Custom Controls Survey - Complimentary assessment, tips and tricks
We are conducting a brief survey on custom controls — that is, board-level controllers used in place of standard PLCs or process controls. If you use custom controls in your automation applications, please take a minute to tell us why you use them and what challenges you face. You may be eligible to receive a complimentary controls assessment, plus tips and tricks on how to lower your control costs.

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.

PLCs and DCSs Converge
Control Engineering, May 2008
By Bob Nelson and Todd Stauffer, Siemens Energy & Automation
The evolution of PLC, DCS and hybrid control technologies makes it more challenging than ever for process manufacturers to select the best technology for their application. The answers to questions in seven areas can help guide you to the right choice.

Moving toward PACs
Plant Engineering, April 2008
By Matt Mekschun, Schneider Electric
The continued trend of smaller, more powerful computing technology has not been lost on the automation industry. Emerging from this trend is the concept of the programmable automation controller. The PAC blurs the traditional PC vs. PLC control argument.

PAC attack
Intech, April 2008
By Kelly Downey and Jean Femia
PACs on the market today have varying capabilities. When you are choosing a PAC for an application, there are considerations to keep in mind from a hardware and software perspective.

Browse these and more articles and white papers on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.

Why a PACSystem for your application?
By GE Fanuc
Web page describes GE Fanuc RX3i PAC hardware and software. Links are provided to the “Why a PACSystem for your application?” brochure, data sheet, and fact sheets. Registration required.

Software for Programmable Automation Controllers
By Opto 22
Brochure explains that software built for a PAC is not just integrated with the hardware it runs on. It's also internally integrated: it provides not only an integrated development environment (IDE) for programming but also a suite of related programs for HMI (human machine interface) development and other purposes.

Browse these and more resources and literature on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.

Mitsubishi helps automate fashion house Per Una
Process and Control Today, July 2008
Per Una is reducing the energy consumption of its building management systems at all its UK sites. Central to the system is a Mitsubishi Qn PAC acting as a master controller not only for the main building but also for other design studios in London and Leicester, plus at least two more buildings.

Auto Plant Modernization Features Controls Refit
Control Engineering, June 2008
By K.K. Mitra, Rockwell Automation
To save money equipping the new facility, Tata Motors purchased an existing automotive manufacturing plant in Australia and relocated it to India. Rockwell upgraded the control system to Allen-Bradley SLC 500 controllers to automate auxiliary functions and processes, such as material feeder lines, fixture controls, gantry systems, and disc systems.

Upgrade delivers spare parts
Control Engineering, May 2008
By Marvin Coker, Bachelor Controls
Golden Triangle Energy Cooperative in Craig, MO, had control system hardware that had been deemed obsolete by the manufacturer, and replacement parts were becoming difficult to find. Bachelor Controls upgraded the system to Rockwell Automation’s Process Automation System, ControlLogix PAC and I/O, and RSView.

Linux to ControlLogix solution uses OPC
Control Engineering Europe, April 2008
At Task Force Tips, product orders are fulfilled by a robotic picker that moves among hundreds of parts bins on a 100-foot-long, multilevel picking line. TFT decided to overhaul the robot, using ControlLogix PACs, servo drives, and TOP Server OPC Server and the Cogent OPC DataHub from Software Toolbox.

Hot oil, cool control
Intech, April 2008
By Ellen Fussell Policastro
Austral Pacific Energy in New Zealand installed programmable automation controllers to provide capabilities of a traditional DCS system, and manage thousands of discrete, process, and safety I/O points using a single platform.

Browse these and more application stories on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.

Using Dual Ethernet Interfaces on a PAC
By Opto 22
One-minute training video explains how to connect two Ethernet interfaces to a SNAP-PAC controller.

I/O Solutions for Temperature Monitoring
By Opto 22
One-minute training video describes how to use plug-in SNAP I/O cards with a SNAP-PAC system for temperature monitoring.

FREE Training on Opto 22’s SNAP PAC System
Opto 22 offers FREE SNAP PAC System training classes held at company headquarters in Temecula, California. The four-day, hands-on class provides an overview of Opto 22’s simple answer to complex automation problems.

OPC Training Seminars
The OPC Foundation and its sponsoring members will host a series of eight one-day training seminars. These free seminars are tailored for end-users, systems integrators and OEMs, and are designed to cover the fundamentals of OPC including Servers, Clients, OPC Data Access, OPC Unified Architecture, Best Practices and Compliance.

Browse these and more training and seminar opportunities on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.

• WebDock releases DataPort Data Collection for RSLinx
• Itris Automation's PLC Converter supports Modicon M340 PAC

Browse these and more Product Announcements on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.

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

Opto 22 Videos prove to be popular in automation market
OptoVideos have been downloaded by the tens of thousands since they debuted three months ago, and are featured on the websites of several industry-leading blogs and trade publications, including Automation.com.

Will DIN-rail PCs with I/O revolutionise industrial PCs?
Control Engineering Europe, July 2008
With unit shipments expected to more than triple between 2006 and 2011, DIN rail PCs with incorporated I/O (also known as programmable automation controllers, or PACs) are going to have a lasting impact on the worldwide industrial PC market according to a report by IMS Research.

Emerging Economies and PACs Driving PLC Growth
Control Engineering Asia, June 2008
Strong economic growth in Asia and Eastern Europe significantly boosted the programmable logic controller (PLC) market in 2007. While economic expansion is expected to continue, future growth will be at a slower pace. The worldwide market for PLCs, which reached nearly US$9 billion in 2007, is forecast to grow at 6.5% to over U$12 billion in 2012.

Rockwell Automation selects MatrikonOPC for FactoryTalk
Combining MatrikonOPC technology with the FactoryTalk Gateway provides unlimited secure OPC access to plant systems.

ABB first quarter net income up 87%
ABB's first-quarter net income reached $1 billion, an increase of 87 percent compared to the same quarter in 2007.

Browse these and more company and organizational news on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.

Thyssen opts for Cognex vision
Control Engineering Europe, June 2008
In the last year, the Bremen site installed 120 In-Sight sensors. In the six years prior to that over 320 vision sensors, from the In-Sight product family and around 24 PC-based systems with VisionPro were integrated at the same site. The sensors are placed on robotic arms on the assembly line in order to verify engine motor assembly.

GE Fanuc supplies PLCs and HMI to Macawber Beekay
Equipment includes PLC-based control panels, Proficy HMI/SCADA, CIMPLICITY, and VersaMax I/O to control ash material handling at Macawber Beekay's plant in New Delhi, India

Opto 22 upgrades Ballarat Health Services facility controls
By Opto 22
Ballarat Health Services is upgrading its older Opto 22 facility 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.

2008 Siemens Automation Summit
July 23 -25, 2008 Chicago, IL
The 2008 Siemens Automation Summit has presentations from industry experts and analysts, and customer case histories which detail the benefits of Siemens products.

International Manufacturing Technology Show
September 8-13, 2008 Chicago, IL
The largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United States, IMTS is ranked among the largest trade shows in the world. IMTS attracts over 90,000 visitors from every level of industry and over 40 countries.

Emerson Exchange
September 29 - October 03, 2008 Washington, DC
More than 325 workshops and short courses, plus management sessions, technology exhibits, industry forums, and educational opportunities.

The Exhibition for Processing and Packaging Machinery
September 30 to October 2, 2008 Birmingham, UK
The PPMA Show is the UK’s annual showcase for processing and packaging machinery. The exhibition provides the best opportunity to source, evaluate and purchase machinery, equipment and ancillary products & services for all your processing & packaging requirements.

ISA Expo
October 14-16, 2008 Houston, Texas
Organized around six core automation and control themes, ISA EXPO 2007 provides attendees a content-rich environment that offers unlimited opportunity for exploration of key technologies, professional growth, and interaction with like minded professionals.

Browse more industry events on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.

Add an event to our calendar.

I hope you enjoyed this Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) 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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