V8i, said to be the most comprehensive infrastructure software ever assembled in a single release was introduced by Bentley Systems. Although it includes products for all infrastructure design needs from wind power to bridges and dams, we‚’re particularly impressed with the software tools included for designing factories and manufacturing facilities. The V8i portfolio leverages and…
Pepperl+Fuchs GmbH Partners with Systec & Services GmbH
TWINSBURG, OH ‚– Pepperl+Fuchs, one of the world‚’s largest manufacturers of electronic sensors for the automation industries and the world market leader for intrinsic safety and explosion protection technology, and Systec & Services GmbH, a system integration provider that offers comprehensive IT integration and production management solutions to the life science and regulated industries, have…
Universal Manual Pulse Generator/Handwheel
Newbury Park, California ‚– Micronor‚’s MR190 Universal Manual Pulse Generator/Handwheel (MPG) is the world‚’s first MPG to offer both A/A‚’/B/B‚’ differential line driver and A/B pull-up quadrature outputs in a single unit. No longer does a CNC machine manufacturer, control panel fabricator, distributor or service center need to stock 3 or more handwheel models because…
Murrplastik’s Cable Drag Chains
Designed for quick assembly and disassembly, MP 52.2 PowerLine and MP82.2 HeavyLine chains from Murrplastik showed a time saving of up to 59% per production step when compared to similar chains from another manufacturer during an on-site assembly test. During installation, the individual side links of the Murrplastik chains are assembled at an angle to…
AutomationDirect Introduces Power Distribution Blocks
Cumming, GA — AutomationDirect announces the launch of a line of Edison power distribution blocks and terminal blocks. The distinctly different styles of short-circuit current rated (SCCR) power distribution blocks and terminal blocks are designed to support different application needs. Edison‚’s finger-safe power distribution blocks feature a modular design allowing users to select and configure…
GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms’ PACMotion Controller
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms announces the introduction of its breakthrough motion solution, PACMotion. PACMotion is a completely new motion controller designed to serve the high-end needs of complex motion applications. It is part of an integrated motion and machine logic solution with the performance, flexibility and scalability required for advanced machine automation.…
Opto 22 Technical Seminar Tour
Opto 22 will present a series of free half-day seminars in select cities to demonstrate the new functionality of the SNAP I/O‚â„¢ which offer support for Rockwell Automation‚®/Allen-Bradley Ethernet-based control systems. The seminar tour began in Chicago on October 8 and continues across the country with stops in Detroit, MI; Atlanta, GA; Charlotte, NC; San…
E3 Equipment Boosts Fab Productivity
Applied E3‚â„¢, from Applied Materials, is a comprehensive factory automation (FA) software package for improving the productivity and reducing the costs of semiconductor, flat panel display and photovoltaic solar cell manufacturing. The package can boost process capability by more than 30%, reduce unscheduled down time, and shorten cycle time to achieve up to a 20%…
Integrated Automation Platform for CNC, Robotics and Axis Linking
Machine automation requires integration of movement and path control, ability to connect drives and have functions such as visualization, I/O processing and communication. But anthropomorphic robots, complex CNC 3D processing, multiple linked-axis movements, real-time positioning modifications ‚– each of these up to now represented a separate area of technology. B&R has introduced a complete platform…
Water Industry Solution Pack for Proficy® HMI/SCADA – iFIX
Charlottesville, VA — Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a unit of GE Enterprise Solutions, announces the release of its vertical solution pack for the Water Industry. The Water Solution Pack 2008 delivers new tools and functionality that drives a sustainable advantage for Proficy‚® HMI/SCADA ‚– iFIX customers with the addition of an extensive industry-specific dynamo library, NERC-recommended…
New ETHERNET/IP™ / MODBUS®-TCP ETHERNET Adapter
ABB Low Voltage Drives today released the FENA-01 Ethernet Adapter for the company‚’s ACS350 drive line. The FENA-01 supports both EtherNet/IP and Modbus/TCP protocols. ‚“Combining this feature-rich industrial ethernet adapter with the ACS350 drive offers a powerful drive solution to OEM‚’s and system integrators focused on the food & beverage, material handling, printing, rubber &…
Opto 22 Upgrades SNAP I/O™ Adding Distributed Control to Allen-Bradley® ControlLogix® and CompactLogix® Architectures
Opto 22, developer and manufacturer of the award-winning SNAP PAC System™ family of programmable automation controllers, I/O, and accessories, has released new firmware version 8.3 for its SNAP-PAC-EB1 and -EB2 Ethernet I/O featuring support for Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley Ethernet-based control systems. This free firmware upgrade adds support for the industry-standard EtherNet/IP™ communications protocol, giving automation engineers…
Advantech Launches ActiveDAQ Pro with GUI Components
Cincinnati, Ohio ‚– The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech introduces ActiveDAQ Pro, a collection of ActiveX controls performing I/O operations. The ActiveDAQ Pro package contains: Device, AI, AO, DI/O, Thermo, Counter, and Pulse Control and can be used with any ActiveX controls with any development tool that supports them, including Microsoft Visual C++, Microsoft Visual…
New AutomationDirect Automation Laboratory at NIU
AutomationDirect is pleased to announce the opening of the new AutomationDirect Automation Laboratory on the campus of Northern Illinois University (NIU). As the field of automation constantly changes, educators need to maintain pace with these changes in the classroom to produce well-qualified graduates. Teaching advanced hands-on concepts requires complex laboratories and equipment. AutomationDirect and NIU…
Advantech holds 2008 eAutomation World Partner Conference
Cincinnati, Ohio ‚– The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech held their 2008 eAutomation World Partner Conference August 25th through August 28th in Monterey, CA. The theme for the event was ‚“Empower eAutomation Growth with Focused Partnerships‚â€. The conference was in conjunction of a significant milestone, the 25th anniversary of Advantech. Advantech partners got to participate…
Programmable Relay Gets an HMI
Almost every industrial machine builder’s customers face mounting pressures to increase production while reducing waste and maintenance downtime — all with a shrinking workforce. To meet these demands, customers are looking to their OEM partners for flexible control systems that perform multiple operations requiring minimal troubleshooting and maintenance. Siemens Energy & Automation has filled these…
Proficy Process Systems Targeted For Smaller Applications and OEMS from GE Fanuc
GE (NYSE:GE) Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has announced that it has released Proficy‚® Process Systems in a new 250 I/O size, single-computer offering targeted at smaller applications and OEMs. Proficy Process Systems is a fully-integrated process control system that will provide customers with improved quality and reliability, increased throughput, performance and efficiency, and reduced total cost…
Danaher Motion & The MathWorks to Host Free Advanced Mechatronics Seminar for Motion Control
SANTA BARBARA, CALIF., — Danaher Motion Performance Controls (MEI), in partnership with The MathWorks and sponsored by Design World magazine, is hosting a free half-day seminar on Advanced Mechatronics for High Performance Motion Control on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, at the Boston Marriott® Newton hotel. Persons interested in attending can learn more and register online…
PC free adjustments added to In-Sight vision systems
In-Sight‚® vision systems has been enhanced with an array of new features. It is now easier to monitor the production process and change vision system parameters right on the factory floor‚…without a PC. Engineers can now create an operator interface from within the In-Sight Explorer software by simply choosing the vision system parameters they would like…
Siemens and Jacobs Automation Team Up
ATLANTA, GA ‚– Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. (NYSE:SI) and Jacobs Automation, LLC announced today they have agreed to jointly develop a PROFINET interface for Jacobs Automation‚’s PackTrak‚â„¢ linear drive system. The new interface will allow PackTrak‚â„¢ to be fully integrated within Siemens‚’ SimotionTM control platform. The companies plan to demonstrate the integrated system at…
Daily Problem Solving Tips in a Lean Organization
Buchanan, MI — Bosch Rexroth has compiled tips for solving daily problems in a lean operation. These tips aim to help organizations solve the everyday problems that they face in order to sustain improvements achieved with lean implementations and prevent backsliding. Developed with lean manufacturing expert Jamie Flinchbaugh, “Daily Problem Solving in a Lean Organization”…
Power PMAC Motion Controller
The Power PMAC combines the power of the new generation of Power PC Processors and their low power consumption, very high speed and high integration, with Delta Tau’s decades of accumulated motion control software/firmware experience. In addition, these features have been combined with a new high density and speed, custom-designed ASIC, which altogether provide a…
Opto 22 Opens Representative Office in China
Temecula, CA – Opto 22 has announced the opening of a new corporate office in Shanghai, China, under the leadership of newly hired Chief Representative Surge Yu. The office will focus on identifying new business opportunities and increasing sales throughout mainland China, working with Opto 22’s Chinese distributor APT, and assisting APT in its service…
0i-D Series CNC System from GE Fanuc
GE (NYSE:GE) Fanuc Intelligent Platforms announced the release of the 0i-D series, the latest in its line of high performance CNC systems, at IMTS 2008 being held in Chicago’s McCormick Place. This new highly reliable CNC is the latest generation in the highly successful 0i family and provides customers with an excellent cost to performance…
From the IMTS Show floor – Part 3
It’s about time If the old adage, “time is money” is still true, then vendors at IMTS will help you find and reduce “wasted” time. The focus is on fine tuning processes to eliminate wasted minutes that prevent productivity from increasing. Developers of cable management systems, such as igus Inc., and Kabelschlepp, for example, have…