Plant Engineering articles from June 2009

Plant Engineering archives from June 2009

Bottling up plant improvements.(Company overview)
June 1, 2009... By Darren Riley, Rockwell Automation Accurate metrics leads to accelerated reliability Manufacturers across all industry sectors are embracing real-time performance management as a means to improve flexibility and profitability, while...

PC-based HMIs.
June 1, 2009... Staff IndraControl VSP and VPP series of PC-Based HMIs have a ruggedized frame, IP65 protection class rating and components engineered to withstand harsh factory conditions, these industrial PC-based HMIs have a compact design that is...

Kepware joins Rockwell partnership.
June 1, 2009... Staff Kepware Technologies has been selected as an Encompass Global partner by Rockwell Automation. "Kepware has been an Encompass Americas partner in the past," said Roy Kok, VP of Sales and Marketing of Kepware Technologies....

Onset links remote monitoring to real-time display software.
June 1, 2009... Staff Data logger supplier Onset Computer Corp. announced that the company's web-based HOBO U30 Remote Monitoring Systems are now compatible with NorthWrite, Inc.'s Energy Expert software platform. The Energy Expert software converts...

Humidity sensor.
June 1, 2009... Staff The HIH-5030/5031 series humidity sensor includes a Surface Mount Device product on tape-and-reel that allows for use in automated, high-volume, lower cost pick-and-place manufacturing (1,000 units per reel), reducing lead...

Industrial Ethernet switches.
June 1, 2009... Staff The Stride line includes industrial-grade unmanaged Ethernet switches and media converters with aluminum housings. Designed for wide-temperature applications (-40 C to 85 C), these plug-and-play devices automatically determine and...

The recession is over; what did we learn?(Editorial)
June 1, 2009... Bob Vavra, Editor Fifteen months ago in this space, I first used the word "recession." Many people had spent the better part of a year trying to avoid using that word. We were gearing up for a presidential election and we were trying to...

Oil's well that starts well.
June 1, 2009... By Glen Sharkowicz, Mobil Industrial Lubricants Lubrication is a key part of an effective maintenance strategy In today's increasingly competitive environment, maximizing productivity is a must, especially for small and medium-sized...

Spotting electrical problems with IR thermography.
June 1, 2009... By Mike Ralph, Exelon Nuclear There is perhaps no industry that requires zero room for error than nuclear power generation. Exelon Nuclear, part of Exelon Corp., one of the nation's largest electric utilities, uses infrared thermography as...

Power supplies.
June 1, 2009... Staff The RHINO line of power supplies includes NEC Class 2 plastic-housed low-profile switching supplies in 5-, 12- and 24-Vdc adjustable output models. The new PSC series includes eight models with power ratings from 12 W to 90 W and...

Power supply.
June 1, 2009... Staff The CSG2400C provides 100 A continuous at 45 C and has a 150 A peak rating to insure operation in the startup of heavy loads. Features include short circuit, overload, over temperature, input/output overvoltage protection and like...

Predict to prevent.
June 1, 2009... By Fabrice Meunier, Schneider Electric Motor management systems look into the future Even an hour of process downtime in an industrial manufacturing facility can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. In a fragile economy, that can...

Power supplies.
June 1, 2009... Staff The QUINT SFB features Selective Fuse Breaking. This technology allows supplemental branch circuit protection on the dc bus to operate as designed in a control system. Upon sensing a fault condition, the SFB technology delivers a...

Adapters.
June 1, 2009... Staff The VAZ-2FK-B3 AS-Interface Flat-to-Flat adapters are now rated for 8 A operating current. These low-profile adapters facilitate the quick connection of two AS-Interface cables or two 24-Vdc auxiliary power cables. They feature a...

Energy, technology solutions take over the world stage.(Conference news)(Editorial)
June 1, 2009... By Bob Vavra, Editor They talked of a manufacturing world without boundaries or trade restrictions, where innovation, skill and initiative would solve both the economic crisis and the global energy crisis. Cynics might contend that...

Slow movement toward predictive maintenance seen in Tennessee study.(Survey)
June 1, 2009... By Klaus M. Blache, Ph.D., University of Tennessee, Reliability and Maintainability Center Production throughput and being cost competitive are as important as ever. Understanding what is attainable and implementing reliability and...

Find your way through the wireless maze.
June 1, 2009... By Mark T. Hoske For those grounded in wired networks, untangling wireless-related issues for plant-floor applications can be as intimidating as reworking networked I/O connections without documentation. If you haven't jumped into...

MESA chair: Plant floor talent at 'center stage'.
June 1, 2009... John Dyck Could 2009 be a transformative year for manufacturing? At MESA International, we say, "Yes!" We suggest that it's time for the shop floor - and its ability to make enterprise work processes more responsive and reliable - to get...

New ideas, right to your desk at Virtual Summit.
June 1, 2009... Staff The 2009 Plant Engineering Manufacturing Summit was a big hit with attendees, but not all of Plant Engineering's worldwide audience could take advantage of this year's event. Now, they can. Join Plant Engineering and...

The recovery is coming – slowly.
June 1, 2009... Staff The Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Quarterly Economic Forecast predicts that inflation-adjusted gross domestic product, which grew by a miniscule 1.1% in 2008, will decline 2.9% in 2009 before rebounding to 1.9% growth in 2010. The GDP...

Don't separate production needs from maintenance strategy.
June 1, 2009... By Bill Hillman and Mickey Hart Almost every facility has the age-old struggle between production and maintenance. This is very similar to the old adage "Which came first the chicken or the egg?" Which do you feel is more important to...

Metal removal lubricants.
June 1, 2009... Staff Two new water-soluble Multan metal removal lubricants are formulated to generate minimal foam and be used continuously for years with minimal biological degradation. The Multan B 236 and B 414 are semi-synthetic metal removal fluids...

Safety harness.
June 1, 2009... Staff The Custom Gravity Harness with Adjustable Y Back D-Locator Pad is ideal for controlled descent, positioning, ladder climbing, rescue and fall arrest. Advantages of the pad include a better fit, increased comfort, easy adjustment,...

Metal separator.
June 1, 2009... Staff The EcoTowerSort combines magnetic separation and metal sorting technology. It can be used for the sorting of aluminum, stainless steel, copper cables and heavy fractions. It even recovers stainless steel and plastic coated wires....

Broom attachments.
June 1, 2009... Staff The three categories of brooms include the Valu series, Pro series and Mega series. Featuring five brush rows, the Valu series brooms are available in 48- and 60-inch-long mainframe configurations and are ideal for lighter duty...

Eight factors to consider when choosing a small actuator.
June 1, 2009... By Naoki Yamaguchi, NB Corporation of America Whether for packaging, life sciences or factory automation, smooth motion, fast accelerations and a high degree of accuracy are hallmark requirements for linear movement actuators. Increasingly,...

Rod locks.
June 1, 2009... Staff The RLSS Rod Locks feature a wide clamping surface to ensure high holding forces even during power/pressure loss, providing reliable precision gripping of up to 5,026 pounds, depending on the model. They ensure accurate positioning...

Wind turbine hydraulics.
June 1, 2009... Staff A four and a half-day training course titled "Wind Turbine Fundamental Hydraulics" is intended for sales and maintenance personnel requiring a solid understanding of hydraulics systems used in wind turbine operation. The course will...

Ball bearing inserts.
June 1, 2009... Staff These set screw type and locking collar type units are stocked in many sizes to fit shafts ranging from ½ inch to 4 inches in diameter. The set screw type bearing inserts have 2 set screws. Tightening the set screws contacts...

Digital force gages.
June 1, 2009... Staff The digital force gages are equipped with many features at a low price. A large, easy-to-read, high resolution dot matrix LCD supports a variety of standard gage functions including normal and peak readings. Loads are displayed in...

Hydraulic floor cranes.
June 1, 2009... Staff The portable floor cranes can lift and transport up to 6,000 pounds without effort using electrically-actuated hydraulics. They are particularly valuable in replacing manual lifting equipment, as they provide an ergonomic,...

Lifting boom.
June 1, 2009... Staff The Precision Lifting Boom combines the reach of a fork lift boom with the precise lifting of a hoist, adding value and functionality to your lift truck. The Precision Lifting Boom fits standard fork lift trucks and is an economical...