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Heating industry turns up the temperature on PLC cybersecurity
Joseph Zulick Science & TechnologyHow important is cybersecurity for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in today's industrial settings? Merely a matter of national security. Consider this: in 2016, the NATO nations officially recognized cyberspace as a domain of warfare. In geopolitical terms, a cyberattack is now as actionable as a naval attack. Within industrial and commercial settings, cyber malice is a frequently seen as a leading threat, and likely a permanent one. As first brought to global attention by the Stuxnet attack in 2010, PLCs are a tempting target for malice.
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New plastics and composites impact design, engineering across the world…
Bill Becken EngineeringThe productive versatility of modern manufacturing is evolving quickly — whether it comes to new processes or innovative plastics and composite materials. Of course, modern plastics and plastic-reinforced composites go back several decades in manufacturing. But, at least compared to legacy materials such as titanium, iron, steel and aluminum, these materials are still coming of age. Design and manufacturing engineers are only just now getting to know their latest iterations’ utility and the scope of their potential and promise.
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We have good EU F-Gas regulations, now we need good regulating
Andrew Gaved Civil & GovernmentAt RAC’s recent Cooling Industry Awards, I ended my speech on a bit of a call to arms. The gist of it is that we as an industry deserve the respect of having our F-Gas regulations properly enforced. I am sure you don’t need me to remind you, as I seem to have been writing about it for months, that the EU’s F-Gas regulatory regime has proved quite a tough prospect for the industry, with its combination of HFC phasedown and bans intended to drive the market towards lower-GWP options at quite a pace.
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Beyond prototyping: Scaling up to additive manufacturing for production
Charlie Wood ManufacturingMost are well-acquainted with additive manufacturing (AM) — as a rapid prototyping tool, at least. And while many companies believe and perpetuate the myth that AM is only a prototyping tool, innovators in a range of markets (e.g., aerospace, healthcare, consumer goods and more) are already using AM for production-grade manufacturing when design, performance and cost factors align. This article will help organizations considering switching to additive manufacturing for a part or product.
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Plastics, bioplastics augment and replace metal parts in farming machinery
Bill Becken EngineeringQuietly and without much fanfare, plastics and bioplastics are finding their way into the production of agricultural equipment, such as tractors, combines, plows and balers. Over the past decade, major manufacturers such as John Deere and International Harvester have transitioned both cosmetic and functional components from sheet metal to plastics and bioplastics, with very good results. Manufacturers have discovered a nifty truth, especially regarding bioplastics: They more than cut the mustard.
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Designing human-machine interfaces for mobile devices
Joseph Zulick Science & TechnologyWell-designed human-machine interfaces (HMI) reduce operator error, saving companies millions of dollars by reducing down-time and increasing worker safety. HTML5 programming enables the transfer of HMI designs to mobile devices, but programming is just the enabler. Let's learn some best practices for HMI design elements that are specific to mobile devices due to size and interface considerations.
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Dutch nonprofit installs potential solution to Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalAre you growing tired from all the debates going on about increased air pollution due to relaxed environmental regulations? If so, you can always turn your attention to ocean pollution for a change of pace. One notorious accumulation of floating trash can be found in the Pacific Ocean; The Great Pacific Patch is twice the size of the entire state of Texas, and it remains a great concern for many searching for solutions to the ocean plastics problem. Plenty of people have proposed solutions, and now a Dutch nonprofit has stepped forward to offer the most comprehensive cleanup yet.
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IoT implementation sails into wind power
Joseph Zulick EngineeringA wind energy structure in the North Sea lost its main turbine housing earlier this year, prompting engineers to determine that all 206 units of this size in the sea might need to be examined and refitted. The North Sea is the most violent wind and current area to have giant turbine farms in trouble like this, but other regions are having maintenance problems as well. The role of predictive maintenance in design engineering for these giant pieces of infrastructure jumps up the importance ladder every time a customer adds megawatts to the overall scheme.
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Can bioplastics help solve the world’s plastic disposal problem?
Bill Becken EngineeringThe world’s conventional polymers, derived from petroleum feedstocks, have outstanding benefits, such as durability, convenience and low costs. But they are largely unsustainable. It has become a consensus: Plastics are having a materially distressing, foreboding impact on the environment. Sustainable polymers (aka bioplastics) address those shortcomings while trying to maintain conventional polymers’ incredible, undeniable virtues. To have newer, sustainable plastics match those traits, at the same cost, will be a tall order. But maybe, just maybe, it can be done.
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How the Internet of Things is expected to influence engineering and manufacturing
Joseph Zulick ManufacturingThe Internet of Things is creating a 3-D map of your workplace, and it knows you have been taking too many coffee breaks. Every 15 minutes? Seriously, stop. In this connected map, devices, machines and business processes are linked. The potential of sensors embedded in new and legacy production equipment to deliver actionable indicators to decision-makers is at the heart of the fourth industrial revolution. Engineers and designers today are now challenged with a new task: how to perceive value and communicate the benefits of tech adoption for consumers and companies alike.
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