Salvaging electronic wastes

The Machinist presents excerpts from the report of Greenpeace International on recycling of electronic wastes in China and India: workplace and environmental contamination
The production of electrical and electronic equipment is increasing worldwide (Cui and Forssberg 2003) and the lifespan of some of the equipment is very short. For example, computers in the early 1980s were used on an average for about ten years but their lifespan has reduced to an average of about three years. This is due to the rapid and continual improvements in technology, which quickly outdates older models.Mobile phones too become outdated and are replaced on average after about two years (Boghe 2001). As a consequence of the increasing market expansion in electrical and electronic goods and their short lifespan, the waste stream of these products, commonly called e-waste, is fast growing........ more>>

For a green future

It is becoming increasingly important for the manufacturing sector to become more responsible towards the environment. Manufacturers of HVAC systems are no exception. Niranjan Mudholkar finds out how Trane is contributing to the environment through its energy efficient chillers
Though the Green Building Congress (GBC) is primarily an event for the construction industry, it carries a pertinent message for the manufacturing sector as well. And the message is crystal clear – ‘Manufacture energy efficient and environment friendly machines or be wiped out’. So it was hardly surprising that the recently concluded GBC 2006 (October 12-15, 2006) saw healthy participation from a number of machine manufacturers who directly or indirectly serve the construction sector.......more>>