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Find all the latest information on these topics:
Programmable Automation Controllers (PAC) Products, News & Articles
PAC Products, News, Articles, Events & Resources
Welcome to Automation.com's portal for PACs with valuable information and resources on Programmable Automation Controllers for controls and automation engineers. Today’s competitive manufacturing processes require advanced control features, network connectivity, integration of remote and distributed subsystems, device interoperability and enterprise-wide data integration that are satisfied by Programmable Automation Controllers. PACs differ from traditional controllers by integrating the functions of controllers with some capabilities from personal computers (PCs). Subscribe to our e-Newsletter or get the latest information on PACs sent to your desktop as soon as they are published on this page.
Articles
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Automatic PLC Code Generation & Design Interchange Standards
Open standards, more powerful desktop computers, and lower cost software are making design, modeling, and automatic code generation for PLCs and PACs practical for improving automation. |
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DCS Migrations: Risk vs Return
- 03/19/10 Industrial Automation Asia, March 2010 By Mike Vernak, Rockwell Automation, and John Bryant, Arkema Instituting a phased migration is a major step for any manufacturing system. Although replacing an old DCS system with a single, plant-wide system poses some risks, it is important to help your production team realise the potential benefits. |
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A PLC by Any Other Name
- 03/19/10 Control Design, March 2010 By James Ingraham The line between a PAC and a PLC remains quite blurry. When exactly is the jump made between a high-end PLC and a low-end PAC? In the end, the distinction is less about naming convention and more about application needs. |
White Papers
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A Revolutionary Approach: Quad Redundancy Control
By GE Intelligent Platforms White paper describes GE Intelligent Platforms’ approach to redundancy, using four redundant controllers—a Master Controller and three synchronized backup controllers. If the Master Controller or any of the system components fail, the system identifies the best backup controller to take over |
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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. |
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The Benefits of PAC Solutions
By John Wilhite, Advantech PACs are now used for process control, data acquisition, remote monitoring, machine vision and motion control. Because PACs are special purpose versions of PCs, they share the on-board capabilities of networking over standard networks such as Ethernet with their desk-mounted cousins. |
Application Stories
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Schweppes control in the can
- 02/19/10 Process & Control Engineering, February 2010 By Sarah Falson Schweppes Australia upgraded its syrup room DCS control system at its Huntingwood facility to a control system based on PlantPAx and FactoryTalkView SE software from Rockwell Automation. |
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Integrating Controls for Hydrogen Production
- 02/16/10 Control Engineering, February 2010 By David Crump, Opto 22 With control products from five different vendors in use at its virtual power plant, Sotavento relied on programmable automation controllers to connect analog and digital I/O across its enterprise. |
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The automation of the largest and fastest machine in the world
- 02/16/10 Control Engineering Europe, January 2010 The CERN accelerator and its safety will be controlled and monitored by 130 control systems featuring Simatic S7-300 and S7-400 PLCs and safety controllers from Siemens. |
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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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. |
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AutomationDirect Industrial Automation Product Reference Catalog
Desk Reference contains detailed product descriptions complemented by plenty of technical illustrations, step-by-step procedures for selecting various PLC hardware and software, PC-based control, operator interface, motor contactors, drives, sensing equipment, connection systems, and much more. |
Training & Seminars
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Opto 22 Remote I/O for Allen-Bradley Logix seminar
Half-day technical seminar, hosted by Opto 22, shows how to add intelligent remote I/O to Allen-Bradley PLC/PAC systems without programming. |
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Opto 22 introduces SNAP IO Learning Center
- 05/05/09
Learning Center provides all the hardware, software, and instrumentation required to learn how Opto 22 I/O can connect to and communicate with Allen-Bradley Logix systems. |
Featured Products
Product Announcements
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Rockwell Software enhances RSLogix 5000 programming package
- 03/15/10
Enhancements include integrated motion on EtherNet/IP, high-integrity add-on instructions, and one-to-one transmission of EtherNet/IP I/O data. |
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eWON introduces Talk2M Go remote maintenance platform
- 03/07/10
Talk2M Go enables up to three users to access one or several machines at the same time, with fully detailed connection reports itemized by machine available every month |
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ProSoft releases MVI56E Modbus TCP/IP communication modules
- 02/28/10
MVI56E for Rockwell Automation ControlLogix Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs) interfaces with devices using the Modbus TCP/IP protocol. |
Company & Organization News
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ISA selects Automation.com as advertising sales partner
In addition to daily and weekly digital and online content, ISA will publish 6 print issues of InTech magazine in 2010. ISA selected Automation.com as the advertising sales representative for InTech magazine’s print, digital, and online editions. |
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ARC says prices are coming down on automation products
- 03/07/10 One element contributing to the price erosion is that controllers are rapidly becoming an automation commodity in some sectors. |
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WAGO offers free IEC 61131-3 training
- 03/04/10 WAGO is hosting five free IEC 61131-3 programming training seminars for customers at its Milwaukee area headquarters. |
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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Siemens to automate algae biofuels production
- 12/08/09 Siemens will supply a Simatic S7-300 controller and Micromaster drives to Renewed World Energies to automate its new Georgetown County, S.C., facility. |
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GE Fanuc supplies redundant PACs to Critical Power Consultants
- 11/05/09 GE Fanuc will supply PACSystems RX3i controllers for true dual redundancy data synchronization and automatic switchover for continuous operations. |
Events
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