Honeywell to Purchase Maxon Corp.
Minneapolis, Minn.-based Honeywell has agreed to acquire Maxon Corp. , a privately held industrial combustion controls business based in Muncie, Ind. Maxon manufactures a range of combustion burners, gas valves and engineered systems that provide industrial businesses with energy and environmentally efficient process heating solutions.

Maxon, which had sales of approximately $100 million in 2007, will become part of Honeywell’s Environmental and Combustion Controls business. The business is expected to provide Honeywell with broader penetration in process heating applications, particularly in petrochemicals, power generation, biofuels and metals segments.

60 Years for Process Heating Co.
After manufacturing 7,300 heaters, Process Heating Co., Seattle, has reached its 60th anniversary. Those heaters — immersion, hot-oil, preheaters and patented Patch King asphalt heating systems — represent approximately 450,000' of heating element, or more than 85 miles.

The company, founded by Ed and Jackie Jay in 1947 with partner Rudy Heintz, remains in its original building, which has been expanded to accommodate growth. The first product was a system that used electric heat to heat large tanks of liquids such as asphalt, emulsions and molasses used in cattle feed lots.

The Jays retired 17 years ago, leaving sons Rick and Ron to run the company. They have introduced new products such as preheaters and support equipment, pumps, hot oil systems and circulating systems.

"It’s been most exciting to see the dreams of our father and mother come true these past 17 years, in becoming a true leader in the field of alternative heat that is both clean and virtually maintenance free," said Rick Jay, president.

In addition to the miles of heating element incorporated into their heaters, Process Heating Co.’s products have used 1,020 miles of wire.

Getting the Most From Your Coil
When searching for a new heat exchanger, consider a custom-designed coil. The following tips will help you determine if a custom-designed unit will benefit your process.

Selecting Process Heaters
Although many different heater designs are available, not all will be suitable for your specific process. Study your application and look at a number of factors before deciding on a specific design.

Troubleshooting Dryers
The fantasy: Product quality is maintained and, other than routine preventive maintenance, the machine never stops. The reality can be far different.

Choosing a Temperature Transmitter
While there are many practical and economic advantages to using temperature transmitters, the most basic are to ensure measurement integrity and to convert a temperature sensor’s low-level (ohm or millivolt) signal to a standard 4 to 20 mA current signal that can be readily accepted by a monitoring and control system.

Bigger Isn't Necessarily Better
Maybe it’s the Fireplace Mentality. Not warm enough? Make the fire bigger. That’s fine for relatively low temperature processes, but when you get to extremely high temperatures, you need a hotter flame.

Temperature Sensor
Providing the benefits of noncontact infrared measurements, the Rayomatic 6 is a suitable replacement for Type J and type thermocouples. Features of the mini infrared temperature sensor include compact dimensions of 0.7 by 5"; temperature measurements to 932°F (500°C); accuracy of up to ±2 percent of reading; response time of 300 ms; and a 6:1 distance-to-spot ratio.

E Instruments Group LLC
(215) 750-1212

Infrared Thermometer
Model IR4 dual-function device with laser supports Type K thermocouple probes. The unit has a temperature range of -76 to 1,400°F (-60 to 760°C). The selectable measure modes include maximum, minimum, difference (max-min), average and lock for continuous operation. The infrared thermometer has a 20:1 distance-to-spot size, selectable temperature units (°F/
°C), large amber backlit LCD display, programmable high- and low-temperature alarms with audible beeper, and automatic power off after 1 min.

Dwyer Instruments Inc.
(800) 872-9141

Plastic Seal Gauge
Series PLG combines a plastic diaphragm seal with an industrial pressure gauge, creating an isolated pressure-sensing solution. The plastic seal gauge is supplied as a mounted and filled unit ready for installation. The plastic diaphragm seal is suited for chlorine service and other corrosive environments. Applications include piping systems, chemical plants and plating baths. The diaphragm seal housing is available in PVC, polypropylene or Kynar.

Reotemp Instruments
(800) 648-7737

Burners for Watertube Boilers
Pro-Fire offers up to 10:1 turndown on natural gas as well as the option for sub-30 ppm operation throughout the firing range, according to the manufacturer. The burners are available in four sizes from 1.5 to 11 million BTU and are suitable for use with watertube boilers in industrial applications. The burners deliver emission levels of less than 30 ppm NO_X.

Cleaver-Brooks
(414) 359-0600

Switching Power Supply
The 480 W, three-phase switching power supply is offered in 24 and 48 VDC output voltages, as well as universal input voltages of 340 to 575 VAC and 480 to 820 VDC. It includes power factor and parallel functions. The DIN-rail-mount power supply has features such as short-circuit, overvoltage and overload protection; "power OK" and "low output voltage" diagnostic LEDs; and a relay output for a power-ready signal.

Carlo Gavazzi
(847) 465-6100

Solid-State Relays
Series GN3 offer a Level-3-compliant design and built-in transient protection to provide an additional level of reliability in harsh environments. The three-phase and motor-reversing solid-state relays also safe to use in applications that switch multiple outputs with a single control signal. The devices are available with ratings up to 50 A per phase at 600 VAC, with either DC, AC or low-voltage AC input.

Crouzet, An Operation of Custom Sensors & Technologies
(619) 210-1556