Articles and News

Banner Engineering's 2007 racing season begins this weekend with the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona, January 27th and 28th at the Daytona speedway in Daytona Florida. Banner Engineering is campaigning two Pontiac GXP-R racecars equipped with in car and roof mounted camera units for direct coverage of all the action.

JAI, a manufacturer of high-performance industrial cameras, signed 1stVision of Andover, MA, to act as a channel distributor for industrial camera products throughout the United States and Eastern Canada.

Underwood Sales Corporation will become the exclusive representatives for SKC products throughout a six-state region of New England.

Adept has signed an agreement with Fundacion Fatronik for exclusive supply, distribution and service of a high speed packaging robot mechanism based on the four parallel arm concept. Fatronik will provide Adept with exclusive use of the technology. and both will fund commercialization of the mechanism.

By applying vibration and oil analysis technologies to the gas turbines on the Belgian Navy's mine hunter vessels, the mean time between maintenance (MTBM) has been extended from 2500 hours to 4000 hours, representing a saving of 71,000 Euros for each cycle. The savings enabled over the last seven years total nearly 1.5 million Euros.

Invensys will provide a comprehensive SimSci-Esscor operator training simulator (OTS) to PetroChina Dushanzi Petrochemical Company for an integrated refinery and chemical revamping project, which will process imported sour crude from Kazakhstan. By using the system, PetroChina Dushanzi will be able to enhance the knowledge and competency of the operator, reduce the startup time and shutdown period, and improve quality by reducing off-spec product.

The CS200 Process Imaging System uses infrared sensor technology for temperature measurement, monitoring, control, and analysis of rotating kilns primarily used in cement and lime production. It provides full-color thermograms of the kiln surface, user-defined alarms, automatic fan control and extensive historical data analysis capability.

The prevalence of Wi-Fi technology in everything from notebook computers to cell phones to gaming devices has propelled worldwide sales forward again this year. Continued proliferation into phones and consumer electronics is expected to lead Wi-Fi unit sales growth to the half-billion mark by 2009.

Customers' dependence on wireless communications and their adoption of high-bandwidth 3G cellular services are the primary drivers of the global growth of in-building wireless systems that extend and create wireless coverage indoors. According to a new study from ABI Research, deployments of these systems are expected to result in revenues in excess of $3.6 billion by 2011.

Wi-Fi meshing, which allows wireless access nodes to achieve a longer range by using each other as repeaters, is becoming increasingly common in several markets. More than 50,000 Wi-Fi mesh AP unit shipments are expected in 2006, with almost 100,000 unit shipments expected in 2010.

While malware targeting mobile devices is a relatively recent problem, significant increases in shipments of smartphones, as well as increasing market penetration by Microsoft, have made mobile devices much more attractive targets for hackers. According to ABI Research, the newest and most intriguing market opportunity for mobile security is the growth of mobile device security managed services.

Loadstar completed a $7 million dollar Series B financing, raising more than twice the amount it originally sought.

He will be responsible for managing Beckhoff’s technical support, field service and repairs departments at the company’s Burnsville, Minn. headquarters.

Emerson won a $1.7M contract from Atlantic LNG to analyze the performance of process and mechanical equipment at the company’s Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago. The award is an extension to the existing contract. 340 items of equipment on Trains 1 to 4 will now be monitored by using AMS Performance Monitor.

Advanced Technology Services, Inc. (ATS) has opened its first international office in Monterrey, Mexico. The Monterrey facility currently employs 80 personnel, and ATS expects to double that number in 2007. The company will continue its international growth in 2007 by expanding its operations in Mexico even further and establishing offices in the UK.

The Executive Board is composed of the President, President-elect Secretary, Past President, Treasurer, six members from the Board of District Vice Presidents and the Board of Department Vice Presidents, the Parliamentarian (non-voting), and the Executive Director (non-voting).

Six FKI Logistex Condor very-narrow-aisle (VNA) automated storage-and-retrieval crane systems will be installed in Preferred Freezer's new public refrigerated warehouses. Preferred Freezer Services has 75 million cu ft of freezer storage in 14 facilities across the United States. Delivery of the new Condor crane systems for six additional facilities is scheduled to begin in June 2007.

Decoma International has deployed Infor ERP TRANS4M in a just-in-time environment at its new Toledo, Ohio facility. Decoma, which manufactures exterior vehicle appearance systems, selected the solution for its integrated electronic data interchange (EDI), financials and general ledger, and custom programming support capabilities.

Greg Chandler has been appointed President and CEO, and Ralph Damato was appointed Vice President, Product Management. Chandler was a founding member of Nematron in the early 1980s. Previously, Damato developed and marketed industrial computers and flat panel monitors for Xycom Automation.

Matrikon is one of “the top fifty automation companies in the industry,” says Control magazine. This marks the fifth time the Alberta-based industrial intelligence solutions provider has been so recognized since 2001.

Norfield has more than 30 years experience in vibration analysis and balancing, working with the UK division of Reutlinger GmBH and with American Hofmann, before starting an independent vibration, balancing and training company. He is the author of the book, Practical Balancing of Rotating Machinery, published by Elsevier Technical Press.

FANUC won the award for the development of a truck bedliner spray system. The bedliner spray system uses robots to spray special buffer material onto truck beds, which helps prevent cargo from slipping or damaging the beds.

Had trouble contacting your favorite automation vendor this week? That’s because Austin, Texas, otherwise known as the Silicon Hills and home to Indusoft and several major automation vendors, was hit by a winter storm on Monday, January 15, which essentially shut down the entire city and its automation industry for three days.

As chairman of the board of directors, Bauer will work with MESA to promote the exchange of best practices, strategies and innovation for managing manufacturing operations, as well as achieving plant-floor execution excellence. Bauer also has key involvement in the planning direction for the MESA conference.

Motion control systems are capable of extremely precise speed, position, and torque control. This article compares the three main motion control choices: standalone controllers, PC-based controllers, and PLCs. It describes how indexing, direction and electronic gearing are accomplished, examines future trends in motion control, and describes products available today for motion control.

AutomationDirect’s technical support team compiled a list of frequently asked questions from customers on variable frequency drives (VFDs), on topics such as sensorless vector control, grounding, dynamic braking, ringing, standards, power cables, drives vs softstarts, low speed operation, line reactors, slow pump problems, and more.

The need for manufacturers to comply with supply chain and retailer mandates for tagged finished goods has led to rising interest in RFID for internal applications that promise greater ROI. The number of pilots that actually result in full-blown implementations will be a key determinant of the rate and timing of overall market growth.

The seminar, priced at $500, will take place on February 1, 2, and 3, 2007 at the Datastick Systems headquarters in Campbell, California. The seminar is designed for those interested in using vibration analysis for predictive maintenance and for customers using Datastick VSA series Vibration Spectrum Analyzers. It covers the basics of machine vibration and vibration analysis, operation of VSA-series analyzers, best practices in collecting and reporting vibration data.

HANNOVER MESSE 2007 (the Hannover Fair), which will run 16-20 April 2007 in Hannover, Germany, combines three international trade fairs -- INTERKAMA, Factory Automation and Industrial Building Automation.

Seminars are being held at WAGO's North American headquarters in Germantown, WI on the following dates: May 14-16, September 24-26, and November 5-7. Seminars include an introduction to the WAGO-I/O-SYSTEM hardware, an overview of industrial Ethernet components and protocols, and hands-on IEC 61131-3 programming with live demo hardware.

Ford Motor Company has awarded two grants, totaling $150,000, to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation. Since 1981, Ford has donated $1,608,000 to the SME Education Foundation for scholarships and other engineering education programs.

During the quarter just ended, Adept delivered $300,000 in vision-guided robotics to the Solar industry, bringing the installed base, in this sector, to over 75 systems.

New National Sales and Product Managers for North America are Kevin Kaufenberg, Electronics, Semiconductor & Metrology Div; Chris Weber, Machine Tool Div; and Tom Wyatt, Automation Div.

Schneider Electric’s annual sales amounted to €13,730 million in 2006, up 17.6% on a current structure and exchange rate basis. After sharp increases in the two previous years, growth reached a record 10.7% in 2006, reflecting the success of the initiatives launched under the new company program.

"Design Patterns for Flexible Manufacturing," by Dennis Brandl, documents effective rules that should be used when applying the ISA-88 standard to both batch manufacturing (called the S88 design pattern) and continuous and discrete manufacturing problems (called the NS88 design pattern for non-stop production).

The Regional Action Center (RAC) in Singapore will provide technical and training support for automation customers, plus regional sales support, marketing and business development functions. The opening ceremony for the RAC took place on January 16, 2007.

Emerson has received a $5.3 million contract from the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) to install PlantWeb digital automation architecture at the Seymour-Capilano Water Filtration Plant, which is under construction. When completed in 2008, it will be Canada’s largest drinking water filtration plant combined with the world’s largest ultraviolet (UV) disinfection facility.

The SSA deployed Intermec RFID hardware in its Supply Chain Management program to fulfill more than 42,000 orders for forms, publications and other documents each year and ship 240,000 line items to SSA office locations worldwide.

Organon, one of the largest manufacturers of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) worldwide, has installed PAS-X MES software in their new API-powder processing production facility in Oss, The Netherlands. Organon uses PAS-X for recipe management, weighing and dispensing, shop floor management, electronic batch recording, and warehouse management.

GE Fanuc will provide Kettering University with a set of manufacturing control components, consisting of Assembly Application Suite (AAS) hardware and software products to simulate manufacturing environments. Kettering will install the components in the University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) labs.

Paulett Eberhart has been appointed CEO and President of Invensys' Process Systems division headquartered in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Ms. Eberhart was previously with EDS, the global technology services company, which she joined in 1978. Ken Brown, who has served as Acting President of Invensys Process Systems since June 28, 2006, will re-assume his former position as General Manager of the division's Measurements & Instruments business unit.

The expanded facility, located at MGE's North American headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif., encompasses over 25,000 sq ft including 28 test bays with a total electrical capacity of 12 MW. The expanded test site gives customers the ability to witness critical testing of their enterprise and data center power systems to assure operational functionality and interoperability of their entire power infrastructure.

American Power Conversion shareholders approved the merger of APC with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Schneider Electric. As previously announced on October 30, 2006, APC and Schneider Electric entered into an agreement and plan of merger which provides, among other things, for each share of APC common stock to be converted to the right to receive $31.00 in cash.

In addition to several new product introductions, the DieGuard catalog features enhanced technical information for increased usability, including all dimensions to the thousandth of an inch instead of millimeters. DieGuard sensors are designed for feed, slug, stripper plate and part-out detection applications to prevent double hits and die crashes.

A survey of more than 340 regulated manufacturers throughout the world shows that those adopting an integrated, technology-based approach to compliance and traceability are 65 percent more likely to achieve “Best in Class” status and attain a competitive advantage. The report was sponsored by MasterControl.

Nu Horizons will provide sales and support throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the JAI and PULNiX camera brands to customers in the machine vision, medical, and scientific communities.

Zornio will direct strategic initiatives for Emerson Process Management. He will have a leadership role in prioritizing technology investments and identifying acquisition candidates. Zornio, a 21-year veteran of the process automation industry, most recently was director of product marketing for Honeywell.

Three free technical presentations for LIMS users wil be held at the forthcoming ArabLab 2007, Dubai International Exhibition Center (DICC), Dubai, UAE. The presentations will take place from Sunday 11th to Wednesday 14th February at the Abu Dhabi Room A, DICC.

The Collaborative Production Management Market for Process Manufacturing (CPM-P) is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 12% over the next five years. The market was slightly greater than $1.6 billion in 2006 and is forecasted to reach nearly $2.8 billion in 2011, according to a new study by the ARC Advisory Group.

Catalog covers acme leadscrews, advanced coatings and anti-backlash nuts that not only eliminate backlash between the screw and nut, they also maximize system stiffness and minimize lost motion.

Lyondell Chemical Company will license PlantTriage Performance Supervision Software at up to 25 of its manufacturing facilities worldwide. Lyondell will use the PlantTriage Performance Supervision Software to monitor and analyze real-time data from their plant control systems. Lyondell Chemical Company is North America's third-largest independent, publicly traded chemical company.

Bart Reitter, GE Fanuc Life Sciences Global Marketing Manager, will be speaking at the International Foundation for Process Analytical Chemistry (IFPAC) annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, January 28-31, 2007. Reitter’s presentation will discuss “Providing the Foundation for Routine Chemometric Processing in the PAT World.”

Ernest Rakaczky, cyber security program director at Invensys Process Systems, will be part of the Design Team for the PCSF Annual Meeting, to be held March 6-8th, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. PCSF was established to accelerate the overall security of control systems worldwide through cross-sector collaboration. It is one of several user and vendor forums sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security.

More than 200 Square D/Schneider Electric business leaders will work alongside Gautier, Miss., residents Jan. 30 to build houses and community spaces for one of Habitat for Humanity’s largest corporate site builds. Schneider Electric will donate $7 million in Square D electrical distribution equipment to Habitat for Humanity over the next 4 1/2 years.

FlowSense BSG and Doody Mechanical will jointly market mechanical contracting capabilities and services to the local construction market, as well as pursuing federal and military projects nationwide. FlowSense and Doody Mechanical will offer complete mechanical services including: planning and design, engineering, procurement, installation, and project management of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), sheet metal fabrication, plumbing, and process piping.

ABB Automation World 2007 will be held at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, on 20-22 March. All individuals registering for a one-day ISA course will also receive complimentary access to the ABB Technical Training Program & Exhibits.

The new edition incorporates the uncertainty technologies embodied in both U.S. and international standards with a focus on understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Zepnick, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has incorporated the KUKA KR 15 SL stainless steel robot into its food handling and packaging system. The use of stainless steel on all the robot's surfaces, together with the high IP rating, makes the KUKA KR 15 SL robot suitable for all fields of application with stringent requirements as to hygiene, sterility and absence of particles.

Aspectrics was awarded a sixth US patent for its Encoded Photometric Infrared Spectroscopy (EP-IR) analyzers. The analyzers measure multiple gas components in the ppb to ppm range simultaneously, allowing for real-time monitoring of processes.

A General Meeting and Interoperability Testing Session will be held January 30 - February 1, 2007, in Austin, Texas. The event will feature a one-day PlugFest on January 30 that will provide member companies the opportunity to test prototype LXI devices for compliance with the LXI Specification and for interoperability between prototype devices.

Advantech won Intel's Multi-Core Solution Contest and the Intel Associate Partner of the Year awards.

Ethernet Direct and Ardan Control Tech Ltd. are holding a 1-day seminar in Haifa, Israel, on “Innovation in Industrial Controls” on January 25, 2007 at the Dan Panorama Hotel, Star Conference Room.

Martin Swarbrick has been appointed President and Chief Operating Officer. Most recently, Swarbrick was Vice President and Director of Business Excellence for Motorola, when Motorola was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2002 and the Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame award in 2004.

Infor and Aberdeen Group will discuss overcoming the challenges of today’s complex compliance environment and the benefits of successful technology and organizational processes manufacturers can implement to achieve best in class compliance during a live joint webinar, Tuesday, January 16, 2007.

ATS is reducing its Automation Systems Group (ASG) workforce in North America by 180 people, with approximately 100 positions impacted in Cambridge, Ontario. The company is closing five operations in North America and Europe and investing in new facilities in China and Southeast Asia.

Infor ERP LN Feature Pack 3 delivers new features and improvements to increase visibility across operations; eases point-to-point integration of additional ERP solutions

Leonard Moore passed all the FAA requirements for his pilot's license, and now is certified to fly single-engine land-based aircraft. Mr. Moore has been flying since he was a teenager in Oelwein, Iowa, and soloed for the first time at age 16. Since then, he has continued to fly, but always with instructors or other certified pilots. When he rebuilt an old Ercoupe, he decided to use it to get his license.

Tom Kopanski, currently vice president of the Automation and Motion Division (AMD) has been named the new vice president of Power Distribution and Controls Division (PD&C). Raj Batra, vice president of the Automotive and Aerospace Center of Competence, has been named to the position of vice president of the Automation and Motion Division. These appointments will become effective, Jan. 15, 2007.

The Fieldbus Foundation announced the 2007 recipients of the James O. Gray-Fieldbus Foundation Educational Scholarship. They include Kenneth Ng Choon Guan, Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore; Jan Krak, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Calgary, Alberta, Canada; and Akira Uehara, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

Inter Reps Ltd., also known as Euro Reps / Latin Reps, will manage international sales and marketing for Aaxeon Technologies. Aaxeon is a developer and supplier of Device Networking and Industrial Communication products. Inter Reps provides international sales and marketing services to American manufacturers in the Industrial Automation market.

Calvin Wallace has been hired as Regional Sales Manager for Southwestern Ontario. Wallace will provide direct sales support to Beckhoff customers located in an area that extends from Windsor to Guelph.

Rexroth asked its associates to send humorous endings to the sentence, “You know you're an engineer if…." Here are the top 10.

Emerson announced a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion of its Fisher control valves research and development facilities in Marshalltown, Iowa. The project will create the Fisher Technology Development Center, which will be the industry's largest and most advanced flow control research facility.

Teams at the FIRST® (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competition will be using compnoents donated by Igus.

FORTUNE magazine released its annual rankings of the nation’s top 100 companies to work for, listing National Instruments as number 86. This is the eighth consecutive year National Instruments has appeared on FORTUNE’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.