Plant Engineering articles from January 2007

Plant Engineering archives from January 2007

In the beginning-.
January 1, 2007... By Lindsay Saran When Plant Engineering magazine was introduced in November 1947, the United States was transitioning from World War II and the Cold War. The United States emerged from World War II to face a political and military scene...

Manufacturing satisfaction defies simple mathematics.(Editorial)(Survey)
January 1, 2007... By Bob Vavra, Editor It is said Abraham Lincoln used to figure out math problems by working them out on a shovel covered in coal dust. Gratefully, we have more sophisticated ways of working with numbers today. Whether calculated on coal...

Contactless energy transfer: Mobile power on the go.
January 1, 2007... By Rainer Neufeld, SEW Eurodrive Many plant engineers or production system designers can tell you that electrical wiring is the bane of their existence. From installing the wires to rewiring as production lines need to be changed to...

Breath new life into aging electrical switchgear.
January 1, 2007... By Joseph Weigel, Square D Services Electrical distribution equipment is the heart of any industrial facility. Without a reliable electrical distribution system, operation of any facility would be impossible. From manufacturing processes to...

Power quality from the inside out.
January 1, 2007... By Staff At the 2006 Power Gen Show in Orlando in November, Plant Engineering convened a Roundtable discussion to talk about power quality issues and what manufacturers need to do to protect themselves against internal and external power...

Plant Engineering names Jack Smith managing editor.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Effective with the January issue, Jack Smith has been named managing editor of Plant Engineering magazine. Smith has been the magazine's senior editor for the past six years. 'The respect Jack has from his peers and contacts...

Coming to a theater near you: "Safety".
January 1, 2007... Staff 'SAFETY: Uncover the Competitive Advantage' is the name of a full-screen, high definition 45-minute movie that will be viewed in theaters in 45 cities across the U.S. beginning in January. General Motors, Astec Industries, AMT,...

AHR Expo focus: energy, automation and 'green'.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Energy efficiency, building automation and Green building technology will top the lists of many attendees when AHR Expo arrives at the Dallas Convention Center Monday, Jan. 29. More than 1,700 exhibitors are expected to fill the...

Spotlight on: Compressors.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Plant Engineering asked: What are the key considerations as plant managers contemplate buying vs. renting compressors? What are some of the advantages and/or disadvantages of buying vs. renting? As with all operations, most...

NMW seeks speakers for 2007.
January 1, 2007... By Staff A call for speakers has been issued for the conference program at National Manufacturing Week. Co-located with sister shows Assembly Technology Expo, Electronics Assembly Show and Quality Expo at the Stephens Convention Center in...

Bosch Rexroth names Bracht president, CEO.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Berend Bracht, former CEO of Bosch Rexroth China and former head of the company's U.S. industrial hydraulics operation, began his new duties as president and CEO of Bosch Rexroth's U.S. operations on Jan. 1. 'We are pleased...

Schneider"s Petratis to deliver Manufacturing Summit keynote.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Chicago event to honor Top Plant, Product of the Year winners Plant Engineering magazine will host its Manufacturing Summit in Chicago from Sunday, April 1 to Tuesday, April 3. This unique event will bring together the top...

Wireless working group established for end-users.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Staff Current and future industrial applications for wireless technology will be the focus of the User Working Group, which was formed to ensure that the ISA-100 standard will be consistent and provide maximum benefit to the market. The...

S&C"s Estey elected new NEMA chair.(National Electrical Manufacturers Association)(John Estey)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Staff NEMA elected S&C Electric president and CEO , John Estey as chairman of the NEMA Board of Governors. One of Estey's emphases is environmentally sound manufacturing. 'NEMA has long recognized the need for sound energy and...

Leading change from vision to reality.(Company overview)
January 1, 2007... By Dennis Cantillion An established British manufacturer used MES to increase operational efficiencies. Turner Powertrain Systems, based in Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom, traces its history back to 1875. Over the years, it has...

Harvest hidden HVAC opportunities.
January 1, 2007... By Timothy B. Janos, Association of Energy Engineers Efficiency and sustainability present challenges for plant engineers Efficiency is finally being expected and even mandated for the HVAC industry. The new energy requirements, which...

Understand the manufacturing problems before selecting the right tool to fit it.(Excerpt)
January 1, 2007... By Ron Moore, The RM Group, Inc. Most all companies are determined to improve their performance and become ever more competitive. Most try various tools for improving their performance, but typically have only limited success. The tools...

Universal output card.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The PCI-1727U analog output PCI card features 12 analog output channels with a DB-37 connector. The card is capable of outputting +/-10V and 0-20-mA current loops with 14-bit resolution. It is equipped with 16 TTL digital input...

High-current terminal blocks.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The ASIUKH series of high-current terminal blocks is designed for applications that require terminating wire as large as 500 MCM and handling as much as 380 A at 600 V. The terminal blocks are constructed with high-tensile steel...

Non-fusible and fusible switches.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Enclosed disconnect switches are designed to meet plant maintenance operators' requirements for compact and durable individual disconnecting means. The switches are offered in fusible and non-fusible versions and provide safety,...

Measurement software.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Measurement Studio 8.1 is a comprehensive suite of class libraries and user interface controls for test, measurement and automation applications built using Microsoft Visual Studio. Measurement Studio 8.1 simplifies and...

Transformer.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Classified as inherently limited, the 100 VA Survivor Class 2 transformer eliminates the need for external protection or problematic internal fusing. It also extends the range of Class 2 transformers, allowing them to be used in...

Internet counter.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The iFPX Internet/Ethernet frequency pulse transmitter is available in PC-board and standalone versions and works with most conventional counting inputs up to 500 kHz. Using a Web-based interface, it can be configured to...

Shrink wrapper.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The Continuum integrated tray/shrink system is designed for packaging applications in the food and beverage industries. The system provides efficiency, flexibility, quick changeover and a low-maintenance design. It includes a...

Light level switching.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Ballastar T5 ballasts are for use with F28T5 lamps and provide an increase in efficiency of nearly 8% more than standard T5 ballasts. A single control lead allows the user to switch from full light output to 50% power level with a...

Vacuum-hoist lifter.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The VB4 vacuum-hoist spool lifter uses a variable-speed hoist for up/down lifts and has a remote vacuum station to provide the attach and release power, with fully integrated fingertip controls located on the handlebar. Featuring...

Sheet membrane system.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The Pyroflex sheet membrane system for vessels in corrosive chemical processing and mining facility construction is a manufactured, fiber-reinforced composite membrane system that remains permanently plastic. The system is an...

Multivariable flowmeter.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The OPTISWIRL 4070 C flowmeter is a multivariable instrument that combines a vortex flow sensor with built-in temperature compensation and optionally available integrated pressure in a two-wire configuration. The flowmeter...

Brakes.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The PMB Series is a low-cost, multifunctional brake alternative that is suitable for use in a range of applications. Available in nine standard frame sizes ranging from 30 to 120, they feature a torque range from 45 to 4,250...

OPC server.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The S7/S5 OPC server provides fast data access to Siemens' S7/S5 PLC-family and compatible products. It features intelligent compilation of read and write requests that enhances data throughput; easy and intuitive configuration...

Sensor actuator interfaces.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Full-featured active sensor actuator interfaces for industrial applications provide users with wiring flexibility to achieve modular and decentralized process control in automation applications. Available in robust and...

Hand tools.
January 1, 2007... By Staff KNIPEX tools include water pump pliers, lineman's pliers, long-nose pliers, diagonal cutters, cable cutters, wire rope cutters and bolt cutters. These pliers are part of the more than 3,600 tools available for the industrial,...

Cordless saw.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The ASE 18 cordless reciprocating saw is now available with a lithium-ion battery. The blade changing system provides for easy, tool-free blade changes. The use of lithium-ion battery technology is ideal for a wide range of...

Stretch wrapping system.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The RS-6000 20-second stretch wrapping system provides high volumes of pallet loads at 180-200 loads-per-hour. The RS-6000 automatic conveyorized stretch wrapping system enables OEMs to help mass merchandisers deliver more SKUs to...

Sealed rocker switches.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The KR series of sealed rocker switches is designed for applications requiring switches to have an attractive style, superior feel and high reliability. The switches are suited for applications in the marine, off-road,...

Kanban cards.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The Kanban CardView System boards hold up to 828 cards in 17 different colors to effectively communicate to all employees. Red and yellow-taped card pockets are used to signal critical inventory levels or the need to immediately...

Rotary hammer.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The 1-inch compact SDS rotary hammer features a new anti-vibration system to reduce vibration in repetitive operations, improve comfort and control and reduce overall operator fatigue. Delivering 2.0 ft/lb of impact energy and up...

Gold-plated tool line.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Bondhus Corporation has expanded its line of 14K gold-plated hex tools to include straight hex end tools in both short and long-arm styles. The GoldGuard finish provides good corrosion protection and makes tools easy to find on...

Barcode readers.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The SCANEX family of barcode readers is engineered for use in hazardous areas. The Dragon D101 is a cabled trigger-operated handheld scanner; the Dragon M101 is a wireless trigger-operated handheld scanner; and the Nano is a...

Magnetic separators.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Eriez Magnetics introduces its ProGrade series of Magnetic Separators. The ProGrade line features high quality magnetic plates, grates, traps and tubes. The line includes professional grade magnets and assemblies at three...

Collision sensor.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The SR-61 Collision Sensor has a lower operating range for increased sensitivity in applications using 3 to 5 kilogram capacity robots and is designed to prevent costly damage to robotic end-effectors resulting from robot crashes....

USB drive combination.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The APC620 and Panel PC industrial PCs come standard with USB interfaces. To make data exchange more convenient, B&R also offers a robust drive combination with optional IP65 protection and a DVD burner for industrial...

Tongue-operated safety switches.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Omron Scientific Technologies, Inc. introduces two new universal tongue-operated safety interlock switches. Just 25 mm (0.98 inches) wide x 82 mm (3.23 inches) long, the T2008 tongue-operated safety interlock switch is designed to...

Circular connectors.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Amphenol Industrial Operations offers RoHS-compliant circular connectors for general duty and environmental applications. The series of connectors are widely used in the automotive, robotics, heavy equipment, machine tool and...

Clutch catalog.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Formsprag Clutch has published a 132-page catalog for its full-line of clutches and clutch accessories. The catalog is a comprehensive reference detailing the differing load characteristics of overrunning, indexing and...

Abrasive wheel.
January 1, 2007... By Staff The Sigma Screen is an all-purpose flexible mesh depressed center Type 27 abrasive wheel for removing light welds, burrs, rust and paint. The wheel features a blend of zirconia-ceramic abrasive grains bonded to a flexible mesh for...

Rugged RFID products.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Metalcraft introduces three standard RFID product constructions, the adhesive RFID label, the RFID hang tag and the metal-mount RFID label. The product constructions are intended for use and re-use in demanding environments, and...

Cut-off wheels.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Super Quickie-Cut cut-off wheels are engineered with the latest manufacturing technology. The thin wheels produce minimal burrs for cleaner cutting of carbon and stainless steel and give more cuts per disc. The new line includes...

Salary Survey: Web-exclusive data highlights regional trends.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Are certain parts of the country more confident about the future of manufacturing? Is the Rust Belt feeling less optimistic about the outlook for jobs in 2007? The results of the 2006 Plant Engineering Salary Survey are...

Web exclusive: Protect VFDs with power quality devices.(Website overview)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Staff AC motors are designed to run at constant speeds. However, the load demands of most applications require the motor speed be variable. A new article by Emerson Network Power Surge Protection and available exclusively at...

Blog on a two-way street: Share your opinions.
January 1, 2007... By Staff Plant Engineering's new daily blog, Five Fast Things, is already generating a good bit of attention. Now readers can get involved directly in two ways: Each blog entry (and in fact, every item at www.plantengineering.com )...

Research sheds light on emerging technologies.(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... By Staff Money is tight in manufacturing, but spending on emerging technology is on the rise. If you need to make that point to your corner office, here's some new research on the market that may help. AMR Research released a report...

Productivity delivers a bonus for plant floor managers.
January 1, 2007... By Bob Vavra, Editor By every measure, American manufacturing plants are more productive than they have ever been. That productivity translates into efficiencies and cost-savings for manufacturing. Plant managers who achieved cost...