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March 23, 2011
Sponsor: Fluke
Fluke Process CalibratorsFluke Process Calibrators
Fluke process calibration tools include a full range of calibrators and troubleshooting tools for Instrument technicians working in the process industries. Fluke’s process calibrators include: Documenting Process Calibrators, Multifunction Process Calibrators, Single Function and Multifunction Temperature Calibrators.
Sponsor: Northwire

EcoPower™—HFFR, Phthalate, Bromine and PVC Free

EcoPower™—HFFR, Phthalate, Bromine and PVC Free

The industry’s first UL 62-approved and CSA-recognized 105°C HFFR cables and retractiles.  VW-1 and FT-2 rated.  Quotes in 24 hours. Custom cable in 5 days or fewer. No minimums.

www.northwire.com

 

Sponsor: World Meter Design Congress

World Meter Design Congress 2011

World Meter Design Congress 2011

The Smart Grid era has created an entirely new set of requirements impacting the design and functionality of the meter. The computing power and system specifications are ‘a whole new beast’ requiring new information for the metering community.  The World Meter Design Congress, is THE place where metering technology leaders, meter manufacturers and meter component suppliers meet.

Learn More.

 

Featured Portal

Robots & Robot Controllers

Robots & Robot Controllers

The field of robotic controls is constantly changing with powerful processing, integration with vision systems, speed, precision and repeatability.

Automation.com’s Robots & Robot Controllers portal features valuable information and resources for controls and automation engineers to apply robots to automate manufacturing processes.  The portal focuses on all types of industrial robots and robot controllers. 

Visit the Portal.

 

American Red Cross

Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami

Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami

Your gift to the American Red Cross will support their disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.

Donate now!

 

Featured ISA Book

Loop Checking: A Technician's Guide

Loop Checking: A Technician's Guide

This technician’s guide defines loop checking in the broader scope of control loop performance in addition to the more traditional terms of the plant startup. It discusses general methods and practices that can be applied across many processes/industries.

More Information.

 

Sponsor: automationtechies

Don’t gamble with your hiring needs

Don’t gamble with your hiring needs

automationtechies is your best bet for finding the Controls, Automation or Process Engineer that fits your needs. Our recruiters have industry experience and will fill your direct hire and contract positions.

Contact one of our experienced recruiters today.

 

Sponsor: ISA

2011 ISA Safety & Security Symposium
April 13-14, 2011

2011 ISA Safety & Security Symposium

This symposium will provide an in-depth look at today's safety technologies and procedures associated with identifying and mitigating safety hazards in industrial environments. This symposium will focus not only on Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) topics, but also include material on cyber security.

More information.

 

Sponsor: Automation.com

Looking for automation talent?

Post Your Automation Job

Reach tens of thousands of automation professionals visiting Automation.com each month. Your job posting will be included in our Career & Job Center and featured on our home page and in our Automation Weekly e-newsletter.

Post Your Job Today.

 

Featured ISA Training

ISA CyberU Online, Instructor-Assisted Training
Cybersecurity for Automation, Control, and SCADA Systems.

When: April 4 - May 27, 2011
Course No.: IC32E

The move to using open standards such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, and web technologies in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and process control networks has begun to expose these systems to the same cyber-attacks that have wreaked so much havoc on corporate information systems. This course provides a detailed look at how the ANSI/ISA99 standards can be used to protect your critical control systems. This course also explores the procedural and technical differences between the security for traditional IT environments and those solutions appropriate for SCADA or plant floor environments.

You Will Be Able To:
  • Interpret the ANSI/ISA99 industrial security guidelines and apply them to your operation
  • Analyze the current trends in industrial security incidents and methods hackers use to attack a system
  • Identify the principles behind key risk mitigation techniques, including anti-virus and patch management, firewalls, and virtual private networks
  • And more

Register or Learn More

 

Featured Training

Safety Instrumented Systems Training Course - Electronic Download

Safety Instrumented Systems Training Course - Electronic Download

This course on Safety Instrumented Systems is designed to make the learning experience comfortable and easy. Everything is explained in easy to understand terms, with plenty of graphics, interactive simulations and worked problems.

More Information.

 

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Featured Articles

Unified visual intelligence
By Tim Donaldson for InTech
Monitoring and control of more plant information has improved operations but created an avalanche of data for people. Manufacturing dashboards provide refined information from multiple systems that is easy for people to understand and make prompt decisions to improve operations.

ODVA Industrial Networks Energy Initiative
By Bill Lydon for Automation.com
The intent of this energy initiative is to create a comprehensive approach to the optimization of energy usage for the industrial consumer that is scalable, open and inclusive for both users and suppliers. The ODVA has coined the term, Optimization of Energy Usage (OEU) to describe their efforts related to energy in helping industrial consumers meet overall business goals and achieve greater societal goals for sustainability.

The underutilization of manufacturing intelligence
By John Nesi for InTech
Today’s manufacturing enterprises are global, asset intensive, and feature high-variability designs that make them difficult to manage from an operational perspective. These challenges can seem insurmountable; however, manufacturing intelligence can improve insights to create a demand-driven environment manufacturers need to achieve success.

Browse more Articles by topic on our Automation Portals.

Sponsor: CimQuest INGEAR
Talk to your PLC, Runtime Free, Without OPCTalk to your PLC, Runtime Free, Without OPC
CimQuest INGEAR gives Visual Studio .NET a direct communication pipeline to your PLC network without the need for OPC or 3rd party drivers.
Application Stories

FRABA POSITAL position sensors improve solar energy outputFRABA POSITAL position sensors improve solar energy output
POSITAL's rotary encoders and inclinometers play an important role in solar tracking systems, providing the controller with instantaneous information on the exact orientation of the solar panel array.

Airfield Lights Using Wireless POINT I/O and Mobile Operator InterfacesAirfield Lights Using Wireless POINT I/O and Mobile Operator Interfaces
At the heart of the lighting systems are ControlLogix PACs utilizing Ethernet/IP wireless communications modules. Airfield lighting circuit status is served to a FactoryTalk SCADA operator console located in the Air Traffic Control Tower.

Browse more Application Stories by topic on our Automation Portals.

White Papers

Find More Space in Your Control Panel
By Eaton
Optimize your panel designs. Learn options for distributing loads in industrial control panels and how to safely apply them, while adhering to Underwriters Laboratories® standard 508A and National Electrical Code®, NFPA® 70-2011.

Machine Vision for Factory Automation
By Teledyne DALSA
Many key tasks in the manufacture of products, including inspection, orientation, identification, and assembly, require the use of visual techniques. By replacing human inspection with machine vision, the net result is greater productivity and improved customer satisfaction through the consistent delivery of quality products. This paper helps users match machine vision options with application requirements.

Browse more Application Stories by topic on our Automation Portals.

Sponsor: Software Toolbox
Tired of your current HMI’s limitations? Tired of your current HMI’s limitations?
Develop a custom HMI in .NET for WinForms, WebForms & WPF.  Alarming, trending, gauges, visualization, codeless data display, NO DCOM. Free demo + Online Training.
New Products

Honeywell introduces 2 Arc Configurations for SMART Position SensorHoneywell introduces 2 Arc Configurations for SMART Position Sensor
The new configurations sense the position of a magnet relative to a sensor in either of two sensing ranges: 0° to 100° or 0° to 180° degrees, and are suitable for a variety of applications.

Yokogawa releases new modules for STARDOM Control SystemYokogawa releases new modules for STARDOM Control System
The new STARDOM modules include turbomachinery control, a frequency input module for wind turbine blades, and an upgraded CPU module for oil and gas upstream processes.

Advantech launches APAX-5018 12-Channel Thermocouple ModuleAdvantech launches APAX-5018 12-Channel Thermocouple Module
The APAX-5018 offers a 12-channel high density analog input solution for reading thermocouple sensor data, saving dimension and installation costs, and satisfying various application needs.

Schmersal releases modular e-stop & pushbutton control stationsSchmersal releases modular e-stop & pushbutton control stations
The Series BDF control station provides operators and maintenance personnel with the ability to E-Stop, control start up, reset and select the appropriate mode of machine operation in a single housing.

Invensys Operations Management introduces Eurotherm PenGUIn HMIInvensys Operations Management introduces Eurotherm PenGUIn HMI
Besides the standard HMI functionality, the PenGUIn HMI comes with powerful protocol conversion, port sharing and web server capability, all of which are easily configured and managed by GUIcon software package.

B&R announces custom designs for operator interface panelsB&R announces custom designs for operator interface panels
In just a few simple steps, Panel Designer allows machine manufacturers and end users to creatively design the exterior surface of their operator interface panels.

ASI releases EZ Jump Terminal Blocks for PV applicationsASI releases EZ Jump Terminal Blocks for PV applications
The complete line of DIN rail mounted IEC terminal blocks are rated at 1000V DC for solar photovoltaic (PV) applications.

Phoenix Contact introduces PLC-PIT coupling relaysPhoenix Contact introduces PLC-PIT coupling relays
The PLC-PIT products combine the advantages of push-in technology with established PLC relay products.

AutomationDirect releases Gladiator Compact Fusible switchesAutomationDirect releases Gladiator Compact Fusible switches
Gladiator single-pole, two-pole and triple-pole AC devices are available in Class CC and Midget fuse models; single-phase DC devices are also available.

Dwyer releases Series ULB Ultrasonic Solid Level TransmitterDwyer releases Series ULB Ultrasonic Solid Level Transmitter
The Series ULB is a direct-install level transmitter designed for non-contact measurement of solid levels.

Omron STI introduces D4GS-N Slim Safety Door SwitchesOmron STI introduces D4GS-N Slim Safety Door Switches
Just 17 mm wide and featuring IP67 protection, the tongue actuated D4GS-N is designed to fit in skinny spaces subject to water washdown cleaning.

Browse MORE new products introduced this week

Company & Organization News

Jody Markopoulos named President & CEO of GE Intelligent Platforms
Markopoulos, who will report to GE Home & Business Solutions President and CEO Charlene Begley, succeeds Maryrose Sylvester who was recently named as president and CEO of GE Lighting.

Rockwell Automation announces Lifecycle Service Agreement
The agreement helps manufacturers minimize the serious financial consequences due to extended unplanned downtime when spare parts or speedy repair are unavailable for outdated Rockwell Automation components.

Honeywell installs Profit Controller in 100 mining processes
Multi-variable predictive control technology such as Profit Controller allows mining companies to design, implement and maintain advanced control systems, which can drive processes to maximum economic benefit.

Fieldbus Foundation appoints Larry O’Brien Global Marketing Manager
O’Brien has 18 years of experience in the process automation business as a research director and analyst at ARC, and has been closely tracking and reporting on developments surrounding FOUNDATION fieldbus for much of his career.

91% of Manufacturing Execs Optimistic about Growth
As for the economy, 60% believe that the U.S. economy will improve in the next six months, up from 49% in November. However, those planning to increase hiring in the next six months saw a drop to 44% in February from 49% in November.

ABB invests in Novatec Solar, sharpens solar focus
Novatec Solar is a leading provider of Linear Fresnel CSP technology using flat mirrors to concentrate the sun’s energy onto a receiver to produce steam.

B&R signs Kundinger Controls as distributor in Michigan
AchieKundinger, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, distributes, designs, engineers, manufactures, installs, and provides ongoing service support for machine applications.

China‘s PLC and PAC Market to grow
ARC predicts strong growth of the PLC and PLC-based Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) market through 2014 in China, but provides no numbers.

Other Company & Organizational News:

Browse more Company & Organization News by topic on our Automation Portals.

Project News

ABB to maximize efficiency at India’s largest seawater desalination plant
When completed at the end of 2011, the Nemmeli seawater desalination plant will supply up to 100 million liters of potable water a day and reduce the stress on Chennai’s dwindling groundwater resources.

Browse more Project News by topic on our Automation Portals.

New Jobs

New Job Postings

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Humor of the Week

Dilbert
Understanding the difference between laziness & uselessness.

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