009... By Bob Vavra, Editor Even in tough times, the looming skilled worker shortage isn't going away. The question is, what are you going to do about it? It is impossible to believe we're talking about job shortages in manufacturing after...

Future 30.
February 1, 2009... Staff Manufacturing's future is already on the job Young people are finding their way to manufacturing, and are finding success. Plant Engineering's Future 30 program is a year-long series highlighting the future manufacturing...

Motor control relays: Workhorses of the control world.
February 1, 2009... By David Brandt, Eaton Corp. Motor control relays are heavy-duty relays used to control motor starters and other industrial components. More specifically, they are typically used to energize the coil of a motor starter or contactor, which...

EPRI to evaluate solar.
February 1, 2009... Staff KEYWORD: EPRI The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has launched a project to help electric power companies add solar energy to fossil-fueled electric power plants, reducing fuel costs and plant emissions. Tri-State...

10 benefits of using adjustable speed drives.
February 1, 2009... Staff Adjustable speed drives can be used in most applications where motors power mechanical equipment. Drives provide precise electrical motor control, enabling motor speeds to be ramped up and down or maintained at a required speed. The...

AC drive.
February 1, 2009... Staff The PowerFlex 755 ac drive is available in power ranges from 7.5 to 250 kW or 10 to 350 hp at 400/480 Vac and 540/650 Vdc input; supports multiple languages; and meets global standards and certifications. Features include embedded...

Shaft grounding rings.
February 1, 2009... Staff AEGIS SGR bearing protection rings channel harmful VFD-induced shaft currents safely to ground. Unlike conventional grounding brushes, the rings are maintenance-free and work with virtually no friction or wear for the service life of...

Dealing with uncertainty in DMM calibration.(digital multimeters)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Staff Whenever we take a measurement with any meter, we're gambling that the instrument will give us the "real" reading. Fortunately, it's a very safe bet that a quality multimeter will deliver readings that coincide with reality....

Washdown gearmotor.
February 1, 2009... Staff The ASEPTICplus gearmotor includes the DAS IP69K-rated motor is designed to perform in the high pressure, high temperature washdown conditions found in the food processing industry. There is no place for bacteria or contaminants to...

SLV drive.
February 1, 2009... Staff The SJ700 series of inverters expands on the performance, capabilities and functions of the SJ300. The sensorless vector control algorithm enables the drive to develop more than 200% starting torque at 0.3 Hz. It can develop 150%...

Arc Flash University is back for 2009.
February 1, 2009... Staff Following last year's extraordinary response to the introductory year of Arc Flash University, a new series of classes on how to prevent one of the plant floor's deadliest incidents is back. Sponsored by GE, a series of four new...

Pelican acquires Hardigg Industries.
February 1, 2009... Staff Protective case manufacturer Pelican Products Inc. has acquired its competitor, Hardigg Industries, which manufactures roto-molded protective cases. Private equity group Behrman Capital supported the transaction, which is valued at...

When failure is not an option, plants opt for predictive analytics.
February 1, 2009... By Steve Tonissen, SmartSignal Corp. I recently heard a news commentator remark that failure is not an option for the incoming Obama administration. For power plants, refineries, oil and gas production and other industries with critical...

Utilities an excellent resource to help manufacturers save on energy costs.
February 1, 2009... By Marc Hoffmann, Executive Director, Consortium for Energy Efficiency Recent economic, energy and environmental trends may seem disheartening, but industrial facilities are increasingly recognizing that there's an opportunity in...

Getting students informed, excited about careers in manufacturing.
February 1, 2009... Staff There are two sides to the Skills Gap issue, as this month's cover story points out. One is understanding why more young people aren't gravitating toward careers in manufacturing. The other looks at programs designed to create a...

Reader Feedback.(Letter to the editor)
February 1, 2009... Staff Engler: Manufacturers ready to work with Obama The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States was a pivotal moment in American history. And it can truly be said that every last one of us from all points...

Manufacturing Summit brings knowledge leaders together.
February 1, 2009... Staff Industry experts on workforce development, asset management, energy efficiency and digital manufacturing will converge on Charleston, SC next month for the 2009 Plant Engineering Manufacturing Summit. The 2009 Manufacturing Summit...

Protecting the intangible assets on the plant floor.
February 1, 2009... By Tad Palus, Rockwell Automation Look across any plant floor and you'll see hundreds of assets your company finds valuable enough to insure. Machines, tools, employees - virtually anything within the plant - are worthy of protection. ...

Cooper Crouse-Hinds enters wireless market.
February 1, 2009... Staff KEYWORD: WIRELESS Another company has entered the wireless condition monitoring market. Cooper Crouse-Hinds has announced the addition of an extensive line of wireless products designed to monitor and control processes in...

Industrial vacuum cleaners promote safety.
February 1, 2009... Staff In nearly all industries, with the exception of the metals industry, the NFPA recommends vacuum cleaning as the preferred first defense method of controlling fugitive dust. NFPA 654 states, "vigorous sweeping or blowing down with...

High-speed camera.
February 1, 2009... Staff The HiSpec low-light high-speed camera has a monochrome ASA rating of 2,500 and can capture images in detail without requiring high-intensity lighting. The camera can record up to 500 frames per second at a resolution of 1,280x1,024...

Storage cabinets.
February 1, 2009... Staff Modular Combination Cabinets are suitable for storing, securing and moving items of varied size and shape. They feature full-width top drawers and can be configured with a variety of drawer sizes, either full or shadow depth. An...

Looking beyond the symptoms for power quality problems, solutions.
February 1, 2009... By Jack Smith, Managing Editor Sometimes, the reality of a situation is quite different from how it appears. The real problem may be cloaked by what appears to be symptoms of a completely different issue. Knowing how to look beyond the...

Hoisting innovation for safety, productivity and ergonomics.
February 1, 2009... By Kevin Campbell, Senior Editor In this age where manufacturers constantly search for ways to cut costs while increasing production, initiatives such as Lean manufacturing, ergonomics and safety influence their needs. They demand tools...

Website, partnership focus on new hearing regulations.(Website overview)
February 1, 2009... Staff KEYWORD: HEARING As the EPA works to better align Noise Reduction Ratings with real-world use of hearing protection, a number of proposed changes to testing, labeling and regulations are underway. A new Website,...

Equipment uptime, longevity Requires holistic fluid management.
February 1, 2009... By Doug Cameron, Kaman Industrial Technologies The best managers prepare their organizations for long-term sustainability and profitability. In the world of manufacturing, that means having a plant maintenance strategy that maximizes...

Alloy filters.
February 1, 2009... Staff The AHP series high-pressure filters offers a range of 725 PSIG using machined or diecast aluminum components. Features include a push-in element with double O-ring seals, silicone-free construction and corrosion protection. Filters...

2 million.
February 1, 2009... Staff The number of new jobs a national green economic recovery program investing $100 billion over 10 years would create, according to a September 2008 study conducted by the Center for American Progress and the Political Economy Research...

Selection guide.
February 1, 2009... Staff The "Thompson RoundRail Linear Guides and Components" selection guide is now available. It contains helpful product overviews, comparisons, relevant product specifications and ordering information. The guide includes an engineering...

Pipeline mixers.
February 1, 2009... Staff The Greerco pipeline mixer for continuous, high-speed, high-shear processing is designed for applications involving homogenization, mixing, dispersion and emulsion. The mixer features a skewed turbine/stator unit that operates at...

Guide-rib system for sprayer nozzles.
February 1, 2009... Staff The guide-rib system for sprayer nozzles is a two-component product consisting of a male adapter and a cam lever, female coupler. It's available in single-rib and double-rib designs that are self-aligning for reliable nozzle angle...

Hinged shaft collars.
February 1, 2009... Staff Stafford Hinged Shaft Collars feature two-piece construction with a triple-link hinge and are available with round-, hex-, square- and threaded bores. Easy to install in tight spaces, the components are offered with wrench flats to...

Chiseling hammer.
February 1, 2009... Staff The SDS-max MHE 56 chiseling hammer's compact design - it's 18 inches long and weighs less than 17 pounds - enable the tool to be used in various working positions and in hard-to-reach spaces. Its VibraTech handle, which reduces...

Welding end prep tools.
February 1, 2009... Staff The EscoLock blade lock system holds up to three blades at once to permit simultaneous beveling, facing and boring, and features a wedge-lock design that is designed to hold tighter while it works. Incorporating a radical chip...

Tooling kits.
February 1, 2009... Staff The nested-based tooling kit is suitable for most applications. The multiple component cutters are designed to route through layered materials for a larger surface removal. Comprising a 2½-inch surface cutter with replaceable...

Mobile tool storage.(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Staff Designed for heavy industrial use, the 460 series tool storage line upgrades previous models and includes three units that have been designed to meet the needs of technicians who need tools with them as they move around a facility....