Jul. 25, 2008
National Instruments Mechatronics
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Aaxeon releases FCU-3012SFP Gigabit media converter  - 07/25/08
IXXAT updates Powerlink stack  - 07/25/08
Beckhoff announces EtherCAT XFC I/O terminals  - 07/24/08
Control Microsystems announces 5414 and 5415 Digital I/O  - 07/24/08
Baumer introduces MagRes magnetic absolute multi-turn encoders  - 07/24/08
Company & Organization News
Fieldbus Foundation releases Device Coupler test specification  - 07/25/08
Data-Linc appoints sales rep in China  - 07/25/08
Bison Gear receives Best Company to Work For award  - 07/24/08
ABB Q2 Net Income up 34%  - 07/24/08
Moore Industries appoints Ed Fagundes Director of Manufacturing  - 07/23/08
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Application News
Vishay to install Rider Roll System in Canadian Paper Mill  - 07/25/08
Emerson modernizing four Units at India’s Tanda Thermal Power Station  - 07/23/08
Yokogawa signs agreement with Russia's Gazprom Neft  - 07/23/08
Westermo supplies time synchronized switches for electric power system  - 07/22/08
Enbridge Energy deploys eSimOptimizer to gas processing facilities  - 07/21/08
Resources & Literature
Keithley releases guide to wireless and RF Testing  - 07/24/08
Booklet explains 10 fatal PR errors  - 07/23/08
Fluke publishes accessories catalog  - 07/22/08
Free Electrical Design Trial Software
Omron STI publishes Machine Safety Engineering Guide
Training & Seminars
Gas Monitors Training Course - Electronic Download
RFID Training Course - Electronic Download
Hazardous Area Instrumentation Training Course - Electronic Download
Siemens hosts Drive and Motor event  - 07/14/08
Understanding Motion Control Systems - AIT Training Course MCS110
Events
2008 Siemens Automation Summit
The Wonderware WonderWorld Global Industry Conferences
More events in our calendar
New Job Postings
Senior Computer Programmer Analyst: Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati - Cincinnati, OH - 07/24/08
Area Manager (Dallas/FTW Region): Pro-face (Xycom Automation) - Dallas/FTW, TX - 07/23/08
Project Engineer: Yokogawa Corporation of America - Sugar Land, TX - 07/23/08
Electrical Controls Engineer: FleetwoodGoldcoWyard - Lynchburg, VA - 07/23/08
Robotic Control Systems Engineer: Durabotics, Inc. - Eden Prairie, MN - 07/23/08
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Videos & Podcasts
Controlling the World's largest machine
Controlling the World's largest machine
CERN uses LabVIEW and PXI to control particle accelerator.
Statoil increases oil recovery, decreases operating costs
Statoil increases oil recovery, decreases operating costs
Teamed with IBM, ABB, Aker Kvaerner and SKF
Carnegie Science Center miniature railroad case study
Carnegie Science Center miniature railroad case study
A tour of the miniature railroad exhibit.
Siemens exiderdome multimedia expo tour
Siemens exiderdome multimedia expo tour
You’ll see amazing products, systems and solutions.
Multimedia Library
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Articles & White Papers

Automation Weekly - Salary expectations, Online groups, SCADA security paper, Top 20 OPC questions webinar
The July 23, 2008 issue of our Automation Weekly eNewsletter is online now. This issue includes an editorial on salary expectations in the automation industry; a new Linkedin group; plus the latest automation news and products. Sponsored by Softing North America, MKS Instruments and Kepware.
Digitize Work Processes with Industrial Workflow Execution
By GE Fanuc
Workflows are a key element to connecting and managing flexible work processes that can be very dynamic. By leveraging a common reference model and workflow engine layered on with transformational innovation specifically to improve production operations, companies can enable workflows to execute across many systems. (Registration required)
Custom Controls Survey - Complimentary assessment, tips and tricks
We are conducting a brief survey on custom controls — that is, board-level controllers used in place of standard PLCs or process controls. If you use custom controls in your automation applications, please take a minute to tell us why you use them and what challenges you face. You may be eligible to receive a complimentary controls assessment, plus tips and tricks on how to lower your control costs.
Nesting Heuristics Less Effective than Vision Emulation
By Thomas R. Cutler
Previously, most nesting algorithms were simple heuristics, and did not consider the alternatives; Vision Emulation combined with Multi-Dimensional-Combinatorial-Nesting technology guarantees the highest efficiency while insuring that production schedule and priorities are optimized.
Honeywell 2008 Users Group - Heroes Gather in Phoenix
By Bill Lydon, Contributing Editor
The 33rd annual Honeywell Users Group Conference was held June 15 - 19, 2008 at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, AZ with over 700 customers in attendance. According to Honeywell Vice President/General Manager, "The conferences super hero theme, Power to Perform, highlights the heroic efforts of process industry professionals to perform well despite rising costs and resource constraints."

Application Stories
Sprint Electric 200XLV linear DC drive goes under water  - 07/25/08
Sonomatic uses the Sprint Electric 200XLV low voltage linear DC drive to improve the accuracy of their Nautilus scanner, a diver-deployed automated ultrasonic system that can operate in depths of up to 250 metres.
Thompson Couplings Uses Autodesk Inventor to create new coupling  - 07/23/08
By using Inventor software, it was able to accomplish its design goals two to three times faster than if engineers had relied solely on 2D means.
Statoil pumps up production through information sharing and smart practices
By IBM Corporation
With oil and gas production the backbone of the Norwegian economy, Statoil–the nation’s largest producer–needed a way to offset the natural trend toward declining production levels. Statoil sought to incorporate new technologies into production processes in order to transform, streamline and improve them.
OPC Drives Overall Equipment Efficiency from 65% to 75%
By Thomas R. Cutler
"Supporting OPC creates great new opportunities for collecting data from production equipment in real time, performing statistical analysis on the data and then feeding information back to operators, engineers or to the equipment itself," says Byron Shetler, Chief Technology Officer for Hertzler.
Code reading with In-Sight saves Sony money
By Cognex
Sony in Malaysia is using the In-Sight 5110 for code reading on PCBs for their MP3 players. Each PCB passes along a conveyer on 9 production lines and is marked with a Datamatrix code containing product information in 10 characters measuring only 1 mm x 1 mm in size.


Submit your Articles, White Papers or Application Stories
If you would like to submit an article, white paper or application story for publication consideration, please send to content@automation.com.

July Featured Products
Search new products by Featured Suppliers in our Product Showcase by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date

Feature your products here...
For more information, Contact Karen Olson.

Use FPGAs for your measurement, control and signal processing applications. Get Started Today. Use FPGAs for your measurement, control and signal processing applications. Get Started Today.
 
Think & Do Version 8: Advanced PC-based control with an enhanced HMI development tool for easily managing complex applications. Think & Do Version 8: Advanced PC-based control with an enhanced HMI development tool for easily managing complex applications.
 
TD 400C 4-line text display panel added to Siemens' SIMATIC® S7-200 micro PLC product line. TD 400C 4-line text display panel added to Siemens' SIMATIC® S7-200 micro PLC product line.
 
New SNAP TEX wiring and mounting accessories from Opto 22 make wiring a snap. Watch the video now. New SNAP TEX wiring and mounting accessories from Opto 22 make wiring a snap. Watch the video now.
 
802.11abg Water/Dust Tight Industrial HotspotTM Radio from ProSoft Technology provides Power over Ethernet, IGMP Querying, and WPA2 AES Encryption. 802.11abg Water/Dust Tight Industrial HotspotTM Radio from ProSoft Technology provides Power over Ethernet, IGMP Querying, and WPA2 AES Encryption.
 
Featuring Allen-Bradley Connectivity with KEPServerEX by Kepware – The world leader in Communications for Automation Featuring Allen-Bradley Connectivity with KEPServerEX by Kepware – The world leader in Communications for Automation
 
Advantech launches 8” VGA TFT LCD Touch Panel Computer with an Intel Celeron M 1 GHz fanless processor with low power consumption. Advantech launches 8” VGA TFT LCD Touch Panel Computer with an Intel Celeron M 1 GHz fanless processor with low power consumption.
 
Honeywell’s Safety Manager delivers enhanced safety assurance for plant operators who oversee industrial processes. Honeywell’s Safety Manager delivers enhanced safety assurance for plant operators who oversee industrial processes.
 
See the Animated Demo: Beckhoff C69xx Industrial PCs Feature Massive Power in Miniature Size See the Animated Demo: Beckhoff C69xx Industrial PCs Feature Massive Power in Miniature Size
 
ABB's new AC 700F controller for extended scalability towards PLCs ABB's new AC 700F controller for extended scalability towards PLCs
 
Orders ship in 5 DAYS with Remke Express - your answer for expedited delivery of electrical connectors. Orders ship in 5 DAYS with Remke Express - your answer for expedited delivery of electrical connectors.
 
Microscan and Quadrus® MINI imagers let you track barcodes and symbols in any application. Microscan and Quadrus® MINI imagers let you track barcodes and symbols in any application.
 
Ethernet networking components for industrial and mission-critical applications.  Wired, Wireless, Security, Software. Ethernet networking components for industrial and mission-critical applications. Wired, Wireless, Security, Software.
 
Banner’s SC22-3 Safety Controller is a programmable safety module that incorporates numerous input devices and manages multiple safety-related functions. Banner’s SC22-3 Safety Controller is a programmable safety module that incorporates numerous input devices and manages multiple safety-related functions.
 
MKS MacroNode I/O for EtherCAT & DeviceNet Highest density I/O modules with cLogic local control MKS MacroNode I/O for EtherCAT & DeviceNet Highest density I/O modules with cLogic local control
 
Fix signal quality problems of PROFIBUS networks without the need for an oscilloscope or expertise in electrical engineering. Fix signal quality problems of PROFIBUS networks without the need for an oscilloscope or expertise in electrical engineering.
 
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Browse more products...
Please visit our product showcase for more industrial automation, process automation, motion control and instrumentation products.  To list your product(s) here, contact Karen Olson.


Online PLC Training from George Brown College





Industry Affiliates

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  Poll Question
 
Are you using or have you considered using wireless transmission for process control signals?
 
   Yes, I've used it successfully
   Yes, I've used it but unsuccessfully
   No, I haven't used it
   I'm currently considering it
   I'll never consider it