Enabling seamless WiMAX fabric
Test & Measurement World, May 2008
By Ron Wilson and Rick Nelson
WiMAX stands poised to extend coverage in PC networking and mobile phone communications as semiconductor makers roll out WiMAX chipsets and as test-equipment vendors offer the lab instrumentation and production ATE systems necessary to test the chipsets and the products they populate.

6 Key Mobile Adoption Drivers for the Chem Processing Industry
Chem.Info, May 2008
By Joe Granda, Syclo
Leading-edge organizations that have adopted mobile technology as a best practice are realizing a new level of efficiency, which is reflected in their operations and on their bottom line. Author outlines the six main benefits of mobile technology in chem. processing.

Make the most of WirelessHART
Chemical Processing, May 2008
By Gareth Johnston and Alan Munns, ABB
HART 7 gives plants a real incentive to consider wireless. Authors examine the advantages and typical applications of a wireless instrument network, whether now is the right time to consider a wireless project, and how a WirelessHART instrument network works.

M2M: Moving Towards Mainstream
Industrial Automation Asia, May 2008
By Augustine Quek
M2M most commonly refers to Machine-to-Machine but has sometimes been referred to as Man-to-Machine, Machine-to-Man, Machine-to-Mobile and Mobile-to-Machine. M2M also means Mobile-to-Mobile for wireless telemetry or telemetric technologies. M2M technologies continue to find new applications with ever expanding markets.

Wireless Technology Migration: Mitigating Risk and Increasing Supply Chain Efficiency
IEN, May 2008
By Peak Technologies
Many supply chain management solutions rely on wireless technology for Automatic Identification/Data Capture (AIDC) to ensure supply chain efficiency. With the rapid evolution of wireless networks, along with compliance issues and ever-changing logistics, migration to advanced wireless systems is inevitable.

Browse these and more articles and white papers on the Wireless portal.

WirelessHART: Simple, Reliable, Secure
By HART Communication Foundation
Brochure describes highlights of the HART 7 wireless protocol, shows how it can be integrated with a 4-20mA wired system, and describes typical applications.

HART - The Logical Wireless Solution
By HART Communication Foundation
Brief fact sheet describes features and benefits of wireless HART.

What WirelessHART Can Do For You
By HART Communication Foundation
White paper describes four fictitious companies who have typical problems that can be solved with wireless HART.

Browse these and more resources and literature on the Wireless portal.

Tiny, wireless and self-energized
Plant Services, April 2008
By Sheila Kennedy
A new generation of sensors is poised to revolutionize predictive maintenance. Article details several case histories involving wireless, self-energized sensors.

Implementing Smart Grid Solutions
Control Engineering, April 2008
By Jake Rasweiler, Arcadian Networks
When the project is fully implemented later this year, Great River Energy power company will be able to monitor system performance instantly, gathering customer use and billing data at some 620 points on the system. Substations are equipped with WiFi hot spots so field crews can communicate wirelessly with operations when needed.

ABB Wireless Sensors Stop Robot Cable Breaks
Industrial Ethernet Book, April 2008
By Wolfgang Zimmermann
Vehicle lamp manufacturer Hella uses a robot cell for the assembly and inspection of automotive headlamps in a highly automated production shop. Sensor cable breakages in trailing cable installations were a common cause of failure. ABB WISA wireless connections on the sensor/actuators eliminated the interruptions.

Avoid Collisions on the Track
Andritz Inc. uses high-speed Ethernet radios to create a robust anti-collision network for three different dual Portal Crane projects for the pulp and paper industry. Andritz chose ProSoft Technology's RadioLinx Industrial Hotspot for each multi-million dollar crane.

Wireless solutions enable temperature profiling and tank level measurement
By Emerson Process Management
PPG Industries installed Emerson’s Smart Wireless solution at its Chemical Division facility in Lake Charles, LA. The plant uses ten wireless Rosemount transmitters for pipeline and steam header temperature measurement, which enables operators to watch for cold spots and adjust steam throughput.

Browse these and more application stories on the Wireless portal.

Emerson Mine seminars cover predictive automation
Smart Mine seminars demonstrates how predictive automation technologies can solve mining application challenges

Emerson’s PlantWeb University Online Learning Center
Free web-based training includes more than 40 brief, practical courses on new automation technologies and strategies. Topics include implementing fieldbus, wireless technology, safety instrumented systems, streamlining maintenance, improving equipment effectiveness, and enhancing plant efficiency.

IDC Technologies releases iQuokka e-learning software
iQuokka software permits live interaction, collaboration, video, talking and eLearning via the web with instructors presenting as they would do in a normal face-to-face session.

Online: Understanding & Implementing Wireless Industrial Automation Systems
Monday, 29 September 2008 through Friday, 21 November 2008
This CyberU course runs for seven (7) weeks beginning 22 October and ending 14 December 2007. Course syllabus guides you through the course modules, provides assignments, and lists the schedule for live Q & A sessions.

Browse these and more training and seminar opportunities on the Wireless portal.

• MtronPTI introduces WiMAX Cavity Filter
• Aaxeon releases APN-200 wireless LAN access point
• Daintree adds ZigBee Smart Energy to Sensor Network Analyzer
• Loadstar releases Wireless Weight Measurement Kit
• Paqworks releases Cybertec Series 1000 3G Cellular Modem
• Pentek releases Model 7151 Software Radio
• MACTek announces VIATOR HART wireless interface
• One RF releases TinyOne 868 MHz USB Dongle modem
• BEI introduces SwiftComm wireless interface for encoders

Browse these and more Product Announcements on the Wireless portal.

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

ISA forms WirelessHART Convergence Subcommittee
The subcommittee will compare the technology within the ISA100.11a and WirelessHART standards, with an ultimate goal of merging the best of both standards.

Finding the Right Fit for Wireless
Managing Automation, May 2008
By Emily-Sue Sloane,
A group of industry leaders — including representatives from manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble, Ford, General Motors, and Boeing — is pushing for a version of ISA100.11a specifically for discrete and hybrid manufacturers. Their goal: to save money and improve plant floor data collection by using standard wireless networks rather than complex and expensive wired networks. (Registration required to read article).

ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute reports progress
The ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute is working to develop supporting compliance programs for the universal family of ISA100 standards.

Belimo and Tridium to jointly develop wireless VAV controller
Using Tridium’s Sedona Framework, Belimo will build a Variable Air Volume controller that is BACnet compliant and wireless over a 802.15.4 mesh network.

RFM to sell Dust Networks systems
RFM and Dust will integrate Dust SmartMesh-XD embedded systems into OEM modules, gateways and other products which RFM will configure and sell.

Browse these and more company and organizational news on the Wireless portal.

Using Industrial Wireless Ethernet in Mining Systems
A mine uses a combination of Moxa's AWK-1100 wireless AP/Bridge/AP Client and an industrial Ethernet switch.

GainSpan selects Green Hills Software for Wi-Fi Sensor Network
GainSpan provides Wi-Fi semiconductor and software solutions that enable sensors and other devices to run up to 10 years on a single AA battery.

GreenPeak supplies wireless mesh networking to Kronos  
Hortimax, a Kronos VAR, built a harvest administration system that monitors the activity and location of individual mobile harvesting carts in greenhouses.

JMP provides controls for Ontario water treatment plant
Project includes controls for the high lift and low lift pumps, UV system, clarifier, generator, filters, Ethernet network, wireless and a Wonderware SCADA system.

Automatica 2008
June 10-13, 2008 Munich, Germany
Displays the latest in robots, assembly and handling technology, machine vision and associated technologies in five trade fair halls.

ISA100, Wireless Systems for Automation
June 23-26, 2008 Nice, France
The full ISA committee will meet at the Hotel Westminster in Nice, France, 23-26 June, 2008.

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.

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 Wireless portal.

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I hope you enjoyed this Wireless Connectivity 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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