Articles and News

EUROMAP, the European association of plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers, has included POWERLINK in the EUROMAP 75 specification.

The brochure presents a number of new applications along with a variety of low-cost flexure actuators for OEMs.

Prior to Fiberguide, Pensa was Regional Sales Manager for Sixnet and Siemens. Pensa holds a BSEE from the Stevens Institute of Technology.

Emerson will install its Ovation expert control system at Rabigh Power Plant units 1 and 2.

By Mark Lampert, Banner Engineering Vision provides a valuable snapshot of the full Food and Beverage application in process. Thus, it is able to analyze multiple features of interest at once, such as label presence and placement, and hue variations that could mean the difference between a “good” and “bad” product.

Kamen is the inventor of the Segway and founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology).

The Chinese language site details Semaphore's offering of T-BOX and Kingfisher RTU products for remote automation, monitoring, and SCADA systems.

LinkedIn forum facilitates ongoing user communication regarding the DEACOM ERP Software System, industry issues, news, best practices, and more.

Capcoder uses the torque sensing system as the core of the datalogging capabilities of its bottle sealing machines.

Drilling Technical Services (DTS) used Siemens Simotion D435 motion controller to develop a mid-width web roll-to-roll die cutter.

The HM-USB-ISO passed the rigorous HART Communication Foundation (HCF) registration program and has been officially registered by the HCF to meet protocol specifications.

Korenix entered into an alliance with Westermo. Beijer Electronics Group, of which Westermo is a part, acquired a minority share of Korenix.

Zwick Roell TV on YouTube enables viewers to watch, in detail, all sorts of products and materials being tested to destruction using advanced robotic systems.

Singapore Robotic offers a broad range of technology components and tools used in robotics development.

ABB will supply and maintain all internal and external telecommunications systems for Statoil’s offshore operations on the Norwegian continental shelf.

ABB will supply transformers, medium- and low-voltage switchgear, protection devices and control systems for three photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants in western Sicily.

Improvements in version 5.0 include data exchange enhancements, a real-time 3D plan and print option, a search and replace feature and an improved printing menu.

Emerson’s technology and plant automation and control solutions are helping customers convert biomass or waste fuel into steam and electrical power.

VisuNet Series Industrial Flat Panel LCD Monitors have received Class II Division 2 certification for use in dust environments.

Evolution Robotics Retail, a company located in California, has unique expertise in visual pattern recognition technology.

Dexter Magnetic Technologies will be a franchised value-added provider of austriamicrosystems’ magnetic sensors and associated magnetic products, including engineered modules, in North America.

In an era of historically high prices for metals and energy, manufacturers are feeling the pinch. To ease the effect of increasing costs of these products, industry is taking a close look at ways of keeping energy and material expenses in line. Investing in robotics for material removal can be part of a mix of strategies to keep costs down by more efficiently using materials, time and energy.

By William Gilbert, Siemens Improved operation, reduced maintenance, motor power savings and conservation of energy make AC regen drives a decided advantage for converting, packaging, printing, wireforming and other roll-fed machinery, where driven unwinds can be implemented.

By Laser Design Kimberly-Clark wanted to know: Should it install larger diameter embossing machines when it increased line speed? Shadow casting with a laser image processing said the existing embosser could handle it, saving $500K.

HayssenSandiacre makes horizontal and vertical form fill and seal equipment and support services for the packaging industry.

By Pentair Smith & Wesson saves more than $48,000 annually and has improved the quality of the company’s recycled oil since employing the Driflex Oil Conditioning System.

BeadMonitor measurement system, developed by Oxford Sensor Technology, uses Micro-Epsilon’s scanCONTROL 2700 non-contact laser profile displacement sensor.

Dorot will supply two 24-inch control valves with an electronic controller, along with several smaller diameter valves, which will control main water lines in the network.

Automation.com, June 2010 By Tony Udelhoven, TURCK Conditions sensors must endure in welding environments remain consistently harsh: temperatures in excess of 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, currents ranging from 15,000 to 35,000 Amps, and frequent weld flash occurrences.

This is the second mine hoist system that ABB will deliver for the new main haulage level at Malmberget.

HoseFinder mobile app makes it fast and convenient to search for hydraulic hose products and information on the go.

Smidler, previously Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed president following Jack Cahill’s retirement.

The ST75 Flow Meter is now ATEX and IECEx approved for safety in hazardous and potentially explosive plant environments.

ICS provides turnkey solutions – including planning, engineering, configuration, installation, and commissioning – for turbomachinery automation retrofits.

CeTÜV SÜD assessed Simulink PLC Coder as suitable for development processes that must comply with IEC 61508-3 and its process industry adaptation, IEC 61511-1.

Brochure describes AMCI product lines that are referenced in the Rockwell Automation Encompass Partners Program.

RotoPrecision to become Ruland’s master distributor in Canada for shaft collars and couplings.

Website details product offerings with interactive product demonstrations, product pictures, specs, CAD drawings, product literature, manuals and more.

2010 Solution Paper, a hard copy 106-page catalogue, has 60 selected success stories by Ethernet Direct in different industries.

Honeywell to supply wireless instrumentation, Experion DCS, Safety Manager, UniSim simulation software, and a LIMS to Abu Dhabi Gas Development Company.

E-commerce portal offers online purchase of training classes, parts and accessories for metrology systems.

White paper from Control Microsystems explores the various ways in which operators can tightly integrate wireless instrumentation networks with SCADA systems in automation, process control, building automation, pipelines, W&WW plants and similar applications.

ACH550 line of drives and bypasses for HVAC has been added to the “Facilities Development Division (FDD) List of Equipment/Components with OSHPD Special Seismic Certification Pre-Approval (OSP).”

Sixteen-page full-color brochure from ABB overviews measurement solutions for industries, utilities and municipalities.

The Lens Selector iPhone application helps find the correct imaging lens for a machine vision application.

Dresser Masoneilan will provide four nuclear power plants with Variable Resistance Trim (VRT) control valves valued at $10 million.

Seven industry suppliers joined the Rockwell Automation Encompass third-party product referencing program.

The existing Westinghouse EHC control system on the Winyah plant’s Unit #4 steam turbine generator will be migrated to a Mark VIe TMR control system.

Engineers seeking to design cost-effective production processes can get step-by-step instructions on how to select local or global optimization routines from the Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG) Library.

Automation.com, June 2010 By Sam Drury, Impress Sensors & Systems The latest silicon pressure sensors have much-improved mechanically-sealed designs, which use only a fraction of the volume of oil compared to previous versions.

Motoman Robotics will build a 300,000 square foot office and production facility in West Carrollton, Ohio.

Micro Motion Online Community provides a forum for exploring measurement challenges, discussing Coriolis flow and density applications, and sharing best practices to optimize user processes.

The ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute (WCI) selected National Technical Systems (NTS) as its independent third-party lab to provide conformance testing for the ISA100.11a certifications.

Korea South East Power Company will use Emerson’s automation, control, and instrumentation technologies in power plants in emerging markets.

Mackedanz was formerly with ProcessPro Software.

ABB will supply electrical power to a large number of Stena Line vessels using the port.

PVA, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, specializes in industrial process controls and instrumentation.

His experience includes financial, leadership, and general business management positions within AECOM, Motorola, British Steel and Marconi Underwater Weapons.

ISA Automation Week will be held 4-7 October 2010 in Houston, Texas, at the Westin Galleria Hotel.

By Mark Hauenstein, Technical Designs Paper educates system integrators, building owners and operators about LEED and sustainable building design principles.

Free one-hour presentation examines the fundamental assessments that are critical to ensuring that final electrical measurements meet requirements.

Catalog details operating principles, pump capacities, motor characteristics, materials of construction, typical applications and ordering information.

The updated site offers an easier front end for visitors to use in order to find the information they seek.

SES is a supplier of equipment and services for the metals and related industries.

Switch types featured in the catalog include microswitches and sealed position switches.

CygNet added its first two integrators, GlobaLogix, Inc. and Techneaux Technology Services, LLC.

Temperature@lert's Wi-Fi temperature sensors monitor hot water temperatures in two buildings, pool temperature, and heating/cooling temperature in a third facility.

Honeywell will implement an Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) and two C300 Controllers at Karadeniz Eregli.

Solvent recovery offers simplified, low-risk method to reduce carbon footprint, shielding manufacturers from adverse effects of pending environmental regulations

The resulting elimination of filter media losses and subsequent downtime has enabled E.ON to reduce costs and improve availability as it provides steam for two local soda-ash plants.

Parts Fingerprint is a spare parts management optimization service for ABB process automation systems and products.

Dr. Steve Turley will join the company as CEO and Dr. David Parker will join as Chairman.

Kits verify the correct communication behavior of a wireless device as defined in the ISA100.11a standard and provide tools for troubleshooting, debugging, and regression testing.

Blog provides a venue for processing audiences in various industries to share their ideas and opinions regarding all types of flow, pressure and level products and applications.

The miniMOORE and STA products received General Location and Non-Incendive approval per CSA for Class I, Division 2, Groups A, B, C & D.

Free CD includes technical papers, articles, data sheets, and links to online seminars covering a wide range of nanotechnology test applications.

Design documentation assists designers in selecting the appropriate circuit protection solution for a specific port interface.

Safety System market growth, which has been tempered by the world economic downturn, is expected to rebound next year.

Yamatake Corporation has joined the WCI Governing Board.

The user simply runs an installer and plugs in Data Translation hardware. The corresponding 64-bit driver is then downloaded automatically

Invensys will provide safety and distributed control systems for two reactors under construction on Hainan Island on the southern tip of China.

Guide highlights precision acoustic sensors and instrumentation for vibro-acoustic testing, appliance noise evaluation, wind tunnel testing and other critical measurement applications.

Connectors supply electrical power to the electric submersible pump in the 4,400 ft. deep well, which delivers hot water from the underground formation to the resort.

MobileRobots is a provider of autonomous robot and automated guided vehicle (AGV) technologies.

Hale joins Brooks Instrument most recently from the Victaulic Company, where he was executive vice president.

April U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $222.36 million, down 15.6% from March but up 102.7% from the $109.69 million reported for April 2009.

Honeywell’s Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) and Safety Manager will manage the pipeline operation and help guard against hazardous incidents.

The FloCat CD Catalog is information packed with thousands of flow measurement solutions. The CD catalog provides part numbers, product specifications, pricing and delivery information.

Stealthdirect.com provides immediate access to Little PCs, Rugged Touchscreen LCDs, and Industrial Keyboards & Pointing Devices.

The catalog is arranged into four key sections: Sensors and transducers; Condition monitoring; Measurement systems; and Inertial systems.

As the manufacturing world becomes more and more automated, industrial sensors have become the key to increasing both productivity and safety.

The show uses LabVIEW software, CompactDAQ data acquisition platform and DIAdem data management software to conduct impact tests and measure and analyze the biomechanics of injury.

The acquisition includes all SSAC non-Din rail mounted timers, monitoring relays, controls, and custom products.

Effective Procedural Practices details best practices designed to ensure that process operators use procedures effectively in both normal and abnormal situations.

ARC will present “ARC Inside: The Business Case for Asset Performance Management,” at ISA Automation Week 2010.

ABB's cpmPlus Expert Optimizer solution will be installed in Nordkalk’s Köping plant in Sweden.

By TURCK Quantum Tubers uses TURCK’s distributed I/O system and analog input modules to obtain inputs from humidity, temperature, light, CO2 and flow sensors to grow potato plants in only 50 days.

Automation.com, June 2010 By Scott Howard, Byres Security Although Trusted Network Connect (TNC) was originally conceived for protection of IT networks, it addresses many security issues that are also encountered in industrial control and SCADA systems.

The NEMA Premium Efficiency Transformer Program will help utilities, commercial buildings, and industrial plants incorporate super high-efficiency electrical transformers into their operations.

The Lab Accreditation and Test Tool Recognition Requirements form a key element of the overall ISA Secure Embedded Device Security Assurance (EDSA) certification program.