Articles and News

Automation.com, May 2011 By Scott Howard Industrial control systems were designed and built with a primary focus on performance, availability and reliability - not security. A new generation of standards-based security offerings lets operators defend their control system networks using the same technology that protects telecommunications, banking, and other critical IT infrastructure.

Collaborative Product Development Associates CPDA) is a provider of critical analyses of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) activities.

Apex Manufacturing Solutions relocated to new, larger offices in Boise, Idaho.

Honeywell will supply an Experion Process Knowledge System and Safety Manager to upgrade the automation systems at the refinery in Baiji, Iraq.

NovaTech will resell PAS’ Integrity software, which maps the configuration of automation systems including Distributed Control Systems, PLCs, Historians, and Safety Instrumented Systems.

Modbus joined with Fieldbus Foundation, PROFIBUS and the HART Communication Foundation to work on the development of wireless gateway specifications.

With Magma’s design software and the TSMC AMS Reference Flow 2.0, customers can accelerate the design and manufacture of next-generation analog/mixed-signal ICs.

The National Instruments NI WSN-3226 Wireless Measurement Node can be powered by Perpetuum’s vibration energy harvester technology.

BAS-3000BC series of remote I/O modules have received BACnet certification, approved and listed by BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL).

Nieves previously worked at Xembedded LLC, where he served as a regional sales manager for the eastern United States and Asia.

ABB completed the commissioning of three gearless mill drive (GMD) systems for the Esperanza project of Antofagasta Minerals in Chile.

Online demo has interactive close-ups of the ST100 Series Flow Meters. Demo allows users to view each model in the series and learn more about their individual features.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor ABB creates new role, appoints Brice Koch, to oversee relations with ABB’s largest customers and the development of opportunities in strategic growth areas such as rail, wind, water, solar, energy efficiency and smart grids. Koch will also be responsible for developing ABB’s service business.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor The PlantTriage "true believers" gathered at the ExperTune User Conference from around the world to improve their skills and share their project successes. The conference focused on ways to improve process control performance with training, access to industry experts, and case studies.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Roy Kok Over the years, we’ve had sensor upgrades, improved controllers, better operator visibility, data archiving and analytics, and now we have enterprise integration for improved material management, corporate agility, regulatory compliance and a host of other features.

Applied Products Group is now a Semaphore distributor for Arizona and New Mexico.

IFCS will be integrating the OPC Servers with its DABO (Buildings Diagnostic Agent for Building Operation) – a tool that analyzes and stores all data read by the centralized control system.

iSenseLight covers all necessary basic functions like calibration, configuration of optical sensors and enhanced diagnostics with DLI and TTM.

Strain gauges are widely employed in sensors that detect and measure force and force-related parameters, such as torque, acceleration, pressure, and vibration. The strain gauge is the building block for strain sensors that often employ multiple strain gauges in their construction.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Jay Mellen, Savigent Software Logic PD implemented a system to fully automate Logic tracking and control of its box-build processes. The new system empowers Logic PD to scale faster, bring products to market more rapidly, increase customer visibility, and improve overall manufacturing efficiencies.

DPD Dynamic Parcel Distribution installed AXIOM-X omnidirectional laser barcode scanners from Accu-Sort for its distribution center in Neufahrn, Germany.

The GMD powers a 38-foot semiautogenous (SAG) mill at the Canadian Malartic gold mine.

Animatics designs, manufactures, and markets motion control products and systems, and has over 24 years in the motion control industry.

Two Houston high school seniors from one of the city’s prominent engineering magnet schools have been awarded the Honeywell Engineer of the Future Scholarship.

Catalog covers gear motors, motors and variable speed motion controls.

Modernization of a municipal waterworks with SCADA standardization: Past, present, and planning for the future

Geraldi is a 27 year veteran of the high tech automation industry and holds a BEEE from Stevens Institute of Technology along with a MBA from Iona College.

Anytek is a Taiwanese manufacturer of terminal blocks.

Gleason started his career in industrial automation in robotics. With more than 20 years experience, he has led hardware and design engineering projects.

AWC operates 24 locations in 9 states (Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Florida) and employs over 285 people.

The brochure includes a colorful selection chart matching the appropriate ABB model with application flow rates, pressures, temperatures, and functions.

Demko will manage North American sales representative offices and service strategic accounts for Acromag's embedded computing product line.

Both linear and rotary models in the Tritex II Series have CSA Class I Div 2 groups A, B C and D certification, and IP65 and Type 4 environmental ratings.

House, who joined GarrettCom in 2008 as Vice President of Engineering, most recently served as GarrettCom’s Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

WR is a supplier of electronic design automation (EDA) software for RF and high-frequency components and systems for the semiconductor, aerospace and defense, communications and test equipment industries.

At no cost, Northwire engineered several designs, tested and developed, and rapidly prototyped custom cable solutions in five days—enabling the multimillion dollar production to resume.

Jean comes to NovaTech from MillerCoors, where she was Manager of Manufacturing Systems for Brewing and Utilities with responsibility for automation. She has a BSChE from MIT.

Quaker Chemical Corporation is a global provider of process chemicals and services.

Lektronix is an independent industrial automation repair and service provider in Europe and Asia, headquartered in Cannock, U.K.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Thomas R. Cutler Within the manufacturing sector, particularly those involved in Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturing, there are special issues and challenges that typical ERP implementations don't address.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor The size of Hannover Fair can be overwhelming but there were industry and technology trends reflected in products and presentations at the event. Here are some specific examples for illustration - in most cases there are many more companies that have products supporting these trends.

Micro-Epsilon’s optoNCDT 1700 laser displacement sensor is being used to measure the height of concrete blocks during the production process.

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MAG is expanding its U.S.-based operations to build and distribute crystalline silicon (c-Si) module production lines with capacities up to 130 MWp.

TempCheck PRO handheld infrared temperature measurement device offers engineers a low cost alternative to thermal imaging cameras.

AMS is a high tech distributor covering Upstate New York.

DynaPeaQ stores wind energy power to support power supplies in the event of a fault, or to regulate the power flow to compensate for the intermittence of wind power.

Phase Matrix designs and manufactures RF and microwave test-and-measurement (T&M) instruments, subsystems and components.

Red Lion added 41 new staffing positions ranging from product and software engineers to customer service representatives.

A gripper can be attached to a robot or it can be part of a fixed automation system. Many styles and sizes of grippers exist so that the correct model can be selected for the application.

With the installation of a vacuum fixture, EKM Elektronik went from testing 30 boards in 8 hours to testing 70 boards in 8 hours.

Parsec Automation recently completed the relocation of its worldwide headquarters from Brea, Calif. to larger facilities in Anaheim, Calif.

KUKA is installing three partially automated, robot-based, post-lamination framing lines for trimming, framing, testing and packout of photovoltaic panels.

Forest Liné specializes in manufacturing systems for aerospace applications, dies/molds, large parts, titanium and composites processing.

A PLC from AutomationDirect helped this farmer/inventor develop a new kind of hay baler that lets farmers harvest hay day or night, regardless of the weather.

The facility will be controlled by an ABB System 800xA, along with ABB instrumentation and a Safety Instrumented System (SIS).

The Safety Compendium is a free 200-page technical guide for the application of functional safety standards to machinery and all its other associated aspects.

Savigent provided Logic PD with the ability to fully automate execution and electronic record management of its box-build processes.

The guide provides specific illustrated examples of motion solutions in bread robot, skewer/assembly, food vending, food press and de-boning applications.

Siemens is offering $80,000 in products and services to winners of the 2011 Smartest Building in America challenge.

Mitsubishi Electric Europe acquired a minority shareholding in SCADA/HMI software company Adroit Technologies, for an undisclosed sum.

The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) announced winners of four awards at its 2011 Executive Conference in Orlando.

From June 16, 2011, only motors fulfilling IE2 efficiency requirements can be used for certain types of applications within the EU market.

Apax Partners intends to combine Activant with Epicor to create one of the largest global providers of enterprise applications software.

Research into technical software application spending from Cambashi indicates that, in 2011, worldwide recovery is likely to be fastest in the Aerospace, Process and Utility industries.

Translation: In India, the Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP) and the Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Infoteam Software will distribute ISaGRAF in Europe, Germany and China.

The brochure includes product information on power supplies, circuit breakers, terminal blocks, connectors and more.

Emerson will supply its CSI 6500 Machinery Health Monitor for continuous protection and prediction monitoring of critical machinery at the Rovinari Power Plant in Romania.

The joint project between Metso and Fortum involves research into switching over from air combustion to oxygen combustion to reduce the CO2 emissions of power plants.

Niagara integrates, centralizes, manages and controls building automation systems.

Appointments were made in March 2011 at ODVA’s annual meetings of its board and of its members in Litchfield Park, Ariz.

The guide helps engineers determine which linear motion products meet their application requirements.

This year’s robot challenge pitted teams against each other on a field to earn points by hanging triangular, circular and square-shaped game pieces on poles of up to 10 feet tall.

The office is based at the CENTEC Tower in Ho Chi Minh City.

Catalog contains alpha inline gearboxes and right-angle gearboxes as well as rack and pinion systems, couplings and sensor technology.

Robotic researchers from Germany believe they hold the key to future global electricity generation: Giant robot cranes that can build huge solar arrays in the desert.

U.S.-based Validus DC Systems is a provider of direct current (DC) power infrastructure equipment for energy-intensive data centers.

Metso will supply an extensive electrification and automation system to Outokumpu’s new ferrochrome plant in Tornio, Finland. The equipment will be installed in several phases during 2011 and 2012.

ASD, advenco Consulting and Nidec Shimpo join Rockwell's Encompass program.

In addition to 72 ROBICON Perfect Harmony Variable Frequency Drives, Siemens installed 72 VFD control houses and four 33KV switchgear.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor This was the largest AHR Show ever held outside of Chicago or New York with over 54,000 registered HVACR professionals. Attendees visited the 63rd AHR Expo to see all the latest products and innovations on display from 1,938 exhibiting companies covering 379,360 square feet of exhibit space.

In 2010, the Chinese Mainstream PLM market grew 16.2%, and in 2011 the growth rate of the Chinese Mainstream PLM market is forecast to be 16.5%.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor Here are a few highlights from ABB Automation & Power World 2011. The event attracted a record number of participants, totaling more than 4,200, and featured over 400 educational workshops and hands-on training sessions, over 45 customer-presented case studies, and an exhibition of ABB and partner products.

The standard SmartMesh IP Evaluation Kit provides everything needed to demonstrate mesh network performance, data monitoring, digital actuation, and event notification.

Excel-Lent software will calculate the number of teeth in the pinion and gear, DP or Module, face width etc. required to transmit power.

IR400 Combustible Gas Detector from achieved FM and CSA performance verification for ethylene, meeting FM 6310, FM 6320 and CSA C22.2 requirements.

HIMA will supply its TÜV-certified HIMax safety platform, SILworX configuration, programming and diagnostic software suite, and Safety and Engineering services to five BP refineries.

March U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $511.15 million according to AMTDA and AMT. This total was up 57.6% from February.

Mincom brings expertise and experience in a range of industries, and a comprehensive set of solutions for applications such as EAM, mining operations and mobile workforce management.

The Aegis software collects data and puts it into reports, visualizations, and real-time dashboards that are used by C2M to constantly improve quality and efficiency.

Eastman expanded its LIMS from its manufacturing quality control laboratories to its Corporate Technology Analytical Laboratories.

Siemens provided the PLC, CNC, HMI, RFID, Profinet and safety systems to Toledo Powertrain for a Flexible Assembly Configuration System (FACS) to build the GF6 six-speed, front wheel transmission.

Apprion conducted an on-site survey, which included RF spectrum analysis, various grid simulation output with signal power levels and a technical evaluation of the site’s infrastructure.

Handheld FAG Detector III vibration monitoring systems minimize the number of traction motor repairs due to bearing deterioration.

Automation.com, May 2011 By David A. B. Laing, VDC Research Group VDC Research Group teamed up with Automation.com to conduct a survey on the market for power protection products including the hard wired surge suppressors often used in industrial machines and facilities. This article provides a summary of those survey results.

MAG will provide processing systems, installation services and global service and support for the CIGSolar cell manufacturing lines being developed by XsunX.

Research and development in Intelligrated’s Alvey Robotics Lab will focus on the advancement of robotics in automated material handling applications.

More than 19 different symbologies ranging from linear barcodes to stacked codes and 2D symbologies are available, as well as a custom color feature.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Thomas R. Cutler Accu-Chek Machining Inc, a low to high volume production machine shop, implemented a technology solution by Shoptech. Previously, everything, including managing tooling for jobs, scheduling jobs, and configuring production and daily rates, was done by hand.