Envisioning The Future Of The Mining Industry

Mining has become a vital part of our every day lives. Even though we might not be associated with the industry we use materials that come from mining everyday. A world without minerals would be a world without cars, trains, airplanes etc. We would not be able to do the things we have now without those important minerals. We wont be able to live in secure buildings/structures as everything will then have to be made out of wood. This is definitely not a world we can envision today as our lives revolve around these comforts/ necessities of life. These are not the only material things we would have to go without, things such as TVs, computers and food, yes food.

If we look at the future of mining it is evident that we cannot go without this industry and it will therefore become an ever expanding industry. As the mining industry has progressed into the twenty-first century, it is producing higher value products (products with lower costs and superior qualities) that enable continued economic development and the extensive use of conservative and advanced products and energy resources to sustain the worlds growing populace and rising markets in developing and industrialized countries. Developing countries have embraced the notion that the mining industry and their products provide the standards for measurement of nation growth. Communities welcome mining operations, recognizing their input to employment and economic growth. The industry is achieving this vision by encircling all elements of mining (exploration, development, production, processing, utilization, recycling, disposal and the associated transportation systems).

As technology keeps on expanding and people gain more knowledge and experience in this industry it will only get better from there. People have said that the mining industry wont survive the digital age because technology will be able to cancel out the minerals we cherish. The digital age only promises that people will have easier life styles compared to working from an office they will be able to do everything from the comfort of their own homes. What people dont see is how we get to that point. We will only be able to get there through the expansion of computers and the internet amongst other things.

The mining industry will only improve with the emerging technologies by increasing productivity and reducing occupational hazards. The mining industry does, however, suffer when global economic climate seems a bit dull. If we experience recession before these new technologies arrive we will have a problem. As proven in the past the mining industry suffered during recession because of the high costs involved in the processes. With new technology these high costs will be cut.

Mining is an industry that will change yes, but itll never die as the digital age lurks around the corner. Everything that we use comes from this industry and this should be something people should invest in and expand on. Mining has been characterised as dangerous as an occupation and environmentally unfriendly. This has changed significantly over the years and will be non-existent in a couple of years.

The Role Of Energy Efficient Transformers In The Petrochemical Industry

Introduction

The U.S. petrochemical industry is the third largest in the world and a significant contributor to the countrys GDP. The US Petrochemicals Industry is also an indispensable part of the manufacturing and consumer sectors, churning out products such as fiberglass, tires, paint, plastic, rubber, detergents, dyes, fertilizers, textiles, solvents, and more.

In the recent past however, the US Petrochemicals Industry has undergone reasonably predictable lifecycle-path phases; from initial growth and augmentation to slowing down in marginal returns, and thereafter facing
possible downturns aided by many factors such as competition and resource constraints.

The future of the US petrochemical industry appears to be uncertain at present with the imbalance created in the market by the high feedstock process. According to Business Monitor Internationals (BMI) 2008 US Petrochemicals Report, the industry is also suffering the effects of a contraction in house building and car production, with output set to further diminish in 2009 and 2010.

Besides the ongoing effects of the recession, the US petrochemicals industry is faced with radical changes in the regulatory environment. The US is seeing a new policy climate with greater stress on tackling climate change through reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This move has major
implications for the energy-intensive petrochemicals industry. A bill seeking to make a 17% greenhouse gas emission reduction through 2020 has raised objections from the chemicals industry lobby. The industry could find it difficult to maintain both competitiveness in global markets and meet its carbon
targets, unless it introduces some drastic changes in the way it demands and uses energy.

Energy and the Petrochemical Industry

Energy is a very important cost factor in the chemical industry in general. The petrochemical industry is even more energy-intensive than other sub-sectors within the chemical industry. The sector spent about $10 billion on fuels and electricity in 2004.

The petrochemical industry is responsible for 70% of the chemical industrys expenditures on fuels and 40% of the expenditures on electricity. The cost of energy and raw materials are roughly 2/3rds of the total value of shipments of the petrochemical industry. Because energy is such a crucial cost factor for the
industry, improvement in energy efficiency is an important way to reduce costs and increase predictable earnings, especially in current times of high energy price volatility.

US manufacturers in the petrochemical industry also face an increasingly competitive global business environment; it is thus imperative that they reduce production costs without negatively affecting product yield or quality. Improving energy efficiency reduces the bottom line of any petrochemical plant.

Successful, cost-effective investment into energy-efficient technologies and practices meets the challenge of maintaining the output of a high quality product despite reduced production costs. This is especially important, as energy-efficient technologies often include additional benefits, such as increasing the productivity of the company and reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

There are a variety of opportunities available in the US petrochemical industry to reduce energy consumption in a cost-effective manner. Companies are thus coming together to begin the process of jointly exploring new and more energy-efficient processes that could dramatically reduce the dependence of the US petrochemical industry on foreign oil. The US petrochemicals industry is being hit by a rapid rise in energy costs and the The Role of Transformers

Transformers, besides other things like switchgear, converters, low-voltage equipment and power-plant solutions, are just some of the things that contribute to the efficient production and management of highquality
electricity.

Most standard transformers in industrial settings operate at full load and have 90 to 95% efficiency. However, one of the main reasons for energy loss in a transformer is due to inefficiencies in the transformer core. This issue is addressed in high-efficiency transformers that utilize the latest core
technologies to reduce core losses. The positive jump in efficiency is due mainly to the fact that the core is energized 24/7, even when the transformer load is turned off or disconnected.

Another issue of concern is that of transformer load. With the majority of the electricity used in the US being run through transformers at lower loads, sizable amounts of energy are being wasted. This issue is
of special relevance to an industry like that of Petrochemicals which already is a high consumer of energy.

The Need for Energy-Efficient Transformers

Compliant transformers are able to maintain National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Class 1 efficiency levels at 35% load. This is accomplished by using higher-grade grain-oriented steel in the core rather than the standard non grain-oriented type. Grain-oriented steel offers thinner gauge and purer
metallic material quality, reducing heat caused from eddy currents by limiting the direction in which current can flow. This narrowing of the magnetic field into a thinner profile also reduces the canceling effect of opposing currents.

Increasing the energy efficiency of a transformer allows the unit to operate at the same level of power with less energy being wasted. This has a large impact on the consumption and distribution of energy because the reduction in energy usage improves the countrys energy independence, reduces its carbon
footprint and lessens infrastructure investment.

Decreasing energy usage by reducing waste even by .03% over the next 20 years cuts the need for new power generation by 60 to 66 million kilowatts. That drop would eliminate the need for construction of 11 new 400-megawatt power plants by 2038.

Electrical power generation accounts for 35% of all US emissions of carbon dioxide, 75% of sulfur dioxide and 38% of nitrogen oxides. With higher-efficiency transformers, the country will see reduced emissions
of CO2, NOx and Hg of 678.8 Mt, 187.7kt and 6.48t over the next 30 years. Curbing energy imports will also bolster the US economy by reducing the current $65 billion trade deficit and mitigating fuel prices through decreased demand.

The compliant transformers will cost more than their lower-efficiency predecessors due to the higher price tag for grain-oriented steel, additional labor and higher raw material costs. While the compliant transformers will add to the cost of construction and maintenance projects, the end user will save this cost over the life of the transformer.

The Role of Transformers

Transformers, besides other things like switchgear, converters, low-voltage equipment and power-plant solutions, are just some of the things that contribute to the efficient production and management of highquality
electricity.

Most standard transformers in industrial settings operate at full load and have 90 to 95% efficiency. However, one of the main reasons for energy loss in a transformer is due to inefficiencies in the transformer core. This issue is addressed in high-efficiency transformers that utilize the latest core
technologies to reduce core losses. The positive jump in efficiency is due mainly to the fact that the core is energized 24/7, even when the transformer load is turned off or disconnected.

Another issue of concern is that of transformer load. With the majority of the electricity used in the US being run through transformers at lower loads, sizable amounts of energy are being wasted. This issue is of special relevance to an industry like that of Petrochemicals which already is a high consumer of
energy.

The Need for Energy-Efficient Transformers

Compliant transformers are able to maintain National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Class 1 efficiency levels at 35% load. This is accomplished by using higher-grade grain-oriented steel in the core rather than the standard non grain-oriented type. Grain-oriented steel offers thinner gauge and purer
metallic material quality, reducing heat caused from eddy currents by limiting the direction in which current can flow. This narrowing of the magnetic field into a thinner profile also reduces the canceling
effect of opposing currents.

Increasing the energy efficiency of a transformer allows the unit to operate at the same level of power with less energy being wasted. This has a large impact on the consumption and distribution of energy because the reduction in energy usage improves the countrys energy independence, reduces its carbon
footprint and lessens infrastructure investment.

Decreasing energy usage by reducing waste even by .03% over the next 20 years cuts the need for new power generation by 60 to 66 million kilowatts. That drop would eliminate the need for construction of 11 new 400-megawatt power plants by 2038.

Electrical power generation accounts for 35% of all US emissions of carbon dioxide, 75% of sulfur dioxide and 38% of nitrogen oxides. With higher-efficiency transformers, the country will see reduced emissions
of CO2, NOx and Hg of 678.8 Mt, 187.7kt and 6.48t over the next 30 years. Curbing energy imports will also bolster the US economy by reducing the current $65 billion trade deficit and mitigating fuel prices
through decreased demand.

The compliant transformers will cost more than their lower-efficiency predecessors due to the higher price tag for grain-oriented steel, additional labor and higher raw material costs. While the compliant transformers will add to the cost of construction and maintenance projects, the end user will save this cost over the life of the transformer.

Benefiting from Better-Designed Transformers

Increasing the energy efficiency of a transformer allows the unit to operate at the same level of power with less energy being wasted in the process.
Electric power systems throughout the petrochemical industry are designed to normally operate at 50 or 60 Hz. With proper planning during the design phase of the power system for a petrochemical plant, certain harmonics can be minimized. Another way to minimize harmonics in the petrochemical power
system is to minimize the saturation of transformers by maintaining the operation of the transformer in a reasonable voltage range.

The system short-circuit capacity is an important factor in determining the impact of power electronic loads in the petrochemical industry. Where the power system is weak with a relatively low short-circuit capacity, the voltage distortion caused by the harmonic currents can be significant. Conversely, where the power system is strong with a relatively high short-circuit capacity; the voltage distortion caused by the same harmonic current sources might be negligible. Thus, one solution to minimize the voltage distortion caused by power electronic equipment is to install the equipment on a strong power source.

Energy Policy Act 2005 Mandates High-Efficiency Transformers

The Energy Policy Act 2005 mandates that distribution transformers meet specific efficiency levels starting January 1, 2007. The production of non-compliant models was to be halted by 2006. The catch, however, is that the higher-efficiency transformers also cost more to build than the non-compliant models. By mid-2007, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was evaluating the efficiency standards for transformers because it was clear that even a slight improvement could save significant amounts of electricity which was currently being wasted well before it reached consumers. Efficiency in transformers would also reduce emissions from electric generating plants, as they would need to produce less energy.

The DOE was planning to issue new guidelines for distribution transformers by 2008. Once in place following a gradual phase-in, the new transformers are expected to save 26 billion kilowatt-hours annually. This will in turn reduce annual emissions from electric power plants by 15 million metric tons,
about equal to the average annual emissions of 2.7 million automobiles.

Pacific Crest Transformers and the Petrochemical Industry

Pacific Crest Transformers (PCT) has been catering to clients in the Petrochemical industry since its inception in 1919, thus making it possibly the only such company with 90 years of continuous domain
experience.

While the thrust towards energy-efficient transformers may be a relatively new phenomenon in the US, environmentally conscious companies like Pacific Crest Transformers (PCT) began eco-friendly initiatives years earlier.

PCT is committed to designing and manufacturing superior quality, custom-built and specialty transformers in the most cost-effective and responsive manner possible. The company has experience in building Padmount, Station and Secondary Unit Sub Transformers, and today specializes in environmentally friendly and efficient liquid-filled distribution transformers. PCT was propelled towards its energy efficiency initiative in its attempt to produce efficient, energy saving and therefore environmentally sensitive transformers.

The main thrust at PCT has always been customizing transformers after elaborate consultative processes
with the client. The transformers eventually built are based on client specification and are designed to fit
into the existing infrastructure.
Over the years PCT has designed transformers for:
Hazardous, flammable, or explosive environments
On-shore and off-shore platforms in corrosive atmospheres
Special taps and voltages as required
Harmonic loads from PLC and VFDs
High-pollution areas
PCTs transformers are present in environments where there is drilling and refining of fossil fuels, including natural gas, from areas with varied climatic conditions ranging from the hot humidity of the gulf coast to the frigid north slopes of Alaska. PCT Transformers are used throughout the process of
acquisition, transportation, and conversion of the end-products.

Conclusion

Energy is definitely a key driver of the Petrochemicals Industry, and so it is only natural that in the face of an uncertain oil future, companies take another look at the way they consume energy. Energy that is saved is considered the cleanest way of generating additional energy and steps to save energy are long
overdue.

Companies in this sector need to study their processes from an energy-efficiency standpoint and look at the various ways of conservation. With increasingly competitive times ahead, these steps taken now can
result in significant cost reduction. It may also be necessary to retrofit or invest in energy-efficient transformers, and restructure the existing energy system and here, working with a manufacturer that has deep domain expertise and sound long-term environmental strategies can make a real difference.

To know more about Energy Efficient Transformers check out Pacific crest transformers website.

Imperative Concerns In The Hair Salon Industry

Vital issues in the hair salon industry contain a number of factors such as the types of services that a beauty salon may offer to its clientele. Beauty services can include everything from cuts, to styling, to coloring, to extensions, just to name a few. The more services a salon is able to offer, the more marketable it will make itself to the public.

In order to be able to bring in as many customers as possible and to be able to connect with as many members of the community as possible it is recommended to hire a staff that can cater to the needs of people of all different ethnic backgrounds. Different ethnic groups have different needs when it comes to beauty services, and this should always be considered when new staff members are being interviewed and hired.

Suburban and urban locations are generally much better places to promote a beauty shop, and this also makes it much easier to stay aware of the latest trends in the business. It is also important to remember that the business itself should be easily found within the local area. Many clients may shy away from visiting a business that is difficult for them to find.

An additional way to stay informed of the latest and best products is to make sure that at least a couple of staff members are able to attend promotional events or conventions at least every other month or so. These conventions give people in the industry an opportunity to sample and learn about the newest products on the market.

It is also important to make sure that the prices that clients are being charged for a different beauty services fall within a reasonable price range for the industry. Even though it is everyone’s goal to make money and turn a profit, it is still important to remember that customers may feel tempted to seek services at a different business if they feel that they are being overcharged. A simple way to prevent this may be to research the prices of beauty shops located around the local area.

All employees that are hired to work in the hair world should be qualified with the latest credentials. It is a matter of safety and quality to make sure that all employees are highly qualified to perform the services that they claim to be able to perform.

One of the latest, easiest, and most cost-efficient ways to promote a business in this industry is through the use of social media and social networking sites. It usually costs nothing to establish these sites, and they can be updated multiple times per hour if someone would choose to do so. No business in this industry should also be operating without a well organized web page on the Internet.

Vital issues in the hair salon industry also include making sure to offer services using hypoallergenic products for customers who may need them. In today’s age of allergies and allergic reactions this is an easy way to maximize the potential for one’s business. Advertising the use of hypoallergenic products is an easy way to draw in extra customers that may otherwise not feel inclined to make use of someone’s business.

How To Reduce Product Defects In The Interlining Industry

For any manufacturer, the most important goal is to reduce product defects, and thus improve profitability. There are lots of ways to achieve this goal, however, the methods are supposed to come from the specific industry itself. You may apply quality control process or Six Sigma to reduce defects. However, the product defects will not be eliminated no matter which process improvement strategy is utilized. You may be infinitely close to 100% defect free for the interlining products like woven interlining, non-woven interlining and fusible interlining, but most probably you will never achieve the goal of 0% of product defects rate. With the improvement on reducing product defects, an interlining manufacturer may gain auxiliary benefits, such as lowering costs and increasing productivity, which finally turn into saving money in the business.

Reducing product defects for interlining products like woven interlining, non-woven interlining and fusible interlining is not the sole task for the managerial team in the company, but it is a collaboration of each individual in the organization. The involvement of the employees, especially those on the production line is the key to the success of reducing product defects. You will be open-minded when you have your staff directly involved. Indeed, with the contribution made by the employees, fewer errors and mistakes will happen during the production cycle, which in turn results in lowering the product defects.

The primary thing is to identify the changes we want to make, after you decide to reduce the defect rate for interlining products like woven interlining, non-woven interlining and fusible interlining. You can start with asking the employees in the company for what the problems are. You should also spend time on viewing the issue from every angle with the ideas got from the employees. This approach is insightful since the employees are in the manufacturing cycle with the interlining products, and may have ideas that the administrative staff have never come across. When implementing reducing product defects, the leader should bear in mind the basic principle of cost effectiveness. In other words, measures and actions should be taken under the full use of available resources. No matter which process improvement strategies you are applying, you may consider hiring professionals from consulting company that utilize Six Sigma. These professionals will help you identify the changes that need to be made.

Once you have target the changes need to be made, the subsequent step is to analyze the approach to the changes. At this stage, you should form a team to analyze how to deal with the changes. Documenting the measures or steps is essential to the success of reducing product defects. When analyzing the approach to the changes, the team should spend time on listing all the possibilities and have a comprehensive check on the running machine. It is also pointed out that the team should take the time to check whether the machines to produce interlining products like woven interlining, non-woven interlining and fusible interlining are on correct status, which is a crucial step in the process improvement strategy. Defects will be cut back and money will be saved if the machines are running at a correct status. If appropriate information on the machines is available, you will know how to adjust the change to benefit the company most, and thus reduce product defects.

After the implementation on the changes, a review process is needed to evaluate the outcome. You should constantly review the outcomes to ensure whether they are beneficial at all. You should always talk with the employees on the production line. They operate or monitor the machines every day, and get the firsthand results on the outcome of interlining products like woven interlining, non-woven interlining and fusible interlining. Indeed, employees will be able to provide useful ideas and suggestions to further improve the situation on the production line. If the company is looking for continuous effects on reducing the product defects, you can simply start from the identifying procedure and focus on the implementation of another change.

Remember when you are striving for reducing product defects in a business, your base line is that your company is saving money. The efforts on reducing product defects may become meaningless if the cost on interlining products like woven interlining, non-woven interlining and fusible interlining increases. On the contrary, the more money you save, the more benefits your company will receive.

With your efforts to reducing product defects by the changes, you may start to set a new goal to avoid making the same errors in the future. This is the direction to be infinitely close to 100% defect free. However, the set goal must be realistic, and all staff in the company should be involved. Under the current fierce competition in the interlining industry, reducing product defects should be a continuing strategic planning to save the business money, and improve the productivity.

Natural Mineral Water Indian Industry Analysis

Natural mineral water
According to American and European Regional Codex Standard, natural mineral water:
is obtained directly from natural or drilled sources from underground water – bearing strata.
is collected under conditions which guarantee the original natural bacteriological purity.
is bottled at the point of emergence of the source with

particular hygienic precautions is not subjected to any chemical treatment.

Indian bottled Water Industry

The bottled water industry in India is estimated at about Rs 1,000 crore and is growing at 40 per cent. “By 2010, it will reach Rs 4,000 – 5,000 crore with 33 per cent market for natural mineral water.

The formal bottled water business in India can be divided broadly into three segments in terms of cost: premium natural mineral water, natural mineral water and packaged drinking water.

It is estimated that the global consumption of bottled water is nearing 200 billion litres – sufficient to satisfy the daily drinking water need of one-fourth of the Indian population or about 4.5 per cent of the global population at the fourth World Water Forum held in Mexico City in March 2006.

In India, the per capita bottled water consumption is still quite low – less than five litres a year as compared to the global average of 24 litres. However, the total annual bottled water consumption has risen rapidly in recent times – it has tripled between 1999 and 2004 – from about 1.5 billion litres to five billion litres. These are boom times for the Indian bottled water industry – more so because the economics are sound, the bottom line is fat and the Indian government hardly cares for what happens to the nation’s water resources. Since 1991-

1992 it has not looked back, and the demand in 2004-05 was a staggering 82 million cases.

Mineral Water Market in India

For example, the per capita consumption of mineral water in India is a mere 0.5-liter compared to 111 liter in Europe and 45-liter in USA.

But over the last ten years, it has witnessed tremendous growth. The change is very much evident. Once a product found mainly at railways stations, mineral water today occupies a place on the shelf in most superstores, grocers and even paanwalas. From a mere 60 towns in the year 1997, it is predicted that mineral water is today available in more than 1000 towns and cities across India. With a compounded annual growth rate of close to 30% over the last decade, the mineral water market has witnessed a large growth in terms of volumes.

The market is highly competitive with the entry of MNCs like Pepsico and Coke. There are a lot of brands available in the market, each with its own proclaimed differentiation.

2.2 Player in the market

In natural mineral water there are very few company like Himalayan, Aava, Evian is playing in the market. 50% of the market is captured by Himalayan.
While a thousand bottled water producers, the Indian bottled water industry is big by even international standards. There are more than 200 brands, nearly 80 per cent of which are local.
Most of the small-scale producers sell non-branded products and serve small markets.
Despite the large number of small producers, this industry is dominated by the big players – Parle Bisleri, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Parle Agro, Mohan Meakins, SKN Breweries and so on.

Consumption of bottled water in India is linked to the level of prosperity in the different regions. The western region accounts for 40 per cent of the market and the eastern region just 10. However, the bottling plants are concentrated in the southern region – of the approximately 1,200 bottling water plants in India, 600 are in Tamil Nadu. This is a major problem because southern India, especially Tamil Nadu, is wate starved.

Mineral water business is restricted only to big hotels & Restaurants. This field has lot of scope because of unawareness in the market and people are becoming health conscious.