Articles and News

Webinars cover wireless technology, improving control performance, and simulation solutions.

Bastian Material Handling used the LC In-Feeder 3000 system from PSI to increase speed and bar code tracking of biopharmaceutical inserts.

October 23, 2007 Las Vegas ISA will hold courses on batch control, enterprise integration, MES, safety, security, and Ethernet.

The MUSIC certification is designed specifically for IP-based controllers and is closely aligned with the emerging ISA-SP99 security standards.

Ryobi Die Casting, Inc., a supplier of automotive cast aluminum parts, recently implemented FactoryTalk ProductionCentre software on a new manufacturing line.

The website has a Product Configurator, an e-newsletter and a collaborative RSS newsfeed where customers are invited to discuss issues with Parvalux.

Two KUKA 6-axis robots have been donated to the United States Steel Fun Factory exhibit located at the Detroit Science Center.

Located in Johannesburg, Ethernet Direct South Africa serves South Africa and neighboring regions.

Facility equips Adaptive to meet booming demand for large digital displays.

MOTIONEERING enables OEM and factory automation users to optimize slide table applications in five simple steps.

390 more users added to existing ERP system. With 600 total seats, this makes WAREMA one of the largest Infor ERP COM users worldwide.

September 16, 2007 Orlando, Florida ISA will hold its one-day security training seminar as part of MESA International's 2007 Plant to Enterprise Conference

Game attendees, competitors and venue workers were tracked via RFID badges.

Winners will move on to the Urban Challenge final event on November 3, and compete for cash prizes worth $3.5 million.

He assumes the position immediately, filling a 10-month-long vacancy created by the death of the previous COO and President.

TorqSense non-contact digital torque sensor is used in a vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle.

The market was $650 million in 2006 and is forecast to be over $1.1 billion in 2011.

The CTOS function allows customers to build their own HMI or computer system using web-based configuration tools.

The entire alumina refinery – including all five production lines, the material handling systems and harbor – is controlled, monitored and optimized by ABB automation systems.

The brochure discusses how the new analyzer reduces energy expenses, lowers maintenance costs and provides dependable measurements.

The brochure describes piezo motor systems, ranging from pen-tip sized miniature actuators to large aperture multiaxis translation stages.

Lindvall will serve as the technical liaison between RTI and partner companies. His group will develop interfaces between RTI and other manufacturers’ products.

Mustang appointed Jim Stanley as MAC manager of Operations - Greenville to head the new operation and build the company's presence in the southeast.

Manara will be responsible for managing strategic and tactical relationships with the the company’s current and potential customer base.

The nine companies with demonstration units are Acumence, B&R, Beckhoff, Elau, GE Fanuc, Iconics, Kepware, Siemens, and Wago.

The study reports that the total worldwide market for these services was close to $14 billion at the end of 2006, and will increase by more than $10 billion over the next five years, to $24.9 billion in 2011.

ABB completed a $1.2 million, two-year renovation at its production facility in New Berlin, Wisconsin.

James Rowan will join the Company as President and COO of Automation Systems Group. Bruce Seeley is assuming the newly-created role of ASG President, Europe and Asia.

DMI provides software and expertise, including electronic management of workflow, materials, equipment, personnel, and documentation.

Via a pair of JetCon 2401-s serial fiber converters, Korenix extends the range of Genius Serial Bus up to 40 km @ 153.6Kb baud rate.

Micronor has secured U.S. patent 7,196,320 for its ZapFREE Fiber Optic Rotary Encoder System.

Panel builders now have the ability to generate BOMs, purchase order lists, job costing lists, terminal block plans, from-to wire lists and field wire lists.

By Brian MacCleery, NI senior product manager How National Instruments LabVIEW as well as multicore and FPGA technologies are impacting machine builders and the growing mechatronics segment.

Cooper Bussmann's Juarez factory will save $147,000 yearly with the installation of a PLC-based Compressed Air Management System (CAMS).

Mechatronic Techniques will be the exclusive representative for Adept's products in Texas and Oklahoma.

His presentation, "Repairing the Educational System to Meet Industry's Innovation Demands," will focus on how industry trends in multidiscipline design and advanced software tools are speeding innovation.

Software includes Manufacturing and Test Insight, to monitor product quality; and RMA & Warranty Insight, to analyze product return data and track trends in real time.

System receives SIL-2 certification from exida and TüV Nord.

Niacaris will be responsible for the sales of EVC software and coordinating major accounts and channels such as OEMs, VARs and LSIs.

Beginning in August, companies can verify their products are compatible with LabVIEW using requirements provided by National Instruments.

Invensys completed a major expansion of the Samsung Total petrochemical complex in Daesan, Chungnam Province, Korea.

White paper outlines the long-term financial benefits of integrating machine safety programs as a form of insurance against potential risks.

Schneider will audit buildings, engineer efficiency measures, implement retrofits, and work with CCI to lower total system costs.

Ethernet Direct now provides support locations in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.

The marketing committee serves the Commonwealth of Independent States and Baltics (CIS&B) region.

The prototype has a reach of 800 mm and a vertical stroke of 300 mm. PenTec Robotics is looking for partners.

Via an agreement with AeroScout, a provider of Wi-Fi- based Active RFID solutions, Belden now provides asset tracking and RFID.

Hydraulic pitch drives from Bosch Rexroth help maximize the value of wind energy by enabling turbines to shift automatically with changes in wind velocity

GE MDS is providing more than 1,000 radios and antennas, valued at $3.3 million, for the entire system.

P+F will provide FieldConnex fieldbus and PC operator terminal equipment for the project at GE Healthcare’s Lindesnes plant in Norway.

The drive systems, valued at 16 million euros, will be delivered, installed and commissioned at the end of 2008.

The worldwide market for machine safeguarding solutions is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 12.5% over the next five years.

CD contains all the information needed to get an Industrial Ethernet installation done properly.

Lantronix will award $20,000 to the best M2M wireless applications using the new MatchPort b/g device server module

Cooper Communications will supply Panduit's products in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Pelco complements previous acquisitions of TAC, Andover Controls and Invensys Building Systems as Schneider expands building automation business.

LMI Technologies specializes in vision sensor technology, builds optical sensors, and holds 100 vision application patents.

Emerson will automate the $3.5B Fujian Refining and Ethylene Joint Venture Project in China. Equipment includes PlantWeb, DeltaV, Foundation fieldbus, Fisher valves and AMS software.

Schneider Electric shows strong growth in earnings in first-half 2007 and a very promising start for the new APC-MGE business unit

While the overall market remains strong, ARC says odds are we will not see the growth in the automation marketplace that we saw between 2005 and 2006.

Asset Management and Control Engineering will join the INTERKAMA Exhibit Program.

The worldwide market for PLCs is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 7.3% over the next five years.

Sumitomo Chemical will acquire all outstanding shares of CDT common stock for $285 million.

Web presentation describes how properly designed alarm systems dramatically improve plant safety, reliability, and profitability.

FANUC Robotics America celebrated its 25th anniversary at the company's HQ in Rochester Hills, Mich.

With 30,000 units shipped, the iTNC 530 is the company's most popular product.

Honeywell acquired Enraf Holding B.V. in a deal valued at approximately $260 million.

Triangle Services uses EAM software for asset lifecycle planning, resource management, executive dashboards, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

September 5-7, 2007 Chicago The conference helps marketing and sales executives in automation meet the strategic and tactical challenges of the 21st century.

Commtest will offer vibration instruments designed for the local Chinese market, incorporating full Simplified Chinese text support,

dcLINK enables data collection using RFID, bar code, and mobile applications with real-time integration into Oracle applications.

PLTW will integrate National Instruments LabVIEW graphical system design software to help facilitate its hands-on learning approach.

Murat Guler and Dr. Seniz Ertugrul of Istanbul Technical University are winners of the 2007 National Instruments Arabia Virtual Instrumentation Academic Paper Contest.

Heat-treating system from Can-Eng Furnaces uses RA control technology to help customer reduce programming and design time by 50 percent.

SCADAForum offers threaded discussion groups, a powerful search engine and a vast technical resource library.

Program familiarizes customers with the SNAP PAC System and the Opto 22 product line at their own place of business.

The Monterrey office will provide repair, field service, training, and sales support for hydraulics, electric drives and controls, and linear motion and assembly technology.

12-page brochure includes spec sheets, installation overview, and information on connectors, receptacles, accessories and replacement parts.

Second Quarter revenue was $179.5 Million, while Net income was $21 million, up 22 percent from Q2 2006.

Downloadable brochure features a tutorial on single and dual plate capacitive sensors and an applications overview.

The Richards Bay coal terminal in South Africa exports 72 million metric tons of coal per year. The MES will monitor production and enable planning on the business level.

The catalog includes info on vibration, shock and pressure measurement products, plus a test handbook.

Curvaceous Software appointed Kuwait-based Gulf Lead Consultants as agents in the Middle East.

Author and Award winner J.S. (Steve) Arendt will give a keynote address on safety and security on October 2 at ISA EXPO 2007 in Houston, Texas.

Earnings in the quarter rose to $1 billion on a 27% increase in revenues and net income doubled to $729 million.

CT Robotics will be the exclusive representative for Adept products and applications services in the Northeast region of the United States.

GE's Proficy Process Systems will use Pepperl + Fuchs for Profibus connectivity.

Sasol's Synfuels operation at Secunda, South Africa, deploys Matrikon's alarm management solution throughout their plant, the world's largest synthetic fuels facility.

September 4-7, 2007 Aberdeen, Scotland Matrikon will be exhibiting process alarm management software products at the Offshore Europe Conference and Exhibition.

The agreement now includes Moore's HCS HART Concentrator System. The HCS converts the digital signal from HART-based transmitters to a standard MODBUS RTU communication protocol.

Five System 800xAs will control 250 belt conveyors at five lignite mines in Greece. The job includes 300 AC 800M controllers and 100,000 I/O.

Overview contains system descriptions for Foundation fieldbus, DeviceNet, AS-interface, Profibus and Ethernet networks, with data and network diagrams.

Buenos Aires Technology will be the exclusive distributor for Adept's robotics, controls, vision and software products, throughout Argentina.

Emerson will provide design verification, testing and commissioning, and will supply PlantWeb digital plant architecture asset management programs.

The James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s successor to the Hubble, has passed a crucial milestone toward its 2013 launch with the help of National Instruments LabVIEW FPGA.

The patent relates to the power supply design developed and currently used by RuggedCom in its Ethernet switches and network routers.

The grant will be used to sponsor one student at each of the 62 STEPS Academy programs scheduled across the United States this summer.

The new location is only about 8 miles from the existing plant.

ABB will provide Petrom SA automation systems and related services at four oil & gas terminal sites in Romania. The value of the order is $4.9 million.

OST offers complete, custom-made solutions for robot guidance, inspection and welding.

Seven Seas Water serves large industrial and commercial users of water by designing, building and managing desalination, wastewater and ultra-pure water plants.

The worldwide market for HVAC control systems is expected to continue growing at 4% over the next five years. The market exceeded $10 billion in 2006 and is forecasted to approach $13 billion in 2011.

Free white paper provides pros and cons to consider when deciding whether to build a human machine interface solution in-house or buy a third-party HMI.

Siemens equipped a 19-km conveyor belt system with drive systems for Alcoa, Rockdale, Texas. The conveyor belt system transports coal from the Three Oaks Mine.

Siemens is supplying the basic and process automation for two plants, from the furnace exit side for the roughing and finishing mills, laminar-flow-cooling sections, up to the coilers, including the coil conveyors.

ABB will assume overall responsibility for Ovako Koverhar's maintenance. About 70 employees will transfer to ABB.

Lisa M. Cummins was appointed Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer.

Three-part series on July 24, August 15 and September 26 compares LXI and PXI measurement platforms.

Awards will be given for the most creative use of wireless technologies and most significant business impact achieved.

The worldwide market for SCADA Systems for the Oil & Gas industry is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% over the next five years.

Technology alliance integrates OIS’ communications technologies with SYSGO’s portfolio of operating systems.

FormFactor will manufacture high performance parametric test probe cards for Keithley’s semiconductor parametric testers.

The two will research methods for characterizing advanced semiconductor materials and devices.

Clark will help customers optimize and control their chemical, water, wastewater, power, semiconductor and automotive processes.

Berend Reinink was named to the newly created role of Vice President Services, Strategic Planning & Projects.

August 6, 2007 Austin, Texas The course will focus on practical, useful ways to tune feedforward controllers in the processing industries without requiring advanced mathematics.

The plant’s existing control systems will be replaced by Version 5.0 of ABB’s Extended Automation System 800xA.

Emerson will install PlantWeb and Foundation fieldbus at BP's Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) plant expansion in Zhuhai, China.

Dial Tool makes custom automation equipment. In one case, by using Misumi compnents, it reduced design time from 20 hours to 20 min.

Using NI tools, Freightliner integrated electrical test, machine vision and physical measurements into a system that ensures high-quality vehicles and instructs operators on the correct assembly process.

Note shows how the 2750 EP-NIR analyzer provides quantification of the percentage volume of corn, canola and olive oils in mixtures containing all three oils.

EXATEC of Wixom, MI, is using KUKA robots to integrate newly developed defroster technology with their automotive glazing systems.

By Uson LP White paper contains pointers that can help any manufacturing engineer determine which leak testing equipment can recast the QC department into a strong ally of the production schedule while still upholding the highest quality standards.

IFS Defence Ltd acquired the British software company Information Science Consultants Ltd (iSC), headquartered in Cirencester, UK.

Officers include Claudio Fayad, Emerson Process Management, Chairman; Marcos Rocha, Pepperl+Fuchs, Co-chairman; and Augusto Pereira, Yokogawa, Secretary/Treasurer.

Automation Alley expressed strong support for SME's STEM education initiatives, including the Science, Technology and Engineering Preview Summer (STEPS) Academy.

Dent will be part of the outside sales force catering to businesses in the greater Toronto area.

Shaw Industries implemented a production control and information system using the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture.

Rosenfeld is President and Chief Executive Officer of Crescendo Partners L.P., a New York based investment firm.

Catalog covers collet chucks, diaphragm chucks and air cylinders.

IBEW recognized the Cooper InVision Downtime-Reduction System as being a product and program that can make a significant impact on its members.

Second2None Machine Vision Systems Co. will distribute and integrate Adept robots andvision systems in China.

Existing customers can trade up to the latest version of the VB7 vibration analyzer.

Third quarter revenue was $19.01 million compared to $17.29 million in the third quarter of 2006.

Ultra-precise merge gapping, parallel diverting sortation with linear induction motors, modular variable-speed functionality and single-point system control – JCPenney’s new Lathrop, California DC with its Integrated Sortation Sub-System (ISS) technology including a 980-foot long single-unit continuous sorter from Dematic, is processing up to 165,000 cases per day at 99.9 percent accuracy.

"OptoGreen" initiatives aim toward environmental responsibility, offsetting company's carbon footprint

Papers may include case studies, manufacturing methods and technologies, and industry standards including ISA-88, ISA-95, ISA-99, B2MML, and Make2Pack.

The brochure showcases Fisher easy-e globe valves with their cage-style trim.

The LabVIEW Style Book contains critical insight and style rules designed to optimize performance of LabVIEW applications. Price: $89.

GE Fanuc Automation achieved “Powered By SAP NetWeaver” certification for its Production Management software.

Rocky Mountain MotorReps will sell Precise Automation products, including robots, motion controllers and vision software, in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

The AEP-U3000R Series delivers "clean" output power for improved efficiency, ideal for powering sensitive loads and heavily inductive loads.

KUKA robots will be used by Ohio Northern University's Robotics Technology Center to develop new algorithms to improve packaging and distribution of pork products.

Innova Robotics and Automation intends to use every means possible to protect the company's intellectual property and enforce its patents.

Technology exchange topics include security, wireless and networking, process automation, safety, environmental and quality control, and enterprise integration.

The Process Automation Div combines Bourdon-Sedeme of France, Haenni Instruments of Switzerland, and Kamstrup Process of Denmark.

Motiva Norco facility deployed Emerson's PlantWeb and Foundation Fieldbus, improving production reliability, plant utilization, and safety and environmental performance.

The 31,000-square-foot training and demonstration center showcases the latest in material handling integration and automation.

Rollalong, a provider of modular buildings and portable cabins in the UK, selected VISIBILITY.net ERP software because it allows them to perform Project Accounting without needing Bills of Materials.

Version 4 supports using the ISA-95 Standard for the integration of ERP systems with MES systems.

The facility provides support for product and technology development projects from conceptualization through final drawings and pre-production prototypes.

Invensys Process Systems will supply a Foxboro I/A Series DCS system to TOTAL Bitumen to replace PLCs at its site in Preston, England.

DVI's Automation Circle endorsed OMAC Guidelines for improved packaging machine design and interoperability.

Bosch Rexroth is consolidating its branch offices in the Detroit area, moving its employees into a facility in Rochester Hills.

SIMATIC PCS 7 distributed control system and instrumentation from Siemens are being used by the NCERC to help validate near-term technologies for renewable fuel production.

Brochure includes product information and application diagrams.

Visitors to the site can also find out more about the technology behind the instruments, discover the specific industry applications and keep updated on corporate developments through the comprehensive news section.

An ad-hoc group of asset owners and suppliers of industrial automation technology and services offered a plan to establish an ISA Security Compliance Institute.

The website provides information on the Mobility Series FT-IR spectrometers and Real-time Oil Analysis and Reporting (ROARTM) software.

This one-hour online presentation describes how VISIBILITY.net ERP software can be used by manufacturers of complex products.

The group provides integrated engineering services for robotic automation in the die cast industry.

Sky-Trax indoor positioning system will avert collisions between Automatic Guided Vehicles and forklift trucks.

Pilliard, a member of the Executive Committee, was appointed Executive Vice President, Strategic Resources and Organization.

Catalog contains TURCK's line of I/O and media products for network protocols including DeviceNet, Ethernet, PROFIBUS, AS-interface, CANopen, FOUNDATION fieldbus and more.

Ed Plaia is now Vice President/General Manager for the company's Commercial and Industrial business.

ABB provided Thai Agro Energy and Petro Green biofuel plants with motor control centers, automation systems, field supervision and commissioning services.

Online registration is now open for the 2007 Emerson Global Users Exchange Conference.

FCI’s FLT93 Switch, ST98 Flow Meter, and GF90 and GF92 Flow Meters have received IEC/IECx approvals for safe use from the IEC.

Softing North America will provide Foundation fieldbus connectivity for GE Fanuc's Proficy Process Systems solution.

Invensys has completed the acquisition of Cimnet, a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) software company based in Pennsylvania.

B&R USA is a Supplier Member of the PMMI (Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute)

The partnership will primarily target the project-driven manufacturing, chemicals, energy, utilities, telecom, oil and gas industries.

He replaces Dinesh Paliwal, who is leaving ABB at the end of June. Most recently, he was ABB's Region Division Manager for Power Products in North America.

Robots assemble and manipulate tiles and mosaics; prepare tiles for gluing; and apply a new type of adhesive to hold the tiles during subsequent phases of transportation and application.

John Dulchinos has been promoted to President and COO, Joachim Melis has been promoted to VP Worldwide Sales, and the company has been reorganized.

The Trusted Safety Controller received Achilles Controller Level 1 Cyber Security Certification from Wurldtech Security Technologies.

KUKA Robotics Corporation, announced that it is sponsoring RoboCup 2007 Atlanta, the world’s most renowned research competition among custom-built robots and their designers to be held at Georgia Tech University in Atlanta, Georgia from July 3-8, 2007.

The annual ISA Honors & Awards Gala will be held 1 October 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Houston in Houston, Texas.

The satellite, scheduled to be launched in 2008, will enable Japanese scientists to study and measure greenhouse gases in support of the Kyoto protocol.

The service helps manufacturers to identify potential opportunities to use machine vision for robot guidance and quality inspection.

The updated site has links to Schaefer's ac/dc power supplies, dc/dc converters, battery chargers, dc/ac pure sine wave inverters and other power conversion products.

Alpha Gear's products conform to the RoHS Directive, as of May 2007.

Graduate students at the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University Center for Injury Biomechanics won a design competition sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Datalogic's site covers bar code readers, rugged mobile computers, and RFID systems.

Emerson to modernize instrumentation, control and electrical subsystems at the largest lignite-fired power plant in Europe, the Belchatow Power Plant in Poland.

Honeywell will automate quality control on Iggesund’s paperboard production machine, located at the company’s plant in Iggesund, Sweden.

The web tool helps informatics professionals select suitable LIMS (Laboratory Information Management Systems) and CDS (Chromatography Data Systems) to meet their application needs.

Brochure describes SureCross wireless network, its ability to perform monitoring and control functions, and applications.

ABB will supply a System 800xA, boiler protection, instrumentation and electrical actuators, which will be integrated via a Profibus network. The system will be installed at E.ON-Kraftwerke GmbH's coal-fired plant in Germany's Rhein-Ruhr region

Enraf offers solutions for the control and management of transportation, storage and blending operations in the oil and gas industry.

LabVIEW software and hardware are used in a mud-gas separator for underbalanced drilling (UBD) applications. Petrobras has realized savings between $500,000 and $2 million, depending on the size of the well and the cost of the potential fracturing job.

Members get access to online SynqNet articles, case studies, flash animations, quarterly e-newsletters, invitations to annual SynqNet meetings, and direct email access to SynqNet experts.

The tool helps companies break down the complexity of various measures and help determine what actions they need to take to improve operations.

Most recently, Park held the title of Controller with Plastic Services & Products, Inc., where he successfully completed a merger with a competitor company as well as two outside acquisitions.

Rockwell Automation received the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) mark for a majority of its safety product lines.

The market was $3.2 billion in 2006 and is forecasted to be over $4.9 billion in 2011, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study.

The SY.DFE, for controlling injection molding machines, was launched at the plastics processing trade fair in Düsseldorf in 1989, and 100,000 units have been installed since.

IntraVue simplifies the task of supporting industrial devices over Ethernet networks by helping non-IT personnel locate faults and maintain uptime.

Siemens received an order from German CEMAG Anlagenbau GmbH, Hameln, to supply equipment for a new kiln line in the Zliten cement plant in Libya.

Benchmarking session on Monday, June 25th at 1:00 PM features Werner Setzwein, Vice President of BASF Corporate Engineering