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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
1959 vs. 2009: The Chevrolet Showdown
October 20, 2009 11:55 am | Articles | CommentsTo celebrate its 50th year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (you know, those guys who crash cars together) lined up a classic 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air with its contemporary counterpart, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Let the games begin. If nothing else, this video presents a vivid example of why manufacturing must always innovate and improve, because nothing we've ever made is perfect, and everything we make now will soon be obsolete.
Big Brother Of Gas Detection
October 20, 2009 11:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Model 1640 from Detcon (The Woodlands, TX) is a newly designed gas detection alarm and control with a microprocessor-based control card to supervise and display the condition of 16 field-mounted gas detection sensors with either 4-20mA or serial RS-485 output. A backlit display provides indication of gas type and current reading in normal operation.
Let The Pressure Get To You
October 20, 2009 11:11 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Mini-Hermet from SOR (Lenexa, KS) is a robust pressure switch for field-mounting with a hermetically-sealed, explosion-proof steel housing. In addition, the set point can be adjusted without declassification of the hazardous area. The switch is ideal for hazardous locations where stainless steel exterior parts are required and where space is limited, notably offshore platforms or lube oil systems.
Environmentally-Friendly Baths
October 20, 2009 11:11 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Duro-Tank Stainless Steel Recirculating System from A.W.T. (Chicago, IL) has been designed for use with a washout sink and uses biodegradable chemistry to clean a variety of objects. The closed-loop recirculating system uses multistage filtering to reduce chemical consumption by as much as 80 percent.
Whisper-Quiet Compressors
October 20, 2009 11:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsAtlas Copco (Westfield, MA) announces the introduction of its redesigned oil-injected screw compressor range, the GA 5-11/GA 5-15 kW Variable Speed Drive (VSD). The new edition features an eight percent increase in free air delivery while keeping noise levels as low as 60 decibels.
Horizontal Motion Conveying FAQ
October 20, 2009 11:05 am | Articles | CommentsHorizontal motion conveying is proving to be an alternative to vibratory conveying. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions that come up when investigating conveying processes for the dry-bulk and food processing industries. How does a horizontal motion vibrating conveyor work without any vertical motion? In horizontal, zero-pitch, conveying, the translation comes from a differential or slower forward movement relative to the retraction, which is quick.
A Case For The Apprentice
October 20, 2009 8:58 am | by Mike Collins | Articles | CommentsAmerican manufacturers are realizing that we cannot compete with foreign manufacturers on price and cost reduction. We are going to have to compete using innovation and new products, which requires highly skilled workers. Many government programs talk about the need for high skilled and high performance employees, but they never seem to define high skills.
Earning Its Recognition
October 20, 2009 7:49 am | by Anna Wells, Editor, IMPO | Articles | CommentsEnergy savings sounds like a basic numbers game, but in TharpeRobbins’ experience, it’s all about perception. Its Own Rewards The Attleboro, MA-based employee recognition and awards company—manufacturing corporate gifts and tokens of achievement—recently announced that it has achieved zero discharge status with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The Fuel Sell
October 20, 2009 5:17 am | by by Luke Simpson, Associate Editor, Chem.Info | Blogs | CommentsIt’s the culmination of over 40 years work, combining technology developed by NASA in the 1950s with cutting edge biofuel production techniques using purpose-built microorganisms. Coskata appears to be doing what no other cellulosic ethanol startup has done: Proving that the technology works on a large scale.
Detroit Steel Plant Ablaze
October 20, 2009 4:43 am | News | CommentsRIVER ROUGE, Mich. (AP) — An industrial fire is sending thick, black smoke into the air southwest of Detroit. James Buford, Wayne County's director of homeland security and emergency management, says the fire began around 9 a.m. Tuesday at a steel plant. Buford says fire crews from Detroit and surrounding communities were responding to the fire.
Baby Food Recalled For Botulism Threat
October 20, 2009 4:37 am | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Plum Organics of Emeryville, Calif., is recalling some of its apple and carrot portable pouch baby food because of concerns over possible botulism contamination. The product was sold individually throughout the country at Toys-R-Us and Babies-R-Us stores. The recalled product is sold in 4.
GM Investing $364 Million In Indiana Plant
October 20, 2009 4:32 am | News | CommentsMARION, Ind. (AP) — General Motors Co. says it's investing $364 million in its Marion Metal Center in Indiana and will employ about 230 workers transferring from plants in Michigan and Ohio. The automaker announced the expansion Monday. It says the plant already employs about 115 people who worked at a plant in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Chinese Employer Of Ford Backstabber Concerned
October 20, 2009 4:27 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsSHANGHAI (AP) — Beijing Autos, one of two Chinese companies that employed a former Ford Motor engineer arrested in the U.S. for allegedly stealing trade secrets, said Tuesday it is watching the case, but relies on its own designs and technology. The statement issued by Beijing Automotive was the first official comment from China on the Oct.
DuPont Posts Profit After Massive Cost-Cutting
October 20, 2009 4:22 am | by Randall Chase, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsDOVER, Delaware (AP) — DuPont offset falling sales and prices using cost cuts and reported larger third-quarter profits Tuesday. All major chemical makers, including Wilmington-based DuPont Co., were hit first by soaring crude and energy costs last year, and then plummeting sales both in the U.
Caterpillar Profits Fall 53 Percent
October 20, 2009 4:15 am | News | CommentsPEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Caterpillar says its profit plunged in the latest quarter as construction companies bought fewer of its big yellow-and-black machines. But the company says it sees rebounding demand worldwide and it lifted its profit outlook for the year. Caterpillar has struggled with waning demand since the global economy deteriorated late last year.
