-
Networking: A new form of training for facilities engineers
Denny Hydrick Facilities & Grounds2015 is 75 percent over. Our facilities engineering and maintenance staffs have faced typical, albeit in some cases magnified, situations. But this article is not about weather or global warming or climate change.
-
Report highlights perils facing US manufacturing and distribution
Alan Kelsky ManufacturingChicago-based business services provider McGladrey recently released its annual Manufacturing and Distribution Monitor Report for 2015. The report covers the manufacturing and distribution industry based on information from 1,660 manufacturing and distribution executives across the globe.
-
Plastics advances pushing broad-based electrical device trends
Don Rosato EngineeringThe electrical and electronic (E&E) market ranks as the third-largest plastics end-use market, only exceeded in volume size by packaging and building and construction. Yet the E&E sector uniquely crosses over all of the 20 major plastics markets, namely packaging, building and construction, automotive, electrical and electronics, appliance, medical, consumer products, toy, recreation and leisure, furniture, office products, lawn and garden, marine and boat, aerospace, industrial, agriculture, waste management, government, export, and other and emerging.
-
Academic coaching helps college STEM students with disabilities
Ruth Bomar EducationCollege students with disabilities face a barrier to success. Experts have found that college students with disabilities who are pursuing science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees express their struggle to manage time, complete assignments, maintain focus or shift focus from one task to another, make plans and organize tasks.
-
Staying cool: Clean air versus dirty diesel
Andrew Gaved Distribution & WarehousingThis week another report on diesel emissions — and, no, we're not talking about Volkswagen and their test-defeating software. Thankfully, this report is about the potential for liquid nitrogen and cryogenic processes to supplant traditional diesel-driven transport refrigeration units (TRUs) with a zero-carbon emission alternative.
-
What is the true state of manufacturing in the United States?
Alan Kelsky ManufacturingExperts in manufacturing hold differing opinions about how well the sector is doing since the Great Recession. In fact, the same sources tend to be schizophrenic about the manufacturing sector's progress.
-
6 key tips for buying a new air compressor
Greg Fitzpatrick Facilities & GroundsAs an independent auditor of compressed air systems, I am often asked to recommend a vendor or manufacturer in the selection of air compressors. Since there is no unbiased answer to that question, I would like to share with you some insights that I pass along to my customers.
-
Solar energy expanding plastic application development
Don Rosato EngineeringFinancial incentives, government renewable energy targets and technology cost reductions remain the three forces driving the adoption of solar power. Photovoltaic (PV) energy devices produce electricity that requires little or no maintenance, causes no pollution and does not deplete natural resources. Let's take a look at a few new solar energy plastic application developments.
-
Pressure mounts on UK cooling industry
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingI have written before about the sort of pressures the revised F-Gas regulations are putting on the European cooling industry, as F-Gas requirements start to change the way the industry works. Prime among the pressures is the cost and availability of the higher-GWP refrigerants that the program of proposed refrigerant bans and phasedowns aims to ultimately remove from use. These are pressures that will ultimately be faced by the U.S. as it undergoes its own cap and phase-down program.
-
Oil and gas workforce bears the brunt of falling crude prices
Chris Frevert Natural ResourcesSince January, almost half of oilfield service company owners have seen work volumes decrease by more than 25 percent, and nearly 60 percent are bracing for further reductions, according to a new report. We surveyed of owners and C-level executives of privately-held U.S. companies in August. The results show that over 75 percent of respondents have reduced rates by 10 percent or more, and nearly 60 percent anticipate further rate reductions as the industry attempts to counter falling oil prices.
All Engineering Articles