Industrial Processing Equipment News

In 2008, General Motors (GM) declared that it would work to make 50% of the company's plants landfill-free by 2010. As of December 2010, GM announced that 52% of its plants met that designation, meaning that waste generated from normal industrial processing is either reused, recycled, or converted to energy. The numbers are startling: in 2010, GM recycled or reused 2.5 million tons of waste materials; for a visual, picture 6.8 million extended-cab pickup trucks filled to the brim. Some of their more creative approaches to recycling include using cardboard shipping materials as sound-absorbers and making heavy-duty plastic shipping containers (strong enough to hold an engine) from lowly paint sludge. This video describes the core elements of the program.

For 55 years, Koger Air has provided turnkey industrial pneumatic and material conveying systems. Capabilities include custom metal and plate fabrication, heavy gauge ductwork, design, layout, and fabrication in carbon and stainless steel up to 1/4 in. thick, structural steel supports. Products include rotary airlocks, centrifugal material handling fans, cyclones, and component parts.

Aget Downdraft Tables and Benches are designed to draw contaminated air away from the worker's breathing zone.

The tables are built in both single and double hopper styles, and are of modular design to serve as single unit workstations, or combined into any multiple of workstations. Read more.

Tate Andale's Duplex Strainers are made with heavy-bodied walls offering unparalleled corrosion allowance. Our straining ratios are among the highest available, and moving parts are designed to minimize wear. Tate's Strainers are among the longest lasting, highest performing in the industry. All Tate products are proudly made in the USA.

Balston Coalescing Compressed Air Filters protect equipment and delicate instruments from the dirt, water, and oil usually found in compressed air. These filters remove contaminates at a high efficiency — up to 99.99% for 0.01 micron size particles and droplets. Go to www.balstonfilters.com or view our GlobalSpec profile.

Control valve diagnostics not only protect your company's bottom line, they can also protect personnel, the public, and the environment. But, how can you combine advanced control valve technology with older power mediums, like compressed air? Understanding how best to integrate old and new systems is key to ensuring precise control over your process applications.

For more on this subject, subscribe to the GlobalSpec e-Newsletter, DirectU2 The world of Valve Technology.

Sometimes, the best solution to a problem is the most obvious one. Complex pumping and piping systems don't always easily reveal obvious solutions, beyond the need to stop a leak. A return to pumping basics may offer some insight, according to pump reliability expert Ross Mackay. Focusing on physics, rather than the latest and greatest technical solutions, can help engineers solve problems with practical know-how. (Article starts on page 14 of the digital magazine).

If you find this subject interesting, subscribe to the GlobalSpec e-Newsletter, DirectU2 The world of Pump Technology.

Heat treatment fixtures can be elaborate or simple, large or small, depending on the components that are being treated in the furnace. One company is meeting specific customer needs by designing fixtures using modeling software and rapid prototyping; in some instances refining the fixture design substantially, but without requiring any new furnace equipment. The article includes a brief case study from a UK manufacturer of tubular components who needed a fixture that would support more even heat treatment across parts of varying sizes.

The quality of the steel coming out of the foundry depends heavily on the melting process; specifically, the amount of nitrogen present when pure oxygen is used. Too much nitrogen can cause the development of nitrides in the steel, resulting in a product with inconsistent mechanical properties. A new trace gas analyzer using plasma emission detector technology ensures that the level of nitrogen is acceptable before the addition of oxygen, reducing the likelihood of unwanted nitrides in the finished steel.

Mettler-Toledo is pleased to introduce the new IND560x intrinsically safe weighing terminal, which brings uncompromising performance and versatility into hazardous areas. Designed for both process control and manual weighing operations, the IND560x sets the new benchmark for weighing in division 1 or zone 1/21 areas.

The Vpure 4400H is a value designed USP grade water system for use in bacteria controlled applications. The system generates Purified Water, stores it and delivers it to the loop. System has a self-contained compressor and electric heat exchanger, saving on integrating expensive plant utilities.

Contact Mar Cor Purification for more information.

Optek oil in water monitors provide immediate detection of free oil, suspended solids, seal leakage, or machine failure. Suitable for direct installation in high pressure, high temperature, and hazardous area locations, optek sensors assist in reducing outage time and fall-off in energy production. View our Top 5 Petro Applications brochure.

Falcon Industries has been providing quality on-time custom augers and auger flight since 1982. Our customers trust us to give them precise and consistent manufactured parts at a competitive price. Give Falcon an opportunity to quote on your next flight and/or screw requirements.

Experts are getting down to individual particles now, when it comes to determining the optimum methods for bulk solid handling and granular flow. To manage the analysis of very small particles (at very large volumes), engineers are using software systems with discrete element modeling. These systems can simulate how different types of particles interact with each other, predicting the flow of everything from pharmaceutical capsules to sand to metal powders.

Three years ago, a terrible explosion at a sugar manufacturer killed 14 workers and injured 38 more. The cause of the explosion was accumulated sugar dust (learn more from the video by the Chemical Safety Board). The accident galvanized industry experts to explore better ways to control dust, from the analysis of combustible products to the development of better dust collection systems to federal workplace safety requirements. Chemical Processing sponsored a Webcast on the topic in October. [A short registration may be required.]

A new metal detector with a standard conveyor system (available in a variety of widths) uses high frequency digital signal processing to identify both ferrous and non-ferrous metal contaminants in everything from food to plastics to pharmaceuticals. The system features an easy-to-read back-lit touchscreen user interface with menu-driven control functions.

One company is developing new membrane systems specifically for industrial fermentation processes used to make biofuels and other biologically-based materials. The new systems feature crossflow spiral and hollow fiber filtration, improving both the clarification and concentration of feed stock materials. The membrane system improves product yield and minimizes biomass carryover which can result in the need for downstream recovery, making it both energy and cost effective.

Need to automate the processing of a part or component that has never been done before? Since everything Steven Douglas Corp. (SDC) does is custom and special, more than likely, we can design and build a processing machine made just for your unique application.

Watt-Flex® Cartridge Heaters will cut your heating costs by providing at least twice the life of conventionally designed heaters. They expand in the bore for superior heat transfer and contract when de-energized for elimination of bore seizure. To learn more go to Dalton Electric Heating Co.

Harmsco HMB Multi Bag Housings are designed for high flow, high contaminant removal. Manufactured to ASME design standards for durability and long equipment life. Offred in 304 or 316 stainless steel with optional ASME U-Stamp. Flow rates up to 2,400 gpm in a single vessel.

Klinkau provides high performance press filter plates for any industrial processing application. Klinkau provides filter plate solutions for any industrial processing application requiring filtration dewatering, clarification, cake washing, extraction, and product recovery.

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The third edition of ASHRAE's GreenGuide: The Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable Buildings is now available to help manufacturers build and renovate green. The guide is intended to be a living document that helps design teams work together to identify and implement sustainable solutions to energy problems. The latest edition includes everything from building information modeling and new green building standards to methods for developing cohesive teams of designers and engineers.

I'm always impressed by do-it-yourselfers, but these design students from the University of Rochester have taken it to a new level. They built a miniature rotational molding machine out of scrap material and a cordless drill. Their purpose? To mimic the industrial process so they could learn from it and identify other possible uses for the equipment. They used cold setting bio resins to create hollow plastic products with the machine. Watch the video for inspiration.

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