Equipment/technology modification

In an attempt to understand the factors which lead to a successful and acceptable implementation of a robotic system, Molet et al. [2] have described the history of the implementation of a robotic installation in the steel industry in France. TTiey analysed the reactions of the various participants. Most of the difficulties encountered were related to the technological modifications required in the plant to install the robot and its peripheral equipment, and the labour and organizational changes which affected those most directly involved. TTiis experience provides some general lessons about the dos and do nots of rohotization (see also Besson [3] and Guest [4]). 

A client may choose to develop a toller who is qualified, but will need additional or improved equipment and technology to meet the eventual production levels required later in the life of the toll contract. The client may require the toller to make changes or modifications at their plant in order to effectively manufacture a particular product in increasing quantity. Some areas of concern applicable to scale up were listed in Various Points to Consider, Section 3.1. Additional considerations to address in the contract may include ... 

While process and equipment modification are generally the preferred alternatives for reducing emissions from a plant, some form of control is necessary before emissions are discharged into the environment. Technologies discussed in this section are applicable in preventing emissions from point sources such as process or tank vents. These technologies fall into two main categories ... 

Limitations in the VOCs emissions wUl certainly push the shoe industry to use alternative bonding technologies to the current solvent-based surface preparations. Several limitations are found in the removal or substitution of solvents in shoe bonding, such as the use of new equipments and machinery, the modification in the procedure to produce bonding, costs increase, and difficulty in bonding some materials without the use of solvents. 

In-house process control. This comprises the achievement of optimum efficiency in relation to production and processing methods including the introduction, where feasible, of cleaner processes (alternative technology) or processing methods (substitute materials and/or reformulations, process modifications, and equipment redesign). 

Members of the update team should review a copy of the initial PrHA and check completion of action items. The team should thoroughly review current PSI and descriptions of all process modifications made since the initial PrHA report was finalized. A thorough review of the PSI is necessary to make sure that the PrHA incorporates any new hazardous materials, process technologies, equipment, and/or operating procedures. Finally, the team should review all findings and resolutions from the initial PrHA to assure that they have been adequately addressed. 

Radioactive tracers [14] are a useful tool to measure unit parameters such as residence times and distribution of the catalyst and vapors in the reactor, stripper, or regenerator. Bypassing can be detected, slip factors calculated and dilute phase residence times are examples of useful calculations that can point the way to future modifications. This technology is also useful for detecting and analyzing equipment malfunctions. Plugged distributors, erratic standpipes, and main fractionator problems such as salt deposits or flooding can be detected with tracers. 

For this paper, process modification for the purpose of source reduction in a plating operation will be defined as changes in equipment which lead to reduced generation of wastes. Purposely excluded are separation and concentration technologies covered elsewhere in this conference. The intent of this section is to list options, in rough order of simplicity of implementation, and provide information about each... 

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