David Manney, L&S Electric, Inc. Friday 07.14.2017

The benefits of testing a 3-phase electric motor

Testing a three-phase motor with a polarization index test (PI), megger test, or surge test on a regular basis helps extend the life of the motor.

Bob Vavra, content manager, CFE Media Tuesday 07.11.2017

Hidden Figures no more; Infor names AI platform for NASA mathematics pioneer

Coleman AI platform named for the NASA physicist and mathematician was announced at the Inforum event in New York.

David Manney, L&S Electric Monday 07.10.2017

Polarization index testing benefits

Polarization index (PI) testing is an extension of the insulation resistance test and is designed to check specific issues in a motor such as moisture and insul... read more

Chris Vavra Monday 07.10.2017

PMI jumps to a 3-year high in June

Manufacturing index hits 57.8% as production, new orders soar

Webcasts
Videos
Products
International

Webcast: Gear Drive Specification: Avoiding Failures and Downtime

Specifications provided to a gear drive manufacturer will affect the size and cost of the gear drive that is selected. Generally, the cost will increase as the number of requirements does. Therefore, it’s best to specify the...

Webcast: New tools for compliance: pneumatic conveying systems and industrial vacuum cleaning systems

Pneumatic conveying systems and industrial vacuum cleaning systems have been used in many industries for decades, but their justification was primarily a functional one for the plant manager or manufacturing manager.

Webcast: Tackle Your Plant’s Heat Problem this Summer with Spot Coolers

High temperatures are great for enjoying a day at the beach, but don’t let them sack profits and safety this summer. The consequences of not adequately cooling your plant are many; lower employee productivity, heat related...

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IMTS 2016 CFE Media Interview with Jeff Brown, VP of IoT/Embedded Sales, Dell Inc.

VP of IoT/Embedded Sales at Dell, Inc., Jeff Brown, talked about the Internet of Things (IoT) and some of the latest developments in that industry with Plant Engineering content manager Bob Vavra at IMTS 2016.

IMTS 2016 CFE Media Interview with Kevin Terwilliger, IoT Solutions Manager, Dell Inc.

IoT Solutions Manager at Dell, Inc., Kevin Terwilliger, talked about the Internet of Things (IoT) and some of the latest developments in that industry with Plant Engineering content manager Bob Vavra at IMTS 2016.

Tailored, individualized production becoming the norm

Interview with Rod Emery, VP of RedViking, Siemens' solutions partner at Hannover Messe. » more

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Spring cotter pins for axial mounting

The GN 1024 cotter pins can be used for the axial mounting of bolts and axles. » more

Arc flash relay system

Littelfuse, Inc.'s AF0500 is a microprocessor-based arc-flash protection relay that limits arc-fault damage.

Precision limit switches

The precision limit/position switches are designed to be mounted in tight locations and have a 4mm diameter barrel. » more

PVC coated sealing locknut

Plasti-Bond's PVC coated sealing locknut provides protection for exposed conduit threads from corrosion. » more

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Shipments of connectable set-top boxes to nearly double by 2017

Connectable set-top boxes sales are expected to surge by 91 percent globally from 2012 to 2017 thanks to increased demand in North America and Asia for more connectivity in their electronics devices. » more

Why full-power wind converters are not overtaking the market yet

High prices for rare earth materials, lagging offshore wind development, and high demand for doubly-fed converters by China continue to hamper the market. » more

PAT adoption allows for safety in electrical testing

European system seeing wider adoption in U.S. markets » more

» More international

Differences between electric motors and generators

Electric motors and generators have significant differences in terms of function and what they are used for, but both are closely connected to... » more

Transfer switches: Which configuration is right for your system?

When it comes to picking the right transfer switch for a facility, engineers need to consider many aspects such as system installation, operation... » more

Improving safety in robotic welding applications

Common safety accessories include interlocked perimeter guards, safety light curtains, laser scanners and pressure-sensitive safety mats. » more

Implementing robotic automation solution tips

If implemented strategically and accordingly to the company's specific needs, robotic automation can position a company for long-term improvements... » more

How to weld non-standard parts using automation

With automation like thermal imaging cameras and 3-D programming, non-standard parts that used to cause challenges for welding systems are much... » more

Seven ways to avoid potential safety hazards

With all the safety hazards posed by electrical equipment, proper training is imperative to the well-being of employees. » more

The other approach to Lean manufacturing

Using data analysis to find out what the dominant products within a facility are and the processes used to create them and how they flow within a... » more

Embrace the digital plant to build a bridge to the future

Siemens officials call digital manufacturing ‘do or die’ in pushing for faster adoption at their automation summit in Florida. » more

What companies need to know about food processing ERP systems

Companies should look for the food enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that provides the best process visibility. » more

Eight steps to creating a continuous improvement team

Each member of a continuous improvement team should represent a function or process within the company so everyone is included. » more

Finding the right engagement strategy

A Lean-minded board of directors can have an influential impact on the direction of an organization and its future. » more

A supportive foundation for Lean excellence

Herman Miller, Inc.’s people-centric focus and its focus on Lean manufacturing has helped the company through rough patches and has helped the... » more

A bright, dynamic presentation of manufacturing knowledge

Starting with the June 2017 issue of Plant Engineering, the magazine has been redesigned to provide readers with a new, clean, and better-organized... » more

Empowered to cut wasted energy

The Department of Energy (DOE) program is designed to find and eliminate energy waste and offers many resources to help organizations achieve their... » more

Webcast on getting started with IIoT offers extra answers

The webcast, “Leave my Things Alone: Getting Started with IIoT,” sponsored by PTC, shows how IIoT software can troubleshoot machine and connectivity... » more

Six questions about reliability vision companies need to answer

Companies that want to use reliability vision should ensure workers are practicing what they preach and make sure the message is transmitted across a... » more

The cloud's role in data management

The connectivity of devices that use the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) must collect and analyze lots and lots of data. » more

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Poll of the Week

Annual Salary Survey

Before the calendar turned, 2016 already had the makings of a pivotal year for manufacturing, and for the world.

There were the big events for the year, including the United States as Partner Country at Hannover Messe in April and the 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago in September. There's also the matter of the U.S. presidential elections in November, which promise to shape policy in manufacturing for years to come.

But the year started with global economic turmoil, as a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing triggered a worldwide stock hiccup that sent values plummeting. The continued plunge in world oil prices has resulted in a slowdown in exploration and, by extension, the manufacture of exploration equipment.

Read more: 2015 Salary Survey

The Maintenance and Reliability Coach's blog

Maintenance and reliability tips and best practices from the maintenance and reliability coaches at Allied Reliability Group.

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One Voice for Manufacturing

The One Voice for Manufacturing blog reports on federal public policy issues impacting the manufacturing sector. One Voice is a joint effort by the National Tooling and Machining...

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The Maintenance and Reliability Professionals Blog

The Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals an organization devoted...

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Machine Safety

Join this ongoing discussion of machine guarding topics, including solutions assessments, regulatory compliance, gap analysis...

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Research Analyst Blog

IMS Research, recently acquired by IHS Inc., is a leading independent supplier of market research and consultancy to the global electronics industry.

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Marshall on Maintenance

Maintenance is not optional in manufacturing. It’s a profit center, driving productivity and uptime while reducing overall repair costs.

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Lachance on CMMS

The Lachance on CMMS blog is about current maintenance topics. Blogger Paul Lachance is president and chief technology officer for Smartware Group.

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Maintenance & Safety

The maintenance journey has been a long, slow trek for most manufacturers and has gone from preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance.

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IIoT: Machines, Equipment, and Asset Management

Featured articles highlight technologies that enable the Industrial Internet of Things, IIoT-related products and strategies to get data more easily to the user.

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