Ever since the passing of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the pipeline industry has added thousands of miles of natural gas, crude oil and carbon dioxide pipelines to the national network. And while the law provided $1 billion in grants for new natural gas distribution lines, it did not add money to the PHMSA’s pipeline safety program. This would seem contrary to the industry's needs, given the escalation of spills, environmental concerns and criminal activities surrounding these projects. To get further insight on the issues and challenges surrounding pipeline expansion and safety, I ..read more

Processors in a wide range of industries rely on tubular drag cable conveyors to move sensitive materials and powders; therefore, it is important to properly design, install and proactively maintain these systems to minimize production downtime and maximize longevity.  In today’s fast-paced processing environment, it is a standard practice to run conveyors until something breaks or needs to be repaired, which can lead to significant unnecessary downtime.  “Processors traditionally have relied on third parties such as local millwrights to install and maintain conveyors. These third pa ..read more

A global manufacturer of recyclable beverage cans has named Fluid Components International (FCI; San Marcos, CA) as a preferred supplier and standardized on the FCI Models ST75AV and ST51A Thermal Mass Flow Meters and Vortab Model VIP Flow Conditioners for the measurement of natural gas in its processes. This is because of their long service life, measurement accuracy and calibration in natural gas under real-world plant floor flow, temperature and pressure conditions. An engineer at this manufacturer’s plant found that the other flow meters that were installed some years ago to measure natura ..read more

Various industries including wastewater treatment, power generation, food processing and chemical manufacturing depend on industrial strainers to separate unwanted suspended solids from liquids and slurries. However, conventional strainer methods can prove to be unreliable and lead to extensive maintenance, particularly in cases where the debris or solids are of substantial size and there is a significant amount of suspended solids present. Fortunately, the utilization of a novel blend of industrial wastewater technologies now allows for the efficient removal of solids without the need for ext ..read more

Continuing with our series of industrial cybersecurity projections and prognostications, here's the third installment of industry experts weighing in on what to expect in 2024. Also, feel free to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of the series. Chad Loeven, Vice President of Business Development - Axio: QR code phishing (also known as, ‘quishing’) attacks will not remain a relevant attack vector in 2024. Rather, quishing is just the latest iteration of our cat and mouse game with the phishers. As most vendors are building in analysis and detections for this type of attack, quishing has likely ..read more

The Travelers Companies, a leading provider of property casualty insurance, recently updated their 2023 Travelers Risk Index, and the findings help demonstrate some of the ongoing cybersecurity challenges facing the manufacturing sector. The index found that 25 percent of manufacturing companies admitted to having been the victim of a data breach or cyber event. However, despite the ongoing risk, cyber threats did not rank as a top five concern, with only 56 percent of respondents reporting that they worry a great deal, or some, about these risks. Additionally, 65 percent o ..read more

In food, pulp and paper, pharmaceutical and chemical plants, processors often operate around the clock to produce chemicals, paints, resins, lubricants, ingredients and other raw materials. To manufacture these products, high-speed, high cycle actuators open, close or throttle valves to regulate, direct or control the flow of gases, liquids, fluidized solids or slurries. Regrettably, many processors today have become accustomed to the idea that high cycle actuators have a short lifespan and necessitate regular maintenance to replace parts prone to wear, such as O-Rings, springs, cylinders and ..read more

Although it seems that almost every electronic device on the market is either Ethernet or Wi-Fi capable, there are plenty of commercial and industrial components that continue to use long-established serial RS232/RS485 communications, sometimes exclusively. Some may have a perception that serial comms are “old tech,” but in reality they are straightforward, inexpensive, and more than sufficient for a wide range of applications (Figure 1). Figure 1: The AutomationDirect ProductivityOpen platform, with expandable Ethernet, serial, and I/O modules, is a flexible way for users to apply open-source ..read more

Almost every industry has a powdered version of products or ingredients that will require transport throughout a production facility for further processing. Within the food processing industry, this encompasses a range of products including powdered sugar, flour, coffee, cocoa, food additives, protein concentrates and isolates.  However, there can be challenges in conveying these types of ingredients if the powder is sticky, hygroscopic or tends to cake or pack. Powdered food products and ingredients can also present significant health and safety hazards when they become airborne and are ..read more

In the quest for supply chain optimization, innovation emerges as a game-changer. It is all about leveraging modern technologies to make the supply chain more efficient, resilient and sustainable. The integration of supply chain services is one such innovation, shifting the perspective from a tactical view to a strategy-led vision of a more interconnected world. This involves the strategic use of technology to enhance interoperability and streamline operations and by integrating more stakeholders into the planning process to develop holistic and feasible strategies. Adrian Wood Director of Str ..read more