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Welcome to the PEM E-Newsletter!

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will hold its fifth annual Canadian conference on June 1-3, 2006 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa. If you haven’t done so already, I urge you to register for the event.

I attended the PTDA’s Canadian conference in Montreal and Calgary. I enjoyed meeting delegates and playing golf. This year, I hope to have a better score on the links. Attending the conference also gave me the opportunity to learn more about the PT industry and emerging trends.

If you will be in Ottawa this week, I look forward to talking with you.

Cheers,

Robert Robertson, PEM Editor
PEMAC Allied Member
rrobertson@clbmedia.ca

www.pem-mag.com

SEARCHING FOR NEW PRODUCTS?

GO TO CLB CARD PACKS!

PEM readers can now go to http://cardpack.clbmedia.ca and search for the latest products from manufacturers, which serve the needs of the plant engineering and maintenance marketplace.

The cards are organized by product type. When you click on the card, you are then connected to the company Web site. You can also request information or print out the card for further use.

In the current issue of PEM:

PEM April issue

Women in Maintenance
Brains not brawn on the shop floor

Right Way
Consolidate lubricants to reduce costs

Chain Gang
Take closer look at lubrication-free chain

Shake, Rattle or Roll?
How to choose the right caster for the job

Parliament Hill
PTDA to hold Canadian conference in Ottawa

Letters to the Editor

PEM April issue reader opinion

I have always enjoyed reading PEM, but the April 2006 issue cover line surprised, offended and disappointed me. The headline in question is "Women in Maintenance: Brains not brawn on the shop floor."

From a male perspective, the headline belittles men by implying that brains didn't exist on the shop floor until women started working in maintenance roles, or that men either don't possess, or prefer to not apply, brain abilities on the shop floor. From a female perspective, the headline says that women are physically weaker and perhaps need to use more brainpower to make up for their physical handicap.

The headline therefore offends both genders. A more proper headline would emphasize the different work perspective and skills set that different genders can bring to the shop floor, rather than on their intelligence or physical attributes. Please note that I used the word "can" because even members of either gender can possess work perspective and skills sets, which are generally considered predominant with one gender. So, nothing is absolute.

Peter Shum, plant engineer

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I'm a first-class stationary engineer and the chief engineer of a central heating and cooling plant, which services the 1,000,000 square-foot office Place de Ville complex in downtown Ottawa. I'm also finishing up a career, which began in 1978, when I started out as a lowly fourth-class engineer at a major hospital complex, after graduating from Cambrian College in Sudbury, ON.

When I had the courage to embark on this trade, I soon found myself in the most satisfying, fulfilling job that I could ever have hoped to fill. In my first job, I was known as the "grease monkey," simply because I would perform any task requested--dirty or not. The experience and the knowledge allowed me to progress to my present level.

Many women possess the strengths and aptitudes required to work in a mechanical environment and usually attributed to our male counterparts. In addition, we have our own gender-related strengths, which enhance the hands-on physical aspect of this type of work.

I'm part of an 18-person crew that consists of stationary engineers, electricians, instrument technician, millwright, high-pressure welder, maintenance mechanics, building maintenance mechanics, student engineers and a systems support specialist (computerized programming). The crew operates and maintains the Place de Ville complex.

In addition, as the "chief," I liaise with various other contracted trades, such painters, architectural people, masons, carpenters, environmental specialists, safety trainers, refrigeration technicians, designers, mechanical engineers and electrical engineers. The list is lengthy.

I'm soon going to retire. In my career, I have enjoyed financial and personal gains far beyond my expectations. This is partially due to a changing attitude towards women as valuable assets in the workforce.

Colleen Carty, chief engineer

PEM 2006 Maintenance Awards
official sponsor:
Petro-Canada Lubricants

PEM 2006 Maintenance Awards!

Dofasco Inc. and City of Toronto (Toronto Water) were winners of the PEM 2005 Maintenance Awards. Now, it's your turn to stand in the spotlight! We're calling for PEM 2006 Maintenance Award submissions. Here are general guidelines for the awards:

Best maintenance team

How big is your maintenance department? Tell us about your operating structure.
Why is your maintenance team better than the rest (i.e. quality, innovation and performance)?
Tell us about a maintenance team success story.

Best-managed maintenance facility

What kind of maintenance best-practice strategies and tools are you using and why?
How have you reduced asset management costs and improved equipment uptime?
What kind of return on investment (ROI), equipment reliability and production capacity improvements have been achieved?

Email your submission to PEM editor Robert Robertson: rrobertson@clbmedia.ca.

DEADLINE: AUGUST 30, 2006
www.pem-mag.com

BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE:

IMPROVE ASSET UPTIME AND REDUCE COSTS

Main Conference: November 28-29, 2006

Pre-conference workshops and MMP certification: November 27, 2006

Post-conference workshops and MMP certification: November 30, 2006

NOVOTEL TORONTO CENTRE

VISIT WWW.MAINTRAIN.CA

MainTrain 2006 Platinum Sponsors:

MainTrain 2006 Gold Sponsor:

Get ready for MainTrain 2006 TORONTO--The Plant Engineering and Maintenance Association of Canada (PEMAC), organizer of MainTrain 2006 to be held on November 27-30, 2006 at the Novotel Toronto Centre, has a dynamic list of speakers who have been invited to take part in Canada's premier physical asset management event. In the weeks and months ahead, PEMAC and its event planning committee will announce more exciting news about MainTrain 2006. Turn first to PEM for MainTrain 2006 news! Respected industry consultants Ken Bannister, production and maintenance management specialist with Engtech Industries Inc. and regular PEM contributor; and James V. Reyes-Picknell, president of Conscious Management Inc., will highlight the Maintenance Masters panel session. Here's a list of just some of the invited MainTrain 2006 speakers:
Ray Beebe Ray Beebe developed condition-monitoring applications alongside engineering and middle management during 28 years in the fossil power generation industry in Australia, with two years in the UK. Joining Monash University in 1992, Ray teaches in and co-ordinates the post-graduate, off-campus learning programs in maintenance and reliability engineering.	John Lambert John Lambert is president of Benchmark Maintenance Services Inc., a company specializing in rotating machinery installation, training, service and equipment sales. He has trained hundreds of tradesmen in organizations like Dofasco, City of Toronto and Ontario Power Generation. John served his apprenticeship in mechanical maintenance at Fazakerly Engineering in Liverpool, England.
Brian Malloch Brian Malloch is the current president of the Plant Engineering and Maintenance Association of Canada (PEMAC). He's also the president of Twenty First Century Solutions Inc.; a PEMAC director and chair, professional development; a MainTrain 2006 conference planning committee member; and is a past recipient of PEMAC's Sergio Guy Memorial Award.	David Berger David Berger, P.Eng. (Alta.) is the founding president of the Plant Engineering and Maintenance Association of Canada (PEMAC). He's also North America's number one expert on computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) systems and plant operations, and a frequent contributor to leading industry journals. David now works with Western Management Consultants.
James V. Reyes-Picknell With more than 26 years of experience in engineering, operations, maintenance management and business consulting, James V. Reyes-Picknell is president of Conscious Management Inc. and has in-depth knowledge of the human factor within organizations. He has authored and co-authored physical asset management textbooks.	Ken Bannister Ken Bannister of Engtech Industries Inc. is a production and maintenance management specialist located in Innerkip, ON. He has worked for many years in the industry as an engineer and maintenance professional in Canada and England. Ken now helps companies and their maintenance departments solve physical asset management problems. He's also a regular editorial contributor to leading industry magazines and is involved with training and education.
Dr. Jay Lee Dr. Jay Lee is Ohio Eminent Scholar in Advanced Manufacturing and L.W. Scott Alter Chair Professor at the University of Cincinnati. He's also the founding director of National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) on Intelligent Maintenance Systems (IMS), which is a multi-campus NSF Center of Excellence between the University of Cincinnati and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Previously, Dr. Lee held a position as Wisconsin Distinguished Professor and Rockwell Automation Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Lee is also founding co-director of Industrial Innovation Center at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His current research focuses on IT-enabled infotronics technologies and smart prognostics tools for smart products, e-manufacturing operations and intelligent maintenance/service systems, including embedded product lifecycle monitoring, prognostics, remote monitoring, design of self-maintenance systems and smart service business strategies. He has authored/co-authored over 100 technical publications, edited two books, contributed numerous book chapters, three U.S. patents, two trademarks and delivered numerous invited lectures and speeches, including over 60 invited keynote and plenary speeches at major international conferences.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND MAINTRAIN 2006?

Plant managers, plant engineers, maintenance managers, director of engineering, director of operations, production/operations, reliability engineers, facility managers, purchasers, supply chain managers and anyone involved in physical asset management.

REASONS TO ATTEND MAINTRAIN 2006:

Reduce equipment downtime, improve production capacity and lower costs.
Discover how to sell world-class maintenance to management and operations.
Better manage maintenance to generate a greater ROI and bottom line.
Learn how to maximize equipment reliability and lifecycle management.
Become a successful manager and take your maintenance career to new levels.
Network and connect with industry peers and Canada's maintenance leaders.

Today's e-newsletter is sponsored by...

Machine safeguarding guide includes free CD-ROM version

Scientific Technologies, Inc. (STI) introduces their free 2006 Machine and Process Safeguarding Guide. This 850+ page guide is the most comprehensive machine and process safety product and technical reference guide available today. It includes 100+ pages of educational resource material, and features nearly 30 new products across a broad spectrum of safety technologies. The guide also comes in a CD-ROM version that contains the complete STI catalog, as well as Product Certificates and Declarations of Conformity, and downloadable CAD drawings.

Industry News

PTDA to hold Canadian conference in Ottawa

CHICAGO--The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will hold its fifth annual Canadian conference on June 1-3, 2006 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa. The conference will provide an opportunity for Canadian power transmission/motion control channel participants to explore nationally focused industry issues and trends.

The program will consist of a Thursday evening welcome event, a welcome breakfast and full day of programming on Friday, a Friday evening dinner and Saturday morning programming, with optional events and dinner scheduled for Saturday. Highlights of the conference program include:

Keynote presentation by Dr. Peter Andersen of Andersen Economic Research Ltd.;
Panel session featuring key end-user industry executives;
Member presentation by Wendy McDonald, chairman of BC Bearing Engineers Ltd. on building and maintaining a successful distribution business;
Member presentation by Ted Chisholm, vice-president finance and information technology of BDI Canada Inc., on the PTDA Foundation's Industrial Careers Pathway initiative;
Formal and informal networking with important Canadian power transmission/motion control market decision-makers; and
Social events, including an optional golf outing.

The conference is open to all PTDA members selling product in Canada (distributors and manufacturers), as well as non-members who qualify for membership. For more information on the conference, contact the PTDA at tel: (312) 876-9461; email: ptda@ptda.org.

www.ptda.org

BSA celebrates its big 40th anniversary

Evan and Patti Boere,
Timken Canada Lp.

From left: Michel Bouchard and Katie King, General Bearing Service with Gerry and Audrey Brownrigg, BC Bearing Engineers.

Bev and Don Latham, Canadian Bearings.

SARASOTA, FL--The Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and other milestones at its annual convention held here. Once again, there was a strong Canadian delegate contingent at the convention.

Eleven of the original BSA members in 1966 are association members today, including: Allied Bearings Supply Co., Inc; Bay State Bearings Services, Inc.; Bearing Headquarters Co.; Bearings and Drives, Inc.; Bearings Specialty Co.; General Bearing Service, Inc.; General Bearings Co.; IBT, Inc.; Jamaica Bearings Co., Inc.; Miller Bearings, Inc.; and Precision Industries.

The BSA was founded in 1966 by the merger of the former Anti-Friction Bearing Distributors Association and the Association of Bearing Distributors. Since then, it has developed into a leading association of international authorized distributors of ball-, roller- and other anti-friction bearings and their participating manufacturers.

At the convention, Tom Miller, group vice-president, Motion Industries, took office as the BSA's president for 2006-2007. "I'm proud to have been associated in the sale of bearings. I still get excited by selling a 6203, CM 11910/49 or a 2222," says Miller. "Without bearings, our lifestyles change and change for the worse."

In addition to Miller, the BSA elected the following slate of officers for 2006-2007: Cam Lawrence, BDI Canada, Inc., first vice-president; Steve Durston, Jamaica Bearings, second vice-president; and Chuck Kitchen, Interstate Bearing Technologies, treasurer. Douglas Savage, Bearing Service, Inc., was elected chairman of the BSA board of directors.

The BSA also elected the following persons to serve three-year terms on its board of directors: Gordon Duncan, Kinecor, Inc.; Craig Gipson, Gipson Bearing and Supply, Inc.; and Ron Aupperle, IBT, Inc. Board members continuing to serve the BSA in 2006-2007 include: Eduardo Bichara, Baleromex, S.A. de C.V.; Craig O. Faber, Miller Bearings, Inc.; John Timble, Bearing Headquarters Co.; Mark Stoneburner, Applied Industrial Technologies; Ellen Holladay, Motion Industries Inc.; and Howard Gainey, Bearings and Drives.

At the convention, the BSA recognized a generation of leadership as it honoured two, long-time members: Gene Yarussi, chairman and CEO of EPT, and Joe Swann, president of Rockwell Automation Power Systems. Both are retiring from the industry this year. James Martin III, who retired in December 2005 as director-distribution, marketing services and integration, The Timken Co., received a BSA Lifetime Achievement Award.
www.bsahome.org.

On-line lubrication guide available

MIDLAND, MI--Maintenance engineers, plant managers and original equipment manufacturers can now access on-line lubrication information through Molykote's new Interactive Troubleshooting Guide. The guide provides lubrication strategies that are related to 17 common machine component problems, from rolling element bearings and steel-gear wheels in open gears to shaft/hub connections and general maintenance, says the company.

When visitors place their cursor over a machine element, the guide lists possible lubrication problems for the specific machine element and gives strategies and product recommendations to solve the problem. Users can download product and safety data sheets, as well as locate a distributor near their location.

"We're convinced this tool will give our customers a competitive edge in solving lubrication problems and growing their business," says Gerd Hannemann, Molykote's e-commerce manager.
www.molykote.com.

People and Companies

Toronto-based Schneider Canada Services formed an alliance with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Learning Centre to deliver a training course entitled "Arc Flash-Measures for Prevention and Control." The one-day course is designed to assist organizations in preventing injuries and incidents, which are associated with working on or near live electrical equipment.
Launched in February of this year, Country Music Television (CMT) premiered its new reality series: "Trick My Truck." The show features big-rig makeovers using welding equipment from Cleveland, OH-based Lincoln Electric Co.
Scarborough, ON-based SKF Canada Ltd. announced that SKF and the owners of the French company SNFA S.A.S signed a Memorandum of Understanding. SKF will acquire 100 percent of the shares of SNFA.
Mississauga, ON-based Fluke Electronics Canada added a new thermography and thermal-imaging applications module to its Education Partnership Program.
Calgary-based Imperial Oil introduced a new line of food-grade lubricants. The line now includes circulating, compressor, gear, hydraulic, process, protective, refrigeration and turbine oils. Imperial Oil also offers a complete line of industrial grease.
Burlington, ON-based the Avantis unit of Invensys Process Systems announced that it has achieved Gold Certified Partner level in the Microsoft Partner Program.
San Ramon, CA-based Lubricants University, an educational Web site (www.lubricantsuniversity.com), introduced two new on-line courses: "Fundamentals of Lubricant Additives" and "Base Oils." Chevron Products Co. sponsors the Web site.

Product Focus

Worker fall protection

North Safety Products introduced Duralite III, a self-retracting lifeline that's also serviceable. Duralite III is made of a lightweight nylon housing that's impact resistant and weighs only 2.4 pounds (1.1 kilograms), says the company. The unit is suited for workers using a telescopic pole or first man-up systems. The centrifugal braking system offers improved protection, as it won't lock up when the worker is travelling to or from the anchor, says the company. The Duralite III uses Dyneema polyester webbing, which is more durable and cut-resistant, says the company. The load indicator is built right into the snap hook so that the worker can quickly see if the unit requires servicing, and a swivelling anchor prevents the webbing from twisting and tangling, says the company.

www.northsafety.com

Coming Events

June 1-3, 2006

PTDA Canadian Conference

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will hold its fifth annual Canadian Conference at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa. For more information, contact the PTDA at tel: (312) 876-9461; email: ptda@ptda.org; Web site: www.ptda.org.

PEM Subscription

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With a circulation of 18,000, PEM is 100 percent requested and read by plant operations and production managers, plant and maintenance engineers and executive managers.

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