Jim,
Reading your column this week brought to mind the subject of piping. Having grown up in the deep south with ANSI piping firmly imbedded in my mind and then moving to Finland where they use DIN piping I am amazed at how much lighter weight the piping and flanges are for the same pressure ratings. The piping seems to work despite its much lighter construction, so you have to ask yourself why the ANSI piping standards continue to be used (the existing installed base, cost of re-tooling, etc.) when you could save quite a bit on materials (not just the pipe and fittings but also the supporting structures).
With that said, there are some areas of the mill where you need weight...like the woodyard. I have seen many cases where the calculations show 10mm plate will work but in order to make it last more than a few weeks you make it from 30mm plate!
Think light (but reliable)!
Robert Diaz
Kotka, Finland
Thank you, Robert, for making my point in the real world.
As some of you know, I go to Guatemala, usually twice a year, to build houses for the indigenous poor. One thing that amazes me there is how lightweight everything is built, even though we are in a serious earthquake zone. And even though we are working on houses, not heavy industrial facilities, there is a certain translation for me from one to another.
That being said, I am headed there again this summer. I have talked at least one pulp and paper executive into going with me. I would like to take a team along, to work building houses and I am thinking of informal seminars in the evening when we could talk about Light Green Machine Institute concepts. I have been there eight times since 2011 and I have fallen in love with the area, the people and the work.
If you would like to go, besides your cost of getting yourself to Guatemala City, the balance is only around USD 800, inclusive of transportation in the country, food, housing and so forth. We fly in on a Saturday and fly out the next Saturday.
If you would be interested in going, reply this week with a simple "Yes" in the subject line. I'll get in touch with you and give you the full details. The maximum number I can take is nine.
