Articles and News

This robotic technology is designed help build supply chains. The design can accomplish volumes ranging from millions of units a day, to a small operation in the backroom of a supercenter or mall anchor store.

Line symbol from ISA-5.1-1984, revised 2009.

Once the students build a robot, their teams will participate in one or more of the global 158 regional and district events that measure the effectiveness of each robot, the power of collaboration, and the determination of students. The competition culminates at the 2018 FIRST Championship, 18-21 April in Houston, Texas and 25-28 April in Detroit, Michigan.

The technical curriculum being taught by Endress+Hauser will offer in-depth training on technology and instrumentation for monitoring and managing temperature, flow and pressure for machinery and equipment in industrial process industries.

Altman assumes her new responsibilities from outgoing board chair General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Army, retired, who served as chairman since the organization’s inception in 2011.

Markus Schmidt, President of Swisslog Logistics Automation Americas, announced the appointments as part of Swisslog’s global initiative to focus on key customers and industries.

By Vikrant Angia, VCO Systems Too many in the picking product space fail to understand the complexities of the fast-changing omni-channel experience and associated total supply chain costs. Organizations must be optimized to provide the right product to end customers, across the various channels that share inventory.

Searching for unique, creative, and innovative uses of energy chain cable carriers, three winners will be announced with prizes up to €5000 at the upcoming Hannover Messe trade fair in Germany.

The ABB SCADA solution - ABB Ability Symphony Plus - will monitor and control the entire water distribution system and integrate TaKaDu’s Event Management Solution, which detects, analyzes and manages network events and incidents such as leaks, bursts, faulty assets, telemetry and data issues and operational failures.

Its aim is to expand the global reach of the ecosystem based on MindSphere. The organization is also designed to afford support to its individual members in developing and improving IoT solutions on the MindSphere platform and in tapping new markets in the digital economy.

ResilientGrid has integrated the industrial cybersecurity capabilities of Radiflow’s iSID system into its ResilientGrid Map solution. iSID is an industrial intrusion detection system designed specifically for the needs of operators of critical infrastructure.

The addition of S-Cube Futuretech’s applications expands Bentley’s offerings specific to the needs of concrete engineering design and documentation software users in India, South East Asia, and the Middle East.

As a Certified OTTO Motors Integration Partner, Columbia Machine is able to incorporate the OTTO 1500 Self Driving Vehicle (SDV) into current and future applications.

As of now, Festo customers can also use the Festo Design Tool 3D online, without installation or plug-in and independent of their browser. In addition, the web version is now integrated in the Festo product catalog under the category "Ready-to-install solutions".

Solutions for virtualization, cloud and mobility are becoming more stable, reachable and cost-competitive to a larger number of industrial SCADA end-users.

This announcement signifies that Beamex will continue to work with ISA to co-develop informational and educational resources, such as custom webinars on vital issues in calibration and instrumentation process improvement—which are offered at no charge to ISA members and customers worldwide.

By Eric Kaufman, AspenTech Right now, commodity chemical producers need to shift their focus from growth to improving cost competitiveness. These 5 best practices show how cost competitiveness can be mastered to help commodity chemicals producers achieve sustainable competitive differentiation.

ISA is driven to focusing on the next generation of ISA Members.

The viscosity measurement and control of fuel oil in power plants is very important for a proper combustion.

Products covered in this catalog use PI’s in-house designed and manufactured Mars Rover-tested piezo ceramic actuators as their drive principle.

The office will be PROCENTEC’s fourth office after Wateringen (the Netherlands), Karlsruhe (Germany) and Brescia (Italy). It will focus on sales activities in the first place, but also hopes to become an official Training Center in the UK in the long run.

Virtualization technology delivers consolidated plant information to operators via eight large-screen Experion Orion Consoles, which also embed traditionally separate Microsoft Office desktop applications alongside the distributed control system one

By Anthony Coggine, Business Writer Advances in automation are causing us to reevaluate everything, from how we power our businesses to how we analyze data. As such, the future of automation provides tremendous potential for both risk and reward.

The 20-page document, Securing Industrial Control Systems - Best Practices, covers the threat landscape and presents a holistic approach to defending it, including assessing risk, physical security, network security, workstation and server security, as well as the fundamentals of OSA.

Designed for both industrial and educational settings, the cell highlights the CR-4iA robot’s capabilities to interact safely with a person while handling parts.

Control Station’s 2018 training services calendar currently lists a total of sixteen workshops scheduled in industrial centers across the United States and Canada. In particular the scheduled workshops target process manufacturers located throughout the Great Lakes, Gulf and Pacific Northwest regions.

By Stefan Schauer, Texas Instruments Stronger legal restrictions, a higher awareness of the growing consumption of natural resources and increasing energy prices are all driving the installation of more intelligent and cross-linked environmental control systems in buildings.

PID controller with a filter is designed for various types of integrating systems with time delay.

ABB interferometer is at the heart of a key instrument for the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1) launched by NASA for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help improve the timeliness and accuracy of weather forecasts three to seven days out.

Together, True North Automation and Canvass Analytics take process automation one step further by taking the outcome of the predictive model and automatically applying the prediction to the control system.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com With Seeq, users now have an application to perform analytics and optimize operations on their own, without having to engage data scientists and other IT experts

There are simple steps that must be taken now to make your automation systems more resilient to the inevitable cyberattack.

DTL process technology converts light olefins, present in fluidized-bed catalytic cracking (FCC) off-gas, coker off-gas and other refinery streams, into high-octane gasoline blend stock.

CSP+ for Machine is an extension of the CLPA’s existing “CSP+” (Control & Communication System Profile) that provides network configuration and maintenance by offering profiles that describe each device on a CC-Link IE or CC-Link network

By Rick Delgado, Freelance Automation Commentator This guide seeks to educate a startups management on inexpensive methods of protecting their digitals assets and online business information.

ISA-5.1-1984 (Revised 1992) - Instrument Symbols and Identification.

By George Brancato, Acieta Robotic automation is changing how factories operate in every manufacturing sector. Underway in large, medium, and small businesses alike, these changes impact practically every aspect of manufacturing.

ABB will provide its Heavy Vehicle Chargers (HVC) 300P for the forthcoming project to deliver two autonomous driving electric buses for the island by the beginning of 2019.

Executives from MonarchFx and NFI came together recently to sign the agreement to begin implementation of the RDMC. The Chino location is the first of five locations around the United States, slated to open within the next six months.

As the seventh US company to meet the technical requirements for the Certified Alliance partner status, Huffman Engineering joins a group of system integration companies who work closely with Schneider Electric to provide customers with knowledge and skill in control system integration

Engineers typically do not have access to 3-D printers to do this prototyping. Instead, most of them contract with a third party to get quick turnaround on parts. With Haydon Kerk 3DP prototyping services, machine builders can now get help with this type of design verification.

The first five videos, each approximately three minutes or less in duration, explain the fundamentals of laser optics including specifications, product types, and coating methods.

3S-Smart Software Solutions will open the CODESYS Corporation in Chicago/Illinois to provide the U. S. customer base with optimal service. Sales, technical support, consulting and training are then available locally for all customers in North America.

HIMA will be responsible for supporting INPEX in maintaining the safety instrumented systems on Ichthys LNG including the supply of parts, and services to ensure that the safety system is operating at its optimum.

By Scott Eddleman, Yokogawa In 2016, the EPA finalized its refinery sector rule on maximum achievable control technology (MACT) regulations, and gave refineries 18 months to comply. In this article, we’ll review the requirements and describe the three types of analyzers refineries can use to ensure compliance.

Konecranes MTS division brings nearly 40-years of experience providing a full range of preventive maintenance, rebuild, remanufacture, retrofit and repair services, as well as onsite support for all types and brands of machine tools.

In 2015, NASA partnered with the University of Arizona, providing funding to digitize the film images and data from the Surveyor moon landers that have been in storage since the 1960s.

The Invenergy Future Fund led the round with participation from THI Investments and all existing investors, GGV Capital, Lux Capital and Planven Investments SA. This latest round brings Nozomi Networks’ total funding to date to $23.8 million.

Leak detection rarely prevents accidents. Good design, good equipment, and insightful operating practices do that.

Curtis is the Operations Manager for Veolia Energy Ireland, providing services to Novartis Ringaskiddy Ltd. in Cork, Ireland. He has more than 35 years of experience in petrochemical, biotech, and bulk pharmaceutical industries

With this designation, Schneider Electric’s SDC becomes part of a small group of companies with a CMMI Level 5 assessment in the industrial software industry.

Nypro, a Jabil company, wanted to enhance safety and automate the process of transporting raw materials and finished goods from clean room manufacturing to deep lane storage and staging for shipping. The AGV system will transport raw materials packaging to manufacturing staging areas.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation There have been a lot of concerns and misconceptions about robots stealing people’s jobs. The truth is, while some jobs are being replaced by automated equipment, new jobs are also arising as a result of Industry 4.0. Therefore, a more relevant concern is how Industry 4.0 will change the nature of people’s jobs.

By Philip Allen, Grace Engineered Products Without question, the highest risk task for qualified electrical workers is creating an electrically safe work condition. Validated installation procedures for PESDs combined with LOTO procedures significantly reduces the likelihood that workers will be exposed to voltage when creating that electrically safe work condition.

The partnership alignment between the automation companies is to inform and better prepare the oil and gas industry and customers for Industry 4.0. The oil and gas industry has played a pivotal role in the economic transformation of the world.

Manufacturers of automation devices can now offer their customers the functionality to manually distribute the various tasks of the PLC application to symmetrical processor cores of the control CPU in CODESYS.

The transaction, which closed on January 5, 2018, provides Nordson ASYMTEK with dispensing and dosing products marketed by Infiniti under the Dot Streamer (DS) and Accura brands.

For any type of analysis or prediction, whether using ANN or MSPC, you need to have inputs that show the variability in the process.

Arlanxeo, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and LANXESS, is a chemical company that develops, manufactures and markets synthetic rubber and high-performance elastomers for use in various industries.

According to the Kaspersky Lab, IT Security Risks Survey, every fourth industrial company of over 900 surveyed faced a variety of cyberattacks in 2017. Of the evolving types of threats used by cybercriminals, one of the fastest growing types aimed at industrial organizations is targeted attacks.

Crossing the wires at 90 degrees will minimize the exposure of the wires to each other and therefore minimize the effects of interference.

By Eddie Amos, GE Digital What does the future hold for industrial organizations like those in manufacturing? Like the paved highway systems for cars to drive on, the increased connectivity of industrial assets has been foundational for the next wave of technological advancements.

By Thorsten Sienk, AMK The UR Precision U unwinding system of Kocher+Beck is designed to feed web material to printing and converting machines nonstop from the role. The system is driven by centralized and decentralized servo technology from AMK.

The webinar, which will be held from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., EST on 31 January, will feature three automation experts: Paul Gruhn, Global Functional Safety Consultant at aeSolutions; Ned Espy, Technical Director at Beamex; and Roy Tomalino, Calibration Engineer at Beamex.

This partnership is intended to offer comprehensive visibility of live plant operations leveraging applied machine learning and deep process knowledge.

The company will begin operating under a new trade name and will be known as Allied Electronics & Automation, effective immediately. The company’s ownership and staff have not changed.

ISA webinar focuses on the current industry security threat landscape and key steps you can take to protect your critical assets in the production environment.

ASYS (Dornstadt, Germany) created the PULSE Community to bring together system manufacturers in the electronics sector with products that are "PULSE-capable".

The acquisition strengthens AspenTech’s asset optimization strategy by providing cloud and edge processing technology that captures and aggregates critical data from assets throughout the plant and across the enterprise.

The transaction is a natural progression for the two companies that have held a relationship dating back over 30 years. Roeslein founder Rudi Roeslein worked with Pride founders Shannon Pride, Pat Jordan, and Ruben Padilla at Wiebe in the late 1980s.

By Anton Pozdnyakov, Softerra It is a common fear among the IT pros community that at some point automation will come for their jobs and make them obsolete. So, is it really that serious? Will robots eventually eliminate people in all IT jobs?

By Frank Kapper, Upland Ultriva Over the past decade there has been a great need for better technology solutions to address global demand-driven and enterprise-wide supply chains.

Industrial companies are leveraging IoT connectivity so customers can have the same level of connectivity in their workplace as they do at home

The controlled variable by definition is the variable that the control system attempts to keep at a "set point" value.

An ISA roundup of some of the best educational industrial automation industry webinars presented in 2017.

Technical paper proposes a novel approach for the auto-tuning of fractional order controllers.

The project is part of an $8.4 billion investment from the Ontario government to expand public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Organized by the Taiwan External Trade and Development Council (TAITRA) and iF (The International Forum Design), the awards are chosen by an international panel of jurors who consider applications from companies around the world.

This decision is intended to position the company towards the implementation of its 2020+ growth strategy, which aims to fulfil Lenze’s strategic priorities and goals until 2020 and beyond.

Radar does not depend on temperature or composition of a fluid as long as the beam is narrow and the dielectric constant of the fluid is greater than two.

ABB announced actions across three divisions to complete the business model change for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) as it ends its transition year 2017.

Under this program, HARTING is able to conduct testing in its own test laboratory, and submit the data to UL in order to streamline the process for UL certification. As a consequence, UL certification requirements are now integrated into HARTING’s product development process, as samples can be tested in-house.

With the help of Time Sensitive Networking (TSN), industrial controls can contact a number of different EtherCAT segments in real-time through Ethernet networks. In doing so, no changes to the EtherCAT slave devices are required

Modern automation system components can be successfully applied through good design practices to produce consistent & quality products at reasonable costs.

Two new models are designed for maritime navigation and radio communication systems. These bridge-and-deck power supplies feature DNV-GL shipbuilding approval and are optimized for EMI rejection. Phoenix Contact also offers a 12 V limited power TRIO POWER version that is NEC Class 2-certified.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Taking place from November 2-3 2017, the event put a spotlight on SAP’s IT/OT real-time transaction processing and integration of manufacturing controls and automation for their customers.

Siemens and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers signed a €7.9 million (~$9.4 million USD) contract to install, operate and maintain several energy conservation measures at the U.S. Army’s Installation Management Command (IMCOM) headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, 23 miles from Frankfurt.

The latest version provides additional cyber security measures to FDI by enabling time stamping on FDI Device Package signatures and sandbox environments for UIPs to run in.

CSP+ for Machine is an extension of the CLPA’s existing “CSP+” (Control & Communication System Profile) that provides network configuration and maintenance by offering profiles that describe each device on a CC-Link IE or CC-Link network.

The OPC Foundation published a set of practical guidelines for the secure configuration and use of OPC UA in industry.  This brochure helps readers quickly understand what OPC UA security has to offer and how to best use it. 

By Robert Cohn, Direct Recruiters, Inc. What’s in store for 2018 when it comes to talent within Automation & Industrial Technology? Here are 8 talent trends that will help to shape the workforce in the New Year

Plain Language BIM is written for beginners and for those with experience with BIM strategies to ensure all professionals are thoroughly prepared to be part of industry efforts focused on advancing BIM.

MQTT appears to be a protocol with a good track record, good adoption, and unique suitability for industrial control systems and IIoT applications.

ABB will be undertaking complete project implementation of supply, erection, testing and commissioning for the electrical distribution and ABB Ability 800xA automation system for Emami Cement’s greenfield cement grinding unit at its plant in Orissa, India.

Safety mats and edges are used to protect people and machinery from harm. A full range of sizes and lengths of mats and edges are in stock for immediate shipment.

The 22nd annual ARC Industry Forum in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 12-15, 2018, will focus on the new digitally-enabled technologies, approaches, and business processes that are disrupting the way industry, infrastructure, and municipalities around the world operate and serve their respective customers.

The fastest growing categories in the first nine months of 2017 were Motion Controllers (24% to $147m), Sensors & Feedback Devices (20% to $116m), AC Drives (15% to $295m), Actuators & Mechanical Systems (13% to $479m), and Motors (11% to $1b).

Perform the calculation using dimensional analysis from conversion tables 33.9 ft water equals one atmosphere equals 14.696 lbf /in2 (psi).

The Mechanical Engineering magazine Emerging Technology Awards is the first in the 137-year history of the Society that Mechanical Engineering magazine has singled out such future-focused technologies for recognition.

The CyberX platform is designed to deliver continuous ICS threat monitoring and asset discovery, ICS threat intelligence, and non-invasive risk and vulnerability assessments.

Leidos customers will gain integration with the Claroty Platform for continuous threat monitoring, detection and response. The offering will be available through resale by Leidos to both current and future Leidos Industrial Defender ASM customers

There are four leading types of protocols commonly used in process plants: HART, PROFIBUSPA, FOUNDATION Fieldbus and WirelessHART. All four of these protocols are designed to connect field instruments to control and monitoring host systems, typically a distributed control system (DCS) or an asset management system

ISA wants to make automation professionals better at what they do, to help their industries move forward.

Working in close collaboration with the Terra53 integration partner and customer, eMobility International, ABB’s Terra 53 fast chargers now cover the international routes from Sofia to the Greek border

RACO is a supplier of remote monitoring systems for critical assets via traditional landlines or IIoT. RACO offers a hosted data solution, AlarmAgent.com, which centralizes data in the cloud and provides secure access to that data through an online Web Portal.

Taking place at the Hyatt Regency Bethesda on 7-9 August 2018—only 15 minutes from the nation’s capital—the WWAC Symposium will feature two days of technical speakers, an exhibitor hall, a tour of a local water plant, and technical training courses on a variety of topics.

Key challenges facing shale gas producers relate to the safety, reliability, efficiency, and flexibility of their operations.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things into manufacturing has seen several companies, many - like Dell - not previously associated with manufacturing, working to leverage the new technologies to enhance the industry with connected industrial solutions

These commitments will cover more than 1,000 electricity consuming sites around the globe, including 200 factories. Schneider Electric will leverage a broad range of renewable energy sources, including but not limited to solar, wind, geothermal and biomass.

Flexware Innovation is a system integrator based in Fishers, Ind. The company specializes in solutions in life science, food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, and discrete manufacturing.

By Scott Hollis, PAS Global Process control networks (PCNs) in critical infrastructure sites − refineries, chemical plants, and manufacturing facilities − all have potential danger swimming just below the surface in the form of undiscovered vulnerabilities.

To improve the diesel engine performance, a high-pressure rail injection system has been shown to pay a vital role in reducing diesel pollution.

Thanks to drive and control technology from AMK, the solutions of HERO GmbH in Sigmaringendorf, Germany, have done away with anything that is not actually needed to meet the precise product quality standards.

With XLReporter’s custom connectors to FactoryStudio and point-and-click configuration, Users create informative drill-down, summary, utilization and regulatory reports from real-time, historical and alarm data. Completed reports are distributed via web pages, networked printers, PDF files and email.

Ocean Data Systems is now an Encompass Product Partner and Dream Report is a reference product in the program under the category of “Software Product – Report Generation”.

By Jonathan Wilkins, Marketing Director, EU Automation For smaller businesses, investing in new technology can be daunting, especially where robotics and automation are concerned. This article discusses the features of robotics that are most useful for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The volts-per-hertz ratio (V/Hz) controls the torque of a motor.

Honeywell will also form a new joint venture company with FLUX's founder to serve customers outside China. Honeywell will hold a 75 percent stake in the new joint venture, which will initially focus on opportunities in the Asia Pacific region

By choosing to secure all digital data in the engineering phase, the technology enables users of Renishaw systems to protect their digital intellectual property (IP), enforce production rules and provide traceability in the digital supply chain

Through the new CNC Dealer Locator, customers can find dealers or OEMs by location or by OEM or dealer name. Once identified on the CNC Dealer Locator, the dealer or OEM can help the customer find the right CNC machine for their needs.

Miele uses material flow simulation, which will be using OPC UA standards to obtain live data directly from the source. With that feedback into higher level systems can be visualized, optimized and controlled.

In part 1 of the Beginner's PLC Overview, we talked about what PLCs are, their history, and how they work. This article will get a little deeper into the PLC's Central Processing Unit (CPU).

The Data Portal is an integrated, web-based data platform for provision of EPLAN compatible device data from component manufacturers for direct use in EPLAN software solutions.

The survey polled 130 strategic decision makers from industrial companies about their approach to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and their use of industrial cyber security technologies and practices.

By Steve Mulder, Rockwell Automation Packaging end users are eager to better understand their operations, improve productivity and keep up with competitive pressures. This article discusses how smart, secure and Ethernet-enabled packaging machines are working to give end users a competitive edge

Enaex announced the joint robotic effort at a recent event highlighting Mine-iTruck, a “mobile manufacturing unit,” using teleoperation and autonomous features that operate the vehicle autonomously inside an open pit mine

Mr. Tsuda succeeds Joe Gemma (KUKA, USA), who is leaving the rotating post as head of the global federation of robot manufacturers, having served his two-year term.

Data historians are key to capturing a facility’s business-critical performance information & are a driving force behind the Industrial Internet of Things.

Schneider Electric's Calgary, Alberta and Lake Forest, California process automation product development centers have been certified by exida, a globally recognized ISO 17065 certification body.

By Don Pham, IDEC The processing power, data storage and I/O handling capabilities of micro PLCs allow them to be used as the main automation driver for complex machines, processing lines, or even an entire plant or facility.

6RS needed a new system to document and control all product lifecycle information and ensure clear communication of information. The system also had to provide complete and detailed Bill of Materials (BOMs) and Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) to their CM.

Written for busy professionals, this brochure is designed to help readers understand what OPC UA security has to offer and how to best use it.

Rockwell Automation will apply this 3-D, time-of-flight sensing technology to sensing products to deliver solutions to a broad range of demanding industrial applications, including automotive and general assembly, packaging and material handling, and logistics.

In the gravity filter plant, 18 butterfly valves are situated in an area beneath a walkway which made it difficult to access and operate the old actuators. With the Rotork actuators, the installation of Remote Hand Stations (RHS) has now eliminated this problem.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com The convergence of IT and OT, to create more effective operations throughout the company, was evident throughout the conference presentations and discussions, and this reflects many of the recent trends in the manufacturing industry.

When creating detailed control narratives for existing controls, use established standards and industry best practices.

By connecting an eWON Cosy or Flexy router to a machine, it is possible to access and control the machine via the cloud service eWON Talk2. eWON users can then access Talk2M in a secure way from a computer using the eCatcher software. It is available for free for iOS and Android.

Sercos International offers a means to evaluate the Sercos SoftMaster. Within minutes, Sercos-on-a-Stick converts almost every x86 based PC to a Sercos Master Test System, making it possible to realize real-time communication without hardware extensions

By Anthony Borges, PINpoint Information Systems There are many common challenges manufacturers face on their assembly lines which must be overcome to produce quality products in the most efficient way. It is after-all the assembly line where products are born, from physical actions, or process steps performed by both line workers and machines.

For the sake of ease and safety, Industry recognized it is better for an operator to monitor and control processes in a more convenient and protected place

Fluke Calibration announced the Metrology Problem Solver Challenge, a way for technicians to share their stories on how they used Fluke Calibration products to solve complex problems.

Created in 2014, the program helps industrial companies identify safety system integrators with current safety standards expertise, a proven track record in building safety systems, and knowledge of contemporary safety technologies.

By Jeff Carr, Ultra Consultants When assessing the current value of a legacy ERP system, the primary focus should be whether the legacy features and functions adequately support the business - not just the current state of business but the anticipated future state too.

Prosys OPC and IOTech have agreed that IOTech's Edge Xpert offering will include an optional Prosys OPC UA Java SDK for developing the device services with OPC UA communications.

A new type of self-tuning, dual-mode adaptive fractional order PID controller for a quadruple tank process

ABB and HPE will deliver joint industry solutions that merge OT and IT to turn industrial data into insights and automatic action, combining cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure with IT systems running in corporate data centers and at the edge of the network.

METTLER TOLEDO’s new food guides are designed to help manufacturers improve their understanding of food-safety standards and introduce them to processing equipment and solutions that can help operations become more efficient:

Inductive Automation looks forward to working more closely with IAG, which is becoming a more active member of the Ignition community.

If you are interested in learning about PLCs and/or PACs, but you are not sure where to start, then this Beginner's PLC Overview blog series has been written for you!

By John Krajewski III, Schneider Electric Human Machine Interfaces started as point solutions, but are now progressing to company-wide Operations Management Interfaces to leverage Industrial IoT and Industry 4.0 strategies.

The production capacity of the Japanese suppliers has reached 153,000 units in 2016 – the highest level ever recorded. Today, Japan´s manufacturers deliver 52 percent of the global supply.

The partnership is intended to provide OPC UA Toolkits and extended consulting, training and development services to North America.

DCS selection for an industrial application is critical to the successful integration of plant assets, people & processes for improved business operations.

The resistance of a length of a conductor can be determined using the specific resistance and the cross-sectional area by using the equation R = r L/A

RACO has joined the Dream Report Proven Partner Program and is recommending Dream Report as their solution for custom reports and dashboards.

Due for delivery in spring 2018, two fast chargers will be installed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Eriksberg Square, on line 16 of the city’s bus network, on which two prototype electric articulated high capacity buses from Volvo will operate.

The 52-page publication, which is offered in an interactive online version or as a download, features detailed descriptions, specifications and schematics of DENSO’s entire lineup of four-axis SCARA and five- and six-axis articulated robots, robot controllers and programming software.

The manufacturing system - combining smart equipment, improved processes, plant automation and MES software - delivered on traceability and compliance requirements as well as on efficiencies.

BA Systèmes has completed the partial automation of Sappi’s Maastricht paper mill in the Netherlands. The fleet of 7 counterbalanced AGVs constitutes an automated solution for integrated production and storage flows.

This link gives users of the Engineering Base (EB) software system direct access to data throughout the service life of the measuring devices concerned, including such items as instruction manuals, certificates, and details of maintenance and calibration procedures.

The least frequently used mode in a PID controller, derivative is more useful when dead time is not pure dead time but is a series of small time constants.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Cyber security remains a prominent concern for many organizations as we continue to move towards a connected industrial future. In this vein, Honeywell recently made a big commitment to Industrial Cyber Security at the 2017 Honeywell Users Group Americas,

HARTING garnered the award from DESIGN&ELEKTRONIK trade magazine in the electromechanics category for its ix Industrial connector. The connector was jointly developed by the Espelkamp-based family-owned business together with Japan’s HIROSE technology group and placed on the market.

The webinar, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., EST on Nov. 21, will feature two subject matter experts: Eric Cosman, Co-Chair of the ISA99 Committee, and Shivendra Mishra, Global Product Marketing Manager at Honeywell Process Solutions.

By Bert Williams, ABB Wireless As we move toward industrial things being digital and connected, putting in place the right communications infrastructure is a critical piece of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) equation. Connectivity is required to ensure that data is meaningful and actionable.

Students benefit from active participation in ISA section activities. They can network with working professionals and learn about career opportunities.

Rockwell Automation has announced automotive manufacturer Honda of Canada Manufacturing and U.K.-based equipment builder A.M.P Rose as the winners of its fifth annual Manufacturing Safety Excellence Awards.

If a differential pressure cell is not at an elevation that corresponds to zero percent level in a tank, calibrate to account for difference in elevation.

If thoughtfully planned and implemented, leadership transition can preserve the best of what is in place and open a path to new ways of thinking.

ABB has reached an agreement with Reykjavik Energy for the delivery of 15 fast chargers. The fast chargers will boost the country’s charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and will all be commissioned by the end of 2017

This global strategic enterprise agreement allows BP to leverage the full range of AspenTech’s solutions, including Aspen PIMS-AO for refinery planning, Aspen Advanced Process Control (APC) solutions and Aspen HYSYS solutions for engineering and optimization.

These automation and instrumentation solution providers will increase responsiveness to channel end users by offering local application engineering and product availability. The companies include Eastern Controls, Andrews Industrial, ControValve, CB Engineering and BBP.

ISA book is an authoritative resource for anyone responsible for selecting & implementing measurement & control devices for process automation applications.

In connection to Kamstrup’s visit in Iran, the company signed both a partner contract and an agreement of two pilot projects with the local Iranian company Iran Ensheab Co. The projects include intelligent water meters and remote reading system.

The Khazzan Project in Oman is one of BP’s seven major projects in 2017, and started its production in September 2017. BP Oman was selected as a finalist from more than 400 nominations of projects around the world, and as the winner out of the three finalists in its category.

By Daniel Koprowski, Mechatronics Technician Apprentice, Phoenix Contact Apprenticeship opportunities are available for many career paths including technicians, electricians, plumbers, machinists, welders, sales, information technology, and others. This story tells of one such apprenticeship opportunity

The 12-week program launched in August combines classroom learning with hands-on laboratory experience. Veterans are trained in Rockwell Automation’s facility in Mayfield Heights, Ohio for in-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com A common topic of debate revolves around how process system architectures will be shaped in the future. One architectural vision would enable a shift of focus from process efficiency control to business performance control, with increasing levels of monitoring and control.

With effective security controls, 4G LTE wireless technology can serve voice, video, and broadband industrial data and applications simultaneously.

The scholarship fund will be funded by ISA with a $50,000 endowment. ISA has also pledged to match the next $50,000 of donations. Morley was an engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, consultant and author who contributed to a range of high-technology advancements over more than four decades.

By Graham McGregor, Siemens Industry All the flashy bells and whistles in the world can’t make up for knowledge gained through experience. And in the world of industrial automation, nowhere is this more applicable than in the battle for the world’s best level measurement technologies.

Ball, butterfly, and pinch valve body style have straight-through flow, and they are less likely to develop blockage.

The survey is intended for managers and operators to benchmark the extent to which automation has influenced production, purchasing habits, cost controls, and future strategies.

OSADL coordinates the development and funding of open source projects on behalf of its members, who enjoy many benefits, including quality assurance, software development, technology support, legal compliance, marketing, training, and above all support in licensing in the form of legal support through the OSADL general counsel, auditing, and certification

The terms of the deal between the two privately owned companies were not disclosed. Sciemetric will continue to operate as an independent Canadian corporation.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation As the industry grows, smaller countries are beginning to emerge as competitors in the industry. This article will explore the role of countries that are emerging as leaders in manufacturing.

The Group has acquired Blue Ocean Nova AG, a manufacturer of innovative inline spectrometers for monitoring quality-relevant process parameters. The company’s 15 employees located in Aalen, Germany will be retained.

The overall objective of the delivery is to provide Paul Wurth with an advanced real-time data management and historian solution based on Apis.

In this leadership role, Nardecchia will provide strategic vision, operational excellence and change leadership to develop and implement information technology initiatives and architecture throughout the company.

Dream Report version 4.81, technically a maintenance release, is available to all 4.8 customers. Along with an array of Customer Software Change Requests (SCRs), this release delivers on a theme of Productivity.

120 employees of the power supply specialist PULS now have a new home. The innovation that drives PULS in the design of every power supply also flows through this new office.

By Robert Miller and John Browett, CLPA While there may still be some debate about what Industry 4.0 really means, there is no denying that greater interconnectivity of devices and increased network capability will be the key drivers behind achieving the goals it sets out. This article outlines the network requirements that will enable Industry 4.0.

Research offers an improved tuning methodology of PID controller for standard second order plus time delay systems

The Ovation controls will be installed at each unit during a 13-day outage – a compressed timeframe for a turbine controls replacement project. This marks the first time a vendor other than the turbine OEM has been selected to retrofit GT13 combustion turbine controls.

The data clearly shows that OT networks are ripe targets for adversaries, whose motives range from criminal intent to operational disruption and even threats to human and environmental safety

Rockwell Automation goals include co-creating to solve customer problems, accelerating innovation and identifying new emerging technologies that can help its manufacturing customers improve business performance by bridging the gaps between plant-floor and higher-level information systems.

By Martyn Williams, COPA-DATA UK In the era of smart manufacturing, valuing independence can be the difference between failure and success. This article explains why manufacturers should consider independence when striving for more collaborative facilities and supply chains.

RSA has certified PAS Cyber Integrity as interoperable with RSA NetWitness Suite. Industrial process companies that have RSA NetWitness can access security intelligence for both corporate and process control networks (PCNs) via a single application.

In general use the highest valve positioner gain that does not cause oscillation. For pipeline flow and pressure control, oscillations are not filtered.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com While industrial automation suppliers can claim products are cybersecure it is hard to prove. Standards and certification, like electrical and safety device requirements, today for cybersecurity are one such way for companies to illustrate that proof.