Industrial Automation

Industrial Automation is the use of control systems and information technologies to reduce the need for human work in the production of goods and services. In the scope of industrialization, automation is a step beyond mechanization. Whereas mechanization provided human operators with machinery to assist them with the muscular requirements of work, automation greatly decreases the need for human sensory and mental requirements as well. Automation plays an increasingly important role in the world economy and in daily experience.

Automation has had a notable impact in a wide range of industries beyond manufacturing (where it began). Once-ubiquitous telephone operators have been replaced largely by automated telephone switchboards and answering machines. Medical processes such as primary screening in electrocardiography or radiography and laboratory analysis of human genes, sera, cells, and tissues are carried out at much greater speed and accuracy by automated systems. Automated teller machines have reduced the need for bank visits to obtain cash and carry out transactions. In general, automation has been responsible for the shift in the world economy from industrial jobs to service jobs in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Engineers now can have numerical control over automated devices. The result has been a rapidly expanding range of applications and human activities. Computer-aided technologies (or CAx) now serve the basis for mathematical and organizational tools used to create complex systems. Notable examples of CAx include Computer-aided design (CAD software) and Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM software). The improved design, analysis, and manufacture of products enabled by CAx have been beneficial for industry.

Information technology, together with industrial machinery and processes, can assist in the design, implementation, and monitoring of control systems. One example of an industrial control system is a programmable logic controller (PLC). PLCs are specialized hardened computers which are frequently used to synchronize the flow of inputs from (physical) sensors and events with the flow of outputs to actuators and events.

Human-machine interfaces (HMI) or computer human interfaces (CHI), formerly known as man-machine interfaces, are usually employed to communicate with PLCs and other computers. Service personnel who monitor and control through HMIs can be called by different names. In industrial process and manufacturing environments, they are called operators or something similar. In boiler houses and central utilities departments they are called stationary engineers.

Different types of automation tools exist:

* ANN - Artificial neural network
* DCS - Distributed Control System
* HMI - Human Machine Interface
* SCADA - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
* PLC - Programmable Logic Controller
* PAC - Programmable automation controller
* Instrumentation
* Motion control
* Robotics.

Advantages
The main advantages of automation are:

* Replacing human operators in tasks that involve hard physical or monotonous work

* Replacing humans in tasks done in dangerous environments (i.e. fire, space, volcanoes, nuclear facilities, underwater, etc.)

* Performing tasks that are beyond human capabilities of size, weight, speed, endurance, etc.

* Economy improvement. Automation may improve in economy of enterprises, society or most of humanity. For example, when an enterprise invests in automation, technology recovers its investment; or when a state or country increases its income due to automation like Germany or Japan in the 20th Century.



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Home Appliance Mould Industry

Home Appliance Mould Industry
“Mould is the foundation of all Products.” reiterated to the media by WU Bingshu, the secretary-general of the China Die & Mould Industry Association. At present, electronics, automotive, electric machine, electrical appliance, instrument, home appliance, communication, military work and other products,60%-80% of the parts, must rely on moulding. With the mold forming the product has shown high accuracy, high complexity, high consistency, high productivity and low consumption, which is the other manufacturing methods can not match. Mould determines the quality of product, efficiency and development capability in a large extent.

Nowadays, China is the world’s largest producer of home appliance, and the production scale continues expending. It brings huge demand of raw materials in home appliance industry. According to the data announced by China Electrical Home Appliance Association, the major home appliance product cost more than 5.7 million tons of steel. The amount of nonferrous metal and engineering plastic is more than 1 million tons individually. So the demand of machine and mould is huge at the same time. For home appliance industry, manufacturing a refrigerator need 150-200 set of mould, an air conditioner need about 50 sets, a washing machine require about 60 sets.
With the upgrading of Chinese home appliance industry, home appliance mould industry also accelerated the pace of technological upgrading. Only with high technology, the home appliance mould producers can make high-tech high-end mould, and win the market, grasp the initiative of the market, enhance the capability of independent innovation. SINO MOULD, a world famous plastic mould manufacturer, supplies various of home appliance mould, such as refrigerator mould, washing machine mould, air conditioner mould, TV mould, microwave mould, rice cooker mould, iron mould, fan mould and so on. It plays an important role in the development of home appliance industry.
(edit by SINO MOULD market02@sinogroupe.com )


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Industrial Strainers

Industrial Strainers are named after their shape & normally used for coarse filtration. But with giant filtration area can be used with fine mesh also. Body of Y tee & conical strainer is normally of forged iron or cast steel in various grades with flanged & socket weld type end connection. Fabricated Y tee type & conical strainers are also accessible. Tee strainer is fabricated from pipes & plates or standard equal tee & flange. Y tee type & conical strainer elements are made of stainless steel perforated sheet or wire mesh supported by perforated sheet. In tee type Industrial Strainers lots of times a structural skeleton made of flats & round bar is used to support the wire mesh. Conical strainer installed in housing is usually used on suction side & named as suction strainers also. Low-pressure drop, compact size, robust design & ease of maintenance are some special features of these types of Industrial Strainers. Basket strainer is manufactured in simplex and duplex type construction with suitable material. Duplex Basket Filter provides ease of cleaning the element without interruption of the routine. six simplex basket strainer connected with a pair of four way ball valve with a common single handle makes a this type of Industrial Strainers. By rotating this common handle flow is diverted from strainer in operation to the standby idle strainer. The clogged filter element can be cleaned and made prepared for next adapt over. Simplex/ Duplex type strainers are available in fabricated and cast construction. Simplex type Industrial Strainers in cast construction are called pot strainers or bucket strainer. Industrial Strainers are manufactured up to diameter of 48 NB size and filtration down up to 5 micron. Low press drop, giant dirt holding capacity, ease & low cost of maintenance are some special features of Glandofilters. Self cleaning strainers are available in some standard models to pick from for different flow rates. They are also designed & fabricated as per requirement. Size manufactured is up to 6 NB & below & filtration achieved is down to 40 micron.


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The Home Industry Comes Home To Fencetech

Home is where the heart is goes an oft quoted maxim that holds true especially now when the home and gardening sector is not just showing significant signs of recovery from the onslaughts of one of the worst economic downturns in the history, but is also charting new areas of growth.

As an industry that rolls the home building, renovation, gardening and the decking sectors, all in one, the home and gardening industry is deemed as one of the most expansive sectors in the world. Quite understandably, this sector had always offered a secure and a steady promise of commercial growth and viability. Sounds period? Well, if we look at the statistics, the per-recession times have seen the home industry at an all time high with more than one-third of the market share while post-recession, the market for home building and renovation sector had plummeted 30 percent from its peak.

Also worth mentioning is the decking and the fencing sector of the home industry that is witnessing a rise in its sales after the financial crunch. Events and trade shows pertaining to the home and gardening sector such as Fencetech come first in pointing out these trends to the industry components.

The decking industry, in particular, also comprises of segments that deal with fencing and railing. As an industry that is in a direct relationship with the fields of home decoration and outdoor and indoor designing as well, it becomes highly imperative for the industry to constantly remain on its toes with innovating new techniques and products to cater to its consumer sectors that have high demands of creativity. This is the reason why, high profile industry events such as Fencetech 2012 play a pivotal role in enabling an exchange of expertise and newly developed trends from across the world.

Another important survey that was conducted has shown that decks giving in contribute to a high percentage of people being killed or badly wounded. This statistics had captured the attention of the decking professionals as well as experts and had thus given rise to the standardization of deck construction safety measures. Rules under these standards require a strict inspection of deck construction and make it a mandate for the industry to follow these guidelines. Top industry events such as Fencetech promote this idea and make sure that the transactions and business deals are held within their territories keeping in mind these rules and regulations.

As the home and gardening industry, particularly the decking and railing sector propel towards a promising future, it is but natural for the related companies and the industry professional to look forward to a brighter future.


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Federal Housing Finance Agency Defends ?Dual Track' Practice in Mortgage Industry

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is set to defend the infamous ‘dual track' practice within the mortgage servicing sector. Acting director Edward DeMarco was quoted as saying that such "simultaneous actions are necessary."

DeMarco added that the dual track practice is a logical move taken by home loan lenders because of the usually long timeframe involved in any typical foreclosure process. He also emphasized that most borrowers do not show responsiveness when dealing with foreclosure alternatives offered by mortgage providers.

DeMarco's prepared testimony for the scheduled Senate Banking Committee hearing on December 1 was leaked to the press. Observers note that the statement would raise more issues and irk the ire not just of legislators, but also of the public.

Government-sponsored Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are set to back DeMarco's stand on the issue.

Officials from the two secondary mortgage financers were also summoned in the Senate hearing to testify on the need to immediately resume foreclosures after numerous complainants filed charges against mortgage lenders like JP Morgan, Bank of America, and others. The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The so-called ‘dual track' move is a practice that enables mortgage servicers to proceed to foreclosure even during the negotiation process between the lenders and borrowers. Through the practice, banks do not wait for the outcome of negotiations for possible loan modification schemes offered to help the struggling borrowers repay their debt so that they could keep their homes.

Mortgage banks unanimously deride the negotiation process as more confusing to buyers. Some of them assert that many borrowers do not pay attention and are not responsive enough whenever there are options provided so that foreclosures could be avoided.

Thousands of consumers who suffered foreclosures filed charges against the mortgage lenders. They accuse the banks of mishandling the foreclosure proceedings that resulted to the homeowners' untimely eviction from their own homes. As a result, most home loans banks decided to temporarily stop their foreclosure processes in September to give way for review and re-assessment of their foreclosure documents and practices.

There are now proposals to establish a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to put up more oversight on general consumer protection across several industries. The foreclosure anomaly is expected to ignite more interest in the proposal.

For additional and other related news and information, check out ForeclosureConnections.com.



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