Vertical Reciprocating Conveyors (VRCs) move materials in factories, warehouses, industrial plants, institutions or anywhere that products or supplies need to move between two or more levels. They have their own national code (ASME B20.1) and are specifically exempt from the national elevator code. Download the VRC 101 guide and see how a VRC may be the ideal material lifting solution for your facility.

HIGH-PRESSURE REUSABLE SELF-SEALING FASTENERS & WASHERS 

Force-multiplying air cylinders deliver hydraulic type forces for air press applications. White paper considers required force determinations, speed, and shock factors along with circuit diagrams and applicable products available for maintaining precise, repeatable forces for best results with an air press.

One of the biggest pains in life is moving. I’ve moved way too many times in my life. When I moved off campus in college, I just threw my junk into a duffel bag and was ready to go. Later, when we lived in New York City, and we moved from one block to another, we used shopping carts “borrowed” from the supermarket to move our stuff. 

All steam system plant personnel seem to share two major concerns: (1) Is condensate being properly evacuated from the process, and (2) is steam being prohibited from blowing through the condensate drainage devices (steam trap stations, control valves, etc.) so it doesn’t waste energy and cause component failure? 

Strategic philosophies or practices such as Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management and Continuous Improvement are used by many organizations to help improve processes,drive productivity and maintain a competitive edge in today’s ever‐increasing global economy. Despite varying concepts, each practice uses Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assess, analyze and track manufacturing processes. Even if an organization does not employ formal continuous improvement initiatives, efficiency gains can still be realized by borrowing lessons learned through the visual management techniques of those processes. This white paper discusses how visual management can drive productivity by leveraging seven common Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for production line monitoring.

Spanning across 22 countries with more than 59 facilities, Jabil Inc. has been serving industries ranging from consumer products to aerospace and defense. Founded in 1966, Jabil is an electronics solutions company providing comprehensive electronics for design, manufacturing and product management services.

Optimizing assembly process efficiency and minimizing material consumption are viable pathways to significant reductions in assembly manufacturing expense. A new white paper describes how light-curable materials offer significant advantages over traditional two-part slow-cure adhesives, thermally-cured adhesives, and solvent-based adhesive systems and help manufacturers increase productivity and reduce waste.

Known as an innovator in the industry, Peddinghaus Corp. (Bradley, IL) constantly pursues the latest technology to improve the CNC machinery they manufacture. As Peddinghaus was in the process of searching for new ways to introduce state-of-the-art products to their customers, (typically steel fabricators, steel service centers, and heavy plate manufacturers), they realized their quality control equipment would have to consistently meet tighter tolerance requirements. 

A guide to understanding pneumatic directional control valves.

Air gaging relies on a law of physics that states flow and pressure are directly proportionate to clearance and react inversely to each other.  As clearance increases, air flow also increases and air pressure decreases proportionately.  As clearance decreases, air flow also decreases and air pressure increases.

Friction plays a major role in the industrial world, and also in everyday life. Friction is the resistance to sliding, rolling, or flowing motion of an object due to its contact with another object. It can be either beneficial (when we brake our car to stop) or detrimental (trying to drive with one foot on the brake pedal). This article will focus on rolling resistance, an important facet of industrial wheels.

In-plant trailers represent a tried and true method of moving materials through plants safely and e- ciently. Since these are power towed, heavy loads can be moved with little ergonomic risk. Trailers can also be coupled together into trains to move larger material volumes economically.

To reduce maintenance costs and improve customer service related to the performance of its safety trailers used on remote works sites, Nomadic Safety is installing Remote Monitors from Global Monitoring on its trailers to track various operating parameters.  

In 2011, Pittsburgh Corning began assembly of its glass block systems in an under-utilized warehouse at its Port Allegany, Penn., manufacturing location. To prepare the warehouse for assembly operations, the company needed to create a climate-controlled, low-dust environment. Further, the warehouse measured 100 feet wide by 400 feet long—but assembly operations required only a portion of the total area. 

Operating 24 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week, there is literally no convenient time for downtime for Linetec.  This Wausau, WI plant employs a computer-controlled hoist system to guide material through the anodize process, eliminating any chance of manual variations in pre-cleaning, etching, anodizing, coloring or sealing – thus ensuring a consistent and durable finish on every load.  But any system is only as strong as its weakest link – which in this case was the dry brakes used to accurately stop and position the hoists. 

Maximizing Contamination Control With Vacuum Technology Clean rooms, as well as any modular environment where attempts are made to keep air borne contaminants, temperature, relative humidity,differential pressure, static electricity and other factors under strict control, come in many shapes and sizes. Whether discussing hard- or soft walled or any of the other types of clean room, one thing is certain – it is virtually impossible to construct and maintain a completely contaminant-free environment, as long as personnel are working in it.

Can your company afford the costs of a product recall? In the food industry, recalls due to contamination can be devastating, but typically can be completely avoided. All too often, simple steps in a food safety protocol are overlooked,the result of which can lead to an overwhelming financial strain and even the end of a business. Taking the initiative to ensure your company is not only aware of but effectively adheres to industry guidelines for food safety is of the utmost importance in maintaining a viable business.

When you need more space what do you do? Add on? Build a new facility? Lease temporary space? Any executive challenged with the task of adding space will need to deliberate over several options. However, before proceeding with a new construction or plant expansion project, careful consideration should first be given other space optimization alternatives.

In recent years, refining plants,petrochemical plants and chemical plants have been required to increase capacity, but have been provided with very few upgrades to existing equipment to accommodate increased capacity requirements. This has placed increased stress and strain on plant systems and operating units. For example, higher pulsating pressures and heavy mechanically induced vibrations are translating to all areas of processing equipment, especially pressure instrumentation.

Companies that have invested time and resources required to make their manufacturing, warehousing and/or distribution processes Lean are well acquainted with both the 5S workplace organization methodology and the seven standard principles for cutting waste. In the 5S method, five phases are included:

An estimated 30,000 U.S. facilities are at risk for a combustible dust fire or explosion according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Many of you are likely thinking, “Well, not my company.” Are you sure? Since 1980, there have been at least 350 documented dust explosions in the U.S., killing more than 100 people and injuring hundreds more. 

Accurate measurement of liquids is important for all oil and gas industry production or consumption sites. This is especially true for bulk transfer devices where large volumes of products are being moved and must be monitored, including crude oil depots, gasoline and jet fuel tank farms, refineries, and even cruise line terminals. 

Many automated machines rely upon linear guidance components, such as profiled rail, round rail or other rolling or sliding bearing structures, to guide and support the moving elements of the equipment. Additionally, many times these moving elements are driven by some type of linear actuator device. This paper will discuss ways to enhance overall system performance by optimizing the “alignment” of the linear guide and actuator.

The truth about robots, robotics, and functional uses is the purpose of this analysis. Putting all mythic notions aside, the state of robotics today has real-world applications, impacting employment, safety, quality, productivity,efficiency, and competitiveness.

With the advancement of computer and data transmission technologies, systems formerly reserved for the office environment are now critical components of the manufacturing floor. The demands of factory automation, in addition to computer hardware and software, have brought the wire and cable networking products that interconnect these technologies into the industrial setting as well. 

Recently CAS DataLoggers provided the wireless datalogging solution for a customer who needed to prevent damage and wear on several large replacement engines by monitoring them for temperature and humidity in storage. These engines were the only backups for replacing the equipment being used in the plant, so whenever they were discovered to have corroded due to excessive heat/humidity, the plant’s entire operation went offline and this quickly cost the plant thousands of dollars each time. 

Unraveling the myths and realities.

Contractors in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry have been quick to use connectors rather than hardwiring wherever possible, because connector use greatly improves efficiency and reduces installation costs. One important feature of the new crop of connectors designed for use in the PV industry is their recognition under the pending UL 6703A standard, which covers multi-pole connectors for use in PV systems, including inverters, micro inverters, combiner boxes, battery power, and storage systems. 

MillerCoors initially housed their PLCs in cabinets equipped with filtered fan packages.Open-loop cooling proved incapable of maintaining consistent cabinet temperatures and exposed the internal components to ambient humidity and contaminates.Microscopic paper fibers shed from product packaging clogged the filters and collected on the electronics, resulting in heat build-up and premature failure.

Elevator control systems require electronic enclosures to house the control board,high voltage wiring, transformers and other heat-generating components. Thermal management issues may result in unnecessary downtime, expensive repairs and significant customer inconvenience. Failure of the cabinet cooling system often goes unnoticed until after damage has occurred, so MCE requires cooling equipment offering the utmost reliability.

What makes an Air Conditioner a Thermal Edge Air Conditioner? There are three critical features that make a Thermal Edge Enclosure Air Conditioner different from any other line of air conditioners. Standard on Every Unit

PCL Versus DCS

Safety signs are the primary way to communicate important warnings to employees. To ensure your employees are safe, keep this list of signs in mind when conducting a plant walkthrough. 

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) is the largest wholesale distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and related products in the United States. In addition to 28 distribution centers in the U.S. and Canada, UNFI provides value-added services to its customers, including marketing and promotional materials, merchandising, category management and store support services. UNFI could not continually exceed customer expectations without the assistance of its lift truck fleet, which the company uses to move product efficiently through its distribution centers as part of its material handling operations. 

Determining the force needed to crimp tubing or press bearings into housings is relatively easy. First, install a gauge to monitor pressure at the cylinder extend port from its control valve. Situate the work under the ram with supply pressure a t zero. Shift the valve to extend position and gradually increase pressure. As the ram moves to the application,continue increasing pressure while observing the application. The moment your application is completed, read the gauge. Multiplying this pressure (psig) by the effective piston area (in2) of the cylinder yields the force (lb.) required by your application.

Saint Louis, Missouri-based distilled spirits manufacturer and bottler Luxco is enjoying the sweet sounds of silence since upgrading their packing line to technology that almost eliminates bottle breakage while increasing packer speed. 

Located in Mississauga, Ontario Canada lies Kelvin Technologies with over 100 years of combined experience in electrical heating, controlling and sensing.  Specializing in electrical heaters, microprocessor controls, temperature sensors, custom built harnesses and custom designs, Kelvin Technologies has a product to fit each of their customer’s needs.

A primary cause in many industrial accidents is that equipment that is “under repair” starts or moves suddenly while the worker is in a dangerous position within the machine. This can happen when there is a failure to properly identify, isolate, and eliminate stored energy sources within equipment prior to beginning maintenance tasks. This stored energy (often referred to as“potential energy”) can be very dangerous if not dissipated as it can cause unexpected machine movements, even when the machine is “turned off”. Residual pressure in hydraulic or pneumatic lines, stored electrical energy, and stored pressure in compressor tanks or accumulators are examples of the potentially hazardous energy.

It’s in the news. Everyone is talking about it. Pneumatic or electric?Are you considering replacing a compressor and 200 pneumatic cylinders with electric actuators to save compressor costs?Thinking about building a new machine with pneumatics because 30 electric actuators cost a whopping $34,000?

Many manufacturers today invest thousands—if not millions—of dollars annually into magnetic separation equipment, proactively reducing the risk that any foreign object or contaminant will be mixed in with a product sold to their network of customers, including other OEMs, distributors or direct to consumer. Attention to product purity on the production line has never been greater, creating the need for manufacturers to detect and eliminate foreign objects before the end product reaches end-use customers. Eliminating contaminant metal also prevents damage to expensive processing machinery, reducing downtime and repair costs. 

Part 2: Tips 11 through 20 It can be challenging to make sure you’ve covered all the bases during the plastic tubing and hose selection process. Have you considered all the elements involved with the application? Temperatures, chemicals,pressures, flexibility needs? Have you ever ordered hundreds, even thousands, of feet of plastic tubing or reinforced hose and then found it wasn’t the best product for your application?

Part 1: Tips 1 through 10 

It can be challenging to make sure you’ve covered all the bases during the plastic tubing and hose selection process. Have you considered all the elements involved with the application? Temperatures, chemicals,pressures, flexibility needs? Have you ever ordered hundreds, even thousands, of feet of plastic tubing or reinforced hose and then found it wasn’t the best product for your application?

Adding more space to an existing building is an important decision for even the most experienced building owner or facility manager. New construction or building modifications are two common solutions, but structural steel mezzanines offer a third alternative at potentially less cost and in less time.This paper is designed to help building owners and facility managers to determine if a mezzanine is appropriate for their specific need, and to cover the primary considerations that must be addressed in selecting and designing the best mezzanine solution for that need.

Many facility managers dread the costs of keeping their workforce comfortable in spacious workplaces every winter. It may seem counterintuitive, but the answer for many facilities is better known for its summer cooling power: ceiling fans. More specifically, large diameter, low speed overhead fans can save facilities a major amount on their winter heat bills, with customers reporting savings of up to 35%. 

Today, plant maintenance is more important than ever before. Food manufacturers of all shapes and sizes have been put under the microscope regarding worker health and safety, environmental concern and customer well-being. More stringent quality standards and regulations have taken plant cleanliness to a whole new level, and turned simple housekeeping into an issue of complexity.

Pancake®II air cylinder with protective finish For complete assurance that our products will meet or exceed your expectations, send us your application details. We welcome the opportunity to provide verification testing of performance in advance of any purchases.

When installing Coiled Spring Pins, it is important that the installation tool, often called a “quill”, is large enough to cover the entire end of the Coiled Pin. The quill should be sized such that it pushes on all five coils simultaneously throughout the entire installation process. Otherwise, the pin will be difficult – if not impossible – to properly install into the assembly. 

Membrane switches are known for standing up to tough environmental conditions. Flexible and durable, the membrane switch can be customized with embossing, backlighting, sealing, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) shielding. Membrane switches can be made with either tactile or non-tactile feedback and they can be integrated with LEDs and other components. To get the switch that works for your application, follow these simple guidelines.

Before you specify a rotary ball spline, ask the question, “Should the rotary spline nut be riding on angular contact ball bearings or crossed roller bearings?” After ascertaining your application’s requirements - stroke length; velocity; applied load; mounting space; duty cycle; required life; dimensions; installation direction; environment and accuracy - you’re ready to factor in the pros and cons of the two technologies.

One of the most interesting features of electric motors when used in drive train application is that they can also behave as generators, and thus recharge the vehicle's battery while braking. Roboteq's motor controllers can easily be programmed to take advantage of this characteristic to create regenerative braking in a controlled and progressive manner. This article describes the theory behind a simple and very effective technique that uses the motor speed sensing.

The term "dry wine" has a new meaning at Vincor International's Quebec bottling operation since the conveyor line eliminated soap-and-water lubrication by installing System Plast™ NG™ conveyor chain and Nolu-S™ wear track from Power Transmission Solutions, a Business of Emerson Industrial Automation.   

Winter is here and in many regions of the country, that means snow, sleet, ice and rain are common and even everyday occurrences facilities must deal with. The loading dock is a tough and dangerous enough environment in dry conditions, but throw in slick floors, wet dock levelers and powered-equipment and the hazards and potential for injuries increases dramatically!

EBT, aka Excellent Black Technology, is exactly what its name says. The black contrast of this display is much sharper than previous display technologies such as FSTN. The oldest monochrome technology is called TN, Twisted Nematic. These displays were used in applications such as pagers. They are still in use today for products that do not require a sharp contrast and a wide viewing angle.

Birmingham, Alabama-based Mayer Electric Supply was looking to install new state-of-the-art lighting for an old building TekLinks purchased. TekLinks’ new state-of-the-art high-tech data facility was built utilizing some of the most current green approaches available today, and it was important for the lighting to follow suit. 

Anyone who works with overhead lifting equipment will tell you that safety is absolutely crucial. From machine shop owners to warehouse floor managers, professionals who work in these environments understand how important it is to invest in the reliability and lifecycle of their heavy-duty equipment. Compliance and maintenance inspections form an essential part of this investment, but companies often don’t know what to look for in an inspections provider. 

While it is valid to state that energy efficiency is defined as the same level of production being achieved at an overall lower energy cost, it is equally important for today’s machine builders and automation engineers alike to remember than an energy-efficient system can actually translate into higher productivity.  This is achievable through a comprehensive approach to energy management.  

One of the most significant fire protection requirements for refineries and other offshore locations is the need to protect control cables and control valves in the event of a fire. Several alternatives are on the market, including fire blanket systems, calcium silicate board, and flexible mats that absorb heat in the event of a fire. 

One of the most significant fire protection requirements for refineries and other offshore locations is the need to protect control cables and control valves in the event of a fire. Several alternatives are on the market, including fire blanket systems, calcium silicate board, and flexible mats that absorb heat in the event of a fire. Each has its benefits and refinery operators need to weigh up the pros and cons of the available cable fire protection solutions to ensure that they select one that is the best for a particular application.

Imagine an LCD Display module that requires no power to display an image even if you leave the image on the screen for two weeks.  That seems impossible, right? Well not any longer! A new display technology called bi-stable or cholesteric liquid crystal display is now a reality and is available to designers of products. The display technology is unique in that it only requires power to change the image on the screen, but does not require any power to hold the image in place indefinitely. 

Green is good. And it’s here to stay. By adopting green strategies you can both maximize the environmental performance of your facility and reap economic rewards. The potential benefits are considerable, including:

• Environmental – improved air and water quality, reductions in waste streams, conservation of resources, and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems.  
• Economic – reduced operating costs, improved occupant productivity, optimized life-cycle economic performance
• Social – enhanced occupant comfort and health, improved aesthetics, minimizing the strain on local resources, and improved overall quality of life

The worldwide automotive industry is in a perpetual state of change. Globally-linked economies, tight competition, and emerging markets all force constant review of production goals, suppliers, and long-term strategies. A strong traceability initiative provides a key component to overall success by improving quality, reducing costs, optimizing processes and ultimately improving time-to-customer throughout the supply chain. 

Standard-Knapp announces the continued success of its PakMore continuous motion, rotary case packer at the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. The oldest brewery in the U.S., Yuengling seized the opportunity to install a prototype of Standard-Knapp’s PakMore case packer two years ago, and has since seen an improvement in packing speeds and line efficiency, as well as a reduction in bottle and label damage.  

A Design For True Performance And Energy Savings In Refrigerated Compressed Air Dryers—The Digital Scroll Dryer.

Reducing environmental impact is essential to a sustainable future.  As you consider product choices that meet your facilities’ environmental needs, it’s important to take into account not just what a product is made with but how it is made as well. Creating products with 100 percent recycled fiber is one approach to environmental sustainability, but it does not take into account 100 percent of the picture.

Visibility in the recycling shed was extremely poor, as no natural light entered the building and the installed 400W metal halides operating 24/6 were rapidly deteriorating. Over 50% of them had failed and the remainder had discoloured, but the positioning of the machinery and height of the shed meant that the bulbs were not easily replaceable.

Seam sealing is the process that permanently bonds the package and lid of a device, providing a barrier for the internal components for the device’s operational lifetime. This is typically the last critical step in the package manufacturing process, so it is among the most important.  The completed product performs a vital function and has a high dollar value, so creating a barrier to contamination ingress is essential. 

General Cable is the leader in the development, production and distribution of aluminum, copper and fiber-optic wire and cable products for energy, industrial, specialty and communications applications. Among General Cable’s manufacturing facilities, the Altoona, PA plant has distinguished itself as the world’s leading producer of OEM and aftermarket ignition wire sets, turning out over 200,000 sets a week. Assembling ignition wire sets is an oily job. Lubricant from the equipment drips onto the floor, creating slippery working conditions in work cells. So when associates voiced concerns about ergonomics and safety, supervisors teamed up with them to find solutions.

In industries from mining and manufacturing to construction, transportation, and agriculture, the need to weigh or measure inputs, outputs, and applied force has grown in recent decades to improve production safety and control costs.

At first glance, the concept of Intrinsically-Safe (I.S.) fieldbus is a study in opposing concepts. After all, fieldbus is about powering multiple devices, while the idea of I.S. is to limit energy flowing into hazardous areas. The fact that multiple devices can be powered from the same wire pair only adds to the design challenges that engineers face when developing their own systems. Typically, this can lead to complex installation schemes as users mix wiring methods such as Division 1 and Division 2 (Zones 0, 1 and 2) in order to accomplish their task. 

People spend an awful lot of time at work – 50 weeks a year on average. And a fair amount of that time is spent in the restroom -- the equivalent of more than three work days a year, according to one estimate. So why not make the restroom experience as pleasant as possible? A clean and attractive restroom should be the minimum standard. For facilities that want to leave a lasting impression on tenants and visitors alike an aesthetically pleasing, hygienic restroom should be the goal.

No one can deny that organizations across the country have been greatly affected by the decline in the economy. The manufacturing industry is no different. Even now as things seem to be looking up, companies are continually looking to cut costs and increase efficiencies. In addition, these companies must remain compliant with the strict quality and safety standards of the industry, adding even more pressure. Because of this, innovative, automated and easy to use products are needed more than ever before to help companies achieve their goals. 

The introduction of large diameter, low speed fans addresses both comfort and safety issues by preventing heat-related illnesses, improving winter dexterity, removing slippery condensation from floors, increasing the effectiveness of your ventilation system and reducing noise in your facility, Big Ass Fans® range in size up to 24 feet in diameter and use their immense size rather than speed to move air throughout an entire space, from high ceilings to the floor, and wall to door. 

France-based Noyon Logistics Solutions takes pride in the company’s ability to help customers save time and money while expanding organisational capabilities. As a company that understands these values, Noyon continuously seeks opportunities to reduce costs, improve performance and create a more productive work environment. The company’s decision to replace the lighting in its 2,000 m2 space with energy efficient LED lighting fixtures fulfilled all of these goals by significantly reducing energy consumption and costs, encouraging employee conservation and providing superior illumination to bolster team productivity.

Standard shaft seals or rotary shaft seals are typically found in a low speed or low pressure environment.  As the speed of the shaft increases, the maximum allowable pressure decreases and as pressure increases or speed increases, the design of the seal needs to change to ensure the life of the seal.  This article will discuss the effects of pressure on seal performance.

When we sat down to write this article we set out to identify a handful of sawing mistakes, and we came up with almost 60. And for each problem, there are as many as ten causes. Mistakes are common and predictable, but they’re also preventable; with the economy recovering and factories coming back to life, this is no time for slip-ups, so let’s sink our teeth into the top five sawing mistakes that waste material, time and destroy blades. 

This article will address monochrome displays, i.e. those with a single color. Monochrome displays are limited to one color for the characters and a different color background.  They are unlike color displays—such as TFT(Thin Film Transistor), OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Display) and Field Sequential Color Displays (FSC LCD)—in that both the characters and the background of a color display can change color; monochrome displays cannot change color.

Choosing a new wire Cutting and Stripping (C&S) machine can be like shopping for a new car.  With so many choices, where does one start?  A nice, little sports car might be fun to have, but how often will it just sit there because it can’t carry a car load of kids or some odd-sized goods from the local home improvement store?  You just might be better off with a midsize SUV that does a pretty good job at doing everything you need it to do.

Machine tool users, such as manufacturers of hard disk drive components for personal computers and other IT products, demand higher precision during the manufacturing process. Other machine tool users, such as manufacturers of aerospace components, demand higher speeds and reduced cycle times. Machine tool manufacturers respond by continuing to improve and develop their machines to offer users higher speeds, improved surface finishes and thus increased productivity and lean manufacturing. This paper examines the design of cylindrical roller bearings especially for main spindles of machine tools that require high-speed or high-accuracy performance. 

Is it really a nonstandard fault, or is it just the setup? Find out how to tell the difference and how to fix common setup issues. The onboard diagnostic engine of the Fluke 810 Vibration Tester relies on correct setup and data collection to deliver an accurate diagnosis.

Seven Changes You Can Make that Will Reduce Costs Immediately.

With its decision to deploy 4.9GHz wireless broadband network to streamline emergency communications between first responders and citizens, Abingdon, Virginia continues to reinforce its reputation as a progressive municipality that's on-track with fast-moving trends in mobile computing and other networked applications. The broadband public safety network, provided by Federal Signal, employs a series of towers that rings the town delivering wireless access to virtually every corner of Abingdon. In addition to enhancing first responder emergency communications, the network also extends free and open 2.4 GHz WiFi access to all citizens. 

Members of the Kentucky National Guard in Frankfort, Ky., had no complaints about the Big Ass Fan® installed in its 20,000 sq. ft. helicopter maintenance hangar, but when the opportunity arose for an upgrade, guard members jumped at the chance. With the hangar doors opening and closing for helicopters all day, consistent temperatures were hard to find in the non-air-conditioned and poorly insulated space. 

Fuel gas shutoff valves represent the main line of defense in combustion devices such as burners and boilers. They’re key to the safe operation of equipment for nonresidential comfort heating, commercial and industrial heating, and power and steam generation applications worldwide. While conventional modular gas valve designs are popular and effective, the latest gener- ation of valves has even more dramatic improvements. Recent technological advance- ments — in models such as new modular gas valves from ASCO — offer breakthrough features and benefits. These include higher flows, more compact footprints, and greater modularity and flexibility to enable downsizing of fuel train components, as well as broad- er temperature ranges, higher close-off pressures, more immediate availability, and reduced costs of ownership. 

The effort to be green – that is, reducing one’s overall impact on the environment – has of late gained increasing popularity, particularly in the commercial arena.  Many companies have effectively restructured their corporate headquarters, recycle their paper goods, and have reduced their use of all natural resources--not only because of legislation that requires it but because it makes good business sense.  What’s more, increasing numbers of consumers are now carefully examining companies’ environmental records before deciding to do business with them.  

This white paper discusses four popular options for cooling electronic/electrical equipment housed in enclosures and cabinets. These options include thermoelectric air conditioners, compressor-based air conditioners, vortex coolers and air-to-air heat exchangers (heat pipes). 

This article will examine several examples of the various motion systems typically used in industrial applications today and the component performance factors designers should assess at the outset of such projects.

• How to make sure the filters you select meet performance requirements
• How to use TCO to compare costs of operating a dust collector with different filters
• Real-life cost-saving examples

Choosing the best equipment rental company has traditionally been a difficult decision. There has been no convenient method to objectively compare how different rental providers perform across a wide range of customer services -- from equipment selection and delivery to operator training and on-site service.This brief white paper describes a new and valuable tool that offers an unbiased and quantitative means of evaluating a rental company’s customer service and overall performance, which permits choosing a rental provider more quickly and with more confidence. The paper provides information tailored specifically for those involved in the decision-making process associated with renting equipment for use in construction, maintenance and repair, specialty trade, facilities maintenance, and other applications.

This white paper discusses why efficiency estimation is important; the parameters that can affect efficiency readings and how these measurements once obtained can be used to the advantage of a motor management specialist.

The advent of the inverter that facilitated speed and torque control of AC motors has propelled the use of electric motor to new realms that was inconceivable just a mere 30years ago. Advances in power semiconductors along with digital controls have enabled realization of motor drives that are robust and can control position and speed to a high degree of precision. Use of AC motor drives has also resulted in energy savings and improved system efficiency.

The ability to efficiently store and retrieve goods in a storage facility is one of the key ways to reduce costs and stay ahead of thecompetition. As an innovative leader in supply chain technology implementation, GENCO Supply Chain Solutions wanted a solution for their 200,000 square foot dry foods distribution center in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania that would improve routing, slot optimization, and simplify the receiving and retrieving processes.

With an operation that runs five days a week handling approximately 20-25 inbound and20-25 outbound truckloads of product each day, GENCO saw an opportunity to improve unit load storage and movement processes toincrease the productivity and eciency of their facility using the Sky-Trax Total-Trax® Solution.