Articles and News

If the information is detailed & useful, an operator will be able to run a control system much more independently & resolve problems without outside help.

Project Gemstone is intended to make the digital fieldbus automation experience easier than conventional analog control systems in every conceivable way, from device setup to device replacement and daily maintenance practices.

Yokogawa will evaluate field wireless technology based on the ISA100.11a1 industrial automation wireless communications standard.

The pressure sensors are serving as components in a wireless remote monitoring system that ensures optimal operations of safety trailers used on remote sites as emergency first aid stations.

Videos on weighing technology for machine and instrument manufacturers show how weighing components can be integrated easily into their devices.

The PowerXpress provides power to 2 wire HART devices from the USB port on a PC.

A joint conference of the International Society of Automation (ISA) and the Machinery Failure Prevention Technology (MFPT) Society attracted more than 200 attendees to Cleveland, Ohio.

Initially developed in order to standardize connectivity among computers, printers, servers and other devices inside a local area network (LAN), IEEE 802.3 was first published as a draft in 1983 and as a standard in 1985.

The 8th Marketing and Sales Summit will be held 11-13 September 2013 at the W New Orleans hotel, just steps from the famed French Quarter.

Lighting Science uses the HandHeld laser scanner from NVision to ensure the dimensional integrity of the extremely complicated castings it purchases and uses in its roadway light emitting diode (LED) fixtures.

Pickering supplied a switching system to collect analog data at speeds involving "10’s of MHz" of bandwidth and a size of up to 104x16. The system uses LXI communications.

Flow Lifecycle Care provides an extensive range of flow service capabilities for the entire range of Emerson flow technology to better respond to global customer requirements.

Process instruments featured in the catalog range from calibration equipment to mixers to pumps.

Progea USA launches FREE SCADA HMI webinar with SCADA HMI and industrial automation software training for Movicon.

The Molecule: Why Professionals Matter Over Equipment

Almost 200 technology providers, systems integrators and end users gathered at Haystack Connect 2013 to exchange knowledge and share experiences about smart building technologies, energy management and operational efficiency solutions.

ANSI/RIA R15.06-2012 standard has been updated for the first time since 1999 and is now harmonized with the International ISO 10218:2011 standard for robot manufacturers and integrators.

Interview with Sam Harkreader, Maintenance/Reliability/Engineering Improvement Lead at the Chocolate Bayou Plant with Ascend Performance Materials

Situated in the Jebel Ali Free Zone, the facility will provide a full range of valve adaptation, retrofitting, site service and asset management activity encompassing electric and fluid power actuators.

The project named “Voie sur Berges,” along the River Seine, supports the management and control of the luminaires in the area.

By Bill Lydon, Editor In February 2013, Schneider Electric announced the PlantStruxure PES (Process Expert System) as, “The innovative Process Automation System that brings together the best from the PLC/SCADA and DCS worlds and combines this with integrated energy management features…” To gain a better understanding, I had the opportunity to ask their Product Marketing Manager some questions about this new offering.

To combat the highly corrosive effects of seawater, Metso will provide valves constructed of SMO254tm austenitic stainless steel, which is highly resistant to the effects of chlorides.

Classes typically are a combination of classroom and hands-on training on either the Endress+Hauser Process Training Unit (PTU), a full-scale, working process skid with on-line instrumentation and controls, or live instruments in training stands, both designed to simulate operating conditions.

World Metrology Day appreciated the scientists in national laboratories throughout the world who dedicate their lives to improving everyone's measurements.

ISA Houston Section Sponsors June Technical Training Camp

Microchip delivered the 12 billionth MCU approximately 10 months after delivering its 11 billionth.

The AMT Sao Paulo Technology Center in Brazil lets AMT members establish operations within Brazil, build relationships and explore the market’s potential.

The Metso DNA automation system lets the Tampere plant operate unmanned with remote monitoring from the main control room of the Lielahti power plant.

Wireless transmitters can rapidly prototype, demonstrate, analyze and justify installations of online diagnostics, metrics and improvements.

There are currently 2172 LXI (LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation) compliant instruments, in 231 different product families, developed by LXI Consortium member companies.

As end users increasingly focus on energy-efficient production, pump manufacturers for the food and beverage industry will need to design cost-effective offerings that support energy optimisation.

This user guide helps an automation engineer uniformly connect and integrate sensors and actuators equipped with an IO-Link interface into a sercos system.

By: Pat Garrehy, Rootstock While analysts project that the adoption rate for Cloud HR is over 60 percent and for Cloud CRM over 75 percent, the present adoption rate of Cloud ERP for manufacturers is less than ten percent. One major obstacle is that the larger ERP vendors are On Premise providers.

Having a hard time finding someone to service your older PLC? Turbocraft can help! We gladly service many types of older PLC's, which many Systems Integrators no longer have software or equipment for.

With TuneWizard, plant facilities in the power and process automation industries can tune their control loops to ensure they are performing as they should without any cost.

EnerG2, a company developing nanostructured carbons for energy storage, is using a Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction particle size analyzer from Malvern Instruments to measure and characterize its high performance products.

The market for industrial gearboxes and geared motors in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) is expected to decline by 4.2 percent this year as economic troubles continue to take their toll.

Advanced Industrial Cybersecurity (TS13) course covers the latest developments in cybersecurity, including practical guides to the design, implementation and testing of industrial networks and applications to ensure their security and reliability.

102-page catalog covers gear reducers, servo couplings, and linear mounting products.

Monsanto engineers used the full capabilities of HART Communication to “get connected” and integrate the intelligent information from more than 600 HART-enabled devices into their control systems.

Industry experts on alarm management share insights on alarm systems; real engineers presenting real solutions and real results.

Frese will take over responsibility for the world’s biggest IT show, CeBIT, as well as for the Hannover exhibition grounds and on-site construction plus DMAG subsidiaries.

Citect SCADA and Exele alarm software monitor three hydro generating stations, four sub stations and the distribution system for the City of Edmundston,New Brunswick.

Version 2.8 of ATS software diagnoses encoder faults and evaluates the output signals of HEIDENHAIN, EnDat, Fanuc, Mitsubishi, Siemens Drive CLIQ, Yaskawa, SSI, 1Vpp, TTL, and 11uApp encoders.

DECT ULE (Ultra Low Energy), a low power consumption radio technology, is intended for Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications.

March U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $507.91 million according to AMT, up 30.4% from February and up 3.2% when compared with the total of $491.96 million reported for March 2012.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Downsizing has become a way to increase profits by “leaning out” operations. Most engineers are working with lean staff, which limits their scope of work to basic necessities. In most cases this means they do not have the time to work on improving the competitiveness of their companies.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The Danish company, Universal Robots, has created a new breed of robots that are significantly lower in cost than traditional robots. With this new bread, even small companies can use them to improve productivity. I recently interviewed Thomas Visti, Vice President/CCO of Universal Robots, to learn more. This article highlights my interview questions along with Visti’s responses.

Bestobell Valves will be supplying LNG cryogenic valves to Wartsila for two Offshore Support Vessels– one for Siem Offshore, and the other project for RemØy Shipping.

kk-electronic will use B&R X20 control electronics to retrofit wind turbines.

Rotork Valvekits has been appointed as the UK stockist and distributor for the Centork range of valve positioners.

SimSci Suite 2013 has a DVD catalogue that provides a single source for all of its current SimSci-Esscor design, operator training, simulation and optimization software.

On the heels of Joe Hogan's departure, Chief Technology Officer, Prith Banerjee, has decided to leave ABB for family reasons.

"MTConnect: To Measure Is To Know," by Dave Edstrom, shows how machine shop owners and plant operators can apply open standards that make it easier for IT equipment to interoperate.

BCC Research says the sensor market was valued at $68 billion in 2012 and is expected to increase to $79.5 billion in 2014, reaching $116.1 billion by 2019.

Catalog covers weighing solutions for the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries with hazardous environments.

Hogan will continue to lead ABB until a successor is announced. He is committed to a smooth transition.

Alarm management is a never ending effort. Routinely review the plant’s alarm list, and try to eliminate or address points that appear too often.

Institutions that receive a grant will have access to unlimited seats of any Siemens’ PLM software bundle, free center-based training, discount online learning, free upgrades and technical support.

The brochure helps design engineers to select and specify the components necessary to design accurate pneumatic force control systems.

Global shipments for motion control products fell by 7.7% in first quarter 2013, according to the Motion Control Association (MCA). But there's hope.

Major will supply a VTC 2500, U5 XL 2500 universal portal mill with turning capabilities, and a rebuild/retrofit of a DSI mill/turn gantry machine.

Northwire earned AS9100 Rev C certification and recertified to existing ISO 9001:2008 quality standard demonstrating its ability to comply with the rigourous requirements of Aerospace, Space and Defense organizations.

exida discovered a counterfeit certificate falsely claiming that a product meets the functional safety requirements for Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 3 capable per IEC 61508.

IM-6500 Series image dimension measurement system inspects the concentricity of every single cut wheel and automatically records the measurements.

The groov View app is suitable for OEMs and system integrators using an iOS or Android device as the operator interface to their systems or equipment.

Emerson opened its new $30 million Americas headquarters for valve automation technologies and a new, highly automated and sophisticated manufacturing facility in Houston.

FIRST Championship demonstrates young people’s passion for science and technology learning

"The Automation Legal Reference: A Guide to Legal Risk in the Automation, Robotics and Process industries" explains in simple language the essentials of legal risk management, ranging from contract development and negotiation to professional licensing and dispute resolution.

Nearly 400 attendees and more than 60 exhibitors gathered at the International Society of Automation’s (ISA) 58th Analysis Division Symposium, which was held 14-18 April, 2013 at the Galveston Island Convention Center in Galveston, Texas, USA.

In this paper, Sentrollers are defined as a new, all-encompassing term for sensors, actuators and controllers – the various devices that make up the new Internet of Things.

From September 16 to 21, 2013, international manufacturers of production technology will be spotlighting “Intelligence in Production” at the EMO Hannover 2013.

The FMC722 subsea automation interface provides integration of the FMC protocol on the controller, enabling seamless peer-to-peer communication between topside and subsea control assets.

Available for Apple iPhone and iPad, and Android mobile devices, the FuseFinder app features a comprehensive database of more than 130,000 fuse and fuse block cross reference part numbers.

Rotork supplied, installed and commissioned actuators for operational and safety-related duties on pipelines carrying products including natural gas from Asian countries through Turkey.