WAGO Corporation’s new 750-352 ECO Ethernet Fieldbus Coupler enables the transition from centralized PAC/PLCs to flexible, decentralized networks. The cost-effective ECO Coupler supports prominent protocols such as MODBUS TCP/IP and EtherNet I/P, and accommodates 64 I/O modules. Ideal for applications with medium I/O counts, the 750-352 allows integrators to reduce costs via economical distributive controls.…
AutomationDirect Introduces Productivity3000
The Productivity3000 Programmable Automation Controller is AutomationDirect’s newest generation of industrial controllers that combines features and capabilities of a PC-based control system with that of a typical programmable logic controller (PLC). Productivity3000 is a modular, rack-based system of up to 116,000 I/O points with local, expansion and remote I/O bases and a full lineup of…
Advantech Launches a New Generation of PACs
Cincinnati, OH – The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech is proud to introduce their new PAC product line, the APAX-5000 series. This new generation of PACs integrates control, information processing, and networking in a single control system with a unique dual controller architecture that makes it superior to other PAC’s in the market. Advantech’s APAX-5000…
AMCI’s 3100 Series Two-axis Motion Control Modules
Unleash the power of your 1762 MicroLogix I/O with AMCI’s new 3100 series two-axis motion control modules. These 2-axis controllers plug directly into your MicroLogix PLC, and are available in two versions: 3102 (X-Y motion control) and 3102i (X-Y motion control + interpolation). AMCI’s 3100 series modules provide encoder feedback in addition to a wide…
Designing a Cryogenic Pump Controller
Cryopumps or cold traps are used to condense gases and vapors onto a cold surface. It is reported that they can lower the gas pressure in a space to a near-perfect vacuum more effectively than mechanical roughing pumps. Controlling the pump cycle and regeneration sequence (where the trapped gases are re-evaporated to remove them from…
What “High-performance” Motion Control Really Means
Anyone familiar with the motion-control industry has heard the ambiguous term “high performance” describe many systems, but what does it mean to you? High performance by itself is meaningless because it begs for a unit of measure – and it has none. With almost every product claiming high performance, how can a potential user differentiate…
RFID RF620R and RF630R Readers
Integration challenges continue to fall for manufacturers and supply chain managers rolling out Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems. Most recently, Siemens Industry has broadened its RFID offering with a pair of new compact RFID readers — the Simatic RF620R and RF630R — equipped with a data and diagnostic interface specifically designed for connectivity back to…
Opto 22 Releases PAC Project 8.5
Opto 22, developer and manufacturer of the award-winning SNAP PAC System(tm) family of programmable automation controllers (PACs), I/O, and accessories, has released PAC Project(tm) 8.5, the latest version of the company's flagship automation software suite that includes control programming, HMI development, OPC connectivity, and database integration components. Opto 22 recently announced new additions to its…
The (near term) Future of the PLC
Nearly every material handling system, not to mention nearly every type of automation system, uses a PLC to control operations. The Programmable Logic Controller market experienced healthy growth in 2008, said a report from the ARC Advisory Group. The market, however, is expected to contract severely in 2009, and resume growth in 2010 and beyond. …
Leaping into Global Markets
Exporting offers a huge upside potential, but many small companies still find that many challenges arise when they first stretch beyond national borders. When PCT Engineered Systems redesigned a product and targeted Europe, technical issues, certification and cultural understanding were among the challenges that arose. During its first 20 years, PCT rarely sold outside the…
N-TRON Enhances Ethernet Switch Line
Mobile, AL — N-TRON Corp. announces the addition of EtherNet/IP, the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP), and LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) to its popular line of Fully Managed Industrial Ethernet Switches. EtherNet/IP (Ethernet Industrial Protocol), an open communications protocol managed by the Open Device Vendors Association (ODVA), is designed for use in process control and…
National Instruments Simplifies Advanced Motion Control
National Instruments announces the new LabVIEW NI SoftMotion Module, which simplifies the development of advanced single- and multi-axis motion applications, and new NI C Series modules, which expand the connectivity of the NI CompactRIO programmable automation controller (PAC) platform to hundreds of servo and stepper drives from NI and third-party vendors. These two additions to…
PLC Interface Cabling Solutions from Weidmuller
RICHMOND, VA – The complexity of machines and installations in the automation, processing and building industry has resulted in increased cabling costs. The traditional wire-to-wire cabling required at installation or commissioning between PLCs and the various inputs and outputs is very time consuming and expensive. One of Weidmuller’s new PLC Specific Cable Interface Solutions Weidmuller…
Win AC MP
Siemens has unveiled the latest version of its embedded automation family, WinAC MP 2008 which enables users to implement control and visualization tasks on a single, compact, maintenance-free platform. “People have been predicting the death of traditional PLCs for a few years now, and I think they are getting a little ahead of reality. That…
Multiaxis Controls
The ServoWire Motion & Logic Controller (SMLC) family is available in four models: in 3-, 8-, 16- and 24-axis versions. It combines motion control and PLC functions in a single package. With high-performance computing capability and a true real-time operating system, powered by Intel‚® 32-bit processors, the SMLC is able to provide robust computing power…
Control System Touts Integrated Wireless Access
New Bedford Panoramex (NBP) typically focused its integrated wireless access system (IWAS) products for the aviation, petroleum, utilities, and power industries. Its newest system targets air traffic control systems, lighting systems, navigation and landing aids, and other systems used in the aerospace and aviation industries. The IWAS is a subsystem of NBP’s integrated control and…
SafeDESIGNER Development and Configuration Tool
With the SafeDESIGNER development and configuration tool, B&R provides an integrated safety tool for programming safety-related functions from within the Automation Studio development environment. Thanks to complete integration of the safety technology, programming the safety application is reduced to virtual wiring of logical function blocks. Fixed-wired safety circuits are now a thing of the past.…
Thermocouple and RTD Interface for RIO Pocket PLC
Rocklin, CA – Galil Motion Control, developer of the RIO Pocket PLC series for intelligent and cost-effective I/O handling, now offers the new SCB-48×06 signal conditioning board which allows the RIO to interface with thermocouples and RTDs (Resistive Temperature Device). The SCB-48206 interfaces to 6 RTDs and the SCB-48306 interfaces to 6 thermocouples or the…
Remote Telemetry Unit
QuickPanel‚® Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU) lets you monitor, diagnose and maintain water assets and processes through flexible communication architectures. It can track and compare distribution flows with sales, and can integrate with existing PLC hardware locally and other RTUs throughout the system for seamless connectivity across operations. A visual interface allows site equipment to be…
AutomationDirect Adds Analog CPUs to CLICK® PLC Line
The CLICK PLC line, from AutomationDirect, now includes three analog CPU models. The new CPUs feature two analog inputs and two outputs with ranges of voltage up to 5 VDC or current up to 20 mA. The modules include two built-in RS-232 and one RS-485 communication ports, and real time clock and battery backup for…
High Speed Programmable Limit Switch Modules
Terryville, CT – Available in three different versions, AMCI’s 2600 Series PLS (Programmable Limit Switch) Controller Modules are the only PLS Modules for Allen Bradley’s CompactLogix PAC and MicroLogix 1500 PLC. These high speed PLS Modules enable throughput times of 20 microseconds, virtually eliminating variability in output control. Hi-speed PLS I/O are wired directly into…
GE Fanuc Introduces Scalable High Availability Solution for PACSystems® RX3i Controller
Charlottesville, VA – GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a unit of GE Enterprise Solutions, announces the introduction of its scalable high availability solution for the company‚’s industry-leading PACSystems‚® RX3i controller. By combining essential processes and capabilities onto one platform, the PACSystems RX3i controller is one of the most powerful, scalable, flexible, and efficient means to increasing…
Cognex Connect™ Suite of Communication Capabilities
Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) announces Cognex Connect‚â„¢, the most comprehensive suite of communications capabilities ever offered in a vision system. Cognex Connect enables out-of-the-box connectivity between Cognex In-Sight‚® vision systems and virtually any major PLC, robot, HMI and Fieldbus system commonly used in factory automation. A simple point and click configuration interface makes it easy…
New MP 177 6-inch Color Multi Panel
Miniaturization isn‚’t just desirable in the silicon chip and computing markets. Any automation engineer will happily tell you that the most precious commodity in an industrial environment is space. But there are limits to how small you can make a piece of equipment and still have it perform adequately. Siemens Energy & Automation has introduced…
Modular Embedded Controller Add-on Modules
Late in 2008, at the SPS/IPC/DRIVES fair in Nuremberg, Germany, the largest trade show of its kind in Europe, Siemens Energy & Automation took the covers off its new industrial embedded controller, the modular SIMATIC S7-mEC which integrates control, HMI and PC functionality in one device. “The S7-mEC is a turnkey automation solution that integrates…