Articles and News

Leidos customers will gain integration with the Claroty Platform for continuous threat monitoring, detection and response. The offering will be available through resale by Leidos to both current and future Leidos Industrial Defender ASM customers

There are four leading types of protocols commonly used in process plants: HART, PROFIBUSPA, FOUNDATION Fieldbus and WirelessHART. All four of these protocols are designed to connect field instruments to control and monitoring host systems, typically a distributed control system (DCS) or an asset management system

ISA wants to make automation professionals better at what they do, to help their industries move forward.

Working in close collaboration with the Terra53 integration partner and customer, eMobility International, ABB’s Terra 53 fast chargers now cover the international routes from Sofia to the Greek border

RACO is a supplier of remote monitoring systems for critical assets via traditional landlines or IIoT. RACO offers a hosted data solution, AlarmAgent.com, which centralizes data in the cloud and provides secure access to that data through an online Web Portal.

Taking place at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda on 7-9 August 2018—only 15 minutes from the nation’s capital—the WWAC Symposium will feature two days of technical speakers, an exhibitor hall, a tour of a local water plant, and technical training courses on a variety of topics.

Key challenges facing shale gas producers relate to the safety, reliability, efficiency, and flexibility of their operations.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things into manufacturing has seen several companies, many - like Dell - not previously associated with manufacturing, working to leverage the new technologies to enhance the industry with connected industrial solutions

These commitments will cover more than 1,000 electricity consuming sites around the globe, including 200 factories. Schneider Electric will leverage a broad range of renewable energy sources, including but not limited to solar, wind, geothermal and biomass.

Flexware Innovation is a system integrator based in Fishers, Ind. The company specializes in solutions in life science, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, and discrete manufacturing.

By Scott Hollis, PAS Global Process control networks (PCNs) in critical infrastructure sites − refineries, chemical plants, and manufacturing facilities − all have potential danger swimming just below the surface in the form of undiscovered vulnerabilities.

To improve the diesel engine performance, a high-pressure rail injection system has been shown to pay a vital role in reducing diesel pollution.

Thanks to drive and control technology from AMK, the solutions of HERO GmbH in Sigmaringendorf, Germany, have done away with anything that is not actually needed to meet the precise product quality standards.

With XLReporter’s custom connectors to FactoryStudio and point-and-click configuration, Users create informative drill-down, summary, utilization and regulatory reports from real-time, historical and alarm data. Completed reports are distributed via web pages, networked printers, PDF files and email.

Ocean Data Systems is now an Encompass Product Partner and Dream Report is a reference product in the program under the category of “Software Product – Report Generation”.

By Jonathan Wilkins, Marketing Director, EU Automation For smaller businesses, investing in new technology can be daunting, especially where robotics and automation are concerned. This article discusses the features of robotics that are most useful for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The volts-per-hertz ratio (V/Hz) controls the torque of a motor.

Honeywell will also form a new joint venture company with FLUX's founder to serve customers outside China. Honeywell will hold a 75 percent stake in the new joint venture, which will initially focus on opportunities in the Asia Pacific region

By choosing to secure all digital data in the engineering phase, the technology enables users of Renishaw systems to protect their digital intellectual property (IP), enforce production rules and provide traceability in the digital supply chain

Through the new CNC Dealer Locator, customers can find dealers or OEMs by location or by OEM or dealer name. Once identified on the CNC Dealer Locator, the dealer or OEM can help the customer find the right CNC machine for their needs.

Miele uses material flow simulation, which will be using OPC UA standards to obtain live data directly from the source. With that feedback into higher level systems can be visualized, optimized and controlled.

In part 1 of the Beginner's PLC Overview, we talked about what PLCs are, their history, and how they work. This article will get a little deeper into the PLC's Central Processing Unit (CPU).

The Data Portal is an integrated, web-based data platform for provision of EPLAN compatible device data from component manufacturers for direct use in EPLAN software solutions.

The survey polled 130 strategic decision makers from industrial companies about their approach to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and their use of industrial cyber security technologies and practices.

By Steve Mulder, Rockwell Automation Packaging end users are eager to better understand their operations, improve productivity and keep up with competitive pressures. This article discusses how smart, secure and Ethernet-enabled packaging machines are working to give end users a competitive edge

Enaex announced the joint robotic effort at a recent event highlighting Mine-iTruck, a “mobile manufacturing unit,” using teleoperation and autonomous features that operate the vehicle autonomously inside an open pit mine

Mr. Tsuda succeeds Joe Gemma (KUKA, USA), who is leaving the rotating post as head of the global federation of robot manufacturers, having served his two-year term.

Data historians are key to capturing a facility’s business-critical performance information & are a driving force behind the Industrial Internet of Things.

Schneider Electric's Calgary, Alberta and Lake Forest, California process automation product development centers have been certified by exida, a globally recognized ISO 17065 certification body.

By Don Pham, IDEC The processing power, data storage and I/O handling capabilities of micro PLCs allow them to be used as the main automation driver for complex machines, processing lines, or even an entire plant or facility.

6RS needed a new system to document and control all product lifecycle information and ensure clear communication of information. The system also had to provide complete and detailed Bill of Materials (BOMs) and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) to their CM.

Written for busy professionals, this brochure is designed to help readers understand what OPC UA security has to offer and how to best use it.

Rockwell Automation will apply this 3-D, time-of-flight sensing technology to sensing products to deliver solutions to a broad range of demanding industrial applications, including automotive and general assembly, packaging and material handling, and logistics.

In the gravity filter plant, 18 butterfly valves are situated in an area beneath a walkway which made it difficult to access and operate the old actuators. With the Rotork actuators, the installation of Remote Hand Stations (RHS) has now eliminated this problem.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com The convergence of IT and OT, to create more effective operations throughout the company, was evident throughout the conference presentations and discussions, and this reflects many of the recent trends in the manufacturing industry.

When creating detailed control narratives for existing controls, use established standards and industry best practices.

By connecting an eWON Cosy or Flexy router to a machine, it is possible to access and control the machine via the cloud service eWON Talk2. eWON users can then access Talk2M in a secure way from a computer using the eCatcher software. It is available for free for iOS and Android.

Sercos International offers a means to evaluate the Sercos SoftMaster. Within minutes, Sercos-on-a-Stick converts almost every x86 based PC to a Sercos Master Test System, making it possible to realize real-time communication without hardware extensions

By Anthony Borges, PINpoint Information Systems There are many common challenges manufacturers face on their assembly lines which must be overcome to produce quality products in the most efficient way. It is after-all the assembly line where products are born, from physical actions, or process steps performed by both line workers and machines.

For the sake of ease and safety, Industry recognized it is better for an operator to monitor and control processes in a more convenient and protected place

Fluke Calibration announced the Metrology Problem Solver Challenge, a way for technicians to share their stories on how they used Fluke Calibration products to solve complex problems.

Created in 2014, the program helps industrial companies identify safety system integrators with current safety standards expertise, a proven track record in building safety systems, and knowledge of contemporary safety technologies.

By Jeff Carr, Ultra Consultants When assessing the current value of a legacy ERP system, the primary focus should be whether the legacy features and functions adequately support the business - not just the current state of business but the anticipated future state too.

Prosys OPC and IOTech have agreed that IOTech's Edge Xpert offering will include an optional Prosys OPC UA Java SDK for developing the device services with OPC UA communications.

A new type of self-tuning, dual-mode adaptive fractional order PID controller for a quadruple tank process

ABB and HPE will deliver joint industry solutions that merge OT and IT to turn industrial data into insights and automatic action, combining cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure with IT systems running in corporate data centers and at the edge of the network.

METTLER TOLEDO’s new food guides are designed to help manufacturers improve their understanding of food-safety standards and introduce them to processing equipment and solutions that can help operations become more efficient:

Inductive Automation looks forward to working more closely with IAG, which is becoming a more active member of the Ignition community.

If you are interested in learning about PLCs and/or PACs, but you are not sure where to start, then this Beginner's PLC Overview blog series has been written for you!

By John Krajewski III, Schneider Electric Human Machine Interfaces started as point solutions, but are now progressing to company-wide Operations Management Interfaces to leverage Industrial IoT and Industry 4.0 strategies.

The production capacity of the Japanese suppliers has reached 153,000 units in 2016 – the highest level ever recorded. Today, Japan´s manufacturers deliver 52 percent of the global supply.

The partnership is intended to provide OPC UA Toolkits and extended consulting, training and development services to North America.

DCS selection for an industrial application is critical to the successful integration of plant assets, people & processes for improved business operations.

The resistance of a length of a conductor can be determined using the specific resistance and the cross-sectional area by using the equation R = r L/A

RACO has joined the Dream Report Proven Partner Program and is recommending Dream Report as their solution for custom reports and dashboards.

Due for delivery in spring 2018, two fast chargers will be installed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Eriksberg Square, on line 16 of the city’s bus network, on which two prototype electric articulated high capacity buses from Volvo will operate.

The 52-page publication, which is offered in an interactive online version or as a download, features detailed descriptions, specifications and schematics of DENSO’s entire lineup of four-axis SCARA and five- and six-axis articulated robots, robot controllers and programming software.

The manufacturing system - combining smart equipment, improved processes, plant automation and MES software - delivered on traceability and compliance requirements as well as on efficiencies.

BA Systèmes has completed the partial automation of Sappi’s Maastricht paper mill in the Netherlands. The fleet of 7 counterbalanced AGVs constitutes an automated solution for integrated production and storage flows.

This link gives users of the Engineering Base (EB) software system direct access to data throughout the service life of the measuring devices concerned, including such items as instruction manuals, certificates, and details of maintenance and calibration procedures.

The least frequently used mode in a PID controller, derivative is more useful when dead time is not pure dead time but is a series of small time constants.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Cyber security remains a prominent concern for many organizations as we continue to move towards a connected industrial future. In this vein, Honeywell recently made a big commitment to Industrial Cyber Security at the 2017 Honeywell Users Group Americas,

HARTING garnered the award from DESIGN&ELEKTRONIK trade magazine in the electromechanics category for its ix Industrial connector. The connector was jointly developed by the Espelkamp-based family-owned business together with Japan’s HIROSE technology group and placed on the market.

The webinar, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., EST on Nov. 21, will feature two subject matter experts: Eric Cosman, Co-Chair of the ISA99 Committee, and Shivendra Mishra, Global Product Marketing Manager at Honeywell Process Solutions.

By Bert Williams, ABB Wireless As we move toward industrial things being digital and connected, putting in place the right communications infrastructure is a critical piece of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) equation. Connectivity is required to ensure that data is meaningful and actionable.

Students benefit from active participation in ISA section activities. They can network with working professionals and learn about career opportunities.

Rockwell Automation has announced automotive manufacturer Honda of Canada Manufacturing and U.K.-based equipment builder A.M.P Rose as the winners of its fifth annual Manufacturing Safety Excellence Awards.

If a differential pressure cell is not at an elevation that corresponds to zero percent level in a tank, calibrate to account for difference in elevation.

If thoughtfully planned and implemented, leadership transition can preserve the best of what is in place and open a path to new ways of thinking.

ABB has reached an agreement with Reykjavik Energy for the delivery of 15 fast chargers. The fast chargers will boost the country’s charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and will all be commissioned by the end of 2017

This global strategic enterprise agreement allows BP to leverage the full range of AspenTech’s solutions, including Aspen PIMS-AO for refinery planning, Aspen Advanced Process Control (APC) solutions and Aspen HYSYS solutions for engineering and optimization.

These automation and instrumentation solution providers will increase responsiveness to channel end users by offering local application engineering and product availability. The companies include Eastern Controls, Andrews Industrial, ControValve, CB Engineering and BBP.

ISA book is an authoritative resource for anyone responsible for selecting & implementing measurement & control devices for process automation applications.

In connection to Kamstrup’s visit in Iran, the company signed both a partner contract and an agreement of two pilot projects with the local Iranian company Iran Ensheab Co. The projects include intelligent water meters and remote reading system.

The Khazzan Project in Oman is one of BP’s seven major projects in 2017, and started its production in September 2017. BP Oman was selected as a finalist from more than 400 nominations of projects around the world, and as the winner out of the three finalists in its category.

By Daniel Koprowski, Mechatronics Technician Apprentice, Phoenix Contact Apprenticeship opportunities are available for many career paths including technicians, electricians, plumbers, machinists, welders, sales, information technology, and others. This story tells of one such apprenticeship opportunity

The 12-week program launched in August combines classroom learning with hands-on laboratory experience. Veterans are trained in Rockwell Automation’s facility in Mayfield Heights, Ohio for in-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com A common topic of debate revolves around how process system architectures will be shaped in the future. One architectural vision would enable a shift of focus from process efficiency control to business performance control, with increasing levels of monitoring and control.

With effective security controls, 4G LTE wireless technology can serve voice, video, and broadband industrial data and applications simultaneously.

The scholarship fund will be funded by ISA with a $50,000 endowment. ISA has also pledged to match the next $50,000 of donations. Morley was an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, consultant and author who contributed to a range of high-technology advancements over more than four decades.

By Graham McGregor, Siemens Industry All the flashy bells and whistles in the world can’t make up for knowledge gained through experience. And in the world of industrial automation, nowhere is this more applicable than in the battle for the world’s best level measurement technologies.

Ball, butterfly, and pinch valve body style have straight-through flow, and they are less likely to develop blockage.

The survey is intended for managers and operators to benchmark the extent to which automation has influenced production, purchasing habits, cost controls, and future strategies.

OSADL coordinates the development and funding of open source projects on behalf of its members, who enjoy many benefits, including quality assurance, software development, technology support, legal compliance, marketing, training, and above all support in licensing in the form of legal support through the OSADL general counsel, auditing, and certification

The terms of the deal between the two privately owned companies were not disclosed. Sciemetric will continue to operate as an independent Canadian corporation.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation As the industry grows, smaller countries are beginning to emerge as competitors in the industry. This article will explore the role of countries that are emerging as leaders in manufacturing.

The Group has acquired Blue Ocean Nova AG, a manufacturer of innovative inline spectrometers for monitoring quality-relevant process parameters. The company’s 15 employees located in Aalen, Germany will be retained.

The overall objective of the delivery is to provide Paul Wurth with an advanced real-time data management and historian solution based on Apis.

In this leadership role, Nardecchia will provide strategic vision, operational excellence and change leadership to develop and implement information technology initiatives and architecture throughout the company.

Dream Report version 4.81, technically a maintenance release, is available to all 4.8 customers. Along with an array of Customer Software Change Requests (SCRs), this release delivers on a theme of Productivity.

120 employees of the power supply specialist PULS now have a new home. The innovation that drives PULS in the design of every power supply also flows through this new office.

By Robert Miller and John Browett, CLPA While there may still be some debate about what Industry 4.0 really means, there is no denying that greater interconnectivity of devices and increased network capability will be the key drivers behind achieving the goals it sets out. This article outlines the network requirements that will enable Industry 4.0.

Research offers an improved tuning methodology of PID controller for standard second order plus time delay systems

The Ovation controls will be installed at each unit during a 13-day outage – a compressed timeframe for a turbine controls replacement project. This marks the first time a vendor other than the turbine OEM has been selected to retrofit GT13 combustion turbine controls.

The data clearly shows that OT networks are ripe targets for adversaries, whose motives range from criminal intent to operational disruption and even threats to human and environmental safety

Rockwell Automation goals include co-creating to solve customer problems, accelerating innovation and identifying new emerging technologies that can help its manufacturing customers improve business performance by bridging the gaps between plant-floor and higher-level information systems.

By Martyn Williams, COPA-DATA UK In the era of smart manufacturing, valuing independence can be the difference between failure and success. This article explains why manufacturers should consider independence when striving for more collaborative facilities and supply chains.

RSA has certified PAS Cyber Integrity as interoperable with RSA NetWitness Suite. Industrial process companies that have RSA NetWitness can access security intelligence for both corporate and process control networks (PCNs) via a single application.

In general use the highest valve positioner gain that does not cause oscillation. For pipeline flow and pressure control, oscillations are not filtered.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com While industrial automation suppliers can claim products are cybersecure it is hard to prove. Standards and certification, like electrical and safety device requirements, today for cybersecurity are one such way for companies to illustrate that proof.