Plant Engineering articles from March 2004

Plant Engineering archives from March 2004

Free book facilitates arc flash compliance.(Forum)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
March 1, 2004... Practical Solution Guide to Arc Flash Hazards is a new 133-p book filled with practical advice on how to get to compliance with arc flash mandates while maintaining productivity. The book is written by five experienced engineers: Chet Davis,...

New organization addresses safety.(Forum)(Safety Integrated U.S.A.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Siemens Energy & Automation announced recently the formation of Safety Integrated U.S.A., an organization that brings together multidimensional safety teams, technology, and products serving both the process and discrete industries. It was...

Price hikes expected for some industries, but not all.(Forum)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Twelve out of 19 industries that supply factory equipment and tools are under extreme pressure to raise prices. Plant engineers won't have to worry too much about higher prices ahead. Consider the situation in the motors and generators...

PLANT ENGINEERING factory operating materials and supplies price/cost indexes.(Forum)
March 1, 2004... The PLANT ENGINEERING factory equipment and tools price index increased just 0.6% in the 12-month period ending December 2003. The cost to manufacture those supplies jumped 1.4% in the same 12-month period. These trends haven't varied much over...

Price/cost/demand roundup.(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... Price/cost/demand roundup AVERAGE PROOUCT PRICES (1) CHANGE, DIRECT MFG. %, DURING 12-MO COSTS (2) AND ...

Volunteer support.(Comment)
March 1, 2004... There seems to have been an increase in corporate support for volunteerism over the past several years. You know, the do-gooder, corporate-citizen face companies like to put on by encouraging their employees to go out in the world and volunteer...

Beware of e-mail: it can be used against you.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Maria Sanchez was stunned when informed by Maintenance Department Foreman Pete Carlson that she was being downgraded to Administrative Assistant Class II and assigned to another section. Ann Kramer, as spelled out in the same directive, was...

Unqualified worker: protect your right to fire him.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... It took three months for Maintenance Foreman Ed Kelly to realize that hiring Bill Klemmer was a mistake. Although Klemmer had squeezed through his probationary period, during the past few weeks his performance rating had declined from marginal...

Can you test an employee before promoting him?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... You have got to be kidding!" Unit Representative Charley Oates told Maintenance Department Foreman Al Lutz, slapping down a test packet of three or four pages on his desk. "What's the problem?" Lutz wanted to know. "Joe Turner is up...

Sponsor e-mail employee feedback?(Human Side)
March 1, 2004... This crazy world we live in gets crazier every day. "It's important to know how employees think and feel about what's going on in the company," proclaimed General Manager G.M. at a staff meeting one day. A discussion was held, and other...

Can illness on vacation be converted to sick leave?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Psychologists agree that people need occasional breaks from work time to recharge their batteries and freshen their outlook. With that thought in mind Instrument Repairperson Mildred Brewer approached Maintenance Supervisor Andy Rudman upon her...

Was he just doing his job or was he acting in an insubordinate manner?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Stockroom Attendant Jim Davis was approached one afternoon by Harold Temple, a sales manager. "Let me have one of those microtomic resectioning machines. I'll return it in the morning." The machine in question was delicate and expensive...

Innovation: the large and small of it.(Management Side)(Editorial)
March 1, 2004... Editor's note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Production costs must be driven down to finance big innovation. The most effective approach is through what's called little innovation at the plant and shop...

Software and process reviews enable continuous improvement.(Plant Electronics)(Editorial)
March 1, 2004... Editor's note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series on the value of software and process reviews. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Companies completing a software and process review (SPR) gain closer adherence to documented procedures and...

Advances in lift trucks.(Material Handling)
March 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Electronics have improved reliability, safety, productivity, and comfort in today's trucks. * AC drives offer advantages in the electric market. * IC engines are meeting strict, new emissions standards. ...

The importance of arc flash hazard analysis.(Electrical Safety)
March 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Arc flash hazard analysis requires more than just calculating bolted fault current. * Arc flash analysis calculates incident energy and arc flash boundaries. * Proper electrical system design, construction of arc...

12 steps to troubleshooting pneumatic systems.(Power Transmission Maintenance)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Troubleshooting, done in a logical manner, can solve most pneumatic system problems. * Safety should be the first consideration when troubleshooting. * Inspect the equipment and question the operator to help solve...

Bearings lubed-for-life.(Lubrication Maintenance)
March 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Microporous polymers can incorporate oils tailored to the application. * Sponge-like construction releases and absorbs lubricant as required. * Oil-filled polymers can be incorporated in all types of bearings...

New clamp meters offer more capability, accuracy, safety.(Instruments & Controls/Test Equipment)
March 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * The best clamp meter for all plant applications is one that measures true RMS. * The possibility of transient overvoltage increases as distribution systems and loads become more complex. * The min/max feature is...

Screw compressor glossary.(Compressors)(Glossary)
March 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Common terms * Acronyms ********** While many of us have been around screw compressors for a long time, there may be some terminology whose meaning we are not sure of. This glossary attempts to describe the...

Steam system services.(Heating: Suggestions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Energy Services Div. offers comprehensive steam system optimization services. These qualified, consultative services can provide significant improvements to steam system economy and performance. Virtually any steam system can benefit,...

Heat exchanger care.(Heating: Suggestions)
March 1, 2004... Turnkey Service is a complete regasketing service for all brands of plate heat exchangers encompassing a technician's visit to the plant to remove the plates, crate and transport them to a service center, recondition and regasket plates to...

Combustion monitor.(Heating: Products)
March 1, 2004... Greenline 8000 is a portable combustion and emission analyzer that is perfect for most environmental monitoring purposes. This unit is capable of monitoring low-N[O.sub.x] and true N[O.sub.x]. Features included are: heated probe and sample...

Boiler water sampler.(Heating: Products)
March 1, 2004... Series 3100 Single Point Sample Conditioning Modules provide a versatile tool for lowering the temperature and pressure of single samples in boiler rooms. They are used to obtain grab samples of boiler water or steam and include a wide range of...

Green boiler.(Heating: Products)
March 1, 2004... LX Gas/Low N[O.sub.x] (less than 20 ppm at 3% [O.sub.2]) series of high or low-pressure steam boilers use less fuel than firetube boilers because their inservice efficiency is maximized by vertical water tube design, compact pressure vessel...

Washdown motors.(Electrical: Products)
March 1, 2004... Washdown stainless steel lineup includes ac, dc, pump, inverter duty, vector duty, and ac servo motors, as well as speed reducers. Available in a choice of finishes, washdown, paint-free washdown, and stainless, washdown motors are suited for...

Enclosed drives.(Electrical: Products)
March 1, 2004... Altivar CL8839 58M family of drives provides voltage sag immunity, Ethernet connectivity, and up to 500 hp. Enclosures are Type 1, Type 12, integrated, or with barriers for wall or floor mounting. Drives come with an optional door-mounted...

Cable ties.(Electrical: Products)
March 1, 2004... UNIRAP line of cable ties has been improved and expanded. Offerings include Tefxel and Halar, aerial support spacer, identification, and Velcro ties; mounting bases; and tools. Compact heads and prebent tips facilitate quick and space-efficient...

Recloser brochure.(Electrical: Literature)
March 1, 2004... Kyle PWE/PWVE 3-phase, pad-mounted recloser brochure includes product features/benefits, accessories, and ordering information. Color images, easy-to-read graphs, and rating tables support brochure content. Cooper Power Systems ...

Motor repair/rewind report.(Electrical: Literature)
March 1, 2004... The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) published a report on a major study that analyzed the impact of repair/rewinding on the energy efficiency of electric motors. Report includes information that enables technicians to maintain...

Lockout/tagout video training.(Electrical)
March 1, 2004... Training video provides education about OSHA lockout/tagout safety requirements. Video includes live-action footage, review of the seven steps to properly lock down equipment, and the five steps to reenergize from lockout. It demonstrates how...

Enclosure catalog.(Electrical)
March 1, 2004... Color 64-p standard products catalog contains detailed selector guides to help users configure the proper enclosure. Catalog features six new products and includes accessories, brackets, cabinets, card racks, chassis, communication products,...

Software chooses bearings.(Power Transmission: Suggestions)
March 1, 2004... Tapered Roller Bearing Selection Guide, Version 2.0 is a compact disk that allows users to analyze bearing selections for existing applications, calculate bearing life based on a variety of criteria, and save data in electronic, print, and...

Rugged regulator.(Power Transmission: Products)
March 1, 2004... 67CFSR stainless steel, instrument airset, pressure regulator has an accurate setpoint capability of 0-150 psig and can supply high-tech instruments and high-pressure actuators. The unit provides constantly controlled, reduced pressures to...

Hard-to-find bearings.(Power Transmission: Literature)
March 1, 2004... Made to Order (MTO) is a free, 6-p brochure that profiles ball bearing capabilities and tech support. The MTO program provides a source for discontinued, hard-to-find, and special ball bearings; access to manufacturing and rework capabilities;...

Bearing seals.(Power Transmission: Literature)
March 1, 2004... Free, 6-p brochure contains information on bearing isolators, including product data, capabilities, and specifications. It is valuable data for anyone involved in maintenance, repair, and operation of motors, machine tool spindles, turbines,...

Profile rail guides.(Power Transmission: Literature)
March 1, 2004... Profile Rail Linear Guides catalog provides 72 pp of technical specifications, performance data, and accessory details. The user-friendly catalog offers easy-to-read reference material for profile rail selection, design parameters, and...

No-odor enamel.(Paints and Coatings: Products)
March 1, 2004... Beyond Multipurpose Enamel is a no-odor, zero VOC and HAP, industrial-grade coating that allows users to paint in confined, occupied spaces without the risks associated with solvent odors and flammability. Enamel can be used on metal, concrete,...

High-temperature epoxy.(Paints and Coatings: Products)
March 1, 2004... Corr-Paint CP2070 2-part high-temperature, corrosion-protective, epoxynovolac paint is gray pigmented with 100% solids, and protects metal parts and structures in industrial applications at temperatures up to 300 F. Features include excellent...

Nonslip coating.(Paints and Coatings: Products)
March 1, 2004... Stop-Slip HDV antislip coating resists chemicals, fuels, and UV; provides superior traction; prevents hydroplaning; and is formulated to withstand extreme wear. The low-odor, low-VOC coating is applied with trowel or roller, dries in 24-48 hr,...

Zinc coating.(Paints and Coatings: Products)
March 1, 2004... Cold Galvanize 99% protective coating is available in a 13-oz aerosol can; contains 99% pure zinc; and provides superior, long-term protection against rust and corrosion on ferrous bar metal and previously galvanized surfaces. With galvanic...

Electrocoat 2004.(Paints and Coatings: Events)
March 1, 2004... Electrocoat 2004 is April 14-16 at Disney's Coronado Springs Convention Center, Orlando, FL. The event is designed to provide perspective through user case studies, technical presentations, and interactive question and answer sessions. For more...

Food plant lubes.(Lubrication: Products)
March 1, 2004... Nevastane EP extreme pressure, white, oil-based lubricants can be used in gear reducers and bearings in all types of equipment found in food processing plants. They are also highly effective for reciprocating air compressors and other...

Adjustable oil skimmer.(Lubrication: Products)
March 1, 2004... MAXI-Skimmer Model SSV/5 variable-collection-rate oil skimmer has a timer for automatic control, a ground fault interrupter for electrical safety, and a 3-ft hose for the oil outlet. It uses a 4-in.-wide polyurethane or stainless steel belt...

Lube tips.(Lubrication: Literature)
March 1, 2004... 101 Smart Lubrication Tips, now available online at molykote.com, helps maintenance engineers and plant managers find solutions to virtually all of their lubrication problems. The brochure, downloadable from a pdf file, has graphics and...

Oil skimming.(Lubrication: Literature)
March 1, 2004... Oil Skimming Facts is a free, 14-p folder that provides answers and application information for many questions and situations. It explains the principles of skimming, lists advantages and drawbacks of different types of skimming devices, and...

Antiseize lubricants.(Lubrication: Literature)
March 1, 2004... Catalog features an industry use guide plus a detailed typical properties chart for a comparative performance reference of each Never-Seez product formula. The antiseize and lubricating compounds are available for maintaining and protecting all...

Pressure gauges.(Instruments and Controls: Products)
March 1, 2004... Thermoplastic pressure gauges monitor vacuum and positive system pressures up to 15,000 psi and feature 4 1/2 and 6-in. dial sizes. Gauges have lower back mount and bottom mount configurations, and are available with male NPT or tube adapter...

Status datalogger.(Instruments and Controls: Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Series OM-50 dataloggers record device on/off or open/closed states and store the time and date for each. Units have LED status indicators as well. Datalogger connects to PC using RS-232 interface and is Windows compatible. Omega...

Temperature controller.(Instruments and Controls: Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... E5AR and E5ER multiloop temperature/process controllers have a fast sampling time and allow selection among thermocouple, platinum RTD, analog current, or analog voltage inputs. Controllers display process variable (PV), setpoint (SP), and...

Wireless I/O.(Instruments and Controls: Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... RAD-DATA-BUS system data radios move RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 serial data from any PLC or controller with Modbus or DF1 protocols and allows users to read and write analog and digital I/O from remote locations. Each transceiver is a master,...

Pocket temperature probe.(Instruments and Controls: Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... TPP temperature pocket probes allow quick temperature checks of liquids and surfaces. Features include 0.1-F resolution, LCD display, data hold, protective cover with pocket clip for immersion probe, and included battery. Probes come in F and C...

Pipe freeze plug.(Solutions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... PROBLEM: A pipe is leaking, and it is difficult to get to the valve to shut off flow. How can the leak be stopped until the valve can be reached and flow stopped? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOLUTION: Wrap a piece of rubber around the...

Dual power source.(Solutions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... PROBLEM: A 12-V portable air compressor comes with a plug that fits a cigarette lighter. If the only source of power is the battery of a lift truck, how can the air compressor be powered? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOLUTION: Strip a short...

Roof leak fix.(Solutions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... PROBLEM: A leak has developed on a flat plant roof. Due to scheduling and weather problems the leak can't be fixed right now. What can be done in the way of a temporary patch? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOLUTION: Locate the approximate...