Articles and News

The multidisciplinary Connected Systems Institute (CSI) will focus on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which uses sensors to gather data from equipment, machines, and manufactured products through secure data networks.

Port Virtualization Technology is the first step to industrial automatization.

A record 575 teams, made up of more 2,500 students, including 116 all-female and 45 cadet teams from across the country have registered to participate, marking a more than threefold increase over last year.

By: Alan Cone, Siemens Industry, Inc. The data revolution is firmly underway within today’s manufacturing industry. Those companies that capture their “big data” and leverage that analyzed data as a framework for making faster, better decisions will lead the industry in productivity and time to market.

Magnetic flowmeters use Faraday's law of magnetic induction as the basis of their operation.

PROCENTEC will provide training courses for PROFIBUS and PROFINET on various itsme-locations in the Netherlands. The offer includes free product training, Troubleshooting & Maintenance training and PI International Certified Engineer and Installer courses.

NEXCOM's Control Panel PC Solution facilitates control and adaptability of tube cutting machines to handle stainless steel tubes improving speed, quality, and productivity for the manufacturer.

The delivery comprises the new conveyor system with gearless and conventional drives from thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions. The system extends the existing opencast mining facility and is expected to bring 95,000 tons of copper ore to the surface per day.

Under the terms of the three-year agreement, Statoil will share with Emerson some of its Intellectual Property (IP) from its internal “‘Fast Model Update”’ (FMU) workflow that operates within Roxar RMS, with the goal being to make both workflows even more efficient.

Standard VDI/VDE/VDMA 2632 Part 3 puts forward some procedures for assessing classificatory performance during the acceptance of machine-vision systems, doing so with the aid of typical examples from industrial inspection technology which can serve as guidance in similar cases.

This year’s event focused on a business update from the company and several key initiatives – including IIoT initiatives, a new campaign, and a special announcement from HARTING and the college.

Learn basic two-wire technology and the advances made using this technology in two types of flowmeters: Coriolis and electromagnetic meters.

By: Marianne Williams, Emerson Automation Solutions An estimated 30% of the existing workforce is expected to retire over the next five years, and those people will take a large slice of the operating and commissioning experience with them. Therefore, it is vital for industrial automation companies to find ways of reducing complexity.

The technology center is one of the main innovation hubs for Molex Optical Solutions business and home to sales and customer development teams serving all of Molex customers in the region.

By Jeff Deurlein, Puffer-Sweiven Puffer-Sweiven offers a better approach to clearing tapping points through the exclusive territory representation of the Clearguard Autorodder in the Central and Gulf Coast regions of Texas.

By Cory Fogg, Automation.com The salary of the average automation professional continued to rise for a fourth consecutive year in 2017. Yet, as we move increasingly into the connected future, some legitimate concerns remain.

The Industry 4.0 Demonstrator highlights how process and device data are made available both locally via the real-time bus and also via OPC UA for a range of application scenarios in a uniform and cross-manufacturer manner.

According to the study, optimism among industry executives for the potential of the Industrial Internet is striking. Eighty percent believe the IIoT could be transformational to their companies and industries. At the same time, only 8 percent of those executives say digital transformation is ingrained in their businesses, and 10 percent do not have a digital transformation plan in place.

Tri-C’s new Manufacturing Technology Center for Excellence in Cleveland aims to combat the convergence of workforce challenges facing manufacturers, including changing technologies, evolving skill sets, an aging workforce and a lack of interest in manufacturing jobs.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation At the start of the 20th century, developments in aviation technology took off and the first airline to operate international flights was launched in 1917. Since then, the ability to travel and transport goods internationally has dramatically altered the way companies do business.

Research offers fault detection technique for insulated-gate bipolar transistors open-circuit faults in voltage source inverter-fed induction motor drives.

Hazardous location protection techniques are defined by NEC 500.7 (NEC 2002 Code).

The factory in Danville, Virginia, is intended to support the activities of the plant in North Yorkshire, which has witnessed manufacturing growth that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

The four-story, 3,600-square-meter building features a welcoming reception area, an experience-oriented exhibition zone, an attractive restaurant for visitors and employees, state-of-the-art conference rooms and offices as well as workshops including a calibration lab and a warehouse.

The revised edition is designed to make it easier to select and implement measurement and control devices for process automation applications. Readers will gain practical, knowledge-based answers to questions pertaining to ISA symbology, instrument and control valve selection criteria, conversion guidelines, maintenance, calibration, decision-making and consulting.

ISA book helps ease the engineering and design burden for new and experienced engineers who work on process analyzers.

GE Digital introduced: Predix Edge technologies to accelerate computing at the edge; the Predix platform combined with Microsoft Azure, the cloud for enterprises; Operations Performance Management software to bridge productivity from assets to operations; Field Service Management solutions designed to improve the customer experience; and platform tools designed to simplify industrial app development.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) has been a hot topic at several conferences over the last 18 months. With the promise of connecting all devices in a single unifying network from sensor to enterprise, this article will explore why TSN is on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

The cooperative partnership with SICK, Inc. is intended to broaden Integro Technologies’ systems portfolio, resulting in automatic inspection applications for their customers.

Mark Weatherford is currently Senior Vice President & Chief Cybersecurity Strategist at datacenter security vendor vArmour. He was recently recognized by SC Media with a Reboot Leadership Award as the Top Influencer in the cybersecurity industry.

The focus of the ASHRAE Global Training Center is to make curricula-based training conveniently available on a regular schedule. The training offered in the center is customized and scalable based upon climate, culture, suppliers, energy sources, prices, codes and construction practices.

By Sam Carigliano, SkyCiv Whether it’s between structural engineers and architects or consulting engineers and clients, collaboration is an important part of structural engineering. This article describes how engineers can use the cloud to support collaborative working.

Plant owners, operating staff & control systems specialists develop the credible performance requirement for the safety instrumented system.

Join us for this free session, on Thursday, Nov 2, 2017 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT, which will explore efficient and sustainable panel design. We will discuss new technologies such as flat-rear systems and intelligent connectivity and their impact on overall panel size and installation.

Rob was the co-founder and former President, and Chief Development Officer of Symbotic, a mobile robotic company and brings 28 years of business leadership and product innovation to Heartland Automation

The Fluke T6 Electrical Testers with FieldSense technology are designed to make troubleshooting safer and more efficient by allowing electricians to take simultaneous voltage and current measurements — not just detection — without test leads.

Fenix will be the first SHS company to join a major worldwide energy company, which puts the fight against climate change and energy access at the very center of its purpose.

SECCO plans to use part of the suite known as Honeywell Connected Plant UniSim Operations, which is a cloud-deployed learning solution that enables access to simulation-based operator training.

A Magnetic track guided AGV can be built with just two Roboteq components: An MGS1600 magnetic guide sensor and any Roboteq Dual Channel motor controller. The sensor measures the distance to the center of the track. Using its built-in programming language, the motor controller takes this data and computes the power to apply to the left and right motor needed for the robot to stay on track.

BiSS communications protocols were developed by the German company iC-Haus GmbH as an efficient digital interface for communications between industrial sensors, actuators and control devices.

Analysis of a calibration plot will help you determine when an industrial instrument needs to be recalibrated.

WorldSkills brings together vocational students from 77 countries to compete in 51 skill areas, and draws more than 150,000 attendees. The competitors, all under the age of 22, simulate real work challenges that must be completed according to international industry standards.

The Weidmüller Group announced the acquisition of the W Interconnections group companies in the USA, Canada and Mexico from Rockwell Automation, Inc. effective 1 October 2017. The W Interconnections group sells products for Industrial Connectivity and Automation.

The partnership is designed to help DENSO improve the performance of its Driver Status Monitor, an active safety product currently used in commercial vehicles. Improvements of such products also will accelerate the development of next-generation products to be used in passenger vehicles, including a system to help drivers return to driving mode during Level 3 of autonomous drive.

The method adopted by Jaguar Land Rover uses Kistler RoaDyn Wheel Force Transducers for measuring the three forces and three moments of a rotating wheel under real world operating conditions

Under the agreement, the IIC and Avnu will work together to align efforts to maximize interoperability, portability, security and privacy for the industrial Internet.

By Anton Pozdnyakov, Softerra If your IT staff is buried under a load of simple but time-consuming manual tasks, this means that you’re also stuck business-wise and can’t move forward. So, you either slowly go down or you finally start automating.

ISA leaders meet twice per year to assess the state of the Society, consider strategies and actions to improve operational results, conduct training sessions for new leaders, plan for leadership succe

Exhibiting under the banner “Discover the Value of the Digital Enterprise” in Hall 11 across an impressive 4,400 square meter exhibition space, the company will be presenting the latest additions to its Digital Enterprise portfolio.

Widely known as the ‘Father of the PLC’, Morley was the initial designer of the first PLC, produced by Modicon nearly 50 years ago. Morley was also a fervent entrepreneur, and heavily active in engineering and automation education, especially with the International Society of Automation.

Lifecycle dynamic simulation, the virtual plant, is a proven technology to help plant operations address challenges.

The webinar, which will be held from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., EST will focus on how to address cybersecurity concerns in gas metering and data management.

Of the technology trends that I have observed in recent years, few developments have been more exciting than Industry 4.0 for Process Automation. But what does Industry 4.0 mean for your facility?

By Eric Ehlers, Cisco Entering a factory in this day and age is a bit like taking a dive into the ocean. There is a plethora of different ecosystems and constant movement. Both can be mind boggling when you view them for the first time. So how can manufacturers protect their ecosystem?

The 2,300-square-meter facility contains modern office space, an auditorium, conference rooms, a training center and a calibration laboratory.

For industrial plant migration to a new system, the challenge is to create a transition plan and minimal-risk implementation roadmap.

The third annual cyber security workshop and competition, CyberArabia, to be held Oct. 11-12, 2017, is part of the company’s global commitment to cyber education and workforce development, and will include a cyber defense competition that recognizes winners on both the men’s and women’s campuses across Saudi universities.

This will enable remote monitoring of functionality and availability of the electrical devices and electrical systems through Metsä Fibre as well as ABB experts and allow real-time collaborating to achieve availability and performance.

The Telit IoT Platform connects, manages and delivers the environmental data in a ready-to-use format. In cooperation with Husqvarna, Quantified Planet, an organization that links innovation to science, receives the data and publishes it for citizens to review.

According to IEC 61511-1, embedded software, which is part of the safety device/ controller, should follow software guidelines in IEC 61508-3.

The new Robotation Academy in Foshan will bring together 21 partner companies in the fields of robotics, automation and Industrie 4.0. The Academy sets its focus providing trainings, conferences and presentations on future technology trends for companies in the Guangdong region.

Dell Technologies unveiled its Internet of Things (IoT) vision and strategy, a new IoT division as well as new IoT specific products, labs, partner program and consumption models

By Jon Moscovic, Lead Reliability Engineer, SABIC SABIC’s situation proved to be harder than most typical applications due to a mix of specific conditions. For many years operators struggled while working with paramagnetic and electrochemical cell sensors.

Process Analyzer Systems Project Engineering and Management by Gary Nichols, PE, CAP®, includes specific recommendations for defining hardware and documentation deliverables, adhering to procurement policy, working with team members in other disciplines and in the supply chain, and communicating among project teams.

Through demonstrations, presentations and one-on-one discussion with leak test experts, the Nov. 8 Leak Test Workshop will give practical information and ideas that attendees can take back to their factories and implement for a better, faster and more reliable leak test.

Quantitative analysis and practical scenarios of implementation of the thermoelectric module for heat flow detection

Weeks after the devastation from Hurricane Harvey and Irma, leaders at Rockwell Automation are confidently moving forward with plans to host the annual Automation Fair event in Houston.

Emerson predicts the next 10 years will see exponential growth in the adoption of wireless and pervasive sensing applications that help companies maximize safety and reliability, optimize production and enable Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) strategies.

The center will function as the central focal point for expert resources and for systems that are equipped with ABB technology. It will leverage ABB’s pulp and paper expertise to provide true data-driven solutions for its customers by providing remote connectivity, secure access to process performance information, and technical support.

The company was seeking a turnkey package consisting of two 1400-ton hydraulic presses and two automated stamping die handling systems to load and unload the presses more efficiently than the conventional forklift and manual labor-intensive system this customer was currently utilizing.

In this position Rodriguez will continue to teach free hands-on classes at the company’s headquarters in Temecula, California, and will expand the company’s current online training videos and tutorials into a structured series of online courses for customers.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Reducing downtime has been one of the most relevant, shining examples of how Internet of Things (IoT) technology can have a real impact on today’s factory. The recent collaboration between OSISoft and Petasense aims to enhance this effort as this article explores.

Running GE Digital’s APM solution will help further prevent power outages by increasing the reliability of the thousands of power producing turbines and generators monitored by the M&D Center.

As the safety I/Os are controlled by the safety module inside the robot controller, there is no need for third party stand-alone safety PLCs to be used. It also reduces the time associated with the set-up and operation of robotic production cells.

Schneider Electric’s expanded APM assessment delivers a comprehensive view of asset health as a first step of an asset reliability strategy that takes into account business context to benchmark current performance and identify areas for improvement.

Built on the foundation of process control and safety systems, Plantweb expands on existing automation infrastructure to make the promise of Industrial IoT scalable and achievable, with a portfolio of Pervasive Sensing technologies, a suite of analytical software tools, secure data infrastructure devices and expert services.

Timur Dunaev, BioAir Solutions Odor problems at manufacturing facilities can be unexpected, and can work against the production the facility is meant to accomplish. Solving the problem requires analyzing how a facility’s processes generate and disperse odorous air, and then identifying an appropriate odor control solution.

The Danish company says communication modules and meters with integrated NB-IoT have already been developed and successfully tested. Pilot tests are planned for spring 2018 and a commercial solution will be available in the next 12-18 months.

Sager Electronics, a North American distributor of Interconnect, Power and Electromechanical components and provider of value-add solutions, announced that it has acquired the distribution and supply business of Power Sources Unlimited, Inc.

For plants that use automated fuel control, a pressure-based controller is the most common.

The goals of the OSHA/NIOSH/RIA Alliance are enhancing technical expertise about robotics within OSHA and NIOSH; improving awareness of workplace hazards associated with traditional industrial robots and the emerging technology of human robot collaboration (HRC) installations and systems; and identifying research that may be needed to help reduce workplace hazards.

Despite the amount of communication done long-distance nowadays, travel is an important part of business. With the advent of technology-based business information, security is no longer limited to just your own safety -- the security of your data is top priority too. Here are some easy tips for data protection.

The inherent flow characteristic is the relationship between valve capacity and valve travel, and it is usually expressed graphically.

Emerson opened its annual Emerson Global Users Exchange event with a focus on the resources that will enable manufactures to drive greater business performance in the future

Under his leadership, the Baumüller firm grew from a local company to a global, independent group of companies. Today, Baumüller employs over 1,800 people. It is based in Nuremberg.

The main symptom of EcoClean's heating problem was excessive heating times. Due to the heaters consisting of several heating elements, the issue might have been a blown fuse or an open element pulling less current than it should.

Kailash Desai has been promoted to this position and will take charge of the India business. In his stint with Endress + Hauser since 2003, he worked in various management roles focusing on marketing and sales, while also gaining experience in human resources and the projects business.

The report examines the technological advances propelling our future faster than ever before along with some of the biggest challenges engineers face looking ahead to 2018.

These walls show the power of the Microsoft commitment to embrace the OPC UA interoperability standard as the secure solution for integration of OT and IT.

Through this relationship, Telit and Wind River are reducing the complexities of IoT device management, helping companies realize the full solution benefits of IIoT.

ISA book on safety instrumented system design helps industrial automation professionals meet the requirements of international safety standards.

It is a simple fact in today’s industrial environment that the world needs more automation professionals. Closing this skills gap has been a well-documented priority for a number of organizations, as a result.

Today, the KarmaCap manufacturing process features automated production using Emerson’s Branson SW300 servo-driven spin welders to produce caps that are free from the issues associated with snap-fit seals –improving production efficiency and eliminating nearly all rejects.

As a registered partner, IVC is now a member of their global network of partners offering automation solutions that are complimentary to Schneider Electric’s Wonderware software portfolio.

As Manufacturing Day, 6 October 2017, approaches, the International Society of Automation (ISA) and its affiliate association, the Automation Federation, celebrate the importance of manufacturing to the world’s economic health and future.

The hands-on, 40-foot, interactive showroom will travel to nearly 20 U.S. cities and educate original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), facilities managers, commercial customers, end users, contractors and others about Eaton’s newest energy efficient innovations for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R), pumping, process industry and machinery applications.

As part of their service contract with Lenze, machine builders can collect all the data that is available inside the Lenze controllers. They can then evaluate this data and make it available to their own customers, either as an up-to-date dashboard or in the form of reports providing performance figures.

The new applications are hand guiding, presence detection, and center pointing and will be utilized by both end users and systems integrators.

Mr. Sorelle brings over 30 years of experience as a defense electronics executive across a variety of roles, with deep professional experience in manufacturing, engineering, program management, and business development

Natural gas providers must focus on their security posture & how to address cybersecurity threats to critical gas metering & data management infrastructure.