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| Featured Articles |
Stuxnet and the Paradigm Shift in Cyber Warfare
Control, June 2011
By Robert M. Lee
A brief history of the Stuxnet worm including its targets, the initial findings, possible creators of the worm and its effects.
Plant-wide optimisation
What’s New in Process Technology, May 2011
By Gordon Bartlett, Rockwell Automation
The important elements to look for when choosing a system that offers the greatest opportunity for plant-wide optimisation include the ability to perform multi-disciplined control; plant-wide integration on a single, open, secure network; and the ability to run advanced control within the controllers.
IEC 61131-3 by the Numbers
Control, May 2011
By Jeremy Pollard
The intent of IEC 61131-3 is to normalize PLC and control systems' programming by standardizing functionality such as program entry, instruction visualization, data types and syntax. The general requirements section includes models for software, communication—external as well as internal instruction and variable parameter passing—and programming.
Skid Integration Problems Solved by PLCopen Standards
Automation.com, March 2011
By PLCopen North America
The use of skid mounted equipment has become popular for a number of reasons but they pose some unique automation and control challenges that can be solved by using IEC 61131-3 and PLCopen standards.
A Look at PLCs, Yesterday and Today
Control Design, March 2011
By Jeremy Pollard
The art of bit-flipping: although you can point to many changes in the PLC world over the past 25 years, much is still the same.
Browse more articles on the Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC) portal. |
| Product Announcements |
_thumb.jpg) AMCI announces motion control modules for Allen-Bradley PLCs
Solutions include a 2-axis plug-in module for 1769 CompactLogix I/O, and a 1-axis module for 1734 Point I/O.
Other Product Announcements
Browse more Product Announcements on the Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC) portal.
Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date. |
| Application Stories |
Chocolate bars uniquely packaged
Automation.com, June 2011
By Bosch Rexroth
Packaging containers can sometimes be quite elaborate. The faster, the better, the more accurate so as not to damage delicate products. This is the challenge for pick-and-place robots and the control technology behind them. Chocolate, for example, is one such product that must be handled with care.
Taking Control
Process & Control Today, June 2011
Wessex Water tackled a legacy control system upgrade at its sewage works in Poole, UK. Siemens provided control and monitoring system components, including PLCs, HMIs, SCADA and other associated networking and communication equipment.
Bale Hay While the Sun Shines
A PLC from AutomationDirect helped this farmer/inventor develop a new kind of hay baler that lets farmers harvest hay day or night, regardless of the weather.
Siemens automates automobile transmissions in Toldeo
Siemens provided the PLC, CNC, HMI, RFID, Profinet and safety systems to Toledo Powertrain for a Flexible Assembly Configuration System (FACS) to build the GF6 six-speed, front wheel transmission.
Nyrstar's Port Pirie smelter migrates PLCs painlessly
Process & Control Engineering, April 2011
By Paul Cooper
Nyrstar's Port Pirie smelter in Australia had an automation platform that consisted of over 20 Modicon PLCs that had been installed in the 1990s. All were replaced with Modicon Quantum PL.
Browse more application stories on the Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC) portal. |
| White Papers |
Why doesn’t everyone use remote access?
Automation.com, May 2011
By Frank Hurtte, River Heights Consulting
The question we would like to explore is pretty simple. Back 20 years ago it was significant, today it’s huge. To illustrate the point, let’s look at what might happen when a special machine builder experienced issues in the field.
Control Level Network Resiliency Using Ring Topologies
Automation.com, June 2011
By Joseph C. Lee and Jessica Forguites, Rockwell Automation
Many Ethernet applications require some level of network resiliency – such as a critical operation or an installation with a vulnerable cabling system. Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Link Aggregation and proprietary Ring protocols are all technologies available to build a fault-tolerant network on Ethernet.
Boost Your PLC System: High-Performance Analog Measurements
By National Instruments
We live in an analog world and we often find ourselves in need of high-performance analog measurements as we push the limits of automation tecchnology. Can PLCs keep up?
Expanding the Use of Smart Operator Panels
Automation.com, May 2011
By Advantech
One of the great benefits of smart operator panels is they can be used to provide HMI interfaces with many controllers. An operator panel can be connected to PLCs and other operator panels in a variety of useful ways, including remotely over Ethernet.
Browse more white papers on the Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC) portal. |
| Company & Organizational News |
Mechatrolink Membership Reaches 900 Companies
The MMA is a group of Mechatrolink product developers and users who promote the use of Mechatrolink, the most widely used motion control network in Asia.
Copalp achieves PLCopen Conformity Level ST Certification
Copalp successfully passed tests performed by the test laboratory of iƒak in Germany, for certification of a system according to PLCopen Conformity Level ST (Structured Text).
Manufacturing technology orders up 108.0% in 2011
With a year-to-date total of $1,984.87 million, 2011 is up 108.0% compared with 2010.
Siemens updates S7-1200 firmware to fix vulnerability
Siemens released a firmware update of its S7-1200 PLC that eliminates vulnerabilities and improves the security and robustness of its S7-1200 product family.
ISaGRAF signs infoteam Software as distributor
Infoteam Software will distribute ISaGRAF in Europe, Germany and China.
Browse more company and organizational news on the Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC) portal. |
| Featured Training |
PLC/PAC Automation: Basic Structure, Programming, Installation, and Maintenance (TC30P)
August 1, 2011 - August 5, 2011
Location: Houston, TX, USA
This course defines Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) architecture, configuration, installation, maintenance, and programming.
PROFINET One-day Training Class
September 14, 2011
Location: Rochester, NY, USA
This class prepares the student to apply PROFINET in his/her own project. Technical details of the technology are provided along with practical demonstrations.
ControlLogix and RSLogix 5000 Training Seminar
September 27, 2011 - September 29, 2011
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Get familiar with the Process Automation Controller (PAC) which is a much different industrial automation and control device than the PLC. This hands-on automation training seminar-workshop uses Controllogix and CompactLogix processor software by Allen Bradley, called RSLogix 5000.
PLC/PAC AUTOMATION: Advanced System Integration, Programming and Design (TC36P)
November 14, 2011 - November 18, 2011
Location: Houston, TX, USA
This course defines Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Process Automation Controllers (PAC) architecture, configuration, and programming from out-of-the-box to actual installation.
CoDeSys Users‘ Conference Schedule
IEC 61131-3 training events in Germany, Italy, Russia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Switzerland and China are on this year’s schedule, which runs from March to November.
Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC) portal. |
| Featured Events |
AUTOMATION 2011
September 20, 2011 - September 23, 2011
Location: Mumbai, India
Automation 2011 will highlight products trends, services and solutions in the field of Factory Automation, Process Automation & Control System, Field Instrumentation, Robotics, Drives & Various Bus Technology, Building Automation, Hydraulics & Pneumatics
ISA Automation Week 2011
October 17, 2011 - October 20, 2011
Location: Mobile, AL, USA
This world-class conference will cover seven technical tracks in depth and will be designed with information critical to several identified automation and control career paths. ISA Automation Week provides you with the opportunity to get the best unbiased knowledge available to help you in your jobs and your future.
Automation Fair 2011
November 16, 2011 - November 17, 2011
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Join us in Chicago as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Automation Fair. A great opportunity to explore a wide variety of smart, safe, sustainable manufacturing solutions geared toward improving your business profitability. And, best of all, it's FREE.
AUTOMATION 2011
November 23, 2011 - November 25, 2011
Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg "Automation" exhibition is the largest independent specialized international exhibition on industrial automation and computer technologies in Russia.
CoDeSys Users' Conference 2012
March 13, 2012 - March 22, 2012
Location: Various Cities in Europe, Deutschland
The CoDeSys Users’ Conference is the ideal information forum for all users of the number one manufacturer independent IEC 61131-3 automation tool CoDeSys and will take place in different European countries.
Browse more industry events on the Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC) portal.
Add an event to our calendar. |
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