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.

Click here for more information.

ISA Training: 3-for-2

To help you and your colleagues get the training you need during these difficult economic times, ISA is offering three registrations to any classroom training course for the price of two registrations: 3-for-2!

As an added bonus, you can still take advantage of ISA’s regular group pricing on the second registration. That’s an additional $100 savings on your total registration!

More information.

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Significant Financial Gains Come with Upgrading an Aging Control System to More Modern Technology
Automation.com, December 2010
By upgrading aging control systems, manufacturers and processing companies are optimizing production flow and enjoying significant gains in productivity and ROI on their control system investments.

Keeping Projects On Track  
IMPO, December 2010
By Bob Harrell, Management Controls
Project teams constantly evaluate real-time information from automated contractor cost management systems. This system is integrated with CMMS, scheduling and badge in/out access control systems. Manufacturers are using these real-time metrics to effectively manage costs and support spur-of-the-moment decisions.

A Roadmap for a Safe and Productive Plant
Automation.com, December 2010
Safety has always been a critical measure of success for industrial organizations. Aberdeen Group surveyed more than 230 manufacturing executives to understand how the industry leaders are able to improve productivity without compromising plant safety. This article will highlight the roles business processes and technology play in improving safety and productivity in industrial plants.

Three tips for achieving OEE success
Plant Engineering, November 2010
By Ulf Stern, IFS AB
It seems easy to realize the common sense of OEE, but more difficult to successfully involve all of the different areas of the business necessary to make the most of it.

Browse more articles on the Factory Automation portal.

GE enhances Proficy Machine Edition
Enhancements in version 6.5 include the ability to import and export control logic in XML, a local historical trending tool, and improved web publishing capabilities.

Rockwell Automation Expands FactoryTalk Historian SE Software
Enhancements include FactoryTalk VantagePoint software as the reporting client to aggregate historical, real-time alarms and events data.

Other Product Announcements

• Longwatch Releases Version 5.2 of Video Management System
• HEIDENHAIN introduces HR 550 FS wireless handwheel
• CSWorks adds remote alarm notification to free HMI/SCADA software
• igus introduces twistable CF-Robot cables
• Yaskawa Releases MP2600iec motion controller
• Cimcorp signs distributor in Brazil
• Accordance introduces ARAID M300 for 2.5” SATA Drives
• Schneider Electric enhances Vijeo Citect SCADA Software

Browse more Product Announcements on the Factory Automation portal.

Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date.

RNA offers Lean consulting service  
RNA has established a manufacturing consulting service, Rhein-Nadel Consultancy (RNC).

Podcast describes Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture solutions  
The podcast highlights the top 10 products showcased in the Integrated Architecture booth at the Rockwell Automation Fair.

Opto 22 updates its website  
Enhancements include a SNAP PAC Configurator that allows users to design and build a complete SNAP PAC System—I/O processor, mounting rack, and modules.

Poka-Yoke, the Art of Mistake-Proofing Podcast  
Lean manufacturing podcast episode "Poka-Yoke, the Art of Mistake-Proofing" discusses how to apply tools or techniques that help people avoid making mistakes.

Bison Gear releases motion control demo Video  
Video demonstrates how ServoNOW motion control system can go from out of the box to running in less than 5 minutes.

Browse more resources on the Factory Automation portal.

Softing Technology helps make Pizza  
Softing integrated pizza production information in SAP R/3 via a Siemens S7 OPC Server to enable automated fault logging with precise time information.

Upgrade of legacy control system can improve productivity  
Plant Services, November 2010
By Michael Deitz, Graham Packaging
Graham Packaging upgraded controls with a new touchscreen HMI, Rockwell Automation’s Allen-Bradley on-machine PLC, two Allen-Bradley VFDs/encoders, and remote monitoring so senior management could see the process variables. By upgrading, they saved four hours to six hours of downtime each month in nuisance problems.

Innovator Sorts Its Controls Options  
Control Design, November 2010
TGW Systems provides integrated logistics solutions and material handling equipfment. The PLC-based AS/RS machines are connected by means of wireless communications from off-board, fail-safe PLCs to onboard distributed control components. For integrated safety/safety-over-bus, TGW uses Profisafe technology.

Vision Sensors Eliminate Rejection of Good Parts  
Process and Control Today, October 2010
One of Maclean Vehicle Systems’ automotive fastener products is stainless steel capped wheel nuts. The fasteners must be inspected to verify the nuts are properly threaded. Konieczke mounted two Cognex Checker 101 vision sensors and eliminated incorrect pass/fail decisions.

Software Offers Solar Panel Manufacturer Repeat Benefits  
Assembly, October 2010
By Jim Camillo
Manufacturing software lets Solyndra Inc. quickly and easily model, track and control any production process—and instantly react to changing business needs.

Browse more application stories on the Factory Automation portal.

Reducing the Risk, Cost and Frequency of Production Stoppages Using Network Redundancy
By Mike Miclot and John Mower, Belden
Whether your facility is involved in discrete or process operations, ensuring that it runs uninterrupted is critical to your bottom line. One way to minimize the risk of unplanned outages is to ensure that your communications keep flowing with a back-up, or redundant network.

Improve the Agility of Demand-Driven Supply Networks  
By GE Intelligent Platforms
This white paper discusses where untapped information may exist in the plant and how manufacturing information should be managed through the implementation of Operational Excellence initiatives.

Browse more white papers on the Factory Automation portal.

49% of manufacturing plan to increase hiring in next six months  
Senior management at U.S. manufacturing companies is once again optimistic, according to a Grant Thornton November survey.

Manufacturing technology consumption up 83.2%  
With a year-to-date total of $2,477.06 million, 2010 is up 83.2% compared with 2009.

Study reveals interest in Enterprise 2.0  
Interest in Enterprise 2.0 is real, but study data suggest that integration of ERP with existing social media tools available online is of limited value.

ABB to acquire Baldor Electric Company  
ABB will acquire Baldor in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $4.2 billion, including $1.1 billion of net debt.

Machine Safeguarding Trounced in Global Recession  
ARC says the worldwide market for Machine Safeguarding Solutions declined in 2009, but a strong rebound has begun in the second half of 2010.

Browse more company and organizational news on the Factory Automation portal.

IFS Supplies ERP to Akzo Nobel Casco Adhesives  
Casco Adhesives will implement IFS Eco-footprint Management, which will be used to analyze and document the environmental impact of its operations.

ABB to control steel mill in India  
ABB will supply a System 800xA integrated with drives, motors, and other electrical equipment to maximize productivity and equipment reliability in the Rourkela Steel plant in India.

Browse more project news on the Factory Automation portal.

Real World Studies: Productivity in Manufacturing using Automation
January 18, 2011
12:00 PM - (GMT -5:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada), Bogota, Lima Time Zone
Manufacturing productivity has been driven by automation over the past 20 years. Current automation technology, cost, and benefits from several automation benchmark studies of the pharmaceutical and biotech industries will be presented. This webinar will look at current technology levels, automation costs, benefits to manufacturing, and best automation practices.

Web Seminar: Cyber Security Risk Assessment for Automation Systems
March 30, 2011
2:30 PM - (GMT -5:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada), Bogota, Lima Time Zone
This seminar introduces you to the concepts of risk analysis and how they are applied to industrial manufacturing and control systems. This seminar is also valuable for IT professionals who wish to learn the special considerations of automation systems in performing risk analysis.

CIMdata Announces PLM Certificate Program  
The CIMdata PLM Certificate Program prepares PLM professionals at several levels to successfully address the challenges inherent in PLM strategy development and implementation.

SERCOS III for Motion Control Webinars  
This series explores the latest Ethernet-based SERCOS III advances, including safety, I/O and programming tools, plus practical applications.

Molex offers eLearning Online Educational courses  
Online courses range from “Basic Connector Engineering” to “RF Connectors and Technology.”

Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Factory Automation portal.

The Sixth International Conference on Systems
January 23, 2011 - January 28, 2011
Location: St. Maarten, The Netherlands Antilles
Covers Systems design methodologies and techniques; Formal methods to specify systems’ behavior; Online and offline systems; Open and closed systems; Centralized and distributed systems; Proactive and reactive systems; System robustness; Systems scalability; Fault-tolerant systems; Feedback systems; High-speed systems; Delay tolerant systems; Real-time systems

Motor, Drive & Automation Systems 2011
March 1, 2011 - March 2, 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX, United States
Motor, Drive & Automation Systems 2011 is an industry-leading conference focused on the latest economic trends and technical advancements impacting motor, drive and automation systems. Join peers and potential business partners and discover how new technologies are improving performance, energy efficiency and providing cost savings in a variety of applications.

Hannover Messe 2011
April 4, 2011 - April 8, 2011
Location: Hannover, Germany
With its line-up of 13 leading international trade shows, HANNOVER MESSE 2011 will be at full strength and will underline its global importance as a showcase for tomorrow's technologies and ideas. No other event presents as many ground-breaking innovations and integrated solutions. France is the partner country for 2011.

AUTOMATICON
April 5, 2011 - April 8, 2011
Location: Warsaw, Poland
AUTOMATICON is the most important trade fair for automation, control, measurement and robotics in Poland. The Fair is always accompanied by series of seminars, lectures and presentations which attract hundreds of specialists from all over the country.

AutomationExpo 2011
April 21, 2011 - April 23, 2011
Location: Mumbai, India
AutomationExpo 2011 will be the regions' biggest and most comprehensive exhibition covering the entire gamut of automation technology where visitors can find efficient solutions and innovations useful to make their businesses efficient. Automation Expo 2011 will cover Industrial Automation, Process Automation, Factory Automation, Building Automation, Systems and Solutions.

Browse more industry events on the Factory Automation portal.

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