Articles and News

Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, has selected ABB to integrate numerous isolated automation systems at its Andina underground mine in Chile into a single, ABB-managed platform, using System 800xA Extended Automation. Andina is one of four underground mines that Codelco operates in Chile.

This brake and clutch solutions catalog details the complete line of electromagnetic friction brakes and clutches, and The Genuine Wrap Spring™ family of wrap spring clutch/brakes. The new AKB and PMB series power-off spring set brakes are also included.

Industrial Control Software Ltd has been awarded the 2006 Innovation Award by the Northern Offshore Federation in the UK. ICS won the award for a new software product they have just released which will revolutionize the way alarm overrides are handled in the Control Room by eliminating the need for paper logbooks.

ControlNet has been adopted by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People’s Republic of China as part of a machinery industry standard for the People's Republic of China. This adoption, by one of the world’s leading technology countries, extends nearly the entire family of CIP Networks to China ’s manufacturing industry.

Emerson won a contract to install its PlantWeb digital plant architecture with the Ovation expert control system at Plum Point Energy Station, a new pulverized coal-fired plant in northeastern Arkansas. The Ovation system will monitor and control the IHI boiler, as well as the burner management system and balance of plant processes.

JetCon 1301 Industrial 10/100Base-TX to 100Base-FX Multi-Mode fiber converter has been passed the EtherCAT system test.

"Motion, Drive & Automation" (MDA) trade fair for power transmission and control will be part of HANNOVER MESSE 2007 (the Hannover Fair). The net display space covers approximately 50,000 square meters, making MDA one of the biggest display areas at HANNOVER MESSE. Around 1,300 international exhibitors will be showing products for power transmission and control from 16 - 20 April 2007 in Halls 19 to 26.

INTROL Group in Poland will represent all Ethernet Direct’s product lines, including Industrial Ethernet, Industrial Conversion, Industrial Modem, Serial to Ethernet, Data Acquisition Modules, Fiber Optic Ethernet, Media Conversion, Power over Ethernet, and DIN-Rail Power Supplies.

GE Fanuc Automation, a unit of GE Industrial, recently participated in a web cast with Toray Plastics and MESA International entitled, “ISA-95 Accelerates Implementation and Lowers Lifecycle Costs.” The web cast is part of a series of events sponsored by MESA’s Technical Committee.

The two companies will work together to provide Abnormal Condition Management (ACM)-compliant Operator Graphics Style Guide and Object Library products. The partnership will also jointly develop & deliver a range of services including how-to workshops, graphics philosophy development services, gap analysis services, custom graphics development and graphic deployment services.

Parani-MSP100 Bluetooth to IP gateway connects Bluetooth devices to a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet network. Supporting point to multi-point connectivity to 7 points, it transmits data from each Bluetooth terminal to a management station via TCP/IP at a rate of 723Kbit/s. Connections can be extended up to 14 using an optional USB extension dongle.

Objective Interface is providing its small-footprint, high-performance ORB express communications middleware to student teams developing prototype software defined radios (SDRs) and participating in the SDR Forum's Smart Radio Challenge.

East Kansas Agri-Energy is expected to achieve an estimated annual value of well over $2.5 million through the deployment of Pavilion's Ethanol Solution at its Garnett, Kansas plant. Through this installation, Pavilion enabled the plant to increase yield of dried distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) and wet distillers grain with solubles (WDGS).

A fully-automated bending and punching cell developed by Unison helped tubular metalworking contractor Olicana Products to dramatically increase its manufacturing capacity. The cell is programmed to fabricate bath stands for four of Europe's leading bathroom product manufacturers. It currently produces W-shaped tubular frames with up to six bends and fixing holes every 11 seconds.

Four new courses reflect technology innovations released by Emerson in the last seven months, and customer requests for expanded offerings in these areas. Courses cover Turbomachinery Diagnostics, analyzing data collected from essential motor-pump machine trains, Laser Alignment, and advanced signal processing.

FieldServer Technologies will be demonstrating its gateway products for the building automation industry at the AHR Expo 2007 in Dallas, Texas at booth 1633.

Invensys Process Systems has implemented a comprehensive Avantis enterprise asset management system at the Platte River Power Authority in Colorado for its generation, distribution and maintenance operations, which includes a 274-MW coal-fired power plant located north of Fort Collins. The Avantis.PRO asset management software application is being used for maintenance management, inventory control and procurement for generating machinery, distribution yard equipment, transmission lines and towers, as well as vehicles and other company assets.

Honeywell will design and implement a process control system for Italcementi Group’s new production facility in Martinsburg, W.Va. The new system is part of a larger expansion project that will help one of the world’s largest cement producers meet growing United States demand while ensuring product quality.

The program includes standard shipping within 15 working days after receipt of an order, 10-day shipping for simple 2-pass cables, and 5-day shipping service for as much as 5,000 feet of custom-built cable after approval of drawings. Next-day or same-day shipping of custom-built cable is also available to customers who stock their product at Northwire.

Programmable end-of-arm tooling assists molders and manufacturers in cost reduction and efficiency. It can be programmed to automatically relocate four separate component holders within the cycle of the robot. Each of the four tool holders can be used for vacuum cups or grippers mounted on individual linear actuators which can be programmed for up to 28 separate locations.