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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Ultrasonic Tank Testing a Resounding Success
January 26, 2010 7:46 am | Articles | CommentsSGS Colombia S.A. was awarded the contract to perform storage tank inspections for the expansion of the Cartagena Refinery. All inspection services were performed in accordance with applicable Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) requirements. The storage of dangerous goods in tanks involves risk to the population, the environment, and the surrounding area, and must therefore be executed safely.
Focusing on Distractions
January 26, 2010 7:45 am | by by Krystal Gabert, Associate Editor, Food Manufacturing | Blogs | CommentsDuring a week in which there were plenty of newsworthy stories floating around, I spent the majority of my news-reading time emotionally invested in a fight among millionaires. I don’t tend to get overly wrapped up in the lives of famous people, but for reasons that are difficult to articulate, I’m apparently completely entranced by the sight of a bunch of rich people fighting over exactly what time they should be paid millions of dollars to tell jokes on TV.
Mueller Industries Fined $638,000 For Unsafe Operations
January 26, 2010 3:41 am | News | CommentsFULTON, Miss. (AP) — Federal labor officials are recommending that three Mueller Industries subsidiaries in Mississippi pay $638,000 in fines for allegedly exposing employees to unsafe working conditions. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the companies in Fulton for 128 alleged violations.
Oshkosh Corp. Tallies Up $325 Million In Military Contracts
January 26, 2010 3:27 am | News | CommentsOSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — The defense arm of Oshkosh Corp. has received two hefty military orders for spare parts and repair kits for its new class of mine-resistant trucks. Oshkosh Defense said Monday the deals with the U.S. Army are worth more than $325 million. The parts are for M-ATVs, which are all-terrain military vehicles that are specially designed for the rougher terrain of Afghani battlefields.
Federal Investigation At DuPont After Leaks, Worker Death
January 26, 2010 3:22 am | News | CommentsCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The U.S. Chemical Safety Board says a four-member team of investigators is heading to DuPont's idled chemical plant in Belle. The board says it expects the team to be on site Tuesday to start investigating a series of leaks that resulted in the death of one worker and the operation's temporary shutdown over the weekend.
GM Returns To Building Electric Motors In-House
January 26, 2010 3:21 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — General Motors Corp. is back in the electric motor business. The automaker said Tuesday that starting in 2013, it plans to build its own electric motors for hybrid and electric vehicles. GM has been getting electric motors for those vehicles from suppliers, but wants to make the motors in-house in order to lower costs and improve quality and reliability.
U.S. Sodexo Workers Demand French Protections, Benefits
January 25, 2010 11:09 am | by Fannie Dassie, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsPARIS (AP) — A group of U.S. employees at French food services giant Sodexo on Monday demanded workplace protections in North America similar to those their colleagues in France enjoy. Their tactics were viewed with curiosity in France, where it is more common to see French labor unions pressing for more rights from big American employers.
Ford Adds 1,200 Jobs To Chicago Assembly Line
January 25, 2010 11:06 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) — A person briefed on the matter says Ford Motor Co. will add 1,200 jobs at its Chicago assembly plant to build the new Ford Explorer starting later this year. The company and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn are scheduled to make the announcement on Tuesday at the factory. Quinn told reporters in Chicago on Monday that an unspecified company would be announcing 1,200 new jobs in Illinois.
Biofuel 'Pests' Key to Energy Conversion & Storage
January 25, 2010 8:06 am | Articles | CommentsIn South Dakota, news that researchers have discovered that an obscure but fast-growing moth species has a potentially destructive appetite for switchgrass, raises a question. Is the appearance of this destructive pest good news or bad news? Generally, pests and invasive species are considered very, very bad news .
Automated Manufacturing System Quadruples Production
January 25, 2010 8:05 am | Articles | CommentsResearch Products Company, headquartered in Salina, Kansas, manufactures food additives for the baking and grain milling industries. Products include flour bleaching and maturing services, vitamin and mineral premixes, and others that help the company’s customers create nutritious food for their consumers.
Extendable, Versatile Pallets
January 25, 2010 7:48 am | Product Releases | CommentsSun Technologies (Blomfield Hills, MI) has developed the Mini Floor & Pallet, which is a 2’ x 4’ x 2’ Polypropylene riser platform. The pallet holds up to 1,000 pounds, yet weighs only 8.5 pounds. In addition, the sections can be connected by the length or the width with clips, which are included.
Pressure Transmitting Through The Gauntlet
January 25, 2010 7:46 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Tel-Tru Manufacturing Company (Rochester, NY) has expanded its Silicon Glass Fused Sensor Series of pressure transmitters. The P621 sanitary model features a single-piece 316L stainless steel sensing element with a high-output silicon glass fused strain gauge. This combination maximizes cycle life even in the presence of pressure spikes, vibration, and aggressive fluid media.
Jib Cranes Get Personal
January 25, 2010 7:46 am | Product Releases | CommentsGorbel Inc. (Fishers, NY) has expanded its line of G-Force Intelligent Lifting Devices to include the new G-Jib, a redesign of an enclosed track workstation jib crane. The G-Jib utilizes an industrial processor-controlled servo drive system to deliver unmatched lifting precision and speed.
Gas Detection, Wirelessly
January 25, 2010 7:45 am | Product Releases | CommentsFrom Detcon (The Woodlands, TX) comes the Model 700 gas detection sensors, which now include wireless technology as an integration option, in addition to standard 4-20mA analog and Modbus RS-485 outputs. The Model 700 is designed to work with the Model RXT-300 wireless gas detection system, which is a wireless Modbus replacement and links one master to one or more slaves.
Chemical Emergencies: Yesterday & Tomorrow
January 25, 2010 3:55 am | by Chris Cowles, Global Marketing Manager, SAFER Systems | Articles | CommentsOn Wednesday, December 9, 2009, there was an explosion at a chemical plant just outside of Houston in Pasadena, Texas, injuring two workers at the plant. You may not have heard about this because there was, very fortunately, no off-site toxic release or loss of lives from this tank explosion.
