Articles and News

By Ashley Little, DO Supply, Inc. Rather than working in a caged off area, cobots are designed to collaborate with human workers and enhance the production teams’ capabilities rather than replace them.

Finland-based Orfer Oy needed to automate to speed up its packaging operations. With this in mind, Orfer standardized on the Toshiba Machine TH650A high-speed SCARA robot for the BoxCellPlus.

Customization of products that deviate from vendor and industry standards leads to a number of problems on projects. Engineering and as-built documentation costs can increase because of the deviation

The mission was to drive scrap down from the historical 10 percent autoclave levels down to below 4 percent. Plasan Carbon Composites implemented the FactoryTalk Historian Site Edition (SE) and FactoryTalk VantagePoint EMI enterprise manufacturing intelligence software from Rockwell Automation

By Robert Glass, ABB It’s widely understood that improving the efficiency of equipment and processes will make a business more competitive and reduce operational costs. This article explains how to reduce sugar plant carbon emissions.

If a pressure sensor/transmitter is giving a non-linear response, replacement of the sensor and/or the transmitter will be required.

Heath Ceramics needed a wireless temperature monitoring system to collect data during the kiln process and to help establish a temperature profile for future runs. This product quality solution also had to feature multiple inputs for temperature sensors, along with professional software to analyze results.

These sessions will be held on the Tuesday – the EXPO set-up day. At the exhibit itself, CAMI will have hands-on exhibits for visitors to experience CableEye.

About 225 jobs at Protolabs’ Plymouth, Minn. plant will relocate to the Brooklyn Park building, enabling the company to expand the injection molding capacity in the Plymouth facility to support increased customer demands. The new Brooklyn Park plant is scheduled to become fully operational by the end of 2018.

OmniSOC is a pioneering initiative of these Big Ten Academic Alliance universities with a goal to help higher education institutions reduce the time from first awareness of a cybersecurity threat anywhere to mitigation everywhere for members.

By Molly Bakewell Chamberlin, Embassy Global LLC (with Jim Lally, PCB Group, Inc.) I, like many, remain truly grateful for the selfless and meaningful contributions of Bob Lally to my early professional development, particularly in my technical article work. It is an honor to tell his story.

Turck’s production facility in Mexico has nearly doubled, as 65,000 square feet were added. Six new work cells and new equipment will help to accelerate the manufacturing of customer orders. In the U.S., Turck has added 38,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space near its Plymouth, Minnesota, headquarters.

Discussions during the one-day conference on Wednesday, September 12 will focus on cybersecurity, maintenance and robotics. GAMS kicks off with a networking luncheon and keynote address followed by four educational sessions led by top industry experts.

The IIoT essentially involves acquiring data from hundreds—if not thousands—of process and equipment sensors, and transmitting the data to central locations via wireless or hardwired networks. Once ac

Unity Scientific was recognized outstanding achievement in the Engineering and Production Technology Leadership category, for applying 3D printing and electronic alignment technologies in the manufacturing process.

By Jonathan Wilkins, Marketing Director, EU Automation Digital, internet-connected devices mean that consumers can dictate exactly what they want — more customisable products. As manufacturers invest in more sophisticated automation and modernise processes, they can begin to offer these products to customers.

The STAAR summer camp is an immersive, week-long residential programme for Year 10 students who demonstrate an interest in, or aptitude for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

By Bob McIlvride, Director, Communications, Skkynet Cloud Systems In the rapidly-evolving space of Industrial IoT (IIoT), we are seeing some growth in understanding about what makes a good IIoT protocol. For IIoT to work well, the tools you employ must suit the unique requirements.

ABB announced a new Collaborative Operations Center in Västerås, Sweden, intended to help provide predictive analytics and Key Performance Indicators to improve customer processes.

Mission-critical specialists are in-demand in a variety of critical infrastructure areas, focused on events that could result in serious consequences, such as loss of life, harm to the environment or

Integrating the usability and familiarity of this Windows OS with ARM CPUs gives developers more options and it also brings Microsoft computing to the low power consumption, mobile market.

The yacht, called the Mini 650, is the project of two Italian boat builders, Francesco Belvisi and Daniele Cevola. They are building it for the 2019 solo transatlantic yacht race, called the Mini-Transat, which starts in France and ends in Brazil.

The shaft speed of a motor is directly proportional to the frequency and is inversely proportional to the number of poles.

Funded by a €1.8 million grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, the project will develop a miniature, trustworthy collision detection sensor system that could drastically improve the safety of autonomous vehicles.

By Michael Risse, Seeq Corporation Time series data storage and management has long been an interesting—if quiet—market category. With multibillion-dollar markets at stake, industry heavyweights are vying for position in a once-quiet category.

ISA provides members with opportunities to gain knowledge, skills, leadership development, and friendship. There are also opportunities to give back, through collaboration, mentorship, volunteerism, s

This will serve as the company’s technology showcase, including engineering and assembly of the Autocraft Autonomous Guided Vehicles, as well as an additive manufacturing (3D printing) laboratory.

The conference program incorporates the critical insights of experts who will deliver peer-reviewed technical papers; provide important technical updates; highlight trends and innovations; and review best practices and success stories in the process analytical arena.

Digitalization, IIoT and the smart factory will usher greater operational intelligence, more efficient production, and safer work environments.Smart sensors, ubiquitous connectivity, and remote access

From April 23-27, 2018, HANNOVER MESSE and CeMAT will run concurrently with a particular emphasis on integration in supply chain and manufacturing. The theme -'Integrated Industry – Connect & Collaborate' - encompasses the range of Industry 4.0 technology, thinking, and creative applications

By John Mitchell, CP Automation European manufacturers are estimated to spend over €400 Billion every year on maintenance activities. This article discusses the issues that stop manufacturers cutting costs and improving productivity – the essence of lean manufacturing.

Doxel AI construction systems take a holistic view of every project, tying together existing tools in AI, robotics and LIDAR imaging.

A boiler-turbine unit in coal-fired power plants is used to convert fuel chemical energy into mechanical energy & then into electrical energy.

By Ingemar Serneby, Emerson Automation Solutions In recent years, industrial automation companies have made enormous advancements by incorporating processors into control devices, instrumentation and networking components. But an instrumentation engineer may feel perplexed when looking at all the options for something as basic as a differential pressure transmitter.

Based on Industry 4.0 concepts, this technology runs in an XMPP server cloud and compiles IEC 61850-8-2 XMPP and IEC 61850-7-420 protocols for DER (Distributed Energy Resource) via a plug & play gateway.

Siemens, and the eight founding Charter of Trust members, welcomed The AES Corporation, Atos and Enel to its global cybersecurity initiative at the 2018 CERAWeek conference in Houston, TX.

The OTTO Industrial API connects self-driving vehicles to existing automation systems and processes, providing integration of OTTO with standardized integrations with industry-standard software and protocols.

A tank level is measured using a differential pressure transmitter (DPT-1) and a bubbler tube. The tank is vented to atmosphere.

The Capital Grid project was initiated to replace aging grid infrastructure and increase transmission capacity in the District of Columbia and Maryland, to address current and future energy needs.

Nozomi Networks’ end-to-end platform is designed for ICS cybersecurity. Capabilities include real-time ICS monitoring, industrial network visualization, hybrid ICS threat and anomaly detection, asset inventory and vulnerability assessment, all delivered through a single solution.

This guide covers general-purpose synchronous motors without excited rotor windings, and provides design metrics for polyphase alternating-current permanent magnet motors rated 500 horsepower and less.

The course “Consulting Engineering Essentials” taking place on March 29 in New Orleans, provides an overview of ownership responsibilities and offers insights to help develop project engineers into well-rounded consulting engineers.

Kuehne + Nagel will deploy Honeywell's supply chain technology solutions globally at its warehouses, including voice-directed solutions, cloud-based software and warehouse automation solutions.

The combination of Siemens industrial experience and Secure-NOK’s technology is intended to offer a flexible solution for infrastructure in industries such as Power Utilities, Oil &Gas installations, Transportation Systems and others with a growing need to protect against cyber threats.

The Endress+Hauser product portfolio of electromagnetic flowmeters is designed for precise measurement of volume flow without restricting production flow rates or causing any pressure drop.

ABB will partner with the communities of Deering and Buckland to install modular “plug-and-play” microgrids that will leverage ABB Ability Microgrid Plus automation system and PowerStore storage technology, to maximize the adoption of wind power.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation For manufacturers, a world without unplanned downtime would be the perfect utopia. The question is, is abolishing unplanned downtime a far-fetched dream, or is it closer than we think? This article shares a vision for a downtime free age.

Loss of a fraction of a percent of line flow rate can be detected and located within meters in a very short period of time.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com HARTING has been expanding into edge computing for Industry 4.0 and IoT applications. 2018 for HARTING will see an enhanced focus on digitalization, education and edge computing.

By Stefan Hoppe, OPC Foundation The Industrial Internet of Things – abbreviated to IIoT and known in Germany as Industrie 4.0 – is a technology trend that is the enabler of the 4th industrial revolution, and is bringing about a transformation in the way we do business.

WoMaster held Cyber Security training for its partners to demonstrate how they can provide a complete protection of IIoT network according to ISASecure - IEC 62443-4-2 from currently existing threats

Art in STEM is absolutely necessary for automation professionals to better appreciate process and better visualize what the future holds.

The CMS Certification Committee will offer a pilot examination for the industry's first Level-One Certification for coordinate measuring machines (CMM) operators. The Coordinate Metrology Society will also offer a pilot assessment for a CMS Level-Two Certification program for 3D Scanner users during their upcoming conference.

The project is backed by Future French Champions, the partnership between CDC International Capital and Qatar Investment Authority, which will own 32% of B2A Technology’s share capital alongside key executives, managers and employees.

The larger facility offers more than 15,000 square feet of space. SignalFire expects to operate with full functionality in its new corporate headquarters by the end of March 2018.

The integration of KNX into CODESYS will be presented for the first time at "light+building" in 2018. The product offer consists of a configurator for I/O channels, a KNXnet/IP protocol stack in the form of a runtime system component, and a data exchange function with the ETS5 configuration system.

With the 3rd edition of the IEC 61131-3 standard and some additional wishes from the implementers, an update was needed. The final version 1.01 will have the major changes in Table 26 – Mapping IEC 61131-3 elementary datatypes to OPC UA built in datatypes, which in addition contains a new column with a NodeID for each type , and in Table 39 – Numeric Identifiers for IEC 61131-3 defined nodes.

The Vršany Lom open-pit quarry covers an enormous area and mining takes place at several locations simultaneously. The entire network is now running entirely on Westermo WeOS-powered devices, consisting of 60 Westermo Lynx switches and 40 Wolverine Ethernet extenders.

From February 19-22, 2018, in San Antonio, Texas, approximately 130 people gathered for four days of product presentations, emerging technology discussions and a market trend outlook at the Siemens Factory Automation SCADA/IPC Days 2018.

The ICS Village is a traveling interactive experience that showcases ICS technologies and highlights the security controls that enable them to power the secure operations of chemical processing plants, pulp and paper manufacturing facilities, power generation systems, oil and gas processing, telecommunications networks and other elements of critical infrastructure.

A Type X pressurization system reduces the classification within the enclosure from Division 1 to nonhazardous and, therefore, permits the use of ignition-capable equipment inside the enclosure.

Commenting on the Lebanon, Ohio facility, Thorsten Julich noted the in-house development of Siemens IPC technology for this market segment will include both software and motherboard manufacturing.

The CNC Quick Tip videos provide answers to frequently asked questions about various CNC functions. The first videos in the series address the layout of Mitsubishi controls, customizing counters on the monitor page, and performing a program search using an SD card, memory or HDD.

The combination brings together AVEVA’s design, engineering and construction capabilities with Schneider Electric’s industrial software business, which ranges from simulation through to real-time manufacturing operations management.

With this new certification, EDC has established itself as a strategic solution partner and system integrator focused on helping manufacturers with obsolete drive and control technology to automate manual processes and upgrade aging equipment.

As part of a commitment to provide trained engineers who understand the complex process environment, NovaTech has sought to coordinate with the IPE Program at USC Aiken.

As part of an initiative to integrate more renewable sources into its energy mix, JPS has incorporated about 160 MW of renewable energy into the power grid, accounting for about one quarter of its total generation capacity.

Sotzing has primary responsibility for ensuring the development and deployment of the company’s Sea Machines 300 technology system, as well as managing the engineering team.

ASHRAE Standard 223P: "Designation and Classification of Semantic Tags for Building Data” provides a dictionary of semantic tags for descriptive tagging of building data including building automation and control data along with associated systems.

The old pyramid model of control is being replaced with a new model of zones and intrazone conduits based on ISA and IEC standards.

Working in tandem, Schneider Electric experts helped upgrade Dow Corning’s existing Foxboro I/A Series control system to the EcoStruxure Foxboro DCS in phases, ensuring continuous, transparent operations

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation Robots are rapidly appearing in manufacturing facilities, but are they taking over? This article explains how automation is impacting the US manufacturing workforce.

The U.S. industrial valve industry will see growth of 1.45% in valve shipments in 2018, a rate that brings the value of those shipments up to $4.615 billion for the year. That rate of growth is slightly behind 2017 when it was 1.89%, which translated to shipments worth $4.549 billion.

Together, the combined company intends to offer products that measure position with precisions that will benefit industrial automation, next-generation construction, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities.

RTS will become a wholly owned subsidiary of congatec. The company will continue to operate independently, doing business as it always has, providing it’s software to run on any x86 hardware, but now with worldwide sales and technical support teams ready to support the product.