Considerations for Keeping Your Wood-Fired Boiler Running Efficiently
Environmentally conscious manufacturers are always on the lookout for effective ways to use renewable energy sources. There has been a lot of research in this area over the past few decades. Modern biomass, especially bio-fuels and wood pellets, are increasingly being used for heat and power generation, alongside traditional biomass sources such as agricultural by-products. Bio-power is now the 4th…Read More ›
Top 5 Refractory Mistakes to Avoid
While refractory material is critical to protecting and maintaining the efficiency of your heat processing equipment (and more importantly, keeping your people safe!), it’s not always a priority for many of today’s industrial plant engineers and managers. Refractories are a complex field, heavy on both science and art. The idea that “mud is mud” is dangerous thinking that can end…Read More ›
When Hot-Gunning Refractory Is a Better Option Than a Cold Cleaning Patch
As a full service refractory contractor who prides ourselves in doing the job right, we always strive to create the best cost-effective long-term solution when it comes to protecting your people, production schedule and heat processing equipment. But sometimes, the realities of your production schedule justify short-term fixes instead of the best “long-term solution.” On a recent job, our customer…Read More ›
The Hidden Cost of Corundum Growth in Aluminum Furnaces
If you have an aluminum furnace, you’re familiar with corundum. When molten aluminum oxidizes with oxygen in the atmosphere, corundum forms. And it’s dangerous, whether it’s forming in a melt furnace or in a holding furnace: When corundum forms inside of the furnace refractory, it expands and destroys the refractory lining and eventually the joints of the furnace. When corundum…Read More ›
How to Avoid Getting Fooled When Evaluating Refractory Contractor Bids
As a refractory contractor focused on installation, maintenance and mechanical work, we’re used to filling out Request for Proposals and cost grids. These are extremely helpful for industrial manufacturing purchasing departments to use to compare unit pricing and select the lowest bid. But sometimes, these end up hurting you. How is that possible? First, let us clarify that we completely…Read More ›