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Industry News - July, 2020 - Page 3 of 5

  • Intelligent Compaction Is The Key To Asphalt Pavement Performance

    Intelligent Compaction

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    Jul 16, 2020 - 5 years ago

  • Alberta Government Supporting Sand And Gravel Operators

    Alberta Govt Supports Sand And Gravel Operators

    The Alberta government is providing certainty for job creators by clarifying how minerals and pits are defined in provincial legislation, and how sand operations are regulated in Alberta.
    By amending the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act, the government is eliminating confusion about what constitutes a mineral by providing clear definitions in legislation. This will ensure sand continues to be regulated under its current process, which is simple, straightforward and protects the environment.
    “Job creators should not need interpreters to understand legislation and regulatory laws. That’s why the government is taking action to ensure that sand and gravel operators have clear definitions that are accurate in legislation. Environment and Parks has had an effective and environmentally sound regulatory system in place for more than 15 years to review and approve projects. This bill will provide clarity and consistency for job creators in the sand and gravel industry while still maintaining stringent environmental protection regulations,” said Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks.
    If passed, Bill 31 would amend the definition of minerals and pits in the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act (EPEA), and remove references to silica sand in the Public Lands Act (PLA).
    On May 6, the Alberta Court of Appeal ruled that sand is a mineral under the EPEA. This means that sand operations above 45,000 tonnes each year must be regulated as a quarry instead of a pit. Before this decision, all projects removing sand were regulated as pits.
    Legislative changes to two acts are needed to provide clarity and regulatory certainty for operators:
    By amending the EPEA, we are removing confusion about what constitutes a mineral. This will ensure sand continues to be regulated under its curren  process, which is simple, straightforward and reflects its well understood environmental impacts.
    By amending the PLA to remove references to silica sand, we are creating certainty about the interpretation of sand by eliminating unclear and duplicative terminology. Since sand is already defined in provincial legislation, also defining silica sand makes application documents unnecessarily complicated for operators.
    The court decision affects about 500 applications that are currently awaiting review. Applicants submitted the information required for a pit authorization – not a quarry approval – so the applications are now incomplete and cannot be authorized in their current state without the passing of Bill 31.


    Quick facts
    Without government’s legislative amendments, any application for a sand project that is more than 45,000 tonnes annually now needs to be revised to include complex approval requirements and an environmental impact assessment (EIA).
    There are no consequences to the end of life/reclamation as a result of these proposed legislative amendments. Quarries and pits are both required to be reclaimed at the end of their life cycle. 

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    Jul 16, 2020 - 5 years ago

  • PTFE Bearing Conversion Improves Operations At Hydropower Station

    Constructed in the mid-1930s, the Norris Dam was the first major project for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Its purpose was to bring economic development to the region and control the flooding that had long plagued the Valley.

    Constructed in the mid-1930s, the Norris Dam was the first major project for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Its purpose was to bring economic development to the region and control the flooding that had long plagued the Valley. TVA worked with Michell Bearings after experiencing numerous thrust bearing failures over the life of one of the two generator units. The failures of the original white metal bearings resulted in excessive downtime and associated loss of revenue. Michell Bearings was awarded a design contract to investigate the potential problems with the 1930’s design, which had been subject to various attempts over the years to improve reliability. The engineers at Michell Bearings created a 3D model of the thrust bearing support structure and performed a finite element analysis to determine any issues affecting the bearing’s performance. Michell Bearings’ in-house performance prediction software was used to evaluate the performance of the existing white metal pads. The bearing’s thrust pads were replaced using a PTFE lined alternative as a result of the study. The PTFE material provides a greater safety factor when compared with the white metal solution. PTFE is more durable and has a well-established and proven track record within the hydro power sector. The study concluded that the material will also increase the life of the bearing and provide greater reliability. Steve Dixon, CEO at Michell Bearings, said: “Although the original contract was awarded as a study, we were pleased to hear that our advice was taken on board and led to the supply of the PTFE thrust pads for the Norris unit.” Previously Engineering Director at Michell Bearings, Steve took on the role of CEO in May 2020. “We have been researching the advantages of PTFE for over 20 years and so we were confident that the material would solve TVA’s problem.” Michell Bearings and TVA are working on an additional two projects at the Cherokee and Douglas hydropower plants. Michell Bearings will be presenting a paper on the findings of this project at the Hydrovision exhibition in June 2021. For more information visit: www.michellbearings.com About Michell Bearings designs and manufactures hydrodynamic white metal and PTFE lined bearings for clients across the globe. Founded in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1920, this year Michell Bearings celebrates 100 years of manufacturing products including horizontal bearings, vertical bearings and tilting pad bearings for the industrial, commercial marine and naval markets. b
    TVA worked with Michell Bearings after experiencing numerous thrust bearing failures over the life of one of the two generator units. The failures of the original white metal bearings resulted in excessive downtime and associated loss of revenue.
    Michell Bearings was awarded a design contract to investigate the potential problems with the 1930’s design, which had been subject to various attempts over the years to improve reliability. The engineers at Michell Bearings created a 3D model of the thrust bearing support structure and performed a finite element analysis to determine any issues affecting the bearing’s performance.
    Michell Bearings’ in-house performance prediction software was used to evaluate the performance of the existing white metal pads. 
    The bearing’s thrust pads were replaced using a PTFE lined alternative as a result of the study. The PTFE material provides a greater safety factor when compared with the white metal solution. PTFE is more durable and has a well-established and proven track record within the hydro power sector. The study concluded that the material will also increase the life of the bearing and provide greater reliability.
    Steve Dixon, CEO at Michell Bearings, said: “Although the original contract was awarded as a study, we were pleased to hear that our advice was taken on board and led to the supply of the PTFE thrust pads for the Norris unit.”
    Previously Engineering Director at Michell Bearings, Steve took on the role of CEO in May 2020. “We have been researching the advantages of PTFE for over 20 years and so we were confident that the material would solve TVA’s problem.”
    Michell Bearings and TVA are working on an additional two projects at the Cherokee and Douglas hydropower plants. Michell Bearings will be presenting a paper on the findings of this project at the Hydrovision exhibition in June 2021.
    For more information visit: www.michellbearings.com
     
    About
    Michell Bearings designs and manufactures hydrodynamic white metal and PTFE lined bearings for clients across the globe. Founded in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1920, this year Michell Bearings celebrates 100 years of manufacturing products including horizontal bearings, vertical bearings and tilting pad bearings for the industrial, commercial marine and naval markets. 

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    Jul 16, 2020 - 5 years ago

  • Agri-Robotics For A Sustainable Farming Future

    Time for change in our changing times?

    It’s hard to think of a more important economic sector than agriculture. This is an industry that directly affects the lives of everyone the world over, despite being beset by challenges from all sides. Changes in temperature and precipitation are influencing crop yields; farmers and agricultural workers are directly exposed to the effects of weather extremes, while millions more in food-related jobs are already feeling the impact of our changing climate.

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    Jul 10, 2020 - 5 years ago

  • CP Donates US$1 Million To Three U.S. Charities Dedicated To Strengthening People And Communities

    In response to ongoing social unrest and social injustice across the United States, Canadian Pacific (TSX: CP) (NYSE: CP) is donating US$1 million to three organizations to support the people of Minneapolis, home to the headquarters of CP's U.S. operations, as well as support meaningful positive change nationally.

    "George Floyd's death is shocking and heartbreaking, and serves as proof that society as a whole still has so much work to do," said Keith Creel, CP President and Chief Executive Officer. "With our U.S. operations running out of Minneapolis, it is our responsibility as a company to support our employees, neighbors, and friends throughout Minnesota and beyond. To our colleagues in the Black community: you matter to us at CP. We hear you and we see you, we support you and the absolute right for social justice equal for all."

    The organizations that will receive the funding are Lake Street Council (We Love Lake Street), East Side Neighborhood Services and Equal Justice Initiative. These charities not only support people in local areas, but also help others throughout the U.S. as they work to restore and rebuild following the social unrest that has affected communities across the country.

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    Jul 10, 2020 - 5 years ago

  • The Death Of Diesel? Alternative Fuels For Construction Equipment

    Diesel has powered construction equipment for decades; however, due to increased costs in resource extraction, environmental concerns, regulatory limitations, social trends and other reasons, manufacturers are experimenting with other means of powering equipment.

    Electric is popular for non-mobile, small mobile, indoor demolition, short-haul transportation and underground mining equipment, but it doesn’t meet the challenges for a lot of general construction applications.

    In order to power large, mobile equipment in construction applications, manufacturers are investing in alternative fuel, such as natural gas, propane, biodiesel and hydrogen.

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    Jul 9, 2020 - 5 years ago

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