Articles
Alarm management blunders: avoiding 12 costly mistakes
Ineffective alarm systems pose a serious risk to safety, the environment and plant profitability. Too often, alarm system effectiveness is unknowingly undermined by poorly configured alarms
[ + ]QMan to showcase the latest technology and processes
Queensland-based manufacturing businesses will have an opportunity to see the latest developments in manufacturing technology and at the same time improve their business practices by attending the 2006 Queensland Manufacturing Technology Exhibition
[ + ]Maximising mobility
We have finally arrived at the commoditisation of both RFID readers and tags. The introduction of sub-US$1000 readers this year has halved prices from just 12 months ago, while US$0.15 passive tags in large quantities are not uncommon
[ + ]Gearbox for mixing applications
Innovative gear unit solutions form the backbone of a customised gearbox capable of absorbing the high bending and axial forces that occur in agitator/aerator applications
[ + ]Improving refinery performance
Step testing is a simple and inexpensive tool that every control engineer should utilise. This article is intended to encourage engineers to understand the dynamics of their processes and use this information to improve process control performance
[ + ]Getting connected
Compact connection and sealing technology now being introduced in Australia spells some significant advantages to process plant operators, from oil, gas and petrochemical to minerals processing and more
[ + ]Closed-loop reliability-centred maintenance
"How effective is your maintenance strategy?" is a question often posed to engineers and one which is mostly very difficult to answer with any degree of certainty. It's a critical consideration: the wrong decision can cause costly mistakes
[ + ]Maintaining profitable assets
It is widely acknowledged that effective maintenance strategies and practices have a direct impact on process efficiency and productivity and therefore on bottom line profitability. Yet maintenance is still often seen as a cost, rather than an investment
[ + ]Industrial drives into the future
Industrial drives technology in Australia and New Zealand sits on the threshold of major change as old barriers to progress are broken down by new technologies, spurred on by unstoppable demands of greater workplace safety and efficiency
[ + ]Process control and automation: drivers for the pulp and paper industry
In Australia and many other parts of the world, global competition, mergers and acquisitions and advances in pulping, production and process technology are placing pressure on operating procedures and profit margins in the pulp and paper industry
[ + ]Machine vision appliances
A new breed of vision system has arrived - Vision Appliances. Powerful and compact, yet friendly, cost effective and easy-to-use, they have been designed for production personnel who are busy looking after their day to day production processes
[ + ]Premium control for new winery
In many ways, the art of winemaking has changed little over the centuries. Escalating consumer demand means that some wines are now produced by the tank-load. To keep up, winemakers are turning to technology to streamline the process
[ + ]Is Linux the best EOS?
Although embedded systems come in many shapes and sizes, we can divide all systems into three main categories: Linux, Windows CE, and customised or proprietary systems. This article looks at the advantages of Linux as an embedded operating system (EOS)
[ + ]Calculating ROI for automation projects
Approval for your next automation project depends not just on its technical merits, it also has to pay for itself. There is a range of financial criteria to consider once you have put the finishing touches on the engineering part of your proposal
[ + ]The reality of real-time ethernet
'Seamless connectivity' is undoubtedly one of the catch-cries of the Australian automation industry today. It brings to mind 'integrated communications', 'real-time data', 'e-manufacturing' and 'internet-enabled control'
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