Articles and News

The Namibia brewing company implemented a Schneider Electric Information Management solution to consolidate data collection and optimize operational visibility across brewing operations.

SoftDEL expands its BACnet stack portfolio by making a state-of-the-art BACnet stack with protocol revision 18 available to OEMs within building automation ecosystem.

Under the slogan "Creating the most from wind – discover the value of digitalization", digitalization and engineering efficiency are main themes of this year's Siemens presentation at Husum Wind.

The partnership, forged in response to the changing industrial security landscape and growing cyber-threats to automation networks and systems, specifically focuses on broadening understanding and adoption of industrial automation security standards.

Technical paper focuses on stabilization problem of a linear time invariant fractional order switched system.

Members of Partners in THINC provide superior technologies that are integrated with Okuma’s CNC machines and controls to deliver advanced manufacturing system solutions.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Taking place on March 22-23, 2017 in Detroit, MI with over 2,500 manufacturing executives, engineers and enthusiasts, attendees learned about the newest technologies, while exchanging ideas with industry leaders, sharing best practices, and advancing the future of manufacturing in the United States and beyond.

Under the terms of the agreement, Schneider Electric will supply its EcoStruxure system architecture and platform, comprising its EcoStruxure Foxboro distributed control system, Triconex process safety solutions, PIONIR analytical fuels blending systems and a suite of SimSci and Wonderware software solutions at Dangote’s greenfield refinery in Lagos, Nigeria.

Visitors to the Beckhoff booth will again be able to “BYOD”, using their own smartphones and tablets to connect with PC-based control demos – including a wall of IoT-enabled devices, plus articulated robot arms from Stäubli – using any mobile device with a web browser.

By Chuck Rathmann, IFS According a new Enterprise Software Mobility and Digital Transformation study of 200 industrial executives, mobility represents just as large of an opportunity for industrial organizations as it does for the likes of Uber.

The North American robotics market had its best opening half ever to begin 2017, setting new records in all four statistical categories (order units, order revenue, shipment units, and shipment revenue).

This alliance will provide Deloitte with specific tools and platforms to support their Cyber Risk practice, and expand the breadth and depth of their services in the Caribbean and Bermuda region.

The work, being undertaken at Yeo Hiap Seng’s (Yeo’s) tea, soft drinks and sauces production plant in Singapore, sees the development of a system using Siemens PCS7 batch technology for S-88 Standard compliance.

The author argues the expansion of STEM programs in schools.

Groundbreaking on the facility expansion is slated to begin in August of 2017, and is viewed as the first step toward later plans for expanding NuTec’s adjoining production facility by an additional 4,000 square-feet at a future date.

This summer, teams of students from around the world harnessed their programming and hardware skills in a series of robotics competitions known as RoboNation, which Northrop Grumman sponsored.

By Brad (Biju) Oommen, Networking Solutions Consultant With rapid digitization, Power Over Ethernet (PoE) Ethernet extenders can greatly benefit PoE enabled network devices such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers, IP Paging systems, IP cameras, IP phones, IP Horn Speakers, Sensors and Wireless access points.

The "inherent flow characteristic" is the relationship between valve capacity and valve travel, and it is usually expressed graphically.

Siemens will supply the drive technology for cold rolling mills near Liaoyang in Liaoning Province in Northeastern China, and for a cold and hot rolling mill near the port of Yingkou, which also lies in Liaoning Province.

The ABB Ability Collaborative Operations Center opened in Westerville, Ohio. The center will function as the central focal point for resources and for systems that are equipped with ABB technology

Rockwell Automation received the Delphi Pinnacle Award in recognition of its services for the company in 2016. Delphi annually recognizes top-tier suppliers who help the company achieve quality, value and cost-performance improvements.

Prior to joining Indegy, Gaby was executive vice president at Panaya, an Infosys company, where she was responsible for sales and marketing in the Americas.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation In manufacturing, saving energy can be a whole lot simpler and making small but significant changes can drastically reduce energy consumption. This article discusses how three technologies can improve the energy efficiency of industrial robots.

Strategic collaboration between BitFlow and software developers, like National Instruments, has resulted in a library of third-party drivers. BitFlow plug-and-play drivers integrate its frame grabbers within virtually any application environment, eliminating the need for new coding, while helping to achieve more stable systems.

With the new coupler, users can effectively achieve communication between differing parts of a line on separate networks, increasing transparency and integration.

The number of cybersecurity incidents and cyberattacks against industrial networks is growing, and they often go unreported.

The aim of the project is to increase the field's oil production capacity to 65,000 barrels per day (BPD) from the existing capacity of 22,000 BPD.

ControlEdge PLC is the first PLC to be awarded the ISASecure Level 2 certification, which builds on the Level 1 capabilities by providing additional security features such as the confidentiality and integrity of data at rest and in motion, detection of unauthorized changes and additional protection against Denial of Service attacks.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com EdgeX Foundry is an open source project to build a common open framework for Internet of Things (IoT) edge computing and an ecosystem of interoperable components that unifies the marketplace and accelerates enterprise and Industrial IoT.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) announced that Executive Director and CEO, Patrick Gouhin, will be stepping down. Peggie W. Koon will serve as Interim Executive Director, while a Search Committee will be formed in the immediate future to identify Mr. Gouhin’s successor.

This program is designed to address a specific need as Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), or Industry 4.0 applications and projects proliferate.

Siemens PLM Software is a provider of software solutions to drive the digital transformation of industry, creating new opportunities for manufacturers to realize innovation.

Data collected in this survey shows median annual base salary information across multiple industries and disciplines in the field of metrology, and how those incomes differ between educational backgrounds, gender, years of service, job titles, and more.

By John Hayes, Vecna Robotics All those sensors on AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) which prevent collisions (with people, equipment, or building structures) are collecting data. Few AGV manufacturers have found a way to concretize these data and make them actionable, predictive, and fundamentally useful.

The combination of Comark and DLI brings the consolidated customer base an choice of industrial computing solutions. DLI’s mobile computing technology is a complement to Comark’s industrial computing solutions.

Yvonne Schneider and David Desharnais were appointed to qBotica's Advisory Board, which is comprised of Fortune 500 business executives, bringing a mixture of business, technology, and operations expertise to the company.

MCE will oversee operations for Ritter Technology, LLC, now renamed RitterTech, and its recently acquired divisions: Primet Fluid Power, acquired in February of 2017; Tri-State Hose & Fitting, acquired in April of 2017; and Fluid Systems Engineering, acquired in May of 2017.

Initially developed to train Bedrock end users and partners in programming applications to the IEC 61131-3 standard, the software and the IDE can be used to build PLC, DCS, and SCADA RTU applications that are cryptographically authenticated to the Bedrock platform.

In plant installations, a key requirement is the ability to smoothly integrate actuators used for opening or closing valves with the automation system.

Bosch Rexroth has made the Sercos SoftMaster available as free open source software on SourceForge.net. They also offer a free Sercos-on-a-Stick livesystem--a complete stand-alone demo Sercos driver package on a USB thumb drive. This includes the SoftMaster based on Intime Distributed RTOS from TenAsys Corporation, and a test application.

By Erik Davidson, Cortet by CEL This article will focus on the IoT-enabled Smart Lighting Control opportunity, which CEL research shows is one of largest opportunities in the rapidly growing commercial-grade IoT control space.

The construction of a new plant to enlarge production capacities was necessitated by a growing demand for high-quality products from FSG. FSG produces sensors for various industrial sectors, among them the rail, ship and crane industries.

Astro Tecnologia is one of Brazil’s manufacturers of cargo securement systems, webbing, lifting slings and supplemental decking equipment.

A distillation tower has feed upsets that are measured and used to create a feed forward signal.

In his new role, Villa oversees the continued development of Schneider Electric’s digitally-enabled solutions and network of distribution partners nationwide to support U.S. industrial customers.

Microscan releases the LVS-9585 Handheld Portable Barcode Verifier, providing verification of both printed labels and direct part marks (DPM). The new LVS-9585 verifies the readability, quality, and data integrity of 1D and 2D printed labels and direct part marks to internationally accepted standards including GS1, ISO 15415/15416, ISO/IEC 29158 TR, and MIL-STD-130N.

As an existing SimSci user, JFE Engineering chose to upgrade to SimCentral to take advantage of its unified platform-based solution, which is expected to result in greater opportunities for efficiency, collaboration and the re-use of simulation assets.

The $8,000 scholarships are payable in $2,000 annual installments over four years. The two will also have paid summer internships with Northrop Grumman during their scholarship years.

Protoduction’s proprietary process, “Concept 2 Reality”, is designed to bridge the gap between design engineering and manufacturing, providing customers with a consultative approach to product development.

The webinar, open only to those companies which participated in the study, provided insight into how companies weathered the difficult market conditions in 2016 when depressed oil prices severely affected business in this industry.

Mr. Van Rassen will cover military and commercial markets for Rajant domestically and internationally, bringing to the company more than 20 years of acquisition experience, both in uniform and as an Army Civilian.

After a technical resource is gone, production efficiency is directly affected when the line has less support to keep it up and running.

The dramatic influx of connected industrial automation and manufacturing technology is providing the opportunity for manufacturing companies to drive their industries forward, while surpassing the competition. Yet with money seemingly always being tight, how does an organization manage the necessary expenses to push forward?

ISA President Steven Pflantz notes the vast majority of people do not have a clear understanding of what industrial automation is and why it is important.

Siemens announced the expansion of its Technical Application Center (TAC) which offers machine tool dealers, importers and end-users of Sinumerik CNCs a range of learning opportunities including classroom training, online instructor-led training, and online self-paced training.

Participants viewed cutting demonstrations on more than 15 machine tools and were educated on technologies that can give them a competitive edge. Demonstrations featured exotic material cutting on titanium as well as stainless steel and aluminum and were focused on the automotive industry.

In this role, Nick will be responsible for developing and executing ABB’s Measurement & Analytics Next Level growth strategy for their business in the Americas Hub that comprises of North and South America

PDI will operate within the GATE Energy portfolio and collaborate with other GATE Energy companies to provide streamlined service to their clients. GATE Energy will retain all management staff following the acquisition. Founder Lee Iver will continue as President of PDI Solutions.

With IFS Applications 9, GERHARDI will implement a unified and modern solution that supports the processes of all its divisions and locations. It will also cover the international requirements of the newly established US production site as well as ensure transparency across the entire group.

This year’s CeMAT RUSSIA, a Russian Federation intralogistics trade show, will open on 19 September with around 150 exhibitors

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation Science and technology go hand-in-hand in solving the world’s problems and robotics and automation are the latest innovations to tackle one of our biggest issues – poverty. This article explores how technology can be used to create sustainable solutions and tackle world poverty.

Learn how to use key PID features that can greatly expand what you can achieve. Includes innovative application examples for feedforward and rate limiting.

By Joanna Sommer, InformedMag Leveraging technology to automate workflows is what Business Process Automation (BPA) is all about. The objective of BPA is to reduce human intervention as much as possible to save time and money. “Side effects” such as improved service levels and cost savings help build loyalty through customer satisfaction.

The magnetic flowmeter conductor (fluid in pipe) moves through a magnetic field; a voltage is produced relative to speed of the conductor & magnetic field.

Memosens sensors measure the pH-value in liquids, for example, and transform it into a digital signal while still in the sensor. The data is then passed on via a contactless system and provides measurement results.

The production team engineers at Peacock Productions used three FUTEK Donut/Through Hole load cells as well as FUTEK instrumentation to test a great white shark’s bite force.

IDTechEx Research finds that in 2017, the total RFID market will be worth $11.2 billion, up from $10.52 billion in 2016 and $9.95 billion in 2015. This includes tags, readers and software/services for RFID labels, cards, fobs and other form factors, for passive and active RFID.

The video is designed to serve as a great resource to share with the younger generation, particularly those in middle and high schools who are exploring potential career paths. It can also serve as a resource for those individuals looking to transition into a new field.

Cranes can be fitted with both CP Automation and Magnetek products as an integrated package, including power delivery systems, radio remote control transmitters, motor gearboxes, failsafe brakes and variable frequency drives (VFDs).

The MAQ20 data acquisition and control system uses a Python API; this employs an object-oriented approach for communicating with MAQ20 systems, thereby providing an interface where the low-level Modbus commands are hidden from normal use.

The option allows PLCs running the Modbus industrial automation protocol to connect to Alicat instruments over Ethernet cable.

Teledyne DALSA provided 2 Genie cameras for the mission. The primary payload, a Genie TS-C4096 provided coverage of surveillance regions with high ground resolutions for effective target detection and characterization. A second Genie Nano C1940 model provided color imaging from a multirotor. In 2018, both teams plan to deploy the Genie Nano C5100 as their primary imaging payload.

Hitachi Rail had selected HARTING from among more than 150 suppliers. HARTING is considered preferred connectivity supplier.HARTING develops and manufactures cabling for car transitions (so-called jumper cables) for Hitachi’s AT200 and AT300 trains.

The agreement between RS and Crowdcube marks an important expansion of the third-party services available to UK-based DesignSpark members. Members applying through DesignSpark, to be considered by Crowdcube for equity crowdfunding, will benefit from a 10% discount in Crowdcube’s standard fees, if accepted.

This is a handy reference and consultation handbook written mainly for operators who verify and calibrate measuring instruments.

By Gregory Wilcox, Rockwell Automation Obstacles to adopting industrial remote access have included security concerns, insufficient connectivity and a lack of collaboration between IT and operations personnel. This article provides 8 key steps for implementing remote access in industrial operations

The control system migration of the mill’s Flakt Dryer machine from a mixture of legacy ABB MOD300 and Allen Bradley PLC’s to PlantPAX was the fifth PlantPAX control system installed by GPA in the Pulp & Paper industry specifically.

After the acquisition of Etasyn, the PULS group will be able to provide standard devices for DIN rails, modified standard devices as well as products that are completely custom-designed.

mplsystems is a provider of omni-channel contact center and customer engagement software. Field Service Management Limited, an implementation specialist of Field Service Management solutions in the UK and Ireland will bolster IFS Service Management sales, consulting, and support organization in the region.

The centre, which is located in the Changshu Industrial Development Zone in Changshu city, Jiangsu Province, supports manufacturing and R&D, as well as the development of human resources, in cooperation with companies, universities and research institutes.

Being a sister event of the SPS IPC Drives from Nuremberg Germany, SIAF will showcase a variety of products from its related sectors including robotics, machine vision, sensors and measurements, connectivity systems, drives systems and control technologies, bringing a one-stop marketing and knowledge exchange opportunity to the Chinese industry.

From September 11th- 13th in Moscow, NUST MISIS and Cognitive Technologies will hold the first university hackathon on artificial intelligence and computer vision with an available prize fund of more than $30,000.

Driven by globalization, intensifying competition and rising customer demand for more options and higher quality products, a connected plant floor has become a necessity. Zebra’s survey shows the number of organizations achieving a fully connected factory is expected to rise dramatically over the next five years.

Under the terms of the agreement, Claroty will market its real-time OT/ICS network monitoring and detection solution to Schneider Electric's customers through the company's Collaborative Automation Partner Program (CAPP).

Panduit’s IntraVUE and SynapSense edge data collection capabilities and Uptake’s predictive analytics product suite and advanced data science capabilities will provide a solution delivering actionable manufacturing plant condition monitoring analytics.

The Red Dot Award tracks the most prominent trends and appraises the best products worldwide. The award is divided into three disciplines: Product Design, Communication Design, and Design Concept.

BitFlow aims to help shape the future of the region's machine vision technology and standards in conjunction with EMVA partners, as well as to leverage its membership to expand distributor relationships and boost demand for its frame grabbers.

Following the acquisition, Mr. Massimo Banzi becomes the new Chairman and CTO of Arduino. Dr. Fabio Violante will be appointed as the new CEO, replacing Mr. Federico Musto who will pursue other opportunities outside Arduino AG.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Too often - in today’s industrial environment - management, investors and executives are looking for the single “silver bullet” that will lead to company success. The secret of longevity however, takes far more planning and innovation.

An efficient decentralized iterative learning tracker is proposed to improve the dynamic performance of an unknown controllable.

Hon Hai Precision Industry also known as Foxconn, and Rockwell Automation announced that they are collaborating to implement Connected Enterprise and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) concepts for smart manufacturing in Foxconn's new U.S. facilities.

Housing additional 200 workplaces, as well as test and measurement laboratories, clean rooms and environmental chambers, and an auditorium for seminars and training events, the Center brings together PI’s development teams into one shared space to promote interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration in a creative workspace.

Indianola Municipal Utilities is located in Indianola, Iowa and provides the city with electric, water and network services. The Indianola community has enjoyed the benefits of a locally owned, not-for-profit utility since 1890.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation This article discusses how automated guided vehicles have advanced from simple materials handlers to intelligent autonomous robots.

This partnership is intended to allow IVD manufacturers around the globe the opportunity to integrate their test kit assembly and packaging processes.

A transfer function is a mathematical representation of the relationship between the input and output of a system.

By Antony Bourne, IFS In the recent Digital Change Survey commissioned by IFS covering 750 professionals across a range of industries, 80% saw themselves as ‘enabled’, ‘enhanced’ or ‘optimized’ to leverage DT. Even more impressively, 89% said they had ‘advantageous’ or ‘adequate’ funding in place for digital projects—a clear acknowledgment that the time of disruptive technologies is here, and that the vast majority of firms are realizing that they need to invest. But why are businesses investing?

By signing on to this commitment, Rockwell Automation is pledging to take action to cultivate a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, and where employees feel encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion topics.

By Robert Glass, ABB As food manufacturing plants become more connected through the Industrial Internt of Things (IIoT), the threat of cyber-attacks and how much damage they can do, has increased. This article offers advice on how to ensure your manufacturing process is kept secure.

The training course is for Steam Plant Operations, Steam Plant Maintenance Personnel, Steam Plant Supervisors/Managers, Facility Operations/Maintenance Personnel and anyone associated with energy conversion.

ASCO’s Rapid Engineered Solutions are intended for OEMs designing clinical diagnostic instruments, bioinstrumentation, chromatography, hospital and dental equipment, industrial analyzers, patient monitoring, and surgical and oxygen therapy instrumentation.

H2+FC NORTH AMERICA, organized by Hannover Fairs USA (HFUSA), the U.S. subsidiary of German-based energy and industrial technology event organizer Deutsche Messe, will be staged alongside Solar Power International (SPI 2017) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas from September 10-13, 2017.

The Asian market is seen as being particularly important for European companies looking to expand globally, as it is estimated that approximately half the global spending on automation takes place there.

dormakaba, at its production site in Ennepetal in Germany, was looking for some support for the annual inventory and found the electronical component counting system XRHCount from VisiConsult.

The specification “PLCopen Safe Motion” version 1.0 – official release – is now available on the PLCopen website for downloading. This new solution is based on an existing functionality as already specified in PLCopen Safety: SF_SafetyRequest.

By Zach Arnold, Arnold Machine Material handling conveyors are often a key element of automated manufacturing systems. They safely and efficiently transfer parts across the warehouse floor from station to station or even through other automated systems.

The membership allows ATEK Access Technologies to play a role in developing requirements for standards, best practices and processes of the Industrial Internet.

Connected manufacturing gives everyone in the organization a voice, from the shop-floor employees to the CEO.

Elevation to the distinguished grade of ISA Fellow is granted to Senior Members in recognition of their exceptional engineering scientific contributions to the field of automation.

The technology gives GLBC greater insight into the health of its beer-brewing machinery to help increase efficiency, improve quality and minimize downtime.

The Norwegian enterprise holds the rights to FluidCom, a chemical injection metering valve (CIMV). FluidCom prevents blockages and corrosion in oil wells, pipelines, and other facilities and employs a patented technology for thermal control.

The business will be integrated into Honeywell’s Industrial Cyber Security group and will strengthen Honeywell’s capability to offer multi-vendor, multi-site secure remote access, monitoring and support to protect industrial control systems and critical infrastructure against a growing threat of cyber attacks.

By Marianne Williams, Emerson This article explains how the latest generation of vibrating fork level switches feature increased health monitoring functionality, which enables maintenance to be planned and process availability to be increased

The “Threebots” (Three Robots) project is part of Mitsubishi Electric’s brand and product presentation and has been developed and realized by Elastique, Agency for Brand Communication, Cologne.

By introducing change management and version control software from M.A.C. Solutions for more than 400 of its programmable devices (PLCs and HMIs) at its facility in Oxfordshire, Diamond Light Source intends to minimize the risk of machine downtime caused by PLC back-up or software code errors

A part of PSE&G’s Energy Strong program, this project has been implemented to increase the resiliency of the company’s electric delivery system and to improve the overall system performance, availability, situational awareness, and security of PSE&G’s distribution operations.

Beyond Security offered a challenge to hack the D-link router (AC1200 / DIR-850L), with successful attempts to win prizes of up to $5000.

The Chess Master project was designed to research, develop, test, and commercialize a security validation and policy enforcement application that connects into a flow controller that manages all field networks centrally.

A modern approach to industrial control system cybersecurity is to ensure that it is built in or secure by design.

This certification, from Great Place to Work Canada, is based on direct feedback from employees, provided as part of an extensive and anonymous survey about the Electromate workplace experience.

iReturn is a 12-week "returnship" program that prepares candidates who have taken a career break of two or more years for a full-time career in one of several fields at Northrop Grumman through training, professional development and networking opportunities.

According to a new report published by Dell Technologies and the Institute for the Future (IFTF), emerging technologies such as IoT, along with massive advancements in software, big data and processing power, will reshape society.

Polytron Devices will now operate as a division of Daburn Electronics and will be moving its manufacturing and sales operations to Daburn’s headquarters in Dover, N.J.

Orifice plates are in a straight run of smooth pipe away from valves and fittings so they do not interfere with the restrictor and readings.

By Ian Humphries, Boulting Group Research conducted by the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) shows that just six per cent of the engineering workforce in the UK is female, making the country one of the smallest employers of female engineering professionals in Europe. This article explores the pathways into the sector and how it is evolving.

In a new paper published in the journal Nature, scientists based in Scotland and Switzerland describe how they have used tomography and high energy x-rays, combined with a novel reconstruction algorithm, to peer inside and reconstruct the magnetic structure of a micrometer-sized 'pillar' of gadolinium-cobalt magnetic material for the first time.

This new office will help support the company’s growth strategy. A recent surge in engineering activity throughout the Midwest region has accelerated the company’s expansion to meet resource requirements.

By Michael LaGrega, Siemens Data gathered by RFID readers can be a critical element in a corporation’s plans to gain increased visibility and understanding of parts, materials and other moveable assets. All of this valuable information can be integrated more easily when standards like OPC-UA with its AutoID companion are employed.

This specification describes the mapping of the Sercos device model and the Sercos device profiles to OPC UA, so that functions and parameters of Sercos devices are made accessible via OPC UA in a vendor-independent manner.

This white paper is designed to help small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) recognize their vulnerability to industrial cyberattack and forge an effective cybersecurity plan based on established standards and practices.

Alongside their optimism toward automation, workers also report a willingness to retrain or upskill to maintain their current job status. In fact, the study found half of the respondents (51%) agreed they would be happy to retrain if they were being paid the same or more than their current salary.

CyberX’s ICS Attack Vector Prediction technology generates a visual representation of all possible attack chains — ranked by risk — that can compromise critical OT assets, such as robotics machinery in manufacturing plants and circuit breakers in electrical substations

Running the length of CeMAT from 23 to 27 April 2018, this special showcase will consist of some 30 exhibitors showcasing the latest technology involving goods transport, incoming goods, production, warehousing, order picking, packing and outgoing goods.

In order to meet the needs of Asian electronics manufacturers and strengthen partnerships with them, Rehm Thermal Systems has recently set up a new branch in Taiwan.

Key success factors for process analytical technology are management commitment, a cross-departmental strategy, and assigning appropriate resources.

By Thomas R. Cutler, Manufacturing Media Consortium Until now Pick-to-Light equipment has represented a significant fixed capital expense with little consideration for variable use, often driven by seasonality, warehouse/distribution variance, and project management flux. One company, Texas-based Voodoo Robotics has invented a different model for the new generation of Pick-to-Light.

The 13th Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics and Automation Award (IERA) was presented to the Relay butler robot. Made by Savioke, an American company, the little robot completes deliveries all on its own, for example in hotels, hospitals or logistics centers.

As part of a five year, $15 million roll-out investment in technology, Jesse Garant Metrology Center’s latest expansion includes a more diverse range of advanced imaging systems, including industrial CT systems for inspecting large parts and assemblies.

Great to see all of our friends at the Georgia Association of Water Professionals annual conference in Savannah! Congratulations to the award winners, and well done GAWP staff!

5ME’s multi-patented cryogenic machining process is a technology designed to enable higher metal removal rates and longer tool life by delivering liquid nitrogen at 321°F through the spindle/turret, cutter body, cutting tool, and directly to the cutting edge.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com There is a great deal of hype around IIoT, and much of it may never be realized, but Fluke and their Accelix platform is a real-world solution which may finally deliver the tangible IIoT gains that companies have been yearning for.

The concurrent staging of CeMAT and HANNOVER MESSE next year will draw more than 220,000 decision-makers to Hannover, anxious to see the potential of integrated logistics and Industry 4.0 concepts for their enterprises, helping drive new solutions and business models.

Flow measurement and instrumentation are critical components for making usage visible to manage sustainable processes and operations.

By Jeff Miller, Optical Cable Corporation (OCC) Fiber optic cabling upgrade helps fend off lightning strikes, gnawing animals, environmental toxins, and other threats that can interrupt critical communications and control. Concerns of this kind recently drove the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant to upgrade from PE-89 outdoor direct burial copper cable to fiber optic cable.

The contest was aimed at engineers, makers and students and challenged them to come up with innovative applications and solutions based on the open and flexible IoT gateway, which is manufactured by Siemens. The winning design came from Belgium and was for a rolling material monitoring system.

The growing demand for 3D-printed parts is reflected in both toolcraft's need to expand its machine park and to construct its own laser melting centre. The centre will include a staff restaurant, which will not only fuel the company's employees, but will provide them with a place to meet and hold events.

Certain types of fuses have a very high speed of response to over currents. They provide excellent short-circuit component protection.

A platform that operates below an application's surface, Coleman mines data and uses machine learning to improve processes such as inventory management, transportation routing, and predictive maintenance

Learn the 10 most important factors to consider when using a non-contact displacement measurement sensor.

By Andrew McIntyre, Texas Instruments At the core of Industry 4.0 is the need for reliable communication networks. These networks are closely tied to real-time operational needs; therefore, they must be able to handle information in a deterministic and redundant manner.

To date, Northrop Grumman has mentored 28 HIP students from the Albemarle County/Charlottesville city area, and has pledged more than $780,000 in scholarship money for the HIP and Engineering Scholars programs.

Prime Vision, a solutions provider for the postal, parcel, logistics and airport markets and Unmanned Life, an AI driven software platform to manage autonomous drone fleets for commercial use, are collaborating to develop this pioneering solution for the broader mail and parcel industry.

The roughly 3,000-square-meter facility houses a calibration center for flow, level, pressure and liquid analysis instruments, in addition to training rooms and an auditorium that provide ample space for hands-on customer training.

By Tom Bass, Emerson Automation Solutions Pumps in remote locations can be monitored with wireless transmitters in a cost-effective manner to improve uptime, avoid incidents and increase reliability.

Perhaps no other new technology comes with more promise to manufacturing executives than big data analytics for manufacturing and the process industries.

The Calibration Handbook of Measuring Instruments by Alessandro Brunelli, an expert in the measurement and automation of industrial processes, helps guide and manage industrial process measurement

Incorporating QTC force-sensing technology into a remote control is intended to improve the experience of using capacitive buttons, touchpads or directional pads, by requiring a press-with-force to send commands to the receiver.

The global market for machine vision technology is expected to witness a stable 8.40% CAGR from 2015 to 2021. Considering this growth rate, the market is expected to tough a high of US$28.5 bn by the end of 2021 from a valuation of US$15.7 bn in 2014.

The headquarters of the combined organization, which will take the name of CORYS SAS, will be in Grenoble, France, where both companies are based.

The LANTMA Foundation has recently been formed to provide financial assistance to students learning the skills needed to join America’s manufacturing workforce. The all-volunteer organization was started by three local business leaders to address the chronic shortage of qualified entry-level candidates in the manufacturing industry.

By Jerry Browning, IFS in North America This article explains how executives at asset-intensive organizations can harness the power of enterprise software to evolve their organizations, adapt to change and take advantage of new revenue opportunities.

Available under the product name ezCAL, the application is designed to enable radiologists with an enhanced display to accurately interpret images. WIDE ezCAL is also backwards-compatible and available for use with existing WIDE displays.

The objective of the channel is to provide primary school aged children with the chance to engage with real engineering projects. Each month, children submit their ideas for inventions to solve a different challenge. One idea is then chosen, built and tested on camera.

By Galina Antova, Claroty We cannot afford to rely on the same (sub)standard we used in IT security over the past 10 years. We have to act ahead of the threat – we have to do something now.

May orders were up 3.1 percent over April, and 21.8 percent over May 2016. Automotive customers made some significant orders in the month, and continued investment from machine shops indicates that manufacturers are seeking additional capacity.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com EPLAN's integration with the Siemens TIA portal is intended to enable engineering data to be exchanged bidirectionally between the worlds of electrical engineering and automation engineering.

The new employees will be focused on their onboarding and training to ensure success for Seeq and their customers across the process manufacturing verticals.

Monitoring and data acquisition products for the manufacturing industry are already a key part of Kistler’s portfolio of integrated quality assurance solutions. The acquisition of IOS’ MES software is designed to take Kistler to the next level.

For on-site & off-site analysis, industrial IoT delivers data to the right personnel without requiring connection to the plant’s real-time control system.

The goal of the conference, which took place on 28th June 2017 at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham,was to expand the horizons for OPC users and systems integrators by improving their knowledge and understanding of OPC technologies, as well as giving attendees an opportunity to view real-world demonstrations of cutting-edge applications for OPC and industrial data

By Dr David Pugh, IDTechEx The new report from IDTechEx Research, Low Power Wireless Networks 2017-2027, gives an independent and comprehensive analysis of the wireless networking ecosystem covering a range of technologies, using both licensed and unlicensed spectrum to communicate.

The integration of the Mek SpectorBOX with Haprotec’s automated production lines is designed to raise the quality and capabilities of Automated Assembly lines with AOI for THT.

In addition to RMR Enclosures, AmerisourceBergen also deployed CPI eConnect Monitored Power Distribution Units (PDUs), cable management and thermal management accessories.

ISA members can make a difference everyday, improving the Society and helping shape its future.

An orifice plate inserted in the line causes an increase in flow velocity and a corresponding decrease in pressure.

By Greg Scheu, ABB Innovation can be disruptive. History shows us that, in the face of major disruption, the winners embrace change and adapt. We now stand at a new crossroads. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has brought artificial intelligence, cloud computing and predictive analytics to the workplace

The move places custom services within a few miles of the parts and logistics resources of the Festo North American Regional Service Center. The new Customer Solutions Center will provide customized products to the company’s North American customers.

Following the acquisition of KEONYS S.A.S., the French market leader for Dassault Systèmes-based SIMULIA solutions, CENIT is leveraging its stake in SynOpt GmbH to further expand its position in the growing simulation market.

By Marty Edwards – Managing Director, Automation Federation With the ever-increasing drumbeat of cyber-attack pounding louder and louder in the background, organizations utilizing automation systems of any kind need to take proactive, defensive steps immediately to avoid significant business disruption and lost revenue.

How you can prevent and prepare for the next inevitable cybersecurity incident.

With Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure architecture, WaterForce developed a cloud-based IIoT solution so farmers can monitor and control irrigation pumps and pivots from their computer, tablet or smartphone.

By Martin Raab, Endress+Hauser Cotter Brothers generates one-third of its revenues with global customers, an area of the business that Randy Cotter Jr. wants to develop further. Many of their custom skid systems are equipped with measurement technology from Endress+Hauser.

Acting as a branch office, this Seattle facility is designed to enhance Weintek’s HMI position in North America. Weintek is an HMI manufacturer and is dedicated to development, design and manufacturing of HMIs

The focus of the partnership will be on streamlining the provisioning and subscription management process for next generation Cat-M and NB-IoT connectivity.

Dietmar Harting joined his parents’ company on 1 July 1967 - right after graduating. Now 77 years old, he can look back after fifty years in the service of the company, in the industry, the local region and beyond.

The report highlights a number of challenges and suggests that more technical security testing has a significant role to play in ensuring higher levels of security assurance are met.

By Alberto Martinez, Lantek Digital technologies are helping companies connect their factories worldwide. Applying new innovations to a global team requires new or revamped processes that translate across cultures.

As manufacturing marches on, automation professionals find themselves in the best position to improve the industry.

The Swiss company Safe Host has built a new data center in Gland and it is the country’s largest carrier-neutral colocation facility with 14,400 m2 capacity. The data center must have the ability to continuously operate at all times, even during primary power outages.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation Most small and medium sized businesses don’t have a robotics programmer on staff. However, by learning the three main methods of programming — teach, lead and offline — they can prepare for the introduction of almost any type of robotics technology. This article explores the three main methods of robot programming.

This certification, which Bedrock Automation has also achieved on its flagship BedrockT control system, means Bedrock users now have maximal assurance of process continuity during an EMP event.

The study surveyed 200 industrial users of enterprise resource planning, field service management, enterprise asset management and other types of enterprise software.

To achieve more precision special programming or a specialized version of Modus is necessary.

Manufacturers who are thinking about adding a robot to their production floor will have a clear view of what’s available. Those who plan on expanding automation in their factory will see which model would fit best.

Video help has been incorporated into the instruction set of Do-more! Designer. Over 50 instructional videos are currently available with new ones being added as they become available.

The turnkey project is based on Kamstrup’s Smart Grid platform OMNIA and includes one million smart electricity meters and remote reading system, integration to various other systems, project management, installation of meters and infrastructure, consumer support and full system operation until 2034.

Cimcorp will supply automated handling systems based on its ‘Dream Factory’ solution for both upstream and downstream manufacturing processes at the Sétif plant.

By Aniket Maindarkar, Infosys The food and farming industries are embracing technological solutions that support sustainable farming and processing. When done well, these innovations can cut costs, promote efficiency, and increase consumer trust by providing transparency into the food supply chain.

ASHRAE’s new president is Bjarne W. Olesen, Ph.D., Fellow ASHRAE. ASHRAE introduced its 2017-2018 president, executive committee officers and directors during its Annual Conference in Long Beach, Calif., which was held June 24-28.

Uncertainty related to a measurement is a fundamental concept. You should not make measurements unless you are aware of the related uncertainty.