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Articles by Jim Oko
Robots help streamline warehouse operations
By Mark T. Hoske April 16, 2021 Learning Objectives AI-enabled robots help warehouse operations. Lower risk, faster, more flexible warehousing is possible with AI-enabled robotics. Warehouse robotics can create a more appealing, efficient work environment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, resilience helps keep businesses going and even growing.
Tackle obsolescence with additive manufacturing Original
Obsolescence is an unavoidable part of any manufacturing environment. However, it’s concerning that so many companies admit they do not know when vital equipment requires replacing, or when they do, they scramble to find replacements. The latest developments in additive manufacturing could provide an answer to the obsolescence problems. Additive manufacturing is a transformative approach to industrial production that enables the creation of components using a variety of 3D-printing techniques.
Five ways to improve food manufacturing flexibility
Flexibility in food manufacturing has never been more important: new generations of consumers are craving more variety, the internet is reshaping how food is packaged and purchased and a global pandemic just reminded us all of how crucial (and fragile) the supply chain can be. With some speculating history could (at least somewhat) repeat itself for another post-pandemic “Roaring Twenties,” how can food and beverage companies prepare for sustainable success in the decade ahead?
Seven shortcomings of commodity casters
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But if it is broke, don’t keep replacing it with the same inferior part. That logic applies to “commodity casters,” the wheel systems on the undersides of the material handling carts and platform trucks plant floor associates use every day. Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) cart manufacturers often specify inferior-quality casters and wheels that aren’t built to last so they can keep purchasing costs down for end users.
How a moving 3D printing platform cuts waste, costs
3D printing has the potential to revolutionize product design and manufacturing in a vast range of fields – from custom components for consumer products, to 3D printed dental products and bone and medical implants that could save lives. However, the process also creates a large amount of expensive and unsustainable waste and takes a long time. This makes 3D printing implementation difficult.
Industrial robotics help automate toner cartridge manufacturing process
In an industrial context, the word automation is often, inaccurately, used to mean only industrial robotics. In fact, it refers to everything from inverter driven conveyor systems to advanced manufacturing software. Here, in its truest sense, it means automatically controlling a process without human intervention. One example is Ricoh’s investment in industrial robotics at its manufacturing arm, Ricoh UK Products Ltd in Telford, UK., which improved profitability and increased efficiency.
Grant given to design ultrahigh temperature tolerant alloys
An essential component of engines used in aircraft and power generation is a gas turbine. The efficiency of these machines can be significantly amplified if they are made of materials that can endure harsh environments, such as high temperatures. These high-performance, futuristic turbines will have the potential to benefit not just the aviation and power industry, but also consumers by reducing their energy costs.
Method finds hidden warning signals in collected measurements
MIT researchers have developed a deep learning-based algorithm to detect anomalies in time series data. Courtesy: MIT News When you’re responsible for a multimillion-dollar satellite hurtling through space at thousands of miles per hour, you want to be sure it’s running smoothly. And time series can help. A time series is simply a record of a measurement taken repeatedly over time. It can keep track of a system’s long-term trends and short-term blips.
Lithium batteries developed to survive extreme cold temperatures
Tadiran lithium batteries survive extreme cold temperatures to continuously monitor the transport of the COVID-19 vaccine. Courtesy: Tadiran Batteries Tadiran has developed bobbin-type lithium thionyl chloride (LiSOCl2) batteries that have been specially modified for use in the cold chain, enabling wireless sensors to continuously monitor the transport of foods, medicines, vaccines, and tissue specimens that are frozen or packed in dry ice.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 14-20, 2020
Courtesy: Swagelok (Note: Photos featuring associates without masks were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.) The top 5 most read articles online, from December 14-20, 2020, for Plant Engineering covered the 2020 Top Plant, Product of the Year finalists, testing and maintenance programs, maintenance automation and digital twins. Links to each article below. 1.
Keeping Cyclospora at bay in a food processing plant
Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) linked contaminated salad kits to a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora that infected more than 700 people. In 2019, the culprit was contaminated fresh basil, triggering a recall by the exporting company. How do outbreaks like this happen?
Case study: Commissioning a solar power plant
The 340 MW photovoltaic independent power plant (IPP) project is the first utility-scale renewable energy project to be developed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) under the landmark national renewable energy program. The solar farm is expected to generate enough clean energy to power 75,000 households with green power, while offsetting more than 430,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Ready-to-Eat Food Manufacturing: 5 Recommendations for Future Growth
The demand for healthy and convenient ready-to-eat (RTE) food is on the rise. Already the largest segment in the overall conventional and non-conventional food industry, the RTE food market is forecasted to grow at a 21.8-percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2018 and 2023. Many consumers today want foods that are both convenient and healthy, foods that require little to no preparation and that are natural, organic, non-GMO and more.
X-Ray And Metal Detection Technology: Get The Most From Your System
Major food recalls are a reminder of how critical detection technology is for a food facility — and lately, it seems we’re being reminded far too often. There are a lot of variables when it comes to X-ray and metal detection systems: What should you buy? How much protection is enough? How do you maximize performance? Let’s start by understanding the difference between X-ray and metal detection technology.
6 Food Safety Areas to Examine During Operational Facility Improvements
Many food plants operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in some capacity. Without proper planning, quality control, good manufacturing practices (GMP) and sanitation procedures, an around-the-clock operation is a high-risk candidate for food safety dangers. In this type of environment, how are essential retrofits and renovations accomplished without compromising daily operations, food safety and personnel safety?
Can Compressed Air Systems be a Source of Contamination?
Did you know that compressed air systems can be a source of contamination in your food plant? Dangerous bacteria and pathogens can be difficult to spot in your facility — especially if they are airborne. It’s a common misperception that compressed air is considered as clean as the air from the outdoor environment that surrounds your facility — NOT true.
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