Articles
FREE Email Newsletter
Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Exploring Energy Q&A: The Solar Advantage
March 19, 2013 9:00 am | CommentsIn my opinion, solar helps manufacturers in two ways. Number one: It can lower your costs. And number two: It can help you become sustainable, which may be a requirement of your customers. There are a couple of ways to install solar. One of the ways is on the rooftop. And, if you are going to install solar on the rooftop, you want to make sure that you have an unobstructed view toward the south.
U.S. Teens Fear Risk-Taking; STEM Careers Demand It
March 15, 2013 9:08 am | by Kelton Global | CommentsWhile 95 percent of teens agree that risk-taking is required for innovation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEM — careers, 46 percent say they are afraid to fail or uncomfortable taking risks to solve problems, according to an ASQ survey conducted by Kelton Global.
ProMat 2013 Serves As Launch Pad For Material Handling Products
March 13, 2013 4:37 pm | CommentsThousands of material handling technology enthusiasts braved a frigid Chicago winter in order to attend MHIA’s biennial ProMat expo this past January – enough, in fact, to cause a record number on the show floor Tuesday, as well as a record number of attendees to Tuesday’s keynote by Steve Forbes.
Indispensible Leak Detection
March 13, 2013 4:31 pm | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsA technician holds a wand to the major piping connections of the air conditioner and waits for a device to alarm if a leak is detected. The technician is not looking for the level of refrigerant along the automotive assembly line, he is looking for whether the refrigerant is leaking from any fitting at a rate greater than preset tolerable limits and trying to locate where the leak is.
Premium Motor Efficiency: Taking Care Of The Latest And Greatest
March 13, 2013 4:28 pm | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsIn U.S. factories, electric motor-driven systems account for over 60 percent of the total energy consumed – and 25 percent of the total energy used in the United States overall – a staggering amount of energy that is worthy of a second look to be sure your facility is maximizing its motor performance.
A New Air Style
March 13, 2013 4:21 pm | CommentsThe mission of CAGI (Compressed Air and Gas Institute) is to be the united voice of the compressed air industry, serving as the unbiased authority on technical, educational, promotional, and other matters that affect the industry. IMPO recently spoke with Rick Stasyshan, CAGI’s Technical Consultant, about ways the organization can help manufacturers become safer and more efficient users of this resource.
Convenience At Your Fingertips
March 13, 2013 4:16 pm | by Bernard Steppeler, Design Engineer, HAVER Filling Systems | CommentsA cake mix supplier has 12 hours to fill a 15,000-bag production order for a new customer. during the seventh hour, the filling machine shuts down with no warning. the machine operator attempts to troubleshoot and diagnose the problem but is unable to do so.
Replacing 4-Cycle With 6-Cycle Engine
March 13, 2013 9:08 am | by Terry Persun, Technology Journalist | CommentsIn its phase 2 operation, the Kashmerick Engine Systems engine technology is proving its effectiveness and viability for military use, and more. The K6-Cycle System head was designed on a standard CAD system and then uploaded to Midwest Composite Technologies to their direct metal laser-sintering machine, which produced a production quality component using stainless steel.
Supply Chain Management Concerns And Solutions, Part 2
March 13, 2013 9:00 am | by Jon Minnick, Associate Editor, MBT | CommentsManufacturers can take a segmented approach to supply chain implementations that is best suited to their business needs, budgets and time constraints. For many manufacturers, depending on the solution implemented, they can see results immediately; and begin to generate ROI and enterprise-wide value as quickly as three to four months.
Cat Dealer’s Hydraulic Shop Salvages Cylinders With Tube Hone
March 12, 2013 4:20 pm | CommentsRebuilding heavy equipment makes good economic sense, particularly for the hydraulic components on construction and earth moving machinery. In fact, the trend since 2008 has been strong enough to support the addition of a machine shop as part of the existing hydraulics shop at Caterpillar dealer Whayne Supply.
WEISS Develops Heavy-Duty Ring Table For Robotic Efficiencies
March 12, 2013 4:17 pm | CommentsLeading development partner for the transportation industry with a global operating workforce of over 5,600, EDAG (Detroit, MI/Fulda, Germany) recently was faced with the task of designing a heavy-duty ring for a new production concept.
100 Percent Lean Beans
March 12, 2013 4:09 pm | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | CommentsThe Starbucks Carson Valley Roasting Plant & Distribution Center crew will tell you everything you need to know about how roasting and brewing methods affect the flavor of coffee in so many ways. And just as the smallest of modifications can dramatically affect the flavor of the cup, Starbucks Carson Valley has learned that – likewise – small steps towards continuous improvement can yield returns.
Support For A Diverse Product Line And Global Customer Base
March 12, 2013 9:05 am | by Epicor | CommentsWhether at a gas station, business park, or shopping mall, chances are you have used an automatic teller machine (ATM) branded by Companion Systems. The company is the leading provider of branded ATM surround, kiosk, enclosure and signage solutions for the financial services industry.
Supply Chain Management Concerns And Solutions, Part 1
March 12, 2013 9:00 am | CommentsTop supply chain issues facing manufacturers today are a result of the globalization of supply networks and the associated volatility, complexity and risk. Global supply chains are faced with volatility relative to raw materials, energy and commodities, compounded with a lack of understanding of where demand is coming from.
Understanding Your Liability: Shipping Lithium Battery Powered Devices
March 11, 2013 9:08 am | by Jim Powell, President, Transportation Development Group LLC | CommentsThe current plight of Boeing highlights not only the safety risks, but also the commercial risks of lithium battery-powered products and devices. These days, rechargeable lithium ion batteries, and primary non-rechargeable lithium batteries are everywhere. And unfortunately, they are also considered “Dangerous Goods” (or “HazMat,” a term used in the U.S.).
