Articles
Grants to help industry adapt to climate change
Retrofitting equipment to use waste heat for production and upgrades at a process plant to improve energy efficiency are among 12 projects to be funded under the latest round of Re-tooling for Climate Change.
Hitting the compressor ‘sweet-spot’
Selecting the right air compressor can be confusing. There are numerous compressor types, variants and options to consider — each of which can impact energy efficiency and operating costs. Identifying a compressor’s ‘sweet-spot’ can help determine if it is right for the application.
[ + ]A recipe for success — How recipe solutions can improve a company’s bottom line
Today’s manufacturing companies face many pressures, including rising costs for raw materials, labour and distribution, not to mention customer demands for higher quality at lower prices. Yet these significant challenges can be used to spark new opportunities to improve the way businesses are run.
[ + ]Improving emissions for ore grinding: Australian technology to help lower energy consumption in mining operations
The largest consumer of energy on a mine site is the technology used to break the raw ore into smaller pieces for processing or transport. Last year, Perth-based mining services company Scanalyse was awarded an AusIndustry Climate Ready grant to the value of nearly $1.8 million to support their research into improving the energy efficiency of mine-site ore grinding.
[ + ]The seven habits of highly successful control engineers
Highly successful control engineers didn’t become that way by accident. The most successful engineers develop habits that improve results and the recognition of those results.
[ + ]Tweed Shire Council extends SCADA with ethernet radios
When it comes to controlling water and wastewater supply, the Tweed Shire have a lot to cover. Their water supply system comprises 24 water pumping stations, eight treatment plants, 174 wastewater pumping stations and 641 km of water-mains piping.
[ + ]Dewatering job in Africa
A quarrying company based in Zambia, Central Africa, contacted Colin Bracken, Sykes group regional manager, Africa, to provide it with a complete solution to its pit dewatering problems.
[ + ]Protecting pumpsets from rock fall
Sykes Group was recently approached by one of its mining customers to assist in solving an age-old problem - how to avoid damage to pumpsets from rock fallout during blasting.
[ + ]Saving energy using valve
Often the work performed by an air cylinder is only required in one direction. During some operations, air cylinders are retracting or extending with no applied load on the cylinder rod - however, typically, the same pressure for both the extend (working) and retract (idling) operation is used. The use of common pressure for both functions can use an excess of up to 40% compressed air.
[ + ]Compressed air system built for energy savings
Australian carpet manufacturer Godfrey Hirst has optimised its Geelong production facility with an environment-friendly manufacturing solution, founded on a purpose-built compressed-air system from Champion Compressors.
[ + ]Sustainable compressed air energy savings
As business becomes more aware of its carbon impact and finding ways to reduce its carbon footprint, Boge provides details on a tried and tested four-step approach to energy management for compressed air users. Its approach not only benchmarks an existing system but also provides for continual assessment and validation of the compressed air system.
[ + ]Energy savings using compressed air filtration system
Compressed air filtration has been adopted by a precious metals specialist to halve its energy costs.
[ + ]Tools are the key to successful Profibus implementation
When Coopers Brewery relocated from Leabrook to Regency Park in 2001, the company took the opportunity to expand its capacity by commissioning an entirely new brew house. International brew house designers Briggs of Burton proposed linking all measuring points with a Profibus communications system, based on its outstanding success in other brew houses worldwide.
[ + ]The right sensor for every requirement
Increasing automation in mechanical engineering means that the demands on machine safety are also rising. Aspects of process safety, availability and cost-effectiveness must all be reconciled. Safety guards or gates ensure that operating personnel are protected against flying metal swarf or hazardous movements on plant and machinery. Their position can be monitored by a wide range of safety switches available on the market, which take into account not only safety-related aspects but economic considerations too. The switch you use will depend partly on the machine and partly on the safety-related requirements.
[ + ]Wings that waggle "could cut aircraft emissions"
Aircraft wings that redirect air to waggle sideways could reduce airline fuel bills by 20%, according to research in the United Kingdom.
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