Articles and News

REACH is a European Community safety and environmental regulation that deals with the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemical substances.

Signal characterization in a DCS can solve problems resulting from signal characterization in the valve positioner.

IDTechEx says the RFID market - including tags, readers, software and services, for passive and active RFID - will grow from $7.88 billion in 2013 to $9.2 billion in 2014

Previously, Guitart led a large global R&D team at TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company.

Quest Components will be a franchised distributor of high-power standard, fast and super-fast recovery rectifiers, low-power and bridge rectifiers, diacs, IGBT modules, SCRs, Triacs, TVS and Zener diodes.

IniTECH incorporated the Assured Automation stainless steel angle body valve into batching systems for the flavor, fragrance and beauty care industries.

The PLC/Programming Learning Package provides Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) hands-on training for schools, universities, individual study and company employee education.

By Alex Mills, Chess Logistics Technology Warehouse management systems have come a long way in the last 25 years and the latest versions far surpass their predecessors in terms of performance, sophistication and the value they can deliver to a business. And yet the market is slowing down.

Bürkert Werke, KHS GmbH, Phoenix Contact, SAG GmbH and Sensitec GmbH have been nominated for the Hermes award.

The survey found that supply chain executives want to invest in powerful new technologies and business innovations to improve their supply chains, but are hampered by a shortage of qualified talent and never-ending pressure to cut costs.

The order includes Metso's Neles rotary and globe valves and Jamesbury valves, including control, on-off and safety valves.

Sandhöfner took over from Frank Winter, who led the company in Germany since its founding in 1983. Winter will continue to assist the company in an advisory capacity.

Honeywell's HBS Building Solutions and HPS Process Solutions have been appraised at Maturity Level 5 of Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI).

Metso will supply a DNA automation system, a safety system, and links to Neste Oil's existing systems, as well as automated on-off and emergency shutdown (ESD) valves.

Are Smart Devices in a Plant Your Most Valuable Assets?

The building automation & control systems market in India is anticipated to grow threefold in revenue terms by 2019, at a rate of 21.7% during 2014-19.

SIS hardware was the largest market in 2012, accounting for 49% of total revenues. However, now the SIS services market is set to become the highest dollar value safety market.

The C RS T cable entry seals are for single cable or pipe penetrations and allow the routing of pre-terminated cables without cutting or splicing.

Deutschmann attained certification to the current PROFINET 2.2 and GSDML 2.25 specifications for the UNIGATE IC and UNIGATE CL series.

Toth is vice president and managing director of Rosenberger-Toth in Pennsauken, New Jersey.

The system will ensure the fully automated transport and storage of finished Moduleo vinyl flooring between production, warehouse and dispatch.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Pharmaceutical automation leaders from around the world gathered to discuss a number of automation challenges, including how their companies are dealing with reduced personnel and the need to support multiple technologies at multiple sites. This article highlights those conversations and addresses the automation support models and the use of managed services.

MAC Solutions uses an eWON Talk2M Virtual Private Network router to provide remote diagnostics with good security.

MA and NAM say they are making significant progress toward achieving a five-year goal to award 500,000 industry-based certifications to individuals.

MotionCompass web-based application helps provide mini motor solutions based on unique motion requirements for various applications.

A Sneak Preview of ISA’s New Website and Enhanced User Experience

Lambert is a manufacturer of conventional palletizers for over 66 years, introducing the first automatic palletizer to the North American market in 1948.

UL introduced the new norm to test appliance switches (previously under UL1054). By mid-2015 new products have to comply to UL61058.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will use the SCADA system to monitor the city’s water distribution network and wastewater facilities.

Do not let the integrator take the system through a scripted test sequence to prove its functionality.

The seminar on 18 April, 2014 titled, “Protecting Our Nation’s Critical Infrastructure: How are your mitigating the risk of a cyberattack?” will take place at the Northern Illinois University Naperville campus.

InTech Plus mobile app for the Apple iPad enables automation professionals to rapidly access, scan and digest a diverse range of technical and educational content.

More than 70 automation and control professionals gathered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA at the inaugural ISA Food and Pharmaceuticals Industries Division (FPID) Symposium.

Tom J. Donohue, CEO and President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Jay Timmons, CEO and President of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) will attend.

January U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $158 million, up 14.5 percent from December’s total and down 10.6 percent from January 2013.

PENTA manufactures medical embedded PC systems and monitors.

The guide covers flow measurement in six major industries: power, chemical, oil and gas, pulp and paper, metals and mining, and food and beverage.

Cybersecurity – one of the 10 trends impacting the future of ISA

The “Drag & Drop” Flat Cable Configurator allows a user to easily design a custom cable in just minutes.

Industrial Defender is a provider of cyber security solutions for control systems in the oil and gas, utility and chemical industries.

By Bruce Nicolson, Intelligent Plant EEMUA 191 Revision 3 has revised requirements in terms of generating and representing KPIs. Alarm Management professionals and engineers responsible for control systems on process plants should therefore be aware of these changes and how to interpret them

The Design Group Columbus office will specialize in process design, process automation, regulatory compliance, control system integration, and other technology services.

Modular liquid-cooled drives and PLCs from ABB have been included in VARD ELECTRO’s innovative, application-specific propulsion and thruster power solutions for offshore supply vessels.

MAVERICK Technologies has joined MESA as a Platinum Keystone Sponsor.

By Macro Sensors Temperature effects can be significant in certain specific applications such as aircraft, subsea and turbomachinery. That’s why it is is important to know the effects that temperature has on LVDT Sensors.

FIELDVUE DVC6200 Series digital valve controller has racked up more than 1 billion hours of on-line use within the process and energy industries since its introduction in 2010.

ISA Training and Education Programs for April

The Dow Chemical Company specialty chemicals plant located in Deer Park, Texas, USA, won the 2013 HART Plant of the Year Award.

ISA will conduct a conference in June 2014 to help corporations and operators of critical infrastructure better protect their systems and networks from potentially destructive cyber attacks.

Rotork IQ electric valve actuators and a local control centre control three sluice gates at Canford School, protecting it from flooding by a river.

MicroStrain Sensing Systems provides embedded sensing systems for aerospace and industrial markets.

Overall industrial growth in Asia is higher than that of the American market, as has been the case for a number of years. Machine-safety in Asia is also playing catch-up.

By Chad Sullivan, 5 Star measurement, et al Five Star Measurement of Weatherford, Texas uses Software Toolbox's Electronic Flow Measurement (EFM) Suite to remotely monitor and manage more than 700 wellheads as an initial stage that may eventually expand to 6,000 sites.

By Mike Roberts, LNS Research Today’s manufacturing environment exudes more data than most companies know what to do with. While this data can be one of your greatest assets, in many cases it’s surfacing as a source of confusion and proving too difficult and costly to manage. For many, IT architecture is actually the foremost challenge for achieving visibility into manufacturing operations.

AIS HMI Embedded Technology Designed To Meet Challenging Substation IEC 61850-3 Compliance Standards for Shock and Vibration Resistance, EMI and Wide Temperature Ranges

Güdel is a manufacturer of robotic automation products, including linear motion modules, robot track motion units, gantry robots and components.

January U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $365.06 million, down 25.2% from December but up 1.3% when compared with the total of $360.31 million reported for January 2013.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Late last year, Siemens rolled-out of its new Cyber Security Managed Services in the United States. This new offering is aimed at providing continuous, comprehensive cyber protection for production environments. Siemens plans to subsequently introduce this service in Europe and Asia.

The agreement covers lifecycle management services, remote diagnostic services and scheduled maintenance for two gearless mill drives (GMD).

Jaw crusher is one of the most common crushing devices internationally, which is ideal for primary and secondary crushing. The maximum compressive strength of the machine can provide is 320Mpa. It is mainly used in industries of mining, metallurgy, construction, civil engineering and chemistry.

What are the Benefits of Multiproduct Manufacturing in the Biopharmaceutical Industry?

Classes typically are a combination of classroom and hands-on training covering various aspects of process safety, including P&ID drawings, hazard and operability (HAZOP) studies, Safety Integrity Level (SIL), Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS), Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA), and similar topics.

Catalog covers signal conditioning, data acquisition, and data communication products, including descriptions, block diagrams, specifications, and ordering information.

Valve position control can be implemented in a matter of hours to start optimizing the efficiency or capacity of a unit operation.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The OPC Foundation held their General Assembly meeting on December 4, 2013. Dr. Grant Wilson of Emerson Process Management and Foundation Chairman of the OPC Board opened the meeting, and Tom Burke summarized the Foundation’s current successes as accelerating adoption of OPC technology, successful OPC certification program, IEC standardization, and continuous improvement.

The European Smart Pumps Market for the Water and Wastewater Industry earned revenues of $192.4 million in 2013 and is predicted to reach $267.9 million in 2018.

The Field Communication Lounge creates a single area for visitors to learn about and experience the latest in field communication and integration technologies.

ISA developed a course in March and August for non-maintenance personnel with little or no background in the field of process measurement and control.

Economist Alan Beaulieu will deliver the keynote address at the 2014 Executive Conference of the Control System Integrators Association, April 23 – 26, in San Diego, Cal., U.S.

The US Food and Drug Administration incorporated ISA/IEC 62443 series of security standards to its recognized consensus standards list.

Spirax Sarco provides expertise, service, products and turnkey solutions for the control and efficient use of steam, air, and other industrial fluids for industrial and commercial users worldwide.

Symach Palletizers, based in Terneuzen, The Netherlands, supplies end-of-line palletizing and load-securing technology.

The unit offers a range of services for material handling and mechanical power transmission systems that includes diagnostics, education/training, system design, installation, monitoring and repair/rebuild.

Energy Metrics uses EXELE TopView alarm management and notification software to monitor measurements from HVAC, temperature control, chilled water systems and electrical distribution systems.

B&B's Spectre 3G cellular router starter kit now includes a 3-month data plan from KORE's GSM or CDMA North American 3G cellular network.

Since adopting KEPServerEX communications platform, the food production system integrator has been able to improve interoperability and reduce production facility downtime for its customers.

What Test Equipment Should You Use in a Hazardous Area?

Universal Robots was able to embed the motors directly into the articulation axes of UR 5 and UR 10 robots without need for additional housings.

The survey results indicate that educational programs are helping to increase awareness of the dangers of counterfeit electrical products.

Astronics acquired the assets and liabilities of EADS North America's Test and Services division (EADS T&S) for approximately $53 million in cash .

The brochure highlights the actuator’s performance capabilities in process control applications, including power plants and oil and gas.

By Mike Fahrion, B&B Electronics Ten commandments—rules, that is—for wireless communications. Covers RF power, frequency, long range reception, noise, rain, interference, antenna placement and more.

Total sales of machine vision components and systems grew over nine percent in 2013, more than double the initially forecasted growth according to AIA, the industry’s trade group.

SSG Series Industrial UPS and SSG-RP Series High Temperature UPS product families have achieved UL 508 listing.

Cyber attacks on industrial operations are a growing concern with potential to disrupt the economy and do harm.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Big data is a term used to describe large, complex collections of data sets. Big data is a hot topic in business, manufacturing, and IT circles because, if utilized correctly, it provides an opportunity for companies to improve efficiency and productivity. The challenge for many organizations is that in order for big data to be used most effectively, the organizational silos within companies need to cooperate.

Carometec produces touch screen control panels, contained in a stainless steel enclosure, for use in slaughterhouses where they get pressure hosing at a temperature of over 80°C to kill all bacteria.

PcVue HMI software monitors and supervises 400 fermentation tanks at champagne maker Veuve Clicquot in France.

Lauren Robeson will be overseeing product launches and communicating with the media in her role as the company's Public Relations Specialist.

Endress+Hauser acquired additional shares in German-based Analytik Jena AG and now owns 50.37 percent of the shares.

The MTConnect Institute, which was founded by AMT, is one of the industry partners in the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDI), to be located in Chicago.

Set a precedent of mutual respect and professionalism from the very beginning. Once the precedent for a relationship has been set, it is difficult to change.

A 10.4% growth in revenues in 2011 was overshadowed by a return to reality in 2012: the Eurozone continues to emerge from a prolonged recession and the Chinese juggernaut showed signs of slowing late in the year.

The Automation Engineering Survival Training: Integrator Version (AESTIV) will take place 31 March 2014 through 4 April 2014 at ISA headquarters in North Carolina.

SCADA systems were traditionally “walled off” from other systems operating independently from the network. Prior to the awareness of possible attacks, this seemed to provide all the protection the SCADA system needed. They were largely proprietary systems with such limited access and esoteric coding that very few people would have the ability to access them to launch an attack. Over time, however, they became integrated into the larger company network as a means to leverage their valuable data and increase plant efficiency. Therefore, the reality is their security is now often only as strong as the security of the network.

eWON offers industrial VPN routers and Ethernet modems for remote access to PLCs and machines.

The system will be used for power optimization and visualization; simulating maintenance operations; incident playback and analysis; and optimizing balance between loss minimization and power system stability.

New members of Sercos include Innovasic, Festo, Beijing Shouke Catchet Electrical Technology, STGCON New Energy Technology and Huangzhou Wahaha Group.

The series of six free seminars and interactive panel discussions will be held 10-11 March 2014 in the New York City area to explain the importance and implications of the US Cybersecurity Framework.

Transparency Market Research says the market was valued at USD 17.12 billion in 2012, and is expected to reach USD 28.69 billion by 2019, growing at a rate of 7.7 percent from 2013 to 2019.