Plant Engineering articles from July 2007

Plant Engineering archives from July 2007

A new plant management structure for a new 'world economy' – in 1985.
July 15, 2007... By Bob Vavra, Editor 'We are in a world economy that puts new competition in front of companies who never dreamed they could have competition. Companies are being driven to a least-cost-producer mentality with a focus on new ways of using...

Beyond the 'break-fix' mentality is a smarter, safer workplace.
July 15, 2007... Bob Vavra, Editor Hesh Kagan, the 'Wizard of Wireless,' was in our offices last month chatting about some new initiatives on sensors. The talk turned to low-cost sensors that would bring the cost of predictive maintenance down to the level...

Narrowing the Lean viewpoint.
July 15, 2007... By Mike Wynn, Humantech, Inc. A 30-inch view of manufacturing will improve productivity and quality Many manufacturers passionately pursue Lean thinking. They drive waste from their manufacturing processes and encourage a culture of...

Electric circulation heaters require proper use, maintenance.
July 15, 2007... By Richard Hartfelder, Watlow Electric circulation heaters are used in a variety of applications. They heat gases such as nitrogen, hydrogen and hydrocarbons and liquids such as water, oils and acids. They are also used in a variety of...

Identify the 'right' limit on selective coordination.
July 15, 2007... By Kenneth Cybart, Littelfuse In 2005, the National Electric Code was changed to require selective coordination of circuit protection for emergency circuits and legally-required standby systems. Its goal was to ensure that if one circuit...

Reader Feedback.(Letter to the editor)
July 15, 2007... By Staff Beware of costly consulting contracts Back in the days when outsourcing in general was an alien concept, the novelty that anyone actually had a business for outsourced production maintenance was enough to differentiate anyone...

MHIA names Forger new senior VP.
July 15, 2007... By Staff Gary Forger , previously editorial director for Reed Business Information publication Modern Materials Handling magazine, has been appointed senior vice president of professional development for Material Handling Industry of...

Technology needs a strategic deployment to show value.
July 15, 2007... By Bob Vavra The subject was mobility at Syclo's annual user-group meeting in Rosemont, IL on June 11. The topics went beyond how plant floor devices were moving, but how manufacturers needed to think about using technology on the plant...

Collaboration creates new advantages for manufacturing.
July 15, 2007... By Staff Manufacturing companies have increased their productivity and efficiency over time by implementing new strategies, business processes and IT solutions. Strategies range from total quality management to lean manufacturing and...

Gates Roundtable: Helping plant managers fix the break-fix mentality.
July 15, 2007... By Bob Vavra At a recent supplier group meeting in Louisville sponsored by Gates Corp., PLANT ENGINEERING editor Bob Vavra moderated a Roundtable discussion on the role suppliers play in helping plant managers achieve optimal performance....

Siemens Automation Summit draws record attendance.(Conference notes)
July 15, 2007... By Staff More than 860 automation professionals attended the 2007 Siemens Automation Summit at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando - the largest summit in Siemens history. For three and a half days, hundreds of Siemens Energy &...

Learning how to leverage Lean Six Sigma's power.(Viewpoint essay)
July 15, 2007... By Steven Bogart, Hudson Valley Technology Development Center There are two internationally revered business approaches that, when combined, can offer any company exemplary, tangible improvements and benefits. They are two intensely...

KPIs from a Lean perspective: Achieve goals, reduce waste.
July 15, 2007... By Ramon A. Vorne, Vorne Industries Sir Francis Bacon, the 16th century English philosopher, wrote: 'Knowledge is power.' He was right of course - but with an important caveat. Knowledge becomes truly powerful when it leads to change....

Leading organizational improvement: Finding structure within culture.
July 15, 2007... By David Spong What is it that causes anyone of us to step across the line and commit to a significant undertaking or a new way of doing things? To say, 'Yes, we're going to do this!' In all successful organizations, it takes leadership...

Flowmeter, temperature transmitters.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The ROHS-compliant FV100 Series is made up of in-line flow meters that use the vortex shedding measuring principle. The devices have no moving parts, and LEDs display flow in either liters or gallons. The units can measure flow in...

Power meter.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The PM750 meter replaces analog meters and can be used for stand-alone metering applications in custom panels, switchboards, switchgear, gensets, motor control centers and UPS systems. The meter supports direct connection up to...

Stretch wrapping system.(Q-400XT stretch wrapping system from Lantech Corp.)(Brief article)
July 15, 2007... By Staff The Q-400XT stretch wrapping system features simple automation that eliminates the need for the fork-truck operator to touch the load or machine. Started with a remote lanyard, the Q-400XT automatically attaches the film to the...

Multimeter/IR thermometer.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The EX470 combination true RMS multimeter and IR laser thermometer has an ergonomic design and provides measurements of surface temperatures ranging from -4 to 520 F. Suitable for a variety of applications, the device is an...

Relay actuator and isolated digital input card.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The PCI-1763UP relay actuator and isolated digital input card has eight optically-isolated digital inputs with isolation protection of 2,500 VDC for collecting digital inputs in noisy environments and eight relay actuators serving...

Uninterruptible power system.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The Powerware 9395 is a three-phase, double-conversion online UPS that integrates the capabilities of a redundant multi-module UPS into an integrated, pre-wired solution. The system operates at 95 percent efficiency and offers a...

Motors.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The Incodermotors family of permanent-magnet DC and brushless DC motors and gearmotors is equipped with encoders inside the motor. The pre-wired, motor-encoder combinations are designed for applications where low-res speed and...

Counterbalanced lift trucks.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The Model 4100 lift truck is designed for dock applications and features a load capacity of 3,000 or 3,500 pounds. The Model 4200 lift truck is designed for warehouse systems and other high-productivity applications, with load...

Interface.(STRONGARM Designs Inc. introduces MiniStation operator interfaces )(Brief article)
July 15, 2007... By Staff The MiniStation is designed for situations where adjustability and exact positioning of the operator interface are important. The MiniStation features a Vertica articulating arm, which provides up to 30 inches of counterbalanced...

3D CAD software.
July 15, 2007... By Staff With Acrobat 3D Version 8, CAD, CAM, CAE and technical publishing professionals can convert most 3D CAD files into a single PDF document. The PDF file can maintain precise geometry or be compressed more than 100 times smaller than...

Two-handed nut runners.(Stanley Assembly Technologies Corp. introduces E23L and E55L QPM nut runners)(Brief article)
July 15, 2007... By Staff An ergonomic, two-handed start solution keeps the operator's hands away from rotating spindles and pinch points while using DC nut runners, particularly tube nuts. A low-force, spring-loaded sleeve with a second switch allows the...

Oil filtration system.(Trico Mfg. Corp. introduces gear and lube oil filtration system)(Brief article)
July 15, 2007... By Staff The gear and lube oil filtration system is designed for filtering high-viscosity fluids. The system features a 4-GPM flow capacity and handles a maximum viscosity of 10,000 SUS at 100 F. Its multi-stage filtration process ensures...

Disconnect enclosures.
July 15, 2007... By Staff Hubbell/Wiegmann disconnect enclosures are NEMA-rated cabinets that range in size from 20x21x8 inches wall-mountable to 84x197x18 inches heavy-duty free-standing units. A full line of adapter plates and accessories is also...

Powerfast connectors.
July 15, 2007... By Staff Suitable for conveyor, small motor and material handling applications, three and four-pin M16 powerfast connectors provide up to 15 Amps of current in a small molded body. The cordsets are available with a tray-rated, exposed-run...

Air filter.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The Purafilter - OA is a combination particulate and chemical filter designed for use in high-occupancy commercial environments, in which outdoor air quality is questionable and optimal indoor air quality is a requirement. The...

Filtration module.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The KPAK 10-inch UF module consists of a spiral-wound membrane element containing 462 square feet of membrane area. Its virtually zero bypass design results in lower paint-feed flow requirements. The modules incorporate Victaulic...

Linear encoders catalog.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The 'Exposed Linear Encoders' 50-page catalog gives an overview of encoder technologies, from the LIDA Series to the resolutions and accuracy of the LIP Series and other encoder technologies. The catalog outlines dimensional and...

Adjustable-height workstation.
July 15, 2007... By Staff The Align adjustable-height workstation provides ergonomic comfort and flexible functionality, adjusting from 25-½ to 41-½ inches through use of a motorized, hand crank or slide-leg base. The motorized base can be...

Gasket material.(Devcon Corp, introduces Permatex gasket makers )(Brief article)
July 15, 2007... By Staff Permatex gasket makers are available in a variety of formulations to replace conventional gaskets. Noncorrosive, the form-in-place compounds require no mixing and cure at room temperature. More versatile than conventional gaskets,...

Biodegradable powder.
July 15, 2007... By Staff VpCI 609 biodegradable powder is a water-soluble, vapor-phase corrosion inhibitor powder for wet or dry corrosion protection of ferrous metals and aluminum. The powder creates a monomolecular inhibiting layer on the metal surface,...

Ergonomic supplies.(Allegro Industries Inc. inroduces Ergonomic protection equipment )(Brief article)
July 15, 2007... By Staff Ergonomic protection equipment includes back supports, wrist supports, kneepads and ankle and elbow supports with unique designs for specific jobs. Lifting gloves are constructed with cool spandex backs for flexibility and comfort...

Meet Dave Sanders, our new blogger.(Website overview)
July 15, 2007... By Staff David Sanders has joined PlantEngineering.com as our newest blogger. His regular blog, the General List, appears on the Website and is updated regularly. Sanders is facility and EHS manager for Metcam, Inc., a precision metal...

Maintenance, arc flash heats up 'Summer of Webcasts'.
July 15, 2007... By Staff PLANT ENGINEERING 's 'Summer of Webcasts' series continues continues with two Webcasts over the next three weeks, featuring in-depth discussions on safety and maintenance. A crucial part of any successful plant floor strategy,...

New lubrication site.(Website overview)
July 15, 2007... By Staff UNIST, Inc. recently launched its new Website, the first phase in the expansion of the company's Internet activities. The new site, located at www.unist.com , provides a single resource for UNIST product information, the...

Catch filings when drilling metal.
July 15, 2007... By Staff Here's a great tip from 1997: When drilling through metal, put a magnet inside a plastic sandwich bag. The magnet attracts the metal filings, and clean up is easy: just through the bag away. See these and other Tips & Tricks at...

Getting energy efficiency 'a seat at the table'.
July 15, 2007... By Bob Vavra Energy efficiency is a hot topic for plant managers, but affecting change in energy policies at the plant level isn't always easy. Panelists at the Plant Engineering Manufacturing Summit: Fred C. Schoeneborn of FCS Consulting...