Articles and News

To simplify the development of complex machines, Rexroth is integrating safety technology into the Sercos automation network.

InfinityQS ProFicient manufacturing quality software provides companies with real-time visibility across the enterprise and into the supply chain.

ESC Services is a hazardous energy control provider of lockout-tagout services and solutions.

Ridgeline Pipe manufactures about 125 different PVC pipe products that vary in length, diameter, color, markings and other requirements. Allen-Bradley ControlLogix L61 programmable automation controller (PAC) manages all control and motion functions for each piece of equipment in the PVC manufacturing process.

Combining PLC processing and HMI monitoring and control into a single hardware platform is becoming a more available and popular option. This article compares the combined HMI+PLC unit with the separate HMI & PLC system and highlights where each excels.

Using a workflow-based approach, manufacturing businesses and process industry companies can extend and leverage existing purpose-based systems, expose new functionality that was too complex to captur

The next HANNOVER MESSE will run from 13 to 17 April 2015.

Rapid Service Unit can turn certain orders for critical fittings, hose-tube combinations and other custom pieces in the same day they are received.

The free web seminar on 13 November 2014 will discuss the common pitfalls related to calibration system implementation and how to overcome them.

By Julia Santogatta, Belden Wireless can actually be extremely secure, shared medium or not, if you follow the “wireless Golden Rule” and ask yourself some typical security questions when planning a wireless local area network (WLAN).

By Bill Lydon, Editor By recently joining the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), MOXA emphasized their strong focus on the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT). Another example of this commitment is their increased rugged industrial communications product scope, including security offerings.

By David Gustafson, Emerson Process Management It took only two weeks to install the first system, and already it’s saved $100,000 in maintenance costs and increased production by 5,000 tons per year.

EECO received its fourth Steelman burnoff oven on August 8th 2014 in Richmond, increasing investment in electric motor repair in Virginia.

A real-life guide to measuring flow by selecting the right flowmeter

Security Application Site simplifies security design by providing access to the latest security resources all in one place.

Horizon Controls Group has offices located in PA and NC, USA as well as in Europe.

By Jonathan Wilkins A new industrial wireless European standard (EN300328 V1.8.1) threatens to make essential plant control sensors useless. It introduces the “listen before talk” (LBT) protocol as a solution for preserving bandwidth in industrial environments.

Yokogawa will license its ISA100 Wireless technology to Murata and Murata will develop communication modules.

By Julia Arneri Borghese, Paradox Engineering When considering a wireless network, the critical decision is how to invest in future proof infrastructures that can provide adequate flexibility and scalability over time. Industrial organizations are not likely to install technologies which bind them to legacy protocols, or force them to replace existing equipment.

On October 21, Dr. Wei Sun, representative of the Standardization Administration of China (SAC), made the announcement.

The release significantly broadens automation and control professionals’ access to a diverse range of technical and educational content and interactive tools.

Embedding controllers around a grid can help measure power flows and demand requirements, and lead to real-time management for best performance.

Kliux Energies in Spain selected Advanticsys’ remote monitoring technology to manage their renewable-energy generation facilities.

The facility designs, develops and manufactures natural gas & liquids measurement products and analyzers, as well as software applications and system solutions for the global oil & gas market.

Scheduled to open in Q4 2014, the $14 million project will double the current size of the facility, adding 100,000 square feet of space for manufacturing and engineering.

The new company name is now TURCK Chartwell Canada, Inc.

Total orders rose to $11.2 billion, boosted by large orders (above $15 million) including a power transmission link in Europe, a mining automation project in the Americas and a gas treatment plant in Africa.

By Randy Miller, Honeywell Modern technologies and practices have been proven to reduce incidents in the main control center by more than 30 percent and sustain safe, optimal availability. Furthermore, capturing best operator practices in a procedural operations framework and equipment based templates helps retain best practices for future generations.

By Edward Nugent, PcVue The implementation of Cybersecurity under the NIST Framework is ultimately the responsibility of the SCADA Application owner and operator as it encompasses the entire system including the organization developing the SCADA application, the corporate networks and computers that it runs on and the control devices and instrumentation attached to it.

What Considerations Should You Make Before Upgrading a Critical System?

Octapharma, a manufacturer of human protein products, is using the PAS-X Track & Trace Serialization Aggregation solution in Vienna.

The next HANNOVER MESSE will run from 13 to 17 April 2015.

Moxa released its position on Enabling the Industrial Internet of Things at the company's Global Distributor Summit in San Francisco, California.

The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBNEC) gave IS a certificate.

Hall 3 at HANNOVER MESSE 2015 will be devoted entirely to the topic of surface technology.

Sizing Tool makes it easy to find the right gear reducer, coupling, or linear mount product compatible with a motor.

Instrumentation software companies are focusing on simplifying complicated technical tasks and processes as well as adding new functions.

Midwest Engineering Systems is doubling its building size by moving the corporate headquarters to a 100,000 square foot facility in Pewaukee, WI.

Endress+Hauser was the Main Instrument Vendor for a $3.8 billion expansion and modernization project at Refineria de Cartagena in Columbia.

Humor can provide insights by opening the mind to the strange but true aspects of the industrial automation profession. Successful humor can cause a smile before you realize the full nature of the sit

By Bill Lydon, Editor A recent design and engineering conference emphasized the need for manufacturing automation and design engineers to collaborate instead of working in independent organizational silos. An open mind is required in order to embrace change and innovate.

By Paul Brooks, Rockwell Automation Manufacturers should carefully consider their infrastructure investments today to take advantage of the emerging wealth of industrial innovations enabled by the Internet Protocol (IP).

By Greg Goodwin, LNS Research The manufacturing industries are constantly looking for ways to cut costs, increase revenue, efficiency, speed, and so on, and advancements in technology are key to furthering this cause. Today, there are several emerging technologies that are having a significant impact on how companies operate. And one that is being embraced with increasingly open arms is cloud manufacturing software.

In his new role, Iverson will be responsible for increasing market share and leading the future direction of the company.

The test rig is for the calibration of high-precision tank gauging instruments developed and produced at the factory in Japan.

Android-based Smart Device Communicator Application uses the Device Descriptor (DD) for the connected HART device so the user has full access to every Parameter and Method.

Clearfield also opened a manufacturing plant in Tijuana, Mexico.

More than 200 process measurement and control professionals in chemical and energy processing and other process industry sectors attended the International Society of Automation’s (ISA’s) 2014 Process Control & Safety Symposium in Houston, Texas.

Six system integration companies recently joined the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA).

Servomex will provide O2 and CO measurement analyzer packages complete with sample handling systems for the world’s largest gasification project at RIL’s J3 Refinery in Jamnagar, India.

The annual automation industry event will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, from Nov. 17 to 20.

On-line store lets engineers evaluate and purchase DC power products on a variety of mobile devices, such as tablets and smart phones.

UL 1741 and 508 approvals allow North American photovoltaic installers to monitor string currents in large-scale DC installations.

Free app for Android-based smartphones and tablets interacts with a Keithley Series 2600B SourceMeter SMU instrument via its front panel USB interface

November ISA Training and Education Opportunities

Schmueckle succeeds MAG founder Prof. Mo I. Meidar, who will continue his involvement with MAG as the Chairman of the global MAG board.

The Electrical Standards & Products Guide (ESPG) is a comprehensive listing of NEMA electrical standards as well as an extensive directory of manufacturers and their products.

August U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $356.69 million, up 0.4% from July but down 6.0% when compared with the total of $379.26 million reported for August 2013.

The RapID Platform with the fido5000 REM Switch chip has been certified to PROFINET v2.31 for Class B and Class C devices.

The RapID Platform with fido5000 REM Switch chip has been certified to EtherNet/IP CT11 for beacon-based DLR devices.

The Industrial Automation Exchange is CSIA’s comprehensive online directory for locating qualified system integrators and suppliers.

ISA will own Automation.com, including its website, intellectual property and all associated products, trademarks and copyrights. ISA will incorporate a new wholly-owned subsidiary called Automation.com, and Rick Zabel will remain the Publisher and Managing Director.

AlarmAgent.info makes a system OPC-compatible, enhancing its existing real-time reporting features by sharing data communication with HMI / SCADA software and third-party customized applications.

Many companies with an existing enterprise system typically have only established (but not updated) a maintenance management system. While the system manages calibration tasks like scheduling, and tal

In 2016 Deutsche Messe will organize three additional events – ComVac North America, Industrial Supply North America and Surface Technology North America- at IMTS.

The North American Fluid Power Pavilion will return to its traditional and newly renovated home of Halls 19 & 20 with a floor area of 210,000 square feet.

The technological advances that can flow from networking will be made real and tangible at HANNOVER MESSE in April 2015.

Bottero ground out a solution that is based on a single Kollmorgen AKD servo-converter for driving two servo-motors that are not simultaneously operating.

Unicontrols, established in 1976, has been the leading company for providing small to medium sized stainless steel tanks with professional technology and knowledge.

As of January 1, 2015, Frank Stührenberg, Executive Vice President Global Sales, will become Chairman of the Executive Board of Phoenix Contact.

A new adaptive backstepping sliding mode control law with fuzzy monitoring strategy is proposed for tracking control of a nonlinear mechanical system.

By Rick Zabel for InTech The good news is it is currently a job seeker’s market and will remain so for the long term. Because of the shrinking workforce, there are more jobs in the market than qualified automation professionals. In fact, if you are unhappy with your current job situation, there are other opportunities available. You just have to look for them.

August U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $166 million, down 2.7% from July’s total and down 3.0% from August 2013.

Yokogawa will supply control systems and safety instrumented systems for a waste-to-energy facility being built for SITA Cornwall Ltd. in the U.K.

The demo room will exhibit smart access applications on edge computing servers, AdvancedTCA (ATCA) servers, and network appliances.

From Strategy to Execution – Leading Change

The sizing tool helps users quickly find precision gear reducers, servo couplings, and linear mounting kits compatible with their motor.

Starting with version 4.7 RationalPlan Single is distributed as freeware under all Linux operating systems.

Metso opened valve service centers in Horgau, Germany and Vitrolles, France.

Zementwerk Berlin is using Malvern Instruments’ Insitec on-line particle sizing systems to efficiently manufacture high performance, ‘environmentally friendly’ slag cements.

BgB Supply announces their participation in the new FLIR TG165 limited product release.

The industrial automation industry is starting to explore and implement Internet of Things concepts and technology.

Festo is the distributor of ZAYTRAN products in North America.

Metso will provide automation, safety and emergency shutdown system extensions to the existing Metso DNA system when the polyethylene plant is upgraded.

As part of this service, process and status data from control loops are captured by the Simatic PCS 7 process control system and analyzed by Siemens experts.

PCE Instruments offers digital display recorders that draw physical parameters in industrial processes or laboratory applications over a longer period.

KHS, a manufacturer of filling and packaging systems for the beverage and food industries, uses Roxtec systems to route multiple pre-terminated cables through one opening, eliminating the cost and labor of cutting connection cables and making individual holes for each.

HIKOB is a provider of wireless autonomous multipoint data acquisition systems.

By Rick Zabel, Publisher & Editor Since Schneider Electric's purchase of Invensys, I have been waiting to hear some news about the integration of the two companies. That news, as it relates to software, was delivered last week at Schneider Electric's first Global Software Customer Conference.

The data modems of MB Connect Line monitor temperatures or capture consumption data. While brainstorming for further practice possibilities, the idea of equipping a barbecue smoker with a temperature monitor came up.

Out of all the energy consumed by U.S. manufacturers annually, induction motors make up 50 percent of the load.

The conference, to be held jointly with the Society for Machinery Failure Prevention Technology (MFPT Society), will be conducted 12-14 May 2015 at the Westin Hotel in Huntsville, Alabama, USA

By Thomas R. Cutler Missives from on-high (the C-Suite) will not touch a second shift factory plant floor worker. Manufacturing leaders must encourage all workers (safety, quality, maintenance, production, and shipping) to become part of the corporate culture, listen and share ideas. It may sound trite, but only through this consistent employee communication, can manufacturers achieve full employee engagement.

MESCO will be using the IEC 61508:2010 SIL 3 certified technology platform from KW-Software with its products to form the basis of safety control solutions.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a ruling that establishes the ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2013 as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes.

New England Institute of Technology (NEIT)'s automation lab will be used by students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree program in Electrical Engineering Technology.

The purpose of this paper is to describe the motion control technology used by Zaber's positioning devices, describe and quantify the inaccuracies that arise as a result, and offer some strategies to help minimize these effects.

The company finished construction on a 125,000-square-foot addition to better accommodate its growing workforce and the increased demand for locally manufactured products.

The Georgia STEM Education Awards recognizes schools, programs, and companies for outstanding efforts and achievements in supporting and promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education in Georgia.

Single and dual axis inclinometers are certified for use in Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C and D hazardous locations.