Anna Steingruber
- Associate Editor, Consulting-Specifying Engineer
- Ryan White Training Specialist, AIDS Foundation of Chicago
Georgia
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Articles by Anna Steingruber
Top Plant Engineering articles: June 2025
The top ten most-read articles in June covered topics like electrical safety, integrated PLCs and fall protection. Courtesy: Shermco Industries The top ten most-read articles in June covered topics like electrical safety, integrated PLCs and fall protection. Keep reading for more information on these subjects, and others that engineers are interested in. First published in 1979, NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, has evolved tremendously over the years.
Plant Engineering most read articles: June 2025
Engineers this month read articles about the future of manufacturing, integrated VFDs, OSHA requirements and more. Engineers this month read articles about the future of manufacturing, integrated VFDs, OSHA requirements and more. See Plant Engineering’s best articles from the month of June here to stay up-to-date. Learn about how to shape tomorrow with 2025 manufacturing operations insights from the State of Manufacturing Operations 2025 report.
Top five Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: February 14-20, 2025
Top articles in Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles covered topics including medium-voltage electrical systems, salary survey results and emergency lighting systems. 1. Understand how to size wire and cables in medium-voltage electrical systems Medium-voltage cables need to be sized appropriately per the 2023 NEC to minimize the risk of fire. 2. Salary survey: respondents earned more than ever Respondents to the 2024 salary study were paid better, especially bonuses. 3.
What codes and standards are important in office building design?
Office building insights: Office buildings increasingly adopt flexible layouts, modular designs, and smart technologies to support hybrid work. To ensure long-term adaptability, engineers are prioritizing resilient, future-proof designs with scalable infrastructure. Sustainability and decarbonization are driving the adoption of energy-efficient systems like heat pumps, enhanced filtration and electrification in both new and existing office buildings.
Top five Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: January 24-30, 2025
Top articles in Consulting-Specifying Engineer this week covered topics including office building design, district energy systems and paralleled energy converter systems. 1. Flexibility, sustainability and smart technology in office building design Office building design trends focus on flexibility, sustainability and smart technologies to support hybrid work, decarbonization and future adaptability. 2.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer top five articles: January 17-23, 2025
Top articles in Consulting-Specifying Engineer this week covered topics including emergency lighting, hot water systems and indoor air quality. Top articles in Consulting-Specifying Engineer this week covered topics including emergency lighting, hot water systems and indoor air quality. 1. How to design, coordinate and maintain an emergency lighting system Engineers should know the different types of emergency lighting systems, and best practices for their installation and maintenance. 4.
Top five Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: January 10-16, 2025
Top articles in Consulting-Specifying Engineer this week covered topics including medium-voltage electrical systems, VFDs and the indoor air quality procedure. 1. Understand how to size wire and cables in medium-voltage electrical systems Medium-voltage cables need to be sized appropriately per the 2023 NEC to minimize the risk of fire. 2.
How to ensure reliable motor operation with variable frequency drives
A variable frequency drive (VFD) is the industry’s standard technique for controlling the speed and torques of induction motors. To ensure reliable operation of motors with VFDs, the user must consider various measures and best practices. Learning Objectives Understand the fundamental components and operations of induction motors and VFDs. Recognize the key factors for selecting motors and VFDs. Grasp important factors for VFD and motor installation.
Safety VFDs: the foundation of production line flexibility and reduced cost
Learning Objectives Develop a high-level understanding of variable frequency drive (VFD) operations and architecture. Understand the design advantages of safety VFDs. Grasp the safety features and functional design of a safety VFD. Variable frequency drive insights Certified safety variable frequency drives (VFDs) include features that can be implemented within the design of a production line to improve productivity.
Control Engineering top five articles: January 6-12, 2025
Top articles in Control Engineering this week covered topics including Industry 4.0, new facility spotlights and and system integration. 1. Seven open-source interconnection strategies for empowering Industry 4.0 Industry 4.0 projects can be initiated with interconnection strategies, which allow cost-effective digitization, unlocking optimization and improvement opportunities. Seven strategies are highlighted. 2.
Top five Plant Engineering articles: January 6-12, 2025
Top articles on Plant Engineering this week covered topics including automation culture, predictive maintenance and digital transformation. 1. Ways manufacturers can facilitate a healthier automation culture Automation efforts should start with identifying a need and then identifying the appropriate set of technologies to meet the need. 2. How automation will make a big impact on manufacturing plants Automation is the wave of the future for many manufacturers.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer top five articles: January 3-9, 2024
The most read articles in Consulting-Specifying Engineer this week covered topics including Commissioning Giants winners, medium-voltage electrical systems and NFPA 70. 1. Three new firms enter the Commissioning Giants list this year The Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2024 Commissioning Giants gives a snapshot of the commissioning industry over the past year 2.
Design first: the foundation of electrical safety in industrial facilities | Plant Engineering
Electrical safety insights Electrical safety relies on robust maintenance practices, guided by standards like NFPA 70B, to prevent accidents, ensure reliability and protect both personnel and property. Proactive electrical safety measures, including well-designed maintenance plans and adherence to industry standards, are essential for minimizing risks and maintaining efficient power system operations.
How to accelerate predictive maintenance strategies with advanced analytics
Learning Objectives Understand the difference between reactive (run-to-failure) and proactive (preventive and predictive) maintenance. Learn strategies to efficiently create and verify predictive models. Apply advanced analytics platforms for data aggregation, insight creation and modeling.
Latest plant engineering M&A, October 2024: IBM, HL Robotics, Shermco Industries
Bundy Group, an investment bank and advisory firm that specializes in the automation, industrial technology and plant management sectors, provides an update on mergers and acquisitions (M&A)and capital placement activity, including 16 in its following October 2024 report transactions, including IBM, HL Robotics, Shermco Industries and others.
Top five Plant Engineering articles: November 25-December 1, 2024
Top articles on Plant Engineering this week covered topics including automation trends, maintenance plans and modernizing electrical systems. 1. How demanding automation trends make integration planning essential Automation is revolutionizing testing and manufacturing facilities, but the increased complexity of designing and integrating automated systems can pose significant challenges for manufacturers. 2. Can the right maintenance plan boost air compressor performance?
Control Engineering top five articles: November 25-December 1, 2024 | Control Engineering
Top Control Engineering articles this week covered topics including System Integrator of the Year awards, heuristic tuning and IT/OT network integration. 1. E Tech Group, 2025 System Integrator of the Year: New digital twins E Tech Group wins in the over $50 million in system integration revenue category for the 2025 System Integrator of the Year awards. 2. PID spotlight part 10: Heuristic tuning, deadtime-dominant self-limiting process When a PID controller is behaving badly, do we start over?
Going beyond physical boundaries and embracing 3D modeling
Learning Objectives Understand how 3D modeling can enhance operational efficiency, improve decision-making, and drive innovation in manufacturing processes. Learn about the potential risks and drawbacks associated with not adopting 3D modeling, including misinterpreting costs, facing technical challenges, and missing out on innovative opportunities.
Top five Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles November 15-21, 2024
Top Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles this week covered topics including switchgear, battery energy storage systems and NFPA 70. 1. Three new firms enter the Commissioning Giants list this year The Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2024 Commissioning Giants gives a snapshot of the commissioning industry over the past year 2.
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Top five Plant Engineering articles: November 11-17, 2024
1. How to enhance facility performance through strategic systems integration Systems integration (SI) is evolving as new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), industrial internet of things (IIoT) and automation make a dedicated approach crucial for ensuring efficiency, adaptability and cybersecurity in an increasingly complex landscape. 2.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles: November 11-17, 2024
Top Control Engineering articles this week covered topics including automation platforms, AI in manufacturing and robotic design. 1. Latest updates, features in universal automation platform At the Ignition Community Conference 2024, new functionality in Ignition 8.3, Inductive Automation’s industrial application platform for OT and IT, span applications, historians, and infrastructure with a focus on connectivity, storage, streaming and security. 2.
Top five Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: November 8-14, 2024
Top Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles this week covered topics including electrical safety, battery energy storage systems and NFPA 70. 1. Explore ways to go beyond requirements for electrical safety Design engineers have many opportunities to go above minimum code requirements to decrease risk to facility personnel and electricians working on electrical systems 2.
How to prevent unplanned shutdowns in industrial plants
Learning Objectives Understand key strategies to prevent unplanned shutdowns, including predictive maintenance and application of new technologies. Discover the typical causes of equipment breakdowns and how to handle them using a comprehensive strategy combining remedial and preventive actions. Learn how to encourage a reliability mindset among staff members, the role training and ongoing feedback play in maintaining equipment conditions and the benefits of raising general plant dependability.
Control Engineering hot topics: October 2024
Top Control Engineering articles in the month of October covered topics including SCADA, Modbus documentation and IMTS 2024 coverage 1. Gain critical advice on automation, SCADA from system integrators System integration advice includes automation planning, implementation, automation platform architecture implementation and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software, edge-to-cloud capabilities, cybersecurity and technology selection. 2.
What’s your electrical maintenance plan? Learn how to build one | Plant Engineering
Learning Objectives What is NFPA 70B and what is its purpose in maintaining electrical systems? What are the steps and challenges to creating an electrical maintenance plan? What technologies and other resources are available to make the maintenance process easier? If your manufacturing facility has an electrical maintenance plan, this will help you ensure that you’re meeting the requirements.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles: November 4-10, 2024
Top articles on Control Engineering this week covered topics including manufacturing output, closed-loop tools and Modbus documentation. 1. Global manufacturing output: Stronger growth expected in 2025, beyond Interact Analysis quarterly Manufacturing Industry Output (MIO) Tracker report forecasts growth of 0.6% for 2024, with stronger growth expected in 2025 and beyond. 2.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles: November 4-10, 2024
1. Electrical and power considerations for VFDs and VSDs Variable frequency drives (VFDs) and variable speed drives (VSDs) depend on having the right electrical and power settings and engineers need to know how to utilize them correctly 2. Tips for reducing toxic emissions in industrial plants Reducing toxic emissions in industrial plants is crucial for protecting both the environment and public health 3.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer top five articles: November 1-7, 2024
Top articles on Consulting-Specifying Engineer this week covered topics including battery energy storage systems, operational technology and NFPA 70. 1. Understand the codes, standards for battery energy storage systems Electrical engineers must learn to navigate industry codes and standards while designing battery energy storage systems (BESS) 2.
Three new firms enter the Commissioning Giants list this year
The Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2024 Commissioning Giants provides information on the top 25 firms based on self-reporting for this year’s rankings. Total commissioning revenue for these firms was $913.4 million, an increase from $831.7 million last year. Three new firms entered the list this year: Bernhard, CMTA and Sindoni Consulting & Management Services. Figure 1 shows a complete ranking for 2024, including the three new firms in the top 25.
Top five Control Engineering articles: October 28-November 3, 2024 | Control Engineering
Top Control Engineering articles this week covered topics including heuristic tuning, Modbus documentation and data optimization. 1. PID spotlight, part 9: Heuristic tuning for a self-limiting process When a PID controller is behaving badly, do we start over? What if our open or closed loop tuning method got us almost there? Can we use what we see and a few simple rules to fix PID controller tuning in one or two easy steps? Using heuristic methods for loop tuning may be the answer. 2.
Top five Plant Engineering articles: October 28-November 3, 2024 | Plant Engineering
Top articles on Plant Engineering this week covered topics including electrical maintenance, VFDs in manufacturing facilities and predictive maintenance 1. Know when, how to implement electrical maintenance in power equipment Maintenance of electrical systems is a necessary process that often gets overlooked 2.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: October 24-31,2024
Top Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles this week covered topics including operational technology, NFPA 70 and smart lighting systems. 1. Converged networks for controls and operational technology By better understanding building controls and converged networks, engineers can make smarter IT and OT choices 2.
Plant Engineering top 5: October 21-27, 2024
Top articles on Plant Engineering this week covered topics including switchgear, fluid system maintenance and safety for VFDs. 1. Modernize, monitor and maintain to make aging switchgear safer Breathe new life into old switchgear with modernization and see the benefits of improved reliability and safety 2. Best practices for fluid system maintenance and troubleshooting Keeping valves and other fluid system components in peak working condition helps ensure efficient plant turnarounds 3.
Top 5 Control Engineering content: October 21-27, 2024
Top articles on Control Engineering this week covered topics including closed-loop tuning, Modbus documentation and SCADA system integrators. 1. PID spotlight, part 8: Closed-loop tuning for self-limiting processes Closed-loop tuning can be used to tune a PID loop. How is it done? What data do I collect? What calculations are required? How well will it work? What problems might I run into? See “How to execute a closed-loop test in four steps” and two warnings. 2.
Top five Control Engineering articles: October 14-20, 2024
Top five articles on Control Engineering this week covered topics including Modbus documentation, closed-loop tuning and cobots at IMTS 2024 1. Modbus documentation clarified, 5 reasons to use RS-485 with automation Understand the implementation of Modbus serial communication, and its evolving relevance in a digital world of automation and controls 2. PID spotlight, part 8: Closed-loop tuning for self-limiting processes Closed-loop tuning can be used to tune a PID loop. How is it done?
Top five Control Engineering articles: October 14-20, 2024
Top five articles on Control Engineering this week covered topics including Modbus documentation, closed-loop tuning and cobots at IMTS 2024 1. Modbus documentation clarified, 5 reasons to use RS-485 with automation Understand the implementation of Modbus serial communication, and its evolving relevance in a digital world of automation and controls 2. PID spotlight, part 8: Closed-loop tuning for self-limiting processes Closed-loop tuning can be used to tune a PID loop. How is it done?
Top five Plant Engineering articles: October 8-14, 2024
Top Plant Engineering content this week covered topics including predictive analytics, the value of process piping design and security issues to address. 1. How to anticipate maintenance problems with predictive analytics Process manufacturers are combining retrospective analysis with predictive tools using advanced analytics platforms, empowering them to build models, project failures, determine optimal maintenance schedules and increase uptime. 2. What is the value of process piping design?
Top five Plant Engineering articles: September 30-October 7, 2024
Top Plant Engineering articles covered topics including predictive analytics, power equipment and important safety standards. 1. How to anticipate maintenance problems with predictive analytics Process manufacturers are combining retrospective analysis with predictive tools using advanced analytics platforms, empowering them to build models, project failures, determine optimal maintenance schedules and increase uptime. 2.
Top five Control Engineering articles: September 30-October 7, 2024
Top articles on Control Engineering SCADA, universal control systems and resilient industrial networks. 1. Gain critical advice on automation, SCADA from system integrators System integration advice includes automation planning, implementation, automation platform architecture implementation and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) software, edge-to-cloud capabilities, cybersecurity and technology selection. 2. Time to replace a DCS with a universal control system?
Top five Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: September 27-October 4, 2024 | Consulting - Specifying Engineer
Top Consulting-Specifying Engineer content this week covered topics including the MEP Giants award, AWHP and arc flash safety. 1. The 2024 MEP Giants get a big paycheck this year The 2024 MEP Giants firms increased revenue substantially 2.
Control Engineering hot topics, September 2024
Control Engineering’s top articles this month covered topics including generative AI, closed loop tuning and industrial robot safety considerations. 1. Rising to the Challenge: Engineering Leaders Under 40, Class of 2024 Discover how these 35 engineering professionals are making a significant impact in automation, controls, and beyond. 2.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed HVAC articles 2024
Read the best Consulting-Specifying Engineer HVAC articles from the past year covering topics like fluid technology for data centers, designing AWHP and ASHRAE 90.1 1. Using fluid technology to address cooling limitations in data centers There has been an increased focus on unique cooling solutions for data centers to address the limitations of traditional systems as they house more powerful servers. 2.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles: September 23-30, 2024
Top Plant Engineering articles this week covered arc flash safety, process piping systems, factory security issues and more 1. Electrical safety and arc flash mitigation fundamentals, part 1: Electrical standards overview Webcast presenter Lanny Floyd provides an overview and history lesson on arc flash and electrical safety and some of the standards critical for engineers. 2.
Top 5 Control Engineering articles: September 23-30, 2024
Top articles on Control Engineering this week covered topics including closed-loop tuning, PLC programming and collaborative robots. 1. PID spotlight, part 8: Closed-loop tuning for self-limiting processes Closed-loop tuning can be used to tune a PID loop. How is it done? What data do I collect? What calculations are required? How well will it work? What problems might I run into? See “How to execute a closed-loop test in four steps” and two warnings. 2. Do you know what PLC programming language to use?
Know when, how to implement electrical maintenance in power equipment | Plant Engineering
Maintenance of electrical systems is a necessary process that often gets overlooked Learning Objectives Learn the proper maintenance of an electrical system. Understand the consequences of an improperly maintained electrical system. Know the codes and references to use in future design.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles: September 16-23, 2024
Top Plant Engineering articles this week covered topics including predictive analysis, MES strategies and hydraulic health. 1. How to anticipate maintenance problems with predictive analytics Process manufacturers are combining retrospective analysis with predictive tools using advanced analytics platforms, empowering them to build models, project failures, determine optimal maintenance schedules and increase uptime 2.
Top 5 Control Engineering content: September 16-23, 2024
Top Control Engineering articles this week covered topics including PLC programming languages, Engineering Leaders Under 40 winners and closed loop tuning. 1. Do you know what PLC programming language to use? Next-generation PLC programming tips and benefits are available in this article and from the instructors of a detailed one-hour Sept. 10 webcast, archived for a year. 2.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: September 6-12, 2024 | Consulting - Specifying Engineer
Top Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles this week covered topics including the MEP Giants winners, fire protection standpipes and battery energy storage systems. 1. The 2024 MEP Giants get a big paycheck this year The 2024 MEP Giants firms increased revenue substantially 2. Deciphering the codes for fire protection standpipes There are considerations for the standpipes’ locations, sizes, pressure and flow that all must be addressed before a commercial building can be occupied 3.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles, August 23-29, 2024
Top Consulting-Specifying Engineer stories this week covered topics including heat exchangers, CPVC piping and fluid technology for data centers 1. How to make heat transfer efficient with plate and frame heat exchangers Plate and frame heat transfer is a proven technology that has been around for many decades and continues to be relevant in the heat transfer market and across multiple industries 2.
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