Articles and News

By Bill Lydon, Editor The huge installed base of automation software running on Windows XP will be vulnerable to cyber-attacks with the end of Windows XP support April 8, 2014. More than 12 years old, Windows XP is the longest supported version of Windows ever and therefore is the most used in industrial automation systems.

Harpak will define, configure, and deliver fully integrated solutions using Adept robots, software, and grippers to increase speed and efficiency on food processing lines.

By Bill Lydon, Editor I recently had the opportunity to discuss Ocean Data Systems – a little company you likely have never heard of - with Roy Kok, their VP of Sales and Marketing. Their product, Dream Report, is OEMed by a number of well-known software providers. Here is a synopsis of my interview with Kok.

By Thomas R. Cutler During 2013 the past-paced, ever-changing elements of automation impacting manufacturing, material handling, and logistics was remarkable. The prognosis for more automation innovation in 2014 is axiomatic and transformative companies will illuminate the possibilities of great efficiency, productivity, and profitability.

Firms in Mexico spent $535 million on packaging machinery imports in 2012, making their nation the world’s seventh-largest importer of packaging machinery.

Designed for machine builders and operators, the Lenze library simplifies implementation of PackML standards using ladder logic.

By Paul Hodge & Joe Bastone, Honeywell The advantages of optimized project workflow can be realized at both ends of the project schedule. The benefits are essential to ensuring control systems pose the least risk to project schedule and allow for safe, efficient and reliable plant startup and operation.

Pereira began as Applications Engineer for the Rose Forgrove product line at HayssenSandiacre. Pereira will oversee the technical aspects of New Product Development.

At packaging plants in Europe, robot arms from Universal Robots use advanced force control to handle even the most fragile and delicate items, and operate with no safety guarding.

Hartech Engineering and GPL Machinery built a plastic bag machine based on ABB's Ethernet Powerlink compatible motion control and an all-servomotor architecture.

July U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $351.21 million, down 23.6% from June and down 23.6% when compared with the total of $459.44 million reported for July 2012.

ODT Global will represent QComp in the Northeastern U.S.

IWK Verpackungsteckni and OYSTAR IWK USA make tube filling and cartoning machinery for the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.

Belden previously was Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at the Rockford site as well as heading the PCI operations in Hay-on-Wye, Wales in the United Kingdom.

Global shipments for motion control products fell by 6.8% in the first half of 2013, according to the Motion Control Association (MCA), the industry’s trade group.

June U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $426.83 million, down 5.8% from May. With a year-to-date total of $2,538.55 million, 2013 is down 5.7% compared with 2012.

Alpha Packaging deployed InfinityQS ProFicient at its St. Louis and Bethlehem, Pa., plants with the remaining five plants scheduled for rollout during the 2013 calendar year.

The total was up 13.6% from April but down 7.6% when compared with the total of $465.38 million reported for May 2012. 2013 is down 6.9% compared with 2012.

By Thomas R. Cutler More than 80% of large (200,000+ square foot) distribution centers throughout North America and Europe are expanding automation spending in 2013-2015. The challenges for large operations include an effective turnkey solution with superior design, increased production, and reduced costs. Automation is at the heart of these solutions.

By Bill Lydon, Editor On May 30, 2013, I attended the grand opening of Beckhoff Automation’s new $8 million North American headquarters. The facility features a training center, an ESD-protected PC repair center, and a building automation system based on Beckhoff‘s own hardware and software.