Featured Articles:
-Understanding Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs) in Industrial Automation
-Hybrid control identity crisis
-Logic and I/O; and more

Resources & Literature:
-OptoVideo: PAC-Based Motion Control
-The Workstation & Server CPU Comparison Guide
-Rexroth publishes Automation and Control Catalog; and more

Application Stories:
-Ecopetrol monitors oil pumping stations with PACs
-True PC-Based Control
-Controls Ease Startup; and more

Featured Training:
-Opto 22 Lunch & Learn
-Indusoft Training Classes
-Iconics Training Course; and more

Product Announcements:
-Opto 22 Releases SNAP PAC Serial I/O processors
-Opto 22 releases SNAP PAC S2 programmable automation controller
-Opto 22 enhances PAC Project 8.1;
-Online Development announces cATM to connect PACs with PLCs;
-Schneider Electric releases Modicon M340 PAC; and more

Company News:
-ABB expects increased earnings from 2007 to 2011
-Omron appoints Gregg Holst President and COO
-ARC predicts PLC market to reach $12 billion by 2011; and more

Application News:
-Opto 22 upgrades Ballarat Health Services facility controls
-Rockwell Automation supplies drives and controls to SCA Tissue
-Can-Eng Furnaces uses Rockwell Architecture to save its customer programming time; and more

Featured Events:
-Industrial Automation Show and Energy Show
-Rockwell Automation Fair to be held in Chicago
-Automation - Optimation Europe; and more

Understanding Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs) in Industrial Automation
By Opto 22
This white paper describes the advent of the programmable automation controller (PAC) and its use in modern industrial applications.

Hybrid control identity crisis
InTech, September 2007
By Samuel Herb, JAOMAD Consultancy
What’s in a name? What’s the difference between DCS, PLC and PAC? With hybrid controllers combining functions of DCSs, PLCs, and RTUs, confusion reigns. Author tries to sort it out.

Logic and I/O
Motion System Design, September 2007
Interviews with experts from Opto 22, Wago, Phoenix Contact and Rockwell Automation on control system options and processing machine commands and feedback signals. It’s PC vs PLC vs PAC vs motion controllers.

Benefits of Fuzzy Logic for Advanced Process Control
By Jeffrey Shearer, Rockwell Automation
White paper provides best practices for designing with fuzzy control and examines its benefits compared to conventional control methods. In addition, the paper outlines how to develop fuzzy logic algorithms for the Allen-Bradley Logix family of programmable automation controllers.

How to connect a Siemens PLC to USB
A SSW5/USB converter cable from Systeme Helmholz can be used to connect a Simatic S5 CPU to a PC with a USB interface. Here’s how.

Browse more articles and white papers on the portal.

OptoVideo: PAC-Based Motion Control
Four-minute video shows how to use SNAP PAC System Motion Control with the G4 Handler. It shows how motion control, digital and analog control, and data acquisition are all handled by one PAC programmable automation controller

The Workstation & Server CPU Comparison Guide
By TECHARP
This guide provides an easy reference for those who are interested in comparing the specifications of the various workstation and server CPUs in the market, as well as those already obsolescent or obsolete. Currently covering over 280 workstation and server CPUs, this comprehensive comparison will allow you to easily compare up to 20 different specifications for each and every CPU.

Rexroth publishes Automation and Control Catalog
Free catalog offers info on Rexroth's IndraLogic and IndraMotion automation systems, as well as IndraControl, Inline, Fieldline, and IndraWorks control components.

Rockwell Automation releases Product Selection Toolbox
Suite of configuration and selection software tools simplify product ordering.

Free Downloads of Opto 22 Software
Includes device servers, application software, configuration software, diagnostics & utilities, and sample code.

SNAP PAC System Overview Video
In the video, Opto 22 Training Director Alexi Gray describes types of applications that use the SNAP PAC System, advantages of a single tagname database, what PACs do that traditional PLCs don't, what a "brain" is, and basics about the software, controllers, brains, and I/O modules that make up SNAP PAC.

Browse more resources and literature on the portal.

Ecopetrol monitors oil pumping stations with PACs
By Opto 22
Ecopetrol, the national oil company of Colombia, is using Opto 22 SNAP PACs to maximize output and monitor and control its pumping locations throughout the country. The SNAP PACs communicate via Modbus and Profibus as they regulate valve positioning, pumpjack motors, variable frequency drives and other devices. Data is communicated over wireless Ethernet to Ecopetrol headquarters in Bogota.

True PC-Based Control
American Machinist, October 2007
Fluid Line Products in Willoughby, Ohio, replaced some outdated equipment with true PC-based controls: the P100 THINC-OSP Microsoft Windows and PC-based control from Okuma America Corp.

Controls Ease Startup
Control Engineering, September 2007
Systems integrator Drivex Inc., Livermore, CA, used Siemens Simatic WinCC to replace an automation and control system. Drivex builds web tension controls for the pharmaceutical, converting, and vacuum coating industries.

Verizon Monitors Cogeneration System with PACs
By Opto 22
Verison used a network of 12 Opto 22 SNAP Ultimate I/O and SNAP Simple IO units to monitor seven fuel cells and dual-fuel engines at its “central office of the future” in Garden City, NY. The Opto 22 systems make use of the hardwired analog and digital signals as well as the serial data feeds from the electrical switchgear, metering systems, engines, control processors and fuel systems.

Diagnosing NASA’s Deep Space Network Antennas
JPL uses load cells and Opto 22’s SNAP PAC system to discover cause of failed bearings in deep space antennas.

Browse more application stories on the portal.

Opto 22 Lunch & Learn
Opto 22's Lunch & Learn program is designed to give customers a new way to familiarize themselves with the company's flagship SNAP PAC System and the rest of the Opto 22 product line while enjoying a free lunch at their own place of business.

Indusoft Training Classes
Introduction to InduSoft Web Studio v6.1 training class is scheduled for October 22-25, November 27-30 and December 10-13.

Iconics Training Course
Five-day course combines the TR-GEN32-101 and TR-GEN32-102 courses. It covers GENESIS32 Standard, WebHMI and AlarmWorX32 Multimedia curricula. Courses are scheduled for November 5-9, 2007 in Foxboro, MA and November 12-16, 2007 in Plzen, Czech Republic.

WAGO Industrial Ethernet and IEC 61131-3 Seminar
November 5-8, 2007 Germantown, WI
Free 3-day seminar on Industrial Ethernet Control. Overview of industrial Ethernet, and hands-on IEC 61131-3 programming with live demo hardware using the 750-841 Ethernet based programmable controller.

SNAP PAC PID Tutorial
Supplement to the SNAP PAC Learning Center Guide teaches you how to use proportional integral derivative (PID) loops with ioControl software and a SNAP PAC R-series controller.

Browse more training and seminar opportunities on portal.

• IXXAT adds CANopen to ProConOS Runtime System
• RTA releases InstantPLC chip
• FieldServer introduces SlotServer Fire Alarm interface for ControlLogix
• AMCI announces 5274 inspection module For ControlLogix
• Adept introduces ePLC Connect for PLC-based robot programming
• Rockwell Automation adds CompactLogix L45 Controller
• Artila announces iPAC-5010 Linux-based PAC
• UEI speeds up UEIPAC programmable automation controller
• Schneider Electric releases Modicon M340 PAC

Browse more Product Announcements on the portal.

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

ABB expects increased earnings from 2007 to 2011  
ABB expects to increase revenues at almost twice the rate of market growth and three times the rate of global GDP growth over the period.

Omron appoints Gregg Holst President and COO
He assumes the position immediately, filling a 10-month-long vacancy created by the death of the previous COO and President.

ARC predicts PLC market to reach $12 billion by 2011
The worldwide market for PLCs is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 7.3% over the next five years.

ABB Q2 net income doubles to $729 million  
Earnings in the quarter rose to $1 billion on a 27% increase in revenues and net income doubled to $729 million.

Mitsubishi expands distribution agreement with Livingston & Haven
Livingston & Haven now sells the Mitsubishi Electric Automation product line; it will add the full line of articulated and SCARA robotic products.

Browse more company and organizational news on the portal.

Opto 22 upgrades Ballarat Health Services facility controls
By Opto 22
Ballarat Health Services is upgrading its older Opto 22 faciltity controls, an installed base of 17 controllers and 2700 I/O points, to new Opto 22 Mistic and SNAP Ethernet I/O modules, brains, and controllers.

Rockwell Automation supplies drives and controls to SCA Tissue
Rockwell Automation will supply PowerFlex 700S drives, ControlLogix master control and an HMI for SCA's new tissue machine in Barton, AL.

Can-Eng Furnaces uses Rockwell Architecture to save its customer programming time
Heat-treating system from Can-Eng Furnaces uses RA control technology to help customer reduce programming and design time by 50 percent.

Rockwell supplies Logix and FactoryTalk to floor covering manufacturer
Shaw Industries implemented a production control and information system using the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture.

SeayCo Integrators improves distribution center sortation
SeayCo Integrators used Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture to achieve 99.5 percent read accuracy at McLane Company's distribution center.

Industrial Automation Show and Energy Show
November 6-7, 2007 Shanghai, China
Held in parallel with the China International Industry Fair and Metal Working and CNC Machine Tool shows.

Rockwell Automation Fair to be held in Chicago
November 13-15, 2007 Chicago, Illinois
Rockwell Automation will host the 16th annual Automation Fair, a free forum with more than 100 exhibitors and 10,000 attendees from around world.

Automation - Optimation Europe
November 13-16, 2007 Lyon, France
Exhibition of all automation and optimation solutions for production. Covers control technologies, industrial sensors, industrial actuators, automation components, iIndustrial data-processing, instrumentation, communication technology.

OMAC 1st Annual Technical Symposium
November 29-30, 2007 Everett, WA
This two-day event will focus on integrating the discrete and process industries using standards like those for CAM and NC control, inspection, CAD definition, data packaging, process planning, and automotive manufacturing.

Arab Instrumentation & Automation Exhibition
December 4-6, 2007 Dubai
Comprehensive display of technology for the instrumentation, control and automation professional - An international gathering that will enable suppliers to meet, demonstrate, and sell to a diverse selection of industry buyers from all over the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the Sub continent.

ATX - Automation Technology Expo West
January 29-31, 2008 Anaheim, California
Latest advances in automation including assembly systems, custom automation, control software/hardware, motion control, robotics, sensors, vision inspection systems, and much more.

Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com

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