Articles and News

Improvements include web-based tools for dynamic workload planning, detailed productivity reporting, and exporting productivity data.

By Rick Zabel, Automation.com The proposed name change of ISA (to "International Society of Automation") is up for a vote again during ISA Expo in Houston, October 14-16, 2008. Last year, the change was voted down, but I have yet to hear a compelling argument against the change. And there are many reasons for the change. If ISA is truly the global society of automation professionals, then its name should reflect its cause. It's time for a change!

Webb will supply six SmartCart AGC Automatic Guided Carts to Solutia’s plant in Pensacola, Fla.

System delivers a prompt message to the right people if an error occurs during the baggage transfer to the sorting laterals.

Software assists users in calculating chain drive configurations and selecting suitable chains for motion control and conveyor applications.

More than 160 organizations have joined the South Carolina Engineering Cluster. The cluster has two goals: promoting engineering as a career for students and promoting the South Carolina engineering industry.

“Video Process Monitoring” white paper discusses the newest trend in HMI/SCADA: Embedding video into an HMI screen, so operators can actually see what is happening in a process plant, along an assembly line, or in remote areas.

By Patrick Roberts Conveyor change-over helps ALM Express to label and renest 200 clamshells per minute for high-speed, high-volume produce packaging.

By Jim McMahon J.T.M. Food Group’s switch from manual cold storage warehousing to an automated storage and retrieval system cut energy usage by 66 percent.

Bosch and Middlesex are also planning to cooperate on development of automated material handling systems to meet the needs of the semiconductor industry for 300mm Prime and 450mm wafer fabs.

Guide details family of Genuine Wrap Spring clutches and clutch/brake packages and accessories, friction clutches and brakes, and custom engineered clutch brake products.

Web site has streamlined content about automated material handling technologies in seven languages.

The Remstar Shuttle VLM is an enclosed system of vertically arranged trays. The brochure outlines how the VLM can reclaim up to 85% of otherwise wasted space.

Siemens will be providing PLCs, Profinet, mechanical design and acting as the general contractor for the mechanical and electrical integration of the project.

FKI Logistex installed a new put module and routing sortation system at Forzani's distribution center (DC) in Toronto.

Could it be that high fuel prices, the weak dollar and crises in the U.S. manufacturing industry are creating opportunities? Andy Chatha of ARC Advisory Group thinks so. He says the U.S. industry has suddenly become competitive on the world market, and companies are no longer moving operations overseas. Instead, many are expanding their facilities, and he predicts a boom in automation right here in the U.S.

ABB reported record orders, revenues and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) in the second quarter of 2008, with net income reaching $975 million.

Booklet describes the 10 most common and costly errors that companies make when preparing product news releases.

MML Capital Partners and PaR's management have teamed to acquire the company from American Capital Ltd.

Hogan is currently CEO of GE Healthcare and is a member of the GE Senior Executive Council. He will join ABB on September 1, 2008.