Automation.com e-News - June 14, 2006

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June 14, 2006 - Volume VII, Issue 24
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In this Issue	Sponsored by Endress+Hauser
From One Techie to Another: Emerging Technologies in Automation Featured Article: Connecting to the PLC from a Remote Location Product & Company News Featured CD Industrial Control & Data Acquisition CD Featured Application Tool Build Your Purge System Featured Products: PMD Distance Measurement Sensor E-direct On-line Instrument Shop PCI-1671UP GPIB Interface Card New Job Opportunities New Auctions & Classifieds Dilbert Pick of the Week	New E-direct Catalog Now Available To shop for low-cost sensors and transmitters for process automation, simply request a free E-direct catalog available either printed, or on CD-ROM. Both versions contain the same products found in the on-line shop. There is also a brand new E-direct on-line shop now live with new capabilities. And on-line buyers also have a chance to win a shopping spree at Amazon.com. To browse the new shop, request a catalog, or enter the giveaway, Click Here.
From One Techie to Another
Emerging Technologies in Automation There are a number of hot topics in industrial automation today. For the sake of this discussion (and survey below), we have identified the following four hot technologies in automation: Emerging standards and risk reduction strategies for Machine Safety Latest in RFID technologies and intelligent tracking trends Wireless Communications trends and execution considerations Implementing Industrial Ethernet on the plant floor While most of these technologies and concepts are not new, we are beginning to see definite trends in the industrial automation marketplace. With Machine Safety, light curtains and other safety devices have been used for years, but we are just now starting to see these safety devices truly integrated with control systems. RFID has been commonly used for product tracking in the automotive industry, but because of mandates by Walmart and others, we are starting to see RFID proliferate into other industry segments. More and more companies are starting to experiment with wireless technologies where wired communications have not been possible or practical. With each successful application (and there are many), you will see wireless communications become more prevalent. Last, but certainly not least, Industrial Ethernet is becoming the overwhelming networking standard for plant floor systems. With these four trends in mind, we are conducting a short survey (right now for just our US and Canadian subscribers) to identify which of the above latest emerging technologies are most important to you. Your input will help us determine the topics and format of future educational seminars. By completing the survey, your name will automatically be entered in a drawing for an iPod. Click here to complete the survey at http://www.automation.com/sitepages/pid2448.php. We appreciate your feedback and we look forward to better serving your information needs. Enjoy the rest of this eNews! Rick Zabel Vice President, Editor-in-chief
Featured Article	Sponsored by B&B Electronics
Connecting to the PLC from a Remote Location Industrial automation is no longer limited by the walls of a production facility. More and more automation is being handled via remote communication, whether it’s from the office or from the comfort of your own home. Today’s PLCs give you the ability to access your control system to handle such tasks as monitoring via a website to determine the condition of a machine or check other statistics. With the latest PLC technology, almost anything that can be accomplished next to the machine can be accomplished wherever there is an Internet connection. Read complete article by Paul Reszka of WAGO Corporation. More articles and white papers More application stories	Ethernet Enable Modbus Serial Ports on Industrial Equipment Connect Ethernet TCP/IP networks to new and existing ASCII/RTU serial devices with these converters. Model MES1A connects Modbus devices with RS-232 interfaces. Model MES1B connects Modbus devices with RS-422 four-wire point-to-point interfaces, or RS-485 four or two-wire multi-drop connections. More information on B&B Electronics Modbus Ethernet Serial Servers.
Product Announcements & Company News
Hear all about it...industry news is published on our site daily. Here are the latest news headlines for your review...use the following links to read the full article. Check out our Daily News Headlines page frequently to stay up-to-date on the industry events. Product Announcements: Fieldbus couplers meet EtherNet/IP compliance 6/14/06 Software manages data from PLCs and DCSes, no matter the vendor 6/14/06 Documentation software generates loop diagrams in automation systems 6/14/06 Safety laser scanners protect AGVs, cranes and mobile vehicles 6/14/06 Advanced flow technology available on multivariable transmitters with MODBUS 6/14/06 Literature describes world’s first “enterprise control system” 6/14/06 Remote Power Monitoring Service reacts as first responder to UPS emergencies 6/14/06 Water analysis and control system at a fraction of the cost 6/13/06 24V DC-LVDT position sensors feature 0-10 V DC output for simplified field integration 6/13/06 Miniature pressure regulator for high purity gas handling systems 6/13/06 Position transducers have long-range, compact package, and flexible mounting for OEMs 6/13/06 Miniature encapsulated AC/DC power modules 6/13/06 Wireless M2M solutions for airports 6/13/06 Mag flow meter delivers accuracy in tough municipal & industrial water applications 6/13/06 Process control system helps prevent abnormal situations 6/13/06 Plant Engineering Management software package for operations and maintenance 6/13/06 Green Hills Software helps develop industry’s first dual-radio WiFi mesh network access point 6/13/06 CIP network I/O interface solutions 6/9/06 Position and rate gimbals use direct-drive motors for smooth, high-performance motion 6/9/06 Noiseless, fanless embedded system has 1.4GHz processor 6/9/06 Bosch Rexroth to showcase products and systems at IMTS 2006 6/9/06 DAQ board has simultaneous signal conditioning and sampling of filtered signals 6/9/06 Build small industrial networks with industrial Ethernet switch 6/9/06 CCD-based spectrometer supports zinc alloy applications 6/9/06 Molded M23 cordsets can be completely shielded 6/8/06 Industrial Ethernet switches and gateways 6/8/06 Four-port RS-232/422/485 PCI communication card 6/8/06 Web-based configuration tool helps users build a purging system in 10 steps 6/8/06 Solid-state flat panel computing solutions 6/8/06 2U rackmount pure sine wave inverter delivers 3KVA 6/8/06 Quick-release pneumatic fittings 6/8/06 70-in control room displays and 46-in. digital signs 6/8/06 Fanless panel computer fits medical applications 6/8/06 Ticketing kiosk system automates flow of trucks and materials 6/8/06 Ethernet network board supports low power Pentium M CPU 6/8/06 Relay switch with remote serial control 6/8/06 AS-Interface for WAGO I/O systems 6/7/06 High-speed connectors and cable assemblies for PCI Express (PCIe) 6/7/06 Web-based training courses cover ICP emission spectrometers 6/7/06 Solid state relay Ethernet I/O module 6/7/06 GUI for robot applications in plastics industry 6/7/06 Portable infrared thermometer has Type k thermocouple input and USB data output 6/7/06 Safety interlock switch provides two million actuations 6/7/06 Software drivers for Microsoft BizTalk RFID 6/7/06 Tendril and Ember team up to speed wireless sensor and control network 6/7/06 Generator Set sizing and specifying tool 6/7/06 Industrial Computer Pentium M powered 6/7/06 RoHS-compliant CAN card for ISA systems 6/7/06 Company & Organization News: MatrikonOPC User Conferences coming to Houston and Koln, Germany, this fall 6/14/06 ControlSoft PID Loop Tuning & APC Training in Chicago June 27-28 6/14/06 International Automation Network Forum, June 13 – 14, Genova, Italy 6/14/06 Intergraph opens International Users Conference 6/14/06 ISA/OMAC/WBF automation website goes live 6/14/06 Sadlowski named chief operating officer for Siemens Energy & Automation 6/13/06 Webcast Revisited: Extended enterprise integration and the evolving role of ISA-95 6/9/06 Contemporary Controls successfully completes its lead-free conversion process 6/9/06 Bus tour brings weighing equipment to U.S. and Canada 6/8/06 Sales of Wi-Fi gateway surpass 500 unit milestone 6/7/06 Application News: Arizona Cardinals' retractable stadium roof employs ABB Drives to open and close giant panels 6/14/06 Virginia Tech wins Challenge X 2006 hybrid vehicle competition with help of NI's CompactRIO 6/14/06 Coating robot paints plastic fascias at Chicago show next week 6/14/06 Shanghai SECCO Petrochemical Company implements Intergraph's SmartPlant Enterprise 6/14/06 SASOL contracts PAS for alarm management and control loop performance software at multiple sites 6/9/06 Case study: Finnish Road Administration saves costs and trouble by using arctic GPRS gateways and routers 6/9/06 Methane-powered generator sets power gas project in China 6/9/06 Yokogawa receives control systems contract for large coal-fired power station in Australia 6/8/06 Swedish utility selects Echelon’s NES smart electricity metering system for 370,000 customers 6/8/06 Machinery diagnostics find bad boiler fans, save $535,000 in downtime 6/8/06 Intergraph gives $1.8 million in software to universities worldwide 6/7/06
Featured CD
Industrial Control & Data Acquisition CD SIXNET's CD is a great tool for any industrial control professional's arsenal. The CD contains time-saving application suggestions and technical notes, detailed datasheets and user manuals, product demos, and useful software tools. SIXNET's Industrial Ethernet and Data Acquisition product line features: LINUX IPm Products, including the new SixTRAK IPm Open DCS Controller and the VersaTRAK IPm RTU. Real-Time Ethernet Switches for harsh industrial environments. Industrial Modems and Process Quality I/O. This CD is your best resource for LINUX Open Control! Click here to request your free CD
Featured Application Tool
Build Your Purge System Pepperl+Fuchs introduces a new web-based "Build Your Purge System" configuration tool that empowers users to build a complete purge and pressurization system based on specific application needs in just ten easy steps. Users simply enter known application variables such as class, division and enclosure volume, and the system configurator will instantly provide a purging system model number, including all relevant accessories. Systems can then be quoted with price and delivery dates in one business day. Click here to access the purge system configurator
Featured Products
ifm efector PMD Sensor with time-of-flight sensing principle provides non-contact distance measurement with a 10-meter sensing range. More Information on PMD Sensor Contact ifm efector for Product Literature or Application Assistance
E-direct is the On-line Instrument Shop for process control instrumentation from Endress+Hauser. More Information on E-direct On-line Instrument Shop Contact Endress+Hauser for Product CD or Application Assistance
The PCI-1671UP is a cost-effective GPIB Controller starting at $470. More Information on PCI-1671UP GPIB Interface Card Contact Advantech for Product Guide or Application Assistance
Product & Supplier Search Other Featured Products for June Find Products by Category Find Manufacturers & Suppliers
New Jobs
Here's a list of new jobs posted on Automation.com: Sr. Project Engineer: Nashville, TN - Edison Automation, Inc. 6/13/2006 Controls Engineer: Colorado Springs, CO - USFilter - A Siemens Business 6/12/2006 Application Engineer: Multiple Locations, USA - automationtechies 6/13/2006 Associate Director: Denver, CO - automationtechies 6/12/2006 Controls Technician: Los Angeles, CA - automationtechies 6/08/2006 Design Engineer: Ceres, CA - automationtechies 6/08/2006 Industrial Sales: Napa, CA - automationtechies 6/08/2006 Applications Engineer: Chicago, IL - automationtechies 6/08/2006 Sales Engineer, Motion Control Products: Twin Cities, MN - automationtechies 6/06/2006 Controls Engineer, Vision Systems: Albany, OR - automationtechies 6/01/2006 Electrical Design Engineer/Drafter: Portland area, OR - automationtechies 6/01/2006 To view other recent job postings, please use our Job Search Function.
New Auctions & Classifieds
eBay hosts over 8000 auctions for industrial automation, control and instrumentation products. From PLCs to sensors, from motor controls to robotics...Use the links below to browse the latest new, used and surplus automation products by category: Control Systems & PLCs Drives & Motion Control Fieldbus, DeviceNet, Ethernet Instrumentation Operator Interface Panels Power Supply, Circuit Breakers Relays, Timers, Counters Robotics Sensors Switches Temperature Controllers Valves & Flow Controls Wiring, Connections & Cables Other
Dilbert Pick of the Week
Just another way of saying you’re old.
I hope you enjoyed this e-news update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me. Rick Zabel Vice President, Editor-in-chief Automation.com View our Privacy Policy For editorial and advertising inquiries, please contact Rick Zabel or see our Media Kit. For automationtechies recruiting and contract staffing services, please visit www.automationtechies.com.