Articles and News

Platform-independent, non-invasive service evaluates and corrects process and mechanical disturbances affecting process performance. It can be applied to any automated process.

ABB will be responsible for system engineering, including design, supply and installation of the sea and land cables, and both converter stations.

Brochure covers spring clamp, high current, power distribution, sliding link, and ring lug terminal blocks.

The Ethernet network in this project is built as a 100Mbps redundant single-mode fiber ring using HME-623 industrial Ethernet switches. IP Control system and IP telephone system share the same network.

Weldon’s automated systems are used in bakeries to facilitate pan storage and retrieval. Cable carrier systems eliminate space and clearance issues and reduced installation time and maintenance requirements.

By Wonderware Describes the Wonderware Industry Application for Packaging software, which delivers a standard and normalized data layer for all packaging line types. It address the main requirements expressed by both manufacturing companies and machine vendors/OEMs.

In the first quarter of 2009 three new members joined PLCopen: Eaton Corporation - Hydraulics Group (USA), ISAC (Italy) and Copalp (France).

Shanghai Institute of Process Automation Instrumentation (SIPAI) and Campus De Nayer have become PLCopen Certified Training Centers.

Alexandria Technical College’s online training course for the CoDeSys IEC 61131-3 software introduces the participant to the CoDeSys development environment and provide the competence for efficient reusable code development.

Teknos will install ERP in its operations in Finland, Scandinavia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Slovenia and Russia.

LXI Consortium certified new products from two manufacturers at its February PlugFest, bringing the total of LXI-compliant instruments to 1,117 from 22 different manufacturers.

Rejret was promoted from his position as a systems analyst at Wago.

Equipment includes Ovation expert control systems with HART communications, Scenario simulator, safety systems, and AMS Suite predictive maintenance software.

Solar power plants using solar trackers typically generate 30% more energy than fixed systems. ABB supplies PLCs and HMIs for solar trackers.

The web site will help Chinese-speaking equipment designers, instrumentation, process control and plant engineers solve flow measurement applications in air, gas or liquids.

The site focuses on four key strategies: reducing maintenance costs, reducing risk and improving cash flow, implementing high-ROI solutions and driving down operational costs.

Wilkins was previously responsible for worldwide sales and global marketing strategies for GE Fanuc's Proficy Historian, Real-Time Information Portal and Shop Floor SPC software.

Conferences will be held in Mobile, AL, King of Prussia, PA, Park City, Utah, and Houston, Texas.

The college will realize enough energy savings to reduce equivalent annual energy costs by more than $500,000.

OPC Foundation opened a North American Certification Test Lab to validate and certify OPC products.

Twelve major OPC vendors participated, submitting fifteen OPC Servers and seventeen OPC Clients for open interoperability testing which took place March 2nd through March 6th in Boca Raton, Florida.

Testing verified WALL-NUTS contact continuity (no current interruptions during testing) and housing integrity (no physical damage) under extreme conditions.

ScenSor offers an ultra-low complexity coherent receiver, giving MicroStrain the benefits of superior range at ultra-low power consumption.

This application-level standard describes the process of transporting C12.19 table data over a variety of networks.

Autodesk today began shipping its new 2010 line of 2D and 3D design and engineering software.

ASHRAE's certification recognizes those with optimal knowledge of the entire building commissioning process.

The group is seeking presentations for new wireless technology and system architectures for the link between sensors/actuators and automation systems.

NAIT Johnson Controls Centre for Building Environment Technology teaches students to become successful HVAC specialists.

Guide describes cavitation prediction and control to minimize increases in operating costs that result from cavitation damage.

By Fulvio Roveta, Integration Objects Article discusses some of the options available for integrating automation islands and for distributing information at any level in the organization. In particular, two main players in the system integration arena will be examined: OLE for Process Control (OPC) and Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).

By Greg Millinger and Alicia Bowers, GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms By maintaining automated control over a process with Work Process Management, companies can have a much better chance of reducing waste for the longer term. Includes Lean Six Sigma glossary.

The Green Book, Flow, Level and Environmental Handbook and Encyclopedia 8th Edition contains over 1300 pages of the latest information on flow, level & environmental products.

Siemens is building relationships with a number of retrofit partners across the country. When they determine the scope of the work needed, the proper partner will be selected.

This self-paced, interactive Robotics Technician Certificate training program offers an easy-to-use home study format that requires a computer and internet connection to complete. The CD-ROM based multimedia program is divided into 13 modules, each consisting of about ten sections, or major topics.

Automation Tooling Systems is reducing its Cambridge workforce by approximately 80 full-time employees and its Photowatt France workforce by approximately 160 temporary workers.

PLCopen certified B&R's SafeDESIGNER product, version 2.58.

PLCopen certified SSS for Motion Control Compliance (part 1 and 2).

“Effective Operator Display Design” provides guidelines for improving plant operator displays in the chemical and refining industries.

Emerson will provide PlantWeb, Foundation fieldbus instrumentation, analyzers, DeltaV controls, AMS software, valves, engineering and project management.

By Steve Lankford, Diamond Phoenix There are many things to consider when taking on a material handling project. It's in your best interest to have a systems integrator take responsibility for delivering a system that meets your expectations and goals.

The Siemens Retrofit Business Development group is based in Lebanon, Ohio.

ABB will provide electrification and automation solutions to maximize productivity, monitor energy use and minimize energy consumption at a new coal mine.

HIMA will provide two HIMax CPUs, two system bus modules, two digital output and three input modules, one analog output module and one communications module for PROFIBUS-DP.

Robotics Technician Certificate is a computer-based home study program that enables students to study remotely, using CD-based curriculum, a robotic simulator and a traditional textbook to master robotics in manufacturing.

Honeywell will install its UniSim Operations Suite simulation solution at the Salalah Methanol Company (SMC) facility in the Salalah Free Zone in Oman.

By using OPC as the means for data delivery, IQity is able to seamlessly interface with clients’ systems, regardless of what hardware or software is located on site.

Bruhn is charged with developing and implementing MAVERICK's overall manufacturing systems consulting and systems integration practices.

System includes SCADA, Web-based Graphical User Interface, Historical Information and Archiving System, Trending and Calculation subsystem, Open Database Connectivity, and DNP and ICCP communications.

Vogel will lead the company’s Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Products (HVP) Business Unit.

ODVA changed the legal name of the company from “Open DeviceNet Vendor Association, Inc.” to “ODVA, Inc.”

Specs for certification of IEC 61131-3 editors have been updated for the first time since 1998.

ABB will design, supply, install, test and commission substations which will increase transmission voltage from 300 kilovolt (kV) to 400 kV.

Emerson's wireless technology is enabling INEOS to monitor filters within polyethylene pellet transportation tubes. Eight Rosemount 3051S DP wireless transmitters were installed as well as a single Emerson Smart Wireless gateway.

Wurldtech's Achilles cyber security certification program now includes exida’s safety service portfolio.

Equipment includes an Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS), safety systems, and Foundation fieldbus technology.

DDS defines the mechanisms, programming interfaces and protocols that distributed applications use to communicate with each other.

Thermo Fisher will market and sell Symyx Notebook and Symyx Isentris decision support software with its LIMS.

Simatic PCS 7 Lab hardware and software will help BIND Biosciences drive process development as well as monitor and control manufacturing operations.

By Don Frieden, Wonderware An organization can reduce their energy consumption in two primary ways. First, they can reduce their level of production. The second is retrofitting existing assets and modifying current work processes.

Energy Harvesting will be featured through a Pavilion in the Expo Hall and several conference sessions specific to the topic at The Sensors Expo & Conference.

Parvalux relocated of EMD Drive Systems’ manufacturing and administrative operations from Halstead to the company’s main site at Wallisdown in Bournemouth.

HDA Explorer is a stand-alone tool for verifying historical data through HDA, testing HDA OPC Servers, and troubleshooting connectivity to HDA OPC Servers.

The market for AC Drives, PLCs, motion controls, CNC, and machine safeguarding was $18.0 billion in 2008 and is forecast to be over $21.2 billion in 2013.

TS 5 can be configured to transport goods either on a workpiece pallet or directly on a continuous roller conveyor.

Project management is critical to ensuring projects are implemented correctly, on time and within budget. Good project management also communicates to your management or stakeholder that you are a professional.

Munich Regional Court in Germany approved an agreement that settles a lawsuit by Autodesk against Torsten Moses for copyright infringement of AutoCAD.

The new operations center will house executive, sales, engineering, and software development.

Previously, Martin was Director of Sales at Holt Electric, Inc., a major Midwest electrical distributor based in Hartland, WI.

Shire Human Genetic Therapies will use Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS), Experion Batch Manager, wireless network and Uniformance Process Historian Database.

By Carl Hosier, Honeywell Process Solutions Many manufacturing facilities have taken to integrating plant subsystems with their DCS to maximize productivity and improve overall efficiency. Applying this same concept to power generation could help electricity and steam generators streamline production in a way that makes sense to both their pocketbooks and the regulators.

By Steve Rubin, Longwatch Video monitoring can help companies survive through layoffs, plant closings, and idling of plants. The white paper explains that when plants have layoffs or shut down, much work remains to be done, often by a severely reduced workforce. Video can help pick up the workload.

Operon Systems makes Red Hawk data collection and manufacturing productivity monitoring solutions.

Sprint Electric supplied DC drives for a new stage control system at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark.

IPS will uses Achilles Satellite to test Ethernet-enabled safety and critical control solutions for cyber vulnerabilities.