Articles and News

Automation.com, March 2012 By Tom Plocher of Honeywell, et al. Shift logs are the mechanisms that help coordinate activities across shifts or teams. Industrial research has repeatedly argued for the benefits of imposing structure on shift handovers in the form of structured logs, checklists, and displays.

AerosUSA, located in Harrisburg, PA., is the North American operation for Flexa cable protection systems.

Sales of machine vision components and systems in North America climbed five percent in 2011 to nearly $1.9 billion, according to AIA.

The robotic system for the PEMSERTER Series 3000 press picks up, moves, and positions a work piece for alignment with holes where fasteners will be installed automatically by the press.

Pope will address the ISA Safety and Security Division Symposium, held 25-27 April 2012, on the topic of “Is it a Bug or a Feature?”

Enhancements include support for WAGO’s Frequency Counter Module, 2-channel and 4-Channel 0-20mA Input Modules, as well as 2-channel 0–10V DC Output Module.

The Energy Management Information System shows energy targets for each of the mill lines in near “Real Time” and identifies savings and losses in both dollars and energy units.

This is the first board of directors to be elected following the merger of AMT and AMTDA.

The tool combines technical criteria in gearbox selection-for designers who know their application requirements-and finishes with CAD and technical data options.

SoftSwitching Technologies’ solutions improve uptime in manufacturing production by identifying and correcting brief power disruptions called “voltage sags.”

Automation.com, March 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor The annual ARC World Industry Forum brings together a wide range of innovative industrial automation users, industry associations, suppliers, system integrators, and thought leaders to learn and share ideas. These are the true believers who understand the impact that automation has on sustaining manufacturing competitiveness.

The EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) Semi Technical Working Group (TWG) is standardizing EtherCAT usage in manufacturing equipment for chips, displays and solar panels.

The Texas Instruments Sitara microprocessor with EtherCAT slave interface announced in April 2011 is now available with a Beckhoff protocol stack.

Catalog covers sensors, lighting and indicators, machine vision, wireless and machine safety.

The MM LITE automation system will be used to transport lenses in a fast, efficient, clean and controlled manner between the various processes in the plant.

Automation.com, March 2012 Flying by Foy specializes in sophisticated automation for performer flying effects. An EtherCAT-enabled Pegasus Automation System propels performers to soaring new heights.

Automation.com, March 2012 Friesen’s increases check weigher system speed by 31% and reduces downtime by 22% using open PC- and EtherCAT-based controls

The Training Package provides a complete environment for teaching safe and effective operations of distillation columns.

Al Boston, Doug Carson and Buddy Smith have been elected to serve on MHEDA’s Board of Directors of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association.

EtherCAT was accepted as a Korean Industrial Standard (KS) by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards.