Plant Engineering articles from June 2008

Plant Engineering archives from June 2008

Not all integration is created equal.
June 15, 2008... By Ray Bachelor, PE, Bachelor Controls Inc. To be a plant engineer is to realize the wonderful benefits of a well-automated production system - and to suffer the problems caused by a poorly designed control system. So, what makes one...

Wanted: a human touch to manage the robots.
June 15, 2008... Bob Vavra, Editor In a race between the humans and the robots, right now the robots are winning. But there's still time for the humans. It may well be part of the science of manufacturing, but it's no longer science fiction. The idea that...

Robots on the rise: Showing their metal mettle.
June 15, 2008... By Jack Smith, Managing Editor As the technology of robotics has become more sophisticated, so has the philosophy behind using them. Robots deliver quality, efficiency and safety right along side humans. Since the first programmable...

Qualify providers before an arc flash analysis.
June 15, 2008... By Joseph Weigel, Square D Services, Schneider Electric An arc flash analysis (sometimes referred to as a flash hazard analysis) is a thorough and careful mathematical model of a facility's electrical power distribution and control system....

Spirax Sarco employees celebrate Top Plant award, anniversary.
June 15, 2008... Staff So far, 2008 has been a big year for Spriax Sarco's plant in Blythewood, SC. The company is marking its 100th anniversary, and the Blythewood facility is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Add in the 2007 Top Plant designation from...

Put your KPIs where you can see them.(key performance indicator)
June 15, 2008... James A. Feltman Virginia Beach, VA-based Hermes Abrasives, a global manufacturer of industrial coated abrasive products, has always had a strong culture and excellent efficiency numbers but the need to improve its throughput-to-capacity...

ISA helps industry inch toward single process standard for wireless.(Instrument Society of America)(Brief article)
June 15, 2008... Staff Convergence of the ISA100.11a and WirelessHART standards is now in the hands of a new subcommittee backed by leading process automation suppliers. ISA officials said the new group is crucial to developing the universal industrial...

Research reveals changing role of packagers, obstacles.(Brief article)
June 15, 2008... Staff With an economic value of nearly $133 billion annually in the U.S., packaging is big business, so Control Engineering and Packaging Digest set to investigate this dynamic market. The 2008 Packaging Automation Benchmark Study is a...

ASQ slates new officers.
June 15, 2008... Staff The American Society for Quality (ASQ) announced the following slate of officers for the 2008-09 term: President - Roberto M. Saco Chairman - Michael D. Nichols President-elect - Peter L. Andres Treasurer - E. David...

Data center case studies focus of ASHRAE book.
June 15, 2008... Staff Data centers are becoming increasingly more difficult to adequately cool, due to increased datacom performance that results in increased heat dissipation. Even though performance has increased at a more rapid rate than power,...

Schneider Electric's Initi@tive 2008 focus on energy efficiency.
June 15, 2008... Staff Schneider Electric hopes to draw attention and attendees to Las Vegas in August at the Initi@tive 2008, the company's multi-industry U.S. trade exposition. Initi@tive 2008 will be held Wednesday, Aug. 13 to Friday, Aug. 15, at the...

Quoteable:.(Quotation)
June 15, 2008... Staff "Innovation is the fuel for our sustainable development engine. By making both sustainability and innovation top corporate priorities, we have focused our people, processes and products on new solutions that improve economic,...

Adept's Dulchinos re-elected to RIA board.(Robotic Industries Association)(Brief article)
June 15, 2008... Staff John Dulchinos, president and chief operating officer of Adept Technology, has been elected to serve for his second term as a member of the Board of Directors of the Robotics Industry Association (RIA). Dulchinos, who previously...

Moore Industries looks for a few old products.
June 15, 2008... Staff Moore Industries is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and is trying to find the oldest of its products that are still in service. Moore Industries was founded in 1968 by Leonard W. Moore, who is still the president....

Bentley shifts its color – and its focus – to green.(Bentley Systems Inc.)
June 15, 2008... Staff One of the first thing to notice when arriving at Bentley's annual BE Conference in Baltimore May 27 what that Bentley's predominant blue color scheme had changed to a lighter green. Bentley's new messaging went beyond color to a...

Daratech Study: 3D plant designs important, but implementation is an issue.
June 15, 2008... Staff 3D plant design software has become more pervasive and easier to use, a new study has found, and using 3D plant design will help smaller companies remain competitive. Yet there are barriers to the switch to 3D design, including the...

Pump reliability starts with a firm - and flat - foundation.
June 15, 2008... By George Ceelen, ITT Goulds Pumps The reliability of a centrifugal pump begins when the pump is initially mounted to its baseplate. Baseplate flatness can be a determining factor in ease of installation, alignment and reducing future...

Create a spark to reduce labor, welding costs.
June 15, 2008... By Ray Stubbs Jr., Bestweld Inc. For 70 years, factory-made, wrought butt-welding fittings were the choice for pressure piping systems, in shapes defined by ASME B16.9. However, in recent years, new metal forming processes have enabled the...

'Lean' doesn't always mean less.(Column)
June 15, 2008... By John L. Ross Jr., Marshall Institute Inc. The phrase "Lean maintenance" lends itself to an onslaught of requisite punch lines -- "Our maintenance is so lean -- "You can read through it." "If it turned sideways and stuck out...

The whens, whys and hows of contract maintenance.
June 15, 2008... By Nathan Wood, GreenWood Inc. Outsourcing maintenance offers plant management flexibility and cost savings; it can help better the bottom line, too. The popularity of outsourcing in industrial markets continues to grow as competitive...

Fan.
June 15, 2008... Staff The Pivot is a six-foot diameter fan designed for use in mezzanines, narrow aisle ways, around ceiling obstructions and in confined workspaces. It features a mounting system with two pivot points that provide 73 hanging positions, a...

Variable speed blower.
June 15, 2008... Staff The Nautilair 7.6 variable speed blower for gas-fired burner systems incorporates brushless DC motors that provide more than 20,000 hours of production with minimal maintenance. The burners deliver a measured air/fuel mixture to...

Reciprocating compressors.
June 15, 2008... Staff The RCP series of single- and two-stage reciprocating compressors feature a solid cast iron cylinder, crankshaft and valve plates, and ranges from 2 to 20 hp. The compressors are engineered with balanced pistons and crankshafts for...

Brooms.
June 15, 2008... Staff Contractor brooms feature a lacquered hardwood block that resists moisture and helps prevent cracking. The broom's 11/8 inch bolt-on handle and 12-gauge steel-wing brace make them suitable for use in heavy manufacturing. The brooms...

Rotary batch mixer.
June 15, 2008... Staff The MX-1-SSJ rotary batch mixer blends bulk ingredients, adds liquids and is designed to achieve batch uniformity in less than three minutes. The unit is equipped with an internal spray line for liquid additions, a discharge chute to...

Wire cutter.
June 15, 2008... Staff The model 501 wire cutter and stripper is manufactured of alloyed steel and features a full bypass cutter and thumb-adjustable cam wheel, allowing users to strip eight different wire sizes ranging from 10 to 26 AWG. Cushioned grips...

Plastic enclosures.
June 15, 2008... Staff The SMVector inverter is now available with a polycarbonate plastic, NEMA 4X and IP-65-rated enclosure that protects the drive from dust, dirt, water and corrosion. The enclosures are suitable for indoor or outdoor use and are...

Chain hoists.
June 15, 2008... Staff Accolift electric chain hoists are available in capacities of one to five tons. Reconnectable to 208-230/460, the hoists come with a dual braking system, overload alert, pushbutton control and are available in inverter control. ...

Truck leveler.
June 15, 2008... Staff The Z-Deck truck leveler allows trailers to be serviced at or above dock height with a Z-shaped deck design that helps minimize the slope of the lifting surface. The leveler has a 158-inch profile while collapsed, and a dual-wheel...

Lamp ballasts.
June 15, 2008... Staff ROVR ballasts for one-lamp, 54-W T5 high-output fluorescent applications are suitable for use in warehouses, and one- and two-lamp fluorescent T8 ballasts support 17-, 25- or 32-W fluorescent T8 applications for general office...

X-Ray inspection system.
June 15, 2008... Staff The Model XR-41 X-ray inspection system detects foreign bodies, including metal, glass, calcified bone and PVC and inspects packages for mass or missing objects. The system features a 15-inch color touch screen, a stainless-steel...

Pressure switches, transmitters.
June 15, 2008... Staff ProSense pressure sensors monitor system pressure in hydraulic and pneumatic applications, while vacuum sensors provide a readout of increases and decreases in vacuum systems. Smaller than traditional mechanical pressure switches,...

Pneumatic screwdrivers.
June 15, 2008... Staff The Torq2 HPS series of pistol-grip drivers is available with torque ranges from 22 to 115 pound-force inch. A positive clutch tool controls torque based on operator pressure. Suitable for soft-draw applications that include wood...

Infrared camera.
June 15, 2008... Staff The ThermoVision A320G infrared camera is compatible with the GigE Vision camera interface, which was developed using the Gigabit Ethernet protocol and facilitates fast image transfer using standard cables over long distances, and...

Intelligent camera.
June 15, 2008... Staff The IMPACT A20 intelligent camera provides onboard image processing, a digital imaging sensor, real-time I/O and 256 MB of onboard memory. The camera is bundled with the IMPACT software suite, featuring more than 120 tools, including...

Bandsaw blade.
June 15, 2008... Staff The TRI-TECH CT bandsaw blade, designed for cutting large cross-sections, cuts a variety of materials, including high-strength steel and nickel-based alloys. Its set-style tooth pattern cuts straight and eliminates the pinching that...

Gasket makers.
June 15, 2008... Staff Permatex gasket makers are non-corrosive, form-in-place compounds that require no mixing and cure at room temperature. Available in three technologies - elastomeric rubber, silicone rubber, and anaerobic - the gaskets resist...

Scissor lifts.
June 15, 2008... Staff Regal portable scissor lifts are designed for use in the manufacturing and warehousing industries, among others. The lifts move loads from one area to another, lift loads to a convenient height for transfer from workbenches and serve...

Load indicators.
June 15, 2008... Staff Dynafor LLX2 load indicators are available in capacities from 1/2 to 10 tons and accuracy to 0.1%. The indicators feature a cross-plane design, where the upper and lower attachment points, positioned at 90 degrees from each other,...

Calibrator.
June 15, 2008... Staff The CALOG-LC handheld precision calibrator tests four- and six-wire load cells by checking insulation breakdown and weighing for system calibrations and simulations. The calibrator tests both zero and bridge balances, input and...

Precision limit switches.
June 15, 2008... Staff E47 precision limit switches feature standard options such as current capacity, operating force, travel characteristics and actuators that can be custom fitted to switches. Enclosed in a metal housing, the switches have a current...

Micro connectors.
June 15, 2008... Staff The MDM Series of high-temperature micro connectors are rated for operation to 200 C and can be terminated in daisy-chain configurations within electronic instrumentation packages. Applications include electronic instrumentation and...

Switches.
June 15, 2008... Staff The MDS series of detect switches, designed for use in Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture applications, can be implemented on server blades as a safety mechanism to ensure the blades are powered down. The series includes a micro...

Manufacturing Summit videos bring knowledge to your computer.
June 15, 2008... Staff Not everyone could attend Plant Engineering's 2008 Manufacturing Summit in Chicago in April. The knowledge exchanged at the 2008 Summit, though is still available. Go to www.PlantEngineering.com and find highlights from the 2008...

Your great ideas needed for 2008 Tips & Tricks.
June 15, 2008... Staff Plant Engineering's annual Tips & Tricks issue will be published in August, and we're looking for your best outside-the-box ideas that help your plant run better, safer, smarter and more efficiently. All ideas will be review, and the...

Siemens' exiderdome begins U.S. tour July 21.
June 15, 2008... Staff The U.S. tour of exiderdome, Siemens' multimedia traveling expo, will begin Julu 21 in Chicago. At exiderdome, visitors can experience a combination of unique events and cutting-edge products, systems and solutions to help boost...

NI Week returns to Austin for a hot look at innovation.
June 15, 2008... Staff National Instruments will once again bring NIWeek 2008, its annual graphical system design conference and exhibition, back to Austin, TX. The conference will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5 through Thursday, Aug. 7 at the Austin Convention...

Plant Engineering assists Aberdeen with EAM survey.
June 15, 2008... Staff The continuing pressure to maximize return on assets and mitigate risk due to failure of critical assets is forcing manufacturers in the asset intensive sector to examine multiple strategies for asset optimization at the enterprise...

Energy efficiency: improve your bottom line.
June 15, 2008... By Marc Hoffman, Consortium for Energy Efficiency There's no escaping issues related to energy efficiency: global warming, carbon footprints, consumption. The buzzwords abound. A less frequently publicized, but certainly no less important...