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By Chris Johnson, SMB Bearings Vibration analysis can provide valuable insight into machine condition, flagging up problems before extensive damage occurs. This article explains the steps machine builders should take to reduce the likelihood of bearings being the root cause.

By Nigel Smith, TM Robotics As we enter the era of Industry 4.0, this article will help dispel some common misconceptions about implementing smart manufacturing.

By George Walker, Novotek UK and Ireland It’s no secret that data collection is important for generating valuable insight that helps plant managers improve efficiency in industrial systems. However, what seems unknown to many in the industry is the importance of understanding the context of the data being analysed.

By Kelsey Rzepecki, Graphic Products Before beginning work, it’s crucial to evaluate your facility for safety hazards. Consistent and effective labeling, in accordance with OSHA and other industry regulations, is essential to prevent workplace injuries, costly downtime, workers’ compensation claims, and fines.

By James Davey, Boulting Technology Despite their resilience and rugged design, PLC-based control systems can still break down and their failure can lead to costly downtime. This article discusses the top causes of PLC control system failure.

By Zane Blomgren, Tripwire There is little doubt that the need for OT operators to adapt to stronger cyber security postures is getting increasingly urgent. Yet, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions that could very well hinder many operators from taking the appropriate actions

By Jonathan Wilkins In industry, both 3D printing and CNC machining allow manufacturers to produce complex parts but sometimes it can be difficult to know which technology will better suit an application. This article discusses the applications for CNC machining and additive manufacturing.

By Dr Peter Harrop, IDTechEx The smart materials and robotics approach to smart cities is far more powerful than the initial IT and sensor centric approach and it is cracking the problem.

By Henry Boger, Independent Consultant Wireless power transfer eliminates the need for batteries and the replacement of batteries by a skilled technician who is required to go part way up a 100-foot distillation tower on the midnight shift.

By Nigel Smith, TM Robotics Robots as a Service (RaaS) is a business model for deploying robotic automation on lease. This article examines the potential of RaaS, when compared to traditional robot purchasing.

By Nick Boughton, Boulting Technology As entire systems have become electronic and software-based, safety and security must also be delivered digitally. This article explains how cybersecurity vulnerabilities can diminish physical safety

By Tracy Lustyan, alliantgroup Those looking to offset the costs of development and implementation of automation tools should look at the R&D tax credit.

By Rick Peters, Fortinet The ability to implement security solutions that deliver visibility, control and real-time situational awareness are the differentiators enabling safe and more efficient operations.

By Jonathan Wilkins, EU Automation To tackle the medical, engineering and environmental challenges of the future, innovation is essential. Scientists and engineers must contend with enhancing virtual reality, securing cyberspace, advancing health informatics and engineering better medicines. Sometimes, this happens by accident, but often it’s the result of a positive company culture.

By Nick Boughton, Boulting Technology Every plant has its unique lifecycle, which sees both equipment and employees evolve over time. This article explains the concept of virtual commissioning and its benefits when installing new plant equipment.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The HART (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) protocol, adopted worldwide, provides digital signal and measurement data from smart field instruments in a wide range of control, monitoring, and automation applications.

By Graham Smith, Curo Talent We’ve all heard of the wider IT skills shortage, but the lack of security skills in the industry is even more critical. This article explains the role of automation in IT security and how it could address the skills shortage.

By Nir Zamir, Inspekto Having a happy workforce may be the first step to improving productivity, but proper tools and advanced technologies will take productivity significantly further, particularly for industrial manufacturers. This article explains how manufacturers can improve productivity with Autonomous Machine Vision systems.

By Bill Lydon, Editor, Automation.com The digitalization revolution was on full display at the 2019 ARC conference, and it was clear throughout the event, that forward-thinking users are leading the way.

By Daniel Waldron, Armagard Remaining competitive in an ever-changing market requires you to constantly improve manufacturing productivity. Your computer equipment no doubt plays a crucial role in that process. Here’s how to keep it that way