News from PLANT ENGINEERING: Week of June 12th

May 3, 2006

Web exclusive:
New standards for industrial control panels https://web1.media.globix.net/client/planteng/2006_0621/23157/launch.htm

ASE Webcast looks at energy cost control
The Alliance to Save Energy will sponsor a Webcast, “What Your Management Needs to Know about Energy Cost Control” on June 29 at 2 p.m. EST. The Webcast will explore strategies for controlling energy costs and ways to secure top-level management support for energy management initiatives.
https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA 6342278 .html

Siemens honors five companies for excellence
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. recognized five U.S. companies for outstanding achievement in the implementation and use of Siemens technology during the 2006 Siemens Automation Summit held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, June 6-8.
https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA 6342279 .html

Bentley honors plant winners at BE awards
Bentley Systems announced the winners of the 2006 BE Awards of Excellence at its annual BE Conference in Charlotte. The independent panel of BE Awards jurors, which included accomplished Bentley users and distinguished industry experts, selected the winning projects from more than 260 nominations.
https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA 6342282 .html

NPE draws international audience
NPE 2006, which will be in Chicago starting June 19, is setting records for the percentage of participants coming from outside the United States. The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. sponsors the triennial event, which will be June 19-23 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA 6342283 .html

Share your favorite tips with other engineers
PLANT ENGINEERING’S annual Tips and Tricks section offers some unique ideas to solve common problems. Again this year, we look to our readers to provide their fellow plant engineers some insight on creative solutions to solve some thorny plant floor problems.
Every tip or trick selected for the August issue of PLANT ENGINEERING will receive a $25 American Express gift cheque. To submit your tip, send it to Editor Bob Vavra at BVavra@cfemedia.com or fax it to 630/288-8781. If appropriate, include an illustration of the solution.

Troubleshooting keeps ac induction motors running
When equipment in your plant malfunctions, you need to isolate the trouble quickly. Is the problem in the motor or the starting circuit? In this article, Timothy H. Tiebert, Senior Electrical Engineer with Kaman Industrial Technologies, looks at common operational problems for three-phase ac induction motors, how to diagnose them and how to fix them.
https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6332256.html

Plantengineering.com poll question
Log on and voice your view on this month’s question, sponsored by Miller Electric: “What amount of your company’s maintenance/repair time per week is spent welding?”
/

White paper details how motion control enhances safety, productivity
Bosch Rexroth has released a new white paper titled “Safe Motion Technologies: Competitive Advantages for Early Adopters.” The white paper explains how intelligent safety systems can increase machine uptime and limit liability as today’s manufacturing engineering organizations become more aware of the strategic value of safety.
https://www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6336030.html?stt=001&text=safe+motion

EVENTS

Electrical safety training
Thomas A. Edison Institute will hold its Electrical Safety Conference in Boston on July 13—14. The conferences are designed to benefit those involved with electrical safety or safety planning, including electrical engineers, electrical contractors, maintenance and safety directors, managers and other personnel from corporations and municipalities. The conferences offer customized, comprehensive training from some of the nation’s most renowned electrical safety experts, including prolific author Ray Jones, a 40-year engineer and NFPA70E chairperson. Some of the topics include developing and implementing an electrical safety program; justifying to management the cost of implementing an electrical safety program; using proven design and current-limitation practices to lower hazard risk categories; and the selection, use and care of personal protective equipment. Each session will conclude with a trade show featuring exhibits from Cooper Bussmann, Fluke, Panduit, Salisbury, Wextex and others. Attendees will receive CEU credits, a free copy of NFPA 70E Standard, and guidelines for implementing an electrical safety program. https://www.taedisoninstitute.com/

Preparing for influenza pandemic is topic of ASHRAE seminar
The seminar, Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Controlling Transmission of Infectious Diseases in Hospitals, is scheduled for Monday, June 26. It is sponsored by ASHRAE’s technical committee on health care facilities.
https://www.ashrae.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/51808;jsessionid=aaaeJsUxAy-hTX

ARC conference to focus on enterprise performance
Top industry visionaries will share their experiences and best practices for driving manufacturer enterprise performance at ARC Advisory Group’s Fourteenth Annual Forum, “ Driving Enterprise Performance through Next Generation Manufacturing Concepts ,” to be held June 26 to 28 at the Marriott Long Wharf Hotel in Boston.
www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6329081.html

Nanotechnology and Manufacturing event is August 23-24
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers has moved the Emerging Technology Forum, “The Next Industrial Revolution: Nanotechnology and Manufacturing” to August 23-24 at the PollardTechnologyConferenceCenter in Oak Ridge, TN.
www.plantengineering.com/article/CA6326958.html