Plant Engineering articles from September 2003

Plant Engineering archives from September 2003

Shortage of skilled workers.(Reader Feedback)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... * I agree with Brian Varley on his comments regarding the state of manufacturing. I dare to guess that Brian is a 20-plus year veteran of American manufacturing like myself. He is dead-on when he talks about the manufacturing sector not wanting...

Instrument prices could decrease.(Forum)
September 1, 2003... Plant engineers who are stocking up on factory equipment and tools have some good bargaining opportunities and a handful of potential pitfalls. You can see the pitfalls clearly enough by looking at the two industries with an F-margin grade....

Lazy communications.(Comment)(better email etiquette)
September 1, 2003... I've got to get this off my chest. I'm just plain tired of people who want me to chase around my e-mail or the Web to find the messages and images they're supposed to be sending me. It's like getting an unsolicited marketing call and being told...

Recovering alcoholic: how far backward must you bend?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Utility Man Gerald Shea had been given one break too many, in Maintenance Supervisor Arthur Jolsons view. Shea's performance was only marginally acceptable when he was sober. After hitting the bottle, it was anything but. Jolson couldn't...

Unapproved absence: does it warrant an employee's loss of seniority?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Accumulated seniority is a prized possession, and employees will guard it with their lives. When Mechanic Grade II Bud Sherman, a seven-year employee, asked his boss for a week's leave of absence, Maintenance Foreman Charley Keebler...

Layoff recall.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Things were finally looking up and management decided to recall nine production employees and three maintenance workers. The controversy that arose centered around Felix Delgrado, a welder with 18 months experience. When Welder Bill Frisbe...

Is worker entitled to funeral pay?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Dave and Jan Michelson had always wanted to see the Grand Canyon. They finally got the chance in July when the trip was scheduled during Dave's one-week vacation. Sadly, a few days after they arrived at the Canyon, Dave received a telegram...

Fight grievances but don't retaliate.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... You can win and lose simultaneously. According to Personnel Policy Service's H.R. Matters, "Retaliation claims now represent almost a third of the suits filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)." As an example, you can...

Poor attendance and denying promotion.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Six maintenance employees applied when an invitation to bid for a group leader vacancy was posted on the bulletin board. Maintenance Supervisor Arnold Chilton ran down the list of applicants and selected Charley Rayburn, a four-year...

Mediocrity: don't let it do you in.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A staff meeting had been called by Assistant Plant Engineer Howard Wolfe. Present were two project leaders and six engineers. The subject at issue was a proposed mentoring idea that would have application for new and junior employees. ...

Don't underestimate value of feedback.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... How are you doing? There's only one way to find out. Get other peoples' reaction. Favorable feedback is the easiest to take. But unfavorable feedback is the most constructive. It offers clues that will help improve future actions. ...

Clamping down on absenteeism.(Human Side)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A meeting of top staffers had been called at a Tennessee plant that long had tolerated a liberal sick leave policy. General Manager David Green had just reviewed the plant's dismal Quarterly Attendance Report. "It's time we took aggressive...

Is one third of a CMMS enough?(Plant Electronics)(computerized maintenance management system analyzed)
September 1, 2003... Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part series on the value of CMMSs. The second part will appear in the October issue. On the surface, the idea of investing in only 1/3 of a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) would...

Collaborative maintenance: a strategy to help manufacturers become lean, mean, and agile.(Management Side)
September 1, 2003... Increased globalization, greater competition, price pressures, and erosion of margins are placing enormous pressure on manufacturers to reevaluate how they produce products and generate profits. Today's successful companies are not...

Synthetic oil in air compressors.(Compressors/Maintenance)
September 1, 2003... Environmental concerns and the awareness of limited resources accompanied the shift away from reciprocating air compressors, which required enormous amounts of lubricant, and discharged it into the air and the environment. The shift to...

Minimizing the risk of arc flash incidents.(Electrical/Safety)
September 1, 2003... As employees work on or near energized equipment, movement near or contact with conductors or circuits, such as dropping a part or tool, may cause a phase-to-ground or a phase-to-phase fault. Also, an equipment failure that could produce a...

Recycling machine tool coolants.(Environmental/Maintenance)
September 1, 2003... Is recycling metalworking coolants only for the big boys, the machine shops that buy large volumes of coolant for many machine tools? Certainly not. Virtually all shops can benefit, regardless of size and type of application. The reason is...

Be aware of rebuilt burner-boiler controls.(Heating)
September 1, 2003... An older, restored home can be charming. Old, restored cars are classics. But sometimes new is not only better, it is safer and more cost-effective. That is what burner-boiler experts say about burner-boiler controls. Safe, reliable burner...

Tips for choosing a data acquisition platform.(Software and computers/Data acquisition)
September 1, 2003... Today's plant engineers are sometimes required to develop data acquisition systems that monitor, measure, or maintain processes or tests within their plants. Data acquisition systems provide the necessary information to determine optimized...

Temperature calibration basics.(Reference File)
September 1, 2003... The types of calibration applicable to a manufacturing plant include temperature, pressure, flow, and electrical parameters, such as power, voltage, current, and resistance. This article addresses temperature calibration primarily. But much of...

Getting into e-learning for workforce training.(Management: special report)
September 1, 2003... As the shortage of skilled workers grows and the complexity of industrial jobs increases, new methods are being developed to provide the training these workers need. The field of e-learning is at the forefront of this effort. Whatever you...

3-in-1 tool.(Products)
September 1, 2003... SmartSCANNER is a joystick-operated combination tool for corrective and predictive maintenance tasks. It offers data collection, machine analysis, and correction instructions in one instrument and one maintenance database. The vibration module...

Magnetic tool holder.(Products)
September 1, 2003... MagnaMatPro is a flexible, nonconductive, 12-in. square, 3/16-in. thick PVC mat capable of holding up to 20 lb of metal tools, fasteners, and other ferrous objects. It also serves as a magnetic sweep to retrieve objects such as nails, bolts,...

Align cylinder shapes.(Products)
September 1, 2003... PipeAlign uses a laser diode to project a dot, line, or crosshair out from the center of a cylindrical object to be used as a visual reference. Four models handle sizes from 15/6 in. to 21 in. OD. The visible beam is accurate to less than 3/8...

Stick locks threads.(Products)
September 1, 2003... Thread Treatment sticks are a line of thread locking, thread sealing, and anti-seize products in semisolid stick form. Convenient and portable, the line includes five products: #248 medium-strength blue thread locker, #268 high-strength red...

Align drives.(Products)
September 1, 2003... Microgage 2000 is a cylindrical alignment laser; coupled with a hand-held digital display for aligning bores, rotating machinery, drive systems, lathe collets, and other similar objects. It is easy-to-use, affordable, and versatile. The device...

Air tool lockout.(Products)
September 1, 2003... Pneumatic Tool Lockout can be attached to most pneumatic tools and equipment with popular quick-connect fittings to secure them and deter unauthorized usage. The lockout assists production facilities in complying with OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Lockout...

Fast patch.(Products)
September 1, 2003... Zip Patch is a patch of adhesive-impregnated fiberglass that effects fast, permanent, economical repair to punctured or abrasion-damaged surfaces. It adheres to metals, concrete, wood, ceramics, and most plastics. The patch withstands...

Pipe collars.(Products)
September 1, 2003... Solution Series Wrenching collars allow turning pipes and shafts without using a pipe wrench, which can scratch, gouge, or crush. The two-piece steel collars easily install and have wrenching flats on the OD. Stafford Mfg. Corp. ...

Silicone compounds.(Literature)
September 1, 2003... A 2-p application selector guide on silicone adhesives, sealants, and potting compounds covers one and two-component systems. Viscosity, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, cure schedules, operating temperature ranges, and application...

Maintain instruments and valves.(Suggestions)
September 1, 2003... An integrated network, Instrument & Valve Services, delivers predictive diagnostics and servicing of all makes of instruments and valves. It provides customers with a single contact for assistance across North America, offering complete...

Pump training.(Suggestions)
September 1, 2003... "Centrifugal Pumps: Fundamentals, Design, and Applications" is a comprehensive e-learning program available from the Hydraulic Institute. This computer-based training course, in web-based or CD-ROM format, addresses centrifugal and vertical...

Metering pump.(Products)
September 1, 2003... EW Series Digital Metering pumps have IP65 (NEMA 4X) construction for superior performance in wet and humid environments. They are solenoid-driven, diaphragm-metering pumps with capacities up to 6.7 gph and pressures up to 150 psi. At 360...

Gas tank changeover.(Products)
September 1, 2003... ChangeOver System is a compact, turnkey module designed for continuous gas and fluid management. The system combines the IR Series pressure-reducing regulator with NOVA Series diaphragm valves to create a compact gas delivery system for...

Double-diaphragm pumps.(Literature)
September 1, 2003... Brochure presents a complete line of double-diaphragm pumps and accessories. These pumps eliminate stalling, icing, and lubing. Included are charts titled "Plastic Pump Materials of Construction" and "Metallic Pump Materials of Construction."...

Cable reel catalog.(Literature)
September 1, 2003... A cable reel catalog features complete information on manual, spring, and power rewind cable reels for a variety of applications. Reels handle welding cable, static grounding cable, and electrical cable for power tools, lights, and machinery....

Pump difficult fluids.(Literature)
September 1, 2003... Full-color brochure describes the PowerFlow high-performance process pump for demanding applications. The pump is designed for the most viscous, abrasive, and corrosive applications and outperforms other pumps for efficiently handling...

Low-harmonic ac drive.(Products)
September 1, 2003... ACS550 series variable speed ac drive combines simplicity, convenience, fieldbus connectivity, harmonic mitigation, and programmability with multiple motor control modes and a 1-550-hp range. The removable control panel resembles a mobile...

Generator enclosures.(Products)
September 1, 2003... A new line of enclosures for 230-500-kW generator sets is designed to protect from foul weather, attenuate sound, speed installation, and reduce costs. The enclosures feature steel construction, stainless steel hardware, lockable access doors,...

Heat-shrink tubing.(Products)
September 1, 2003... Heavy-Wall polyolefin heat-shrink tubing features a thermoplastic sealant that creates an environmental seal and protection from moisture, dirt, and corrosive substances. The tubing, which can be imprinted for identification, has a 3:1 shrink...

DC flywheel.(Products)
September 1, 2003... Model VSS-120 flywheel power system provides a stable, reliable, low maintenance, extended life dc voltage source to condition or replace batteries in uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems. As a battery conditioner, it minimizes battery...

IR camera software.(Products)
September 1, 2003... RTools software suite was developed to acquire, radiometrically calibrate, process, analyze, and archive data from advanced digital infrared (IR) imaging systems. The software kit provides users with the ability to process and analyze spatial,...

Loop performance monitor.(Products)
September 1, 2003... PlantTriage has been upgraded to monitor the performance of control loops directly from any plant historian that supports OPC (OLE for process control) HDA (historical data access). By using the historian's data directly, the performance...

Tablet PC.(Products)
September 1, 2003... CT60 tablet personal computer is designed to work in demanding conditions, such as freezing temperatures, rain, or physical shock to which a mobile computer Could be subjected. A fully sealed, vacuum tested, milled aluminum housing that won't...

RTD transmitter.(Products)
September 1, 2003... SPRTX Series of high performance, low cost, industrial RTD two-wire transmitters feature a hermetically sealed miniature signal conditioner built into a connector housing. The transmitter connects directly to a 3-wire RTD probe, and conditions...

The simple solution for proper belt tensioning.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... TensionRite[TM], our patented gauge, is a simple plastic strip that adheres to v-belts and banded belts during installation to address under-tensioning. Fast, easy to use, and accurate, it eliminates complicated and expensive tensioning tools....

Compact wastewater disposal system reduces waste volume, saves costs.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... The Model UF-250T Ultrafiltration System employs 1/2 inch tubular membrane technology for high-solids waste in oily applications. A 180 gallon process tank and a 50 gallon cleaning tank are integrated in one convenient unit to process 250--500...

BB7O3 blackbody calibrator.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... The BBT03 is a high performance, rugged, miniature blackbody calibrator. It is used for infrared pyrometer calibrations with a temperature range Of Ambient +10[degrees]C to 400[degrees]C (Ambient +20[degrees]F to 752[degrees]F). With its unique...

Krytox[R] Fluorinated lubricants.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... Krytox[R]Fluorinated Greases and Oils are chemically inert, insoluble in common solvents. Temperature range -103[degrees] to 800[degrees]F. Compatible with plastics, rubber, ceramics and metals. Nonflammable, oxygen compatible, no silicones or...

Inpro/Seal isolator applications.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... 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...

Swagelok Company introduces two new lines of instrumentation: tubing: insulated & jacketed.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... SOLON, Ohio (August 7, 2003) Swagelok Company now offers two new lines of instrumentation tubing. New Swagelok[R] insulated tubing, a cost-effective alternative to field-installed insulation of small diameter process lines, is designed to...

Motor Plugs allow quick motor change-outs.(Product Mart Showcase)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The world's only UL switch rated Motor Plugs reduce downtime by allowing quick motor change-outs and they lower costs because there is no need to purchase expensive interlocks or disconnects. Motor Plugs allow users to safely make and break...

Eagle expands line of cigarette disposal products.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... Since 1965 Eagle has provided products for the safe disposal of cigarette and cigar butts. Now Eagle has the Original Butt Can, the Poly/Metal Butt Can and the SafeSmoker[TM] For a complete listing of these new products go to www.eagle-mfg.com...

Reliability.iQ.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... Reliability. iQ from HSB Reliability Systems Group (www.HSBRS.com) offers real-time reliability data with this real world CMMS/EAM. Reliability.iQ surpasses 'Web-enabled" software and harnesses the power of the Internet. Clients easily access...

Products for in-plant piping.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... Dresser Piping Specialties offers a 20-page brochure featuring pipe couplings, expansion joints and flanged adapters for in-plant piping. Brochure describes the advantages of Dresser piping products, including leak-proof seal and quick, easy...

Airtek's energy saving Pro-Purge is standard equipment on heatless desiccant air dryers 250 scfm and larger.(Product Mart Showcase)
September 1, 2003... Airtek's energy saving Pro-Purge is standard equipment on heatless desiccant air dryers 250 scfm and larger. Pro-Purge monitors actual compressed air moisture levels and prevents cycle advancement until the designed saturation point is reached....

Hello dolly.(Solutions)(handling large chemical drums)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... * Problem: Drums of chemicals often have to be fitted into nonaccessible spaces that require large amounts of manhandling to get the drum in place. Is there a way to place these drums easily? * Solution: Weld three pieces of 3/4-in. pipe x...

Tool holder.(Solutions)(storing tools)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... * Problem: Odd-shaped tools present a problem in storage. They end up in a pile. Is there a way to neatly store them and still have them accessible? * Solution: Save the rack from an old dishwasher and turn it into a tool holder that can...

Clean roof.(Solutions)(keeping a worksite clean)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... * Problem: Work crews on flat roofs often leave behind nails, screws, flashing, and other debris that is hard to see among the ballast rocks. Is there a way to remove this debris before it punctures the roof? * Solution: Use a rolling...