MFCP Blog

We wrote about the advantages of the Parker Tracking System (PTS) back in August of 2013. One of the great benefits we talk about is the ability to order a replacement hose assembly without the need to leave your shop. Today, with mandates for social distancing, the ability to order parts without physical interaction with other people is critical.

Watch a 2-minute QuickFit^TM video to see it work.

OSHA Requests Input on Proposed Changes to the Silica Standard

OSHA sent a Trade Release out on August 14, 2019, announcing that they are seeking input from industries affected by their Crystalline Silica regulations. Construction companies, rock cories and any other businesses engaged in jackhammering, cutting or braking rock, concrete, masonry and other materials containing crystalline silica are obligated to employ measures to prevent their workers from inhaling the crystalline silica dust. If you are affected by the regulation, this is your chance to have input.

Comments must be submitted by October 14, 2019. Comments and materials may be submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, or by facsimile or mail. See the Federal Register notice for submission details.

You may also like to read our earlier blog about OSHA regulation, enforcement and penalties, Save Your Workers' Lungs & OSHA's Staggering Penalties for Violations of Crystalline Silica Rules.

The (corrected) OSHA trade release is provided below:

Electromechanical (EM) actuating systems have been increasing in popularity for some time. They have replaced pneumatic and hydraulic systems in many light-duty applications. Today,another option (such as the Parker HAS 500) is available: a hybrid of EM and hydraulic actuation systems, which combines the best of both worlds.

Below we will compare EM and hydraulic systems and take a quick look at the new hybrid system.

Last year, we wrote about OSHA's new enforcement focus on violations of crystalline silica rule, which became more stringent in 2017. Since the enforcement is ramping up, and fees associated with non-compliance automatically go up each year, we thought a re-post of our last year's blog about using the wet method suppression is relevant. Check out the video added at the end of the blog.

Parker will discontinue 30 of its legacy hoses by next June. Of those 30 hoses 22 will become obsolete at the end of 2018, and the remaining eight will go out of production June 28, 2019. Look for the list of obsoleted hose series and suggested replacements later in this article. The GlobalCore family of hoses, of which there are six, will replace the 30 outgoing hoses. Additionally, the six hoses in the GlobalCore series use only two series of fittings – 43 and 77.

The change was a long time coming, and changing to GlobalCore should be relatively painless for users in the short run. In the long run, it will be a blessing. Here is the scoop on why you should have switched to GlobalCore a long time ago:

If you are repairing or maintaining hydraulic equipment, you make and re-make connections daily. You know to use plugs and caps to plug open ports and cap disconnected hoses, in order to keep the the dirt out and oil in. This method works for most connections, but when it comes to flanges most mechanics' oil containment method is to shove a rag into the open port, and another in the end of the disconnected hose (or tube assembly).

Now, there's another option – using FlangeLock™. The FlangeLock™ allows for quick, simple sealing of open SAE Code 61, Code 62 & CAT-style hydraulic flange connections without tools. It is the ultimate spill and contamination control during disconnecting and re-connecting flange fittings.

We have written several blogs in the past about risks associated with using equipment with worn-out hydraulic hoses and how to spot the unsafe hoses before they fail. The intended audience of these blogs had been plant managers, equipment maintenance managers, and equipment mechanics, but a recent experience with a rented trencher made me re-evaluate who else should be learning about how to spot an unsafe hydraulic hose.

What if you just rent hydraulic equipment from your local rental yard? Just because you are not in charge of its maintenance and safety does not mean that you cannot be affected by a rental company's lackadaisical approach to equipment maintenance.

In many automated manufacturing applications, assessing potential safety risks posed by unexpected power failure is an essential part of overall system design. You need to take appropriate measures in order to reduce the risk of injury to machinery operators and other personnel, and prevent damage to the products being assembled. In the case of any kind of unexpected interruption in operation, the equipment must meet safety standards that prevent unsafe situations from occurring.

The Parker Hose Products Division announced yesterday that it will discontinue production of its 301LT and 772LT low temperature hoses.

Parker Fluid Connector Group has announced a running change to the rubber cover compound of the following Parker hoses:

Last year, Parker introduced the Gen II style hydraulic cylinders, which replace the legacy 2H and 3H series. This change brought many improvements to the cylinders' delivery times and longevity. So how do you convert your old part numbers to the Gen II cylinder part numbers? The short answer is that Parker already did the work for you - for the most part.

Anyone running a pneumatic system knows that producing compressed air requires a lot of energy. In a typical pneumatic plant, 20 percent or more of the plant’s energy is consumed by an air compressor. As quoted in this MRO article, “Based on energy audits conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 95 percent of compressed air systems present opportunities for saving energy."

Using Parker Parflex hoses? Read this!

Changes are scheduled for January 2017.

In March 2014, Parflex launched their global 56 series (read our earlier blog on that) which became the preferred fitting used on the majority of Parker Parflex hoses. Parflex still offers fitting series 55, 58, 58H and 57 series, but that is about to change, along with hose consolidation affecting about a dozen Parflex hose series.

Parker announced an expansion to their SensoNODE Blue line of sensors at the Sensors Midwest Conference in Rosemont, Illinois this September.

When choosing between a hose assembly and tube assembly for a hydraulic application, there are a few basic questions that must first be answered:

Hammer Union Connections

• Ideal for the oil and gas industry
• One piece, segmented design
• Strong industrial grade steel
• Durable and resistant to hammer connection
• 90° hammer union connection “HB”
• 45° fatigue resistant hammer union connection “HE”
• Wingnut is not captive on hose assembly
• Easy removal of wingnut for replacement or rework

Hammer union connections require strong components to withstand the pounding required to make the connection. Parker uses 4340 industrial grade steel to give the fitting extra strength. This material has been field tested and specified by the leaders in the Cementing sector.

You may recall an earlier blog about the electrical conductivity of rubber hose back in April of 2013. In this blog, we discussed that unless a hose is specifically designated as either conductive or non-conductive, you must assume that the electrical properties of the hose are not controlled during the manufacturing process, and that conductivity of the hose can change with each production run without notice. In this blog, let’s look at what can be done to make your industrial hose assembly electrically conductive for the purpose of dissipating static electricity buildup.

The truth is that if you are using equipment in the elements, corrosion is inevitable. The question is not if, but when you will have to change the rusted parts. The trick is to find the fittings and adapters that will last as long as possible.

Most maintenance managers and other professionals responsible for keeping machinery running are not likely to agree with accountants on the quantity of spare parts needed in stock. Accountants try to limit inventory of parts on hand, which in some cases sit around for months before being used. The accountants recognize that stocking large quantities of spare parts ties up company’s money in inventory and decreases the company’s profitability.

On the other hand, maintenance professionals often need to have a large quantity of parts on hand in order to keep the machinery running and down-time to a minimum. Since they have no way of knowing which machine will break down next, and which parts will be needed to fix it, inventory reduction is not high on their list of improvements. Machinery sitting idle while waiting for a replacement part can also kill profits in a hurry.

Both the accountants and the maintenance staff have a point. The challenge for MRO organizations is finding the right balance of stocking enough parts to not run out without tying up too much cash in the inventory.