Unrivaled Ethernet Flexibility & Power: Unleash the Pentra

IDEC MicroSmart Pentra PLCs with embedded Ethernet are the best value on the market with everything from easy-to-configure Modbus TCP and advanced email functionality, to web server functions and an interactive user web page with dynamic data. Take the Pentra challenge today and win up to $5,000!

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Intelligent remote SNAP I/O

Intelligent remote SNAP I/O: the perfect companion for your Allen-Bradley PLC system.

• Expand your A-B system with reliable Opto 22 I/O.
• Add new functions without reducing system throughput.
• Most I/O is guaranteed for life.
• Product Support is free.

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Reduce costs and improve accuracy

Learn how a chemical company used Honeywell’s versatile and precise MasterLogic PLC to reduce costs by 20% and improve accuracy.

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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.

DCS and PLC/SCADA – a comparison in use
Control Engineering Europe, March 2011
It may surprise you to know that PLC, HMI and SCADA implementations today are consistently proving more expensive than a DCS for the same process or batch application.

Hyper-Secured PLC…and other curious combinations  
Control Engineering, March 2011
To make life easier for automation engineers, and less costly for OEMs and end-user companies to build control systems, clever companies are converging previously separate products.

Browse more articles on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal.

Red Lion announces driver for Omron safety controller
Driver allows Red Lion's G3 Series HMIs, Data Station Plus and Modular Controller Series to monitor and control one or more Omron STI G9SPs.

Rockwell Automation releases Micro800 micro programmable controllers
Micro800 micro PLCs and Connected Components Workbench software are for machine builders and end users who need a cost-effective control solution for their small applications.

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

• ICP DAS adds real time clock to TouchPad PLC
• ISaGRAF releases ISaGRAF version 6.0.2
• Unitronics introduces Vision1210 PLC
• Divelbiss announces HEC-1500-E-R Harsh Environment PLC
• CimQuest INGEAR introduces NET.S7LINK software

Browse more Product Announcements on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal.

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

Omron delivers savings at hatcheries
South Africa Instrumentation & Control, June 2011
Chick Master’s heat recovery control systems uses the Omron CJ1-M series programmable controllers with extensive use made of the PID control options.

Don’t Get Caught Short
Process Heating, June 2011
By Tim Hanes, AutomationDirect
In many applications, single-loop temperature controllers are sufficient to provide control of heating and cooling. But in some applications, such as this meltdown machine, closely coordinated control among many temperature control loops is needed. In those cases and others, PLC-based temperature control can be the best solution.

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.

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.

Getting an Energy Boost  
Control Engineering Asia, March 2011
By Bob Gill
Coca-Cola in Vietnam upgraded its obsolete Siemens S5 PLCs to S7-300 controllers and Profibus.

Browse more application stories on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal.

Boost Your PLC System: Advanced Analysis and Control  
By National Instruments
In a typical PLC-based system, an input value is often compared to a set point for a binary result that turns on a light, opens a hatch, starts the conveyor, and so on. This level of functionality works well in most straightforward applications. However, more advanced control systems require additional analysis through signal processing and advanced decision making to calculate meaningful data before adjusting the output values.

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.

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
technology. Can PLCs keep up?

Browse more white papers on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal.

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.

AMCI signs N.O. Holder as rep  
N.O. Holder & Associates is now representing Advanced Micro Controls (AMCI) in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

AutomationDirect to resell KEPServerEX  
AutomationDirect will sell KEPDirect OPC Server for use with its controllers and remote I/O.

China‘s PLC and PAC Market to grow  
ARC predicts strong growth of the PLC and PLC-based Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) market through 2014 in China, but provides no numbers.

Browse more company and organizational news on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal.

Hands-On PLC Troubleshooting Seminar
July 19, 2011 - July 21, 2011
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Start with basics, move on to troubleshooting, then learn the foundations of good PLC programming while writing your first safe and reliable IEC-1131 compliant PLC program. 1.6 CEU

PROFINET One-day Training Class
July 19, 2011
Location: Spokane, WA, USA
This class prepares the student to apply PROFINET in his own project. Technical details of the technology are provided along with practical demonstrations.

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.

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.

Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal.

ISA Expo Control 2011 / Mexico
August 24, 2011 - August 26, 2011
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
ISA Expo Control 2011 is the exhibition in Mexico that will allow you to achieve those goals by bringing together the most important national and international companies in instrumentation, control, automation, robotics, software, hardware and measurement.

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.

Browse more industry events on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal.

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