Demand reliable equipment
How does one demand reliable equipment? Most industrial managers don’t know the answer to that question, and too often, they’re part of the problem. The end of excessive downtime begins with a simple spec.

Wisconsin’s hiring and growing: Is it a blueprint for others?
A blueprint maintenance professionals, plants and governments throughout the nation can follow to realize growth and attract new workers just might be in Wisconsin.

What Works: Large boring machine makes exciting ROI
A 60-tonne boring machine was reconditioned and reaped significant ROI upon completion.

Getting the most out of energy benchmarking
Defining and capturing data for energy indices is only the beginning of the process. Next, says Energy Expert Peter Garforth in his latest column, is identifying your motivation and establishing tracking. How does your company compare with competitors and industry averages?

Web Hunter: It’s a matter of geometry
The concentricity, flatness and perpendicularity that promote mechanical seal longevity are just a few of the factors under your control. Executive Editor Russ Kratowicz brings you these Web resources on seals. Remeber, we surf the Web so you don't have to.

Pump strategy is key to conserving energy
You should explore various flow pumping strategies that might be applied to new systems, as well as those that might be adaptable to existing hydronic systems. These strategies can save energy and operating costs while increasing the controllability of a plant.

Dropping VOC levels raise issues that can affect your plant

In the Trenches: Acme must deal with an indignant and consummate documentarian inspector
A former school teacher turned plant inspector is offended by some sophomoric behavior among her co-workers. Her complaints get one co-worker fired, but also lead to her being disliked by coworkers. She quits and files a retaliation, constructive discharge and sexual harassment suit against Acme....

The power quad: A plant manager can do four things that maximize reliability
Many plant managers aren’t aware of the four ways they can help optimize asset reliability to reduce cost, maximize asset utilization and increase plant capacity. It’s about time they became engaged in the reliability process.

Fix It Forward Maintenance Hall of Fame
There's a hall of fame for every occupation imaginable except maintenance professionals. It's time to change that. Peruse our brief form and nominate yourself or someone you know.

Why you should embrace our digital edition
The paperless office never came to be. In fact, there's more paper out there now than ever. Editor in Chief Paul Studebaker gives you reasons to try Plant Services paperless digital edition.

What Works: Environmental excellence recognized in Indiana
Toyota plant’s path to Governor’s Award began at its trash compactor.

Keep that five-step capacity controller when you centralize compressed air management
Often, the five-step (variable-displacement) controller on a new central compressed air management system running large capacity, lubricant-cooled rotary screw compressors is modified to a two-step controller. This may lead to short cycling and the multiple units all operating at part load.

Industry taps academia for advanced reliability

Green roof industry grows by more than 25%