Electrical Components

Decades of work and millions of dollars have been spent to create electrochemical batteries that can practically store and discharge power. But progress has been slow, leading many to believe there must be other better power storage solutions. Will batteries continue to lead the way at a faltering pace, or will some other power storage technology win the race?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electrical Components, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electrical Components today.

Whether you work with motors, drives, turbines, or electrical controls, eventually things wear out. The same holds true for the production process and facility itself. The issue then is whether to replace the older item or to rebuild it. Regardless of the item in question it comes down to a matter of total cost. For many it's cheaper, easier, and faster to upgrade than to buy or build new. So my question is, how do you calculate the costs and benefits of both? Are your ideas and justifications accepted openly, or are they pushed aside by perceived priorities?

Eventually tools, processes, and even plants wear out. How do you calculate the costs and benefits of replace vs. rebuild? Are your ideas accepted, or do finance department perceptions take precedence?

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Suppliers outwardly say they want and support industry standards, but they often work in clandestine ways to thwart creation of same. In industrial as well as consumer markets, the result quite often is a superior standard being trumped by an inferior competitor due to better PR and marketing. What, if anything, can end users and consumers do to pressure suppliers into early and enthusiastic embrace of one standard in each product category?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electrical Components, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electrical Components today.

There's little doubt that technology advances have changed our society. Yet few political candidates have much to say about how technology is changing society. Are they just techno illiterate, do they think voters don't care or won't understand, or do they think that government's best role in technology is to stand aside? When it comes to the future of high tech, does it matter which candidate is selected?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electrical Components, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electrical Components today.

Some claim that China and other developing nations are stealing manufacturing jobs from more established countries, but the facts don't support the rhetoric. In fact, just like the rest of the world, China is losing manufacturing jobs to increased productivity from automation. How do engineers and techies convince the general public that increases in manufacturing productivity and the subsequent loss of manufacturing jobs are good things? Do you see a good side to productivity?

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Electrical Components, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Electrical Components today.