The 23rd national maintenance conference hosted by MEETA took place at Engineers Ireland headquarters of Friday 24th November. Several leading international speakers addressed the conference, which focused on the theme of asset management as a value added factor.

Kenneth Ashley, author of the Legionella Approved Code of Practice L8, delivered an informative talk on controlling Legionella. Understanding how to implement approved codes of practice is now essential for maintenance managers, because responsibility can no longer offloaded to a contractor. Kenneth, an expert witness for a number of HSE prosecutions and for the Crown when prosecuting for manslaughter, detailed one case in the UK where manager was held responsible for the maintenance of a cooling tower and was faced with charges for seven counts of manslaughter after multiple deaths resulting from the Legionella bacteria.

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c45959) has announced the addition of Machinery Failure Analysis Handbook to their offering.

Machine reliability is essential to optimum process plant operation and profitability. Machinery Failure Analysis Handbook helps prevent costly downtime losses by providing a valuable overview of machinery failure analysis and prevention. This important new handbook;

• Clearly presents key insights and practical information for obtaining and maintaining peak performance in various types of machinery

• Shows maintenance/reliability engineers and safety/loss prevention specialists how to anticipate and avoid equipment failure
Beginning with the fundamental causes of machinery failure (design, material, manufacturing and assembly failures), the book then

• Examines failure analysis practices and policies

• Focuses on specific modes (fatigue fractures, wear, corrosion, etc.) and component failures shafts, bearings, seals, bolts/nuts, gears, belt drives, valves, couplings

• Shows how improving efficiencies can increase reliability and reduce maintenance costs

• Reveals how design and purchase specifications, shop testing, installation, maintenance and operation all contribute to preventing machinery failure

The European testing centre for the maintenance systems of the ITER fusion test reactor established at VTT in Tampere, Finland, is proceeding. The construction work on the centre has already begun and is progressing well. The international researcher exchange was also launched at the beginning of November in order to train experts for the testing centre.

The construction of the steel structures of the testing centre for ITER’s maintenance systems is currently in progress; the installation work on the robotics and control systems will begin next spring. The basic structures in Tampere will be supplied by TP-Konepajat, located in Tampere, which won the demanding international competitive tendering process. The other parties come from Spain and Luxembourg.

SUGAR LAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas). Chemical plant owners continue to put a greater focus on maintenance turnaround projects increasing total spending by over $100 million to $667 million compared to $549 million in 2005. This increase in maintenance turnaround spending, in most cases, can be directly attributed to a larger number of preventative and predictive maintenance projects plus energy reliability upgrades being implemented during planned production downtime.

Oakland NJ, USA—MIKRON INFRARED INC (NasdaqCM:MIKR), a leading provider of Thermal Imaging, Calibration Equipment and Noncontact temperature sensors to the Process Industries, Maintenance and Security Markets reached the lofty rank of 16 in the Investor Business Daily IBD 100 on November 27, 2006.

Google, Inc., a market leader in Internet search and advertising, on the other hand, rated a mid-place 61 in the same ratings.