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March 2010 |
| Sponsor: ProSoft Technology |
Modbus TCP/IP Communication for Rockwell ControlLogix Platform
ProSoft Technology’s Modbus TCP/IP Communication Modules easily integrate Rockwell Automation control systems with Modbus TCP/IP devices. The available Add-on-Instructions work with the RSLogix programming software for easy implementation in a familiar programming environment. The Multi-Client module improves performance when controlling multiple servers on a Modbus TCP/IP network and supports up to 30 clients.
Click here for more information
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| Sponsor: Moxa |
Moxa's MGate EIP3000 series
Moxa's new MGate EIP3000 series products have 1 or 2 DF1 to EtherNet/IP ports for connecting DF1 devices and EtherNet/IP devices to Allen Bradley PLCs for remote maintenance capability. The EIP3000 features unique ProCOM™ technology, which aids system engineers by generating 4 extra virtual serial channels for Ethernet data pass-through and maximum network flexibility, all without needing to modify the existing system.
Click here for more information
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| Sponsor: Molex |
Flexible solutions for automated applications
Molex has the flexibility to offer a wide range of custom M8/M12 connection choices.
Different lengths. Different colors. Different shielding. With more than 19,000 standard
products—from cordsets, distribution boxes and field attachables to splitters, tees and
receptacles—we not only have what you need…we’ll customize it for you.
Click here to learn more
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| Make Connections in Automation |
  
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| Featured Articles |
Designing a Robust and Reliable Industrial Communications Infrastructure
By Bill Wotruba, Belden
Guidelines and best practices that IT teams, industrial network designers and integrators should consider in designing and specifying an industrial communications network capable of delivering close to 100 percent uptime.
The Path to Protection
Control Engineering Asia, March 2010
By Paul Haake, Chloride North America
Engineers are employing more electronic equipment, much of it adopted from non-industrial applications, and almost all of it more sensitive to electrical disturbances than the equipment being replaced. These are then mixed with the inherently poor power environment of an industrial facility and aging power generation and distribution facilities.
Network Security Demands Less Complexity
Automation World, February 2010
By C. Kenna Amos
As threats multiply, network security technologists rush to neutralize them. |
| Product Sponsor: GarrettCom |
 Magnum™ DX940 Expands Security for the Smart Grid
Substation-hardened router offers comprehensive wired and wireless data security for the Smart Grid. |
Modbus Still Lets Multi-Vendor Devices Communicate
Industrial Networking, March 2010
By N. Lewis Bodden
Modbus, the Grand Old Dame: the protocol still works for programming and data transfer between devices from different vendors.
ISA99: Charting a security standards roadmap into a risky new decade
InTech, February 2010
By Charley Robinson
In the past year, ISA99 has established a roadmap that calls for delivering at least 14 standards and technical reports addressing vital aspects of industrial control systems security. Work is underway in areas including system security requirements and security assurance levels, target security assurance levels for zones and conduits, compliance metrics, and patch management.
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Browse more articles on the Industrial Communications portal.
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| Sponsor: ISA |
ISA Automation Week
Call for Papers
Enhance your professional reputation while gaining powerful market exposure for your organization by sharing your technical expertise at ISA Automation Week 2010. ISA is now accepting abstract submittals for consideration to present at this prestigious technical conference and product showcase. Closes: 16 April 2010
Click here for more information
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| Product Sponsor - Advantech |
 Advantech’s Ruggedized PoE Switches for Industrial Applications
Advantech's PoE solutions provide Ethernet connectivity and 802.3af compliant power via a single Cat5 cable, allowing quick and easy integration of PoE devices and equipment. |
| Product Announcements |
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| Other Product Announcements
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Browse more Product Announcements on the Industrial Communications portal.
Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date. |
| White Papers |
Using Industrial Ethernet in the Oil and Gas Industry
By Flanker Kuo, Moxa
Drilling for, transporting, storing, refining, and exporting oil and natural gas remain incredibly complicated undertakings and require a great deal of industrial automation. Industrial Ethernet solutions can play an important role.
Avoiding the Pitfalls with Industrial Managed Switches
By Paul Wacker, Advantech
Ethernet can be successfully applied in a plant – if the proper steps, and some care, are taken.
This white paper looks at how industrial managed switches, together with the right network topology and an understanding of failure modes, can lead to almost 100 percent network uptime.
Advantages of a PC Based HART Communicator
By Michael B. Fersky, ProComSol
The HART Foundation’s SDC-625 standard defines PC-based HART communicators, and all DDs must comply with it. So what’s the difference between a $7,000 handheld HART communicator and a PC-based one?
WiFi Interface Identifier
By RF Industries
Today’s wireless market has exposed us to many new, and some familiar connectors. Many of these connectors are not easily recognizable. This white paper provides background on the common WiFi connectors and some tips to help you identify them.
Turbo Chain: A New Recovery System Beyond Ethernet Redundant Ring Technology
By Sean Wang, Moxa
This white paper will explore the various challenges presented by existing redundant networking technologies and introduce a new redundant solution that resolves many existing problems.
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Browse more white papers on the Industrial Communications portal.
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| Resources & Literature |
ISA publishes new edition of Industrial Network Security book
Industrial Network Security, 2nd Edition, by David J. Teumim, tells managers, engineers, technicians, and operators how to keep industrial networks secure amid rising threats from hackers, disgruntled employees, and even cyberterrorists.
B&B Electronics publishes industrial communication products catalog
The 140-page issue covers serial conversion products, Ethernet serial servers, switches and gateways, wireless products, USB and remote I/O devices, enclosures, terminal blocks, power supplies, cabling, and surge protectors.
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.
SERCOS III test system available
Test system ensures that SERCOS III slave implementations from different manufacturers are compatible and interoperable.
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Browse more resources and literature on the Industrial Communications portal.
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| Application Stories |
Using Industrial Wireless Ethernet in Mining Systems
By Moxa
A mine uses a combination of Moxa's AWK-1100 wireless AP/Bridge/AP Client and an industrial Ethernet switch. PLCs connect to the switch, which connects to an AWK-1100 wireless AP. Another switch/AP combination is used at the control end of the system.
OPC simplifies integration of process vision, quality control systems
Control Engineering Europe, March 2010
Logicpark used the OPC DataHub from Cogent Real-Time Systems to network an ABB quality control system to a Viconsys process vision system at the Kimberly-Clark production facility in Niederbipp, Switzerland.
The Advanced Digital Fieldbus Option for Nuclear Plants
Power, February 2010
By Jack Y. Zhao, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Digital fieldbus technologies, including Foundation fieldbus and Profibus, are increasingly being used with success in the nuclear and fossil fuel power industries. This article compares a conventional control system with a Foundation fieldbus – based digital control system used in a typical circulating water system in a nuclear power plant.
Farmers profit by controlling biogas
Process and Control Today, February 2010
CC-Link fieldbus control is helping farmers extract valuable biogas from slurry to fuel cogeneration plants. The controller is a MELSEC FX3U PLC which communicates with the system’s various automation components via a CC-Link master module and standard serial ports.
TCP/IP-compatible drives simplify development of advanced crane simulator
Process and Control Today, February 2010
A three-axis motion platform based on Baldor Ethernet-compatible drives is helping to increase the realism of crane training experience by physically moving a simulator system’s replica operator cabin in synchronism with computer-generated images.
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Browse more application stories on the Industrial Communications portal.
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| Featured Training |
Cyber Security for Automation, Control, and SCADA Systems
April 5, 2010 - May 28, 2010
Open standards such as Ethernet and web technologies in SCADA and process control networks has begun to expose these systems to cyber attacks. This course provides a detailed look at how the ANSI/ISA99 standards can be used to protect your critical control systems.
PROFINET One-day Training Class - St. Louis
April 7, 2010
Location: St Louis, IL, USA
This class is designed to show automation engineers the power and scope of Industrial Ethernet. It also provides an excellent introduction to Ethernet on the plant floor for IT staff.
OPC Security - Duesseldorf
April 22, 2010 - April 23, 2010
Location: Duesseldorf, Germany
Students apply security measures that comply with IT policies, industrial best practices, and government (SOX) regulations for cybersecurity. Students learn how to configure the Windows Firewall and the minimal required exceptions for OPC communication.
Industrial Wireless Systems
May 10, 2010
Location: Rochester, NY, USA
This course will cover the most relevant details associated with industrial wireless systems with an emphasis towards 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, petrochemical plants, electrical power generation, and transmission systems.
RSTechED 2010
June 6, 2010 - June 11, 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
RSTechED is an advanced software training event in manufacturing automation. More than 120 unique technical sessions, hands-on labs and customer presentations are specifically designed for those interested in learning to effectively leverage existing automation investments and create the architecture for continuous optimization, competitive differentiation and sustainable production.
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Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Industrial Communications portal. |
| Company & Organizational News |
ARC says prices are coming down on automation products
One element contributing to the price erosion is that controllers are rapidly becoming an automation commodity in some sectors.
FCI acquires MergeOptics
MergeOptics is a manufacturer of active optical cables (AOCs) and optical transceivers.
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.
Frost & Sullivan says Europeans love Industrial Ethernet in new plants
The European Industrial Ethernet Market will reach $307.12 million by 2015, but end users are only willing to employ industrial Ethernet technologies in new projects or in Greenfield applications.
PXI Systems Alliance releases new PXI MultiComputing specification
PXImc Specification supports a high performance, communication architecture for multi-controller PXI and automated test systems.
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Browse more company and organizational news on the Industrial Communications portal. |
| Featured Events |
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.
ConnectivityWeek
May 24, 2010 - May 27, 2010
Location: Santa Clara, CA, United States
ConnectivityWeek 2010 blends Information Communication Technology (ICT) with an array of vertical applications, technical discussions and application strategies into a cohesive understanding of how smart, connected devices and systems will shape our future, spanning all the major industries and energy consumption areas of commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure.
Networking & Wireless Expo
May 24, 2010 - May 26, 2010
Location: Sydney, Australia
Networking & Wireless Expo where you can meet product and service providers who can set up solutions, both wired and unwired, ideal for your business.Untangle your company's network with the latest in wireless technology. Examine how better networking can improve the performance of your existing IT systems.
Network Automation
June 1, 2010 - June 4, 2010
Location: Paris, France
Why is automation important for network operations? Why do Carriers expect a lot of progress from this issue? Because, in the context of network operations, there are two forces at work and going in opposite directions:scale and operation expenses. Is it possible to accomplish both at the same time?
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.
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Browse more industry events on the Industrial Communications portal.
Add an event to our calendar. |
I hope you enjoyed this Industrial Communications 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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