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By Bill Lydon, Editor IO-Link is gaining momentum as the first open standard for smart sensor I/O. IO-Link is a point to point network communications standard and protocol that is an IEC standard (IEC 61131-9) for sensors and actuators.

Enormous growth potential exists for logistics systems, medical robots, and applications in the agricultural sector.

Limited innovation and product differentiation, paralleled by rapid advancements in alternative power transmission technologies like VFD, pose a serious threat to the market’s future.

Automation expenditures by the upstream oil and gas sector, which includes exploration, production, and pipelines, are expected to grow at an rate of nearly 8 percent over the next five years, according to ARC.

By Nuris Ismail and Reid Paquin of Aberdeen Group Manufacturing companies invest millions, if not billions, of dollars in plant equipment. The pressure to get the most out of their current asset base while maximizing productivity is top of mind for most executives. While these pressures are extremely important, organizations cannot forget the impact that operational risks can have to their business.

IFR estimates that in 2012 more than 160,000 industrial robots were sold, about the same number as in 2011.

The International Federation of Robotics says certain jobs may be reduced by robotics and automation but many more jobs are created.

Fieldbus protocols accounted for 75% of new industrial automation component network connections in 2011, but this is projected to fall to 69% in 2016. Growth of Ethernet is expected to be considerably higher to 2016.

The 2013 General Assembly will be held in Shanghai, China, on March 12-15, 2013.

The symposium, to be held 21-23 May 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, will provide numerous opportunities to meet face to face with leading government officials on current and prospective regulatory requirements and activities.

sercos will show new safety concepts, products, and innovative technologies of exhibiting member companies during the Hanover Fair, April 8 - 12, 2013, in hall 9, booth D80.

The guide has attributes tailored for industrial organizations, and allows those involved in a GSP selection process to make quicker and improved decisions.

By Toni Ott, Cooper Crouse-Hinds When specifying explosion-proof (Ex d) enclosures to house electrical apparatus for use in explosive atmospheres, engineers must ensure they fully understand the implications of modifying the enclosure as part of the certified equipment prior to and after installation.

The PROFI Interface Center (PIC) in Johnson City, TN, made a significant investment in new equipment and systems to enhance its ability to train industrial networking engineers in coming years.

Lenze’s Formulas and Tables app provides engineers, drive manufacturers and trainers a mobile tool to design drive systems while on the go.

The Russian head of state will be in the Hannover Congress Centrum for the opening ceremony on Sunday, April 7, 2013, and will also take part in the traditional opening tour of HANNOVER MESSE on Monday, April 8, 2013.

The 2013/14 Cole-Parmer Sourcebook contains conversion factors, approvals to selection guides, and other reference material to make buying—and using—laboratory products easier.

ISA’s Executive Director and CEO Patrick Gouhin participated at a meeting in Hong Kong exploring collaborative initiatives among industry associations throughout all areas of the world, including the rapidly growing Asia-Pacific region.

Intertec will supply environmental protection cabinets and shelters that will protect the field-based process analyzers at the new Sadara petrochemical complex in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

ISI Solutions is a Latin American provider of automation and control engineering and consulting services to the oil & gas, power and pipeline industries.