Top design objectives for control installations include capability, reliability, and cost effectiveness. Many new and retrofitted control panels employ components such as PLCs and even industrial PCs (IPCs) and programmable automation controllers (PACs) for advanced connectivity and control. It’s often appropriate to use these more complicated (and capable) options and remove or forgo electromechanical relays […]

Solid-state relays (SSRs) serve the same functions as electromechanical relays but are non-moving noncontact devices that can switch voltages to several hundred Vac for hundreds of thousands of cycles and beyond … which makes them useful for switching heating elements, motors, and transformers needing frequent and high-speed switching. ⚙️ Download this article (and the rest…

For some the words solenoid and relay conjure visions of an ancient electromechanical world now replaced by all-electronic devices, smart motors, and more. That almost makes sense, as these two components in various forms have been with us for over 150 years. But don’t be fooled: Both are still indispensable devices … and remain viable…

The ubiquitous nature of components for DIN-rail mounting makes this standard particularly helpful … especially when panel redesigns are in order. Here, a technician need only to unclamp components, slide them to their new locations, and reclamp them to the DIN rail. In addition, DIN rail prevents upside-down and other incorrect installation. A typical DIN […]

Download this article (and the rest in our connectivity series) at the Design Guide library. Terminal blocks are one variety of connector component for joining sections of electronic circuits in industrial applications. They include electrically conductive assemblies having wire-securing receptacles — all encased in monolithic plastic housing. Some terminal blocks have contact pads or legs…

Relays are electronic devices that accept current or voltage signals in an input circuit as a prompt to switch open or close another circuit or pilot device. In this way, relays are switches that are controlled by some other input. The output is to trigger a predictable state change in the connected system. Variations abound:…

The ComfilePi CPi-A150WR is a Raspberry Pi-based industrial PC with a 15-in touch-panel display. Leveraging the compact, ubiquitous Raspberry Pi 3 board, the ComfilePi CPi-A150WRinherits the Raspberry Pi 3’s 1.2-GHz 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, a Broadcom VideoCore IV GPU, and 1GB of RAM. The new, larger version has the same capabilities as its predecessors…

EXAIR’s new 1/4 NPT FullStream liquid atomizing spray nozzle provides a full cone spray pattern for pressurized liquids. They are applied to solve cooling, cleaning, washing, rinsing and dust suppression applications for industry. Their tangential flow design is vaneless, which creates wide-open internal features to resist clogging while producing a uniform distribution in a round…

The 1597DIN family of UL94-V0 flame-retardant plastic enclosures mount to standard IEC/EN 60715 35-mm DIN rails for applications such as industrial control equipment, automation, equipment management and monitoring, HVAC controllers and distributed IoT equipment. The family consists initially of four sizes: 2, 4, 6 and 9 standard 17.5-mm module widths. All sizes have two mounting…

EXAIR’s new 1/2 NPT No Drip External Mix Air Atomizing Spray Nozzles work in the same way our standard atomizing nozzles do but have the added benefit of positively stopping liquid flow when compressed air is shut off. External Mix Air Atomizing Spray Nozzles have the highest flow rates and allow the air and liquid…

Shortages of skilled labor can be addressed by investments in automation at the edge. By Vibhoosh Gupta, Emerson Worldwide unemployment is at a 50-year low in many countries across the globe, and many machine builder original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their customers are finding it very difficult to attract and retain skilled labor. For example,…

EXAIR’s new Gen4 two-outlet selectable voltage power supply lets engineers choose input voltages of 115 Vac or 230 Vac. Two 5-kV stainless steel output connectors can energize two static eliminators. Applications using up to two EXAIR Gen4 Super Ion Air Knives, EXAIR Ion Air Guns, EXAIR Ion Air Cannons, EXAIR Ionizing Bars, or any other EXAIR…

EXAIR’s Super Air Knife is the latest generation of the engineered air knife that dramatically reduces compressed air usage and noise when compared to other blowoffs. The Super Air Knife offers a more efficient way to clean, dry or cool parts, webs or conveyors. It delivers a uniform sheet of laminar airflow across the entire…

EXAIR’s new Gen4 Super Ion Air Knife eliminates static electricity 34% better than other options at low inlet pressures which saves compressed air and money. Production speeds, product quality and surface cleanliness can improve dramatically. It eliminates static on plastics, webs, sheet stock and other product surfaces where tearing, jamming or hazardous shocks are a…

Winners in the second annual LEAP Awards, celebrating the best components and services across the mechanical and electrical engineering design space, were unveiled on November 5, 2019. Across 13 categories, the judging panel awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze recognitions, as well as Honorable Mentions for certain submissions. The awards program is supported by three leading…

Advantech, a leading industrial computing platform provider, announced the launch of its FPM-200 series, a new generation of industrial monitors designed to provide premium display solutions at an affordable price. Aimed at industrial and IoT applications, the FPM-200 series are true-flat LCD monitors that feature an IP66-rated front panel for protection from water and dust…

B&R is among the first manufacturers to launch a comprehensive portfolio for communication using the open, real-time capable OPC UA over TSN protocol. With high-performance X20 PLCs, bus controllers, industrial PCs and a TSN machine switch, B&R enables fully standardized networks for modular, adaptive machines. Truly economical batch-size-one production is now a reality. With a…

Eaton XT series self-powered electronic overload relays are self-contained units available at up to 175A. Eaton XT electronic overload relays are the most compact, high-featured, economical products in class, offering additional trip classes, universal connections to any contactor, and a wide amperage range. Accessory 24VDC and 120 VAC remote reset modules provide remote overload reset…

CARLO GAVAZZI announces the launch of several new Three-Phase Monitoring Relays that feature a wider input voltage range. These models, part of the DPB and DPC families, are suitble for distributors and customers as they reduce the number of individual items that need to be stocked. The new DPB and DPC models feature an upgraded…

EXAIR’s new 1/2 NPT No Drip Internal Mix Atomizing Spray Nozzles work like standard atomizing nozzles but have the added benefit of positively stopping liquid flow when compressed air is shut off. Internal Mix Atomizing Spray Nozzles mix liquid and air inside the nozzle and produce the finest atomization of liquids up to 300 centipoise.…

Automation solutions provider Omron Automation Americas recently announced the regional winners of their 2018 fiscal year’s Distributor of the Year awards. This prestigious distinction recognizes Omron’s top channel partners for excellence in revenue growth, local engagement, expertise and solution selling. Winning distributor: Southern Controls (United States) Southern Controls, a company specializing in automation and control…

More and more processes are being automated and digitised. Self-driving delivery vehicles, such as forklifts, are finding their way into many areas – and companies are reporting potential time and cost savings. However, an interdisciplinary research team from the universities of Göttingen, Duisburg-Essen and Trier has observed that cooperation between humans and machines can work…

Last year, the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) revealed its industrial robot report for 2016. Now, the 2017 numbers have been released—how do the stats compare? In 2016, there was an average number of 74 installed industrial robots per 10,000 employees in the manufacturing sector. The global average rose to 85 robots in 2017. In…

The workforce is changing with the times as it responds to the latest tech on the market and automated tasks. This begs the question—which jobs are on the chopping block? To help find an answer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released a chart that lists the number of employees of different occupations in 2016, the…

Research from the University of Warwick found that happiness made individuals twelve percent more productive. Having a happy workforce may be the first step to improving productivity, but proper tools and advanced technologies will take productivity significantly further, particularly for industrial manufacturers. Here Nir Zamir, VP of Marketing at Inspekto, explains how manufacturers can improve…