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HMI & Operator Interfaces Portal: Products, News, Articles & Resources
HMI and Operator Interfaces Products, News, Articles, Events & Resources
Welcome to Automation.com's portal for HMI and Operator Interfaces with ideas, insights, and the latest information for controls and automation engineers to provide better interfaces between processes and people. The choices continue to grow for person to machine interfaces including message displays, mobile computers, new HMI (human-machine interface) software features, technologies and Microsoft developments. Subscribe to our e-Newsletter or get the latest information on HMI and Operator Interfaces sent to your desktop as soon as they are published on this page.
Articles
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Seeing is Believing
- 03/19/10 Control Engineering Asia, March 2010 By Steve Rubin, Longwatch Video feedback that closes the forgotten loop of human activity in automated plant systems makes it possible to reconstruct events for diagnostics, operator training and process improvement. |
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The Path to Protection
- 03/19/10 Control Engineering Asia, March 2010 By Paul Haake, Chloride North America Engineers are employing more electronic equipment, much of it adopted from non-industrial applications, and almost all of it more sensitive to electrical disturbances than the equipment being replaced. These are then mixed with the inherently poor power environment of an industrial facility and aging power generation and distribution facilities. |
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From Consumer Electronics to your HMI
- 03/13/10 Control Engineering, March 2010 By Renee Robbins Machine builders, HMI designers and industrial PC users take note: Smart phones and other consumer electronics are changing the way operators expect to interact with machines — and how you will create interfaces. |
White Papers
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Facilities Management Solutions
By Jim Bishop, Wonderware The biggest problem in building automation, identified by organizations like LonMark and Echelon, is the proprietary distribution models offered by established Building Automation System (BAS) suppliers. This white paper describes Wonderware’s Facilities Management Software Solution. |
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Tuning the Forgotten Loop
By Steve Rubin, Longwatch The “forgotten loop” has been the operator, who is typically trained to “average” parameters to run adequately under most steady-state conditions. “Advanced tuning” of the operator could yield even better outputs, with higher quality, fewer errors and a wider response to fluctuating operating conditions. This paper explores the issue of improving operator actions, and a method for doing so. |
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Using HMIs to Lower Your Cost of Ownership
By Hector Lin, Advantech The Windows- or Linux-based HMI is essentially replacing the standard operator panel, even as an embedded controller in devices like variable frequency drives, and PLCs or PACs, and has set the standard for operator interfaces now and in the future. |
Application Stories
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Bottling Plant Decreases Downtime and Achieves Swift Payback
Invensys Operations Management Just like consumers selecting a soft drink, Pepsi Bottling Ventures had a number of choices to consider for its new manufacturing performance system. With Wonderware software, the plant achieved 50% reduction in changeover time and 10% increase in line efficiency, with payback in less than one year. |
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Sandvik automates mining operations with AutoMine System
To most of us the word “automation” suggests images of robotics and futuristic technology. In a “real life” operating mine, automation is defined as a computerized tool that is used to improve mine performance which will result in significant benefits to the entire mining process. |
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Oystar Jones Puts the PLC in Packaging Equipment
- 03/19/10 Control Design, March 2010 By Mike Bacidore Oystar Jones’ soap packaging machines use PLCs, servo motion, discrete I/O, analog I/O, variable frequency drives and operator touchscreens, and a mix of hardwired and digital networking, depending on the vintage of upstream and downstream equipment. |
Resources & Literature
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Poll Question - How many different networks do you have in your facility?
How many different communication networks do you have implemented in factories and/or plants? The list of available networks includes, but is not limited to: Foundation Fieldbus, ControlNet, PROFIBUS, Interbus, AS-Interface, CanOpen, CC-Link, PROFINET, HART, Ethernet, EtherCAT, Ethernet Powerlink, SERCOS, Modbus, LonWorks and DeviceNet. |
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AutomationDirect offers free HMI programming software
C-more Micro-Graphic Programming Software offers high end features designed to reduce configuration time. Simply drag and drop objects from the Object list onto the screen construction area. Then configure PLC tags and assign them to the objects. |
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Free NI Measurement and Automation Catalog
The National Instruments catalog is the leading virtual instrumentation resource for engineers and scientists seeking the most productive customer-defined software and hardware tools. |
Training & Seminars
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ISA Cyber Security for Automation, Control, and SCADA Systems
April 5 through May 28, 2010 This course is offered online and utilizes online training modules, additional text materials, online evaluations, and email discussions. Students will have access via email to an instructor and have an opportunity to participate in live Q&A sessions with the instructor and other class participants. Price: $1,210. |
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OPC Training Institute to provide training for Citect
- 05/31/09
OPCTI has been selected by Citect as its OPC training provider. |
Featured Products
Product Announcements
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GE Intelligent Platforms announces Proficy Pulse
- 03/17/10
Proficy Pulse empowers operators, engineers and analysts to view, analyze and co-relate real time operational situations and historical intelligence. |
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Nematron takes the fan out of ePC PCs
- 03/17/10
Fanless, diskless ePC has an Intel ATOM N270 1.6 GHz processor to provide enough processing power to run the most complex HMI and SCADA applications. |
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Siemens releases MP 377 daylight readable HMI
- 03/16/10
HMI meets the needs of automation users requiring a rugged, outdoor HMI where screen visibility is necessary in direct sunlight. |
Company & Organization News
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Software Toolbox supplies symbols to AFCON SCADA/HMI
- 03/18/10 Symbol Factory.NET and Industrial Gadgets.NET graphics technologies have been integrated with the Pulse SCADA/HMI application software. |
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Copa-Data adds Windows 7 to zenon HMI/SCADA software
- 03/16/10 zenon 6.50 industrial process control and visualization software has received certification for Windows 7. |
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HALCON machine vision software runs on mobile phone
- 03/14/10 HALCON Embedded runs on the Nokia N900 mobile phone with the Maemo Linux-based operating system. |
Project News
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Software Toolbox to provide graphics to Rockwell Automation
- 03/15/10 Software Toolbox will provide its Symbol Factory technology to users of FactoryTalk View Site Edition and FactoryTalk View Machine Edition from Rockwell Automation. |
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QSI to supply HMI for blowing up things
- 02/28/10 The wireless handheld QTERM-G58 will be used by ATA Defense Industries to remotely control target systems for military training. |
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GE Intelligent Platforms to control Qatar Steel
- 02/11/10 GE will supply Proficy software including Plant Applications, Historian, iFIX and Portal rolled out in a phased format led by a significant pilot project. |
Events
Contribute to Portals
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