Manufacturing excellence
Quality manufacturing is the sum of its thousands of parts, both human and mechanical. The best of both were on display at the Plant Engineering Manufacturing Summit, March 31 and April 1, at the Hotel Sofitel in Chicago.
Quality manufacturing is the sum of its thousands of parts, both human and mechanical. The best of both were on display at the Plant Engineering Manufacturing Summit, March 31 and April 1, at the Hotel Sofitel in Chicago.
The best new manufacturing products from around the world were honored Monday, March 31, at the 20th annual Plant Engineering Product of the Year dinner. At a breakfast on Tuesday, April 1, three manufacturing facilities received the 2007 Top Plant awards.
Built around those two awards events were in-depth discussions on three of the key issues facing manufacturers in the U.S. today: energy and sustainability, data management and workforce development. The two-day event put product managers in the same room with plant managers and industry leaders to discuss some of the key issues facing the plant floor.
One of those leaders was Dr. Bernhard Haas, vice president of manufacturing for Deere and Co., who delivered the keynote address at the Product of the Year dinner. More than 160 people attended the gala dinner.
Gold, silver and bronze trophies were handed out to the products judged as the best new products of 2007 by Plant Engineering readers.
Ramsay Corporation’s Online Testing System was presented with the prestigious Grand Award , having received the single highest reader vote total.
On Tuesday, representatives from the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance, SEW Eurodrive and Spirax Sarco received the 2007 Top Plant award . Those three companies were honored for their commitment to manufacturing excellence, and in particular, their efforts to run fully sustainable, Lean manufacturing plants.
The sessions at the Manufacturing Summit amplified the the issues facing manufacturers today. Representatives from companies including IBM, which was the platinum sponsor of the Manufacturing Summit, discussed software and hardware innovations that help plant managers better gather data to understand how their plant floor is operating.
But these leaders also stressed the importance of acting on data to achieve measurable changes, and to create strategic plans to deliver real change in manufacturing.
The issue of workforce development was also a key topic. Presenters emphasized that an aging workforce requires new strategies to capture the knowledge of older workers, and to create innovative programs to develop the next generation of plant workers.
Manufacturing Summit sponsors included IBM, Schneider Electric, Square D, Ahlborn Equipment, and Molex.
Product of the Year Winners
Category Name | Award | Manufacturer | Product |
GRAND AWARD | Ramsay Corporation | Online Testing System | |
Automation and Control | Gold | Cognex Corp. | Checker 200 Series Inspection Sensors |
Silver | Cooper Bussmann | InVision Downtime Reduction System | |
Silver | Eaton Corp. | HMi Operator Interface | |
Bronze | ProSoft Technology | Ethernet IP Communications Module | |
Compressed Air | Gold | SULLAIR Corp. | SRC Cycling Dryers |
Silver | Hitachi | DSP Single Stage Oil Free Rotary Screw Air Compressor | |
Bronze | Fluid Metrics, LLC | Compressor Oil Purifier | |
Construction, Buildings and Grounds | Gold | JLG Industries | Fork-Mounted Work Platform |
Silver | Cooper Crouse-Hinds | Space Saver EMT Raintight Compression Connector | |
Bronze | DL Manufacturing | Cable Cop | |
Bronze | Ericson Mfg. Company | e-Cart | |
Bronze | UltraTech International | Ultra-Inlet Guard | |
Electric Motors, Drives and Controls | Gold | Woodhead Industries | PROFIBUS USB Adapter |
Silver | Baldor Electric Co. | Brushless Servo MTS | |
Silver | SICK STEGMANN | DFS 60 Incremental Encoder | |
Bronze | Electro Static Technology | SGR Bearing Protection Ring | |
Bronze | Siemens Energy & Automation | H-compact PLUS SH710 Motors | |
Electric Power | Gold | Eaton Corp. | Powerware 9395 UPS |
Silver | Schneider Electric/Square D | PowerPact Electronic Motor Circuit Protectors | |
Bronze | Schneider Electric/Square D | PowerLogic PM750 Power Meter | |
Environment, Safety and Health | Gold | Andax Industries LLC | Spill Preparedness Control Center |
Silver | LPS Laboratories | EVR Clean Air Solvent | |
Bronze | Frommelt Products Corp. | PitMaster Under-Leveler Seal | |
Fluid Handling | Gold | New Pig Corp. | Waste Collection & Pumping Center |
Silver | Wilden Pump | PX 1500 Diaphragm Pump | |
Bronze | ITT Goulds Pumps | X-DUCER Pumping Technology | |
HVAC | Gold | Goodway Technologies | TFC-100 Tower Wash |
Silver | APC | InfraStruXure InRow RP Air Conditioning Unit | |
Bronze | AERCO Intl. | Benchmark 3.0 Low NOx Boiler | |
Instrumentation | Gold | IDEAL Industries Inc. | VoltAware Non-Contact Voltage Tester |
Silver | Purafil | OnGuard 3000 | |
Bronze | IDEAL Industries Inc. | Voltage Performance Monitor | |
Lighting | Gold | Woodhead Industries | 400-Watt High Bay Light |
Silver | Philips | Philips T8 Lamps with ALTO II Technology | |
Bronze | Watt Stopper/Legrand | Wall Switch Occupancy Sensors | |
Maintenance Products | Gold | Inpro/Seal Co | Articulating Air Mizer-PS |
Silver | Neptune Research, Inc. | Trident-Seal | |
Bronze | Hilti, Inc. | RE 500-SD Epoxy Anchor | |
Maintenance Software | Gold | Commtest Inc. | Ascent 2007 Vibration Analysis Software |
Silver | Syclo | Smart Task Tracker | |
Bronze | Yokogawa | FieldMate | |
Maintenance Tools and Equipment | Gold | LUDECA, Inc. | Optalign Smart |
Silver | RIDGID | SeeSnake micro Inspection Camera | |
Bronze | Hawk IR International | Ex CAM AP Pro | |
Bronze | LoggerHead Tools, LLC | Pro-Gear Bionic Wrench | |
Manual Material Handling | Gold | The Raymond Corp. | Model 4200 Lift Truck |
Silver | Eriez | ProSort | |
Silver | New Pig Corp. | PIG Drum Filling Shelf | |
Bronze | Harrington Hoists, Inc. | CX Mini Hand Chain Hoist | |
Material Handling Systems | Gold | Gorbel Inc. | Gforce Q+iQ units |
Silver | Toyota Industrial Equipment | 8-Series lift truck | |
Bronze | Rite-Hite Corporation | FasTrax Door | |
Power Transmission | Gold | Gates Corporation | Poly Chain GT Carbon belt |
Silver | Baldor, Dodge, Reliance | Right Angled Motorized Torque-Arm | |
Bronze | Baldor, Dodge, Reliance | MagnaGear | |
Productivity Software | Gold | GE Fanuc Automation | Proficy HMI/SCADA Cimplicity 7.0 |
Silver | Invensys Process Systems | InFusion Condition Manager | |
Silver | Schneider Electric/Square D | PowerView Power Management Software | |
Bronze | GE Fanuc Automation | Proficy Tracker | |
Training/Education Products | Gold | New Standard Institute | Three Phase AC Motor Training Software |
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