The latest in networking, from remote I/O and fieldbus to high-level security

Live from the 2013 SPS IPC Drives conference in Nuremberg: Click to see a Moxa executive cite trends driving factory automation network communications, and learn how the latest solutions address them.

Dec 5th, 2013

Moxa Americas Inc.

Moxa showcases real TSN applications together with partners at SPS 2019

Moxa showcases real TSN applications together with partners at SPS 2019

Rugged HMI Panels that Work Smoothly With Your PLCs

Rugged HMI Panels that Work Smoothly With Your PLCs

OnCell 3120-LTE-1 - Uninterrupted Low-power LTE Connections to Your Remote Devices

OnCell 3120-LTE-1 - Uninterrupted Low-power LTE Connections to Your Remote Devices

Ira Sharp, Director of Product Marketing—Automation, Phoenix Contact USA

A New Generation of PLCs for a New Generation of Engineers

The Industrial Internet of Things demands more data than ever before from systems and processes that have traditionally not been connected to business systems. The end goal is to provide continuity between different systems and make better use of machines

Variable Frequency Drives Have Low-Environmental Impact

The VFD AFE transformerless medium-voltage drives of the SVFH series from Nidec ASI claim extremely high efficiency and can be connected quickly and directly to the grid.

Four-Channel SFP Gigabit Ethernet Interface

The XMC477RC XMC from Abaco supports four SFP (Small Form Factor Pluggable) modules for maximum flexibility, providing a choice between 1000BASE-X optical or 1000BASE-T copper connectivity.

Top Articles of 2019: Open Source Computing

Coverage of Hilscher’s industrialized Raspberry Pi platform is one of Automation World’s top 5 articles of the year.

Siemens demonstrated “flexible grasping” using AI and neural network processing.

Top Articles of 2019: Artificial Intelligence

Coverage of Siemens addition of artificial intelligence via neural networks to traditional control programs is one of Automation World’s top 5 articles of the year.

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Connecting PLCs for High-Speed Packaging Quality

Stone Technologies creates an effective automated defect rejection process requiring deterministic communication between controllers on separate parts of a high-speed packaging line.

Emerson executives Peter Zornio and Stuart Harris provide insights into Emerson’s future following its acquisitions last year of Aventics and GE Intelligent Platforms.

Emerson and the Integration of Process and Discrete Automation

Emerson executives Peter Zornio and Stuart Harris provide insights into Emerson’s future following its acquisitions last year of Aventics and GE Intelligent Platforms.

Are Servo Motor and Drive Combinations from One Vendor Better?

Are Servo Motor and Drive Combinations from One Vendor Better?

In this episode of the 'Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered' podcast series, we connect with Eric Roggeman and Greg Dieck of Omron Industrial Automation to find out if servo motor/drive/controller combinations sourced from one vendor are the best option or if mixing and matching components is preferred.

Motion Failure Alarm Facilitates Commissioning and Configuration

Motion Failure Alarm Facilitates Commissioning and Configuration

The Sitrans WM300 (MFA) motion failure alarm from Siemens detects changes in the motion and speed of rotating, reciprocating, or conveying equipment.

Virtual Sensor Reads Safe Speed

Virtual Sensor Reads Safe Speed

The Safe Speed Observer from B&R determines speed of the company’s Acopos P3 servo drive in accordance with SIL 2 / PL d / CAT 3 requirements.

Remote HMI Without Attached Display

Remote HMI Without Attached Display

The EA9-RHM headless C-more Remote Human-Machine Interface from AutomationDirect provides all the functionality of an EA9 touch panel without the extra cost of a touchscreen interface.

Pigler Automation Tests Siemens' Next-Gen DCS

Pigler Automation Tests Siemens' Next-Gen DCS

While the Simatic PCS neo was in development, the company enlisted the help of its integration partner to be a pilot user of the new control software.

Evergreen UV's EDU with Lascar Electronics' PanelPilotAce HMI as the device interface.

HMIs Play Role in Portable Disinfection

Evergreen UV expands the functionality and accuracy of its air and surface disinfection devices with the incorporation of HMIs from Lascar Electronics.

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Schneider Electric Unveils IIoT-Ready PLCs, AR, and Motion

Demos of IIoT box as server for hands-free augmented reality and next-generation of motor controls.

Wireless IO-Link Master For Remote Motion Control

SMC’s next-gen wireless base module gets reduced in size and adds flexible connectivity capabilities.

Peter J. Photos of Streamline Innovations in front of a live HMI view from one the company's processing plants.

Today’s Digital Transformation Reality

Dana Inc. and Streamline Innovations show how digital transformations can start today in the discrete and process industries using Ignition to overcome legacy infrastructure’s digital shortcomings.

Making the Plant a Safe Place

Making the Plant a Safe Place

Manufacturers and OEMs must understand that there are many sides to machine safety, including standards, regulations, functional requirements, technology, and even unforeseen circumstances.

Beckhoff’s XTS (eXtended Transport System) linear transport system.

Improving Material Handling Capabilities

Increased collaboration among mechanical, electrical, and software engineers at machine builders has led to a number of advances in material handling automation technology, like Beckhoff’s XTS linear transport system.

Brian DeFanti, project engineer, Avanceon

Are you Protecting your Most Valuable Assets?

Safety in manufacturing is nothing new. And though an investment in safety can do so much for a manufacturing plant, it’s something that can easily be ignored or pushed to the side.

Nonroutine work is any action that is out of the norm where the chance of error is increased. Image courtesy of OpX Leadership Network

Understanding Safety in Nonroutine Work

When a safety program is well-executed and well-maintained, it becomes part of a company’s core values and culture. Employee well-being is paramount, and no production schedule is worth a safety mishap.

More in Control

The Mini Wireless I/O Module from SignalFire Wireless Telemetry integrates an antenna capable of a 3-mile range, which allows a pair of modules to communicate in a point-to-point mode or directly to a Gateway.

Mini Wireless I/O Module for Remote Monitoring and On/Off Automation

The Mini Wireless I/O Module from SignalFire Wireless Telemetry integrates an antenna capable of a 3-mile range, which allows a pair of modules to communicate in a point-to-point mode or directly to a Gateway.

The Modicon M262 controller from Schneider offers intuitive, scalable and reliable machine integration into Industry 4.0 environment, machine to device, machine to human, machine to machine, machine to plant or machine directly to cloud.

IIoT-Ready Controller for Logic and Motion Applications

The Modicon M262 controller from Schneider offers intuitive, scalable, and reliable machine integration into Industry 4.0 environment, machine to device, machine to human, machine to machine, machine to plant, or machine directly to cloud.

Allen-Bradley FLEX 5000 I/O modules from Rockwell Automation can meet the needs of producers in process and heavy industries that require fixed field-wiring terminations or both vertical and horizontal I/O mounting in their distributed safety applications.

Safety I/O Modules

Allen-Bradley FLEX 5000 I/O modules from Rockwell Automation can meet the needs of producers in process and heavy industries that require fixed field-wiring terminations or both vertical and horizontal I/O mounting in their distributed safety applications.

The PSRswitch from Phoenix Contact’s is for smart door safety and position monitoring in machines and assembly lines.

Safety Switch Works Without Contacts

The PSRswitch from Phoenix Contact’s is for smart door safety and position monitoring in machines and assembly lines.

The GOT610-837 vehicle-mounted touch panel computer from Axiomtek is aimed at logistics and manufacturing applications.

10.4-inch Rugged and Versatile Vehicle-Mounted Touch Panel Computer

The GOT610-837 vehicle-mounted touch panel computer from Axiomtek is aimed at logistics and manufacturing applications.

Acromag’s VPX4520 and VPX4521 6U carrier boards feature five mezzanine slots to interface a combination of I/O, communication, FPGA, GPU, or CPU modules to the bus over a high-speed PCIe Gen 3 link.

OpenVPX Carrier Cards Provide Flexibility

Acromag’s VPX4520 and VPX4521 6U carrier boards feature five mezzanine slots to interface a combination of I/O, communication, FPGA, GPU, or CPU modules to the bus over a high-speed PCIe Gen 3 link.

Airgas Upgrades a Legacy DCS

Airgas Upgrades a Legacy DCS

The rip-and-replace project took two years of preparation, but the system cutover required just a 10-day shutdown. Now, using Siemens PCS 7, the company has a more reliable and maintainable DCS that’s ready for the future.

Offshore oil explosion

Pursuing Digital Technologies to Improve Oil Safety

New technologies present both challenges and opportunities for keeping oil and gas workers safe. In two panel discussions at the latest Offshore Technology Conference, safety experts throughout the industry debated how to move forward.

Craig Correia, Director of LifeTech & Process Industries, Festo

Achieving Energy Efficiency Through Industry 4.0

Examining the installation of IoT technology in a pharmaceutical production environment can help illustrate how IoT can aid energy conservation efforts, provide predictive analytics for machine and manufacturing processes, and help pharma companies reach ISO 50001 targets.

John Kowal, Marketing director, B&R Industrial Automation

Why OPC UA Over TSN Will Prove Critical to Manufacturing IIoT

Industrial system interoperability is on the way through a combination of the determinism supplied by Time-Sensitive Networking and OPC UA’s machine-to-machine communications to better synchronize machinery on the plant floor and the device-level communication inside those machines, regardless of supplier.

Global Pharmaceutical Optimizes Electronic Batch Records

With the pharmaceutical industry pushing for ever greater plant optimization, a major pharma manufacturer updated its batch processing platform and improved its electronic batch record process.

Machine designers can use Rockwell’s Allen-Bradley ControlLogix CIP Safety I/O modules to reduce panel space and setup time in larger applications that require a high-density I/O solution.

Safety I/O Modules Simplify Large Control Applications

Machine designers can use Rockwell’s Allen-Bradley ControlLogix CIP Safety I/O modules to reduce panel space and setup time in larger applications that require a high-density I/O solution.