Articles and News

The first step in improving energy efficiency for machines, process skids & plants is measurement. HMI software measures, manages & optimizes energy use.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Focused on developing a standards-based, open, secure, interoperable process control architecture, the Open Process Automation saw an impressive turnout for this initial meeting with 57 individuals from 30 different organizations attending.

Thinfilm and Prime Vision will leverage Thinfilm’s NFC tags in helping address key postal- and logistics-related needs. Applications will initially target increased mail/parcel security, enhanced e-commerce functionality, and improved consumer communication.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Wonderware/Schneider Electric's Prometheus is configuration and management software for defining HMI and multiple vendor PLC and control code

After considerable research and review, Enable made the decision to consolidate its assets (more than 14,000 gas meters) into a single measurement system and selected FLOWCAL Enterprise as their measurement system of record.

There are suitable programs for different groups of users, from an entry-level course introducing in the work with basic functions of CODESYS V3 ranging to expert workshops covering “CODESYS Soft Motion CNC+Robotics” or “Library development and documentation”.

Information and communication technology (ICT) have become the vital part of social infrastructure. Hence, such system that permits society for better and efficient functioning is needed.

Many temperature applications in the oil and gas industry require specialized instrumentation to make required measurements.

An analog-to-digital converter is a function that converts an analog signal (current, voltage, or electric charge) into digital data (usually binary)

CMPRO was developed by PSA in the 1990s to provide a solution for managing compliance requirements within the aerospace and defense industries.

Preferred Utilities is a source for products and services in the area boiler instrumentation and controls, burners and fuel management systems across North America.

An "Advanced Acoustics" webinar is scheduled for January 12th and will be followed by additional monthly webinars covering a variety of sound and vibration topics.

The survey’s measure of the intensity of change in electroindustry business conditions moved further into positive territory, as the mean rating ticked up an additional one-tenth of a point to +0.4 this month from its previous reading of +0.3 in November.

With facilities located in Wisconsin, Oregon, and Mexico, Milwaukee Electronics designs and manufactures custom circuit board assemblies for the medical, transportation, military, and HVAC industries.

By Anthony Borges, Pinpoint Information Systems The power of an MES System or configurable process control system is now well beyond that of what can be accomplished with PLCs alone.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation While autonomous vehicles are making most of the headlines, some argue collaboration is more vital to industry success than automation. This article looks at some of the most exciting automotive engineering clusters around the world.

To achieve success with the IIoT, industrial businesses and manufacturers must create a long-term vision with an associated value proposition,

Daugherty was instrumental in the establishment of efficiency standards for energy-efficient induction motors, including the passing of the landmark Energy Policy Act of 1992.

In the past year Cypress Ridge sought Exele's help to convert their hardwired TAPI-based telephone alarm notification system to use Voice-Over-IP (VOIP).

Installing a direct mass device in the process control loop offers a number of advantages. It allows the operator to achieve a direct ratio of control between the natural gas, the air and waste gas fuels without any corrections for pressure, temperature or density, which requires extra components and possibly extra offsets and failures.

The agreement will co-locate Industrial Automation, Motion, Drive & Automation, ComVac, parts2clean, and CeMAT trade shows with the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS). The co-located trade shows will take place next year at CMTS from September 25-28, 2017 in Ontario.

Thermowell and temperature processes have multiple interacting thermal lags.

As part of Honeywell's INspire program, the two companies will work to achieve a simple-to-use infrastructure that gives customers secure methods to capture and aggregate data so that it can be leveraged by using analytics

This “design-to-order” tool is intended to simplify the design and assembly of the end-to-end HDC connection.

Caster Concepts relocated production of all Mitchell Golf products from Dayton, Ohio, to its headquarters in Albion. Three of Mitchell's five employees have relocated to Michigan.

The 3D model interface allows for an faceted search so customers can find a solution. Designers can select and configure the exact Miki coupling, brake and clutch solution for a particular application

A PwC study revealed that electronics systems today contribute to more than 90 percent of innovations and new features in modern vehicles.

The assembly plant and office in Huimilpan, in the state of Querétaro, Mexico, is one of five assembly centers of the international NORD DRIVESYSTEMS Group in North America.

Webinar Recording: How to Modernize a Legacy DCS Platform

Westfalia’s automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) can store and retrieve layers and cases (with and without a pallet) from inventory.

By Mufassira Fathima, Allied Analytic LLP The service robotics industry is touted to soon take over from the human work in the next few years. This is due to its increasing adoption by diverse verticals for domestic as well as commercial purposes.

In his new role at MSI, Michael’s responsibilities will include managing the successful rollout and implementation of MSI’s Service Pro software for major accounts, and contributing his valuable expertise as a driver of new product management and product marketing initiatives.

Supported by the team at Werum’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, he will ensure a close connection to local customers delivering customer satisfaction through Werum’s MES solutions.

Using Python programming language, the Roxar API enables operators to integrate their own Intellectual Property into reservoir modeling workflows.

PULS offers a range of power supplies functioning with features that can cope with the requirements for material handling.

When retrofitting an industrial plant, review budget, schedule, financial justification for the project, as well as all areas of concern such as shutdown.

By Molly Connell, TradeMachines Despite its positive effects on the economy, many experts oppose Industry 4.0. This intensive change in manufacturing evoked the fear of massive job loss. How could society coop with such drastic change?

The acquisition of Incus strengthens ams’ position in the market for Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) solutions where ams is currently a supplier of analog ANC to headphone and earphone OEMs.

FLOWCAL Enterprise and TESTit are used to track and manage ALNG’s gas delivery on their extensive pipeline network of over 500km from offshore oil fields to the processing and liquefaction plant in Soyo.

VDMA Robotics Group has two new board members: Dr. Klaus Kluger, Managing Director Europe at Omron Adept Technologies GmbH, Dortmund, and Ralf Winkelmann, Managing Director Sales at Fanuc Deutschland GmbH in Neuhausen a.d.F.

Production at the plant will focus on LUVOCOM high-performance compounds as well as LUVOBATCH additives and masterbatches.

For help with specifying parts, receiving quotes, solving application problems and troubleshooting mechanical issues, igus customers are now able to receive instant feedback from trained igus representatives via online chat.

Sales during the recently ended 2015/16 fiscal year (September 30) rose by 3.4 % to €586 million (previous year: €567 million).

By Lana Ginns, Fluenta With tighter emission regulations, and increased taxation soon to follow, enhanced density monitoring (EDM) can become a vital process to ensure companies are taxed correctly for the gas they are releasing.

MYNAH will now have a Gulf Coast Sales & Service office located within ProSys’ Baton Rouge, LA and Houston, TX offices, as well as a European Sales & Service office located within ProSys’ Hurth, Germany office.

The major components of a control system include a sensor, a controller and a final control element.

The theme of this year’s event, “Get Connected. Put IIoT to Work for You,” included learning sessions about connecting the CNC machine shop floor and using real-time data to empower decision makers.

By Bob McIlvride, Skkynet Cloud Systems Securing an industrial system requires at the very least securing the perimeter against unauthorized access. The challenge is to fully protect the perimeter, and yet still provide access to the data from OPC UA servers inside.

The industrial automation protocols enable integration of Alicat instruments with PLCs running EtherNet/IP or DeviceNet. Alicat controllers monitor and control critical process parameters in chemical, medical, manufacturing and power industries.

This NSERC Industry Research Chair is aimed at developing solutions that will lead to estimation, control and optimization technologies and focuses on the systems that control the oil sands processes

In 2016 ISA continued to build on its efforts, refining objectives and better integrating processes to ensure continuity.

As Vice President of Sales for the EMEA and SAARC regions, Macpherson will oversee customer relationships and business growth. Bruce reports directly to Red Lion President Jack Lee and serves on the company’s leadership team.

In the virtual power plant of the future, the Ovation power plant simulator will run in parallel with the Ovation control system and is designed to minimize risk and improve power plant reliability.

Central Electric Cooperative's DMS includes OSI's.NET-based Graphical User Interface (GUI); Calculation and Scripting Subsystem; Real-time and Historical Trending; Disturbance Data Collection; Data Engineering and Maintenance Subsystem and more.

The integration of IBM technologies aims to ease the use of advanced analytics by providing visualization and dashboards for business customers and analytics tools via APIs (Application Programming Interface) for app-developers and data analysts.

The companies will join forces to pursue the development and marketing of solutions for predictive maintenance, that are based on modular hardware and software and designed to acquire and analyze field data.

We are only now seeing VR and augmented reality (AR) being used in manufacturing environments. This article looks at how AR and VR are changing the world of manufacturing.

It is often a mystery as to how to properly check and calibrate the differential pressure flowmeter meter in the field.

Mr. Lentzkow will be responsible for developing business opportunities for Hilscher’s netIOT Edge Gateways, through partnerships with global Cloud Services companies, large End-User companies, and IT and automation integrators and consultants.

Walter Zulauf has been with Güdel since 1990 and as a close associate of the late Rudolf Güdel he has been strongly involved in all EUnited Robotics activities for many years.

The scalable Nordson ASYMTEK Spectrum S-920N Series is suitable for high-volume production of advanced dispensing processes, including underfill, cavity fill, die attach and encapsulation.

AbraxSys engineers Multi-Touch and Standard Touch projected capacitive touch screen displays for a range of industrial environments and rugged applications including military, industrial, aviation, sun readable and marine.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com For cost and efficiency purposes, most vendors will try to minimize downtime with already existing automation systems and manufacturing equipment, instead of buying new equipment. This may be a prudent decision in some cases but it does beg some questions

The SCADA/EMS system is intended to allow GVEA to fulfill existing needs for Generation and Energy Management, as well as provide a platform that can be adapted to future requirements for Distribution Management

Product Profile of Finders Control Panel Components.

Guided wave radar technology offers key advantages in a wide range of industrial applications.

The HIMA SIL 3 platform combines all safety functions and machinery control, including overspeed trip and anti-surge control and meets all requirements of API 670 5th edition.

John Malinowski, Senior Director of Industry Affairs for Baldor, the ABB Group Company received a MS’16 Award in recognition “for his personal engagement to make IE3 premium efficiency motors the global market standard”

Australian Metals, Mining and Minerals (MMM) company, has selected Schneider Electric’s Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) solution. Schneider Electric provided a solution that has provided improved global visibility and understanding of their Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

Fluenta’s flare gas monitoring systems will be installed at the Petronas refinery and petrochemical integrated development (RAPID) complex in Southeastern Johon, Malaysia.

Knoy will continue to oversee the sales and marketing of the company, in addition to other administrative duties at the Ann Arbor headquarters.

Using the configuration tool, users can build a standard or custom AMAXX power distribution center in less than a minute.

P. J. Hare focuses its development work primarily on hydraulic presses for use in the automotive supply sector. Because customers require traceable quality control, Hare integrates this aspect directly into the production process for its special-purpose machinery with the help of systems from Kistler.

The temperature controller for an exothermic reactor must stay in automatic to prevent a runaway reaction.

Endress+Hauser’s Open Integration Partner Program strives to mitigate risks when commissioning customer plant by ensuring that operators can easily integrate their devices and components into automation systems.