Articles and News

Simatic Migration Services help companies migrate to the latest Simatic technologies.

The IEC 61131-3 standard establishes guidelines for the use of ladder, function block, instruction list, structured text and sequential function chart programming for the PLC industry.

By introducing change management and version control software from for all its PLCs in five production plants, heat exchanger manufacturer SWEP has minimized the risk of machine downtime.

NTK is installing a control system based on safety PLCs from ABB that continuously monitors load torque as well as working and collision areas in real time.

July U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $318.33 million, down 11.8% from June’s $361.03 million and down 11.1% when compared with the total of $358.11 million reported for July 2014.

Toshin Kogyo uses Mettler Toledo scales to measure silk-screening ink cartridges.

Automation Fair runs November 18-19, 2015 at McCormick Place West, Chicago, IL USA

Netbiter gateways connected to Rockwell PLCs control the different systems in the EF International Language Centre in Oxford, UK.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Automation.com conducted a PLC/PAC Automation Experience survey with the goal to gather vendor ratings based on user experiences. The survey also asked questions on specific industry topics, including what are automation’s biggest problems. This inaugural survey had more than 1,000 participants.

“PLC Handbook: A Practical Guide to Programmable Logic Controllers” is available as a free download. this eBook explains what a PLC is and provides detailed information about what to look for when choosing a controller, with both hardware and software overviews.

By Steve Aposhian, FireFly Equipment Using LabVIEW software and CompactRIO hardware in ProSlab 155 helped the smart machine harvest turf 25 percent faster and use half the diesel fuel that other machines on the market burn.

Vapor Systems Technologies uses a Unitronics Vision350 PLC +HMI to test gas pump nozzles through 1,000,000 cycles.

By Ken Ball Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) were more of a technology evolution than a radical development. A noteworthy aspect about the origin was that quite similar concepts were pursued by three separate companies—nearly concurrently but unknown to each other. Part 1 in a series of four articles about the history of the PLC.

PLCopen invites all interested parties to give feedback on this document until October 23, 2015.

The Wormhole module is intended for OEM integration of IEC 61131 Control into board level electronics.

With a year-to-date total of $1,798.34 million, 2015 was down 7.9% when compared with 2014.

.NET Controller SDK for SNAP PAC provides modern .NET interface for developing applications that control and communicate with Opto 22 SNAP PAC control systems.

Training program helps to help bridge skills gap for manufacturers in Southern Wisconsin.

The software from MDT manages changes to 16,000 programmable devices in remote areas across the continent and reduces safety risks to employees associated with unmanaged control system changes.

The app store includes packages ranging from safety, security, and storage to connectivity, graphics, and development tools.