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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Workforce Trends 2012: Creating Qualified Jobseekers
October 9, 2012 8:52 am | by Fluke | CommentsThe outlook for technical jobs has turned positive. According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook 2012-2013, growth in HVAC and electrical jobs will grow at two to three times the average growth forecasted and industrial plant technician jobs will grow at the average rate of 11 percent.
Top Five Ways To Protect Your Facility From Fall Pests
October 9, 2012 8:49 am | by Greg Baumann, Vice President, Training & Technical Services, Orkin LLC | CommentsFall is around the corner, which means weather will begin to cool, and the outdoors will become less hospitable for humans and animals alike. As you begin to welcome the start of autumn, keep an eye out for pests that may be aiming to make your facility their home for the next several months.
IMTS 2012 Brings Tools & Technology to Chicago
October 8, 2012 3:47 pm | by Anna Wells, Executive Editor, IMPO | CommentsRanked among the largest trade shows in the world, total registration for the six-day 2012 event was 100,200. “The energy level was at an all-time high,” says Peter Eelman, IMTS Vice President – Exhibitions and Communications. “The most exciting take-away from IMTS 2012 is what it says about the prospects for manufacturing over the next year."
Renew Growth, Eliminate Volatility With Dynamic Operations
October 8, 2012 12:57 pm | by Gary Godfrey and Russ Rasmus, Accenture | CommentsBy adapting their operations to flex with markets, smart manufacturers with global footprints are learning to profit from permanent volatility, while insulating themselves against downside risk and simultaneously moving with speed and agility to capitalize on opportunities as they arise.
More Wrench Time, Less Downtime
October 8, 2012 12:41 pm | by Rachel Leisemann Immel, Associate Editor, IMPO | CommentsThe latest in preventive maintenance scheduling software and computerized maintenance management software can help manufacturers make more informed decisions when it comes to maintenance and stocking of replacement parts. PM automation has been around for years, but today manufactures are taking note and making use of CMMS to help them better track their maintenance efforts.
Productivity Monitoring Solution Fits Like A Glove
October 8, 2012 12:28 pm | CommentsCAS DataLoggers recently provided an effective productivity monitoring solution for the Wells-Lamont Industry Group, a high-production work glove manufacturer and member of the Marmon Group of companies. Their factory in Philadelphia, MS produces hand-stitched quality products from Kevlar and other materials.
Grand Opening
October 8, 2012 12:19 pm | by Jeff Reinke, IMPO Editorial Director | CommentsNews about manufacturing growth is usually well received. When that expansion relates to a European company growing its presence in the U.S., it’s even better. And when there are significant lessons that can be learned from this particular expansion, it warrants a closer look. This brings us to Plymouth, Minnesota where Germany-headquartered TURCK recently doubled the size of a production and distribution facility.
ISM: Manufacturing Is Back On Track
October 8, 2012 8:15 am | by Mike Schmidt. Associate Editor, Manufacturing Business Technology | CommentsThe manufacturing sector is back on track – at least for now. Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September following three straight months of slight contraction, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The September PMI registered 51.5 percent, an increase of 1.9 percentage points when compared to the August reading of 49.6 percent.
Achieving Energy Reductions With Evaporative Roof Cooling
October 8, 2012 8:14 am | by John D. Strait, III, Product Specialist, Patterson Fan Company | CommentsThe process of evaporation is by far the simplest and most effective method for carrying heat away from a given structure. But the question becomes how can we harness the cooling effects of evaporation in a large industrial setting, and on a continuous basis? The answer is no surprise: to cool the interior of a structure, you must first cool its roof.
Infrared Plastic Temperature Measurements
October 5, 2012 8:14 am | by Pyrodynamics | CommentsTechniques for selecting and applying non-contact temperature measurement instruments for use in the plastics industry involve several factors. It is most effective to design an installation which results in using the highest emissivity value possible. The spectral response of the instrument should thus be matched to the type of plastic to be measured.
Controlling Scale In Industrial Water Systems
October 3, 2012 8:16 am | by Scalewatcher | CommentsPrior to the installation of the Scalewatcher systems, one set of Air Generator Coolers was removed from the water-cooling system every planned maintenance shutdown so that sludge could be manually removed from the copper tubing. With Scalewatcher installed, it was found that build-up was minimal—thereby dramatically reducing the time spent having to clean the generator’s tubes.
What’s That Noise?
October 2, 2012 8:50 am | by Patrick Rhodes, Applications Engineer, Garlock | CommentsHave you ever heard a high-pitched whine from an electric motor? Have you seen a bearing fail due to inadequate lubrication or contamination? How about a contact oil seal that has damaged your equipment? If so, chances are that a non-contact bearing isolator is available for your situation.
McGladrey Survey Reveals Optimism & Hesitancy
October 2, 2012 8:04 am | CommentsThe report shows that the optimism this year has fallen from about 62 percent last year to 47 percent on the U.S. economy, and for the world economy, the rating took a bigger plunge. Last year, 50 percent of manufacturers were optimistic and now only 17 percent are.
Isolate, Convert, Extend, & Connect
October 1, 2012 8:09 am | by Brian Foster, Product Manager, Serial & USB Product Lines, B&B Electronics | CommentsUSB was a great leap forward. Its convenience, flexibility, and interoperability have simplified everything from cabling to device installation. Engineers can now connect up to 127 devices using a single port and add new peripherals without opening a computer to insert an expansion card. Devices are hot swappable; cables are interchangeable; and USB will even supply power to a downstream device.
Rising U.S. Exports Could Help Create 5M Jobs By 2020
October 1, 2012 8:04 am | CommentsManufactured exports—a bright spot of the U.S. economy in recent years—are set to surge. Combined with jobs created as a result of reshoring, higher U.S. exports could add 2.5 million to 5 million jobs by the end of the decade, as manufacturers shift production from leading European countries and Japan to take advantage of substantially lower costs in the U.S., according to new research by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
