Articles and News

EyeVision software now supports CoaXPress cameras, along with USB, FireWire (IEEE1394), GigE and CameraLink.

On April 22, 2012, the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, Wen Jiabao, will open HANNOVER MESSE with the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Angela Merkel.

The water and wastewater products company installed a MicroLogix PLC, PowerFlex 4 drive, and EtherNet/IP to automate its demonstration plants.

Electric actuators on the carbon filtration plant were failing. Rotork’s solution was to install IQTMPro quarter-turn modulating actuators directly onto the affected butterfly valves.

Two companies joined the Encompass program, three partners expanded their membership, and six companies joined the Machine Builder Program.

With virtualization, users can safely run several operating systems and applications at the same time on a single computer, with each having access to the resources it needs when it needs them.

Emerson's Design Services Network business can assist in design, development and testing for the refrigerants newly approved by the EPA.

Using the product finder, customers can now make a pre-selection according to medium type, medium temperature, sensor material and design, voltage supply, connection type and ATEX category.

WINA will present the results of its recent survey on the Application of Wireless Technology via a live webinar on February 9.

Grant is a vice president of Telesian Technology, and has more than 20 years of experience developing marketing strategies for high-technology and industrial-automation companies.

From 21 to 24 November, five fairs – CeMAT INDIA, MDA INDIA, Surface INDIA, Industrial Automation INDIA and Laser INDIA – will be held concurrently at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida.

Automation.com, February 2012 By Adam VanOort, DataNab ModBus and BACnet are the best protocol options to support on open I/O and control devices. Both protocols use RS485 as the communications backbone, i.e., the physical network that supports the data traffic. But what about IP?

Automation.com, February 2012 Barbers Farmhouse Cheesemakers in the UK uses Rockwell Automation’s ControlLogix PAC and 3D laser scanners to control an Arcall C52 cheese cutter. Another PAC controls a suite of conveyors driven by servo motors. All communications are via EtherNet/IP.

Automation.com, February 2012 By Paul Didier, Cisco In production environments, typically the order of priority is Availability, Integrity and then Confidentiality. This is opposite of the priority in IT, where it's Confidentiality, Integrity and last is Availability. That makes a big difference in the way security is approached.

Automation.com, February 2012 By Mark Howard, Zettlex The term ‘tandem encoder’ refers to an encoder with at least two measurement axes but only one power input and one data output. A Tandem approach effectively spreads the cost of a single set of electronics across two (or more) encoders.

Automation.com, February 2012 By David Johnson, FBGS Fibre optic sensors for strain/vibration and temperature based on Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBG) offer several crucial advantages to traditional electric sensor technologies. They are unaffected by electrical environments and they permit optical transmission of sensor signals over large distances.

An unnamed manufacturer of cable and conductors in Spain used Rockwell Automation’s Integrated Architecture, including CompactLogix PLCs connected to PanelView Plus operator terminals via EtherNet/IP.

Automation.com, February 2012 By Jessica Forguites, Rockwell Automation Embedding Ethernet switch technology into devices brings new advantages to high-performance applications. It simplifies machine design, configuration and maintenance.

What is the effect of the pump on control valves at lower rates?

Automation.com, February 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor These results of the Pharmaceutical Automation Roundtable (PAR) Emerging Technology Benchmarking Survey addressed major automation topics including DCS vs. PLC, Fieldbus Technology, Smart Devices, VFDs, PAT, APC, Wireless, Operator Interfaces, Computing Technology, Validation and Skills gaps.

Since joining Lenze in 2003, Wood has held various positions within the company, including general manager, director of quality and service operations, and director of strategic programs.

In co-operation with the University of Applied Sciences, Salzburg, students have six months in which to complete penetration tests of the zenon control system.

This guide walks PROFIBUS and Foundation fieldbus users through a logical process to identify the proper application of all FieldConnex bus solutions.

The eLearning portal features 10 introductory courses on types, functions and general knowledge of factory automation equipment.

HANNOVER MESSE 2012, which runs from 23 to 27 April, provides an overview of all key resource-saving industrial technologies.

Bushell has 15 years of gas measurement and software development experience. He holds a BS in Computer Science from Texas A&M with a Minor in Business Administration.

The brochure provides an overview of the palletizer process, guarding challenges and hazard analysis, and illustrates how simplified safety control can improve safety and profitability. Requires registration to obtain brochure.

David Fuller, Duncan Hudson and David Loadman were promoted to NI's to executive management team.

Metso will supply a DNA automation system, Process and Quality Vision for web inspection and web break analysis, and the IQ quality control system.

Honeywell launched its fifth annual competition for technical students in colleges and universities across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Mechatrolink is the most widely used motion control network in Asia, and is gaining ground in the U.S. An annual Regular Membership in MMA normally costs $1,500, but until March 31, 2012, it’s free.

ORTEC will consult on supply chain processes in gas field production capacity optimization, spare parts management, and cost estimating.

Site promotes OPCSystems.NET as the complete SCADA solution for Enterprise Business Applications.

T&B has a portfolio of more than 200,000 low-voltage products marketed under 45 brand names. The combined product portfolio will enable ABB to double its addressable market in North America to around $24bn.

QA Graphics will develop a custom 3D symbol library exclusively for Tridium's NiagaraAX building automation platform.

Energy Savings Estimator gives customers using drives, motors, couplings and gearboxes the ability to estimate potential energy savings across an entire drive train.

Application note describes a viscosity test protocol that achieves viscosity measurement using only 20µl (microliter) of sample fluid.

Per the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC), this rating is required when installing cables into tray applications.

The actuator--2.4 m tall and 1.64 m in diameter--will be used to isolate gas being supplied from Trinidad’s northern offshore gas fields in the event of an emergency situation.

The expansion will accommodate 450 associates and is scheduled for completion in October 2012.

Rotork IQTPro actuators are controlling the operation of butterfly valves in the cooling system for the power conversion plant and the fuel systems for emergency generators.

Enclosures are manufactured in Pentair’s 30,000 square meter facility in Reynosa, Mexico.

Scientific Devices Australia markets and supports test equipment for manufacturers of Electronic Test & Measurement Instrumentation.

Automation.com, January 2012 By Thomas R. Cutler 2012 augurs a need for immediate solutions as part of lean best-practices. A kaizen event for distribution must start with the hand truck in the delivery cycle; it represents the obvious place for continuous process improvement, yet consistently overlooked last year.

Automation.com, January 2012 By Matthew Littlefield, LNS Research There are a whole slew of new technologies and system architectures being adopted in the automation industry at a very rapid pace. Companies today face the very real possibility that if they don’t effectively understand, adopt, and leverage these new technologies to their advantage; they will be left in an increasingly uncompetitive position.

Excellent temperature control is the key to both distillation and reactor performance.

ABB will manage all maintenance operations at the Rosslyn Paper Mill in Pretoria, South Africa.

Pawlowicz has been in the industrial automation industry for 35 years and has spent 13 of those years at Webb.

Through the HMS Netbiter Argos web interface, Eaton and its customers have web-based access to all UPS parameters.

Website outlines the capabilities of the DEACOM ERP software package offerings and explains the philosophies behind its development.

Exida certified the Eclipse Model 705 Guided Wave Radar Transmitter as Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3 capable per IEC 61508.

Catalog contains more than 87,000 components such as timing belts, pulleys, timing belt clamps, clamp kits, foot mounts, bearings, gearheads, couplings and vibration mounts.

The environmentally-friendly cruise ferry will use liquefied natural gas as its fuel, which will be a first for a passenger vessel of this size.

Andrew Vogl succeeds Bill Allai of National Instruments, who remains on the MCA Board as Past Chairman.

Vacuum cups catalog covers more than 2,100 different vacuum suction cups arranged clearly according to industry, applications and series.

Coolidge will continue as President of Encompass Parts Distribution for which he has been responsible for sales, vendor relations and IT management and development.

NuvoSun is a manufacturer of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules based on flexible Copper Indium/Gallium di-Selenide (CIGS) technology.

iLaunch software provides CAD/BOM import with error corrections, rapid conversion to intelligent data, and revision control for documentation and programming.

ABB supplied gearless mill drives, process and electrical control systems, power quality systems, a substation and a System 800xA integrated operations center.

The 9-page Product Guide offers a comprehensive summary of all USB and Ethernet (LXI) data acquisition hardware and software solutions offered by the company.

Belden acquired GarrettCom, a provider of industrial networking solutions for specialty and stressed applications, in December 2010.

This is a Q&A with the ISA Boston Section.

Automation.com, January 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor The next major frontier in the evolution of open architecture is the development of application standards built around Use Cases to increase automation productivity and efficiency. Packaging machine standards from OMAC's Packaging Workgroup is a good example.

Automation.com, January 2012 By Roy Freeland, Perpetuum Energy Harvesters are now readily available to power most low power wireless installations.

Perpetuum designs and manufactures vibration energy harvesters delivering life-long power for wireless technology.

Video demonstrates how a Flow Switch can be configured to detect the interface of air, oil and water in oil/gas production operations, refining plants and storage facilities.

Vega level sensors are being used in the decommissioning of the Dounreay nuclear plant in north Scotland.

The show will cover Permanent Electrical Safety Devices.

Brochure describes its range of standard products, application-adapted products and customized solutions for Industrial Hydraulics.

R.S. Davis installed a Toshiba IP video system to provide premise security and to monitor truck traffic.

Le site Web de la compagnie est maintenant entièrement traduit et fonctionnel en français.

Process control migration best path forward: How do you achieve both when schedule and cost are constraints or better yet roadblocks?

Virtual Boxes

Automation.com, January 2012 By Gianni Minetti, Paradox Engineering Chemical plants struggle with growing complexity and are often instrumented for process control. Wireless sensors might not always be a viable option, while wireless transmission seems to be the best choice. So how to conjugate these two elements?

Automation.com, January 2012 By Sarah Erdman How energy dashboards have evolved over the past several years, mostly for key performance indicators, but now also for educating building occupants to encourage energy efficient practices.

Hollows succeeds Rusty Ponce de Leon, President, Phase 1 Technology, who remains on the AIA Board as Past Chairman.

Automation.com, January 2012 By John Bisson, Mencom Spring connection terminals offer ease of use and cost savings. The spring clamp termination eliminates concerns of loosening or disconnecting often associated with classic screw-type connections.

Automation.com, January 2012 By Gary Johnson, COOPER Crouse-Hinds UK When it comes to specifying enclosures for hazardous area electrical applications, engineers must ensure they fully understand IP protection ratings, as well as the implications of modifying an Exd or Exe enclosure prior to or after installation.

AccuMate will select the correct gearhead for an application based on a number of variables provided by the engineer - size, speed, etc.

Started in 1982 by Jerry Winfield, WinSystems manufactures industry-standard PC/104, EPIC, EBX, SUMIT-ISM and STD Bus computer boards, I/O modules, and enclosures.

Source code of M-Series drivers will be made available to approved OEM developers.

Siemens Simatic PCS 7 will be the control platform for Dow Corning’s batch, continuous and discrete process automation solutions.

Carbide cutting tool specialist Ceratizit relies on a measurement system that uses Micro-Epsilon’s optoCONTROL 2500 sensor during production control of the cutting discs.

Allied Nevada licensed Ellipse 8 Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

Qualification was based on EPRI TR-107330 under an audited quality management program meeting the requirement of 10CFR50 Appendix B, NQA-1, and 10CFR21.

Website makes it easier for developers and OEMs to find, order and purchase sensing and control components for industrial applications.

Salvalaggio previously held key management and leadership roles at AMT including engineering group leader, project manager and robotics engineer.

The Smoke Detection Knowledge Center features a wealth of content regarding the value of smoke detection in commercial settings.

Improving performance using cascade control and a Smith predictor

Automation.com, January 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor Here are my thoughts on major automation and control trends in 2012. These opinions are based on a wide range of inputs from users, suppliers and industry consultants, and from attending numerous industry forums, conferences and trade shows every year.

OnTrack Automation manufactures components, systems and custom engineered solutions for the packaging industry.

The Milwaukee office is headed by Joel Warren. Rick Forsgren will manage the Eagan, Minnesota office.

It is possible to create a documentation format that works for design and construction and then can be gradually “morphed” into a format that meets the needs of production

By Beamex Paper, January 2012 Describes how Beamex’s CMX calibration management software can be used for the calibration of process instrumentation as part of a CMMS.

Automation.com, January 2012 By Rockwell Automation To harness the wealth of untapped “manufacturing intelligence,” companies must overcome the barriers to collecting, correlating, visualizing and sharing plantfloor information with the overall operation.

ARC says manufacturing companies in India are increasingly turning to system integrators to implement automation projects and seamlessly integrate disparate systems.

ARC says the total medium voltage AC drives market in India will exceed $180 million in 2015.

The catalog in-cludes detailed specifications on custom configurable BLDC motors, controls, gearheads, brakes, encoders and accessories.

Williams' most recent positions were chief executive officer of ELPRO Technologies and president and chief executive officer of Action Instruments.

Lindeman will work with ISA leaders to continue moving the Society toward meeting its strategic goals.