Articles and News

Siemens Sinumerik CNCs, Simotics motors and Sinamics drives were installed at each lathe, with Simatic PLC and HMI as the master of the entire line.

By Andy Chang, NI The Factory of the Future is a research and technology initiative aimed to push emerging technologies to improve the competitiveness of manufacturing processes by leveraging cyber-physical systems and big data analytics to enable a smarter, operator-centric production.

The new press at North American Tillage was automated with a GuardLogix PAC, PowerFlex VFD, and EtherNet/IP network to fit into their automated process line.

Total Control Solutions specializes in embedded and industrial computer and display interface solutions.

By Leila Myers and Maurice Wilkins An effective HMI should give operators the information they need in a form they can comprehend quickly so they can make good decisions. The new ISA-101 standard helps users understand what those concepts mean and how to implement them.

By Jonathan Wilkins, European Automation The static days of the monolithic monitor are beginning to make way for smaller, portable interfaces that provide the user with much more freedom—and problems.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Kepware Technologies recently introduced a new Local Historian Plug-In for the KEPServerEX communications platform and a Splunk plug-in to support big data systems. The products were born from customers’ requests for an easy to install and use historian for various plant applications, including labs, test situations, and at remote sites.

Team8 launches with a USD $18 million A-round investment from Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Investments, Marker LLC, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Innovation Endeavors.

Icon Labs’ Floodgate security software runs with Mentor Graphics’ Nucleus RTOS and Mentor Embedded Linux.

Frost & Sullivan predicts big changes are ahead in how to manage the global cyber threat, including the growing concern of state sponsored involvement and complexity of attacks on private business.

Datalogic Automation will use B&R Automation PC 910 systems in its UX series of vision processors.

New HMI solutions offer multitouch functionality so users can scroll, zoom, expand & rotate items via familiar smartphone gestures, such as swipe and pinch.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The dramatic cost reductions and increased computing power of mobile devices are creating opportunities to operate plants more efficiently and increase the productivity of personnel. Mobile devices can include smart phones, tablets, netbooks and notebook computers.

By Greg Goodwin, LNS Research A trend that is causing waves and innovative ways of doing things today with Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) software is mobile technology. So what are the current attitudes on mobile capabilities? Here are four ways mobile capabilities are helping manufacturers transform their operations and IT landscapes today.

How graphics development results in an HMI that can enable operators to proactively identify problems and respond quickly.

By: Julio Delgado, Stock America HMI software from InduSoft provides eSignatures, database connectivity and other features vital to proper process validation and compliance with food and pharmaceutical regulations.

By Rich Hunzinger, B-Scada One of the fastest-growing and most widespread trends in the HMI and SCADA software realms is that of mobility. Namely, how can we - or should we - take advantage of mobile devices in automated work environments?

Crimson-enabled products allow companies to easily integrate almost any PLC, PC or SCADA system for data collection, monitoring and control.

Combining PLC processing and HMI monitoring and control into a single hardware platform is becoming a more available and popular option. This article compares the combined HMI+PLC unit with the separate HMI & PLC system and highlights where each excels.

By Rick Zabel, Publisher & Editor Since Schneider Electric's purchase of Invensys, I have been waiting to hear some news about the integration of the two companies. That news, as it relates to software, was delivered last week at Schneider Electric's first Global Software Customer Conference.