Plant Engineering articles from May 2006

Plant Engineering archives from May 2006

PE poll.
May 1, 2006... Our April question at www.plantengineering.com: "What communications option to you use for your variable frequency drive operations?" Your responses: Ethernet (including E/IP) 34.9% Modbus ...

Hoffman thinks outside the box with redesigned Web site.(Hoffman's redesigned Web sites)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Hoffman's redesigned Web site features streamlined navigation, enhanced search options and a new online product catalog to provide visitors a more effective and user-friendly tool to obtain information about Hoffman's products and services. The...

Techsolve site offers leaner look at lean.(service development of websites)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... With the launch of a newly redesigned Website, www.techsolve.org, TechSolve has pulled together educational resources on lean manufacturing and machining optimization. The Website includes detailed descriptions of lean and machining...

PRI offers on-line energy scenarios.(QUICK Clicks)
May 1, 2006... If you had a crystal ball to predict the future for the energy industry, what choices would you make today to ensure you saw that future? The Electric Power Research Institute has recently unveiled four new scenarios to give the energy...

Create a small, but powerful energy conversation policy.(analysis of gasoline prices )
May 1, 2006... Which sounds worse to you: That gasoline prices are headed past $3 a gallon, or that gasoline prices have gone up 100% since last summer? Not much of a choice there, is it? A year ago in our cover story on energy, we pointed to the sharp...

Ohio, India export leaders to import manufacturing jobs.(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Ohio Gov. Bob Taft and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh came around the world to find new economic development for their regions, and to tout their own successes to date. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] They came to Hannover Messe, the...

Interoperability standards group formed.(manufacturing interoperability guideline working group)
May 1, 2006... The creation of the Manufacturing Interoperability Guideline Working Group, a collaborative venture of ISA, MIMOSA, OAGi, OPC, and WBF, was announced recently. This group will develop an industry guideline that defines generic business process...

USB data acquisition system introduced.(FORUM)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... National Instruments has announced the CompactDAQ, a new USB-based modular data acquisition system. The new platform is intended for sensor and electrical measurements on the bench top, in the field and on the production line. The system offers...

Siemens puts $7.2M into PA expansion.(oil and gas, power generation, and municipal wastewater applications)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. is investing $7.2 million to expand its New Kensington, PA manufacturing facility. The plant expansion site, formerly known as Robicon, was acquired by SE & A in July 2005. Siemens plans to create 145 new...

ARC conference to focus on enterprise performance.(FORUM)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Top industry visionaries will share their experiences and best practices for driving manufacturer enterprise performance at ARC Advisory Group's Fourteenth Annual Forum, "Driving Enterprise Performance through Next Generation Manufacturing...

Closed-loop control takes on new form.(FORUM)
May 1, 2006... Watlow EZ-ZONE ST integrated control loop architecture combines multiple control functions into a single package. The integrated controller combines a PID temperature controller, solid state power controller, properly sized heat sink,...

Expanded liquid natural gas imports needed, study shows.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The growing cost of energy is one of a host of current challenges facing U.S. manufacturers, but the ability to expand imports of liquefied natural gas at reasonable cost would help rebuild the global competitiveness of the sector, according to...

Nanotechnology advisory committee formed.(Nanotechnology Advisory Council)
May 1, 2006... The National Electrical Manufacturers Association created the Nanotechnology Advisory Council, a panel of experts intended to provide guidance to the electrical manufacturing community on this emerging technology. "President Bush made it...

ABB earnings jump 30% in 1Q.(treatment of the asbestos shares)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ABB reported a 30% increase in earnings before interest and taxes and strong top-line growth for the first three months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005. Net income increased slightly to $204 million from $199 million in the...

Ex-NAM president Trowbridge dies.(Department of Commerce )(Obituary)
May 1, 2006... Former U.S. Commerce Secretary and National Association of Manufacturers president Alexander B. "Sandy" Trowbridge died April 27 at his Washington DC home. Trowbridge was president of the NAM from 1979 to 1989. Before joining the NAM,...

Digi, Rockwell Automation partner.(wireless routers/gateways)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Digi International has been accepted into Rockwell Automation's Encompass Program, a third-party product referencing program that helps Rockwell Automation customers find best-in-industry technologies compatible with Rockwell Automation...

Regal-Beloit acquires Chinese company.(FORUM)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Regal-Beloit Corp. has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Changzhou Sinya Electromotor Co. Ltd., Jiangsu Southern Sinya Electric Co. Ltd. and Changzhou Xiesheng Plastic Co. Ltd. (collectively...

Correction.(Correction notice)
May 1, 2006... In the article titled "Energy costs drive ac-drive innovations," April, 2006, AC Technology Corp. was inadvertantly omitted from the listing at the end of the article. Plant Engineering magazine apologizes for this oversight, and wishes to...

NEMA releases connector standard.(National Electrical Manufacturers Association)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NEMA has published ANSI C119.6-2006, American National Standard for Electric Connectors--Non-Sealed, Multiport Connector Systems Rated 600 Volts or Less for Aluminum and Copper Conductors. This standard covers non-sealed multiport connector...

ASHRAE proposes lighting changes.(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Proposals from ASHRAE would "light the way" for the International Energy Conservation Code to be more consistent with the Society's energy efficiency standard. ASHRAE has proposed that portions of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004,...

A revolution for HR managers: unleashing employees' talent.(human side)(Excerpt)
May 1, 2006... The human resources function has, for a number of reasons, been typically viewed by executives as peripheral to the successful performance of their organizations. Human resource management as a course in most MBA programs is often not...

Organizational alignment: why it is so important.(management side)
May 1, 2006... In the US, manufacturing jobs continue to decline, typically moving to countries with lower labor cost. In my view, labor costs are not the chief impediment to U.S. manufacturers being competitive, but rather the root cause is a lack of...

Modular controls improve performance, lower costs for injection molding machine.
May 1, 2006... Taylor's Industrial Services, HPM-Sandretto Division, of Mt. Gilead, OH has historically been one of the largest injection molding machine suppliers in the US. Its older machinery lines needed improved capabilities to compete more aggressively...

Find the right timing to perform preventive maintenance work.(Excerpt)
May 1, 2006... Selection of the correct interval to perform a preventive maintenance task is, by far, the most difficult job confronting the maintenance technician and analyst. We need to understand how physical processes and materials change over time, and...

Applying the standard: code changes affect the plant floor; Industrial control panels are typically used to control specific processes and loads in industrial facilities. An industrial control panel is an assembly of components, control devices and their associated wiring. It is generally used to house, protect and control industrial loads.(National Electrical Code)(Cover story)
May 1, 2006... The National Electrical Code typically views an industrial control panel as a piece of equipment with proper installation being the major concern. Titled the "Standard for Safety for Industrial Control Panels," UL 508A covers industrial...

Troubleshooting techniques help keep ac induction motors running.(Maintenance in plants)
May 1, 2006... When equipment in your plant malfunctions, you need to isolate the trouble quickly. Is the problem in the motor, or the starting circuit? In the August 2005 issue of PLANT ENGINEERING, "Take a step-by-step approach to analyze motor starting...

Specifying, installing and maintaining emergency fixtures.(safety plan for factories)
May 1, 2006... No one wants to be involved in a situation where a drench shower or eyewash is required. When accidents do happen, it is important to have an emergency plan in place for these situations. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) sets...

Troubleshooting hydraulic components: maintaining fluid power systems.
May 1, 2006... Troubleshooting industrial hydraulic components--such as pumps, cylinders, valves, actuators, and hydraulic motors--requires a sound understanding of the operation and functional relationship of the components in the system. This article...

Valve sack.(New fluid handling products for plant engineers)
May 1, 2006... The Valve Sac is designed to contain drips from leaking valves or spigots. It encapsulates the valve to contain and absorb leaks. Once installed, the Valve Sac allows for visual inspection. It comes in four standard sizes or it can be...

Universal pipe gasket.(New fluid handling products for plant engineers)
May 1, 2006... The GORE Universal Pipe Gasket offers lower overall sealing costs, simplified maintenance procedures and easier inventory management. The gaskets provide exceptional performance in three important areas: seal reliability, conforming to...

Jaw couplings.(product introduction)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The Lovejoy jaw-style coupling's parts are resistant to oil, dirt, sand, moisture and grease. With customized bore sizing always available, jaw couplings from Lovejoy are available in more than 850,000 combinations of bore sizes, and most types...

Electric pressure washer.(New fluid handling products for plant engineers)
May 1, 2006... The Sioux E2.6HS600 provides continuous hot water or steam quickly and continuously, providing optimum cleaning capability. The all-electric cleaners produce no flame, exhaust, emissions or contamination into the surrounding area....

Heaters.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... Polyimide heaters are constructed of a thin, lightweight organic polymer film. Polyimide provides excellent tensile strength, tear resistance and dimensional stability. The heater features excellent physical and electrical properties which...

Hand-operated pump.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... The KidBilly adapters allow GoatThroat to be used with the Rieke Flexspout, eliminating chemical spills and back injuries. Featuring a custom design, the adapter turns the Rieke Flexspout into a rigid receptacle for GoatThroats and other pumps....

Wireless Ethernet radio.(product introduction)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Phoenix Contact's new provide secure wireless communication and data protection. The 802.11 a/b/g industrial wireless Ethernet radio products feature 802.11i/WPA2 security with AES-CCMP and 802.1x. The IT-friendly embedded software allows any...

Waveform generators.(product introduction)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Fluke Corporation introduces the 29x series of 100 MS/s universal waveform generators that produce multiple signals to test complex electronic circuits. The generators feature 1M point waveform memory and unlimited waveform storage using...

Manometer.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... The HHP91 is a precision manometer for automotive, HVAC, laboratories and general industrial applications. Compatible with air or non-corrosive and non-ionized gases and liquids. Also compatible with all measuring systems due to its eight...

Connectors for food and pharma.(NEW PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2006... Ultra-Lock connection system is specifically designed to meet the stringent sanitary requirements of food, beverage and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The M12-compatible connector system is comprised of a series of integrated distribution boxes...

Product catalog.(product introduction)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Wright Tool's 2006 four-color product catalog is now available in two versions: English and Spanish. The 388-page catalog offers new product offerings in the following categories: wrenches, ratchets, adaptors, sockets, torque tools, and a...

Warehouse software.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... FKI Logistex has upgraded its Order Manager software solution to include RFID support, enhanced order management, inventory control, and productivity reporting. A company's enterprise business system can communicate with Order Manager directly,...

Timing belt drive.(NEW PRODUCTS)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Uhing Company AZ timing belt drives to better resist build-up of dust, metal filings and other airborne particles. Model AZ-2000 features plastic slide bearings instead of the metal rollers, accumulating less dust and debris. Developed...

New Vaisala Humidity Series.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... The Vaisala HUMICAP[R] Humidity and Temperature Transmitter Series HMT330 developed for demanding industrial applications features a large, numerical and graphical display with multilingual interface for monitoring measurement trends for one...

E-Mon D-Mon[R] electric meters you can't manage what you don't measure.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... Engineers have specified E-Mon D-Mon meters for over 25 years to help customers measure, manage and reduce energy costs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Low installed cost. * Monitor tenants, departments or equipment. * Remote...

System-K[TM] / eliminate joints.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... System-K[TM] combines the advantages of Type-K Shrinkage-Compensating Cement with advanced fiber reinforcement technology. Eliminate rebars, saw cutting, curling, and joint filling from your slabs with System-K[TM]. Using System-K[TM] results...

CoolPoint[TM] for flow consistency.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... * Easy-to-use flowmeter for water and coolant [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * 4-20 mA transmitter flow rates up to 600 GPM * Selectable set point for flow alarm * No moving parts to jam * Temperature transmitter, totalizer and...

Easy arm[TM].(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... Our award-winning G-Force[TM] lifting technology is now available in an ergonomic articulating jib design. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * 150# lifting capacity * Standard spans of 6', 8' & 10' * Perfect for work cells with low...

Orival, Inc.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... 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...

Swagelok[R] 40G series one-piece instrumentation ball valves.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... Swagelok[R] 40G series one-piece instrumentation ball valves are for use in environmental applications where outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate, as well as in heated-process applications with elevated process fluid temperatures. The valves...

Antares EPM Systems LLC.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... Did you ever wonder just how much your engineering organization would benefit from adopting a Project Management System. Our self evaluation tool will give you some answers. Project Management Systems are not just for the mega-projects anymore....

Ultra Flow[TM] 4000/8 precision grout.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... UltraFlow[TM] 4000/8 offers advantages that no other grout matches when fluidity, extended working time, precision alignment, and early strength gain are needed. It is non-shrink, fluid for 30 minutes, workable for 1 hour, can be coated in 24...

Model 777-KW-/HP Power Monitor.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... The Model 777-KW/HP Power Monitor, a voltage, underpower and electronic overload relay in one, provides the best protection for any motor. It is ideal for protecting magdrive pumps; low horsepower pumps and motors; metering pumps; mixers and...

Liquid strainers.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... Protect nozzles, valves and pumps from damaging debris. Choose from T, Y, simplex and duplex strainers in a variety of inlet sizes and materials. Spraying Systems' strainers are engineered to reduce maintenance downtime and are...

Fifty word description for Sprinter Marketing, Inc.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... Manufactures Sprinter[TM] automtic ink code-marking machines. Machines apply date codes, product codes, dots, etc. on metal, platic, rubber, and paper surfaces. Marking possible in any orientation. Message size up to 2 square inches. Cycle...

Threadlockers and Retaining Compounds.(Product Mart Showcase)
May 1, 2006... 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...

Five principles can reduce cost of health care to business.(a view from Washington)
May 1, 2006... To succeed in an intensely competitive global marketplace populated by cost-cutters and copycats, U.S. manufacturers have become increasingly focused on quality. Reliability, longevity and adaptability--these are characteristics manufacturers...