Articles and News

The new eight page guide allows engineers to locate the ideal position sensor at a glance. Easy-to-read charts summarize the most critical specification criteria side-by-side, which allows for quick comparison and part selection.

The 16 page short form catalog contains specification summaries, part number selection tables, and pricing information for each family of off-the-shelf Programmable Logic Controller products.

"Tips and Techniques for Today's Challenging Electrical Measurements" is a collection of their most popular web tutorials and seminars in a convenient CD format and is available free upon request.

Following machine risk assessments, BVM Brunner decided to implement a new safety design for one of its machines, which incorporated safety solutions from Pilz.

Built in partnership with General Motors and the Oceaneering Space Systems of Houston, NASA’s Robonaut (R2) is a highly dexterous humanoid robot designed to execute simple, repetitive or dangerous tasks on Earth or on board the International Space Station (ISS).

The $1.2 million initiative includes a $632,000 commitment over five years from ABB plus anticipated state and private matching grants, aiming to strengthen the organizations’ cooperative research in electric power technologies.

Process Data Monitor (PDM) learns from the day to day operation of your systems and automatically generates an experience database. It then generates confidence metrics for usual behavior and delivers notification on unusual behavior.

Exploring critical business areas for both project and asset performance, the paper seeks to identify how Owner Operators can reduce operational cost and risk through an optimised information management strategy.

The three ABB gearless mill drives (GMDs) are part of an expansion project at the Tasiast gold mine that is scheduled to go into commercial operation in early 2014.

The latest edition features a completely revamped, easy-to-use layout and a number of either new or expanded product lines.

Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt received the NAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence in recognition of her consistent support of manufacturers and their employees.

By Teledyne Dalsa Many key tasks in the manufacture of products, including inspection, orientation, identification, and assembly, require the use of visual techniques. By replacing human inspection with machine vision, the net result is greater productivity and improved customer satisfaction through the consistent delivery of quality products. This paper helps users match machine vision options with application requirements.

Siemens will provide electrical and control technology to the largest North American sugar refinery, a joint venture set up with Sugar Growers and Refiners, Cargill and Imperial Sugar Company.

Research Project 1633, "Data and Interfaces for Advanced Building Maintenance and Operation," will result in development of a set of standard data-driven metrics, interfaces and dashboards for advanced building operation and management.

In this expanded role, Knebusch will lead the company's business operations for all product development and will continue to focus on new business expansion.

The Leitz measuring machine has a supersized measuring capacity of three meters wide by four meters long, and two and a half meters high, tailor made for the large scale machined components.

Douglas Machine Inc., Kliklok-Woodman and Nercon Engineering & Manufacturing will have the opportunity to increase market awareness with customers, expand into new market sectors, and improve technical and functional excellence.

PMMI’s support will enable OMAC’s volunteer leadership to expand its membership domestically and internationally, plus engage customer and supplier teams in further developing OMAC standards, including PackML.

When the Rock-Tenn paperboard mill in Aurora IL wanted to automate the positioning and tensioning of the belts on its paperboard dryer conveyor system, it took an innovative combination of high-end, absolute encoders and basic, low-end control and drive technology to get the job done.

The brochure highlights a comprehensive range of pressure measurement products, stressing reliability and simplified installation and configuration.

Originally founded in Cincinnati Ohio in 1836 by James Foster, Jr., Palmer Wahl has been a consistent innovator since the 18th century, developing the first thermometer made in America - the Foster Cup - in 1852.

Granger Electric operates a landfill-gas-to-energy program that extracts methane from decomposing waste and supplies it to customers as an alternative "greenhouse" fuel. This story highlights the communication system used between the control center and customers’ sites, to remotely access and monitor energy consumption.

This article describes how a midstream oil company sought to improve their pipeline integrity by adding a dozen non-critical data points to their satellite SCADA monitoring system using cellular technology.

AutomationDirect’s volume 14 catalog offers thousands of industrial automation products for a wide range of applications. The latest edition features product descriptions, technical data, and photos for PLCs, touch screen monitors, AC and DC motors, sensors, switches, drives and more.

FlowArm open source robot arm control software was produced with the revolutionary new graphical programming language for Mechatronics called FlowStone.

The task force will determine if companies following the ISA99 standards would have been protected from such sophisticated attacks and to identify changes needed, if any, to the standards being developed by the ISA99 committee.

ODVA plans to raise awareness of energy consumption and offer control strategies that can optimize energy usage throughout the industrial ecosystem from the plantfloor to the grid.

Counterfeit certificates claim exida certification to Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3 capability of IEC 61508. Safety practitioners are advised to consult the Safety Automation Equipment List to verify certifications.

By Torsten Rössel, Innominate Security Technologies AG Phoenix Contact’s new white paper explains how the FL mGuard with CIFS Integrity Monitoring can provide early warning about malware similar to Stuxnet.

Automation.com, March 2011 By Jay Mellen, Savigent Software HallStar, a specialty chemical company near Chicago, uses Catalyst xM and PDC software to automate batch execution, electronic batch record management, and collect key manufacturing intelligence related to plant asset management.

India manufacturer of utility vehicles built a modern greenfield facility with state-of-the-art EMS conveyor enabled by Rockwell Automation control architecture and a ProSoft Technology wireless communication system.

Zollner’s decision to expand the use of Tecnomatix was based on intense tests over the last 15 months with completed planning projects that were successful.

The report documents 60 incidents that have taken place between 1999 and 2010 that involved lost time, destruction of property and even fatalities.

Comark’s online store offers a wide variety of their most popular products for the Industrial, Marine, Kiosk and Digital Signage market segments.

Using about 30 HMS Anybus gateways, Genzyme converts serial and ASCII data from centrifuges, pH-meters and balances and sends it over Ethernet or Profibus to the central SCADA.

Keithley University is a series of tutorial webcasts that cover best practices for making even the most demanding measurements.

Customers can access and search the catalog directly from the Schneider Electric U.S. website and download the drawings into their designs, allowing shorter design time and faster time to market.

Headquartered in Hong Kong with its primary engineering and manufacturing facility located in Huizhou, China, Comax manufactures more than 250 million switches and parts annually.

The CPM market for process industries was down in 2009, rebounded in 2010, and is expected to exceed $4 billion by 2015.

The factory and Research and Development Center, will serve as the North American manufacturing headquarters for ROMER portable coordinate measuring machines.

Automation.com, March 2011 The largest material handling event of the year will take place later this month in Chicago, ProMat 2011. New automation solutions will be on display. Perhaps the automation solutions for material handling in the food sector carries the most unique requirements for palletizing robots, stretch wrapping equipment, labeling systems, pallet control systems and laser-guided automatic vehicles.

Watson has over 30 years of engineering and construction expertise in the oil, gas and chemicals industries and recently served as VP, projects, in the Oil, Gas and Chemicals Division of URS Corporation.

B&B Electronics purchased the one millionth ADAM Remote I/O module, the ADAM-6024-AE, a 12-channel universal I/O module.

Avanceon, in Exton, PA, is the exclusive distributor of ProLeiT’s Plant iT and brewmaxx software in the distilling, brewing and dairy markets in North America.

She has 23 years of experience with Kele and successfully led the Asian Pacific joint venture operation for Kele Singapore.

ABB will supply three gearless mill drive (GMD) systems, gas-insulated switchgears (GIS), E-house and power transformers for the Ministro Hales (MH) project in Calama, Chile.

Parasolid provides solid modeling functionality to 150 independent software vendors (ISVs) and 350 of the industry’s most popular software applications.

Meggitt's industrial vibration training course videos explain vibration monitoring to beginner and intermediate users and help them understand how to derive the benefits of vibration analysis.

IFP Automation offers B&R’s complete line of electrical automation products in addition to a full array of fluid power offerings.

2011 FCI CD Catalog assists engineers in specifying the right flow, level or temperature instrument for improving plant process control lines or increasing OEM equipment performance.

BIM for Revit MEP low-voltage distribution products are in full compliance with AutoDesk Seek RMC SG standards.

Manufacturing is getting more complex and ERP software is not adequately addressing that complexity, leaving manufacturers with disjointed and inadequate technology.

Bosch Rexroth, an active member for several years, became one of the organization’s principal members.

The AIOE’s purpose is to bring together operations professionals from consumer products companies and solutions providers to address key industry issues.

Emerson will supply Fisher control valves to be used in Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors at the Sanmen 2 and Haiyang 2 nuclear power plants in China.

GE signed an agreement that lets National Instruments distribute the GE cPCI-5565PIO Reflective Memory PMC and PMC Carrier Card for 3U CompactPCI systems.

Invensys will to provide safety systems, HMIs and DCSes for Fujian Fuqing Nuclear Power Plant, units 3 and 4, two 1,000MW nuclear power units under construction in Fujian province in southeast China.

Automation.com, February 2011 While the intense debates continue over industrial wireless standards many automation professionals are applying industrial wireless solutions to achieve greater efficiency and profits for their companies.

Frost & Sullivan says the European market for Medium Voltage Drives was $176.9 million in 2010 and estimates this to reach $287.2 million by 2016.

Building and network designers can now find Siemon cabling product models through the Autodesk Seek web service.

This certification assures that System 800xA’s AC 800M controller is in full compliance with the global IEC 61850 standard for electrical devices.

This expansion is being driven by a surge in demand for its gas chromatographs, pH sensors and other products.

Metso will deliver a turbine control system for a Lang steam turbine at the Martinlaakso power plant in Vantaa, Finland.

In recognition of their home outlet monitoring device, the team has earned a trip to Germany this April.

This enclosure catalog describes each product family and includes photos, detailed drawings from different views in both inch and metric dimensions.

Automation.com, February 2011 OPC UA elevates automation systems to the level of current computing technology by leveraging web services and Internet Protocol (IP), enabling automation systems to deliver increased value.

By Beckhoff Beckhoff Automation industrial PCs, I/O and TwinCAT PLC software help Fifth Light deliver up to 80% energy savings via intelligent lighting systems for buildings.

Hoffmann + Krippner UK will build custom industrial PC solutions for low- to medium-volume requirements.

Almost 77 percent of manufactures participating in a recent survey said they are currently required by their customers to report on their environmental impact.

Machine builders should adopt standards sooner rather than later, says Kevin Ives, Machinery Safety Consultant at Pilz Automation Technology.

ABB's Safety Execution Center (SEC) in Mexico City has been certified by TÜV as having in place and applying a Functional Safety Management System (FSMS).

The Achilles Satellite network test tool is recognized by ISASecure accredited labs to perform Communication Robustness Testing (CRT) of embedded devices.

By Frank Dickman, Innonimate After Stuxnet, the threats from malware and insufficient IT security in automation networks can no longer be ignored. The real danger looming out there, however, is not from Stuxnet itself, but rather from mutations likely to be created by imitators.

Automation.com, February 2011 By Gerald Shankel, Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Manufacturing creates jobs, but manufacturers simply cannot find the skilled labor needed today to handle the kinds of sophisticated production processes and tasks required on the manufacturing shop floor.

ABB Robotics signed Andy Robot and Robotic Arts to provide creative direction for the development of robotic systems for the entertainment industry.

Web site covers encoders, resolvers and accessories for motion feedback control.

ABB reported strong order growth in the fourth quarter of 2010 and higher revenues driven by strong industrial demand for energy efficiency and improved productivity.

Metso achieved SIL3 certification for Jamesbury floating and trunnion soft-seated ball valves and SIL2 certification for soft-seated butterfly valves.

BearCat Pumps of Phoenix, Arizona, is using Micro Motion ELITE high temperature Coriolis mass flowmeters in its metering systems for rubberized asphalt.

Through the Front Panel Express program, 5 to 50 front panels modified with custom cut-outs, handles and silk screen are available in as few as 5 days.

12-page brochure covers robotic systems, sachet & pouch handling systems, specialist bottle handling and vision systems.

Automation.com, February 2011 By Fluke Technicians working on hazardous equipment and high-voltage circuits deserve every advantage to complete electrical test and measurement jobs safely. New test tools provide new ways to work safely and reduce exposure to electrical shock.

Free webinar series, ABC's of Portable Oscilloscopes, makes it easy to understand how to capture and analyze waveforms using a portable storage oscilloscope, such as the Fluke ScopeMeter.

ABB will design, supply, install and commission 800 kilovolt (kV) ultrahigh-voltage direct current (UHVDC) transformers for the Nuozhadu-Guangdong transmission system.

The in-kind software grant from Siemens PLM Software has a commercial value of $65.2 million.

Analytical Technology now offers customer training at its premises in Saddleworth, Manchester, UK.

ABB won an order worth $47 million from Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile (Codelco), the world’s biggest copper producer, to provide gearless mill drives and electrical systems.

The videos, which range from one to four minutes in length, focus on the Model 6517B Electrometer/High Resistance System.

The training centers, in Mobile, Alabama, and Matthews, North Carolina, teach fundamental, theoretical, and practical knowledge about instrumentation and application technology.

EKPC will replace its existing SCADA/EMS system with OSI’s monarch platform.

Automation.com, February 2011 The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino Macau is a $1.6 billion property about three years old located on prime water front land in Macau. Their power bills were $1.6 million per month. The CFO called in John Leslie and his team to make some changes that saved $3.1 million in energy bills in the first 11 months.

Thanks to a large-scale PROFINET network the new Audi A1 manufacturing line at Brussels in Belgium is the newest and most modern Audi plant in Europe.

The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) 2011 Executive Conference will be April 27 – 30 in Orlando, Fla., at Universal Studio’s Portofino Bay Hotel.

CSIA announces that Combined Technologies, Hamilton, New Zealand, and CoNet, Zaandam, Netherlands, became Certified Control System Integrators.

The Standard-Knapp solution has enabled AriZona to significantly increase case packing speeds. For 12-packs of both 16-ounce and 20-ounce glass bottles, packaging speed has increased by 20 percent.

This enables WAGO to offer more than 150 marine and offshore products with multiple marine ratings including ABS, BV and DNV.

Siemens Industry’s Norwood motor manufacturing plant has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute to use the Official API 547 Monogram.

The website provides comprehensive information on Tritech’s investment casting and machining services.

These facilities will be used to test the load capacity and reliability of large motors and medium voltage drives used in oil and gas applications, from offshore platforms to remote production sites.