Articles and News

New versions of OPC UA For Devices (DI) and OPC UA For Analyzer Devices (ADI) have been released by the OPC Foundation.

CHARMS marshalling technology was developed initially for offshore platforms, which have space and weight limitations and where last-minute automation design changes routinely result in high costs and expensive delays.

The competition challenges students to design and build a working control system using the company’s Nanoline controller.

AutomationDirect's “PLCs and PACs Simplify Data Acquisition” explains how businesses benefit from the in-depth information that PLCs and PACs can provide on processes, machines and manufacturing operations.

The key to supplier relationship management is selecting the most quantifiable metrics in your specific case. Also take into account how repeatable the results will be, even with changing personnel in

By Daniel L. Fenton, Phoenix Contact It is the author’s opinion that integration of the controls network and the IT network became inevitable when the industry chose to use Ethernet as the medium with which to communicate data. The controls industry may choose to be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern communications era, or it can gracefully embrace the change.

Yokogawa will execute the front end engineering design (FEED) for a project to consolidate the control rooms and systems at its Mizushima-A oil refinery.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The ability to improve manufacturing operations is growing with the application of software that can leverage lower cost computing. More than 30 years ago, ULTRAMAX Corporation commercialized an interesting software product to optimize the operating performance of industrial processes. I recently caught up with the Founder and CEO to learn more about the product and their philosophy and perspective of industrial process optimization.

If a piece of code is to be replicated many times, always have two different people independently test it whenever possible.

Reference book outlines how to establish and manage industrial control groups, and how to initiate and execute industrial control projects.

ISA signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOM) with the China Instrument & Control Society (CIS), the leading academic organization in instrumentation, measurement, control and automation in China.

With the Genetec Security Center, operators can manage common operational pictures on the Barco CMS-powered displays to achieve visual collaboration and boost situational awareness.

Team Viewer allows Cincinnati technicians to view a machine’s PC-based control as though they are right in front of it.

Site covers wire and cable, retractile cords, cable assemblies, connectors, harnesses and contract manufacturing.

Endress+Hauser invests 40 million dollars in new plants in expanding its plants for flow, level and pressure measurement engineering in Greenwood, Indiana.

BEI Sensors’ UL-certified nonincendive Division 2 encoders are now compliant to CENELEC/ATEX and IECEx non-sparking Zone 2 hazardous area standards.

Shane Duffy and David Zaveski earned certification in the rigorous MEF (Metro Ethernet Forum) Carrier Ethernet Certified Professional (MEF-CECP) Program.

Emerson supplied a DeltaV system to manage more than 2900 inputs and outputs, including Rosemount instruments, Micro Motion Coriolis meters, Fisher control valves and regulators, and wireless HART, Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus communications.

Automation Week 2013: most thought-provoking and far-reaching technical program ever

Flowserve will supply a multiphase pump package to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, for its HZ platform (Mumbai High) located off the coast of Mumbai, India.

July U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $159.5 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Solutions Direct will distribute Pfannenberg’s line of audible signaling devices include sounders, horns, sirens, buzzers, and bells.

ABB will provide four dual pinion high-speed ring-geared mill drive systems for the Swakop Uranium Husab mine, in the Erongo region in western-central Namibia.

The PLC Technician II Certificate is a computer-based home study program that enables students to study remotely from home, using a DVD curriculum and a PLC simulator.

Achieving real world benefits with statistical process control

Not enough young people are interested in technology beyond the functionality of their smartphones, and too few know what they are missing by deciding against a career in mechanical engineering. This video might help.

The guide includes both selection criteria and guided workflow steps for choosing the correct Cloud ERP system and supplier.

The Program Committee of the 59th ISA Analysis Division Symposium has issued a Call for Papers inviting abstracts for presentation consideration at the conference, which will be held 4-8 May 2014 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

July U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $351.21 million, down 23.6% from June and down 23.6% when compared with the total of $459.44 million reported for July 2012.

By Thomas R. Cutler Holistic is not the first word that comes to mind regarding automation; neither is order-taker. Yet thousands of interviews over the past twenty years have revealed that many system integrators who provide automation services, particularly in material handling, better match the description of order-takers.

By: Christophe Romatier, Honeywell Process Solutions A centralized remote collaboration center makes the best use of resources by creating a hub where experts from a variety of disciplines can access information, troubleshoot and optimize production facilities—all from a single location.

Johnson has been with Opto 22 since 1994, serving briefly as Network Manager and then as Senior Project Engineer until becoming Engineering Manager in 2011.

The system will be used for grid simulation in the test and certification of PV (photovoltaic) inverters.

B&R servo technology and POWERLINK communication helped Woojin optimize the speed and precision of three different lines of injection molding machines.

REO UK, a manufacturer of resistive and inductive wound components, added a 3D printing machine in its factory in Solingen, Germany, to assist with rapid prototyping.

Roughly half of the 5,000-square-meter floor space is reserved for production and development with 800 square meters set aside for a clean room.

President and CEO, Tony Paine, will speak as an expert on systems communication and industrial automation during two acclaimed energy telecommunications and manufacturing intelligence events this fall.

The office in Singapore will coordinate Omega's business throughout the Southeast Asia region.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Duke Energy, the largest electric power company in the United States, has deployed National Instruments (NI) technology for monitoring, analytics, and diagnostics in their electric utilities in an effort to improve operations and optimize workforce activities.

New Standards and Technologies Streamline Safety Systems

PLCopen formed several working groups for software development, coding conventions, documentation and other functions for IEC 61131-3 and its PLCopen extensions.

PLCopen and Kormocon, the Korean Motion Control Industry Organization based in Seoul, signed an agreement to open a PLCopen office in Korea.

By Chris Hansford, Hansford Sensors Discusses the importance of preserving high levels of performance in automation equipment and how this can be achieved using reliable vibration measurement equipment.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The BAS system was implemented using Beckhoff’s programmable controllers and software based on IEC 61131-3 and a standard library of building automation functions including lighting control, window shade control, climate control, and energy consumption monitoring.

PCT Engineered Systems' (PCT) cooling capacity needed to be increased dramatically to meet business demands and the company was able to quickly and efficiently meet this challenge using Siemens controllers and drives.

The two companies will develop solutions for transmission, distribution and power conversion systems to power and control subsea pumps and gas compressors at depths of 3,000 meters.

Renishaw's Equator programmable gages are being used for measuring and sorting mud-motor bearings.

Conceptual knowledge should be sought to see the commonality in seemingly different industrial application requirements.

LCI-90i-IS Rugged Programmable Controller (RPC) has been awarded Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification for Class I, Division 2, T5, Group A, B, C, and D locations.

Testing Anywhere MOBILE multi-platform test automation app works on Android and iOS.

Barnard comes to PAC from Flowserve where he worked for 7 years as Vice-President of Manufacturing, Vice-President of China Operations, and Vice-President of General Industries and China Sector.

In order to make more users available to Wecon hmi，Wecon has lunched 10.2 inch economic hmi.

Redbusbar supplies LED voltage indicators to major coal port expansion.

By Patty Solberg, Powerit Solutions Utilities are increasingly adopting advanced demand response (DR) programs—and that represents a growing opportunity for energy-intensive businesses to reduce their overall electricity costs while contributing to corporate sustainability efforts. To participate successfully in these programs, energy-intensive businesses must have DR-ready automation.

Bridge Data Manger is being used by the campus to verify that the utility meter data reporting, including the electrical, gas, steam, and chilled water use is performing as the building design intended.

Metso automation systems will be used for the turbine control, sluice gate control, excitation control, vibration monitoring as well as for a power plant/river training simulator.

Temperature controllers from West Control Solutions are being used by Active Magnetic Inspection on two stress relief ovens that each required monitoring of 60 product containers.

University of Utah’s Department of Chemical Engineering has received $108,000 in control system tools and software from Opto 22.

The Power Meter will be a key test tool for Undergraduate and Graduate testing laboratories in the new Electrical and Computer Engineering Building under development.

Frost & Sullivan says the market for European Safety Instrumented Systems earned revenues of $510.1 million in 2012 and estimates this to reach $665.4 million in 2017.

Commonly used in process automation, the ILME rectangular connectors are known for their hi-quality construction and reliable connection.

ARC says mobile devices with customized displays are rapidly making their way into the manufacturing environment and driving CPM-P/MES growth.

Datalogic will acquire the high power pulsed fiber laser assets and technology of Multiwave Photonics, a Portuguese company based in Porto.

The CAN repeaters are offered under HMS’s recently acquired IXXAT brand and enable machine builders and system integrators to use extended CAN topologies including tree or star topologies.

ABB will design, supply, install and commission a new indoor substation to replace a 40-year-old installation in Grajau, near the Maracanã stadium in Brazil.

Rockwell will supply fully integrated safety solutions to Transocean, a provider of offshore contract drilling services for energy companies.

The demonstration center allows Adept customers and integrators to prove out advanced robotic packaging, handling, dispensing or assembling applications in real time.

ODT Global will represent QComp in the Northeastern U.S.

Industrial control systems are increasingly under attack and basic wireless security is inadequate. Government-validated technologies can be used to achieve greater cybersecurity

IWK Verpackungsteckni and OYSTAR IWK USA make tube filling and cartoning machinery for the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.

Emerson will provide PlantWeb, DeltaV digital automation system, DeltaV SIS process safety system, CSI 6500 Machinery Health Monitor, AMS Suite predictive maintenance software, and pressure, temperature, radar level, and vortex flow transmitters.

Now your mobile device can tell you to go maintain and inspect your CNC machines.

Farsens is offering basic and regular sample kits for parties interested in testing their wireless battery free sensor products.

Neo-Dyn brand of pressure and temperature switches has been third-party certified to the functional safety and security standards required by IEC 61508.

By Shaun Luper The stunning and sometimes revolutionary strides made in the consumer and corporate computing industries over the last decade (and more) have Automation clients, customers, and insiders wondering why the evolution of tech in Automation has not paralleled these gains to a greater degree.