Articles and News

The OPC Technical Advisory Council (TAC) has approved a charter for a new joint working group with PLCopen to create an OPC UA information model corresponding to the IEC-61131 standard.

PLCopen launched the Fluid Power Control Function Blocks technical group at a kickoff meeting June 23, 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany. The initiative will extend PLCopen specifications to include fluid power.

PLCopen member Beckhoff is applying PLCopen standards to wind power applications. Beckhoff controls are being used in the new 2 MW converter from DeWind AG, Germany, also known as the D8. The wind power converters use Beckhoff Industrial PCs, TwinCAT automation software, and Bus Terminal technologies. Dewind wind power experts used the Beckhoff TwinCAT software to develop applications in the IEC 61131-3 open standard software.

PLCopen North America has created a Control Applications Support Group on LinkedIn to help engineers with applications.

Northwest Regional Manager Michelo Santiago's territory now includes the Southwest region.

ABB won orders worth $52 million to provide power products and solutions for a super-critical coal-fired power plant in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Phoenix Contact created Diversenet, a cellular modem package that is easy to set up and deploy.

ThyssenKrupp will use the MEC as an energy saving option for customers purchasing repairs and modernization for elevator and escalator upgrades.

August 12-13, 2009 Philadelphia, PA This seminar gives packaging industry professionals a sound understanding of the science and applications of various packaging materials.

The system controls emergency shut down applications on the platform, located 70 km off the coast of Norway.

ERP will cover formulation, sales, purchasing, production, QC/QA, Material Requirements Planning (MRP), inventory control, lot tracking, reporting, and accounting.

Emerson is now a Promoter level member and the newest member of the ZigBee Alliance Board of Directors.

FieldServer provides interoperability solutions when interfacing to building automation and control networks and devices.

Nol-Tec’s 24/7 Emergency Service provides around the clock support when a machine, process or production line is down.

ASHRAE is introducing its building energy labeling program with release of a prototype label.

Flavio Tolfo, Managing Director for the last three years, will take his retirement as of July 1, 2009. The new managing Director will be Glenn Schulz.

The WTRS Wireless Sensor Network Technology Trends Report projects strong market growth in the smart metering market for ZigBee chipsets over the 2009 to 2014 period.

ABB will provide a 220kV outdoor substation to provide power to the facility and products such as power transformers, medium-voltage drives and a range of medium and low-voltage switchgear.

Expanded testing will help companies eliminate unplanned outages due to electrical failures, reduce maintenance costs, increase system reliability, and improve worker safety

Ethernet Direct data sheet describes an Ethernet solution for modern day industrial applications using hardened Power over Ethernet switches complying with IEEE 802.3af standard. Registration required.

Kepware Technologies has been selected as the device communications provider to AFCON Software and Electronics Ltd.

FSI Technologies has been engineering, manufacturing, and supporting factory automation products since 1959.

FDT has become an International IEC Standard - IEC 62453.

Performance-based agreement covers all maintenance operations at Sappi Cape Kraft Mill

exida certified the design and engineering processes of the Micropack FDS 301Visual Flame Detector.

MOTIONEERING helps machine builders quickly specify the right gearhead to satisfy specific application performance requirements.

ISaGRAF 5 programming software will be used on SIXNET’s IPm2m RTU and Datalogger.

Catalog includes eight product segments detailing SmartMotor specifications, Fieldbus protocols, brake options, connectivity, peripherals, power supplies, Gearheads and software.

Each podcast episode presents guest experts and information to help manufacturers and OEMs understand and apply lean principles and practices in their businesses.

ABB will supply transformers and shunt reactors for projects to interconnect the grids in Brazil's northern and southern regions.