Light Sources for Factory Automation

Hamamatsu offers high-quality light sources for industrial use, including UV spotlight sources for UV curing, red and infrared LEDs, laser diodes for laser processing, mercury-xenon lamps, and xenon flash lamps.

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Sensors Expo & Conference
June 6-8, 2011
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, IL

Sensors Expo & Conference is the only industry event in North America exclusively focused on sensors and sensor integrated systems, providing over 25 years of technical innovation and thought leadership!  Special Subscriber Discount: use code A335H for $50 off Gold & Main Conference passes before April 22nd.

Register Today!

Big Wave Surfing by Kenneth J. Thurber Ph.D.

Big Wave Surfing: Extreme Technology Development, Management, Marketing & Investing presents the issues of our innovation-based, technology driven economy in an understandable form through the exciting analogy of big wave surfing. It’s written for entrepreneurs, investors, managers, or anybody who wants to glide into the flow of abundance just like riding a big wave.

Get the book here.

Pinto's Points - How to Win in the Automation Business

Pinto's Points covers management topics, globalization, sales and marketing, technology trends and futures, and far-out technology visions. It closes with whimsical humor and poetry which I hope you'll enjoy. It includes 174 brief "points" in 6 different parts, each introduced by an industry guru.

Get the book here.

Good Tuning: A Pocket Guide

This guide is a portable, concise summary of all the practical considerations for tuning loops and includes step-by-step descriptions of the three best field-proven tuning procedures, a table of typical tuning settings, a summary of valve performance problems, logic diagrams for troubleshooting, and more than 30 "rules of thumb."

More Information.

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Implementing Wireless Industrial Automation Systems - Online Version

This online course will cover the most relevant details associated with industrial wireless systems with an emphasis toward how the various technological choices coexist, interoperate, and interact with each other. Numerous examples of real-world deployments are covered for facilities such as SCADA systems, electrical power generation and transmission systems, and petrochemical plants.

When:May 2 - June 24, 2011

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Solar power coming of age
By Bill Lydon for InTech
Not long ago considered a novelty or fringe technology, solar is a mainstream proven technology for alternative energy and sustainability.

Study proves Asset Performance Management increases plant efficiencies
By Bill Lydon for Automation.com
The asset management study, done through Virginia Tech’s Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, indicates companies that elevate the importance of APM through involvement of upper level management or organization-wide involvement tend to out-perform others based on a variety of metrics.

Feedforward control enables flexible, sustainable manufacturing
By Gregory K. McMillan for InTech
Feedforward control offers the ability to make the plant automation system respond immediately in unison and can also compensate for composition, pressure, and temperature upsets before they have a significant impact on product quality.

Browse more Articles by topic on our Automation Portals.

Emerson’s Wireless monitors water usage in Ireland
Rosemount wireless flow and pressure transmitters on two new storage tanks monitor water usage at GlaxoSmithKline's Cork plant in Ireland.

Micro-Epsilon Confocal sensors measure diameter of stainless steel pipe
Measurement and inspection services company QS-Grimm GmbH uses Micro-Epsilon’s optoNCDT 2400 confocal sensor to measure round tubes.

Browse more Application Stories by topic on our Automation Portals.

Video describes Automated Water Treatment HMI
The Open Automation Software application demonstrates monitoring 1 to 25 water treatment filter beds with one click of the mouse.

sercos/IP Library Released as Open Source Software
The driver software is available for download in C# source code without any license fees or usage limitations.

Thomson announces Online Solution Center
Solution Center online interactive knowledge base answers questions on the selection, application, installation, maintenance and general use of motion components and systems.

Browse more Resources by topic on our Automation Portals.

Phoenix Contact releases EMpro energy measuring devices
EMpro energy measuring devices acquire and monitor electrical parameters of systems and machines.

Endress+Hauser Announces Levelflex FMP55 Level Transmitter
The FMP55 transmitter uses both capacitance and guided wave radar technologies to measure level and the interface between two liquids.

Omega introduces OMDC-MD DC Speed Control
The OMDC-MD series is a compact programmable DC speed control with digital closed loop feedback and LED display for DC motors rated to 2 horsepower.

COOPER Crouse-Hinds announces GHG 64 Ex-d enclosures
The explosion-proof GHG 64 is protected to IP65. This can be upgraded to IP66 by fitting an optional lip seal made from a highly heat-resistant, weather-resistant silicone.

Festo introduces CPX-FVDA-P Profisafe shutdown module
The CPX-FVDA-P is an electronic module for the CPX terminal, which works with the Profisafe fieldbus protocol. It can be used with Profinet bus nodes.

Metso adds safety to Nelprof valve sizing software
Nelprof 6 valve sizing software now handles special safety requirements, such as the selection of automated on/off valves and emergency valves.

Banner Engineering releases DX80 Multi-Hop Data Radio
The Multi-Hop Data Radio can be used to connect field devices directly, including PLCs, Controllers, HMIs, DCSes, transmitters, and sensors at distances up to 20km.

Parker releases IPC/ IPX PowerStation industrial workstations
IPC and IPX PowerStations are available as 10-, 15-, and 17-inch panel-mount color touchscreen systems with Celeron M 550 at 2.0 GHz or Core2Duo T7500 at 2.2 GHZ.

EVT adds Kinect sensor to EyeScan 3D system
The expanded EyeVision system opens up new application ranges of robot control by the combination of a depth sensor and a normal camera.

ASI announces NDB5 circuit breaker
NDB5 circuit breaker product line includes AC and DC supplemental protectors with ratings ranging from 1 amp to 63 amps.

Browse MORE new products introduced this week

HANNOVER MESSE - turbocharged industry revs up the recovery machine
'Smart Efficiency' as the keynote theme for HANNOVER MESSE 2011 was the common thread running through the majority of this year's displays, and was also addressed in the many debates and forums featured at the event.

Krautzberger wins HERMES Award for steam spraying system
With this technology, atomization is effected by steam instead of the more conventional compressed air.

Eaton to supply SmartWire-DT to Phoenix Contact
The objective is the establishment of SmartWire-DT as a new standard in the communications interface for intelligent switchgear.

Texas Instruments to embed EtherCAT in its ARM processors
This Ethernet technology will be featured in TI’s upcoming Sitara ARM microprocessors (MPUs) planned for the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2011.

Machine Vision Market Soared 54% in North America in 2010
Sales of machine vision components and systems in North America soared 54% in 2010 to nearly $1.8 billion, according to the Automated Imaging Association (AIA), the industry’s trade group.

International Federation of Robotics elects Dr. Shinsuke Sakakibara president
Sakakibara replaces Åke Lindqvist, outgoing IFR President, who was presented the Joseph Engelberger Award on 22 March in Chicago.

Invensys to re-sell Machu Picchu safety software
Invensys will sell ACM Facility Safety’s process safety decision-support software, Machu Picchu.

Honeywell to expand its in-house engineering training
Honeywell is creating programs to develop the engineering talent of the future, including plant operators, maintenance technicians, implementation engineers, system administrators and management.

ABB to build high voltage cable factory in North Carolina
The new facility will supply high-voltage and extra high-voltage transmission cables to carry electric power underground.

Other Company & Organizational News:

• Adansor Systems Integration starts up in UK
• Helicopter sensor flies into theatre role
  

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

OSI to Upgrade Electrical Distribution Control System in Malaysia
Open Systems International was selected by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd. (MAHB) to upgrade the Electrical Power Supply (EPS) system for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Radius to install wireless network for Saudi Water Drainage System
Radius will install FastNet RTU and PDR VHF Data radios as part of a rainwater drainage SCADA system for pumping stations in the cities of Al Dammam and Al Khobar.

Honeywell extends simulation contract with Shell
Honeywell will provide its UniSim Design process simulation software to Shell through 2015.

Browse more Project News by topic on our Automation Portals.

New Job Postings

• Automation Engineer: Republic Engineered Products - Lorain, OH
• Software Controls Engineer: automationtechies - St. Paul, MN
• Electrical Controls Engineers: automationtechies - North side of Twin Cities, MN
• Lead Electrical Designer: automationtechies - Albany, OR
• Automation Systems Engineer: automationtechies - Milwaukee, WI
• Electrical Engineer: Avure Technologies - Columbus, OH
• Assistant Controls Engineer: Gopher Resources, LLC - Eagan, MN
• Applications Programmer & Developer: Gopher Resources, LLC - Eagan, MN

To view all job postings, please use our Job Search Function. For recruiting and contract staffing services, please visit www.automationtechies.com.

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Upcoming Events:

• ABB Automation & Power World 2011 - April 18-21, 2011
• Scientific Automation Seminar - Houston - April 21, 2011
• CSIA Executive Conference 2011 - April 27-30, 2011
• ExperTune User Conference 2011 - May 10-12, 2011
• 11th ISA Fugitive Emissions-LDAR Symposium - May 17-19, 2011
• Windpower 2011 - May 22-25, 2011
• OPC Day Europe 2011 - May 25, 2011
• Managing SCADA Security Risks 2011 - May 25-26, 2011
• 54th Annual POWID Symposium - June 5-10, 2011
• Honeywell Users Group Americas 2011 - June 12-16, 2011
• 57th International Instrumentation Symposium - June 20-24, 2011
• 6th Annual Water and Wastewater Symposium - June 22-23, 2011
• 2011 Siemens Automation Summit - June 27-30, 2011

Upcoming Training:

• Scientific Automation Seminar - Dallas/Fort Worth - April 19, 2011
• Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous (Classified) Locations (ES10) - April 19-20, 2011
• The ISA95 Object Models for Enterprise Control Integration, Part 2: Application Example (IC55CW2) - April 19-20, 2011
• Scientific Automation Seminar - Oklahoma City - April 20, 2011
• Scientific Automation Seminar - Houston - April 21, 2011
• Introduction to Industrial Automation and Control (FG07) - May 2-6, 2011
• Implementing Wireless Industrial Automation Systems (IC85E) - Online - May 2 - June 24, 2011
• Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level I Review Course (TS00) - May 9-11, 2011
• Safety Instrumented Systems: Design, Analysis, and Justification (EC50E) - Online - May 9 - July 1, 2011
• An Introduction to Safety Instrumented Systems (EC50C) - May 10, 2011
• PROFINET One-day Training Class - Richmond, VA - May 10, 2011
• Overview of Measurement and Control Fundamentals (FG05C) - May 12, 2011
• Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous (Classified) Locations (ES10) - May 12-13, 2011

See our Calendar of Events for other upcoming events and training. Add an event to our calendar.

Dilbert
Meltdown occurs when you reach your T.W.L.

Automation Cartoons - Cartoon Caption Contest

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