Maintenance Shop Talk Podcasts

Industrial maintenance teams are always on the lookout for new strategies and helpful insights that can increase efficiency and improve their overall operations. Each month, host Michelle Segrest welcomes industry leaders and experts for roundtable-style discussions on a variety of lubricant-related topics. If you’re looking to further explore equipment maintenance and lubrication best practices, you’ve found the right podcast.

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Virtual Planning Results in Efficient Design

In a huge expansion project, Uponor North America benefits from digital-twin technology and other tools to plan for current and future growth. 

By Michelle Segrest, Navigate Content, Inc. - Reporting for Efficient Plant Magazine

Jon Sillerud has spent half of his 30-yr. career managing new-growth projects for large manufacturing facilities. This experience has taught him valuable lessons about strategic planning. “Spending time in detailed planning is always time well spent,” said Sillerud, the vice president of operations for Uponor North America and executive leader for the biggest expansion project the company has ever undertaken. Follow this link to read the full article. 

Avoid Common Pump Spec Mistakes

When it comes to keeping food and beverage pumps running efficiently, a pump expert identifies errors you should avoid.

By Michelle Segrest, Navigate Content - Reporting for Efficient Plant Magazine

For the past 30 years, Jim McCormick has been solving problems for his sanitary- and process-equipment customers. Most of the time, he says, these problems could have been avoided. “There are a lot of things I’ve learned over the years as far as things that can go wrong and why pumps fail,” said McCormick, director of sales and corporate development applications and technical sales engineer for SANI-PUMP Inc., Sanitary Pumps and Equipment (sani-pump.com, Chattanooga, TN).  “I’ve made a list of some of the reasons this happens. I work closely with my customers to hopefully avoid these common mistakes.” To read the full story, please follow this link. 

Water & Wastewater Pumping Solutions

Advancements in water treatment and plant modernization drive growth in the water and wastewater pumping industry.

By Michelle Segrest, Navigate Content - Reporting for Maintenance Technology Magazine

While new construction in the municipal water-treatment market has remained relatively flat, growth in the industrial water-treatment market has increased—driven largely by modernization efforts that seem to be pervasive across the power-generation segment, according to Charles P. Crowley Company (CPC, Baldwin Park, CA, cpcrowley.com) managing director Jon Crowley. One trend that Crowley sees throughout the industry is modernization through “repowering.”

Read the full article by following this link. 

Oil and Gas Trends

Pump suppliers discuss trends and challenges in the oil and gas industry involving smart technology, competitive delivery, and optimized equipment efficiency.

By Michelle Segrest, Navigate Content, Inc., Reporting for Maintenance Technology

Speed, portability, and reliability are key factors in optimizing production times and the bottom line in the oil and gas industry, according to experts from major pumping technology companies. Glenn Webb, senior product specialist for Blackmer, Grand Rapids, MI, a leading brand from PSG, (Oakbrook Terrace, IL) said that the most obvious positive manifestation of the ongoing oil and natural gas production boom in the United States can be seen on street corners across the nation. For the full article, please follow this link.

Setting the New Pump Testing Standard

How Hydro, Inc. made history with the first Hydraulic Institute PTLA certification.

By Michelle Segrest, Reporting for World Pumps Magazine

With an engineering first approach, Chicago’s Hydro, Inc., proves the impact of redesigned and engineered pumps by testing their real-time hydraulic and mechanical performance at its state-of-the-art Test Lab. It is in the 46,000-square-foot- facility that Hydro develops and implements engineering modifications for improving the performance of critical pumps and then verifies that performance in the lab. Thanks to high-quality capabilities in testing vertical, horizontal, and submersible pumps, Hydro made history in September 2015 by becoming the first recipient of full certification of the new Hydraulic Institute Pump Test Lab Approval program.

Read the full story to learn more.

An Industry Outlook for Submersible Wastewater Pumps

By Michelle Segrest, Reporting for Modern Pumping Today

CHICAGO (January 25, 2016) - To further educate the public and spread the importance of its initiatives, SWPA is partnering with Modern Pumping Today to address topics that are the most important to the submersible wastewater pumping community. These Q&As are based on the well-respected learning units in the SWPA Handbook. Industry-leading experts from SWPA member companies will contribute to enhancing these education and training initiatives through in-depth reports.

Read the full story. 

Changing of the Guard

By Michelle Segrest, Reporting for Modern Pumping Today

PARSIPPANY, NY (January 20, 2016) - A focus on pump system optimization within the entire pumping system has become the strategic vision of the Hydraulic Institute. With the retirement of longtime HI Executive Director Robert Asdal, the direction of the standard-setting organization has shifted recently to reflect new leadership and a changing environment. After more than twenty-four years under Asdal’s leadership, his June 30, 2015, retirement represented a changing of the guard for HI as longtime association professional Michael Michaud took the reigns. Read the full story.