Articles and News

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation In manufacturing, saving energy can be a whole lot simpler and making small but significant changes can drastically reduce energy consumption. This article discusses how three technologies can improve the energy efficiency of industrial robots.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) announced that Executive Director and CEO, Patrick Gouhin, will be stepping down. Peggie W. Koon will serve as Interim Executive Director, while a Search Committee will be formed in the immediate future to identify Mr. Gouhin’s successor.

MCE will oversee operations for Ritter Technology, LLC, now renamed RitterTech, and its recently acquired divisions: Primet Fluid Power, acquired in February of 2017; Tri-State Hose & Fitting, acquired in April of 2017; and Fluid Systems Engineering, acquired in May of 2017.

Participants viewed cutting demonstrations on more than 15 machine tools and were educated on technologies that can give them a competitive edge. Demonstrations featured exotic material cutting on titanium as well as stainless steel and aluminum and were focused on the automotive industry.

The control system migration of the mill’s Flakt Dryer machine from a mixture of legacy ABB MOD300 and Allen Bradley PLC’s to PlantPAX was the fifth PlantPAX control system installed by GPA in the Pulp & Paper industry specifically.

Being a sister event of the SPS IPC Drives from Nuremberg Germany, SIAF will showcase a variety of products from its related sectors including robotics, machine vision, sensors and measurements, connectivity systems, drives systems and control technologies, bringing a one-stop marketing and knowledge exchange opportunity to the Chinese industry.

Following the acquisition, Mr. Massimo Banzi becomes the new Chairman and CTO of Arduino. Dr. Fabio Violante will be appointed as the new CEO, replacing Mr. Federico Musto who will pursue other opportunities outside Arduino AG.

The specification “PLCopen Safe Motion” version 1.0 – official release – is now available on the PLCopen website for downloading. This new solution is based on an existing functionality as already specified in PLCopen Safety: SF_SafetyRequest.

5ME’s multi-patented cryogenic machining process is a technology designed to enable higher metal removal rates and longer tool life by delivering liquid nitrogen at 321°F through the spindle/turret, cutter body, cutting tool, and directly to the cutting edge.

The operating system that supported the Tyson Foods' Wisconsin plant's human machine interface (HMI) application was facing obsolescence. The new solution is based on the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system that incorporates both the Logix control platform and FactoryTalk production management software

The modular CK design enabled the operator to tailor the actuator specification to precisely match the requirements of the application. The selection of CK actuators complete with Centronik digital control units required only the provision of a mains electricity supply to provide automation of the previously hand operated valves.

An R&D program has been initiated there to discover new uses for the TC with help from a new automated process for winding coils.

By Markus Brettschneider, ABB Food and Beverage This article explains how food plant managers can add a similar level of connectivity to retrofit most motors with smart sensors to bring their plants to the digital age.

For this project, ABB will supply the production hoist and all related mechanical and electrical systems at the South shaft of the K3 mine. Mechanical equipment for the friction hoist will include ABB’s synchronous motor and ABB’s SIL 3 rated Safety Brake System to provide safety, security and reliability for hoist operation.

Okuma’s donation of $100,000 in machine tools to the engineering technology programs at Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), enables students to gain valuable hands-on machining experience and the skill set needed to enter the manufacturing workforce

PCB's accelerometers were used by Lockheed Martin to measure the dynamic environment of the instrument platform in flight, and to characterize that environment to improve the interpretation of instrument data.

Nemaska Lithium is developing the Whabouchi spodumene deposit to meet the growing global demand for lithium batteries to be used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, as well as in various consumer electronics.

The AMCI by IDEC product line includes controllers, stepper motors, and integrated solutions for the FC6A MicroSmart PLC. Integration is a combination of two or more components that usually make up a system.

The IPS Corpus Christi Service Center is one of seven IPS service centers supporting industry in the Gulf Coast Region including Houston, TX, Beaumont, TX, Sulphur, LA, Shreveport, LA, Birmingham, AL and Dothan, AL.

In the new "Arena of Digitalization" covering an area of more than 800 square meters, Siemens is now showing customers and partners how digitalization is used in metalworking and motor production and what results can be achieved with it.