Plant Engineering articles from May 2005

Plant Engineering archives from May 2005

Energizing an industry.(Comment)
May 1, 2005... The economic theory of supply and demand developed by Alfred Marshall suggests that prices increase in response to tight supplies and increasing demand. Marshall died in 1924, so he missed two of the better examples of his theory at...

Ohio program pushes innovation success for smaller manufacturers.(Forum)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The University of Cincinnati and TechSolve, the Ohio Edison Technology Center, have been awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Development to improve product development for Ohio's small and mid-sized manufacturers. The $1.88 million...

NAM leaders push Congress for pro-growth legislation.(Forum)(National Association of Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... At its spring meeting in Florida, the National Association of Manufacturers' (NAM) board of directors threw its support behind Congressional action on trade and energy bills it said would "influence our economy's capacity to compete and grow."...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
May 1, 2005... The March story, "Choosing the right vehicle restraint" (p. 78) failed to provide accurate contact information for author Walt Swietlik, He can be reached at 800-456-0600 or by email at wswietlik@ritehite.com.

Softwood and steel pipe prices soar.(Forum)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Inflation is running red hot among the products that plant engineers have to buy in order to maintain and repair the factory. Among 21 industries in the PLANT ENGINEERING construction supplies price index, product price inflation accelerated...

Price/cost/demand roundup.(bulding materials)(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... Price/cost/demand roundup Construction & maintenance supplies AVERAGE PRODUCT PRICES (1) % CHANGE DURING 12 MONTHS ENDING Industry ...

Two new NEMA standards approved.(Forum)
May 1, 2005... The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has released two standards that are adaptations from IEC standards: * ICS 61800-2-2005, Adjustable Speed Electrical Power Drive Systems: Part 2: General Requirements-Rating...

ASME book covers hydraulic fluid issues.(Forum)(American Society of Mechanical Engineers)(Book Review)
May 1, 2005... Hydraulic Fluids, A Guide to Selection, Test Methods, and Use is a concise reference to most of the fluids used in plant hydraulic and lubricating systems. A better understanding and proper care of hydraulic fluids is very important for...

ISA studies standards compliance program.(Forum)(Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA) is studying the feasibility of a new program to document compliance with specific ISA standards. Society officials said a standard compliance program would give ISA a new role in...

NEMA business confidence survey shows rebound.(Forum)(National Electrical Manufacturers Association)
May 1, 2005... Current conditions across all four regions included in the National Electrical Manufacturers Association's (NEMA) Business Confidence Survey topped the growth threshold of 50 points for the third consecutive month in March. The North...

Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI benefits forum is June 7.(Forum)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI will host its annual Benefits Forum on Tuesday, June 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sofitel Chicago O'Hare, Rosemont, IL. The Benefits Forum program consists of presentations made primarily by...

Congress honors ASME for 125 years of service.(Forum)(American Society of Mechanical Engineers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A Congressional resolution in March congratulated the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) on its 125th anniversary. Introduced by Sen. John Sununu (R-NH), himself a mechanical engineer, the resolution describes ASME as "one of the...

Celebrating inefficiency and complexity.(Forum)(National Rube Goldberg Machine Contest)(Brief Article)(Column)
May 1, 2005... We've all had days like this: It seems it takes 125 steps to do the simplest task. That's when the skills of an engineer most come into play. It is the engineer's task to take the complicated and make it simple. That's the lesson learned...

Age discrimination: is your plant vulnerable?(Human side)
May 1, 2005... As I view it, the recently widened Supreme Court protections against age discrimination in the workplace trigger two key questions: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Is my company a candidate for court action stemming from age discrimination?...

Is a juror entitled to missed OT pay even on a Saturday?(Human side)
May 1, 2005... The important court case George Graham was on seemed to be winding down. Ernie Balkin, the juror's supervisor, had called informing him that he was scheduled for overtime on Saturday. "Will you be off jury duty by then?" "I wish I...

Can a leave for union business be limited?(Human side)
May 1, 2005... Mechanic Grade I and Shop Steward Larry Moore was a militant advocate of workers' rights and highly regarded by union officials. He also had his eye on a job as a labor organizer. One day he was asked by the president of his local to...

Can an outperforming junior get preference in a layoff?(Human side)
May 1, 2005... When the economic outlook turned slumpy, Maintenance Foreman Edgar Grossman found himself confronted with a decision no supervisor enjoys making, that of having to lay off people. In a huddle with Plant Engineer Mason Van Deft it was decided...

Is compulsory retirement a form of age discrimination?(Human side)
May 1, 2005... When 68-year-old maintenance department utility worker John Hawkins was informed by his boss, Foreman Ray Selden, that he would have to retire in compliance with the company's age 65 retirement policy, he all but let out a howl. Hawkins...

Do extended holidays merit holiday pay?(Human side)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... "Uh, oh," groused Assistant Maintenance Foreman Jerry Kaufman to his boss, "with the Fourth of July coming up, we'll probably be shorthanded again." Foreman Arthur Wolfowitz knew what Kaufman was referring to. In many plants employee...

Funeral leave: how 'immediate' must the family be?(Human side)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The company allowed a maximum of five days' funeral leave in the event of a death in the family. According to the labor agreement, the provision applied to family members specified as mother, father, sister, brother, son, or daughter. When...

Merging SCADA and business processes.(Management side)(supervisory control and data acquisition)
May 1, 2005... The underlying technology that enables traditional supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) functionality has changed dramatically. ARC's definition of SCADA encompasses hardware, software, and services used for the control of...

Brushing up on dc circuit fundamentals.(Plant electronics)(Kirchhoff's Laws)(direct current)
May 1, 2005... Before you get out of bed each day, an electronic clock radio awakens you so that you can get ready for your commute to the plant. Perhaps your car or truck has electronic fuel injection--not to mention a main computer that can be serviced only...

Finding the power to change: energy management becomes a manufacturing imperative.(SPECIAL REPORT)(Cover Story)
May 1, 2005... Energy has never been a problem for James Knott Sr. He built Riverdale Mills Corporation, a Massachusetts manufacturer of steel-welded wire mesh for everything from security fences to lobster traps, by devoting his energy to finding better ways...

The rules and tools to dispose of compressor condensate.(Compressors/Maintenance)
May 1, 2005... KEY CONCEPTS * Determine the allowable level of contaminants in your area. * The choice of oil/water separator depends on the composition of the contaminant. * Disposal of filters must be done according to local regulations. ...

Oil analysis and preventive maintenance.
May 1, 2005... KEY CONCEPTS * There are cost-effective ways to optimize performance and reduce machinery down-time. * The key to avoiding major damage is to analyze oil samples with high frequency, fast turnaround times, and good accuracy. *...

Transfusion of knowledge: fluid is a hydraulic system's 'lifeblood'.(hydraulic fluids)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... KEY CONCEPTS * Not all OEM-approved oils may perform adequately in a system. * Premium quality oils prolong the life of hydraulic components. * Regularly monitor the condition of the hydraulic fluid. ********** Hydraulic...

Avoid information 'silos' with effective data management.(Automation)
May 1, 2005... KEY CONCEPTS * Keeping systems in step with each other during the varying phases of a project is next to impossible. * As more data is shared across organizations, effective data management becomes critical to reducing costs and...

Five common steam line sizing errors.(Fluid Handling Maintenance)
May 1, 2005... KEY CONCEPTS * Improperly sized distribution piping can raise pressure drops or increase heat loss. * Undersized piping after pressure reducing valves can cause erosion of components. * Undersized piping after steam traps can...

Redesigned drive.(Electrical: Products)
May 1, 2005... H2 is a line of adjustable speed drives that operates as a vector, encoderless vector, or ac servo motor control. The drive offers a larger graphical display added to the keypad, which provides multiple lines of English text display, selectable...

Drive with preconfigured parameters.(Electrical: Products)
May 1, 2005... Movitrac LTE frequency inverter comes equipped with predefined parameter settings and a user-friendly integrated control unit for standard applications. Features include integrated operating panel with local control and seven-segment display,...

Compact ac drives.(Electrical: Products)
May 1, 2005... Bronco VFD Series variable frequency ac drives have an isolated front end and a voltage doubler circuit that can output 230 Vac to a motor from a 115 Vac supply. These dual-voltage inverters can also accept a speed reference signal without a...

Geared motor.(Electrical: Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... BS Series worm geared motors come as a standard right-angle two-stage design. Installation options include foot or flange mounting with single or double output shaft, shaft mounting with in-keyed hollow shaft, or shrink disk version with torque...

Lock-out relays.(Electrical: Products)
May 1, 2005... Lock-Out Relays protect critical electrical equipment in utilities and plants. Models include manual-, electric-, or self-reset types. Manual reset types are reset by the operator moving the handle back to normal and have nominal trip speeds...

Instrument measures multiple parameters.(Instrumentation: Products)
May 1, 2005... HHF81 anemometer can measure airflow, humidity, temperature, and light. Built-in microprocessor allows the instrument to track maximum and minimum values along with current readings. Unit displays flow rate in knots, meters/second,...

Municipal flowmeter.(Instrumentation: Products)
May 1, 2005... The V2-Municipal Flowmeter features built-in flow conditioning for accuracy with minimum upstream/downstream straight-run piping requirements, which reduces installation and plant ancillary equipment costs. It is especially useful wherever...

Pocket-sized DMM.(Instrumentation: Products)
May 1, 2005... PocketPro is a full-featured digital multimeter that electricians can take virtually anywhere. It fits inside a pants or shirt pocket with room to spare. Compact (4.9 X 2.4 X 0.9 inches) and lightweight (3.9 oz.), the DMM includes built-in...

Label printer.(Instrumentation: Products)
May 1, 2005... CMS-S1 thermal transfer printer combines terminal block marking, wire marking, and equipment marking in one printer. The printer design includes a cutter and easy access to the ink ribbon and marking material. The printer uses CMS-MARK-WIN...

Radar level meter.(Instrumentation: Products)
May 1, 2005... Optiwave 7300 C radar level meter accurately measures distance, level, and volume of liquids, pastes, and solids. Its measuring range of 131 feet enables it to operate with a wide bandwidth, which enhances accuracy and repeatability. Objects...

Calibration management.(Instrumentation: Products)
May 1, 2005... MET/CAL Plus V7.1 software suite, is an enhancement of a calibration management program with features designed to efficiently handle expanding workloads. The program's guardbanding support allows metrologists to tailor algorithms to...

Detailed inspections.(Instrumentation: Products)
May 1, 2005... In-Sight 5403 captures full-frame, 1600 X 1200 images at up to 15 frames per second for highly detailed inspection of fast moving objects. The increased resolution allows for precision gauging, alignment, and fine-defect inspection on very...

Ethernet/IP protocol.(Instrumentation: Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Ethernet/IP communication protocol has been added to the IMPACT family of intelligent cameras. The Ethernet/IP enables integration with a broad range of third party industrial products for data sharing is available in the protocol's Inspection...

Thermography camera.(Instrumentation: Products)
May 1, 2005... HotShot thermography camera has an ergonomic design, integrated data logger functionality, and icon-based user interface. Designed specifically for industrial inspection of high-voltage electrical systems, production, and machinery, the camera...

Switching power supply line.(Automation: Products)
May 1, 2005... RHINO PSM line of power supplies includes several new metal and plastic housed switching supply models. The industrial-grade, switching dc-output power supplies are capable of automatically switching between 115 and 230 Vac inputs. the power...

High-channel-count I/O.(Automation: Products)
May 1, 2005... Two Compact FieldPoint devices offer engineers improvements for control systems by reducing the number of required modules and significantly reducing system jitter. The cFP/FP-DIO-550 is a 16-channel digital I/O module that measures eight...

Condition monitoring software.(Automation: Products)
May 1, 2005... Condition Monitoring (CM) software collects and aggregates real-time data from plant floor systems and provides sophisticated analysis of that data to drive preventive and predictive maintenance activity. Software includes an intuitive...

EAM, the next generation.(Automation: Products)
May 1, 2005... Maximo Enterprise Suite (MXES) is a comprehensive suite of products built on a single, common platform. This next-generation release of Maximo combines enhanced EAM functionality with new service management capabilities. Software includes...

Power over Ethernet.(Automation: Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... HyperJack 1000 gigabit power over Ethernet modules provide PoE management functions embedded within an RJ-45 connector. The multiport module integrates components that support Ethernet 10/100/1000 as well as high-performance power management...

Software suite enhanced.(Automation: Products)
May 1, 2005... TabWare Efx EAM product suite has been enhanced with a new user interface, a robust analytics module, and added capabilities to its Internet-based procurement suite. The new user interface conforms to the Windows XP style guide using enhanced...

Fault analysis from collected data.(Automation: Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Asset Manager release 310, a component of the Experion PKS platform, identifies and analyzes symptoms and faults from thousands of data points collected from plant systems, historians, field sensor networks, and other plant databases. It...

Manufacturing intelligence.(Automation: Products)
May 1, 2005... Incuity Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence software system integrates plant floor production data and enterprise business information from disparate sources and provides a context for the data to enable better business decisions. Incuity can...

Ergonomics posters.(Maintenance/Safety: Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Humantech, Inc. has introduced nine new ergonomics posters. These full-color posters provide straightforward and accurate visual reminders of issues and solutions for improving workplace ergonomics. They are ideal for reinforcing an...

Cleaning powder.(Maintenance/Safety: Products)
May 1, 2005... General Purpose Powder is a high-performance, heavy-duty, ultrasonic cleaning powder. Two pounds of concentrate powder will make up to 75 gallons of cleaning solution. Each scoop generates up to one gallon of general purpose cleaning solution...

Bird repeller.(Maintenance/Safety: Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... BroadBand PRO targets pest birds with an unrelenting combination of four different sound types: distress cries, predator cries, general harassments, and ultrasonic waves. Its development is based on 40 years of success with sonic repellers that...

Quality assurance.(Software: Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Synergy 2000 is used in quality assurance applications to monitor and react to process variations during production and inspection. The software provides a full complement of tools that support Six Sigma quality initiatives, and can assist...

Chemical management.(Software: Products)
May 1, 2005... Gatekeeper is the newest module for a web-based Chemical Management System. CMS lowers the cost of automating a company's chemical management tasks. Gatekeeper speeds and manages the multiple processes of screening chemicals prior to purchase,...

Collect and aggregate real-time plant data.(Software: Products)
May 1, 2005... Proficy Historian Version 3.0 plant-wide data historian collects, archives and distributes real-time, plant-floor production data with improved ease of use and high availability. Users can collect and aggregate real-time plant data from...

AutoCAD software.(Software: Products)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Software has been released for application on AutoCAD 2006. AutoCAD 2006 builds on the success of earlier versions of MultiSTEEL and MultiREBAR that maximize the benefits of the latest AutoCAD platform. MultiSUITE www.multisuite.com...

Hot gas reheat.(Heating/HVAC: Products)
May 1, 2005... Hot gas reheat with direct digital dehumidification controls can be added to an entire IntelliPak HVAC rooftop line. The hot gas reheat feature uses native energy from An IntelliPak rooftop unit to provide comfortable space temperatures while...

Air circulators.(Heating/HVAC: Products)
May 1, 2005... Heavy-duty air circulators come standard with highly polished cast aluminum airfoil propellers. These propellers provide high efficiency, low noise levels, self-cleaning due to the highly polished surface, and an ideal air velocity profile for...

Cabinet cooling.(Heating/HVAC: Products)
May 1, 2005... Profile Series 43 panel mounted air conditioner is designed to cool the interior of electronic cabinets. The first in the new Profile line of NEMA 12 and 3R air conditioners is 43 inches high by 17 inches wide by 9 inches deep with a capacity...

Stealth introduces small quiet fanless computers that fit in the palm of your hand--a breakthrough in micro computing.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2005... Stealth Computer Corporation a leading ISO 9001 manufacturer of specialized computers and peripherals have continued their tradition of providing small form, powerful, PC based solutions to a growing marketplace. Stealth has introduced their...

Vaisala hand-held meter--measures moisture in oil.(Product Mart Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... The Vaisala HUMICAP[R] Hand-held Moisture Meter MM70 measures moisture (water activity and ppm) and temperature in oil. For rapid spot-checking, no waiting for laboratory results. Withstands pressure of 150 psig. Graphical display, data logging...

Swagelok[R] pressure measurement solutions.(Product Mart Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Swagelok pressure gauges and transducers can be mounted to Swagelok direct-mount manifolds, which offer isolation and venting capabilities. The pressure measurement device can be isolated from upstream process pressures when the instrument...

Threadlockers and Retaining Compounds.(Product Mart Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... CRC introduces Threadlockers and Retaining Compounds designed for locking and sealing assemblies with a fast cure time while also protecting against corrosion. CRC offers six different Threadlocker formulas (low, medium and high strengths) and...

Plant maintenance.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2005... Experience the "Breadth and Depth" of Extech's technically advanced, hand held test equipment covering more than 14 major product categories. 124pg catalog features 63 new products, many of them exclusive to Extech. Our new 1000A True RMS...

Orival.(Product Mart Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Providing automatic self-cleaning filtration systems for removal of suspended solids from water is more than a job for Orival--it's a way of life. Orival's network of application specialists will provide expert solutions tailored to your...

Tekleen[R] stainless steel filters.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2005... Tekleen are high quality low cost stainless steel filters at carbon steel prices. Sizes from 1"-24", up to 12,000 gpm, filtration 3,000[micro]-5[micro] and from only 2 gallons per rinse. Automatic Filters, Inc,--Tekleen, Los Angeles, CA USA...

New Browning[R] TorqTaper Plus.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2005... New Browning[R] TorqTaper Plus helical shaft mount reducer from Emerson Power Transmission. The shaft mount is available in sizes 107 to 608. Available ratios are 5, 9, 15, 25, and 35:1. This new line incorporates two patented features--a...

The Model 460 Voltage Monitor.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2005... The Model 460 Three Phase Voltage Monitor combines unsurpassed motor protection and control with finger-safe wiring, DIN rail compatibility, and LED fault indication. It can be connected directly to the three phase lines without fuses,...

Inpro/seal isolator applications.(Product Mart Showcase)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... Four-color brochure with Important information about the company and its bearing isolators, including: product data, capabilities, specifications and more. It should prove of value to anyone involved in the maintenance, repair and operations...

Applying drill pressure.(Solutions)
May 1, 2005... PROBLEM: Drilling holes in awkward positions is difficult because it is hard to apply much force with one hand. Is there an aid available? [GRAPHIC OMITTED] SOLUTION: Make a manual assist by combining a handle bar, chain, and hooking...

Changing hoses and fittings.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... PROBLEM: Changing hoses and fittings on tanks usually requires complete draining, or playing the "how fast can you swap" game. The first is time consuming and the second can be dangerous, depending on the fluid in the tank. [GRAPHIC...

Picking up small parts.(Solutions)
May 1, 2005... PROBLEM: It is difficult to pick up small parts, especially in hard to reach places. Is there another way to pick them up? [GRAPHIC OMITTED] SOLUTION: Place an old pair of panty hose over the suction end of a shop vac. The small parts...