Features
-
Showstoppers – IFPE 2017 post-show roundup
Fluid power innovations at IFPE confirmed that keeping pace with technology is critical for the industry’s success.
-
An emergency response plan speeds up return to normal operations
As the new wildfire season began on March 1, Fort McMurray residents were still reeling about the wildfire that razed the northern Alberta community last year. After sweeping through the city, the wildfire, dubbed “the beast,” would destroy about 2,400…
-
Abrasive blasting operation improves safety with heavy duty vacuuming system
Replacing manual removal of steel shot with vacuuming to handle ergonomic concern reduces unscheduled downtime by 80 per cent, manpower by more than 50 per cent and provides more efficient maintenance of cleaner environment.
-
High Rollers – large bearings make their rounds
In a quest to find the oldest bearing, we marvelled at the fact that the Ancient Egyptians used a form of roller bearings to help move massive bricks during the construction of the pyramids. But we were hardly surprised. Why…
-
What’s Up Doug? Where did that bearing come from?
With globalization, traditional perceptions of what is a good bearing and what is not has become clouded. In addition, counterfeiters go the extra distance to replicate bearings leaving end-users with ever more concerns about what’s real and what’s fake. So…
-
Optimizing reliability centered maintenance
Reliability Centered Maintenance methods compliant with the SAE standard JA-1011 (“Evaluation Criteria for RCM Processes”) all have common features – they must, or they won’t comply with the standard. Those requirements are “minimum” requirements, as they are with any standard. RCM-R complies. But what makes it different and why?
IIoT and RCM3: Digital Transformation spawns new approach to Reliability Centered Maintenance
Reliability centered maintenance (RCM) is a rigorous optimization process for asset-intensive organizations. Typically, assets covered by an RCM initiative are mission critical because of the requirements for health, safety and the environment (HSE), but also because of the financial impacts of downtime.
-
What maintenance professionals should know about tribology
The study of friction, wear, and lubrication – otherwise known as Tribology – is of enormous practical importance to industrial maintenance professionals because it can not only optimize functionality but also help prolong the life of mechanical equipment. However, there…
-
Test & Rewind – Electric motor maintenance
Regular inspections, maintenance and finding the right shop to repair critical motors will reduce costly, unplanned shutdowns.
-
What’s Up Doug? Prevention of electrical damage in variable frequency drive motors
When I first joined the industry in 1987, bearing damage from current leakage was rarely seen. I can still remember who the first person was that showed me the first case of current leakage – and that was about 1996…
-
Roll-In replacement circuit breakers provide refurbishment options that minimize downtime
Aging electrical power distribution systems often contain legacy switchgear that have reached end-of-life conditions. Preventative maintenance shutdowns can prove difficult and cause concern about not being able to reclose circuit breakers and restore power when the shutdown is complete. With…
-
Deep Machine Learning – how smart solutions lower energy costs and boost safety
An integrated refrigeration and controls solutions leader paves the way for energy savings through award-winning analytics implementations.
Book Review – Physical Asset Management
Reading Dharmen Dhaliah’s book, Physical Asset Management: An Organizational Challenge, can alleviate some of the drudgery associated with figuring out what needs to be done and who needs to be involved in an asset management plan. The book explores how…
-
Three disruptive technologies driving change in enterprise asset management
Businesses in every industry are currently undergoing massive digital transformation, creating opportunities to leverage emerging technologies and enable innovative approaches to business practices. But these are not just flash-in-the-pan technologies – they are long-term shifts in the way we use technology, requiring a strategic approach if they are to provide bottom line benefits.
-
Intelligent motors and actuators
“Many actuators are what might be termed ‘dumb,’ meaning they only do one thing and have no means by which they can be managed and operated in more subtle ways.” —Tom Venetis
-
Embracing a systems philosophy in energy efficiency
In the united effort to preserve global security of energy supply and protect the climate, the industrial sector is justifiably under intense scrutiny as a significant energy consumer. A focus on energy consumption, and therefore energy efficiency, is inextricably bound…
Anticipate failure through condition monitoring
“In most cases we won’t be monitoring our equipment continuously. We’ll do it periodically on a fixed frequency – say once per shift, daily, weekly or monthly. How do we choose the frequency? This is where condition monitoring involves a bit of informed guesswork.” —James Reyes-Picknell
-
Hand-tool makers emphasize safety and ergonomics
When it comes to hand tools the focus needs to be on safety and ergonomics. Hand tools will be used for long hours in hazardous conditions and often in remote work areas where, if a tool is forgotten or lost,…
-
Master the basics of cleaning and degreasing
Throughout my career I often found that the lack of applied basic practices is often the root cause of many issues. Equipment cleaning and degreasing seems at first glance hardly worthy of consideration. Find the least senior worker and send…
-
Vibration diagnostics to analyze radial vibration at the bearings ensures best balance
Since September 1996, the at-speed balancing bunker in Sulzer’s Houston Service Center has been performing a critical service for clients from all over the world. As an integral part of the diagnostic and repair process for large rotating components, this…
