Articles and News

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Site covers PLC on a Chip based PLCs, Application Specific controls and PLC Education tools.

Free RSLogix Micro Starter Lite software streamlines overall development and deployment processes, helping to save time and increase productivity.

While 2009 and 2010 look to be challenging years, the opportunity to drive growth in services remains substantial and will continue to drive growth in the overall DCS market well into the next decade.

In spite of the current gloom and doom in the global economy, the market growth will resume in 2010 and beyond.

Dieter Hess and Manfred Werner founded the independent software company 3S-Smart Software Solutions in July 1994.

The OPC Technical Advisory Council (TAC) has approved a charter for a new joint working group with PLCopen to create an OPC UA information model corresponding to the IEC-61131 standard.

PLCopen launched the Fluid Power Control Function Blocks technical group at a kickoff meeting June 23, 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany. The initiative will extend PLCopen specifications to include fluid power.

PLCopen member Beckhoff is applying PLCopen standards to wind power applications. Beckhoff controls are being used in the new 2 MW converter from DeWind AG, Germany, also known as the D8. The wind power converters use Beckhoff Industrial PCs, TwinCAT automation software, and Bus Terminal technologies. Dewind wind power experts used the Beckhoff TwinCAT software to develop applications in the IEC 61131-3 open standard software.