The importance of steam in manufacturing dates back to the dawn of the industrial revolution in the 18th century. While its use in transportation has declined, its use in other industries has grown, broadening the range of applications. 

Plant managers seeking to achieve across-the-board improvements in their process operations should look no further than their fired assets.

Andreas Kratzer, Ph.D., was named president and CEO of Bühler Aeroglide, Cary, N.C. Kratzer previously served as managing director for the Bühler AG, Pasta and Noodles Business Unit in Uzwil, Switzerland. Bühler Aeroglide manufactures dryers, ovens, roasters, toasters and hot air expansion systems for the food, feed and industrial product markets.

Over the next decade, the manufacturing sector is expected to produce up to 3.5 million highly skilled, technology-based jobs. Concurrently, nearly 2.5 million workers will retire by 2025. The trends will combine to create up to 2 million positions unfilled and a skills shortage. To address these shortfalls, Rockwell Automation and ManpowerGroup have teamed up to offer 12-week Academy of Advanced Manufacturing (AAM) programs.

A new high pressure test rig will allow Endress+Hauser to test complete instrument assemblies to customer specifications.

Germany’s SensoTech opened a subsidiary in Shanghai under the name SensoTech (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.

ControlWorks enables users to monitor the operation of blenders, loaders, dryers, heat-transfer units and other equipment from one PC interface.

Process manufacturing plants have a tendency to keep automation systems and associated networks up and running for decades.

Oven and furnace controls have progressed rapidly in the last five years in an effort to provide tighter temperature uniformity, enhanced data-acquisition and storage capability, scalable architecture, improvements in the user interface and communication, and data security.

With an expected annual output of 10 million tons, one of the largest refineries in southwestern China will use plant automation and control systems from Yokogawa China.