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  • March 2021

    • March 2021

    Renown for editorial excellence, Automation World covers the entire spectrum of industrial automation technologies, software and devices. AW reports on developments in discrete manufacturing, batch/hybrid processing and continuous process operations.
    Like collaborative robots (cobots), mobile robots may also see their growth accelerate as many move beyond fixed applications and toward more flexible robotic systems.
    Robotics

    Robotics Adoption Survey Finds Ups, Downs, and a Few Surprises

    David Miller
    March 12, 2021
    Last year proved itself a veritable rollercoaster of disruptions and developments, resulting in robotics adoption growing in some areas and shrinking in others, yet still painting...
    Panoramic view of sawmill line.
    IIoT

    OEM Digitally Transforms Its Business for Remote Support

    Jeanne Schweder
    March 10, 2021
    BID Group, a sawmill equipment manufacturer, adopts PTC’s ThingWorx IIoT platform and Vuforia augmented reality technologies to reduce customer downtime and eliminate asset component...
    Image001
    Workforce

    How Automation Enables Viable Reshoring

    Stephanie Neil
    March 8, 2021
    COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions have prompted manufacturers to consider bringing operations back to the U.S. But successful reshoring depends on disruptive technology...
    Tadiran Lisocl2 Batteries Medium Copy 2
    Plant Maintenance

    The Best Way to Power Remote Wireless Communications

    Sol Jacobs
    March 6, 2021
    Why remote wireless sensors that communicate with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) demand long-life, industrial grade lithium batteries.

    More content from March 2021

    5 Moticont Miniature Linear Voice Coil Motor
    Motion

    Miniature Linear Voice Coil Motor

    Moticont
    March 6, 2021
    Moticont's brushless miniature DC linear voice coil motor is built with haptic feedback efficiency for medical/surgical instruments, vibration damping, laser machining, packaging...
    John Clemons, MESA Marketing, Committee Chair
    IIoT

    The Challenges of Smart Manufacturing

    John Clemons
    March 5, 2021
    The Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association aims to address some of the problem areas of smart manufacturing—such as implementation, fitting different technologies together...
    Charlie Norz, Automation Product Manager, Wago
    IIoT

    Have Questions About the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)? We’ve Got Answers

    Charlie Norz
    March 5, 2021
    Wago regularly receives questions from customers about a variety of technology topics, which have ramped up with the advance of IIoT and the onset of COVID-19. Here are answers...
    3 Eaton Io T Connected Surge Protector
    Control

    IoT Connected Surge Protector

    Eaton
    March 5, 2021
    This latest surge protection device by Eaton enables remote monitoring of surge data, both real time and historical, that can be used to predict future surge events or proactive...
    Michael Bowne, executive director, PI North America
    IIoT

    Find Yourself with a Real-Time Location System

    Michael Bowne
    March 4, 2021
    Launched in 2020, omlox is the world’s first interoperable standard for location technology in industrial environments.
    2 Litmus Edge Computing Platform
    Data

    Edge Computing Platform

    Litmus
    March 4, 2021
    Litmus's new edge platform, Litmus Edge 3.0, adds more device drivers with enhanced analytics and improved integration connectors. Its second generation industrial communication...
    Larry White, CMA, CFM, CPA, CGFM, Executive Director of the Resource Consumption Accounting Institute.
    Analytics

    Evaluating Profitability Margins for Products

    Larry White
    March 3, 2021
    It's essential that financial analyses produce decision-relevant profitability information to improve internal monetary choices. Learn how a quote and margin price calculator ...
    Martins’ monitoring system uses groov RIO to grab existing I/O signals, send them into cloud storage, and generate useful alerts and reports.
    IIoT

    Growing New Business with Edge Computing

    Opto 22
    March 3, 2021
    Industrial companies’ innovative approaches to market demands, enabled by industrial edge devices, illustrate how edge device technology is enabling manufacturers to be more adaptive...
    1 Fujitsu Low Profile Glow Wire Compliant Power Relay Series
    Motion

    Glow Wire Compliant Power Relays

    Fujitsu Components America
    March 3, 2021
    Fujitsu's low-profile power relay series is designed for safety, rated from 1.5 to 110V, and is available with either standard (530mW and 550mW) or high (400mW) sensitivity.
    Collaborative Robot
    Robotics

    Understanding Robots and Their Role in IIoT

    Kevin Tardif
    March 2, 2021
    For a half century now, robots have been the centerpiece of Industry 3.0—the age of pre-digital automation. They will be just as critical, if not more so, as the world transitions...
    Ofaf Vision Arc 2021
    Control

    Users Unite as the Open Process Automation Journey Continues

    Stephanie Neil
    Feb. 17, 2021
    From the evolving standard to test labs, movement to an interoperable framework is taking shape. But the OPAF group is asking for more help from manufacturers.
    Eh 2020 Netilion
    IIoT

    Device-to-Cloud Communications Bypass the Purdue Model

    David Miller
    Feb. 5, 2021
    Endress+Hauser showcased how its Netillion platform bypasses the Purdue Model for more direct device to cloud communication while maintaining critical security levels.
    XPlanar eliminates the need to move the plasma jet; instead, a floating planar mover carries the workpiece into position for precise surface treatment. Source: Plasmatreat
    Motion

    OEM Redesigns Equipment to Incorporate XPlanar Floating Movers

    David Greenfield
    Feb. 4, 2021
    The levitating material handling technology from Beckhoff is being used by Plasmatreat in its equipment to position materials beneath spray nozzles for plasma pre-treatment and...
    Gallery Picture Immi 3
    Robotics

    Injection Molding Machine Interface Bolsters Robot Integration

    David Miller
    Feb. 3, 2021
    With the release of its injection molding machine interface, Universal Robots aims to help users of its e-Series cobots better integrate their assets for a smoother production...
    Getty Images
    Getty Images Transportation
    Supply Chain Management

    The Logistics of Supply Chain Visibility

    Stephanie Neil
    Feb. 2, 2021
    Tive and project44 team up to deliver the Open Visibility Network, a way to provide transparency between shippers, logistics service providers, brokers, and customers.
    Getty Images 1147344771
    Analytics

    Assessing Cloud Computing’s Value

    David Greenfield
    Feb. 2, 2021
    When it comes to data analytics for operational improvement, cloud technologies have reduced the hurdles associated with the infrastructure, hardware, maintenance, and capital...
    Plant floor worker accessing HMI system. Source: Elatec Inc.
    Cybersecurity

    RFID as an Industrial Cybersecurity Method

    David Greenfield
    Jan. 26, 2021
    Widely used across industry for site access, RFID cards can support added functionality for access to manufacturing processes, controllers, and HMI software.
    Cooling Channels Copy Resized
    3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing

    Increased Adoption, Acquisitions, and Partnerships Mark 3D Printing’s Advance

    David Miller
    Jan. 21, 2021
    Having proved its value during emergency deployments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, additive manufacturing continues to gain adopters. And industry suppliers are adapting...
    Explainability improves quality control in manufacturing by identifying and highlighting the exact spot where an inconsistency or anomaly in vision inspection datasets occur. Source: Neurala
    Analytics

    Can Artificial Intelligence Explain Itself?

    David Greenfield
    Jan. 21, 2021
    As an end user, you may never have to work with artificial intelligence from a developer’s perspective, but knowing how it works is key to ensuring its successful use. Fortunately...
    Worker inspecting recycled plastic in plastics factory. Source: Getty Images
    Sustainability

    Developing a Sustainability Program Focus

    David Greenfield
    Jan. 19, 2021
    Though industrial sustainability efforts certainly have not stopped in the past few years, they also haven’t moved forward at the pace seen several years ago. Part of the problem...
    STR in Isaac Sim with dolly.
    Robotics

    BMW Outfits Robots with Artificial Intelligence

    David Greenfield
    June 24, 2020
    To help produce its custom-configured cars more rapidly, BMW used Nvidia’s Isaac robotics platform to add advanced computing and visualization to its factory logistics robots....