News
Vibrating equipment runs more smoothly with integrated system
Vibrating screens are perhaps the most punished of all manufacturing equipment. Used to sort and separate rock in mining and quarry operations, the screen systems are continually pounded by rocks, infiltrated by dirt and grit, and subjected to tremendous loads…
Maintenance Software: Choosing the right CMMS means looking at more than just cost
Although maintenance has historically been viewed by management — and the general public — as being dirty, unattractive, a "necessary evil," and a job for "grease monkeys," the mighty computer has created a new legitimacy for maintenance over the past…
Tried and Tested: Today’s electronic testing tools are smarter, faster and wired
Manufacturers have no option but to fully test their systems, equipment and often products, to ensure they are operating within safety, productivity and quality specifications. There is a wealth of tools, techniques and equipment to test weight, hardness, roughness or…
Revisiting and learning from a conference or seminar event
The latter part of the twentieth century witnessed an explosion in adult learning events. Of these events, industry has particularly favoured conference or seminar events where a specific subject matter is featured and targeted toward a distinct peer group. Seminars…
Plant Safety: The rules for pre-development reviews have changed again
On October 7, 2000, the Ontario government amended the existing regulations surrounding pre-development reviews (or PDRs). Under the old PDRs, anyone who wanted to begin construction, reconstruction or alteration of any equipment, machines or devices was required to have a…
Acquiring software in the new age
It used to be simple. You needed a new maintenance management system, and you had two choices: build something small or, if your need was larger (a few or more users, some robust features, and you didn’t know how to…
Important lessons from the Olympics
Like many of you, I spent some time a few months back watching, at random, various events at the Olympics in Australia, where athletes from around the world were competing to be recognized as the best in their respective disciplines.…
Supply Chain Management: What plant professionals need to know
Almost daily, manufacturers are under increasing pressure to deliver goods in a way that more closely matches their customer’s needs. Just-in-time delivery, smaller quantities, closer tolerances to client specifications, and shorter time-lines to make changes or deliver new orders, are…
Link strategy targes for improve performance
Imagine a job where on any given morning you have no idea what fires will be burning — that is, what work you will be doing that day or any subsequent day. Imagine also not knowing whether what you do…
A Bright Idea: Fibre optic technology drives new methods of power measurement
Fibre optics have been at the heart of many remarkable discoveries into the industrial world. But none of these advances in fibre optic technology has had more potential than the measurement of power in mainline and commercial substations. On first…
Paper plant reduces particulate emissions with hi-tech scrubbers
Particulate fumes are sub-micron in size, but they were causing big headaches for Domtar Papers of Cornwall, Ont. The fumes, created by vapour evaporation, are among the most difficult emissions to measure, control and capture. They can produce a visible…
Absolute Power: Tackling issues with power quality
Ever since people started to use electricity, there has been an ongoing discussion on the subject of power quality. The only difference between the early days of electrical use and now is the degree of "dirty power" present in the…
Personality assessments make better communications easier
Last issue’s maintenance connections column ("What’s in a word?") dealt with communication quality and accountability when sending and receiving information in written versus verbal format. All of these columns position members of the maintenance department as direct senders and receivers…
Hydraulic systems ease the load but not the burden of safe operation
Hydraulic systems generally store fluid under pressures from 2,000 pounds per square inch and more, and they use that pressure to help heavy equipment operate smoothly. But that kind of stress makes it easy for accidents to happen — if…
Safety engineers must take their ‘authority’ role seriously
Ontario and Nova Scotia have recently introduced regulations mandating owners or lessees of certain hazardous equipment — or equipment used in hazardous processes — to obtain a report bearing a seal and signature of a professional engineer. In Ontario this…
Certified to safety standards: What does that CSA mark mean?
Its mark appears on more than a billion products around the world. So, what exactly does that familiar CSA mark mean? For many people, the mark relates only to safety. But, there’s more to it than that. For more than…
Relative Ability Of Various Wheel Types To Solve Caster Problems
Relative Ability Of Various Wheel Types To Solve Caster Problems
Cutting the costs of cutting aluminum and abrasive materials
Manitoba foundry boosts bandsaw productivity 25% to 100%; cuts blade cost six-fold, by trading carbon sawblades for carbide.
Cerro Copper of Canada Benefits from Increased Capabilities
Material handling system overhaul uses less energy and needs less maintenance, while giving this round-the-clock manufacturer more finishing capacity.
Huge industrial pumps create white-water for 2000 Sydney Olympics
Six Flygt Model PL710/865 large-propeller pumps, each capable of moving 2.8 cu m of water per second, will power Sydney’s white water slalom canoeing and kayaking course.