| Sponsor: IDEC |
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Enter our contest by 10/15/11 for your chance to win!
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| Sponsor: Opto22 |
SNAP Mechanical Power Relay Output Modules
Switch 250 VAC or 30 VDC loads up to 6A with new SNAP mechanical power relay output modules. Four isolated channels. Form A (SPST) or Form C (SPDT). Part of reliable, cost-effective SNAP I/O. Use it as intelligent remote I/O with Allen-Bradley PLC systems.
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| Sponsor: HollySys/Lasso |
Fully Redundant PLC with SD card for data protection
HollySys, the leading automation and control technologies supplier, developed the 1st PLC fully redundant with SD card for data loss protection and program logic backup, high performing 533MHz processor, 100% HOTSwap supported, scalable and flexible I/O control modules, IEC-61131-3 programming standard supported, 3 year warranty & OEM cost-effective solutions.
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| Featured Articles |
Really, Really, Really Cyber Secure
Control, August 2011
By Walt Boyes
It is now clear that machine-level, embedded controllers, such as PLCs, PACs and DCS controllers are vulnerable from both inside and outside the plant.
Automation & Control Getting iPhone App Enabled
Design News, July 2011
By Alexander Wolfe
Programmable logic controllers are beginning to connect beyond the confines of the factory floor, via iPhone Apps that display status data or even control PLCs directly via over-the-air commands.
Polk State College helps close manufacturing skills gap
Automation.com, July 2011
Mosaic, a Florida-based fertilizer producer, asked Polk State College (PSC) to create a training program. PSC worked with Rockwell Automation and RWD Technologies to develop the curriculum.
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.
Easier M2E (Machine to Enterprise) Integration
Automation.com, May 2011
By Roy Kok
Over the years, we’ve had sensor upgrades, improved controllers, better operator visibility, data archiving and analytics, and now we have enterprise integration for improved material management, corporate agility, regulatory compliance and a host of other features.
Browse more articles on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal. |
| Product Sponsor: CimQuest INGEAR |
 Talk to your PLC, Runtime Free, Without OPC
CimQuest INGEAR gives Visual Studio .NET a direct communication pipeline to your PLC network without the need for OPC or 3rd party drivers. |
| Product Announcements |
_thumb.jpg) CimQuest releases Visual Studio Libraries for Siemens PLCs
Users writing automation and control applications in Visual Basic.NET or Visual Studio C# can use INGEAR NET.S7LINK software to communicate easily with Siemens controllers.
_thumb.jpg) SoftPLC adds Interface to Allen-Bradley Remote I/O
This interface provides connectivity to Allen-Bradley Remote I/O, such as 1771, 1747, SLC-500, Flex, and other compatible networks.
Other Product Announcements
Browse more Product Announcements on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal.
Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date. |
| Application Stories |
Transparent cybersecurity
Plant Services, August 2011
By Mike Bacidore, PlantServices
Gerdau Ameristeel, a mini-mill steel producer and steel recycler uses KepServerEX communication technology and OPC server to connect PLCs, ERP, Wonderware and an historian through firewalls.
Metals business reduces risk and improves performance
What’s New in Process Technology, August 2011
Nyrstar’s Port Pirie smelter in Australia replaced 20 Modicon PLCs that had been installed in the 1990s with Modicon Quantum PLCs. The PLC migration was completed in 12 months with minimum downtime.
Burkert Globe Valves entertain in Copenhagen
Process & Control Today, July 2011
The valves control 40 individual vertical water jets, each valve receiving a position signal from a central PLC to control the height of the water jets in time to music.
GE controls power at eBay’s Topaz Data Center
The Quad PAC controlled switchgear was designed with a voting scheme where triple inputs are sent to the PLC system. The best of the three dictates the state of the device.
Wessex Water undertakes control system upgrade
Control Engineering Europe, May 2011
Siemens provided PLCs, HMIs, SCADA and other equipment to replace a 20-year old control system at Wessex Water in the UK. The site’s SCADA system was completely replaced with a system that now contains nearly 30,000 tags, over 4,500 alarms and over 300 mimics
Browse more application stories on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal. |
| White Papers |
The Perils of a DIY Distributed Control System
Automation.com, September 2011
By Tim Sweet, Honeywell Process Solutions
For certain industries, a distributed control system (DCS) provides substantially more value as the basis for automating the plant than a programmable logic controller (PLC)-based system. When PLCs and HMI software packages are integrated, the result looks a lot like a DCS. But, all is not as it seems.
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.
Browse more white papers on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal. |
| Company & Organizational News |
TÜV Certifies Mechatrolink Network Safety Protocol
Certification of the Mechatrolink field network for safety makes it possible for MMA members to build motion control and machine control systems for use in applications that comply with safety standards.
ProSoft Technology promotes Janice Hungerford to CEO
Hungerford, the first employee of ProSoft Technology, was promoted from Managing Director of North America.
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 identifies potential security weakness in SIMATIC Controllers
Siemens published safety guidelines which operators of industrial plants can follow to minimize the risk of external intervention from the start.
Browse more company and organizational news on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal. |
| Featured Training |
EtherCAT Industrial Ethernet Seminar Series (Denver)
October 20, 2011
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Learn about the benefits and the challenges of Industrial Ethernet. EtherCAT seminars are educational events from the experts. Explore and understand EtherCAT technology. Talk with EtherCAT experts face-to-face, and discover the table-top exhibition: See how EtherCAT can help you.
Hands-On PLC Training Workshop
October 25, 2011 - October 27, 2011
Location: St. Louis, MO, USA
You will receive extensive hands-on training with the lap top using RS Logix and your pick of the PLC5, or a SLC500 or a Micrologix PLC.
Basics 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
Introduction to Industrial Automation and Control (FG07)
November 7, 2011 - November 11, 2011
Location: Houston, TX, USA
This popular course combines lecture and hands-on labs to provide an overview of industrial measurement and control. Technicians, engineers, and managers are provided with a foundation for communication with other control system professionals
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.
Sigma Process releases Siemens WinCC online course
Online training course covers all the programming techniques in Siemens Simatic WinCC Flexible software.
Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal. |
| Featured Events |
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.
Invensys OpsManage'11
November 8, 2011 - November 10, 2011
Location: Nashville, TN, USA
Invensys Operations Management hosts a multi-discipline event for collaborating on your journey towards manufacturing enterprise optimization.
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.
SPS - Industrial Automation Fair Guangzhou,China
March 7, 2012 - March 9, 2012
Location: Guangzhou, China
SIAF, as the No.1 trade fair in Asia for industrial automation products, services and technologies, attracted 354 suppliers from 15 countries. more than 19,300 professional buyers from 40 countries and regions came to the fair to see and source the latest technological innovations.
Browse more industry events on the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) portal.
Add an event to our calendar. |
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