Articles and News

The SabraFence Perimeter Defense System uses relay controller boards from Intelligent Appliance to monitor multiple sensing transducers used in perimeter detection.

The Oil & Gas ICS Cyber Security Forum will be held in October in the Middle East.

By Thomas R. Cutler More than 80% of large (200,000+ square foot) distribution centers throughout North America and Europe are expanding automation spending in 2013-2015. The challenges for large operations include an effective turnkey solution with superior design, increased production, and reduced costs. Automation is at the heart of these solutions.

Perle Electric Utility Terminal Servers provide secure remote user authentication and management capabilities for Phasor Measurement Units (PMU’s) that keep the smart grid stable.

The Caltex Kurnell upgrade project is converting the existing refinery site into an import terminal for the storage and distribution of petrol, diesel, jet fuel and fuel oil.

The guide provides an overview of the products and technology available from Thomson, including rod-type and rodless linear actuators, round and square rail linear guides and bearings, ball and lead screws, and more.

Emerson supplied DeltaV digital automation system, Electronic Marshalling, Rosemount measurement and analytical instruments, Fisher valves, Bettis actuators, Roxar multiphase meters, ROC remote operations controllers, and AMS Suite maintenance software.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The Honeywell system integrator initiative was launched in 2009 and has quickly become a solid program to serve small to midrange customers with Honeywell’s modular systems. There are 200 system integrators in the program with 55 of them located in the United States.

When firewall deployment is considered, relevant firewall vulnerabilities should be identified, and both compensating measures and alternatives evaluated.

One of the more frustrating problems is the kind that can only be fixed by someone else. Find a way to have that person feel the same frustration as you.

Chief Executive Magazine named Honeywell Chairman and CEO Dave Cote “2013 CEO of the Year.”

Modeling supply and return line dynamics for an electrohydraulic actuation system

The Dynamic Simulator is for the new LMG Crude Oil and Natural Gas Extraction plant of the Polish Oil and Gas Company (PGNiG).

Between 2008 and 2012 robot sales have increased by 9% on average per year. The demand for industrial robots is increasing due to the accelerating trend toward automation all over the world.

Several models of meters were certified by independent testing labs to have met or exceeded equipment interoperability guidelines of BACnet Testing Laboratory and LonWorks.

ABB will provide 800xA safety and automation, condition monitoring, and operator training systems for a floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) operated by Dana Petroleum.

Mantis, the world's largest walking robot, is transportation for rangers in national parks or other protected areas.

Metso will supply automation systems, quality control systems, and Neles and Jamesbury valves to two paper mills operated by SCG Paper.

Established in 1938, Molex earned an industry reputation for developing unique interconnect solutions for challenging design problems.

Transit Designer simplifies product selection according to needs and requirements and it improves the entire process of designing, purchasing and installing cable and pipe transits.

ISA Training and Education in July: Learn, Advance, Succeed

Genisco Filter designs and manufactures EMI/RFI filters for power line, signal line, TEMPEST and custom applications.

TRD Manufacturing uses AME fixturing and a Fastems 10-station pallet changer on a horizontal machining center.

Nagel Precision in the U.S. uses EtherNet/IP and Anybus X-gateways to connect their honing machines to any industrial network.

SORT is an automation solution provider with 20 years of experience supporting machine builders, system integrators, and end users with their automation needs.

Beckhoff opened a regional office in Woodridge, Ill., in the Chicago suburbs.

WorldSkills is the largest skills competition in the world, driving global workforce excellence. Held bi-annually, WorldSkills brings together vocational students from 54 countries to compete in 45 skill areas, and draws more than 200,000 attendees.

The Best Process Control Technical Resources May Be Out of Print

Cosmos Electric Company is a Japanese-based maker of gas detection systems.

The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers say the number of fatalities per 100 million hours worked has fallen by 52% compared with the 2003 rate.

PAC announced its Chinese language website which includes instrument details, press releases, important events, company facts, and other useful information.

ISA Transactions earned its highest rating ever in a prominent scientific ranking of journal quality and value.

Bertelkamp's training center provides Mitsubishi Electric university-based training for its programmable logic controls (PLCs), human machine interfaces (HMI), variable frequency drives (VFD) and robots.

IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) was first approved as an IEEE standard on 23 June 1983 and since then has been regularly updated. Now that it's 30 years old, can we trust it?

The machine vision market in Germany in 2012 almost reached its previous peak value of 2011.

The OPC Data Client family is available with one easy installer and one license, significantly reducing the total cost of the components.

The systems provide comprehensive visibility and control of RWE's high voltage electrical network at wind farm and control center levels, helping to increase availability and reduce costs.

The conferences will include individual meetings designed specifically for existing, new and potential users of the company’s products and solutions from each of its major brands: Avantis, Foxboro, SimSci, Triconex and Wonderware.

Classes typically are a combination of classroom and hands-on training on either the Endress+Hauser Process Training Unit (PTU), a full-scale, working process skid with on-line instrumentation and controls, or live instruments in training stands, both designed to simulate operating conditions.

Hurley takes over the role from former Managing Director Chris Cottrell, who is retiring from his position after six years leading Servomex.

The program enables participating manufacturers to validate PlantESP’s contribution to improved production performance and bottom-line profitability prior to commercial licensing.

Big Data is Big News in just about every corner of our digitally connected world. Leveraging massive amounts of process data archives is a game changer for practically any industrial process, enabling

The International Society of Automation (ISA) announced members elevated to the distinguished membership grade of Fellow, and the Celebrating Excellence Award honorees for 2013, including Member’s Choice honorees chosen by their peers.

By Mark Howard, Zettlex The traditional approach is to measure angular position or speed indirectly – typically inferring the shaft’s position from measurements made elsewhere. It can also be done with inductive sensors.

Value added services, such as condition monitoring, predictive maintenance and advanced diagnostics, are fast gaining acceptance and will account for a significant portion of the pump market.

Northwire project managers report extreme temperature conditions ranging from -65°F to 300°F during high flex retractile cable endurance trials.

The regional service center, scheduled to open in 2015, will assemble and distribute products, while serving as a showplace for Festo automation solutions.

Z drives provide 50% more power in the same space, making upgrades in power output a simple drop-in replacement.

Riehle has held senior executive positions at the Schaeffler Group, DMG America, Weinig Inc., and TRUMPF.

You might find that your automation systems are not as secure as they should be, and we have the solutions that will help you make improvements.

By Simon Dear, Cynergy3 Components When selecting a float switch for a liquid level sensing application, a number of factors need to be considered, including float switch and gasket materials, physical arrangement, electrical ratings and cable type.

The honor was granted for Martin’s outstanding achievements in the fields of science and engineering, as recognize by the International Society of Automation.

The Chillicothe, Ohio, mill installed ABB’s Extended Automation System 800xA to upgrade the existing control system and improve quality control.

Symmetricom generates, distributes and applies precise time for the communications, aerospace/defense, IT infrastructure, power and metrology industries.

Emerson will provide process automation, safety, and asset management technology for a CNOOC gas production project in the South China Sea.

Honeywell will equip the Tuapse refinery in Russia with an Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS), UniSim Design Suite process simulation software, and MES software.

Groveley Detection is a developer of ultrasonic gas leak detection solutions for both offshore and onshore oil and gas installations.

Technical Expertise Across Multiple Platforms: What the Auto Dealership Taught Me the Hard Way

During construction of the Linthal 2015 pumped storage hydroelectric power station, NORD gear units drive the conveyor belts that take rocks about 850 ft to the crushing plant and bring it back to a gravel plant.

By John Lewis Champion Tire and Wheel operates an automated facility that moves 1,000 race car wheels a day from a truck trailer back into storage after a race. A Cognex DataMan 302L image-based barcode reader provides a 97% read rate as wheels move along a conveyor line through a variety of inspection stations before it is stored.

The Automation Academy provides over one hundred seminar rooms around the world for training purposes.

The technology and service center provides engineering services, product sales, training and system support for hydraulics and controls technologies used in marine, offshore and industrial applications.

By Bill Lydon, Editor On May 30, 2013, I attended the grand opening of Beckhoff Automation’s new $8 million North American headquarters. The facility features a training center, an ESD-protected PC repair center, and a building automation system based on Beckhoff‘s own hardware and software.

Engineering is by definition a detail-oriented profession, but the field of automation requires almost fanatical attention to detail.

SAB, a producer of high strength steel, standardized on Softing's PROFINET protocol software for use with its PC-based Proview control system in a new steel plant that was built in Mobile, Alabama.

Products include ControlLogix PAC Modules and Network cards for various computer buses and Rockwell Automation networks such as ControlNet.

The market for industrial automation equipment will grow 6.2 percent this year to approximately $170 billion, helped in part by the recovery of global manufacturing in the first quarter, according to IHS.

The electronically controlled platforms are in simulation systems designed for a variety of industries such as military, entertainment, museums, academia, and flight training.

Cemtec in Austria, a specialist provider of grinding technologies, is using Insitec real-time particle sizing technology from Malvern Instruments to provide fully integrated, automated milling solutions.

ABB will supply switchgear, transformers, motors, variable speed drive systems, instrumentation, distributed control and safety systems, as well as a SCADA system for the new 400 km pipeline.

The site explains how to target the best opportunities for energy waste reduction in facility equipment, processes, and infrastructure and what data to gather to prioritize energy-saving projects and estimate their payoffs.

On-line toolboxes provide a compilation of information materials, such as white papers, posters, videos, etc., to provide relevant knowledge for testing labs.

Production of agricultural machinery and industrial robotics in China is projected to expand at a strong rate in the coming years with average yearly growth of 18.1 percent and 18.8 percent, respectively.

Knowledge Edge is an online resource of manufacturing information with industry-validated content--in other words, a Wikipedia of accurate information for a change.

Ph.D. student M.A. Kader Rasel was announced the winner of the UniSim Design Challenge to attendees at the 2013 Honeywell Users Group (HUG) Americas conference.

Workcells at CASTEC will use Adept Cobra robots, motion control and integrated vision to automate the sub assembly of smart phone electronics.

The top honor, the Americas 2012 Channel Partner of the Year Award, was given to Lesman Instrument Company, headquartered in Chicago.

Design of controller using variable transformations for a nonlinear process with dead time

The company, based in Finland, expanded its USA presence with a new site located in San Diego.

Fieldbus Foundation conducted the first live demonstration of its FOUNDATION for Remote Operations Management (ROM) technology at the Petrobras research and development facility (Cenpes) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Powerit Solutions provides energy demand management automation for industrial businesses.

Agile Planet is a developer of intelligent robotics software and hardware products engineered to improve the efficiency and functionality of industrial robots.

KGM 282 allows the user to precisely pinpoint the problem in the dynamics of the machine in order to increase its accuracy.

The program provides comprehensive support throughout the plant’s lifecycle in addition to expert resources to guarantee performance outcomes, differentiating it from traditional service offerings.

NI will sell Kollmorgen’s EtherCAT AKD brushless servo drive and single-cable AKM motor.

Emerson’s machinery health technology will help ensure reliable operation of the pit-to-plant conveyor system for the S11D Iron Mining Project in Brazil.

Six-page leaflet describes benefits of ABB Vortex (FV4000) and Swirl (FS4000) flowmeters for measuring flow rates of liquid, gas, and steam.

Web site contains info on 40,000-plus rotary encoder variants, over 200 inclinometer models and more than 900 linear sensor configurations.

By applying this online measurement, the Otacilio Costa mill will be able to raise the quality and strength of its cooking liquor, react faster to disturbances and increase process output.

Spiesshofer will succeed Joe Hogan as CEO on September 15, 2013. Hogan will continue with ABB for some months as Senior Advisor to the Board.

in 1953, Rotork Model 100A actuators operated valves on the Transonic Wind Tunnel, one of the world’s first large scale supersonic wind tunnels. Now they are being replaced.

The Cyber Security Dashboard is among several advancements being demonstrated for customers this week at the 2013 Honeywell Users Group (HUG) Americas Symposium in Phoenix.

Advantech has been certified for C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism), a joint effort between the US government and businesses involved in importing goods into the United States.

Patti Engineering will develop and install turn-key industrial automation vision systems using Matrox Imaging hardware and software.

Achieving Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 2 with non-redundant field devices is possible, but not always easy.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Metropolitan Solutions, a showcase created by Deutsche Messe and run concurrently with the 2013 Hannover Messe, provided a focal point for learning about the application of technology to improve cities. Real-time automation and control technologies are the logical building blocks for cities to modernize, improve safety and reliability, and provide efficient environments for people to live.

32-page news magazine includes feature articles on control solutions using the sercos bus ranging from drive and controller-based controls to PC-based control systems.

On-line thermowell calculation tool helps customers stay compliant with the new ASME PTC 19.3 TW-2010 thermowell standards.

The knowledge of individuals can be openly shared environment at an industrial plant or facility is inquisitive and friendly and egos take a back seat.

200 professionals in the power-generation industry attended the International Society of Automation’s (ISA’s) 56th Power Industry Division (POWID) Symposium held in Orlando, Florida, June 2-7.