Articles and News

Automation.com, August 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor Norm Gilsdorf of Honeywell Process Solutions sits down with our editor, Bill Lydon, to discuss their organizational changes, asset management, PLC competition, wireless, skill crisis, energy and sustainability.

Hummingbird replaced the existing oxygen analyser with the Pm1111E, a compact, fast-response sensor module which utilises a paramagnetic oxygen cell for fast, linear, highly stable and selective response.

Robotiq's Adaptive Gripper has been added as a partner product to Motoman Robotics’ product line

This guidebook is intended to help manufacturers in all segments improve performance by creating better business decisions through alignments between operations to financial results.

The guide provides detailed design guidance, recommendations and best practices to help control-system engineers use EtherNet/IP.

Focusing on Motion Control Technology & Embedded Systems, the library has 10 Teaching Textbooks & Videos.

eSight is a web-based energy management and analysis suite that interfaces with the OptoEMU Sensor.

The HIX HART signal isolator has received General Location and Class I, Division 2 (Non-Incendive) approvals from CSA International in the United States and Canada.

QA Graphics is a factory trained vendor available to provide graphic services for Johnson Controls’ Metasys Graphics+ graphics package

Siemens began production of SINVERT solar inverters at its recently-updated manufacturing plant located in West Chicago, Ill.

Control-See's alarm notification and remote control software - U.C.ME-OPC version 2010 SP5 is now certified.

Stealth will custom build computers for DC input power, multiple expansion slots, RAID, redundancy, NEMA/IP environmental protection, and high shock, temperature, vibration protection.

PROFIdtm software is free and available for download from Softing's web site.

A committee will meet to discuss strategic partnerships and a joint approach to important manufacturing issues, as well as consolidated services.

Canadian native Gary Tootle has joined eLynx Technologies and will be heading the sales/business development office in Calgary.

Honeywell will provide energy management and monitoring solutions which will help the steel mill get long-term cost savings through greater energy efficiency.

EMS is a provider of connectivity solutions for mobile networking, rugged mobile computers and satellite communications.

Survey of the century's most important contributions to the practice of "control."

Workforce development is a major focus for ISA and the Automation Federation.

ISA Announces Human Asset Optimization Track at ISA Automation Week 2011

Automation.com, August 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor Raj Batra and Adreas Aufenanger of Siemens Industry sit down with our editor, Bill Lydon, to discuss Siemens' global realignment, their process industry initiatives, and their vertical market applications focus.

The website provides resources for customers with heating processes in industrial coatings, high-temperature heat treatment, electronics assembly, solar photovoltaic manufacturing, food production and kiln firing.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has deployed an operator training simulator for an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant.

Founded in 1988 and employing a staff of fifty, Sonavation provides advanced non-destructive testing (NDT) services particularly for companies in the oil and gas industry.

The contract includes engineering and delivery of a 28 megawatt GMD system for a 42-foot semiautogenous (SAG) grinding mill.

Emerson will supply $8 million of critical control valves to be used in two AP1000 pressurized water reactors at SCANA Corporation’s Nuclear Generating Station in Jenkinsville, South Carolina.

Prior to joining Intelligrated, Cronin held executive roles in Red Prairie, Manhattan Associates and Seegrid Corporation.

Quadlogic can now offer remote access, monitoring and control of its energy metering technology over Ethernet, dramatically improving communication and reducing support costs for its customers.

Lynxspring will include a pre-installed version of the Module in its JENEsys ProBuilder software for Tridium’s NiagaraAX platform.

Automation.com, August 2011 By Eric Byres This tale doesn’t have princes or frogs in it, but instead it deals with SCADA and industrial control system security. It is the myth of the "air gap" between control systems and the rest of the world. Believing in it leads to a false sense of complacency by both end users and vendors, making it a very dangerous fairy tale indeed.

Automation.com, August 2011 By Joe Ciringione Cable carrier systems not only transport energy, data and media to various types of machines, but also greatly influence energy costs. To keep energy costs low, one important consideration is the amount of pull-push, or driving force, that is required at a given speed to move the cable carrier.

Softing is providing OPC components to ifm electronic to support a Condition Monitoring System for wind turbines.

Advanced Telemetry is a San Diego-based company offering end-to-end wireless and cloud-based energy management solutions for retail and commercial businesses.

Spectris operates across four business segments: Materials Analysis, Test and Measurement, In-line Instrumentation and Industrial Controls. Headquartered in Egham, Surrey, England, the company employs over 6,400 people.

ABB supplied three low speed dual pinion mill drive systems for the startup of a new semiautogenous (SAG) mill and two ball mills.

exida has certified the 705-51A Eclipse Series Level Transmitter as Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3 capable per IEC 61508.

Invensys will provide an InFusion enterprise control system solution encompassing total supply chain management; refinery planning and scheduling; operations management, and more.

Metso will supply its IQ control quality system to Stora Enso Heinola’s Fluting Mill.

The SCADA system will be integrated with Vermont Electric's smart grid technology.

Grizzly will use the PlantPAx and Endress+Hauser instrumentation to help produce more than 5,000 barrels of oil per day at the first phase of its Algar Lake Project.

ISA and O3neida publish Agent-Based Technology Manufacturing Control Systems

Industrial Defender gains rights to the CoreTrace Bouncer 6-based host intrusion prevention system (HIPS).

Website serves people interested in robots and robotics technologies and want to learn about them in a fun, friendly, informative way.

Do you understand suppressed and elevated ranges? Here's an approach with a differential pressure transmitter measuring the level of a tank.

ISA Technical Report Presents Wireless User Requirements for Factory Automation

Model 4500 Mk III opacity measurement and dust compliance system has been verified by TÜV Rheinland to meet the EN 15267 standard for measuring stack emissions and ambient air quality.

VAKUMIX builds mixing and homogenizing systems using Allen-Bradley CompactLogix PAC with Distributed Point-I/O, PowerFlex variable-frequency drives, PanelView Plus HMIs and industrial components.

Automation.com, August 2011 By Brian Oulton, Rockwell Automation Proliferation of process instruments on EtherNet/IP may signal the start of a trend.

ABB’s educational package will give students the opportunity to learn the skills needed to effectively manage modern robotic manufacturing systems.

Metso will supply four IQ systems to replace four aging quality control systems in three separate Sappi paper mills in Europe.