ShopTalk | February 2017

Mar 1st, 2017

Hear Stephanie and Beth talk shop.

Our writers share insights on the interesting—and sometimes quirky—automation applications.
Focus includes a robot to handle all of your yardwork, a high-tech hairbrush, panic rings, and pocket-sized drones to take selfies to another level.

Attracting and retaining a quality workforce in manufacturing is a systemic key business challenge.

Attract and Retain a Quality Workforce, Insights with Gardner Carrick at PMMI’s ELC

NAM and MI programs and research bring information into labor outreach efforts and retention of a diverse, quality workforce.

Molecular tagging and blockchain keep cannabis safe across the supply chain.

Securing Cannabis Across the Supply Chain

Applied DNA Sciences and and TruTrace Technologies team up to tag, test, and track cannabis products from seed to sale.

Is Your System Maintainable?

Don’t waste your money on a system integrator (SI) who leaves an undecipherable system when they finish. Learn steps your SI should take for a smooth transfer of information, so your team can utilize the new process right away—without information gaps.

Automation Investment Expectations for the Batch Manufacturing Industries

In this second installment in our series covering automation investment expectations for 2021, suppliers highlight ongoing pandemic, supply chain, and labor issues driving near-term interest in specific technologies.

Moving Control System Maintenance to a Proactive Strategy

In this episode of the 'Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered' podcast series, we connect with Bart Winters of Honeywell Process Solutions to learn about shifting your industrial control systems from a reactive to a proactive maintenance strategy.

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Looking for automation solutions for packaging and palletizing? This is your destination for all things cobot. Whether it’s webinars, video case studies or product information, you’ll find it all in this one spot.

Industrial Cloud Benefits

As remote access and machine learning boom, cloud computing offers manufacturers a plethora of potential benefits. Watch this 'Take Five with Automation World' video to learn more.

Opto 22's groov RIO with Ignition Edge Onboard.

Opto 22’s Edge Controller and I/O Feature Ignition Onboard

Extending their Ignition Onboard partnership, Opto 22 now offers versions of groov EPIC and groov RIO with Inductive Automation’s Ignition 8 built in.

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Open Integration Network Eases Interoperability Challenges

Rotork’s recent entry into Endress+Hauser’s Open Integration partner program highlights the growing trends of greater industry collaboration and open standards.

CESMII and Plattform Industrie 4.0 Announce Collaboration

With a focus on technology standards, the two groups explained the development of their international agreement at the 2021 virtual Hannover Messe event

Artificial Intelligence for Mobile Robot Fleet Management

As the deployment of large fleets of autonomous mobile robots becomes more common, coordination and interoperability are becoming challenges. However, artificial intelligence may be the solution.

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Check out The Cobot Spot from Universal Robots

Looking for automation solutions for packaging and palletizing? This is your destination for all things cobot. Whether it’s webinars, video case studies or product information, you’ll find it all in this one spot.

Universal I/O: Just in Time for the Digital Transformation

A standardized version of I/O provides users and machine builders with the opportunity to scale systems quickly, but traditional I/O still holds an important role.

Diane Sacra, Director of Marketing, LNS Research

Autonomous and Remote Ops Trend Up as COVID-19 Changes the Landscape

According to LNS Research, approximately 50% of industrial leaders have an autonomous plant initiative formalized. However, transformation comes with challenges and hurdles. Learn what considerations you should take moving forward.

John Deere Hybrid 944K Wheel Loader distributing aggregate in Georgetown, Texas.

John Deere and Audi Apply Intel’s AI Technology

Artificial intelligence is changing how welding quality inspections are handled—from inspecting specifics such as porosity to providing alerts about faulty welds as they happen.

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

Why IIoT Demand Continues to Grow

Whether it's the need to scale up or down, re-strategize production, or re-deploy employees, Industrial Internet of Things technology has been essential in making these transformations possible.

The Artificial Intelligence Explosion in Industrial Automation

Take Five Video: From supply chain and workforce training to automated quality inspections, artificial intelligence capabilities are being added to automation technologies—changing how users interact with hardware devices and software applications.

MES/MOM Certification Benefits Everyone

Rockwell Automation's Global Technical Lead for MES recently got his MOM certification from MESA. Find out why he says this program is worthwhile for system integrators, MES vendors, and end users.

Larry White, CMA, CFM, CPA, CGFM, Executive Director of the Resource Consumption Accounting Institute.

Dangerous Manufacturing Rules of Thumb

Find out how fixed and variable cost confusion, counting profit as a percentage of sales, over focusing on cost management and product cost, and pursuing return on investment the wrong way can hurt your facility and your profits.

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Amazon’s Cloud-Based Machine Learning for Predictive Maintenance

The new Lookout for Equipment service from Amazon Web Services analyzes machine data in the cloud to predict machine failures.

More in Home

Siemens Industrial Edge offers option to connect to Google Cloud services.

Google Cloud Targets the Manufacturing Industries with Siemens

Siemens is integrating Google Cloud’s data cloud and artificial intelligence/machine learning technologies with Siemens’ Industrial Edge platform.

Flexible feeding system using vision, motion, and robotics technologies developed by Armo Tool in conjunction with Omron Automation and Taylor Fluid Systems.

The Rise of Flexible Feeding System Technology

Why flexible feeding systems, which incorporate robotics, vision, and motion technologies are beginning to replace the vibratory bowl feeders that have long been used sort small parts for assembly and packaging.

Daniel C. Malyszko, Director of Operations and IIoT Consultant, Malisko Engineering

Leverage Your Existing OT System As You Create Your Digital Transformation Roadmap

Malisko Engineering's director of operations provides a guide to understanding your company's essential stepping stones to digital transformation and how to utilize the automation technologies already implemented in your operations.

Industrial Wearable Uses and Applications

Industrial wearables, such as augmented reality headsets, are a growing presence in industrial operations of various sorts. Watch this Take Five with Automation World video to find out more.

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Evonik Uses Modular Process Control for Greater Customizability

Siemens’ Simatic PCS Neo process control system is helping chemical manufacturer Evonik make its production model more flexible.

Can MES Replace SCADA?

A look at the overlaps and differences between SCADA and MES technologies and how their functions can be combined, with an example of a manufacturer that has done it.

5G Expands Autonomous Mobile Robot Capabilities

At TCL’s plant in Huizhou, China, improved 5G wireless connectivity enabled the company to add dozens of ForwardX autonomous mobile robots to improve production operations.

Festo uses predictive maintenance in the automotive industry to increase efficiency in the maintenance of servo-pneumatic welding guns by avoiding unforeseen downtimes and service and complaint costs. Source: Festo.

How Festo Applies Artificial Intelligence for Predictive Applications

To showcase the use of AI in its automation technologies, Festo highlighted two use cases involving predictive maintenance and predictive energy.

Based on linear servo track technology, the Orboter has movers called “Probots” on which actuators can be mounted.

Wireless Network for Manufacturing Offers the Reliability of Wired IO-Link

The use of wireless in manufacturing plants is still met with a good deal of skepticism today. Much of this doubt is based on experience with traditional wireless, which is simply not reliable because it’s neither fast enough nor scalable.

Blake Griffin, senior analyst, Interact Analysis presenting on predictive maintenance strategies at PMMI's Executive Leadership Conference.

Live at the ELC: OEMs Can Monetize Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance is an emerging technology for packaging and processing equipment that has the potential to disrupt the OEM business model.

Inputs for materials, equipment, and labor will be getting more expensive across the board, but a tight labor market will be the biggest limiting factor for CPGs. Automation is a great way to circumvent this.

Live at the ELC: Economic Forecast for Brands Timing Their Packaging Machinery Procurement

The U.S. and global economies are poised for a long period of expansion, meaning more consumer spending power and top line growth for brands, but also higher input prices for CPGs, including materials, machinery, and labor.

Randy Otto, CEO, ECS Solutions

Additional Report Parameters Enhance Process Performance

Looking to gain more insight into your company’s quality, cost, personnel, and energy activities to make more informed decisions? Start by contextualizing your data with parameters suggested by ECS Solution’s CEO.