Articles and News

The benefits of Pick-to-Light solutions cannot be overlooked as a best-of-breed, lean manufacturing, continuous process improvement, cost-saving technique. There are extensive benefits of Light-Directed Order Picking. The flexibility of Pick-to-Light technology solutions offer cable-free light module hardware; this flexibility enables the productivity of light-directed order fulfillment to virtually all popular material storage and handling media found in distribution centers and manufacturing plants.

There can be some great lessons learned from professionals when they put their skills and knowledge to work. I saw this when visiting a 34,100 square feet light commercial building where technology and knowhow were applied to create an efficient, sustainable, and productive environment. The building is a notable exception when contrasted with the typical light commercial building built for lowest first cost resulting in high energy cost, extra maintenance, and an uncomfortable environment.

Automation has already had a big impact on productivity. Indeed, most of the so-called “jobless recovery” has been caused by the increased effectiveness of automation, which reduces headcount. Off shore outsourcing is responsible for just 15% of recent job losses.

OPC can take advantage of real-time values from what once was a relational database by using Generic Database Access (GDA) technology. This technology continues to reinforce why industry is turning to OPC as their connectivity standard.

The cellular technology can be also used with SCADA applications to improve productivity, increase plants’ uptime and prevent damages. The device that makes the difference is the cellular modem.

The Control Trends Awards recognize and honor leading companies, products, technologies and persons in specific categories from the Building Automation and HVAC Controls industry.

A3 is the umbrella trade association for the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), AIA - Advancing Vision + Imaging, and the Motion Control Association (MCA).

Call for Papers invites authors, experts, innovators, thought leaders, and automation and control professionals to submit abstracts for presentation consideration at the conference, which will be held 5-7 November 2013 at the Nashville Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

ABB will provide new electrical systems as well as the necessary mechanical equipment and automation systems to extend the export terminal of the eni refinery in Taranto, located in the “Mar Grande” bay on the Ionian Sea in southern Italy.

Schischek manufactures explosion-proof electric actuators, sensors, transmitters and controllers, principally for HVAC, chemical, pharmaceutical, shipbuilding and offshore industries.

When interconnecting Ethernet equipment within a control panel, the temptation is to select an office-grade or small office - home office (SOHO) Ethernet switch from one of the mass merchandisers. This equipment is readily available and inexpensive! Since the equipment works at home or on the bench, it should certainly function in a control application. This can lead to large problems in a Building Automation System.

IXXAT Automation is a supplier of communication technology for industrial automation, machine manufacturing and the automotive industry.

Joseph Paradiso, Director of the Responsive Environments Group at MIT, and Raymond Arvidson, Participating Scientist on NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover Mission will give keynotes on June 5 and 6.

On 1 February 1953, Swiss engineer Georg H Endress and German banker Ludwig Hauser set up their company in a backyard in Lörrach, Germany.

Instron’s implementation involves five manufacturing sites in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy and 17 sales/service sites throughout the world.

This intralogistics show will take place in Milan, in parallel with the packaging trade fair, Ipack-Ima, from 19 to 23 May 2015.

HART, FDT Group, Fieldbus Foundation, OPC and PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET) are co-sponsors of the Field Communication Lounge exhibit at Hannover Messe (8-12 April).

The ISA section presented a “Best Use of Automation” award to a Lino Lakes, Minnesota middle school in conjunction with a national engineering competition.

Automation engineers love to create complex solutions. But try not to complicate a solution any more than necessary.