Plant Engineering articles from May 2008

Plant Engineering archives from May 2008

What is OPC UA and how does it affect your world?
May 15, 2008... By Simone Massaro, ICONICS Inc. OPC-UA is an important building block that enables users to build the next generation of software automation solutions. With complete backward compatibility ensured, vendors will have much to gain - and...

Don't get grounded by ignoring maintenance.
May 15, 2008... Bob Vavra, Editor Perhaps no single quote that came out of the Plant Engineering Manufacturing Summit last month in Chicago better summarizes the state of manufacturing right now than this one: 'We are so busy trying to meet tomorrow's...

Find facility efficiency first.
May 15, 2008... By Cassandra Quaintance, Schneider Electric Effective energy management requires a structured, integrated plan The impact of rising energy prices is being felt in every corner office and boardroom. A recent Duke University study ranked...

Teaching an old dog new (electrical) tricks.
May 15, 2008... Michael Stuart, Fluke Thermal Imaging Too many people have been injured by attempting to measure voltage on a circuit they thought was dead. Using thermal imaging avoids this deadly contact. There's a better way to approach electrical...

Advancements in modern VFDs.(variable frequency drives)
May 15, 2008... By Sanjay Kallianpur, Eaton Corp. Understanding the operation of ac variable drives and application issues can help you make better decisions An ac variable speed drive system controls the speed of an ac motor by controlling the...

Robotics, energy costs rise as Europe tackles plant issues head on.
May 15, 2008... By Bob Vavra The robots can juggle. They can play goalie. They can float through the air and propel themselves through water. They can perform dozens of dazzling maneuvers in a clean room after only being told once what to do. I am...

ICONICS looks forward, but keeps an eye on the past.
May 15, 2008... By Bob Vavra Even if you overlook the cool factor of the 3-D plant floor imaging capabilities of the ICONICS Genesis 64 system, you still have the ability to connect your plant floor and enterprise systems in a seamless, Web-based package....

Do you think outside the box? Send us your best Tips & Tricks.
May 15, 2008... Staff The best solutions to manufacturing problems don't always come from inside a box. They come from the experience of the plant floor workers who use their knowledge to solve thorny problems with guile - and occasionally some other...

ARC: Wireless market to top $1.2 billion by 2012.
May 15, 2008... Staff The market for wireless devices and equipment in process manufacturing will grow to over $1.1 billion in 2012, a growth rate of 32% per year, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study 'Wireless in Process Manufacturing Worldwide...

Fabtech International &AWS Welding Show adds mettle with Metalform.
May 15, 2008... Staff In an effort to provide show attendees more spark for their money, the organizers of FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show and METALFORM have gotten together with plans to offer combined exhibitions. The alliance between the...

Toyota Material Handling plants trees.
May 15, 2008... Staff Toyota Material Handling sponsored a tree planting at the Oso Lake Reservoir in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, on April 5. More than 100 volunteers, comprised of Toyota associates, scouts and unit leaders from the Orange County Council...

Things are shaping up for Siemens' exiderdome tour.(Siemens Energy & Automation Inc.)
May 15, 2008... By Bob Vavra The first thing that you notice about exiderdome, Siemens Energy & Automation's traveling hands-on automation laboratory, is that it is not, in fact, shaped like a dome. The cube-shaped, two-story traveling shows heads off for...

Cut out the middleman; add a partner.(Column)
May 15, 2008... By Dave Grebowski, Kaman Industrial Technologies Cut out the middleman. How often have we heard that phrase? 'Cut out the middleman' - as if this is the key to unlimited wealth; your path to the inner circle of procurement bliss. Well, let...

Products, sustainability and market conditions drive NA 2008 attendees.
May 15, 2008... By Kevin Campbell, Senior Editor Over its first two days, the NA 2008 Material Handling and Logistics Show, held April 21-24 at Cleveland's I-X Center, enjoyed good size crowds in the morning that seemed to dwindle slightly in the...

Good news is hard to find: Manufacturing reports show weakness.
May 15, 2008... Staff The March and April reports on manufacturing showed in charts and graphs what most manufacturing professionals already knew. The manufacturing sector is continuing to have both its output and outlook battered by struggles with energy...

After 150 years, it's still tool time at Klein.
May 15, 2008... Staff After 150 years in the tool business, Lincolnshire, IL-based Klein Tools hasn't lost its commitment to quality - or its sense of humor. As part of the company's sesquicentennial celebration, Klein Tools has created a T-shirt...

Green practices meet economic value: achieving the waste-to-profit balance.(Company overview)
May 15, 2008... By Larry Gess, Chicago Manufacturing Center One person's trash truly is another's treasure. Engineered Glass Products' Philip Gordon hoped to realize this for his company when he joined a new City of Chicago initiative last year. Little...

Selecting a single-point lubricator.
May 15, 2008... By Scott Batchelor, LubeSite Systems Inc. Lubrication in today's industrial landscape has changed the way manufacturing equipment is maintained and has undoubtedly lengthened the life cycle of machinery. From complex multiline systems to...

Specialty compressor oils minimize chemical process downtime, repairs.
May 15, 2008... By Gene Finner, Dow Corning Chemical plant compressors can be part of very complex and reactive process gas handling systems that are designed to drive and isolate the process, protect the environment and the people surrounding it. To...

Asset reliability drives Lean maintenance.
May 15, 2008... By Kris Bagadia, EAK Industrial Solutions LLC A CMMS/EAM is the backbone of a proactive maintenance organization Lean maintenance is the application of Lean philosophies, methods, tools and techniques to maintenance functions. It has...

Belt sorters.
May 15, 2008... Staff UniSort sliding shoe and linear belt sorters provide automated calibration, monitoring and diagnostic testing to monitor and manage sorting systems. Their multi-speed operating capability allows users to adjust sortation operations...

Diverter.
May 15, 2008... Staff The SIBAH HSD II features a variable-frequency drive for the vertical paddle belts and a servomotor for paddle positioning. The VFD provides simple speed adjustments while the servo paddle positioning drive facilitates handling of...

Management software.
May 15, 2008... Staff iWarehouse is an enterprise fleet management solution for warehouse and distribution center managers to collect and analyze real-time lift truck data. The system draws real-time information from the operating systems of lift trucks,...

Inventory tracking solution.
May 15, 2008... Staff Built on the company's Sky-Trax indoor positioning system and the Skan-Free identification imaging system, the Total-Trax system automatically captures exact pallet location and identification, vehicle location, precise location and...

Heating tapes.
May 15, 2008... Staff The HTWAT series of silicone rubber heating tapes feature an adjustable thermostat control up to 218 C and are designed for process temperature control, freeze protection and supplemental heat. The tapes are moisture and chemical...

Polyurethane hose.
May 15, 2008... Staff Flx-Thane SD hose features a surface resistance of 108 -1010 Ohms/square inch to prevent static charges from building up. The bronze-coated spring-steel-wire helix drains charges to the ground and the hose is suitable for light bulk...

Power relay.
May 15, 2008... Staff The G7Z high-capacity power relay continuously applies up to 40 A at 440 Vac or up to a maximum of 160 A using 4-pole parallel connectors for full-power application. The RoHS-compliant power relay consumes less than 4 Wdc power and...

Gowning racks.
May 15, 2008... Staff Cleanroom gowning racks are available in freestanding or wall-mounted configurations. Constructed of 304 stainless steel, the freestanding models are 24 inches wide and are available in single, dual and cantilever style, with...

Primer.
May 15, 2008... Staff Loctite QuickStix 7088 is a semisolid primer that enhances the adhesives in thread locking, thread sealing, gasketing and retaining applications of anaerobic machinery. Designed for use on plated, anodized and galvanized parts and...

Heating compound.
May 15, 2008... Staff Diff-Tranz heat-transfer compound increases efficiency of platen hearts by maximizing contact between the heaters and the vacuum diffusion pumps. The compound fills in gaps between the irregular surface of the pump's boilerplate and...

Printer.
May 15, 2008... Staff The 2320 large-character inkjet printer provides high-resolution on-line printing of variable data on corrugated shipping containers for applications that require code heights of up to 2 inches. The printer features an air-driven ink...

Ethernet switches.
May 15, 2008... Staff The All-Gigabit SL-8MG switches, with eight Gigabit ports for auto-sensing 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet links, feature four flexible combination ports that provide both copper RJ45 and pluggable fiber-optic connectors. Special...

Flow rack.
May 15, 2008... Staff The Flex Flow rack is comprised of three components including tube, connector and supporting element, and its flexible design is configurable to various operational tasks. Its application-based design can increase productivity by as...

Door controller.
May 15, 2008... Staff The Matrix System Gateway is an intelligent Ethernet-to-485 converter/switch that automatically maintains connections between the system's third-tier intelligent door controllers and second-tier building controller. The gateway's...

Connector.
May 15, 2008... Staff The WEH 17 series connector provides calibration of control valve actuators during manufacturing or in field applications. The connectors use a handle-actuated collet system for connections where no wrench tightening or thread...

Rollers.
May 15, 2008... Staff Line of rollers includes cushion rollers, solid versions, finned, and drives roller designs. Designed for material handling and industrial applications, the rollers feature a polyurethane layer, and a silicone coating is available...

Flow meter.
May 15, 2008... Staff The Multi-Mag L series flowmeter uses multi-point sensing technology for large line sizes, a smart programmable signal converter and a noise-immune cable that can be used in municipal water and industrial processes. The flowmeter...

Surge protector.
May 15, 2008... Staff The Eco-Logical Smart Strip surge protector protects electronics from power surges. The surge protector automatically cuts power to peripherals when they go into 'sleep' mode. It's available in seven- or 10-outlet models and comes...

Cycle actuators.
May 15, 2008... Staff High-duty-cycle actuators combine the torque of Valvcon ADC platform with brushless dc-motor technology. The actuator's constant-charge internal batteries provide unlimited starts per minute and continued operation after the loss of...

Proximity sensors.
May 15, 2008... Staff Linearized AlphaProx sensors detect metallic objects at ranges of up to 16 millimeters and detect changes in position, distance, thickness, weight or pressure. The sensors feature a teach-in function that allows the user to adjust...

IR camera.
May 15, 2008... Staff The Hot Spot Finder provides temperature measurement and display, while encased in an impact-resistant housing. The camera provides users with real-time thermal imagery for quick fault detection combined with a center spot,...

Management software.
May 15, 2008... Staff Proficy Plant Applications Version 4.4 production management software extends the power of the software's event detection and modeling sub-system. The software provides the foundation for extending the value of production system...

Network device.
May 15, 2008... Staff The Series 24 Serial Lock-Out Relay, which is certified DNP 3.0 protocol, provides remote trip and reset capability, trip-coil monitoring, IRIG-B sequence-of-events reporting, system battery monitoring, self-diagnostic reporting and...

Integration software.
May 15, 2008... Staff Visiprise ERP Shop Floor Integration 2.0 is a composite application designed for use with the SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence application. It provides a two-way information channel to integrate and synchronize...

Shaft collars.
May 15, 2008... Staff Hinged shaft collars feature a triple-link hinge and a captive-clamping screw that provides the same holding power as conventional two-piece collars. The collars are available with various bores and are designed for use as stops or...

Valve connectors.
May 15, 2008... Staff The 5F and 5J DIN solenoid valve connectors feature CSA approval. The connectors have a captive screw and molded-in gasket with the assembly, low-profile, straight-line or right-angle configurations, with or without indicator light...

AC motor brakes.
May 15, 2008... Staff UNIBRAKE AC motor brakes are spring-applied and feature fewer moving parts to reduce downtime for stop/hold applications found in material handling and food processing, among others. The brakes feature an external manual release...

Inline float drainers.
May 15, 2008... Staff The FAI series of inline float and Ethermostatic traps includes the 1½-inch NPT FAI-30 and FAI-200 straight-through, in-line float drainers with single seats and lever operation. Designed for receiver and air line drainage,...

Manufacturing Summit content available in audio, video and text.
May 15, 2008... Staff The success of the 2008 Manufacturing Summit in Chicago was driven largely by the outstanding presentations from such industry leaders as IBM, GE Fanuc, Schneider Electric and Square D. There were also presentations from Dr. Bernhard...

New Siemens Website offers in-depth look at safety.(Website overview)
May 15, 2008... Staff Plant Engineering has partnered with a number of industry leaders to provide the latest knowledge on key issues surrounding energy, safety and reliability on the plant floor. Among the latest additions at www.PlantEngineering.com...

Symbiosis Man lets users 'try on' PPE equipment.
May 15, 2008... Staff Kimberly-Clark Professional has launched Symbiosis Man, an interactive, virtual model that allows customers to 'try on' personal protective equipment products before purchase. The new interactive tool demonstrates the full KleenGuard...

Updated Cognex Website focuses on vision, quality.(Website overview)
May 15, 2008... Staff Cognex has relaunched its Website at www.cognex.com . The updated site allows visitors to see how manufacturers use vision to optimize product quality and drive down manufacturing costs. More than 80 application case studies,...

Green means integration, not just energy efficiency.
May 15, 2008... By Michael Ivanovich, Consulting-Specifying Engineer Green plants are more about integrated solutions than single-issue resolution As energy prices head for the stars and American businesses contract green fever, it's tempting to...