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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Cleveland Firm Seeks Syracuse Steel Plant
September 22, 2009 4:23 am | News | CommentsSYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A Cleveland investment group is offering the highest bid for an upstate New York steel mill going through bankruptcy reorganization. The group headed by Jack Jankovic of JP Industries says it would pay $8 million for the Crucible Specialty Metals steel plant in suburban Syracuse.
Retired Deere Workers Sue For Health Benefits
September 22, 2009 4:19 am | News | CommentsDAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — About 5,000 retired workers are suing Deere and Co. for changes to their health benefits plan, saying the agricultural machinery manufacturer broke its promises. An attorney for the Flex Retirees Organization says in U.S. District Court in Davenport that the retirees thought they and their spouses would have medical benefits for life.
Breakers Key To Process Integrity
September 21, 2009 12:15 pm | Articles | CommentsFigure 5 Circuit breakers must be properly maintained and applied in order to operate when called upon. Consider the following scenario: A circuit breaker is helping protect a flow pump and senses a fault downstream. If the electrical distribution system is selectively coordinated, the breaker in closest proximity to the problem on the circuit would trip, isolating the fault to the smallest area.
High-Grip Pull Caps
September 21, 2009 11:45 am | Product Releases | CommentsCaplugs (Buffalo, NY) introduces the new VFT series of vinyl pull-caps, with a textured finish at the top to enable better gripping to save time and effort in the field. According to the company, hands, gloves, and even automated machinery can grip the VFT series up to 80 percent better than traditional caps.
Low Capacitance Cables
September 21, 2009 11:45 am | Product Releases | CommentsBelden (Richmond, IN) has expanded its line of low capacitance DataBus cables, which consists of PLTC/ITC-ER, PLTC, and TC-ER versions that are specifically designed to meet Fieldbus specification 61158.2. DataBus cables offer a robust electrical design and robust construction to ensure reliable performance, while providing flexibility in industrial environments, including outdoor installations.
Inexpensive Thermal Imaging
September 21, 2009 11:44 am | Product Releases | CommentsFLIR Systems (Billerica, MA) has unveiled the FLIR i7 thermal imaging camera, which couples RESNET-compliant 120x120 pixel infrared resolution with 2 percent accuracy and 0.1°C sensitivity. Designed for electrical, HVAC, mechanical, and energy-audit problems, the FLIR i7 reveals abnormal temperature readings with crisp images on a 2.
Versatile PLCs
September 21, 2009 11:43 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe CLICK PLC from AutomationDirect (Cumming, GA) is the latest family of programmable controllers designed as stackable discrete modules for first-time PLC customers as well as experienced users. The product is engineered with a multitude of built-in and stackable I/O options.
Crafting A Better Brewery
September 21, 2009 10:46 am | by by Luke Simpson, Associate Editor, Food Manufacturing | Blogs | CommentsVisually, the new Hilltop Brewery owned by the New Glarus Brewing Company is stunning. Nestled on a hilltop just past the town of New Glarus, Wisconsin, a cluster of colorful buildings with jagged rooftops rise up from beautifully landscaped gardens. Things get even better inside.
These Things We Do
September 21, 2009 9:16 am | by by Jeff Reinke, Editorial Director, IMPO | Blogs | CommentsDo you know the name Norman Borlaug? Me neither, but I think it’s worth a minute of your time to learn a little more about an individual who might have been one of the single greatest human beings to ever walk this planet. His life and the way he approached his passion also offers a blueprint from which we can model our pursuits, and the framework we put around them.
Don't Get Diverted
September 21, 2009 8:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsVortex Valves (Salina, KS) has introduced its new Quantum Series 4-Way Wye Line Diverter, designed to handle dry bulk solids in pneumatic conveying systems with vacuum or positive pressures of to 15 psig. The Quantum is available in 2” to 6” pipe or tube, which can direct material from one source to four destinations, or converge four sources to one destination.
Cycle Closing And Withstand Tested
September 21, 2009 8:08 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe new RTS Series transfer switches from Russelectric (Hingham, MA) are listed for 30-cycle closing and withstand ratings based on testing per UL standard 1008. These switches simplify selective coordination of overcurrent/short circuit devices in emergency and backup power systems.
Training For Welders
September 21, 2009 8:07 am | Product Releases | CommentsAmerican Technical Publishers (Orland Park, IL) announces new training materials specifically designed for welders and students working with all types of welding processes. Now in its fourth edition, Welding Skills addresses all aspects of the latest welding technology, including the competencies recommended in the American Welding Society (AWS) guidelines.
Clear Your Vision
September 21, 2009 8:06 am | Product Releases | CommentsCognex (Natick, MA) has enhanced its VisionView operator interface with new features that enable more detailed visualization of parts and easier storage of failed images. The VisionView interface integrates with Cognex In-Sight vision systems, and version 1.2 of the interface adds panning and zooming capabilities.
Extreme Maintenance
September 21, 2009 6:54 am | Articles | CommentsSure, we've all experienced the occasional stuck bolt, especially those charged with building and maintaining manufacturing equipment like yourselves. But what about a stuck bolt in space? In their latest spacewalk outside of the Hubble telescrope, American astronauts braved injury and death to install a new, $150 million dollar camera into the Hubble's aging body.
Building Behemoths
September 21, 2009 6:21 am | Articles | CommentsDigital Altiel gives a quick tour of their facility, where they utilize Delcam's PowerMILL and PowerSHAPE technology to recreate lifesized sculptures in massive scales for the likes of Disney and Pixar. Digital Altiel scans the original piece and machines it in large pieces, which are welded together to create a finished product.
