Automation.com e-News - October 25, 2006

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October 25, 2006

Sponsored by WAGO

In this Issue

The New Standard for PLCs…
…the 750-841 PFC from WAGO

More Information on the 750-841 from WAGO

32-bit, multi-tasking, DIN rail mount CPU with 100M/bit fast Ethernet - List $550.00.
Supports both EtherNet/IPTM and/or Modbus (TCP/UDP) for data acquisition or control.
Supports HTTP, BootP, DHCP, DNS, SNTP, FTP, SNMP, SMTP, etc. for system management and diagnostics.
Gateway solutions for Modbus/RTU, AS-interface, DF1, RS-485/232, etc.
Granular 1,2,4, or 8 channel I/O modules (200+ analog, digital, and special function modules).
IEC 61131-3 programming tool w/built-in HMI - List $750.00 site license.

For more information, click
750-841 or IEC 61131-3. Or call us at 1-800-346-7245.

From One Techie to Another:
Who’s going to innovate and automate?

Product Announcements & News

Featured Article:
High Speed Ethernet - Promoting openness in hybrid control

Featured White Paper
Introduction to Fieldbus

Featured Catalog
Network I/O Products

Featured Products:

IMPACT™ A-10 Intelligent Camera

USB Converters

Data Station Plus

Corner Wiring Duct

Crash-resistant Endcoders

New Job Opportunities

New Auctions & Classifieds

Dilbert Pick of the Week

Sponsored by PANDUIT		From One Techie to Another
PANDUIT The Most Comprehensive Panel Solution Only PANDUIT offers a complete system to route, bundle, terminate, identify and protect electrical wiring and communications cabling for control panel design and fabrication. PANDUCT® Wiring Duct is the proven choice of panel builders, over any other wiring duct. For more information visit www.panduit.com/products.		Who’s going to innovate and automate? Engineering shortage is common theme at ISA EXPO and Automation Fair I’ve spent these last two weeks traveling to two different trade shows, ISA EXPO in Houston and Automation Fair in Baltimore. There is one issue that keeps coming up no matter where I go…the US-based engineering shortage continues to grow. Last week in Houston, “Dick’s Last Retort”, hosted by consultant Dick Morley, was certainly the most attended session at ISA. And it’s no wonder…Dick is not afraid to discuss “uncomfortable” issues like stem cell research and global warming. Also on the list were engineering education and the potential shortage of engineers in the U.S. The panel put part of the blame on our current education policies because they remove competition from the classroom and ultimately suffocate the innovative urges of our youth. With any issue, perspective is important and perception is reality. To put this issue in global perspective, China is currently graduating 300,000 engineers per year while the U.S. is graduating only 55,000 engineers per year. As our baby boomers continue to age and retire, our engineering work-force is shrinking, while the Asian engineering work-force grows drastically. Just a few decades ago in the U.S., engineering was a highly respected and highly paid profession. Today, new graduates can make more money in dozens of other professions, without the challenge of acquiring an engineering degree. Engineers are often perceived as dysfunctional, unsocial geeks…sure for some engineers that may be the reality (I can say that because I’m an engineer). For that reason, there is a certain stigma associated with engineering and there is little perceived glamour anymore. Yesterday, at Automation Fair’s Manufacturing Perspectives, Jamie Estrada, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing (U.S. Department of Commerce), spoke about the challenges facing U.S. Manufacturers. He stated that international manufacturing is ultimately good for the U.S. because it forces us to become more efficient and productive. He went on to say, like Dick Morley last week, that innovation is still America’s strength…it’s in our DNA. But, we will have to work to keep our innovative advantage. Mr. Estrada discussed our administration’s activities to increase spending on R&D and emphasize science and math in grades K-12. Of course these are great policies, but we can’t rely and wait for our government to intervene…the effects may be too little to late. Yes, it’s true that much of the US-based manufacturing has moved to Asia because of low-cost labor. But, as the Asian economic societies and manufacturing infrastructures continue to age, the cost to manufacture products in Asia will continue to go up as well. They may not ever equal manufacturing costs in the U.S., but they will certainly increase. Manual labor will ultimately be replaced with automated machines and equipment. All those graduating engineers in Asia will eventually gain the experience they need to innovate. Manufacturers, no matter where they are in the world, must automate their production and business processes to stay as efficient and productive as possible. It’s an inevitable evolution. As engineers, manufacturers and Americans, we need to stay competitive in this global economy. The burden (otherwise know as an opportunity) to take action lies on each and every one of us. Don’t wait for someone else to solve the problem. Praise your profession. Encourage youth to take up engineering. Continue to automate as much as possible. Always look for ways to improve efficiency and productivity. So, I ask again…Who’s going to innovate and automate? Enjoy the rest of this eNews! Rick Zabel Vice President, Editor-in-Chief
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Featured Article

High Speed Ethernet - Promoting openness in hybrid control
Many tasks in Process Automation require a combination of continuous and sequential control. Developments in Ethernet-based backbones, however, are increasingly addressing the problems of high-speed, real-time Factory Automation only. There is one exception: FOUNDATION Fieldbus High Speed Ethernet. This paper shows, on the basis of practical examples, how High Speed Ethernet supports hybrid control through standard and flexible function blocks, provides innovative and powerful solutions by bridging fieldbus networks, and allows the use of both FOUNDATION Fieldbus and PROFIBUS solutions when the application demands it.

Read full article

More articles and white papers
More application stories

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:

Citect launches open historian software 10/24/06
Rockwell Automation's Strategic Approach to Safety Solutions Yields Productivity Gains 10/24/06
Bridging Gap Between Process and Discrete Applications Key Highlight at Automation Fair 10/24/06
TURCK releases compact I/O modules 10/24/06
Lantronix announces device server for harsh environments 10/24/06
Lantronix releases wireless device server for harsh environments 10/24/06
Rockwell Automation Highlights Advances in Integrated Control and Information 10/24/06
Rockwell Automation Expands FactoryTalk Suite With Production Management and MES Software Based on Service-Oriented Architecture 10/24/06
GE Fanuc Automation announces software for water/wastewater 10/24/06
Belden expands fieldbus cable line 10/24/06
Korenix connects serial devices via Fiber networking 10/24/06
Intellicom announces Industrial Web gateway 10/24/06
Fluke announces multipurpose Thermometer for HVAC 10/24/06
FKI Logistex upgrades sliding shoe sorter 10/24/06
AXIOMTEK releases low power EPIC Form Factor SBC 10/24/06
Adept introduces fast parts picking Robot at PackExpo 10/24/06
Trinity Integrated Systems wins IET innovation award 10/24/06
Siemens announces pressure transmitter for Profibus PA SIL2 safety functions 10/23/06
Wonderware releases Bulk Import Utility to ease Migration of Legacy Applications 10/23/06
ASI announces Programmable Fiber Optic Sensors 10/23/06
MTS level sensors make bottle filling easier 10/23/06
Belden upgrades ControlNet cable with corrugated aluminum armored coax 10/23/06
Siemens releases head-mounted temperature transmitters 10/23/06
Siemens introduces diagnostic system for monitoring pumps 10/23/06
AE Solutions and Siemens introduce Fire & Gas Alarm System 10/23/06
Rexroth introduces Compact CNC Platform 10/20/06
Belden expands line of variable frequency drive cables 10/20/06
DDP announces 360° LED stack light lamp 10/20/06
Sealant announces dispense valve that prevents dripping and controls volume 10/20/06
Tangent announces mobile PC with low power consumption 10/20/06
National Instruments introduces software for modeling Machine Vision 10/19/06
Rockwell Automation introduces Arc Flash shield for Motor Control Centers 10/19/06
ICONICS Alarm software meets industry standards 10/19/06
Catapult Software releases add-on navigation for GE Proficy iFIX 10/19/06
Parker announces motors to replace discontinued Rockwell N-Series 10/19/06
National Instruments releases drivers for Wireless Sensor Networks 10/19/06
Belden adds more Category 5e Twisted Pair industrial ethernet cables 10/19/06
MTS position sensor seals out wet environments 10/19/06
Siemens showcases automation solutions at ISA Expo 2006 10/18/06
Opto 22 announces line of Solid State Relays 10/18/06
Hitachi enhances micro AC drives 10/18/06
Control Microsystems upgrades SCADA system 10/18/06
Panasonic introduces rugged tablet and clamshell computers 10/18/06
Bosch Rexroth releases Online Configurator Tool for Pneumatic Handling Systems 10/18/06
Pittman DC motors and gearmotors minimize magnetic cogging 10/18/06
Avance Control enhances SPC software 10/18/06
Emerson to expose risks of salvaged and remanufactured equipment 10/18/06
Omni announces Solar Power Supply 10/18/06
Weed Instrument announces Industrial Ethernet Ring Switch at ISA Expo 2006 10/18/06
Ethernet Direct announces 10-port Industrial Managed Ethernet Switches 10/18/06
Square D web tool helps users calculate energy savings 10/18/06
Thermo Electron shows Process Control Offerings at ISA Expo 2006 10/18/06
Hitachi brings oil free air technology products to North America 10/18/06

Company & Organization News:

Rockwell Automation Launches FactoryTalk Information Solution Provider Program 10/24/06
Customers and prospects attend ABB Roadshow in Cleveland 10/24/06
National Instruments reports record Quarterly Revenue of $164 Million 10/24/06
Schneider Electric's third-quarter 2006 sales up 15.3% 10/24/06
Power Efficiency Corporation in CNET article on Electric Motor Efficiency 10/24/06
Lantronix expands Industrial Device Networking marketing efforts 10/24/06
ABB receives Frost & Sullivan South Asian Technology Award 10/24/06
Emerson delivers the 500,000th Micro Motion Coriolis Flowmeter 10/23/06
KUKA Robotics announces system partner awards 10/23/06
Symbol and Datalogic expand OEM partnership 10/23/06
ISA Cyber Security Committee nears completion of first two industry standards 10/19/06
Flowserve receives Awards from Frost & Sullivan 10/19/06
ICONICS celebrates 20th Anniversary 10/19/06
ICONICS receives new U.S. Patents 10/19/06
ISA's SP100 Committee merges working groups 10/19/06
ICONICS nominated for 2006 Microsoft Partner of the Year 10/19/06
National Instruments CEO gives Keynote Address at NSF Workshop 10/19/06
US Department of Commerce Selects ISA as a Delegate to India 10/19/06
GE Fanuc teams with SAP to ease Enterprise Integration 10/18/06
ISA makes Standards free for ISA Members 10/18/06
Wireless Industrial Networking Alliance joins the Automation Federation 10/18/06
Verano expands worldwide distribution network 10/18/06
Ethernet Direct Partners with KTS Optonics in Korea 10/18/06
Mark Engman named Opto 22 President and CEO 10/18/06
Control Microsystems gives 2006 Customer Innovator Award to Devon Energy 10/18/06

Application News:

Featured White Paper

Introduction to Fieldbus
This white paper explains, in terms any engineer, technician or operator can understand, how fieldbus works. It strips away all the jargon and confusing terminology and explains:

The differences between FOUNDATION Fieldbus H1 and PROFIBUS PA
The elements of fieldbus: H1/PA cards, power supplies, segments, trunks, device couplers and segment terminators
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
The issues involved in using fieldbus devices in hazardous areas
Methods for setting up a redundant fieldbus segment for critical instrumentation
Advantages of fieldbus networks

The non-commercial white paper is available for free, via a direct download from: www.miinet.com/moorehawke.

Featured Catalog

Network I/O Products
TURCK’s new Network I/O catalog combines nine other catalogs and brochures to bring you the first-ever 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.

The catalog demonstrates TURCK ’s ability to fulfill all I/O needs, regardless of the application. It encompasses all TURCK I/O families and accessories, including:

TURCK’s I/O families are compatible with major network protocols, such as DeviceNet, Ethernet, PROFIBUS-DP, AS-Interface and CANopen.

The Network I/O catalog is designed for ease of use, with drawings, pin-outs, data tables and part numbers all on one page. Selection guides and detailed product descriptions precede each catalog section.

Request your free catalog.