Articles and News

Theorem Solutions has been invited to partner a major automotive OEM in a project involving the importing of parts and assemblies for design in context.

GMagnum OGP (Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals) hardened Ethernet Switches and Serial Media Converters meet both the UL 1604 Class 1 Division 2 certification for use in hazardous environments and IEEE PCIC draft specifications for 14-mil silicone-based conformal coating that protects equipment against even highly corrosive gases such as hydrogen sulfide and benzene.

The Automation Standards Compliance Institute is an ISA-owned non-profit organizational entity that will assess automation-related standards compliance. The institute's charter includes a wide range of standards compliance assessments including, software or hardware products, implementation methods, solutions, companies and individuals.

Cirronet will show an end-to-end Condition-Based Operations (CBO) platform with Aleier, Inc., at booth #2370 at ISA EXPO 2006, October 17-19. The Cirronet/Aleier CBO platform streamlines integration of Cirronet's industrial wireless sensor networking with Aleier's Enterprise Asset Management system (EAM).

Enhancements to Advanced Alarm Administrator (AAASuite) Version R1.20 include static alarm suppression, excluding suppressed alarms from analysis, and removing limitations of CENTUM CS Controller-dedicated Function. Once problems and issues have been identified and prioritized by Exaplog, AAASuite then optimizes and enhances alarming functions to pave the way to an effective alarm management practice.

Enhancements to Exaplog Event and Analysis Package version R3.10 software include: increase number of days of data the can be displayed to 31 days; increase the maximum number of events that can be displayed to 1,000,000; increase the maximum number of events per day that can be saved to 150,000; add Fieldbus related messages to the types of messages that can be saved and analyzed.

ISaGRAF is the software of choice for Rabbit Semiconductor's new Embedded PLC Application Kit. The Rabbit Embedded PLC Application kit includes all of the hardware and software required to develop this low-cost PLC replacement system: the ISaGRAF Application Workbench, ISaGRAF programming cable, and the Rabbit BL2500 single board computer with embedded micro PLC firmware kernel.

Alloy, an Australian manufacturer, wholesaler and distributor of computer networking, communications and associated products, has set up Global Ethernet Direct’s new base in the Pacific Rim to serve customers in that region.

RFID Gen 2 printers will be installed at check-in counters to further enhance the existing RFID baggage sorting system, which was first installed in 2005. HKIA is the first airport in the world to implement an end-to-end RFID baggage tagging/sorting system.

NWA's SPC and manufacturing analytics software is now referenced in the Encompass Partner Program. SPCx is a drop-in ActiveX component for HMI/SCADA systems that includes a version for RSView. Quality Analyst is an off-line SPC charting and analysis package that provides comprehensive SPC charting, process capability analysis, and manufacturing analytics using data from any ODBC-compliant database.

By combining the P6010 COAX vacuum pump with an air-saving cruise control (PCC) feature and a durable BL-3P suction cup, PIAB offers the first complete solution for a variety of plastic bag handling applications in the packaging industry.

These sales follow previously announced tests at these three facilities. The tests, which were verified by the local utility, confirmed that Power Genius saved 28% to 40% of the electricity used electric motors in multiple escalators and an elevator.

At PACK EXPO this year, Rockwell Automation (Booth No. N-4457) will demonstrate how its wide range of integrated control and information systems can provide manufacturers with significant productivity and cost savings benefits while helping OEMs enhance their competitive position.

The TECStation Xtreme NEMA-rated workstations allows companies to safely implement computers in hazardous manufacturing and production environments where flammable gases and vapors are present. The stainless steel enclosure meets NEMA 4/4X requirements and is suitable for Class I, Division I and II locations (as designated by the NEC).

Device Description (DD) Version 3.1. standardized source code library has been enhanced to make it even faster and easier for developers to build Device Descriptions (DDs) for new FOUNDATION instrumentation. All standard parameter labels and help strings have been translated to German. The library includes new manufacturer names and IDs, unit codes, and bugs have been fixed in response to action requests.

The ISA Human-Machine Interface Standards committee has identified five key areas, based on their scope statement, on which their standard will be focused. The topics that the committee will focus on are information display, process visualization, user interaction, performance, and documentation and training. They will divide into working groups next week at ISA EXPO in Houston, Texas, to work on the development of each topic.

Executives from leading global motion control companies have launched a new trade association to serve the interests of motors, drives and controls companies. Known as the Motion Control Association (MCA), the new trade group will promote the use of mechanical and electronic (mechatronics) motion control technology, which currently accounts for more than $44 billion in annual sales globally.

OMAC Packaging Working Group (OPW) will highlight the business value of implementing their industry automation guidelines on packaging machinery at PACK EXPO International being held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, from 29 October - 2 November 2006. Demonstration units implementing OPW guidelines from 17 diverse hardware and software suppliers will be showcased.

Viola Systems announced Teledata Technologies in Mexico City has become its strategic partner for the Mexican market. Teledata has served the Mexican communications industry since its inception in 1992, first as a training and technology transfer provider, then as a consultant to Nokia Telecommunications, and as a distributor of Nokia and many other mobile phones and Telcel's mobile services.

"Introduction to Fieldbus" white paper explains, in terms any engineer, technician or operator can understand, how fieldbus works. It strips away all the confusing terminology and explains: differences between FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1 and PROFIBUS PA; elements of fieldbus; how fieldbus device couplers work; how fieldbus instruments connect to a segment; how short-circuit protection works, and why it sometimes doesn't let you install 32 devices on a segment as the specifications claim; and more.

Microscan Systems achieved 2nd place out of 800 manufacturers considered for Quality magazine’s Quality Leadership 100 survey published in September, 2006. Microscan is the only manufacturer of auto ID equipment on the list, and ranked ahead of Fortune 100 companies such as Honda (3rd). General Electric (4th) and Delphi (66th).

TURCKs Network I/O catalog combines nine other catalogs and brochures for a comprehensive compilation of TURCK network I/O products. The 590-page catalog introduces many new products that have never before been offered in a TURCK catalog.

Computer Aided Solutions' data acquisition catalog has complete product specifications and application notes for the company's line of ADwin Real-Time Data Acquisition Systems. The catalog features diagrams, schematics and technical data for a wide range of systems and applications that include complex triggering, fast open- and closed-loop control, intelligent signal generation, and control of complex test parameters.

Eagle Technology acquired Equipsoft Corporation, a maintenance management software (CMMS) vendor based in Knoxville, TN. Eagle focuses on facility maintenance and asset management withits ProTeus family of products. Equipsoft offers a complementary product line.

iFIX is now available in Chinese, Japanese, German, French, Polish, and Russian. iFIX is an HMI/SCADA solution for monitoring, control and distribution of plant-wide data.

JMP Engineering was chosen as a finalist in the Mobility Solution of the Year category for their Mobile Inventory and Production Solution for Manufacturers. JMP is the only industrial automation, control, and data solutions provider so recognized.

Telemecanique's U.S. Web site makes it easier for users to navigate to the automation and control information they need. The site's drop-down navigation menus allow visitors to reach their destination in a minimum number of clicks. The revised Web site is designed as a resource library for OEMs, system integrators and control panel builders in a variety of industries.

The Stockholm office of Danaher Motion won first prize in Sweden’s Posten Logistics Award contest. The prize is awarded to the company or organization that has created the most effective, innovative and creative logistics solution that also increases the competitiveness of the company.

Mustang formed an alliance with Cutler Technology Corporation to be the preferred independent service provider for CTC's [ADMC] adaptive multivariable controller and CTC-Sim operator training technology.

Available in 14 countries around the world, Medallion Complete covers virtually all repairs, including those required due to incidental equipment damage. Medallion Complete is now available on most Intermec data collection devices, including handheld mobile computers, scanners, fixed and mobile RFID readers, printers and many accessories.

Line standardization includes methods of control, power, and positioning. Transfer cars are motorized vehicles that travel from station to station on a straight, fixed track, and provide an alternative to a fixed pallet conveyor.

Starthis and MasconIT are sponsoring a free Web Seminar on Oracle Manufacturing Intelligence - driving the next generation of manufacturing. The one-hour Web Seminar is on Tuesday, October 17th at 9:30am CT. This free web seminar will provide cost-savings tips that will help an enterprise run more efficiently.

James Burke, the renowned science historian, author, lecturer and television host, will present his ideas on technology and innovation at Thermo Informatics World (TIW) 2006, a user group meeting and informatics conference hosted by Thermo Electron Corporation. Burke will be keynote speaker during the general session of the three-day conference, being held 7-9 November at the Hotel InterContinental in Prague.

ProSafe-RS Safety Instrumented System has received type approval from certification organizations in the United States, France and the United Kingdom for use on floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessels, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

KUKA will demonstrate its new intelligent mixed product picking concept at its booth (#S-830) at PackExpo 2006, October 29-November 2nd in Chicago, Illinois. The interactive demonstration will allow attendees to create a pallet consisting of mixed products on the show floor by selecting items using an easy-to-use control panel.

The website explains key alarm management issues highlighted in guidelines issued by the Engineering Equipment & Materials Users' Association (EEMUA), the UK's Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the ISA's SP18 Committee. With sample screen shots and tutorial style online movies, the website allows visitors to quickly grasp how ICS software can be used in a day to day plant environment.

The 2007 catalog showcases over 130,000 products from Allied’s 300+ suppliers, including new suppliers such as Panduit, Kemet and Microchip. The inclusion of 25,000 new products ensures engineers have access to the latest technology from suppliers such as Honeywell, Phoenix Contact and Vishay.

Milwaukee Art Museum selected Eagle Technology to supply its ProTeus V Professional Edition and interface to the Johnson Controls Metasys Building Automation System for the museum's maintenance work management needs. This will ensure the proper work is scheduled and completed without reliance on management intervention, freeing up more time for strategic issues.

Industrial leaders will be sharing the latest standards updates with ISA EXPO attendees on 17-19 October at Reliant Center in Houston, Texas. The 30-minute Automation Standards Briefings will give attendees an opportunity to learn more about the work of leading professionals and industry associations to develop industry standards and guidelines.

ABB earned the Frost & Sullivan "Growth Excellence in Market and Product Leadership of the Year Award, for 2006 Low Voltage Drives." Technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development were contingencies Frost & Sullivan included in its evaluation, noting that ABB's global Low Voltage Drives business unit has excelled across them all.

To encourage users of Foxboro or other vendors' control systems to take advantage of performance services designed to help improve plant performance and safety, Invensys Process Systems announced three limited-time offers for plant-level performance services: Control Performance Analysis; One Industrial WiFi wireless hot spot; and Elimination of up to 20 nuisance alarms.

Rosemount Analytical Oxymitters have replaced the previous sample extraction-based oxygen measurement system used on the catalyst regeneration unit at Total Raffinaderij Antwerpen, Belgium. The more reliable readings from the Oxymitter have improved continuous catalyst regenerator (CCR) performance, helped the plant increase safety, and reduced maintenance time.

Peter Lapins and Darren DeAnda have been promoted to the position of Partner, effective immediately.

The scope of the $500,000 contract includes demolition and removal of an existing absorption chiller and installing a new 1020-ton centrifugal chiller. The project is located at the Lebanon VA Medical Center in Pennsylvania.

“Software for Next Generation Automation and Control” paper touches on topics such as requirements for the next-generation of automation and control, the IEC 61499 standard itself, and the IEC 61499-compliant ISaGRAF 5.0 software development environment. The white paper can be downloaded.

Ethernet Direct is cooperating with ICSystems to set up Ethernet Direct's base in Central Europe. ICSystems in Greece provides products and solutions for factory automation, process control, manufacturing intelligence, industrial communications and energy management.

Intermec received an award from Frost & Sullivan for RFID market strategy leadership in the Asia Pacific market for the years 2005-2006. The award is presented each year to a company whose market strategy has yielded significant gains in market presence during the research period.

AMF (Richmond, Virginia) will use the KUKA KR 180 PA palletizing robot in its meat stacking and de-stacking system. The system will be demonstrated at AMF's booth (#S-2234) at PackExpo 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, starting October 29th.

Advanced Technology Services announced an agreement with O'Neal Steel's Shelbyville, IN, facility to provide production asset maintenance services. ATS will implement disciplined processes, systems and teams, thereby enabling O'Neal Steel to maximize the performance of its facility.

The sessions bring users of industrial automation solutions together to discuss their experiences. BOF roundtable discussions will focus on ABB, Allen-Bradley/Rockwell, Emerson, and Honeywell platforms. The discussions, by invitation only, are not open to vendors or press to ensure a free, open environment to discuss user issues.

Downloadable document explains how the company's managed Ethernet switches can help monitor the state of networks as well as diagnose network problems.

Smart Wireless solutions combine self-organizing wireless network technology and gateways with wireless-enabled Rosemount measurement transmitters and wireless AMS Suite: Intelligent Device Manager predictive maintenance software. All are integrated with DeltaV and Ovation automation systems, or legacy hosts.

The U.S. government Defense Supply Center Richmond (DSCR) has rated Invensys among its best suppliers. The DSCR is a primary source for repair parts and operating supply items within the Department of Defense supply chain. Invensys received a gold medal for achieving a perfect score in meeting stringent quality and delivery requirements for Foxboro specialty instrumentation.

The PocketPAD LAN Buffer enables data transmitted from a serial device to be stored and then retrieved by establishing a TCP connection to the Buffer over the Ethernet network. The PocketPAD Buffer connects to the serial port of the PABX and into the company LAN, storing up to 50,000 call records. In Offline mode, data from the PABX is saved to flash for later download to a management station.

The latest revision to a technical specification introduced earlier this year defines an open mathematics semantics standard for numerical algorithm development. This update includes newly ratified functions from classes that include polynomials and vector analysis.

This catalog features 2,000 of the most commonly ordered items out of more than 3,500 off-the-shelf products and problem-solving components. Included are: shaft collars for round, square, hexagonal, and threaded shafts; set-screw, one-piece, two-piece, and triple-link hinge collars; and a full line of rigid clamp-type couplings in various sizes and materials.

ABB received a contract from Myllykoski Paper Oy to assume responsibility for maintenance operations at the company's mill in Anjalankoski, Finland. The ABB Full Service agreement is valued at more than $150 million. The arrangement covers automation, electrical and mechanical maintenance and planning as well as material management at the mill, which produces some 500,000 tons of coated and uncoated papers annually.

Honeywell will supply an Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS), a Da Vinci quality control system and a Devronizer steambox to Powerflute's paper machine in Kuopio, Finland. Powerflute makes the world's strongest semi-chem fluting medium and has a single mill at Kuopio in Eastern Finland. Honeywell also won a multi-year Life Cycle Management agreement to help the mill update control systems, maximize asset effectiveness and improve production.

STI shareholders will receive $10.67 per share in cash as a result of the merger, and STI will cease to be a publicly-traded company. Omron acquired STI's Safety Products Group (SPG) business will operate under the name of Omron Scientific Technologies. STI sold its Automation Products Group (APG) business to Automation Products Group, Inc., a new company formed by members of the Lazzara family.

Presented today by Homega Research at the 9th annual Net-atHome event in Cannes, France, the award recognizes contributions to the worldwide connected home markets made by particular companies or people. Mark Ossel, vice president of Echelon, accepted the award on Echelon’s behalf.

PostNet and OneCode Barcode Font Packages support USPS OneCode (also known as the 4-State Customer Barcode, 4CB, 4-CB, OneCode Solution Barcode and USPS4CB). USPS OneCode is a height-modulated barcode designed for use in high speed, automated, mail sorting machines.

RF Monolithics will offer its recently acquired asset management software through and under the name of its subsidiary, Aleier, Inc., and discontinue use of the Caver-Morehead Systems brand. Aleier will be a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) application provider and will provide a broader asset management solution, particularly condition-based maintenance.

The opening of a Texas sales office follows the launch of its Florida office in Tampa a year ago. Bill Walton, president and CEO of GiveMePower attributes the company's growth in part to its suite of desktop and mobile applications such as the PowerCAD SiteMaster automated building surveying and information management solution.

Omron has established OOO OMRON ELECTRONICS ('OEE-RUS'), a wholly owned subsidiary of OMRON's Industrial Automation Business ('IAB') in Moscow, Russia. The new company, which will handle the sales and servicing of IAB's control equipment, is scheduled to start operations in October 2006. Until now, IAB has serviced its Russian customers by stationing OMRON Finland staff in Moscow.

Barry-Wehmiller Design Group plans to expand its Electrical Manufacturing Division to provide advanced control panel solutions. The division, known as ControlTech Automation, operates independently, but it also serves the Design Group and other engineering consulting firms across the U.S.

The OPC Foundation Unified Architecture defines secure reliable interoperability for exchanging data and information from the factory floor to the enterprise. The OPC Unified Architecture DevCon 2006 will be held at the Technische Universitaet in Munich, Germany, on October 10- 12, 2006.

Honeywell won a $7 million contract to supply process and safety controls for Tasnee Petrochemicals’ new ethylene plant in Saudi Arabia. Samsung Engineering, one of the main contractors for the project, selected Honeywell to provide an Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) to manage the ethylene production. Honeywell will also install its Safety Manager platform to reduce the risk of incidents at the plant.

Intermec's 2006 Webinar Series webcasts contain information designed to improve efficiency and establish best practices with the latest technologies. The five 60-minute live webcasts cover a range of topics, including retail, forklift technology, RFID in the automotive industry, mobile enterprise, and warehouse productivity.

The company is using a KUKA KR 500 robot, fitted with a specialized end of arm order-picking/depalletizing head and mixed pallet building software, to demonstrate its new order picking by layer concept atits booth (#S-830) at PackExpo 2006 October 29- November 2nd in Chicago, Illinois.

BRIC Engineered Systems Limited has been awarded a contract with Concurrent Technologies Corporation and the U.S. Air Force for the continued development of a Robotic Laser Coating Removal Platform to remove paint and other coatings from aircraft structures.

Frost & Sullivan has selected Emerson Process Management as the recipient of the 2006 South East Asian Customer Service Leadership Award for Process Automation Suppliers. Emerson was recognized for responding to customer needs, and demonstrating a continual focus on long and short-term customer profitability goals

PAKO is an organization with 10 years solutions expertise in industrial automation computers, embedded solutions, rugged flat panel solutions, industrial & mil grade SSD storage, and CNC/PLC HMI. Based in Pune, Pako Communications is fast earning acclaim as a frontrunner in the areas of supply and maintenance of computers and peripherals, and has distinguished itself as a specialist in LAN installation on Novell, NT and Unix platforms.

The Schneider Electric North American Operating Division manufacturing plant in Peru, Ind., was recognized by IndustryWeek as a winner of its annual Best Plants Competition.

The price reduction presents an average savings of 18% on variable frequency drives. The Marathon lines of MicroMAX, Black Max, Blue Max, and Blue Chip inverter duty motors have been reduced 10%.

Edison fuse line now includes the J, RK1, and RK5 fuse classes. These current limiting fast-acting and time-delay fuses are available with 250 or 600 VAC ratings, depending on type, are UL and CSA approved.