The Monitor

Production Process Insights

Asking Why: Understanding the Heart and Soul of Our Company

Posted by Sentry Equipment on 2/14/19 8:32 AM

 

If we’ve learned anything from almost 100 years in business, it’s that our most important values don’t come from what we do or how we do it. Our most important values come from a much deeper place within our organization and our people.

When explaining what Sentry Equipment does, it's tempting to just say "Sentry Equipment makes sampling equipment". But that’s not the fundamental reason we exist. Understanding the “why” behind what we do is critical to serving customers better, maintaining a strong ownership culture, and setting ourselves up for sustainable growth and success. 

Why do we exist?

Why do we do what we do?

Why do we get out of bed in the morning?

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Topics: Company News, Any Application

How to Best Service Your Sampling Solution

Posted by Paul Williams on 12/21/16 11:15 AM

Reducing and managing downtime in any process operation is vital to ensuring uninterrupted production and the safety of your plant operators. You need to obtain representative samples reliably to assess plant and product condition to control your process effectively.

Regularly scheduled maintenance keeps your sampling solution operating at peak performance and extends their life. Over time, however, the efficiency of samplers and sampling systems decreases. For example, in a steam and water analysis system, sample coolers lose capacity due to calcification and wear. Analyzers may not deliver consistently accurate measurements which can compromise regulatory compliance. Wear and leakage of valves and safety devices can cause unnecessary risk to operator safety. While much of this can be a result of normal operation, it is often a direct result of improper maintenance, calibration or obsolescence.

As your sampling solution ages, it requires ongoing maintenance, service, and in some cases refurbishment, with replacement of components or at worst, complete replacement. You need qualified technicians to service your equipment and recommend the correct course of action. Operator safety and protection of production is not something to take lightly. While some organizations have in-house capabilities, many don't  and under these circumstances, you need to look to an outside service partner.

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Topics: Any Application

How to Sample Smarter Using the Industrial Internet of Things

Posted by Jay Kristola on 10/26/16 11:55 AM

Thanks to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), manufacturing is smarter and faster than ever before. Equipment is increasingly autonomous as technology allows it to not only manage data, but collect and share it in relevant ways: man to machine, machine to man and machine to machine. As a result, “smart” equipment introduces objective processes that dictate how components will interpret and adjust to information, including monitoring service needs and correcting output before bad products are made.

Applying IIoT principles to samplers and analyzers demonstrates that using technologically intelligent equipment isn’t just a matter of convenience. Wired or wireless electronic data collection from sampler sensors – such as temperature, pressure, flow and weight – is advantageous in optimizing process parameters through real-time data collection, interpretation and application.

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Topics: Any Application

5 proven traits a project engineer needs in a strategic supplier

Posted by Krista Drager on 10/19/16 11:00 AM

Suppliers are an essential part of any large engineering project. They’re needed to complete specialized designs and builds that meet the quality standards of the companies that hire them. Yet, not all suppliers are capable of delivering on their promises. This costs engineering firms time and money. 

Overcoming bias when it comes to selecting a supplier can be a major hurdle. Especially, when existing relationships are already in place. So, it’s essential to know how to separate a preferred supplier from a strategic supplier before you partner with them. Here are five crucial traits of a reliable, strategic supplier.

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Topics: Any Application

5 Hidden Costs of Analyzing Non-Representative Samples

Posted by Jay Kristola on 8/31/16 1:39 PM

Multiple industries engage representative sampling. It’s a pivotal process for quality control, process control, custody transfer and regulatory compliance. The benefits of representative sampling are well known, but what is the cost of not doing so? 

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Topics: Any Application

Selecting the Right Heat Exchanger for Your Application

Posted by Brian Winkelman on 7/27/16 9:30 AM

 

Heat exchangers are used in a variety of industries to transfer heat from one medium to another. They can heat within a process, and may be used to cool a liquid, vapor or gas (referred to as a fluid within this article) representative sample to make it safe to handle or transfer.

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Topics: Any Application

Manufacturers Should Align with Internationally Certified Suppliers

Posted by Dan Quigley on 6/23/16 7:00 AM

As companies continue to find ways to compete globally, they are expanding their worldwide reach. Operating manufacturing plants in various countries can result in a distinct competitive advantage. However, if you are working with suppliers that are not aware of and do not meet international certifications in operations and materials, delays and product rework could cost you that competitive edge.

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Topics: Power, Cement, Downstream, Mining, Upstream & Midstream, Pharmaceutical, Any Application

Match Your Sampling Solutions to Our Best Suppliers

Posted by Mike Keister on 6/14/16 1:00 PM

You trust your strategic sampling partner to help you solve your representative sampling challenges. You also rely on them to tell you when, occasionally, your needs are better met by a solution they do not currently offer.

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Topics: Power, Cement, Food & Beverage, Downstream, Mining, Upstream & Midstream, Pharmaceutical, Any Application

Find the best samplers for solids and powders

Posted by Rich Gaffney on 6/7/16 10:14 AM

A number of industries routinely conduct solid and powder sampling, ranging from cement and food and beverage, to pharmaceutical, petrochemical, mining, oil and gas, and power generation. This list illustrates the wide variety of solid and powder sampling applications, and it also proves that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all sampling solution.

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Topics: Power, Cement, Food & Beverage, Downstream, Mining, Upstream & Midstream, Solids & Powder, Pharmaceutical, Any Application, Steam & Water

How to radiographic test for welding quality in your heat exchanger

Posted by Krista Drager on 4/19/16 4:20 PM

Sample coolers and heat exchangers cool samples from process streams. A sample flows through the tube side of the heat exchanger, and the cooling fluid, usually water, flows through the shell side to cool the process gas or fluid so it can be monitored or analyzed.

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Topics: Power, Downstream, Any Application