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Read the online version if links don't work in this Factory Automation Update. |
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March 2010 |
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| Featured Articles |
Wireless Control in the Factory: In Search of a Standard
Automation World, February 2010
By Wes Iversen
Determinism is still an issue for high-speed wireless control, but some factory users are moving ahead.
IT in manufacturing: Part 2: Managing disparate information assets
South Africa Instrumentation & Control, February 2010
By Deon van Aardt, Wonderware Southern Africa
Each functional area of a manufacturing company must have access to the select information it needs from the other functional areas if all the departments are to integrate as one company rather than operating as disparate business units. |
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| Featured Articles Continued |
Reduce the risk of system migrations
Control Engineering Europe, February 2010
By Frank Prendergast, Schneider Electric
Continually updating programmable logic control (PLC) systems can help facilities be more efficient, accommodate evolving needs, and better meet customer requests and deadlines. But an upgrade project is also one fraught with risk when it gets underway, and even after it is complete.
Without a trace
InTech, February 2010
By Dennis Brandl
The problem of traceability does not stop at the plant door. In order to meet the real requirements for traceability and recall control, some sort of method is required for cross-enterprise traceability.
New automation architecture puts the power at the device
Plant Engineering, January 2010
By David Voynow, Schneider Electric
Distributed logic is the most recent IT architectural offspring that is already moving the automation community away from a centralized logic architecture to putting just enough computing power at the mechanical prime mover – such as motor starters and drives that operate conveyors.
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Browse more articles on the Factory Automation portal.
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| ISA Products & Services |
Solutions for Automation Professionals
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| Product Announcements |
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| Other Product Announcements
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Browse more Product Announcements on the Factory Automation portal.
Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date. |
| Application Stories |
Night Train bound for Australia
What’s New in Process Technology, February 2010
Shamic Sheetmetal in Australia manufactures sheetmetal products such as kiosks, car parts and electrical cubicles using Night Train FMS technology from Finn-Power. It allows the sheetmetal fabrication plant to run shifts that are practically unmanned.
Automated manufacturing system quadruples production
After a fire destroyed the manufacturing process, Research Products had two options: either rebuild using equipment comparable to what had previously been used, or investigate ways to automate the manufacturing process.
Corrugator Retrofit
Control Engineering, December 2009
International Paper hired systems integrator Concept Systems to rebuild a corrugating machine. Concept replaced the PLC with a Rockwell unit, upgraded the motors, and replaced the I/O and HMI.
Bottom Line-driven Integration
Control Engineering, December 2009
By David Sanders and Bob Cheek, Metcam
Metcam specializes in custom sheet metal fabrication. They installed a control system based on a DL260 PLC, analog I/O, signal conditioners and an HMI, all from AutomationDirect.
Wireless Control of Critical Applications Is Just a Leap Away
Industrial Networking, December 2009
By Mike Bacidore
To reach the unreachable: examples of successful wireless field control may pave the way for future wireless control of critical applications
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Browse more application stories on the Factory Automation portal.
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| White Papers |
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Automation and the Smart Grid: Energy Management Today
By Opto 22
This white paper takes a look at electrical power in the United States today, investigates the nature of the Smart Grid, and suggests ways that small and medium-sized companies can - without waiting for future technological development - gather energy data and control electrical energy costs today.
Information Strategies for Manufacturing Sustainability
By GE Intelligent Platforms
Manufacturers can greatly benefit from an integrated “big picture” view of their operations, whereby they can measure environmental factors alongside other operational metrics to gain visibility into where they may be disrupting stable processes, or conversely, where they are accepting waste simply because they do not realize it.
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Browse more white papers on the Factory Automation portal.
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| Resources & Literature |
Siemens announces Converting Toolbox automation tools
Converting Toolbox is a set of standardized automation tools for the integration of various machine components that previously had to be performed individually.
MicroSys supplies free PLC software from logi.cals
Hardware from MicroSys will be delivered with a test-CD containing the logi.cals system solution.
Yaskawa motor software available on iTunes
Savings Predictor software is now available on Apple iTunes for iPhone (OS 3.1.2 or later) and iPod touch. It estimates energy savings when using a Variable Frequency Drive.
Industrial Network Security, 2nd Edition
Book by David J. Teumim
Industrial Network Security is critically important to industrial systems. This easy-to-read book introduces managers, engineers, technicians, and operators on how to keep our industrial networks secure amid rising threats from hackers, disgruntled employees, and even cyber-terrorists.
Ethernet Direct publishes industrial catalogs
Three catalogs include Industrial Ethernet, Industrial Communications and Industrial Automation.
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Browse more resources and literature on the Factory Automation portal.
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| Featured Training |
FDT Technical Seminar
March 9, 2010
Location: Long Beach, CA, USA
Join us for lunch! The event will kick off with an overview of the technology, followed by an application-oriented presentation and technology demonstration. Discussions will continue as you network with your peers and the experts at
table tops, and more.
Practical Aspects of PROFIBUS & PROFINET in Factory Automation
March 11, 2010
Location: Swindon SN5 8YF, UK
Seminar addresses the practical issues from the use of of PROFIBUS and PROFINET digital communications technologies in automated manufacturing and advanced engineering applications. It focuses on the practical aspects of using PROFIBUS and PROFINET in factory automation applications from system design and safety considerations through to maintenance and fault-finding.
Functional Alarm Management Workshops
March 23, 2010
Location: London, UK
Hear from EEMUA, HSE, ABB and Matrikon at interactive Alarm Management workshops. The workshops cover key challenges of implementing alarm systems, discuss their solutions through various systematic approaches to improving your safety initiatives and look at how to optimise existing alarm systems to boost performance, productivity and profitability.
Strain Analysis and Load Measurement
May 10, 2010 - May 12, 2010
Location: Oxford, UK
The Stress Analysis and Load Measurement course provides instruction on the siting of strain gauges and the choice of gauge systems; it covers strain measurement, the correction of measured data, the determination of stress and yield load, the principal features of common load cells and refinement of the bridge circuit.
ISA Understanding and Applying Motor Controls and Drives
May 18, 2010 - May 20, 2010
Location: Houston, TX
This course give you a broad perspective of DC motors, AC motors (single & three-phase), and Variable Speed Drives (for AC Induction Motors and DC Motors). Industrial applications of Variable Speed Drives for constant torque, constant horsepower, and variable torque/variable horsepower are included.
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Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Factory Automation portal.
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| Company & Organizational News |
Eastern Europe offers opportunity for automation vendors, says Frost & Sullivan
The transition of the manufacturing base from Western Europe to low-cost eastern European countries has opened new prospects for automation.
Manufacturing technology consumption down 60.4% in 2009
AMT says U.S. manufacturing technology consumption was up in December but down 60% from 2008.
ISA issues Call for Papers for Automation Week 2010
ISA issued a Call for Papers inviting authors, experts, innovators, and automation professionals to submit abstracts for presentation consideration at the conference to be held in Houston, TX, 4-7 October 2010.
Manufacturers continue to experience high levels of supply chain risk
More than one-third of North American manufacturers say they’ve experienced a significant supply chain disruption in the past three months.
Robotics Market Cautiously Optimistic for 2010
Robotics OnLine, January 2010
By Bennett Brumson , Robotic Industries Association
The automotive sector, traditionally the core of the robotics industry, is depressed requiring robot manufacturers and integrators to find substitute markets in North America and beyond.
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Browse more company and organizational news on the Factory Automation portal. |
| Project News |
GE Intelligent Platforms to control Qatar Steel
GE will supply Proficy software including Plant Applications, Historian, iFIX and Portal rolled out in a phased format led by a significant pilot project.
ABB robots to automate battery plant at A123 Systems
ABB Robotics will provide 15 robotic automation systems for the assembly and manufacturing of lithium-ion battery modules and packs.
DEACOM to supply ERP software to Silver Spring Foods
Silver Spring Foods will use the ERP system to manage its recipe management, quality control/quality assurance, accounting, lot tracking/inventory control, purchasing, sales order entry, and production processes.
Emerson to safely automate SABIC Innovative Plastics
SABIC Innovative Plastics will migrate all existing PROVOX process control and safety systems to DeltaV digital automation system from Emerson Process Management.
ABB to automate mill and pipe production plant in Saudi Arabia
ABB will supply a System 800xA control system, plus a switchgear substation, medium- and low-voltage switchgear, motors and variable-speed drives.
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Browse more project news on the Factory Automation portal. |
| Featured Events |
WESTEC 2010
March 23, 2010 - March 25, 2010
WESTEC offers expert demonstrations of the latest technologies and applications by more than 450 international exhibitors. These exhibitors are ready with the advanced machine tools, cutting tools and accessories, applications, emerging technologies, and business resources that keep manufacturing on the move.
Hannover Messe 2010
April 19, 2010 - April 23, 2010
Location: Hannover, Germany
The world's leading showcase for industrial technology is staged annually in Hannover, Germany. Italy to be featured as its official Partner Country. In 2010 the spotlight will be on industrial automation, energy, technology, industrial subcontracting and cutting-edge technologies.
Packaging Automation Forum
May 4, 2010
Location: Rosemont, IL, USA
Packaging Automation Forum features peer-to-peer education about how manufacturers and packagers can improve line performance by increasing productivity, flexibility and efficiency using today's controls and information technology. This popular conference provides a unique, focused learning and networking environment for packagers and manufacturers, packaging machine builders, OEMs and solution providers.
Safety Control Systems Conference
May 11, 2010 - May 13, 2010
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
IDC Technologies is proud to host the Canada's foremost gathering of Safety Industry Professionals. This conference will focus on the technology and application of safety-related control and instrumentation systems in the chemicals, energy, mining and manufacturing industries.
Montreal Manufacturing Technology Show
May 17, 2010 - May 19, 2010
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
MMTS allows side-by-side evaluations of equipment, accessories and supplies from machine tool manufacturers and distributors in Canada. MMTS also includes a factory automation focus including control systems, software and hardware, assembly technology and test/inspection.
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Browse more industry events on the Factory Automation portal.
Add an event to our calendar. |
I hope you enjoyed this Factory Automation 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, Publisher
Automation.com
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