Articles and News

Manufacturing sector in recent years have largely emphasized on the development of the functions and adopting processes that are precise, efficient and safe. Use of robots have become an integral part, particularly in packaging operations at production facilities, on the backdrop of facility operators urge to boost production efficiency.

Under the terms of the agreement, Schneider Electric will implement its Modicon M580 programmable automation controller (ePAC) platform to help the VSFCD continue to improve the quality wastewater and flood control services it provides to the people of the district.

Through Assurance 360, plants have reduced overall incidents by as much as 40 percent, improving uptime and productivity. The program can also help facilities reduce production waste by up to 30 percent, cutting operating expenses and increasing output.

Plant construction and upgrade projects often fall behind schedule, because the people managing them do not know how to keep them moving.

The app is intended for use with SeaI/O Ethernet and wireless I/O modules, as well as Sealevel’s eI/O Ethernet and PoE compact I/O modules.

Microscan, in collaboration with its distribution partner Axis New England, will demonstrate vision-guided robotics using the Universal Robots collaborative UR3 robotic arm and Microscan’s MicroHAWK imaging platform, an Ethernet smart camera, released this summer 2016.

By Jeff Hussey, Tempered Networks Today’s industrial control systems (ICS) represent critical operational assets across many organizations and industries. Connecting and safeguarding these vital networks is critical to improving operational efficiency, while maintaining the safety of our communities and the personnel who work with these ICS systems.

Maket Research Engine added new report "Global IT Robotic Automation Market (RPA Tools and RPA Services) - By Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2022". Also MRE offering 50% discount on this report.

M.A.C. Solutions installed ProcessVue Collector software at both ends of the pipe. The collector has the function of sucking the data out of the local SCADA database.

August 2016 manufacturing technology orders were valued at $336.58 million, compared to $250.40 million in July and $290.29 million in August 2015. Year-to-date orders for 2016 stand at $2,431.93 million, a 12.8 percent decline compared to the same point in 2015.

The event included several popular hands-on activities and games which provided first-hand experience for kids and adults to learn how sensors and automation work to improve manufacturing outcomes

For 2017, the economists are forecasting a 3.6 percent increase in machine tool consumption worldwide. EMO Hannover, from September 18-23, 2017, will host some of the leading machine tool manufacturers in the world.

Soffass produces a range of products including Regina, as well as a wide selection of other products aimed at the global consumer tissue paper market. The company is a long-term user of Control Techniques variable speed drives

By Cory Fogg, Automation.com A future lacking in skilled laborers has been a dark cloud looming ahead of the manufacturing industry for several years now, but some major corporations are already working to alleviate the shortage.

Understanding what influences accurate web tension control & taking correct actions is critical to achieving high product quality and machine performance.

Determining whether to use in-house staff to perform maintenance or to outsource to a contractor is a source of continual headaches for many a company. The decision-making process will come down to three approaches to maintenance management

Nordson ASYMTEK's latest innovation in jetting technology, the IntelliJet Jetting System, expands the capabilities of jet dispensing for manufacturing advanced semiconductor and mobile electronics packages.

As a result of the collaboration, VIMANA will bring an expanded solution set for multivendor and legacy industrial asset connectivity, enriched data, and analytics.

ISA's CAP certification provides a non-biased, third-party, objective assessment and confirmation of an automation professional's skills

Rockwell will host an educational session at their booth on each day of the event. Located in Booth N-4570, Rockwell Automation presentations will focus on track and trace, remote monitoring and smart machines.

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) requires technology that solves the interoperability challenges of device connectivity. Kepware's Connected System Integrators implement and optimize the portfolio of industrial connectivity software developed by Kepware.

Connected into a PE.AMI wireless mesh network, B4-L sensors allow to collect data about parking spaces and elaborate them through an exclusive parking management software, which SPEL implemented for this specific project.

Fahey is CEO of SAGE Automation, a CSIA Certified control system integrator in Melrose Park, Australia. He will finish the term vacated by board member Diane Trentini (Optimation), who resigned as the result of a career change.

The Asia-Pacific market will grow the fastest over the next five years, driven by the Indian and Southeast Asian markets and a recovering Chinese market . The American region is expected to be the second-fastest growing market, with a strong recovery starting in 2017.

Winners are recognized for their editorial contributions to a wide range of ISA publications, including ISA books; InTech, ISA’s bi-monthly magazine for automation and control professionals; and ISA Transactions, ISA’s bi-monthly professional journal dedicated to the science and engineering of measurement and automation.

ABB is shaping and focusing its divisional structure into four divisions: Electrification Products, Robotics and Motion, Industrial Automation and Power Grids, effective January 1, 2017.

By partnering with Dataiku and enabling the Dataiku DSS advanced analytics software platform on CDAP, teams can explore, prototype, build, and deliver their own data-driven solutions, including threat analysis, reporting, and more.

The success of advanced control depends on the basic control system foundation. The PID controller is the common key component of all control loops.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. has acquired systems integrator, MAVERICK Technologies, to expand domain knowledge and help deliver innovative control and information solutions to customers in industries such as chemical, food and beverage, and oil and gas.

Atos prepares to offer ready-made applications as well as all integration, infrastructure and security services necessary to build customer- specific applications on the MindSphere platform.

By Harold Schaevitz, Alliance Sensors This first article, of a three part series, discusses the true cost of the utilization of position sensors and how businesses can evaluate that cost when making long-term strategy decisions

The report provides forecast and analysis for the cyber security market on a global and regional level. The study gives historic data of cyber security industry along with an estimate from the year 2016 to 2021 based on revenue (USD Billion).

Alongside eWON Cosy and Flexy, Netbiter will be one of the three main product lines within the eWON Remote Solutions offering, acquired earlier by HMS Industrial Networks.

DEC will use the new SCADA system to monitor and control all 23 of its distribution substations, 87 feeders in all, as well as radial transmission substations.

The addition of the Point Grey business will augment FLIR’s existing OEM cores and components business by adding a broad range of visible spectrum machine vision cameras and solutions.

A complete new network backbone for power control and distribution as well as an upgraded network backbone for the emergency shutdown system has been built with Westermo switches to support the applications in the Ethylene unit.

By including enterprise software solutions with RFID hardware, Balluff can now extend the reach of that technology from the shop floor to the top floor of an organization.

In a joint white paper to be presented at the Motor Summit 2016 in Zurich on October 11 and 12, NEMA and CEMEP outline an extended product approach that moves beyond single motors, invertors, and controls to include electronic speed controls, power drive systems (PDS), pumps, fans, compressors, and other auxiliary electronics that make up the system.

Development of the Renga design system for AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) will be synchronized with development of solutions from 1c Company for managing and accounting at construction companies, as well as the integration of the two product lines.

Technical discussion of the design of a decentralized switching control for uncertain multivariable plants.

Let’s discuss the IoT based IT Infrastructure management at the conference organized by Rosseti. It will be a great event that will bring together a lot of experts. There will be held a plenary meeting related innovative development prospects in the future 5 years, roundtables and business discussions.

OSI will supply a state-of-the-art SCADA/EMS system that will effectively manage the transmission system for the entirety of the Slovak Republic.

The European Union is currently one of the global frontrunners: 65 percent of countries with an above-average number of industrial robots per 10,000 employees, are located in the EU.

A direct acting valve travels to the closed position when the signal increases. When there is a failure, there is no signal and power.

System Insights provides technology for Smart Factory, Industry 4.0, and IIoT client initiatives. Members of Partners in THINC provide superior technologies that are integrated with Okuma’s CNC machines and controls to deliver advanced manufacturing system solutions.

In his role as MES business unit lead, James will use his background in software development, consultancy and technology implementation to continue to develop Zenith Technologies position in the provision of MES solutions and services to the life science industry.

Nordson was recognized for its willingness to share technical knowledge with others in the electronics manufacturing industry as evidenced by the many papers that have been presented at numerous SMTA conferences.

The eighth such regional facility in the U.S., the Plano facility includes sales offices, engineering labs and training facilities. This 2,600 square-foot office will provide sales and engineering expertise for customers in the south-central United States.

The all-electric ferries operated by Fjord1 will ply the E39 Anda-Lote route on the west coast of Norway. Both will have a cargo capacity of 120 cars, twelve trailers and 349 passengers. Operation on the 2.4 kilometer-long route will start in January 2018.

Service robotics market is driven by increase in investment in research and development and rapid industrialization, Underdeveloped mobile automation is a major opportunities of service robotics market, North America held largest market size for service robotics market

By Bill Lydon, Automation.com The event, a follow-on to the successful 1st End User Industry Day event in June, provided the opportunity for more users to learn about and consider joining the new open process control standards initiative.

Schneider Electric’s Hub Height Wind forecasting capabilities provide wind speeds, wind gusts and wind direction forecasts seven days in advance at different heights of turbines. Turbine-specific forecasts can be generated for any worldwide wind farm location.

A pressing challenge facing manufacturers in the US is the growing skills gap. Experts project that over the next 10 years nearly 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will be needed. However, because of the ongoing shortage of qualified workers, up to 2 million of these jobs may go unfilled.

Country Maid had to add an additional line to help meet demand. They could either replace their mixer with a larger one, which would require expanding their facility to accommodate its size, or they could install a smaller new mixer with the new additional automated line.

By Jim Rock, Seegrid South Carolina is one of leading locations for vision guided vehicles (VGV), driven in part to the increasing North American fork truck free (FTF) initiatives.

The new warehouse is part of a 50 million Euro project that will allow Poco Loco to centralize its storage in one location, giving it even more control over its logistics process.

The report covers forecast and analysis for the home automation market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2014 along with a forecast from 2015 to 2020 based on revenue (USD Million).

The increasing use of mobile devices means industrial marketers must focus on content optimized to be noticed, consumed and acted upon.

The latest version expands plant operators’ ability to monitor and control safe production through direct object linking

The drive system is currently in development on a 60-ton articulated underground haul truck application, yet more than 1000 mining-duty powertrain systems are deployed globally in the open pit mining market which includes all- electric excavators and various haul truck applications.

In this position, Cannon will develop EnOcean's business in the North American market and strengthen the company's position as a supplier of wireless technology for self-powered Internet of Things applications.

CC-Link is a family of open automation network technologies that enable devices from numerous manufacturers to communicate, resulting in a fast, deterministic control system

The applications of embedded systems have increased drastically over the past years, especially in the automotive industry. Multi-core technologies are being appreciated and are now in great demand across various industry verticals. Embedded graphics systems have now become a mainstay in consumer electronics, which is another industry growing at an exceptional rate.

Protected in a rugged aluminum housing with key lock mechanism, three connectors for each panel combined with display port, HDMI, or DVI video input, and adjustable depth for bracket room.

Fluke tools, software and data expertise together with eMaint’s SaaS offering represents a convergence of maintenance solutions to ensure uptime and maximize return on assets for maintenance and operations managers.

For this space mission, a customized BEI Kimco moving magnet VCA was attached to, and will position the moving mirror assembly of the OSIRIS-Rex Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES).

NEMA MG 1 addresses new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) regulations that require motor manufacturers to comply with efficiency targets. The new rule requires most induction motors from 1 to 500 hp to meet the premium efficiency levels appearing in NEMA MG 1.

The five trade shows and corresponding educational conferences organized by HFUSA showcased industrial technology solutions that support Industry 4.0 factory operations and help manufacturers implement equipment with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) capabilities.

Non-destructive test systems are increasingly applied in industry for their strong potentialities in improving and standardizing quality control.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com Cyber protection is certainly a major issue for industry, but a comprehensive security protection program needs to focus on the physical and personnel aspects of protection and detection as well.

The webinar will show how engineers, production managers, and decision makers can rapidly assess the options for adapting an existing line to make a new product, increase production, or optimize a process to reduce costs.

Learn how new technological advances are resolving not only these issues but also allowing for new value to be realized through the digitalization of predictive maintenance as a core part of a Digital Enterprise.

Featuring its PlantPAx platform, Rockwell Automation will demonstrate process and automation solutions for efficient process control, monitoring and management.

The donation of $100,000 in automation hardware and expert training will help support career pathways for high school students in manufacturing and engineering at the THINC College & Career Academy located in LaGrange.

NKT Cables is acquiring ABB’s global high-voltage cable system business with a total value of 836 million euros (US$934 million). The business is part of ABB’s Power Grids division, which is undergoing a strategic review.