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Face to Face: The Flip Side of Office eCommunication

VT Group (Verenigde Tankrederij) installed Emerson’s Micro Motion Certified Marine Bunker Measurement Solution on the bunker fuel barge MTS Vlaardingen.

The requirements, in the form of Commission Regulation EC 640/2009, came into effect on June 16, 2011

UA Certification provides users with impartial verification that the OPC server delivers solid performance in a wide range of adverse operating conditions, and is fully compliant with OPC Specifications.

The 12,000 sq ft manufacturing plant will build temperature sensors, thermowells, transmitters, recorders, flow computers, safety barriers, displays and other instrumentation.

RFI will pay $2,800,000 in cash and issue 760,000 shares of common stock to the seller at closing.

By Eaton Accelerate delivery time. Learn how next generation operator interface designs reduce development time, enable easy integration and accelerate time to market while enhancing quality and reliability.

Only 40% believe the U.S. economy will improve in the next six months, down from 60% three months earlier. At the same time, 26% believe the U.S. economy will get worse, up from 3%.

Advanced gear shaping software and motion control hardware from NUM has been used to bring an old manually-controlled gear shaper machine up to modern day control standards.

The four-minute video by Emerson Network Power demonstrates the dramatic difference a power conditioner can make in overall power quality and in the protection of mission-critical electronics from harmful power disturbances.

Emerson supplied more than 1000 Fisher control valves, FIELDVUE digital valve controllers, and AMS ValveLink SNAP-ON software to the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij Groningen gas field in The Netherlands.

April U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $396.92 million, according to AMT.

AIA reported recorded robust sales across almost all major machine vision supplier markets, including cameras, lighting, optics, software, application-specific machine vision systems, and smart cameras.

The Eagle Quantum Premier (EQP) Safety System has earned certification to NFPA 72: 2010.

Siemens released a firmware update of its S7-1200 PLC that eliminates vulnerabilities and improves the security and robustness of its S7-1200 product family.

CAD downloads include motorized and non-motorized SplineRails with the flexibility to modify features such as linear actuator length, screw resolution, motor step angle, motor voltage, and other design parameters.

Automation.com, June 2011 By Bosch Rexroth Packaging containers can sometimes be quite elaborate. The faster, the better, the more accurate so as not to damage delicate products. This is the challenge for pick-and-place robots and the control technology behind them. Chocolate, for example, is one such product that must be handled with care.

Automation.com, June 2011 By Katherine Voss, ODVA The expression "Less is More" reminds us about the importance of simplicity as a design goal. This goal is especially true when moving information quickly and seamlessly between supply chains, distribution systems and the production domain is critical to overall business competitiveness. Users are looking to industrial Ethernet to integrate systems and layers.

Collectively, Alliance members support 750 interoperable products deployed in over 200,000 buildings that use energy harvesting wireless technology designed for building automation systems.

Replacing the plant’s existing level transmitters, the new equipment has helped avoid shutdowns that can cost as much as $20,000 an hour in lost production and potential equipment damage costing over $200,000.

K-TEK has made available technology tutorials and case histories from the technical conference at ABB Automation & Power World. Requires registration.

Metso will supply a DCS and environmental technology to control five biomass power plants to be built by Dalkia in France.

The video illustrates how to create system graphics using QA Graphics’ BAS Symbol Library, and serves as an introduction to using Photoshop and constructing system graphics.

Leader & Harvest manufactures medium voltage (MV) variable speed drives. The company employs over 750 people in China.

BAE Systems expects the $2 million upgrade to save more than $305,000 annually in equivalent energy and operational expenses

Automation.com, June 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor According to industry veteran Gabe Rosica, a bad economy takes down bad companies or sick companies - it doesn’t take down good companies. Companies need to realize there is a difference between doing the right things and doing things right.

Aegis’ xLink software will gather real-time data from production/test equipment, and bridge the entire solution to the existing ERP system.

Video Walls can be used for digital signage and large-scale control rooms.

The turbines were fitted with GE controls when initially delivered but were replaced 13 years ago. That didn't work, so GE is back.

Automation.com, June 2011 By Alex Bryce, Pilz Automation Technology Safety gates, protective covers and machine guards prevent hazards associated with moving parts. However, the correct functioning of a safeguard can only be guaranteed by using the appropriate sensor technology.

Automation.com, June 2011 By Bob Hirschinger Because advancements to EtherNet/IP, machine builders are enjoying a new level of machine design flexibility through the use of a single network for their entire machine, including VFD and servo drives for integrated motion control.

El Paso Pipeline will be installing Flow-Cal’s Enterprise Version 8, to replace a legacy system internally developed.

Automation.com, June 2011 By Gregory Wilcox, Mike Hannah and Mark Devonshire Industry experts predicted that node cost, determinism issues and security risks would prohibit Ethernet’s growth into manufacturing, but it’s clear that this prediction hasn’t held true. We've experienced a swift rise and widespread industry adoption of Ethernet.

The scope of this project at AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals includes modernizing the process control of 7,000 I/O by replacing outdated PLCs with DeltaV and safety systems.

Honeywell will provide front-end engineering (FEED) support for the plant’s control system, including its Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS), UniSim process simulators and field instrumentation.

The 160-page catalog focuses on piezo flexure based nanopositioning systems capable of repeatedly moving distances as small as the diameter of an atom.

Automation.com, June 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor Judging from Automate 2011 and the IFR Executive Round Table, the robotics industry is on the move again. In 2010, the number of units sold worldwide almost doubled those in 2009. Here's an update on the robotics industry and overview of some interesting robot offerings.

Automation.com, June 2011 By Thomas R. Cutler Given the capital expense involved in material handling projects is usually in the millions, working with an independent project management professional is vital. Learn the questions to ask before hiring a material handling automation consultant.

Shock waves can be adequately controlled by optimizing the cooling pulsation timing and amplitude. This offers great potential for power plant turbine manufacturers to develop more compact engines.

The system will enable Alliant Energy to reduce system losses, manage reactive power supply and provide the future ability to implement conservation voltage reduction.

The Stuxnet worm is a sophisticated piece of computer malware designed to sabotage industrial processes.

Founded in 1991, Patti Engineering is a CSIA Certified control systems integration company based in Auburn Hills, MI with offices in Massachusetts and Texas.

Installing, Calibrating & Maintaining Electronic Instruments

Automation.com, June 2011 By J. Timothy Shea, VDC Research Group VDC Research partnered with Automation.com to conduct an extensive initiative into the market for wireline and wireless industrial networking infrastructure product markets. Recent research found that the demand outlook for wireline and wireless industrial networking infrastructure products will be quite healthy through 2015.

Cadence Technologies is a process systems integration and engineering firm specializing in services for the beverage and food processing industries.

ABB started a new blog focused on Process Automation. The blog hosts discussions on timely topics including Collaboration, Control Systems, Evolution, IEC61850, Integration, Migration and Safety.

ASME updated its standard on thermowells from the previous standard created in 1974, to create the ASME PTC 19.3TW – 2010.

Hindustan Petroleum implemented Honeywell’s Mobile Stations in their $200 million Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) project at their Mumbai refinery.

A 3-minute video highlighting the versatility of the Parsum IPP 70 In-line Particle Probe is now available.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Brian McDonald, Cisco Systems In the new global business environment, manufacturers are facing some of the toughest operational and strategic challenges in recent memory. Any new investment must pay for itself either through operational savings or revenue growth.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Scott Howard Industrial control systems were designed and built with a primary focus on performance, availability and reliability - not security. A new generation of standards-based security offerings lets operators defend their control system networks using the same technology that protects telecommunications, banking, and other critical IT infrastructure.

Collaborative Product Development Associates CPDA) is a provider of critical analyses of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) activities.

Apex Manufacturing Solutions relocated to new, larger offices in Boise, Idaho.

Honeywell will supply an Experion Process Knowledge System and Safety Manager to upgrade the automation systems at the refinery in Baiji, Iraq.

NovaTech will resell PAS’ Integrity software, which maps the configuration of automation systems including Distributed Control Systems, PLCs, Historians, and Safety Instrumented Systems.

Modbus joined with Fieldbus Foundation, PROFIBUS and the HART Communication Foundation to work on the development of wireless gateway specifications.

With Magma’s design software and the TSMC AMS Reference Flow 2.0, customers can accelerate the design and manufacture of next-generation analog/mixed-signal ICs.

The National Instruments NI WSN-3226 Wireless Measurement Node can be powered by Perpetuum’s vibration energy harvester technology.

BAS-3000BC series of remote I/O modules have received BACnet certification, approved and listed by BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL).

Nieves previously worked at Xembedded LLC, where he served as a regional sales manager for the eastern United States and Asia.

ABB completed the commissioning of three gearless mill drive (GMD) systems for the Esperanza project of Antofagasta Minerals in Chile.

Online demo has interactive close-ups of the ST100 Series Flow Meters. Demo allows users to view each model in the series and learn more about their individual features.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor ABB creates new role, appoints Brice Koch, to oversee relations with ABB’s largest customers and the development of opportunities in strategic growth areas such as rail, wind, water, solar, energy efficiency and smart grids. Koch will also be responsible for developing ABB’s service business.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Bill Lydon, Editor The PlantTriage "true believers" gathered at the ExperTune User Conference from around the world to improve their skills and share their project successes. The conference focused on ways to improve process control performance with training, access to industry experts, and case studies.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Roy Kok Over the years, we’ve had sensor upgrades, improved controllers, better operator visibility, data archiving and analytics, and now we have enterprise integration for improved material management, corporate agility, regulatory compliance and a host of other features.

Applied Products Group is now a Semaphore distributor for Arizona and New Mexico.

IFCS will be integrating the OPC Servers with its DABO (Buildings Diagnostic Agent for Building Operation) – a tool that analyzes and stores all data read by the centralized control system.

iSenseLight covers all necessary basic functions like calibration, configuration of optical sensors and enhanced diagnostics with DLI and TTM.

Strain gauges are widely employed in sensors that detect and measure force and force-related parameters, such as torque, acceleration, pressure, and vibration. The strain gauge is the building block for strain sensors that often employ multiple strain gauges in their construction.

Automation.com, May 2011 By Jay Mellen, Savigent Software Logic PD implemented a system to fully automate Logic tracking and control of its box-build processes. The new system empowers Logic PD to scale faster, bring products to market more rapidly, increase customer visibility, and improve overall manufacturing efficiencies.

DPD Dynamic Parcel Distribution installed AXIOM-X omnidirectional laser barcode scanners from Accu-Sort for its distribution center in Neufahrn, Germany.

The GMD powers a 38-foot semiautogenous (SAG) mill at the Canadian Malartic gold mine.

Animatics designs, manufactures, and markets motion control products and systems, and has over 24 years in the motion control industry.

Two Houston high school seniors from one of the city’s prominent engineering magnet schools have been awarded the Honeywell Engineer of the Future Scholarship.

Catalog covers gear motors, motors and variable speed motion controls.