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Sensors Portal
Sensors Products, News, Articles, Events & Resources
Welcome to the Automation.com portal for Sensors with the latest information for controls and automation engineers to apply sensors for discrete manufacturing applications. Stay up to date on sensors which are becoming more sophisticated with improved sensing technology, embedded processors and open architecture communications. Sensor types include presence, proximity, vibration, color, limit, etc.
Subscribe to our e-Newsletter or get the latest information on Sensors sent to your desktop as soon as they are published on this page.
Articles
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Major Automation & Control Trends in 2012
- 01/16/12 Automation.com, January 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor Here are my thoughts on major automation and control trends in 2012. These opinions are based on a wide range of inputs from users, suppliers and industry consultants, and from attending numerous industry forums, conferences and trade shows every year. |
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Highlights from PI NA General Assembly Meeting 2011
- 01/09/12 Automation.com, January 2012 By Bill Lydon, Editor The 17th Annual PI North America General Assembly Meeting was held October 4-6, 2011 in Phoenix, AZ and included vendors and users who provided updates on PROFIBUS and PROFINET technologies. Topics included PROFINET survey, GE IP, Chrysler-Fiat, Wireless and PROFIenergy. |
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Draw Tower Grating Technology in a Machine Central Nervous System
- 02/04/12 Automation.com, February 2012 By David Johnson, FBGS Fibre optic sensors for strain/vibration and temperature based on Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBG) offer several crucial advantages to traditional electric sensor technologies. They are unaffected by electrical environments and they permit optical transmission of sensor signals over large distances. |
White Papers
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Energy Harvesters reduce wiring and battery costs for wireless sensors
- 01/23/12 Automation.com, January 2012 By Roy Freeland, Perpetuum Energy Harvesters are now readily available to power most low power wireless installations. |
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Signal Conditioning: Getting the most for your money
- 12/21/11 Automation.com, December 2011 By Acromag This paper reviews signal conditioning features such as accuracy, adjustability, isolation, surge withstand capability, RFI/EMI protection, packaging, and repairability. |
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The Future of Machines: Self-Aware Control Systems
- 10/16/11 Automation.com, October 2011 By Christian Fritz, National Instruments You can use sensors to create systems that are aware of their environment, perform real-time process monitoring, and know every detail about their mechanical component health. The key to solving new challenges is creating control systems that can integrate sensor data, gather information in real time, and use information from multiple sensors within high-speed control loops. |
Application Stories
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Laser sensor measures width and height of cutting discs
- 01/17/12 Carbide cutting tool specialist Ceratizit relies on a measurement system that uses Micro-Epsilon’s optoCONTROL 2500 sensor during production control of the cutting discs. |
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Level Switches Keep Electrostatic Precipitators Online
- 01/22/12 Power, January 2012 By Ravi Jethra and Keith Riley, Endress+Hauser Measuring the level of dust and fly ash collected in electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) is a very difficult technical problem. At one utility, level switches were so unreliable that when a switch did fail, the precipitator would often clog up, costing the utility up to $100,000 in downtime and repair costs. |
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Mechanical Machines Bending Horizontal
- 01/15/12 Control Design, January 2012 By Dan Hebert Industrial Technology Solutions modernized the control system of its horizontal bender with an HMI, PLC and sensors. |
Resources & Literature
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RheoSense describes viscosity test protocol
- 01/30/12 Application note describes a viscosity test protocol that achieves viscosity measurement using only 20µl (microliter) of sample fluid. |
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Honeywell updates sensors website
- 01/17/12 Website makes it easier for developers and OEMs to find, order and purchase sensing and control components for industrial applications. |
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Essentials of Modern Measurements and Final Elements in the Process Industry: A Guide to Design, Configuration, Installation, and Maintenance - $119.00
This comprehensive resource aims to increase awareness of the opportunities afforded by modern measurement instruments and final elements, and to show how to get maximum benefit from the revolution in smart technologies. It builds an understanding of the fundamental aspects of measurements, measurement instruments, and final elements for applications in the process industry. |
Training News
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Omron Expands eLearning to Include Introductory Courses
- 02/02/12 The eLearning portal features 10 introductory courses on types, functions and general knowledge of factory automation equipment. |
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BEI produces How to Install an Encoder Videos
- 12/30/11 Video series details how to install industrial rotary encoders. |
Training & Seminars
Cartoons
Featured Products
Product Announcements
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Endress+Hauser Introduces Installed Base Audit Program
- 02/05/12
The Installed Base Audit simplifies measurement device maintenance, helps a plant conform to various regulations and safety requirements, and reduces its Total Cost of Ownership. |
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Land Instruments announces Critical Vessel Monitoring System
- 02/01/12
System uses thermal imaging cameras to measure refractory surface temperatures in all parts of a vessel including the critical cone and dome sections. |
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NUMERIK JENA introduces non-magnetic LIK encoders
- 02/01/12
The encoders can withstand a high magnetic environment without loss of accuracy or resolution and are mechanically stable. |
Company & Organization News
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How China is Stealing Our Secrets
- 01/22/12 PD&D, January 2012 By Michael P. Collins U.S. Intelligence agencies say that both Russia and China steal technology information over the internet as a matter of national policy. It is hard to say if China is still the red menace from the cold war, or if they have morphed into a new form of winner-take-all amoral version of capitalism. |
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Det-Tronics obtains IP66/67 Approval for H2S Gas Detector
- 01/10/12 NTMOS H2S detector has earned approval for use in locations that require an ingress protection rating of IP66/67, ideal for petrochemical, oil and gas applications. |
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Davis Instruments Celebrates 100th Anniversary
- 01/09/12 Since 1912, Davis Instruments has supplied customers with brand-name technologies in test, measurement, control, and calibration. |
Project News
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Teledyne DALSA to build multispectral space sensor
- 12/09/11 Teledyne DALSA will develop a new multispectral sensor for an advanced earth observation application. |
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Metso replaces old analyzers at paper mill in Sweden
- 09/29/11 The Karlsborg mill in Sweden is installing a Metso Kappa Q to replace two old analyzers in its bleached softwood kraft fiberline. |
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Metso to supply Kappa Q Analyzer to Södra Cell’s Mörrum mill
- 09/13/11 The analyzer with 7 sample points in the ECF fiberline will measure pulp lignin content and brightness as well as shive content for improved process optimization and quality control. |
Event News
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Industrial Supply 2012 Showcases U.S. Industrial Subcontractors
- 12/06/11 Leaders in the subcontracting business will be presenting their latest product developments in industrial materials to a vast audience attending HANNOVER MESSE. |
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HANNOVER MESSE 2012 focuses on sustainability
- 11/21/11 By adopting "greentelligence" as its keynote theme, HANNOVER MESSE 2012 has put the spotlight squarely on green technologies as a central growth driver for industry. |
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China is Partner Country of HANNOVER MESSE 2012
- 06/28/11 The People's Republic of China will be honored as the official Partner Country at HANNOVER MESSE 2012 (the Hannover Fair) in Hannover, Germany. |
Events
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