Articles and News

Radiflow and Yanai Engineering, announced that the two companies are offering a new tool set to enable partners to provide managed Security Operations Center (SOC) services for operational technology (OT) networks with industrial control systems (ICS) and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.

The first stage of cavitation is the formation of vapor bubbles within the liquid system because of the fluid's static pressure falling below the fluid vapor pressure

At the exhibit sponsored by the International Society of Automation (ISA) and its umbrella organization, the Automation Federation (AF), hundreds of young people and their parents as well as other visitors competed in a computerized game based on an actual industrial automation and control system.

Caterpillar creates machinery that powers businesses, builds communities, and enriches lives, from diesel-powered engines and gas turbines to hydraulic excavators and agricultural tractors. With the help of SAP, Caterpillar has manufactured heavy-duty equipment with IoT sensors for several customers

This version expands the “Devices,” “Streams,” and “Interfaces” models, adds many new data items, and includes edits for clarity and usability.

The Dragos Platform integration with OSIsoft's PI System is designed to provide broader visibility of operational data and industrial network data

Once the program launches, the Wyncode Custom Cohort responsibilities shift to actively managing various components such as monitoring student performance, evaluating course progress, coordinating communication between client, instructional staff and participants as well as employment contracts, orientation and housing.

ISA membership costs just $120 per year and gives you access to dozens of benefits. But even more than these line items, it gives you a way to belong to the profession that you’ve chosen for your life

The lab is part of CSU’s Fermentation Science and Technology (FST) program. Support from both the university and members of the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork program was vital to getting the brewery operational.

CodeMeter, a solution for protection, licensing, and security, has been selected by Phoenix Contact as the technology to streamline license and entitlement management of their PLCnext control system solution.

Modern leak detection equipment can prevent pipeline theft.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com The ISE program offers a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, designing a curriculum that allows students to think laterally, envision and analyze multiple perspectives in the creative design process.

By Benson Hougland, Opto 22 Products developed using open systems technologies are in widespread use throughout the commercial sector, providing a host of benefits to vendors and their customers. But the open systems movement has been slow to penetrate the often closed and proprietary world of industrial automation—denying end users, OEMs and system integrators the same types of benefits.

Membership in the organization will allow Güdel-TSC to expand its reach and make strategic business connections through access to automation trade shows, conferences, other networking events, market research, consensus standards and certification programs.

Tompkins Robotics announced its partnership with SI Systems, a global provider of the picking robots for order fulfillment and kitting. The partnership was formed to create faster, space optimized ''no pick labor required'' solutions.

The recent Indegy poll of nearly 100 executives from various critical infrastructure organizations underscores the lack of preparedness in key sectors including energy, utilities and manufacturing.

A properly designed control system must provide an effective trade-off between performance and robustness. One of the main reasons to investigate the fragility of fractional-orde PID controllers is to

By Siegfried Müller, MB Connect Line Nowadays it‘s difficult to imagine that a new appliance will be developed without a safety risk analysis, or by using safety elements without corresponding certifications. In fact, standards and norms regulate how security components have to be designed and deployed. Within information technology, such regulations don‘t exist yet.

EZ-LINK is available free-of-charge from the Apple and Android app stores for phones and tablets, and provides access to the controller’s parameters with fully spelled out names in plain text with help topics that explain each parameter and option.

The focus will be on developing a corporate culture that influences more innovation and internationalization. Jenoptik will establish or expand local R&D teams and production facilities in all major markets.

Resistance temperature detectors require a temperature transmitter to function. This is not a disadvantage of an RTD, since its function does not require a temperature transmitter to be installed.

The annual championship—which celebrates excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), innovative thinking and teamwork—takes place 18-21 April in Houston, Texas and 25-28 April in Detroit, Michigan.

Agilion is a supplier of industrial Real-Time Locating Systems (RTLS) focusing on applications in production, logistics and maintenance. The company is recognized as a pioneer in the field of RTLS in the Ultra Wide Band (UWB) frequency spectrum.

The RIA Certified Robot Integrator program was established in 2012. The program was designed to set standards for the industry and identify a quality benchmark for robot integrators to meet.

By Rachel Bugaris, Panduit Corp AVTs automate the functions of handheld voltage testers for this specific task and display information about the status of voltage inside equipment without exposure to electrical hazards.

A resource for engineers, plant managers and distributors, this catalog provides customers with product specifications, dimensional information, Cv values, and pressure versus temperature ratings.

The survey of more than 200 manufacturing organizations found that 51 percent of respondents believe their DSN maturity is at least "above average" compared to competitors, yet only 28 percent have started implementing DSN solutions.

Self-regulating responses are very common in the process industry. Many flows, liquid pressures, temperatures, and composition processes are self-regulating. This post offers a method for tuning PID c

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Digitalization and education were once again at the forefront of the 11th annual Manufacturing in America. Held March 14-15 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI, the summit also saw discussions on the role of blockchain technology, and also provided ideas and solutions to help manufacturing companies to achieve operational excellence.

The FDC is an educational resource for hands-on learning. It aims to inspire young people and to encourage a pipeline of talent into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers.

SCARA robots used in the automobile industry will cross over 33 thousand units by 2024. This can be credited to increasing usage in applications such as high-speed assembly and handling operations.

By H2W Technologies A voice coil actuator, also known as a non-commutated DC linear actuator, is a type of direct drive linear motor. Voice coil actuators are typically used in focusing applications, oscillatory systems, mirror tilting, and miniature position control.

U.S. students pursuing a degree in engineering are urged to apply by the April 10, 2018, deadline for Emerson’s 2018 ASCO Engineering Scholarship program.

As part of the design process, the Shadow Robot Company needed specific bearings with very tight tolerances in dimensional accuracy. This is important for accuracy of the smart grasper’s movements. So, the team contacted SMB Bearings as the business is known for its supply of non-standard bearings.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation According to Apple, the large green spaces, wellness centre and 805,000 square-feet of solar panels at its second campus makes it the best office in the world. This article explains how large businesses can benefit from renewable energy.

The development of the HART-IP and WirelessHART communications protocols have created a growing need for battery-powered solutions that can operate without maintenance for decades and provide reliable

The first webinar will take place on Thursday, April 19 at 2:00pm eastern time. The series will feature information intended to help manufacturers and utility providers learn how they can protect operations from downtime and errors that can result from unmanaged automation program changes.

As part of the collaboration between Radiflow and RSA, the companies have integrated Radiflow’s iSID Intrusion Detection System and RSA’s NetWitness threat detection and cyber-incident response suite

When a pump control switch is in auto, the storage tank low level switch or the pressure tank high level switch can stop the pump.

Inductive Automation defines Enterprise Integrators as those with a high level of Ignition certification, a global presence, the ability to take on enterprise-wide projects, and 250 or more engineers, among other requirements.

Starting in April, DENSO’s R&D satellite will begin collaborating with local startups to pioneer new technologies. DENSO will tap into Israel’s technology strengths to develop more technologies, both internally and through collaborative research with local companies and universities.

Sensai works to increase throughput and decrease downtime with AI technology that enables manufacturing operations teams to monitor machinery, diagnose problems and implement solutions.

The CRS patents and IP offer Nemalux access to the future of the Internet of Things (IoT) market using existing lighting infrastructure. Some of the enhanced company services included OEM services and customized LED solutions.

The U.S. Small Business Administration recognized Control Station’s international growth with the 2018 Connecticut Exporter of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to a Connecticut-based business that demonstrates consistent growth in export sales and profits.

ISA/IEC 62443-4-1-2018, Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems Part 4-1: Product Security Development Life-Cycle Requirements, specifies process requirements for the secure development of products used in an IACS. It defines a secure development life-cycle for developing and maintaining secure products.

The FieldComm Group Plant of the Year is an international award presented to end user companies in the process automation industry to recognize exceptional application of FOUNDATION Fieldbus and / or HART Communication technologies.

Wavelet decomposition enables differentiation between faulty & healthy conditions for effective diagnostic procedure for wind turbine condition monitoring.

The Kaspersky Lab report, “Threat Landscape for Industrial Automation Systems in H2 2017,” also found that for all other industries (manufacturing, transportation, utilities, food, healthcare, etc.) the proportion of ICS computers attacked ranged from 26 percent to 30 percent on average. The vast majority of detected attacks were accidental hits.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation Traditionally, the way to succeed in an engineering career has been to work your way up the corporate ladder, but is the influx of new start-ups changing this? This article looks at how engineering businesses can retain staff in the era of the start-up.

Awards will be granted to TU Dortmund and West Virginia Universities to fund research programs tied to engineering design and simulation. Winners were selected from 20 submittals. Funds will be used for research that provides proof of concepts, demonstrations of feasibility and related activities.

By Ashley Little, DO Supply, Inc. Rather than working in a caged off area, cobots are designed to collaborate with human workers and enhance the production teams’ capabilities rather than replace them.

Finland-based Orfer Oy needed to automate to speed up its packaging operations. With this in mind, Orfer standardized on the Toshiba Machine TH650A high-speed SCARA robot for the BoxCellPlus.

Customization of products that deviate from vendor and industry standards leads to a number of problems on projects. Engineering and as-built documentation costs can increase because of the deviation

The mission was to drive scrap down from the historical 10 percent autoclave levels down to below 4 percent. Plasan Carbon Composites implemented the FactoryTalk Historian Site Edition (SE) and FactoryTalk VantagePoint EMI enterprise manufacturing intelligence software from Rockwell Automation

By Robert Glass, ABB It’s widely understood that improving the efficiency of equipment and processes will make a business more competitive and reduce operational costs. This article explains how to reduce sugar plant carbon emissions.

If a pressure sensor/transmitter is giving a non-linear response, replacement of the sensor and/or the transmitter will be required.

Heath Ceramics needed a wireless temperature monitoring system to collect data during the kiln process and to help establish a temperature profile for future runs. This product quality solution also had to feature multiple inputs for temperature sensors, along with professional software to analyze results.

These sessions will be held on the Tuesday – the EXPO set-up day. At the exhibit itself, CAMI will have hands-on exhibits for visitors to experience CableEye.

About 225 jobs at Protolabs’ Plymouth, Minn. plant will relocate to the Brooklyn Park building, enabling the company to expand the injection molding capacity in the Plymouth facility to support increased customer demands. The new Brooklyn Park plant is scheduled to become fully operational by the end of 2018.

OmniSOC is a pioneering initiative of these Big Ten Academic Alliance universities with a goal to help higher education institutions reduce the time from first awareness of a cybersecurity threat anywhere to mitigation everywhere for members.

By Molly Bakewell Chamberlin, Embassy Global LLC (with Jim Lally, PCB Group, Inc.) I, like many, remain truly grateful for the selfless and meaningful contributions of Bob Lally to my early professional development, particularly in my technical article work. It is an honor to tell his story.

Turck’s production facility in Mexico has nearly doubled, as 65,000 square feet were added. Six new work cells and new equipment will help to accelerate the manufacturing of customer orders. In the U.S., Turck has added 38,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space near its Plymouth, Minnesota, headquarters.

Discussions during the one-day conference on Wednesday, September 12 will focus on cybersecurity, maintenance and robotics. GAMS kicks off with a networking luncheon and keynote address followed by four educational sessions led by top industry experts.

The IIoT essentially involves acquiring data from hundreds—if not thousands—of process and equipment sensors, and transmitting the data to central locations via wireless or hardwired networks. Once ac

Unity Scientific was recognized outstanding achievement in the Engineering and Production Technology Leadership category, for applying 3D printing and electronic alignment technologies in the manufacturing process.

By Jonathan Wilkins, Marketing Director, EU Automation Digital, internet-connected devices mean that consumers can dictate exactly what they want — more customisable products. As manufacturers invest in more sophisticated automation and modernise processes, they can begin to offer these products to customers.

The STAAR summer camp is an immersive, week-long residential programme for Year 10 students who demonstrate an interest in, or aptitude for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

By Bob McIlvride, Director, Communications, Skkynet Cloud Systems In the rapidly-evolving space of Industrial IoT (IIoT), we are seeing some growth in understanding about what makes a good IIoT protocol. For IIoT to work well, the tools you employ must suit the unique requirements.

ABB announced a new Collaborative Operations Center in Västerås, Sweden, intended to help provide predictive analytics and Key Performance Indicators to improve customer processes.

Mission-critical specialists are in-demand in a variety of critical infrastructure areas, focused on events that could result in serious consequences, such as loss of life, harm to the environment or

Integrating the usability and familiarity of this Windows OS with ARM CPUs gives developers more options and it also brings Microsoft computing to the low power consumption, mobile market.

The yacht, called the Mini 650, is the project of two Italian boat builders, Francesco Belvisi and Daniele Cevola. They are building it for the 2019 solo transatlantic yacht race, called the Mini-Transat, which starts in France and ends in Brazil.

The shaft speed of a motor is directly proportional to the frequency and is inversely proportional to the number of poles.

Funded by a €1.8 million grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, the project will develop a miniature, trustworthy collision detection sensor system that could drastically improve the safety of autonomous vehicles.

By Michael Risse, Seeq Corporation Time series data storage and management has long been an interesting—if quiet—market category. With multibillion-dollar markets at stake, industry heavyweights are vying for position in a once-quiet category.

ISA provides members with opportunities to gain knowledge, skills, leadership development, and friendship. There are also opportunities to give back, through collaboration, mentorship, volunteerism, s

This will serve as the company’s technology showcase, including engineering and assembly of the Autocraft Autonomous Guided Vehicles, as well as an additive manufacturing (3D printing) laboratory.

The conference program incorporates the critical insights of experts who will deliver peer-reviewed technical papers; provide important technical updates; highlight trends and innovations; and review best practices and success stories in the process analytical arena.

Digitalization, IIoT and the smart factory will usher greater operational intelligence, more efficient production, and safer work environments.Smart sensors, ubiquitous connectivity, and remote access

From April 23-27, 2018, HANNOVER MESSE and CeMAT will run concurrently with a particular emphasis on integration in supply chain and manufacturing. The theme -'Integrated Industry – Connect & Collaborate' - encompasses the range of Industry 4.0 technology, thinking, and creative applications

By John Mitchell, CP Automation European manufacturers are estimated to spend over €400 Billion every year on maintenance activities. This article discusses the issues that stop manufacturers cutting costs and improving productivity – the essence of lean manufacturing.

Doxel AI construction systems take a holistic view of every project, tying together existing tools in AI, robotics and LIDAR imaging.

A boiler-turbine unit in coal-fired power plants is used to convert fuel chemical energy into mechanical energy & then into electrical energy.

By Ingemar Serneby, Emerson Automation Solutions In recent years, industrial automation companies have made enormous advancements by incorporating processors into control devices, instrumentation and networking components. But an instrumentation engineer may feel perplexed when looking at all the options for something as basic as a differential pressure transmitter.

Based on Industry 4.0 concepts, this technology runs in an XMPP server cloud and compiles IEC 61850-8-2 XMPP and IEC 61850-7-420 protocols for DER (Distributed Energy Resource) via a plug & play gateway.

Siemens, and the eight founding Charter of Trust members, welcomed The AES Corporation, Atos and Enel to its global cybersecurity initiative at the 2018 CERAWeek conference in Houston, TX.

The OTTO Industrial API connects self-driving vehicles to existing automation systems and processes, providing integration of OTTO with standardized integrations with industry-standard software and protocols.

A tank level is measured using a differential pressure transmitter (DPT-1) and a bubbler tube. The tank is vented to atmosphere.

The Capital Grid project was initiated to replace aging grid infrastructure and increase transmission capacity in the District of Columbia and Maryland, to address current and future energy needs.

Nozomi Networks’ end-to-end platform is designed for ICS cybersecurity. Capabilities include real-time ICS monitoring, industrial network visualization, hybrid ICS threat and anomaly detection, asset inventory and vulnerability assessment, all delivered through a single solution.

This guide covers general-purpose synchronous motors without excited rotor windings, and provides design metrics for polyphase alternating-current permanent magnet motors rated 500 horsepower and less.

The course “Consulting Engineering Essentials” taking place on March 29 in New Orleans, provides an overview of ownership responsibilities and offers insights to help develop project engineers into well-rounded consulting engineers.

Kuehne + Nagel will deploy Honeywell's supply chain technology solutions globally at its warehouses, including voice-directed solutions, cloud-based software and warehouse automation solutions.

The combination of Siemens industrial experience and Secure-NOK’s technology is intended to offer a flexible solution for infrastructure in industries such as Power Utilities, Oil &Gas installations, Transportation Systems and others with a growing need to protect against cyber threats.

The Endress+Hauser product portfolio of electromagnetic flowmeters is designed for precise measurement of volume flow without restricting production flow rates or causing any pressure drop.

ABB will partner with the communities of Deering and Buckland to install modular “plug-and-play” microgrids that will leverage ABB Ability Microgrid Plus automation system and PowerStore storage technology, to maximize the adoption of wind power.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation For manufacturers, a world without unplanned downtime would be the perfect utopia. The question is, is abolishing unplanned downtime a far-fetched dream, or is it closer than we think? This article shares a vision for a downtime free age.

Loss of a fraction of a percent of line flow rate can be detected and located within meters in a very short period of time.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com HARTING has been expanding into edge computing for Industry 4.0 and IoT applications. 2018 for HARTING will see an enhanced focus on digitalization, education and edge computing.

By Stefan Hoppe, OPC Foundation The Industrial Internet of Things – abbreviated to IIoT and known in Germany as Industrie 4.0 – is a technology trend that is the enabler of the 4th industrial revolution, and is bringing about a transformation in the way we do business.