Articles and News

The CoDeSys Automation Alliance for IEC 61131-3 programming signed up its 100th member.

Vishay Nobel standard KIS, KOSD, KIMD, and KISD load cells and weighing modules work with Schneider PLCs via Ethernet Modbus TCP communication.

In addition to daily and weekly digital and online content, ISA will publish 6 print issues of InTech magazine in 2010. ISA selected Automation.com as the advertising sales representative for InTech magazine’s print, digital, and online editions.

ABB reported third-quarter net income of $1 billion. Orders declined 15% and revenue was down 5%.

Toyota will use the HC900 hybrid controller to optimize air supply units and deliver greater energy-efficient temperature and humidity control within paint finishing spray booths.

PcVue will monitor and control ventilation systems and 200 programmable controllers at CERN, the largest particle accelerator in the world.

Water and Wastewater Consultant Resource Catalog (CRC) helps consulting engineers specify automation and control products and solutions more easily.

The co-branded e-newsletters will be distributed to Automation.com’s subscribers, InTech subscribers, and ISA members and customers, creating a combined total distribution of more than 90,000 world-wide automation professionals.

PowerSecure will use GE Fanuc PLCs as part of its solution to meet utilities’ stringent requirements for the protection and control of distributed generation systems.

This implementation guide, by the OMAC Packaging Workgroup, has been created to aid software developers in achieving a clean and efficient implementation of PackML.

Siemens Energy & Automation, Siemens Transportation Systems, Siemens Building Technologies, and Siemens VAI Services merged into a new company, Siemens Industry.

Software Toolbox products listed in the Siemens catalog include TOP Server and TOP Server UCON for Siemens Simatic WinCC and WinCC flexible products.

Rockwell Automation expects to host more than 8,000 attendees in Anaheim, CA, Nov. 11 and 12 at its 18th annual Automation Fair event.

By Bill Lydon, Automation.com PLCopen finalized release 2.1 of the PLCopen Technical Committee 6 – XML Standard. This release 2.1 is based version 2.0 published in December 2008, as well as the feedback received from PLCopen members and the AutomationML organization. Here’s a synopsis of what the standard contains.

On June 23, 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany, the PLCopen Fluid Power Task Force had its first technical meeting to define function blocks for fluid power and hydraulic applications. Founding members of the task group include Bosch Rexroth, Eaton and Parker Hannifin bringing broad fluid power and controls experience; B&R, Eckelmann, ISG, Siemens representing control and integration expertise; 3S CoDeSys with a commitment of tightly integrated control software tools.

Sansteel chose Proficy Process Systems for its furnace revamp project in Shanghai. The solution, valued at $300,000, will provide critical control for both the metal furnace and the plant utility system.

Version 6.2.1 of OpenPCS IEC 61131-3 automation suite is free of charge and needs no registration.

Catalog covers Ethernet I/O systems, standalone data loggers, Programmable Automation Controllers (PACs), Simulink targets, and Modbus TCP slaves.

Orders decreased across all divisions and regions compared to the second quarter of 2008 on a combination of lower volumes and price decreases resulting from both lower raw material costs and reduced demand.

Accreditation is recognition that the test laboratory is competent to carry out tests in compliance with PLCopen guidelines for the certification of IEC 61131-3 related products.