Articles and News

IEC 6-1131-3

Agatos is a Singapore-based Wonderware systems integrator.

Teledyne DALSA will develop a new multispectral sensor for an advanced earth observation application.

Available as an app for Android phones, the Sensor Wiring Guide covers all Yokogawa liquid measurement sensors and analyzers.

The guide provides alternative approaches and best practices for deployment of Distributed Resource Island systems or Micro-Grids in India.

Silicom’s Ethernet bypass technology allows for bypass of Ethernet ports on a host system after a software failure, loss of power, or upon software request.

DRB Group selected the Epicor enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution to replace its 20-year old business systems.

EuroChem will use UniSim to create simulated process scenarios as part of its training program for plant operators.

"Make: An American Manufacturing Movement" maps how the United States can lead the world in 21st Century advanced manufacturing that will be at the heart of our nation's long-term productivity and prosperity.

ABB will supply two GMD systems for 23 megawatt SAG mills comprising transformers, ring motors and complete containerized electrical houses.

This will allow ADLINK to offer modular solutions far below the $100 level, a price point requested for many years in the embedded market, but was not achievable with x86 based platforms.

The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) announces that six companies joined the association.

Maven Systems will distribute AirLive's wireless transmission devices and IP surveillance solutions in India.

The initiative integrates ISA 100.11a, WirelessHART, wired HART, and wired H1 protocols into a single standard environment.

HMS Industrial Networks joined Mitsubishi Electric Europe’s e-F@ctory Alliance as a new partner.

Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill, became the first high school in America to be certified LEED Gold for Existing Buildings (EB).

Machine vision sales in North America rose 15% through the third quarter of 2011, according to the Automated Imaging Association (AIA).

EverRun is a fault tolerant, high availability and disaster recovery software suite that creates a highly resilient application environment for Windows products.

Leaders in the subcontracting business will be presenting their latest product developments in industrial materials to a vast audience attending HANNOVER MESSE.

Pressure transmitters were $2.40 billion in 2010, and will reach $3.22 billion in worldwide revenues in 2015.

The program will implement a globally standardized ERP/MES solution on the basis of SAP and Werum’s PAS-X.

The valve meets the functional safety requirements for Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3 capable per IEC 61508.

PSCo Technical Distribution will build turnkey video wall solutions that complement their existing line of high-performance displays.

If on a trend recording a change in an input flow or speed (load) associated with a primary process loop causes a significant change in the primary process variable, there is an opportunity for feedfo

Automation.com, December 2011 By Jerry Belanger, Honeywell Process Solutions Industrial plants need solutions guaranteeing their controls system investments are safeguarded. They want to increase the efficiency of production process, but also reduce the long-term total cost of ownership (TCO) of automation assets.

Omnitron has produced three online videos on connectivity and cabling that provide BICSI Continuing Education Credits (CECs).

Lenze plans to open a Mechanical Product Assembly & Logistics Center in Glendale Heights, Illinois, and hire 40 people.

This brings the total number of certified companies to 27 and of certified products to 39.

Honeywell’s second office to open in Iraq since 2010 is in Basra.

ISaGRAF will integrate its SIL 3 FlexiSafe solution to Wind River’s VxWorks RTOS Cert Platform.

ClearView is a supplier of imaging components and services to OEMs and System Integrators in the machine vision, image analysis, medical imaging and video surveillance industries.

IXXAT opened a sales office in northern Italy to expand its activities in the embedded system solutions, data communication and safety areas.

In a second phase of this project, MPEI will be implementing Advanced Distribution Management System functionalities, including Electronic Mapping, Distribution Power Flow and Volt/VAR Control.

QA Graphics’ interactive team can create custom mobile applications for Apple iOS (iPhone/iPad/iTouch), Android and BlackBerry devices.

ACE is an independent systems integration firm with seven offices throughout the northeast USA and Texas.

There is too much hype about the smart grid without looking at the core problems from an engineering and business point of view.

Roesys. a manufacturer of digital X-ray systems, is using draw-wire sensors from Micro-Epsilon to position the mechanical moving parts on its machines.

eWON Ethernet routers allow Thames Water to remotely monitor and control critical assets located at its water pumping stations and sewage treatment works across the UK.

The Automated Imaging Association (AIA signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Machine Vision Industrial Association (KMVIA).

Three companies--3S, logi.CAD and KW-Software--have incorporated the PLCopen XML specification into their products.

ABB successfully commissioned an ACS 6000 drive, installed at the Ma JiaLiang coal mine main shaft hoist in Shanxi Province, China.

ABB provided 15 motor drives and PLCs to the Milwaukee Area Technical College.

PPT Vision develops products and solutions based on smart camera, as well as industrial multi-camera vision systems used in quality control and inspection in the manufacturing industry.

PowerEdge mobile application provides real-time access from an Apple iPhone or iPad to Eaton’s electrical catalogs, videos, and training.

Emerson will provide a DeltaV automation system, AMS Suite asset management software, and smart field devices using Foundation fieldbus and WirelessHART.

Holcim is using an Insitec on-line particle size analyzer from Malvern Instruments to optimize the grinding circuits that mill finished cement.

Prokits, based in Mansfield, UK, is a designer and manufacturer of valve adaptor kits and accessories for the valve industry.

Eliminating Difficult Start-ups with State Based Controls

PLCopen Motion Control Specifications have been extended with the release of Part 5 and Part 6, adding fluid power to the spec.

New orders for motion control products are up 19% through the third quarter of 2011, but are slowing down says MCA.

Coastal Flow added a Calibron S50 portable flow prover to its proving fleet.

The three Strategic Member companies appointed directors for next year, and the 16 Participating Member companies elected two directors for the Board.

Catalog includes technical data related to flammability, impact resistance, temperature control, EMI/RFI Shielding, and modifications of enclosures.

The program helps automation vendors get started with FOUNDATION product development by making it faster and easier to bring fieldbus equipment to market.

The catalogs list more than 25,000 different products.

The project involves installing an electric-mechanical system on 900 dump bins to monitor the input of waste and optimize its collection.

Linear programs and real-time optimization need the prediction to violation of constraints inherent in MPC.

Automation.com, November 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor I was recently introduced to a new HMI software offering, Tatsoft FactoryStudio. My first reaction was - Why does the industry need another HMI software product? I interviewed Tatsoft CEO and founder, Marcos Taccolini to learn more.

Catalog contains product information and installation assistance for Parker hydraulic hoses, fittings, equipment, accessories and technical information.

eWON is a Belgian manufacturer of hardware products for industrial communication.

Honeywell will provide automation, safety and security solutions for a new multi-train liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Queensland.

There’s nothing worse in one’s work life than when the relationship with one’s manager is not working correctly.

Automation.com, December 2011 By Gregory Wilcox, Mike Hannah and Mark Devonshire, Rockwell Automation The rise of Ethernet and emerging technologies such as integrated plantwide architecture and Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) have lead to the increased popularity of converged network infrastructures . These infrastructures allow innovative designs, specifically layer switches, that allow manufacturers to combine the simplicity and maintainability of many individual networks with the power and flexibility of a single network design.

Automation.com, December 2011 Gram Equipment in Denmark is a manufacturer of equipment for industrial ice cream production. To simplify system complexity, it based its control topology on an Allen-Bradley GuardLogix platform and EtherNet/IP.

Automation.com, December 2011 Askim Mek Verksted in Norway builds Battpacker wool production machinery. It upgraded to Control Logix PLCs, PanelView Plus HMIs, Festo plug-in pneumatic valves, and EtherNet/IP communications.

The program targets system integrators, machine builders and other companies wishing to include Anybus gateways and Netbiter remote management solutions in their offering.

SME selects Francis Tuttle Technology Center as one of six exemplary schools for community-based manufacturing education.

The instrument will monitor weather and climate changes throughout the Arctic region.

Industrial networks play a major role in the implementation of control strategies for energy optimization on the plant floor.

Accu-Sort produces Automatic Identification (Auto-ID) systems, with revenues of approximately $92 million in 2010.

Kowal is the first Supplier Member to be elected to the PMMI board, a recognition of the key role suppliers play in the advancement of packaging technology.

Vector award competition rewards challenging and innovative applications using cable carrier systems.

Many of the real costs of plant or facility downtime are hidden in other cost areas and do not show up unless you account for them properly.

Andy Chatha Awarded ISA Honorary Membership

Automation.com, November 2011 By Nuris Ismail, Aberdeen Group In today's economic environment, manufacturers are under immense pressure to contribute value to the organization's bottom line by cutting costs and improving productivity wherever possible. In fact, in the Aberdeen Business Review study of over 170 manufacturers revealed that their primary goals for 2011 were profitability and cost reduction.

Automation.com, November 2011 By Bill Lydon for Automation.com Rockwell Automation introduced the new low-cost Micro800 PLC product line suited for standalone machine applications - a completely new architecture and not based on or compatible with the Logix Platform and Integrated Architecture.

Automation.com, November 2011 By Mikko Ristolaine, ABB Offerings from safe stopping to more elaborate monitoring functions are being introduced and are heralding new opportunities in machine safety.

Automation.com, December 2011 By ABB Describes the thinking that went into developing the ABB Process Automation Decision Tool.

The indoor AXIS Q1602 and the outdoor-ready AXIS Q1602-E can deliver multiple, individually configurable H.264 and Motion JPEG video streams simultaneously.

By adopting "greentelligence" as its keynote theme, HANNOVER MESSE 2012 has put the spotlight squarely on green technologies as a central growth driver for industry.

Escalating energy prices across Europe are underlining the need to implement electric drives to minimise energy bills and achieve better efficiency.

ARC says the highest percentage of all industry Ethernet nodes shipped worldwide is for EtherNet/IP devices.

ABB will design, supply and commission all the electrical and mechanical equipment for a new ground-mounted mine ore hoist system.

Automation.com, November 2011 By Hongyu Pei Breivold, et al, ABB Here’s how ABB's System 800xA helps improve operator effectiveness through improved situational awareness and better handling of abnormal conditions.

App lets users compare conventional methods, such as valves for pump control and dampers for fan control, to variable frequency drives, to see estimated cost savings.

telligrated will add 200 new technical and engineering positions in research and development, system design and customer service.

The expansion more than doubles ATI's current manufacturing and inventory capacity while allowing 50 new employees to be hired.

Updates in Version 6.2.0 of the motion system sizing and selection software include the company’s AKM, AKM8, and VLM servomotors.

Blog helps network professionals stay up-to-date on the latest advances, global standards updates, market intelligence and strategies in network infrastructure.

Fairchild is a manufacturer of high-precision pneumatic controls and power transmission products based in North Carolina, USA.

ISA is accepting applications for the 2012-2013 academic year for students who demonstrate potential in the fields of automation, instrumentation and control.

Roche holds a B. Sc from Trinity College, a Dip. Eng. from Dublin Institute of Technology, an MBA from Rutgers and Executive Education' Certificate from Harvard Business School.

Updates to EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, CompoNet and ControlNet specs include an energy object that will be used to report energy for all energy and resource types.

Bosch Rexroth AG is doubling the production area at the Fountain Inn plant in South Carolina, USA.

National Instruments has helped many physicists streamline project development and simplify advanced control solutions that otherwise would be cost-prohibitive.

Korsnäs Gävle is using Emerson’s wireless conductivity and temperature transmitters to collect leak-detection data at its board and paper production unit at Gävlebukten, Sweden.

Joyner’s Mechanical has offices in both Richmond and Chesapeake, Virginia.

Paralan will distribute ACS industrial and process control instrumentation in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Site offers image sensors, frame grabbers, cameras, lenses, industrial computers, cables and enclosures.

Simionato is a manufacturer of integrated flexible packaging systems based in Mestrino, Italy.