Articles and News

For manufacturers, material requirements planning (MRP) software is one of the key elements to running a smooth manufacturing operation.

A consequence of the concept of multiple independent protection suggests minimization of risk occurs when safety instrumented systems are completely independent from process control systems.

The agreement calls for the creation of a global center for the development of scientific research in DTVC.

The facility will bring together academics from different disciplines to explore the full potential of additive manufacturing (AM) for medical devices. The University of Birmingham has several active projects to innovate new medical devices and technologies to assist recovery following disease or injury, covering various clinical remits.

Both companies are to develop an integrated RFID tracking and weighing solution for monitoring containers in Production on the basis of the HARTING MICA (Modular Industry Computing Architecture) Edge Computer.

The disruptive growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and next-generation smart manufacturing, also known as Industry 4.0, is placing demands on designers to develop motion-enabled solutions that are powerful, small, precise and efficient.

By Walter Smith, Sensata Technologies The advent of rare-earth magnets and advanced brushless DC motor (BLDC) motor design has empowered a new range of motors small enough to fit into confined spaces, powerful enough to do real work, and efficient enough to be used in wireless or remote applications.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation Machine safety is of the utmost importance to manufacturers to reduce the risk of accidents and safeguard staff. However, the benefits of a comprehensive safety strategy can extend far beyond this. But how can manufacturers reap the rewards safety brings?

The agreement calls for the creation of a global center for the development of scientific research in DTVC.

This annual award is presented by FieldComm Group to recognize the people, companies and plant sites around the globe that are using the capabilities of FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART and WirelessHART technology in real-time applications for improved operations, maintenance and asset productivity.

EOS expands its portfolio of systems for metal additive manufacturing with the EOS M 300 series. The solution is an automation-ready, future-proof platform that is configurable, scalable, and secure. For this, EOS also trusts in control and drive components from the Siemens Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) portfolio.

As part of a larger infrastructure investment, CP Automation recently installed a Riello 3/1 phase UPS system at 40 kVa at one bustling UK port to improve the duration of its power supply.

This annual award is presented by FieldComm Group to recognize the people, companies and plant sites around the globe that are using the capabilities of FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART and WirelessHART technology in real-time applications for improved operations, maintenance and asset productivity.

For critical industrial measurements, place the thermocouple in a bath or dry block or cross check the reading against another thermocouple.

Purpose-built for Windows and LINUX edge devices using standard industrial protocols, such as MQTT, OPC-UA, OPC-DA and Modbus, Aspen Edge Connect software collects real-time data from multiple assets and pools it together for analysis with edge processing devices.

This work is intended to enable 3D printed, patient-specific implants with controlled time to dissolve eliminating the need for second surgeries and thus also reducing risks, costs and suffering for patients.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Keeping a manufacturing business vital and competitive requires a flow of ideas and creativity of the need to be stimulated with information from outside your organization.

Van der Vaart has over 25 years’ experience in the defense and securities industry, and has served in both operations and business development roles throughout his career.

By Shan Zhan, ABB Control Technologies In summer 2017, 15 EU states, Switzerland and Hong Kong were affected by the Fipronil contamination scandal. This article looks at what the scandal can teach food manufacturers about the importance of traceability processes.

At a time when detecting large industrial pipeline leaks within the same day was challenging, new technology that could detect small leaks and any leak quickly was exciting.

From a controls perspective, the three-pod design meant a complex system was required. The challenge was developing a system to manage the production interfaces alongside all of the sequencing, interlocking, etc. that is required between each of the pods.

ECT was tasked with developing a turbomachinery control system for two trains, each with three parallel compressors. Because the operations will be expected to run continuously for years at a time, a redundant architecture was essential to ensure a backup system would take over and reduce the likelihood of downtime should a failure occur.

The methods taught in the course are based on the IEC 62443-4-1 and IEC 62443-4-2 standards, which represent the expertise of a large group of global experts to reduce cyber vulnerabilities by laying a solid foundation of cyber defense mechanisms for automation system networks.

For a capacitance probe installed in a metal tank, the measured level is proportional to the measured capacitance between the level probe (one capacitor plate) and the tank wall (second capacitor plat

The combination of the AS/RS and layer pick system allows Heaven Hill to convey pallets from palletizing to storage and to truck-staging lanes, thereby streamlining the entire order fulfillment process.

Honeywell has collaborated with the group to deliver numerous projects, providing and implementing automation controls, safety and cybersecurity solutions. It also has recently started to develop business models with the group around its Honeywell Connected Plant solutions.

Honeywell has collaborated with the group to deliver numerous projects, providing and implementing automation controls, safety and cybersecurity solutions. It also has recently started to develop business models with the group around its Honeywell Connected Plant solutions.

Prior to joining Okuma, Cline served as VP of Finance for Source Technologies and Director of Strategic Projects with Compass Group North America.

Participants will have an open and candid discussion with two experts in the machine vision industry -- Raf Vandersmissen, Product Manager at Xenics and Mark Williamson, Managing Director at Stemmer -- and take away ideas for addressing specific imaging challenges, tips on how to employ the new technology, and increase the efficiency of their systems.

LIK is a supplier of automated assembly lines for vehicle components such as automotive seats, braking and safety systems, as well as test stands for electric motors. LIK's customers include many international corporations.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation Industry 4.0 has increased economic and supply chain globalisation, which has in turn created new possibilities for professional collaboration, allowing us to work with others in industry across the globe.

Eplan has been present in China since 2005 and continues to grow, with more than fifty employees in ten offices, including Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Shenzhen.

ABB is supplying the SFC as part of a complete package including a dry-type 11 kilovolt (kV) to 6.6 kV transformer and control equipment to interface with the dockyard’s electrical management system. The project is scheduled for completion in 2019.

To achieve its goals, Henkel created an energy monitoring system leveraging Wonderware, part of AVEVA’s industrial software portfolio. Implemented as a digital, Industrial IoT platform, the company now has greater access to more data to improve operational flexibility and scalability.

Factories of the future will demand advanced circuit protection technology to keep everything connected.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) was envisioned to create single network to meet all requirements including audio, vision, and data with guaranteed speed and determinism for all applications.

These detectors feature Bluetooth wireless technology and can now connect with MSA’s new Apple iOS X/S Connect App along with the previously released Android X/S Connect App.

The seminar provides a step-by-step guide to the key issues around specifying, installing and operating a robot, including how to assess which processes can be automated and how to develop the right solution for specific needs.

Thomas Embla Bonnerud arrives at Zivid from Nordic Semiconductor where he served for more than 17 years, most recently as Director of Strategy and Investor Relations, including the company’s overall product and market strategy.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation Improving facility safety is critical to safeguard staff, but did you know safety can impact productivity and machine effectiveness too? This article will share three tips for machine safety.

Developed in partnership with Quality Digest, publisher of the Journal of the CMSCsince 2006, the periodicalis distributed twice a year in the Autumn and Spring by the Coordinate Metrology Society. Each issue devotes its pages to the finest white papers presented by industry professionals at the annual CMSC.

Improving on what has always been done can only result in incremental improvements at best or continued complications. We have to redefine and transform how we execute automation projects.

By Don Pham, IDEC Smartphone and tablet users prefer apps to browser-based access for everyday tasks, and this preference is spreading to industrial automation.

The Laval office establishes an automation solution center for Beckhoff customers in Quebec, located conveniently within driving distance from downtown Montreal and Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

This year, Rockwell Automation will conduct a series of presentations and demonstrations for end users, machine and equipment builders in packaging and related industries to share the most recent innovations in independent cart technology, analytics and network security.

Automation.com has teamed with some of the leading innovators and providers of manufacturing software in order to deliver this in-depth guide to the variety of software options that drive different aspects of today’s manufacturing operations.

The Purple Robotics dual vacuum gripper can, so to speak, give a robot arm two “hands” and thereby the ability to handle several items simultaneously and solving multiple tasks in one movement.

Periodic visual inspection of orifice plates is required to ensure the integrity of measurement with a digital flow transmitter.

Further, 59 percent cite lack of available resources, and 47 percent claim other business priorities as additional factors holding them back from their digital ambitions.

The cloud-based technology allows Honeywell’s Transportation Systems business to remotely identify, analyze and optimize energy consumption of the overall plant as well as all connected field devices. This is the first deployment of the solution in Asia.

The Siemens Converting Toolbox has separate modules for each of the Siemens product categories typically found on converting machines, including SIMOTION motion controllers, SINAMICS drives and SIMATIC PLCs.

The company outlines the technologies available, and the value in using them, in its new industrial internet of things (IIoT) whitepaper.

The integrated ECU software manages components, such as sensors, brakes, and steering, which are basic driving functions and critical for automated driving.

The integrated ECU software manages components, such as sensors, brakes, and steering, which are basic driving functions and critical for automated driving.

As part of the upgrade, the substation will be equipped with digital technology. ABB will supply protection and control equipment, an ABB Ability MicroSCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system and a digital process bus.

Bartles brings to NTMA almost four decades of experience in the manufacturing sector, most recently as the Director of the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center at the University of New Hampshire.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation Businesses must work to encourage more people into this pipeline but must also ensure they are getting the best out of existing and new staff. This article discusses why employers must upskill both new and experienced staff.

Customers can evolve their SCADA from the previous generations technology to a new environment leveraging the Microsoft .NET Framework, SQL databases, displays and Industry 4.0 concepts, the foundation for FactoryStudio.

Learn important strategies and concepts that can lead to a better industrial career and significantly improved system performance at your plant or facility.

Ramsey, who has been serving as ISA’s Interim Executive Director since January of this year, has more than 25 years of industrial automation experience. She specializes in leadership, change management and strategy development/execution

The HANNOVER MESSE USA event (Sep 10-15) will show how manufacturers, worldwide, are applying new technologies to improve manufacturing productivity and performance.

The guide suggests that building a digital strategy requires preparing and retraining executives, investing in talent, continually exploring the potential of digital, assessing and benchmarking current data architecture, working the data harder and greater collaboration throughout the supply chain.

The awards celebrate manufacturers that make safety an inherent value in their company culture, compliance procedures and use of machine-safety technology.

Okuma and OPEN MIND will collaborate on 4 and 5-axis projects using multi-function mill-turn and hybrid technology on Okuma machine tools.

The two companies have decided to extend their existing agreement, to further develop their joint business cooperation and commercial initiatives.

Decoupling of the stator currents is important for smoother torque response of indirect vector controlled induction motors.

To meet growing demands for increased crop yields, Mosaic needed to add a premium fertilizer product line to its New Wales, Florida, facility. In order to accommodate the new process, the company needed to drastically expand the existing distributed control system (DCS).

This Amazon offering will allow Silicon Designs to distribute MEMS VC accelerometer samples to its customers, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation IHS Markit predicts that there will be around 75.4 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the world by 2025. This article explains how the IoT is impacting consumer-facing businesses and what manufacturers can learn from that.

Deloitte surveyed 193 C-level executives around the globe to identify frontrunner organizations in manufacturing that are leading on the path toward digital maturity and distinctive traits they possessed.

A Coriolis flowmeter develops a flow measurement by measuring the degree of deformation (twisting) of a vibrating tube(s) as the fluid moves through the tube.

By Stefan Reuther, COPA-DATA Research by IndustryWeek shows that equipment failure is the cause of 42 per cent of unplanned downtime. This article explains how to leverage predictive analytics to reduce factory downtime and increase business competitiveness.

This company is using igus components almost exclusively to automate labor-intensive processes in the breeding and growing giant red worms, with the goal of expanding its automated units to support other small businesses who are searching for robotic solutions.

In 2016, the management at Sin Ghee Huat decided to invest in extending its capacity. In its search for a suitable supplier, the choice fell on KASTO Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG

Bass co-founded Ithaca software, which was acquired by Autodesk in 1993. During his 24-year tenure at Autodesk, he served in key roles across the organization, including CEO from 2006 to 2017.