Hear Stephanie and Beth talk shop

Dec 1st, 2016

Our writers share insights on the interesting—and sometimes quirky—automation applications they’re covering outside the factory environment. Focus includes a new type of virtual assistant with emotional intelligence, weather-responsive homes, drones being used to deliver blood in remote Africa (or as first responders closer to home), edible packaging and turning air into water.

Technology Matters: Remote Access, Virtual Workforce Training, and Functional Machine Safety

A review of automation technology developments recently covered by Automation World to help you stay on top of what’s happening in the world of industrial automation.

The wearable Kinexon SafeTag warns the user, audibly and visually, when the physical distance with another employee has been compromised.

Technology Steps Forward for Social Distancing

As more manufacturers are allowed to resume production amid the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping their workers distanced will be key to keeping them healthy. Here are some innovations to help achieve that.

Number of fixed line versus wireless connections, world markets, forecast: 2016 to 2030. Source: ABI Research/Nokia

Where 5G and Industry 4.0 Meet Amid COVID-19

A survey conducted by Nokia and ABI Research highlights moves toward private cellular networks in manufacturing. The question now is: Will COVID-19 accelerate or decelerate this trend?

Nicholas Imfeld, principal engineer, Avanceon

The (Virtual) Grand Tour: Getting Creative with Restrictions

COVID-19 has forced many companies to shift strategies, causing many organizations to get a little creative. In terms of plant tours and inspections, going virtual may be the first step in working through the restrictions.

The A2K Absolute Optical Encoder from US Digital can be assembled onto existing shaft and bearing assemblies. The encoder reports the shaft angle within a single 360° rotation of a shaft.

Encoder Selection Tips

To control motion on a machine or electromechanical system you need continuous positional feedback from the moving parts. That’s where encoders enter the picture. But how do you determine which one is best for the job?

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Technology Built for the Open Road Hits the Plant Floor

General Mills turns to Sena Technologies—known for its Bluetooth motorcycle helmets—to train machine operators while social distancing.

Technology Matters: Open Source SCADA, HMI Upgrades, and Wearable Sensors

A review of automation technology developments we’ve recently covered to help you stay on top of what’s happening in the world of industrial automation.

Ron Stuver, director, business consulting and Industry 4.0, Sick

Maximizing Productivity with the Power of Data

Bringing your manufacturing processes into the fourth industrial revolution.

David Kelley, lead automation engineer, Panacea Technologies

Ensuring a Successful Automation Migration Project

Migrating or upgrading a system can be long and often difficult process, which oftentimes leaves organizations second-guessing the project as a whole. However, there are possible steps to take to make sure everything is easier and successful

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Cutting the Cost of Compliance with Connected Systems

A look at how Blendtech bridges information technology and operation technology systems to improve safety and accounting as well as compliance with regulations.

Production part created with the Stratasys F450 using Antero PEKK-based material to create parts with high strength and superior dimensional stability. Source: Stratasys.

The 3D Printing-ERP Connection

As the use of 3D-printed parts for production grows, including this new production capability in ERP scheduling using demand-driven materials requirements planning is critical to avoiding production capacity issues.

Kevin Tardif, business development specialist, Festo

Robots: How to Choose the Right One

Available in a range of performance capabilities and prices, robots are becoming ubiquitous in all types of industrial production operations. Understanding the capabilities of each robot type is key to making the best choice for your business.

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Cloud Cost Factors: 7 Considerations

Manufacturers looking to move data to the cloud face unique challenges due to the nature of industrial business and existing capital investments. Here’s advice on how to assess those challenges from a cost vantage point.

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Six Business Imperatives Driving a Connected Manufacturing Strategy

As industrial facilities become increasingly becoming connected, these businesses are also creating new connections to innovate how they leverage data for productivity gains, savings, and revenue growth.

Image-based scanners are displacing standard laser scanners, providing the capability to read 2D barcodes, which can be much smaller than traditional barcodes. Photo courtesy of Cognex.

New Technologies Feed the Hunger for Information

Trying to keep up with productivity, quality, safety, sustainability, and other industry demands, food and beverage plants are turning increasingly to the innovations found in today’s sensor instrumentation.

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Economic Outlook: 2020 and Beyond

Discussing the current economic outlook amidst a “double black swan event,” Alex Chausovsky of ITR Economics presented “Guidance in an Uncertain Economy” last week as part of PMMI’s Executive Leadership Conference.

Larry White, executive director, Resource Consumption Accounting Institute

Budgeting for Manufacturing

One of the most important parts of manufacturing is budgeting, and ensuring that both manufacturing and finance are on the same page and have all the necessary information is how to come up with an accurate budget.

Andrew Hughes, principal analyst, LNS Research

COVID-19—Let’s Look Beyond Today

Though it may seem like a good idea to hold back on transformation projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrew Hughes shows how that may come at the risk of falling behind those who are continuing down this track.

MadTree Brewing Gets a One-Stop Supervisory Management System

Though outdated, many organizations continue to use spreadsheets and whiteboards to keep track of and consolidate data. MadTree Brewing Company was among those companies until they implemented the Ignition platform from Inductive Automation.

How Can Vision Systems Be Used to Inspect Solids and Liquids?

In this episode, we explore vision system selection factors, how to justify vision system investments, the types of industrial applications they're most suited for, and how the technology can be used to inspect liquids and solids on the production line.

More in Home

Technology Matters: Maintenance and the Digital Transformation, Virtual Assistants, IoT Adoption and COVID-19

A review of key developments we’ve recently covered to help you stay on top of what’s happening in the world of industrial automation.

What Pub/Sub Means for Industrial Networks

The publish/subscribe communication paradigm promises an era of real-time data exchange and increased flexibility to support next-generation IIoT applications and flexible manufacturing.

CPGs Retool to Get Into the Loop

As manufacturers ramp up sustainability efforts, they are looking at innovative ideas—like TerraCycle Loop, a closed-loop system of reusable containers. But such efforts mean investing in new product designs and packaging lines.

Sven Hamann, SVP Bosch Connected Industry; Ralf Waltram, vice president IT Systems Production and Logistics, BMW Group; Dr.-Ing. Michael Bolle, member of the board of management, Bosch Group; Scott Guthrie, EVP Cloud & AI, Microsoft; Werner Balandat, head of production management, ZF Friedrichshafen AG

Open Manufacturing Platform Expands

Three steering committee members and new working groups have been added to the The Open Manufacturing Platform to help guide manufacturers through digital transformation.

The highly compact XTS has a circumferential track length of 22 m and uses a total of 40 independent movers. The L’Oréal Group produces high-quality skin care products, mascaras, and foundation makeup for its Division Luxe.

L’Oréal Replaces 5 Machines with One Smart System

Facing SKU proliferation and shorter runs, the L’Oreal Group replaced an outdated system with a new track-based system of movers that brings fast changeover and high output.

The Purdue Model of Computer Integrated Manufacturing

Is the Purdue Model Still Relevant?

The Purdue Model has provided a hierarchical structure for industrial communications to keep computing and networks deterministic. But in the age of IoT, data flow is no longer hierarchical. So what model should industry use now?

Micropilot Fwr30 Level Radar Press Release Image

Cloud-Connected Radar Level Sensor

Endress+Hauser has released the Micropilot FWR30, its first cloud-connected radar level sensor which it claims is the world’s first 80 GHz wireless sensor.

Luigi De Bernardini, CEO at Autoware, and President of Autoware Digital.

Thoughts on System Integrators Before and After COVID-19

As the world continues to change during the COVID-19 pandemic, the questions of how businesses will operate after COVID-19 are cropping up. Luigi De Bernardini shows how his organization is adjusting to the pandemic and preparing for what comes after.

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Technology Matters: Cybersecurity, Safety, IoT Sensors, Artificial Intelligence

A review of some of the more interesting topics we’ve recently covered to help you stay on top of what’s happening in the world of industrial automation.

Mobile Device Safety and Security

Insights into addressing manufacturing and processing plant security and safety issues amid the growing use of mobile devices in industrial facilities.

Anheuser-Busch InBev Installs Remote Guidance Platform

The global brewer will save cost-consuming trips and support sustainable service, while reducing time for equipment repairs and overall downtime.

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High-Efficiency IE5 Motor and VFD

Nord Gear showcases its newest high-efficiency motor and variable frequency drive combination to deliver operating cost savings regardless of the motor's speed and load.