| Sponsor: Teledyne DALSA |
BOA Smart Camera

BOA is Teledyne DALSA’s highly integrated smart camera that comprises all of the elements of an industrial machine vision system. With multiple processing engines, embedded application software and IP67-rated housing, BOA is ideal for automated quality inspection applications and factory automation.
Download the brochure.
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| Sponsor: TURCK |
Rotary Inductive Sensor Detects 360-Degree Angles

TURCK rotary inductive sensors with resistance inductive capacitance (RLC) measuring technology detect 360-degree angles.
Click here for more information.
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| Sponsor: Automate 2011 |
Automate Show for Robots, Vision, Motion

Integrating robots, machine vision and mechatronics is not a new idea, but Automate 2011 is a new show for engineers who crave innovation and versatility!
Free show pass – register today!
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| Sponsor: ISA |
54th Annual ISA POWID Symposium June 5-10, 2011

This event will provide power generation industry leaders with information on the latest innovations in controls, instrumentation, cyber security, SmartGrid, regulatory issues and variable energy technologies, which impact the power generation delivery systems.
More information.
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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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| Sponsor: automationtechies |
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.
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| Featured Articles |
The Manufacturing Predicament
Automation.com, February 2011
By Gerald Shankel, Fabricators & Manufacturers Association
Manufacturing creates jobs, but manufacturers simply cannot find the skilled labor needed today to handle the kinds of sophisticated production processes and tasks required on the manufacturing shop floor.
When VFDs Can't Detect A Ground Fault
Maintenance Technology, February 2011
You may be putting your personnel and motors at risk. Driven by concerns over arc-flash hazards, more plants are converting to high-resistance ground (HRG) electrical systems. |
| Sponsor: GarrettCom |
Magnum™ DX940 Expands Wireless Security
Hardened Configurable Industrial Routers offer comprehensive wired and wireless data security for critical physical & cyber security. |
Auto Racking and Bin Picking in the Automotive Industry
Machine Vision On Line, December 2010
By Todd Belt, Pepperl+Fuchs
Auto racking and bin picking are two common applications in the automotive industry for automating production sequences and as a result, increase capacity, safety, and reduce costs. Project engineers now have more possibilities to use optical systems for their applications. Choosing the right sensor is critical.
Automating Small-Batch Welding
Assembly, January 2011
By Austin Weber
Traditionally, robots are great at repetitive welding tasks, such as assembling a continuous line of minvan bodies, but they are not as flexible as humans when it comes to moving quickly from job to job. That’s starting to change, however.
Major Automation & Control Trends 2011
Automation.com, January 2011
By Bill Lydon
I am taking a risk at the beginning of the year to provide my thoughts on automation and control industry trends. I invite readers to contact me and share any other trends or expand on the trends listed. Trends include industrial Ethernet proliferation, leveraging information, remote monitoring, virtualization, mobile device usage, energy conservation and wireless implementations.
Browse more articles on the Factory Automation portal. |
| Sponsor: Online Development |
Simplify Enterprise-to-Controller Data Exchange
eATM tManager modules make it easy to configure data exchange between IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and other systems, and Rockwell, Siemens and Schneider controllers. Just "Configure-and-Go." |
| Product Announcements |
Exele Releases Mobile Browser for TopView Alarm Software
With Mobile Browser capability, TopView outputs can be formatted for wide or narrow screens, with special settings for mobile web browsers.
Other Product Announcements
Browse more Product Announcements on the Factory Automation portal.
Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date. |
| Resources |
Rockwell Automation's Online Tool Helps Reduce Energy Use
Free Energy Evaluator tool gives a manufacturer a complete analysis of its current water, air, gas, electric and steam (WAGES) management performance.
Omron STI publishes Machine and Process Safeguarding Guide
This 650+ page resource includes product information and selection guidelines for machine and process safety solutions, and a safety library with more than 100 pages of educational resource material.
Guidelines for Safe Machinery
By SICK
Six steps to a safe machine. Your guide through the jungle of North American safety standards. This new guide leads you step by step through the process of designing a safe machine.
Exlar publishes 2011 Motion Control catalog
The catalog covers linear and motion control products, including linear actuators, rotary motors and gearmotors, as well as products rated for use in hazardous locations.
RNA offers Lean consulting service
RNA has established a manufacturing consulting service, Rhein-Nadel Consultancy (RNC).
Browse more resources on the Factory Automation portal. |
| Application Stories |
Metal Fab Plant Finds Cloud Savings
Automation World, January 2011
By Rob Spiegel
The Marwood Metal Fabrication plant needed to upgrade its DOS-based ERP system. Plex Systems, a cloud-based software-as-a-service ERP provider, replaced Marwood’s antiquated ERP, as well as 10 disparate databases that had never shared data.
Bottling lines get an efficiency boost
Control Engineering Europe, January 2011
Following the implementation of a web-based PILOT Total Productivity Management (TPM) system from Felten, Beiersdorf AG has reported significant increases in efficiency at its NIVEA production plant in Hamburg.
Optima improves Tullis Russell's Coating Performance
Process and Control Today, February 2011
Optima designed, supplied, installed and commissioned the complete control system retrofit of a Siemens S7-400 PLC and WinCC SCADA package with Parker SSD, DC and AC drives.
CNC retrofit brings old mill up to modern standards
The electrical upgrade was performed by the automation system integrator, MasterControls, and was part of a complete mechanical rebuild of the mill.
Animal feed manufacturer bucks UK’s automation trend
Process & Control Today, December 2010
Animal feedstuffs manufacturer, I’Anson Bros Ltd, has bucked the trend with the recent installation of Pacepacker bagging and robotic palletising equipment which has virtually eliminated sack wastage, reduced packing staff by 40%.
Browse more application stories on the Factory Automation portal. |
| White Papers |
Video Surveillance Integrated with SCADA
By Control Microsystems
This paper explores the growing security requirements for critical infrastructure in SCADA industries and the capability of operators to efficiently integrate video surveillance into their existing SCADA networks without hindering communications and bandwidth to the control centre.
Know Your High-flex-life Cable
By Northwire
February 5, 2011 - Cable designed to survive 10 million to 20 million flexing cycles is high-flex-life cable. It’s different from high-flex cable, which is designed to be supple and highly flexible. High-flex-life cable may actually feel stiffer than high-flex cable. The two products are distinctly different and mutually exclusive.
Machine Safety Design: Safety Relays Versus a Single Safety Controller
By Phoenix Contact
There comes a point in machine safety design when the designer needs to decide if it makes more sense to use multiple safety relays or to upgrade to a safety controller. This white paper focuses on some of the issues that designers must consider when determining whether a safety relay or a safety controller is the best solution for a particular job.
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. |
| Company & Organizational News |
Manufacturing technology consumption up 85% in 2010
With a year-to-date total of $3,236.00 million, 2010 is up 85.3% compared with 2009.
Industrial Video and Control Acquires Longwatch
Longwatch is a developer of video management software for industrial automation and process control applications. IVC will maintain the Longwatch brand and operate the company as a division of IVC.
U.S. Factories Keep Edge Over China
Manufacturing.net, January 2011
By Paul Wiseman
America remains by far the No. 1 manufacturing country. It out-produces No. 2 China by more than 40 percent. U.S. manufacturers cranked out nearly $1.7 trillion in goods in 2009, according to the United Nations.
Machine Vision Market Speeds Ahead of Overall Economy
Machine Vision On Line, January 2011
By Winn Hardin
The likelihood of any market posting back-to-back 50% CAGR is low, but experts say the machine vision industry can expect very healthy growth in 2011 thanks to pent-up demand, new installations, and new markets - mainly in government, security, medical and consumer applications.
Automation Federation to lead IMS manufacturing technology project
The purpose of this project is to develop an international network through which the Automation Competency Model (ACM) can be disseminated, promulgated, and updated. Browse more company and organizational news on the Factory Automation portal. |
| Project News |
GE to supply Proficy Software to Kao Brands
Kao Brands, a manufacturer of premium beauty brands including Jergens, Ban, Biore, Curel, Guhl and John Freida, will use Proficy for a complex batch execution system in primary operations across its many consumer products.
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. |
| Featured Training |
Introduction to Industrial Automation and Control (FG07)
March 7, 2011 - March 11, 2011
Location: Houston, TX, USA
This popular course combines lecture and hands-on labs to provide an overview of industrial measurement and control.
PLC ControlLogix I Training
March 21, 2011 - April 20, 2011
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
SAIT Polytechnic’s PLC ControlLogix training will teach you to design, connect, program and troubleshoot industrial control systems. The courses are designed for those who have previous training on other PLC Control Applications. Students will train on the Allen-Bradley ControlLogix platform using RSLogix 5000 software or the PLC version 5 platform.
PROFINET Certified Network Engineering Class
March 28, 2011 - April 1, 2011
Location: Johnson City, TN, USA
In this hands-on training you will dive into the installation, operation and maintenance of PROFINET products and networks. This course is an intensive, four-day training program.
Web Seminar: Cyber Security Risk Assessment for Automation Systems
March 30, 2011
2:30 PM - (GMT -5:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) 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.
Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Factory Automation portal. |
| Featured Events |
CoDeSys Users' Conference 2011
March 17, 2011
Location: Nürtingen, Germany
The CoDeSys Users’ Conference is the ideal information forum for all users of the number one manufacturer independent IEC 61131-3 automation tool CoDeSys.
Automate 2011
March 21, 2011 - March 24, 2011
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Formerly the International Robots, Vision & Motion Control Show, Automate now showcases the full spectrum of automation technologies and solutions. It’s held just once every two years, so be sure to take advantage of this great opportunity to find the right solutions to meet your automation challenges.
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.
Add an event to our calendar. |
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