Kevin Campbell, Senior Editor
Articles
Hoisting innovation for safety, productivity and ergonomics
In this age where manufacturers constantly search for ways to cut costs while increasing production, initiatives such as Lean manufacturing, ergonomics and safety influence their needs. They demand tools that can accommodate multitasking, that are designed to handle product swiftly and securely without damaging it and protect workers from repetitive motion injuries, but also are built with oper...
HVLS = Cool efficiency
Now that summer’s here, increased temperatures and humidity have an increased impact on the climate within the plant. Between keeping energy consumption down and the workforce comfortable while on the floor, plant managers can find themselves in a conundrum. Do they keep the plant floor air conditioned and the workers content?
Products, sustainability and market conditions drive NA 2008 attendees
Over its first two days, the NA 2008 Material Handling and Logistics Show, held April 21-24 at Cleveland’s I-X Center, enjoyed good size crowds in the morning that seemed to dwindle slightly in the afternoon.
Products, sustainability, and market conditions drive NA 2008
The show on material handling and logistics featured some new product introductions and a focus on a topic that is rapidly gaining interest throughout industry: sustainability
The road to sustainability
When the residents of Munchkinland told Dorothy to follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City, they weren’t concerned about how much energy the Wizard of Oz was using to power his lights and pyrotechnics show from behind the curtain. And they certainly weren’t concerned about using natural resources when Dorothy dumped the bucket of water over the Wicked Witch of the West.
Air filtration systems contribute more than clean air
While productivity, quality and the bottom line will never go away as the primary drivers of manufacturing processes, new focuses on safety and sustainability will have a growing impact on how those processes are executed. One area where plant managers can find real savings while addressing sustainability concerns is in their air filtration systems.
Varnish: The cholesterol in your plant equipment
Consider it the cholesterol of industrial equipment, because what it can do to machinery is almost identical to what hard, plaque-like cholesterol buildup can do to the cardiovascular system. We’re not talking HDL here, folks. There’s nothing healthy about this stuff. Varnish is a nasty, hard, sticky substance that forms on the surface of machinery components.
Giving manufacturers a lift
Everyone can use a lift once in a while. In fact, that was the thought behind the development of the lift truck in the first place. What began in the late 1800s as an evolution from hoists and cranes, lift trucks have long been an essential tool for manufacturers to move their materials and products through the various processes of manufacturing.
Infrared thermography hits the (hot) spot
Infrared thermography has always been a great maintenance tool. New features and capabilities allow manufacturers to do everything from pinpoint hot-spots on the production line to identify leaks in the facility’s roof. Manufacturers can more accurately predict where maintenance is needed, preventing costly downtime and the accompanying drag on the bottom line.
Continuous improvement more than just maintenance practices
Cut the clutter and skip the small stuff. Grow your people. Provide them with leadership.