Plant Engineering articles from July 2006

Plant Engineering archives from July 2006

The revolution is coming to a laptop near you.
July 1, 2006... Bob Vavra, Editor We just installed a new editorial production system here at PLANT ENGINEERING . As with most technology launches, there were meetings and seminars and demos and training, all leading up to the final changeover. I only had...

Wireless: New tools, strategies change how plants are monitored.
July 1, 2006... By Jack Smith, Senior Editor The Clinton Utilities Board needed to control and monitor devices at two outage-prone sites at substations in the Cumberland Mountains of eastern Tennessee. Terrain and distance were barriers to the solution,...

Monitor induction motors to ensure energy efficiency.
July 1, 2006... By Jon Bickel, Staff Product Specialist, Square D/Schneider Electric Second of two parts As energy costs rise around the world, the incentive for facilities to operate their equipment more efficiently will multiply. There are...

AppliedAutomation debuts in August.
July 1, 2006... By Staff Bringing automation products to the plant floor is just the delivery of equipment. Making automation an effective tool in measuring and managing manufacturing effectiveness is all about applying the right strategies. That's...

Shoup begins term as ASME president.(Terry E. Shoup, ASME International )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff Terry E. Shoup, Ph.D., P.E. and professor of mechanical engineering at Santa Clara University, took office as the 125th president of ASME during the proceedings of the organization's 2006 Summer Annual Meeting held in San...

Automotive, oil and gas to drive Malaysian welding equipment demand.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff Demand for welding equipment in Malaysia is set to expand as foreign investment boosts the general level of industrial infrastructure and manufacturing activity in the country. In 2005, the Malaysian government eased rules to...

Manufacturing center funded in Indiana.(center for engineering and manufacturing excellence in Columbus)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff The House of Representatives passed a bill providing $500,000 for the Columbus Enterprise Development Center to design and build a 50,000-square-foot center for engineering and manufacturing excellence in Columbus' Certified...

DuPont, Siemens establish alliance.(Alliances and partnerships between DuPont and Siemens)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff Siemens Energy & Automation has been selected as one of two guidelined distributed control systems suppliers for DuPont. "DuPont selected Siemens as one of its process control suppliers based on a Six Sigma project that...

FKI Logistex consolidates manufacturing, engineering sites.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff FKI Logistex has consolidated some of its North American manufacturing and engineering locations within its Airport, Post and Parcel division to take advantage of operational efficiency opportunities. Manufacturing in the...

Effective use of CO2 in ASHRAE book.(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers )(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff Because of its good environmental properties and relative safety, there is renewed interest in carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. Carbon dioxide was used in the early stages of refrigeration but fell out of favor with the...

People in the news:.(Siemens Energy and Automation Inc. appointed Dennis Sadlowski)(Emerson Electric Co. appointed Randall L. Stephenson)(ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd. appointed Robert N. Hausler )
July 1, 2006... By Staff Siemens Energy and Automation has named Dennis Sadlowski as Chief Operating Officer effective July 1. As part of his new responsibilities, Sadlowski will lead the Power Distribution & Controls Division of SE&A with the Apparatus,...

Spirax Sarco purchases AFTCO.(Advanced Flow Technology Company)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff Spirax Sarco, Inc. has purchased Advanced Flow Technology Company from AMJ Equipment Corp of Lakeland, Florida. AFTCO produces an electromagnetic meter, and its SSI EMCO division has a broad line of flow measurement technology,...

Flomerics to acquire NIKA GmbH.(software company)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff Flomerics Group has purchased NIKA GmbH, an engineering fluid dynamics software company based in Frankfurt, Germany that specializes in simulation tools for the prediction of fluid flow and heat transfer. NIKA's technology...

InfraMation 2006 to address predictive maintenance.
July 1, 2006... By Staff The InfraMation 2006 Conference, sponsored by Flir, is designed for anyone seeking innovative ways to reduce costs, improve worker safety and optimize productivity by averting shutdowns and extending the life of capital equipment...

PTDA releases membership directory.(Directory)
July 1, 2006... By Staff The Power Transmission Distributors Association has released its 2006-2007 membership directory. Updated annually, the directory is available in a compact, easy-to-use format that includes fold-out tabs, providing quick access to...

Proactive people management one key to Lean success.(Column)
July 1, 2006... By Arun Shukla In October 2005, I wrote a column for PLANT ENGINEERING titled, "FAT Results from Lean Implementation: Managing Business-Process Improvement Proactively." The FAT results I referred to were: Financially triangulated results,...

A "living" RCM program requires continuing measurement.(Reliability Centred Maintenance)
July 1, 2006... By Anthony M. Smith and Glenn R. Hinchcliffe The RCM process steps are one-shot efforts that essentially provide a baseline definition of the PM program for the system in question. However, we need to recognize three technical factors where...

Controlled thermal movement aids coupling alignment.
July 1, 2006... By Bob Boyle, Director - Power Transmission Products Applied Industrial Technologies, Cleveland, OH Shaft alignment is a critical component in keeping a coupling aligned. While most couplings can tolerate some misalignment, they operate...

Palletizers.
July 1, 2006... Staff Columbia Machine's floor level, high level or robotic palletizers are useful for tissue and towel producers. New turning devices offer mark-free handling with the choice of label out pallets, making sure labels are visible from every...

Incremental encoders.
July 1, 2006... Staff DGS66 encoders are available with an IP65-rated housing and provide up to 10,000 pulses per revolution for machine tool, textile, woodworking and packaging applications. The encoders are available in blind and through hollow shaft...

Gearheads.
July 1, 2006... Staff Micron ValueTRUE planetary gearheads offer drop-in replacement for most common helical gearheads at up to 30% less cost than comparable gearhead technology. They are available in eight frame sizes from 60 mm to 200 mm, with inline...

Heavy-duty turntables.
July 1, 2006... Staff Turntables are engineered for long-lasting operation in a wide range of industrial applications, including work and assembly stations, welding tables, swivel product displays, material container stands and fifth wheels. The SKF...

Liquid-level sensing.
July 1, 2006... Staff The microLEVEL series is designed with technology which self-adjusts the sensitivity upon installation. Operating at 10 Vdc to 35 Vdc, this three wire PNP/NPN and NO/NC unit can be implemented with one sensor. Either a 2 meter cable...

Prep tool.
July 1, 2006... Staff The Ground Millhog air clamp end-prep tool features air-actuated clamping, which provides instant attach-and-release to the tube I.D. for improving tube-sheet facing productivity. This lightweight tool can bevel, face and bore in one...

Cable reel.
July 1, 2006... Staff The NSCR700 cable reel features a compact design with a sturdy, narrow frame for use with live electrical cable. It can be mounted in confined spaces and is ideal for use with power tools, lights, machinery and generators. A...

Arms and balancers.
July 1, 2006... Staff The tools help customers achieve secure tool mounting that prevents torque reaction impulse to the operator, stable tool orientation for faster tool placement and tool balancing that can reduce operator fatigue. The vertical...

Electric power spec tool.
July 1, 2006... Staff SpecSizer provides accurate technical data, robust load models and optimized algorithms to assist in the selection of a competitively sized generator set that best suits a customer's needs. SpecSizer new features include the ability...

Signal conditioning card.
July 1, 2006... Staff Each of 16 channels on OMEGA's new signal conditioning cards accepts an OM5 isolated analog input module. With DaqView software, a user can configure any channel to measure temperature, strain, volts, current or frequency. Screw...

Storage cabinets.
July 1, 2006... Staff Durham storage cabinets are available in three interior configurations. One model is available with 45 yellow polyethylene bins which hook onto louvered panels in the rear of the cabinet. A second features 15 bins and two shelves and...

Monitoring software.
July 1, 2006... Staff Five new improvements have been added to Advanced Host Monitor software. Updates include enhancements to log analyzer reports, traffic monitor, macro variables, URL tests and scheduling. Version 6.0 implements features for clients...

Troubleshooting kit.
July 1, 2006... Staff The TK430-IR troubleshooting kit comes with an EX430 true RMS autoranging digital multimeter, an MA200 400 A ac clamp meter, a 42510 mini-infrared thermometer, a 40130 non-contact voltage detector, a set of CAT III-1000-V test leads,...

40-A power supplies.
July 1, 2006... Staff QUINT 40-A power supplies have an operating temperature range of -25 to 70 degrees C. They offer adjustable output voltage between 22.5 Vdc and 29.5 Vdc and Phoenix Contact's Power Boost technology providing permanent power reserve...

Heavy-duty conveyors.
July 1, 2006... Staff The 400 Series conveyors combine a low profile of 3 inches with load carrying capacities to 1,000 lb., and speeds of up to 2,000 fpm to satisfy material handling requirements. These conveyors are ideal for transporting heavy loads in...

Flow controllers.
July 1, 2006... Staff Model 80 series mass flow controllers for precise gas measurement are now available in stainless steel. These controllers provide stable control of gas flow ranges as low as 0 to 50 sccm. Units are also available with aluminum...

Flat panel monitor.
July 1, 2006... Staff The industrial 12.1-inch SVGA flat panel monitor is specifically designed for industrial or commercial applications. The LCD backlight has a life expectancy of 50,000 hours. The front panel is made of aluminum, NEMA4/IP65 compliant...

Tactical lights.
July 1, 2006... Staff The PM6 3330 LED and PM6 3320 incandescent lights are constructed of an engineering-grade polymer. The lights weigh 3.45 ounces. The PM6 LED use high-output batteries to drive a one-watt Luxeon LED, producing 41 lumens of light...

3D modeling.
July 1, 2006... Staff VX Corporation's 3D modeling support converts any True Type Font found on a user's PC into a vector format for 3D modeling. Users simply select the font desired and then type text straight into the VX Sketcher. There are a variety of...

Hose reel.
July 1, 2006... Staff Coxreels has added the 112-3-50 to the popular 100 Series of hose reels. The narrow 4-1/2 inch drum width makes it ideal for tight spaces that require up to 50 foot of 3/8 inch hose. It takes up 14-1/4 inches from swivel to removable...

Manualstacker.
July 1, 2006... Staff Manual stackers are ideal for low-volume-stacking and load-transporting applications. The "Fork Over" design works with any type of open-bottom pallet or skid, and the "Straddle" style accommodates any pallet or skid, even those...

Air conditioners.
July 1, 2006... Staff Hoffman's T Series air conditioners are designed to provide positive cooling for wall-mount and stand alone enclosures. This new line of air conditioners offers a wider range of protective capabilities and more BTUs of cooling to...

Fieldbus evaluator.
July 1, 2006... Staff Segment Checker is a powerful software design tool that easily designs FOUNDATION Fieldbus and PROFIBUS PA networks, check operational parameters to validate fieldbus segment architecture and evaluate potential problems with a...

Si programmer.
July 1, 2006... Staff Applied Motion Products' Si Programmer version 2.5.14 supports seven Si-compatible stepper drives, including the new STAC6 drive, as well as three Si-compatible servo drives. Si Programmer provides out-of-the-box use with integrated...

Ethernet camera.
July 1, 2006... Staff The TM-1405GE offers a high resolution, 1.4 megapixel CCD camera. The interline transfer CCD permits full vertical and horizontal resolution with shutter speeds up to 1/16,000 sec. Asynchronous reset, combined with a no-delay,...

Laser level.
July 1, 2006... Staff The L97 mini-magnet laser level can project a beam of light more than 80 yards to help align objects. The level makes a variety of applications easier for electrical contractors and plumbers. Tasks such as bending conduit, aligning...

Dry guard.
July 1, 2006... Staff Dry Guard bearings feature a unique diamond-like coating, and are designed to significantly reduce the coefficient of friction, enabling longer periods of safe operation under dry run conditions. Dry running can inadvertently occur...

Proficy Enterprise Connector.
July 1, 2006... Staff Proficy Enterprise Connector 1.5 provides bidirectional enterprise integration between Proficy and ERP systems such as SAP. The introduction of this real-time capability allows manufacturers to establish flexible production...

Bit and screw holder.
July 1, 2006... Staff The Allstar holder securely holds in place standard 1/4-inch shank bits. This tool uses two rare-earth magnets: one holds the bit in place; the other holds the fastener securely. The bit holder is available individually or packaged...

Top Plant, Product of the Year entry applications on Website.
July 1, 2006... By Staff There are less than two months left before nominations close for PLANT ENGINEERING 's two programs honoring the best in manufacturing. Application forms for the 19th annual Product of the Year competition and the third annual...

Synthetic Lube Guide now online.
July 1, 2006... By Staff Download the 2006 PLANT ENGINEERING Guide to Synthetic Lubrication at www.plantengineering.com. The 2006 Guide is easily downloadable in PDF format, giving readers a comprehensive list of synthetic lubrication suppliers by type of...

White paper details fluid handling solutions.
July 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,...

NAIMA offers free resources for insulation workers.(North American Insulation Manufacturers Association)(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association provides free educational resources on fiber glass and mineral wool insulation for workers through its Health and Safety Partnership Program, a voluntary program designed in...

United Air Specialists launches new Website.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff United Air Specialists has launched its redesigned Website, www.uasinc.com . The site guides visitors to the recommended clean air solution for their specific application and provides full product details on UAS' line of dust...

NAM sees nuclear power as a renaissance in the works.(National Association of Manufacturers)
July 1, 2006... John Engler, President, National Association of Manufacturers As U.S. manufacturers respond to the immediate challenges posed by the current high price of natural gas and transportation fuels, another, longer-term energy crisis looms. ...

Finding energy resources online.(reducing energy consumption)
July 1, 2006... By Staff To help American manufacturing facilities save energy and continue to thrive during this time of diminished supplies and rising energy costs, the U.S. Department of Energy has launched the Save Energy Now initiative. The initial...

Energy efficiency benefits to manufacturers.(Brief article)
July 1, 2006... By Staff Energy efficiency improvements can reduce utility bills and improve your plant's bottom line Many improvements require little or no extra investment, are easy to implement and have payback times of less than a year ...