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Read the online version if links don't work in this Factory Automation Update. |
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September 2010 |
| Sponsor: ISA |
YAPFEST 2010
The exclusive networking event for Young Automation Professionals!
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Westin Galleria, Houston, TX
Register today at www.isaautomationweek.org
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| Sponsor: TURCK |
Ethernet Cables with High-Flex Jackets Resist Harsh Environments
TURCK’s new Cat 5e Ethernet cables feature flexlife® cable jackets to resist abrasion, crushing forces and chemicals in severe working conditions. Available with four or eight conductors (two and four pair counts), the Ethernet cables may be specified with straight or right-angle RJ45 or M12 connectors, accommodating diverse application requirements.
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| Sponsor: Invensys |
Enterprise Control System (ECS) unifies Invensys components with your existing environment
The Invensys Operations Management Enterprise Control System (ECS) unifies Invensys components with your existing environment, protecting and extending the value of your current investments. The ECS utilizes proven, open industry standards-based, ArchestrA software technology to easily and affordably integrate all the ECS components into one comprehensive enterprise-wide operations management system.
Click here for more information.
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| Make Connections in Automation |
  
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| Featured Articles |
Creating a Virtual, More Efficient Plant
Automation.com, August 2010
By Paul Hodge
In today’s plants, operators are faced with an ever-increasing number of servers that are used to perform various functions within a facility. Each of those servers has an incremental burden around things like maintenance, space, power and cooling. Platform virtualization is a technology that allows multiple operating systems to share a single hardware server, thus decreasing maintenance and operational costs.
A Plain English Guide to Modern Manufacturing Methods
By Stephen Jannise, Software Advice
Reducing cost, maintaining quality, and accelerating production are achieved through the combined efforts of lean manufacturing theories, Six Sigma methodologies, and flexible processes. It’s not a question of which manufacturing method is the right one, it’s a question of how to implement them all for optimum results.
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| Product Sponsor - GarrettCom |
 Robust-Reliable-Flexible at the Heart of Security!
Magnum™ DX940 Configurable Industrial Routers, feature-rich and hardened for critical physical & cyber security systems. |
| Featured Articles Continued |
Manufacturing Professionals Make a Splash
Control Design, August 2010
By Dan Hebert
The big question for many OEMs is whether to do all manufacturing from one central location or to manufacture from multiple locations distributed worldwide. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages.
Steelworks application report
South Africa Instrumentation & Control, August 2010
By Keith Hedges, Gemü Valves Africa
Here’s an explanation of how steel is made and where valves and actuators are used in a steel plant.
Taking advantage of the new Machine Safety Directive
HazardEx, July 2010
By Paul Considine, Wieland Electric
Many machine owners are tempted to stick with the old EN 954-1 standard for as long as possible. And they can do so legally until 31 December 2011. However, they are missing the opportunity to take advantage of what is a better standard that will increase safety in the workplace.
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Browse more articles on the Factory Automation portal.
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| Sponsor: Automation.com |
Looking for automation talent?
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.
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| Product Announcements |
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| Other Product Announcements
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Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date. |
| Application Stories |
Integrating Vision and Robotics
Control Engineering Europe, July 2010
The challenge was to program two robots to pick up face powder brushes from random piles and then accurately place them in an eight-slot shuttle. The robots work side by side, each with its own image acquisition system, and each picking up four brushes.
European-style speed reducer gains traction in USA
Control Engineering Europe, July 2010
Some American machinery builders are providing a new market for the shaft-mounted speed reducer, which follows the European design concept of motor-gear combination.
Trelleborg overhauls energy inefficient hydraulic power packs
Control Engineering Europe, August 2010
An aerospace manufacturer cut its energy bill by £12,000 (€14,000) after implementing ABB variable speed drives.
ABB controls silicon production line at plant in Norway
The System 800xA solution includes operator workplaces, five AC 800M controllers, and approximately 3000 I/O, and uses Foundation Fieldbus to communicate with the various types of process equipment.
Pet food manufacturer focuses on eliminating I/O failures
Reliable Plant, July 2010
By Rockwell Automation
Hill’s Pet Nutrition migrated to Rockwell Automation ControlLogix PAC. This solution offered Hill’s a cost-efficient way to convert its existing I/O to the Allen-Bradley Flex I/O platform also communicating with other controllers in the plant.
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Browse more application stories on the Factory Automation portal.
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| White Papers |
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Data Acquisition part 2
By Bob Judd, United Electronic Industries
Part 2 introduces and explains some of the less common or "second tier" I/O DAQ hardware, as well as Communications I/O standards and clock, sync and timing standards.
Network Design Basics
By David Soltys, Schneider Electric
White paper discusses basic principles that a control engineer needs to consider in the planning/design phase of an Industrial Automation Ethernet Network, and takes the reader through a sample network design to illustrate how to apply these principles.
Global Enclosure Standards
By Hoffman
Paper defines the industry standards that exist for electrical enclosures and compares the most commonly used standards -- IEC, NEMA and UL.
The Case For Regenerative AC Drive Motors
By William Gilbert, Siemens
Improved operation, reduced maintenance, motor power savings and conservation of energy make AC regen drives a decided advantage for converting, packaging, printing, wireforming and other roll-fed machinery, where driven unwinds can be implemented.
Achieving Operational Excellence in Consumer Products Manufacturing
By GE Intelligent Platforms
Operational Excellence can help manufacturers increase both flexibility and profitability without large capital expenditures. When implemented successfully, these goals can be achieved while also protecting the most critical assets to the business—brand equity and brand quality.
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Browse more white papers on the Factory Automation portal.
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| Resources & Literature |
Haydon Kerk provides CAD models for RGS linear rail systems
CAD downloads provide the flexibility to change/modify such features as rail length, number of carriages, screw resolution, motor step angle, motor voltage, and other parameters.
Chloride Power Protection Publishes Catalog
Catalog covers single-phase and three-phase UPS, power conditioners, monitoring software and adapters, power filters and communication line protection.
Weidmuller updates RailDesigner DIN-rail software
Improvements in version 5.0 include data exchange enhancements, a real-time 3D plan and print option, a search and replace feature and an improved printing menu.
Nexen updates motion control Website
Website details product offerings with interactive product demonstrations, product pictures, specs, CAD drawings, product literature, manuals and more.
Guide for Solving Optimization Problems
Engineers seeking to design cost-effective production processes can get step-by-step instructions on how to select local or global optimization routines from the Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG) Library.
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Browse more resources and literature on the Factory Automation portal.
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| Featured Training |
PLC/PAC AUTOMATION: Advanced System Integration, Programming and Design
September 13, 2010 - September 17, 2010
Location: Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
This course defines Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Process Automation Controllers (PAC) architecture, configuration, and programming from out-of-the-box to actual installation.
PACSystems High Availability Hands-On Workshop
September 16, 2010
Location: Appleton, WI, USA
This workshop will demonstrate the critical capabilities and unique technology of GE Intelligent Platforms’ PACSystems RX3i High Availability. The RX3i system provides bump-less switchover, high-speed logic execution, and high-speed data synchronization to handle simple to complex applications. In addition, powerful productivity tools reduce development and system commissioning.
Mission Critical Network Design Seminar
September 19, 2010 - September 22, 2010
Location: Orlando, FL, U.S.
The seminar is intended for system integrators; network design engineers with OEMs or Engineering Procurement and Construction firms; and anyone involved with the design, implementation and maintenance of mission critical Ethernet networks. Attendees will learn how to effectively reduce costs and installation time by implementing a highly resilient network design.
Industrial Networking & Security
September 27, 2010 - October 1, 2010
Location: Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
In this course, you will learn about the latest developments in networking, including practical tips on designing, implementing and testing TCP/IP-based networks and how to apply them securely and reliably in an Industrial environment.
Scientific Automation Seminar - Boston
September 28, 2010
Location: Westborough, MA, USA
Beckhoff Automation will be hosting a no-charge seminar to show engineering managers how Scientific Automation can help reduce cost, increase performance and add functionality. In order to stay competitive, this is a must-attend event for manufacturers and machine builders.
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Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Factory Automation portal.
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| Company & Organizational News |
Required urgently: Supertechs
Process & Control Engineering, July 2010
By John Immelman, Endress+Hauser Australia
The dearth of instrumentation engineers and technicians available in Australia is causing problems. So industry continues to sponsor supertechs from other countries, using the onerous, time-consuming, expensive, and risky process fondly known as '457 visa recruiting.'
Engineering skills crisis threatens projects
Process & Control Engineering, August 2010
The consulting industry has warned that engineering skills shortages will continue to constrain Australia's growth and limit innovation. Australia’s ability to design and deliver an estimated $400 billion in infrastructure projects over the coming decade is under threat.
June manufacturing technology consumption up 35.8%
With a year-to-date total of $1,207.60 million, 2010 is up 56.1% compared with 2009.
Cimcorp Acquires RMT Robotics
RMT Robotics is a Canada-based manufacturer and integrator of robotic material handling systems.
ABB orders up, revenues down in Q2
ABB’s orders grew 5 percent in the second quarter of 2010, led by increases of more than 20 percent in each of the company’s automation divisions.
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Browse more company and organizational news on the Factory Automation portal. |
| Project News |
Deacom to supply ERP to Hunter Amenities
Hunter licensed the DEACOM Integrated Accounting and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software System to manage all its business processes.
Honeywell to control steel mill in Turkey
Honeywell will implement an Experion Process Knowledge System (PKS) and two C300 Controllers at Karadeniz Eregli.
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Browse more project news on the Factory Automation portal. |
| Featured Events |
International Manufacturing Technology Show
September 13, 2010 - September 18, 2010
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
IMTS - The International Manufacturing Technology Show management will host the first-ever Industry Inspiration Day as part of the September 13 kick-off for the all-new IMTS Industry & Technology Conference.
Automation 2010
September 21, 2010 - September 24, 2010
Location: Mumbai, India
Automation 2010 will highlight products trends, services and solutions in the field of: Factory Automation, Process Automation & Control System, Field Instrumentation, Robotics, Drives & Various Bus Technology, Building Automation, Hydraulics & Pneumatics
International Maintenance Excellence Conference
September 22, 2010 - September 24, 2010
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Join the best in the global maintenance field in a unique opportunity to network and learn from top industry professionals and research academics. Top industry and academic experts will present each conference theme from two perspectives: professional maintenance practice and maintenance science research.
ISA Automation Week
October 4, 2010 - October 6, 2010
Location: Houston, TX, USA
ISA Automation Week 2010 will feature intensive educational and applications-based technical conference sessions delivered by subject matter experts. Discrete and process automation professionals will have a chance to learn innovative techniques and solutions for creating more efficient, productive, and economical manufacturing processes.
IMS 2010
October 9, 2010 - October 12, 2010
Location: Bangalore, India
The Exhibition is the single largest collaborative platform of Indian and international manufacturing, engineering and other ancillary industries from the Micro, Small & Medium Scale Industries, Large Industries and Public Sector Units.
Robotics Trends New Applications for Industrial Robotics Virtual Conference
October 27, 2010
Location: Virtual
Robotics Trends and Modern Materials Handling partner for the first online industrial robotics conference and exposition focused on industrial robots. The event will highlight Robotics Solutions for Materials Handling and Robotic Manufacturing Solutions for Small-to-Medium Businesses.
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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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