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The annual National Manufacturing Day is the first Friday of October, so mark your calendars for Friday, October 6th, 2017. The initiative brings together manufacturers and communities in an educational way to address common industry issues.
MFG DAY events near you are listed on the site for interested personnel such as students, educators, media, politicians, and businessmen alike.
Industry Issues to Address
Although manufacturing is key to the economy, it still has its share of disputes. Current concerns being addressed are the manufacturing skills gap, public misconceptions about the industry, the amount of male versus female workers in the field, and the outsourcing of jobs overseas for cheaper labor.
National Manufacturing Day is one of the biggest initiatives supporting methods to overcome each hurdle.
What the National Manufacturing Day Entails
During both public and invitation-only visits, manufacturers have the opportunity to dissolve any myths about the manufacturing industry. Common misconceptions include dirty shop floors and low-paying positions, but today’s industry happens to be quite the opposite.
Step foot inside a facility and you will see that today’s manufacturing industry means technological advancements, STEM skills, secure job placement and benefits, as well as economic benefits across the country and across the globe.
The Importance of Manufacturing Today
The manufacturing sector has grown faster than the rest of the U.S. economy since the recession that ended in 2010. Manufacturing significantly impacts today’s economy, spurring economic growth, as well as encouraging innovation with its technological improvements in machinery. Plus, services are dependent on manufactured items. Let’s not forget that manufacturing creates employment too.
Central Metal and National Manufacturing Day
Central Metal Fabricators supports each National Manufacturing Day initiative, including bridging the skills gap, supporting male and female student proficiencies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and encouraging reshoring of manufacturing activities.
Central Metal Fabricators has been a leading designer and manufacturer of gas turbine silencing equipment in the U.S. for more than half a century. Our gas turbine and utility parts such as hoppers, bus bars, boiler panels, and tanks are top quality. Our team works efficiently to fit within your project timelines.
To discuss how we can help your company initiatives, please contact us today.
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What are the future expectations of wind and solar energy for supplying global power? Here at Central Metal Fabricators, we fabricate, assemble, and install gas turbine silencing equipment and associated metal items. Our panel of industry experts delve into the matter below, and the findings might surprise you.
IEA Projections on Renewable Energy
As per data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), wind and solar power will generate more of the world’s energy by 2040 than it does today. But, while primary energy demand (TPED) renewables, which includes solar and wind, have higher usage than 1990, it likely amounts to less than you imagine.
In 2014, solar cells or photovoltaic (PV) cells and wind contributed a meager 0.6% of total global energy. Fast forward to 2040 and this number increases, but only to 2.9%. Respectively, coal, oil, and gas will continue to dominate as the top three energy power sources around the world.
Plus, the IEA prediction assumes that every country complies with the Paris Agreement on climate change. The US is currently not in the climate accord, and compliance is not likely to be gained by every other country, so the IEA’s estimate of less than 3% is likely more than it will be come 23 years from now.
Natural Gas and Nuclear Power Estimates
Natural gas will grow faster as an energy resource than any other TPED, accounting for 25 percent of global demand by 2040, based on projections by a recent ExxonMobil report. This will be less than oil, which will be the biggest resource, providing about 32% of the world’s energy, and more than nuclear power at 7%.
While renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind will grow over the next few decades, its development will be considerably slower than the rate and volume of natural gas.
Applying the Research
Regarding the above, you have an idea of the world’s energy picture for the near future, including only about 3% renewables. Understanding the energy supply for Central Metal Fabricators and many other industrial manufacturers is important so that we use the sources wisely to craft optimal products and plan for the future.
Internally, we manufacture an array of industrial products including dampers for gas turbines, boiler casings, steel hoppers, and busbars. Our top quality engineering design service replacement parts, gas metal arc welding, flux core arc welding, and more.
Stay on top of relevant trends by following us on our blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Be sure to contact us to place your next industrial product order or if you have any questions.
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As renewable energy sources, namely solar and wind energy, increase in popularity, many manufacturers are wondering where this leaves them.
What is the Dilemma?
As an industry, manufacturing is a large energy consumer. The paramount worry for many in the field is that their own energy sources will be siphoned off by grid operators when solar and wind drop short of expectations. The unreliable true nature of renewables is an unfortunate reality; if it is not a sunny or windy day, then neither energy source is strong.
From a manufacturing standpoint, the growing number of large-scale solar and wind facilities makes for an unreliable grid and reduces power quality, all of which are worrisome because they can equate with safety and reliability issues at the manufacturing site. These risks lay squarely on the shoulders of the energy consumers, with some of the biggest being manufacturers. While the eco-friendly nature of solar and wind as power sources are plentiful, there are issues with adopting them across the board.
Recently, the Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) spoke to the Washington Examiner. As per IECA CEO and President Paul Cicio, “Industrials are not in the business of generating and selling power. We are in the business of producing manufactured products.” Cicio adds that manufacturers cannot meet internal demands for power or steam if they act like a consumer power plant.
Looking for Solutions
It is the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), federally chartered regional transmission organizations, and self-regulating system engineers of these markets that look over the issues. But the FERC’s latest Primary Frequency Response notice of proposed rulemaking will likely only serve to exacerbate the problems and put more responsibility on manufacturers. Unfortunately, utility operators and mechanics often do not have in-depth experience of manufacturing processes, thus not understanding the reliability that is vital for manufacturers.
Currently, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation is assessing the situation based on manufacturers’ grievances and any changes will occur through the standards design process.
Central Metal Fabricators
As a leading manufacturer of gas turbine silencing equipment, it is our responsibility to bring awareness to various circumstances that influence the manufacturing industry.
Here at Central Metal Fabricators, our experts will continue to keep you abreast of developments as we fabricate, assemble, and install top-quality gas turbine silencing equipment and related metal products.
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In an effort to save customers millions of dollars long term, Florida Power & Light recently announced they will be opening eight new solar-energy plants by early 2018. These new plants should combine to create almost 600 megawatts of power, which is enough to provide power to approximately 120,000 homes during peak demand time.
Green Tech Media predicts an increase of 1900 percent in the solar power production capacity of the state over the next five years. Due to its geographic location, the amount of sunlight Florida receives makes solar energy a sound bet for the state. Florida Power & Light has already brought the Manatee Solar Energy Center, the Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center in Charlotte County and the Citrus Solar Energy Center in DeSoto County to add to the electric supply grid in an effort to take advantage of this.
Why the Sudden Acceleration?
The newly created 8 facilities will be able to take the load of about 120,000 families off the conventional production cycles if they operate optimally. This is a big help for the state and offers improved power stability for the consumers. Construction of these new plants will also provide jobs to the region as construction is expected to be done quickly. While natural gas will still be used to provide the bulk of energy for the state, this is an opportunity to diversify the fuel sources used.
Alachua, Putnam and DeSoto counties have already been picked as final sites for four of the new plants. The locations of the additional new solar power plants have not yet been revealed but are being built now because new solar facilities are cost effective.
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Although wind and solar have been promoted as environmentally friendly, especially when compared to fossil fuels, they certainly don’t come without a price. Take for example a solar energy plant. Once in place, a solar energy plant has relatively little impact on the environment, but the problem comes from what it takes to build that solar energy plant.
Photovoltaic cells which are used for solar are made out of silicon. Although silicon is abundant in the Earth’s crust, it takes a large amount of electricity to create the cells. So in order to create solar energy, fossil fuels must be used. In addition, to make these cells from raw silicon takes the use of many corrosive and toxic materials. When used, these materials can emit harmful gasses into the air.
While some of the chemicals it takes to create PV cells are recyclable, many companies opt not to recycle them due to the cost of the recycling. There are also concerns about the wastewater production that is left behind and a few companies have opted to dump the water instead of treating it properly, which takes more money. The wastewater is damaging to the environment and can be associated with health concerns.
Some companies are moving their production to Iceland, an island abundant in geothermal and hydroelectric power. So not only is it cheaper to produce the PV cells, but it requires about one-third of the energy when produced in Iceland. While this is a good start, there is still a long way to go.
When it comes to wind energy, although it does have an impact, that impact is much less than solar. What concerns many environmental groups is the impact wind turbines have on migratory birds and bats. The turbines are killing birds and bats, and in some locations, and some estimates say they are killing thousands each year. Many of these deaths are due to poor planning of the wind farms, such as by putting too many turbines close together.
When it comes to gas turbine silencers, equipment, and service, Central Metal Fabricators understands the needs of its customers. Turbine silencers help to curb noise pollution in turbines in an effort to comply with local or state guidelines on noise for safety and health reasons. At Central Metal Fabricators we invite you to contact us to discuss your metal fabricating needs and to learn more about our turbine silencers.
