POST CATEGORY : Industrial

Dianoush Emami: Engineering Oversight in Gas and Steam Turbine Safety

Steam turbine safety

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

Key Takeaways

  • Gas and steam turbines operate under extreme heat, pressure, and rotational speed, requiring strict safety oversight.
  • Gas turbines offer rapid response, while steam turbines provide higher efficiency and steady output.
  • Combined-cycle plants maximize efficiency by integrating gas and steam turbine technologies.
  • Non-destructive testing methods are essential for detecting turbine blade defects before failures occur.
  • Modern turbine safety relies on sensors, monitoring systems, and emergency shutdown mechanisms.
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3 Unique Business Insights from the Scrap Metal Recycling Industry

Scrap metal recycling

Key Takeaways

  • Highly fragmented markets can still be profitable with strong differentiation and operational excellence.
  • Specializing in high-value segments can unlock growth even in mature, commoditized industries.
  • Scrap recyclers compete on speed, service, logistics, and transparency rather than brand alone.
  • High-volume operations become strategic advantages when supported by efficient systems and processes.
  • The recycling industry offers transferable lessons for many other competitive and operationally complex sectors.
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Daniel Selby: Baseload Generation and Continuous Power on the US Grid

baseload generation

Key Takeaways

  • Baseload power provides the continuous electricity required to support essential services and infrastructure.
  • Nuclear and hydroelectric plants remain the most reliable long-duration baseload resources in the US.
  • Grid reliability depends on a layered mix of baseload, dispatchable, and flexible generation assets.
  • Regional differences shape how baseload power is managed across US electricity markets.
  • Long development timelines make proactive baseload planning critical for future grid stability.
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Martin J. Milita: New Jersey Legislative Response to Hydraulic Fracturing

Fracking

Key Takeaways

  • New Jersey lawmakers have taken a long-term, precautionary approach toward hydraulic fracturing.
  • Environmental and public health risks played a central role in shaping state policy decisions.
  • Neighboring states’ experiences influenced New Jersey’s legislative response.
  • Initial vetoes and temporary measures eventually led to a permanent statewide ban.
  • The ban reflects bipartisan support and remains in effect today.
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Unlocking Efficiency: The Role of Structured Cabling in Modern Manufacturing Facilities

Smart manufacturing cabling

Key Takeaways

  • Structured cabling forms the backbone of smart manufacturing by enabling seamless data and system integration.
  • It enhances communication reliability, supports real-time data transfer, and ensures operational continuity.
  • Advanced cabling systems improve organization, safety, and scalability on the manufacturing floor.
  • Scalable structured cabling future-proofs facilities to handle new technologies and growing data demands.
  • Investing in robust cabling infrastructure boosts manufacturing efficiency, innovation, and long-term adaptability.
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From Manual to Automated: The 5-Step Plan to Drastically Reduce CMM Inspection Time

Coordinate-measuring machine - CMM

photo credit: Vulture19 / Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0

Key Takeaways

  • CMMs are critical for quality control but often act as a bottleneck, slowing down production throughput.
  • The goal is not to replace the CMM but to reduce routine reliance by shifting inspections to the CNC machine tool.
  • On-machine probing enables accurate, in-process inspection, eliminating delays from part transfers and rework.
  • Automated alignment systems like NC-PartLocator ensure perfect part positioning without manual setup or complex fixtures.
  • Real-time inspection data helps adjust tool offsets and prevent scrap before it happens, maintaining tight tolerances.
  • By freeing up routine checks, the CMM can focus on final acceptance, calibration, audits, and RandD tasks.
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How ArmorThane Is Driving Scientific Progress in the Polyurea Industry

When a protective coating succeeds in the field, it rarely draws attention. Contractors finish the job, owners appreciate the durability, and no one stops to ask how the chemistry behind that material was developed. But in the case of ArmorThane, the science that underpins its coatings is more than an afterthought—it’s the engine of progress. As the polyurea industry grows, ArmorThane has taken on the responsibility of leading with formulation research, practical field testing, and product development guided by measurable data rather than marketing trends.

Applying polyurea coating

The company’s work as a polyurea manufacturer gives it a front-row seat to both the limitations of existing technologies and the potential for future breakthroughs.…

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5 Types of Purlins: What Are Their Pros and Cons?

Purlins play a critical role In the world of construction, especially when it comes to steel structures and roofing systems. In a nutshell, these horizontal structural members run across the roof and wall frame, which helps support loads from the roof deck or sheeting.

Purlins

Fair enough, something like a metal purlin might not be considered to be the most glamorous element of a building’s infrastructure, but make no mistake, purlins are absolutely essential for structural integrity and long-term performance.

A good starting point would be to understand that not all purlins are created equal. Which one you use is highly dependent on the nature of your project.…

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5 Advantages of Outsourcing Metal Fabrication Tasks

Outsourcing has a lot of upsides that should never be ignored. For fabrication tasks, startups are not the only companies that will gain a benefit. To gain a leg up over the competition, outsourcing should be done sooner rather than later.

Welding robots in metal fabrication

image credit: Phasmatisnox / Flickr. CC by 3.0

1. Money

Getting high quality welding work for a great price is not an easy task. For companies that want to keep it in-house, they have to source the parts, find the talent and in some cases train that talent. It’s a long process that has multiple fail points before reaching the goal.…

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Why You Must Always Hire a Licensed Electrician for Electrical Tasks

When you need electrical work done in your building, it’s crucial to only hire a licensed electrician to get the job done. DIY electrical jobs are always a bad idea, even when you think it’s just an easy fix. Most of the time, DIY electricians fall short of enough knowledge to work to code and ensure your safety.

Licensed electrician

Whether you need to install an appliance that requires its own breaker, or you need to hardwire something into an existing circuit, the only person who should be touching your electrical components is a licensed and insured electrician.

Here’s why.

Poor installations can cause major problems

Anything electrical that gets installed wrong can cause major problems in the short-term or long-term.…

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