Features

Network flexibility for device manufacturers 14/05/2013
At a UK press event, to introduce the Chip, Brick, Module (CBM) Concept for its Anybus CompactCom offering, David Folley of HMS, offered details of some interesting global networking usage trends and figures identified by the company. Full Story...

SCADA solution offers a more detailed view of textile production 07/05/2013
The process of dying and knitting yarn for textile process has long been machine automated. However, advanced SCADA software has provided an intuitive development environment for robust monitoring and data acquisition applications, making it possible to follow that process through every step – from raw material to finished product. Full Story...

Liberating operators from the control room 07/05/2013
There is universal agreement that mobile devices will be making an appearance on more plant floors in the future, although agreement from automation suppliers on a timescale for this to become general practice is less easy to come by. Suzanne Gill reports. Full Story...

IE4 motor and drive package goes into action 30/04/2013
ABB’s IE4 synchronous reluctance motor and drive package (SynRM) has replaced an induction motor-based variable-speed drive package at South Staffs Water in the UK, resulting in an additional 6% energy saving. Full Story...

Using HART with asset management systems 24/04/2013
Being the most broadly deployed smart device platform, HART is the right choice for your plant’s asset management system, argues John Yingst, a senior principal product manager for Honeywell Process Solutions. Full Story...

An open future – the move to standard Ethernet 17/04/2013
In the past, Ethernet was not considered suitable for high performance machine control, leading to the design of closed chipsets by many automation vendors, effectively creating their own versions of Ethernet, unable to communicate with other systems. Things are now changing. Full Story...

HART: benefits today and into the future 05/04/2013
Suzanne Gill finds out what the HART community believes are the real benefits of HART communication and how it can help to meet the industry needs of today and into the future. Full Story...

Trends in control technology: is there a future for the PLC? 02/04/2013
Automation is changing and future trends in control technology would suggest that the role of control technology will change. Total solutions in which tasks are distributed according to free capacity are growing in importance. The individual components are irrelevant to the customer. Added to this is the debate pitching PLC against PC. Experts at Mitsubishi Electric believe in the coexistence of both systems. Full Story...

Ex d Enclosures: understanding the standards 02/04/2013
When specifying explosion-proof (Ex d) enclosures to house electrical apparatus for use in explosive atmospheres, engineers need to understand the implications of modifying the enclosure as part of the certified equipment prior to and after installation, says Toni Ott, manager test, certification and patents at Cooper Crouse-Hinds GmbH. Full Story...

The next generation of the TIA Portal engineering framework 02/04/2013
When Siemens introduced the TIA Portal in 2010, it was described as being ‘its next evolutionary step’ in terms of totally integrated automation’. At a recent London press event, Simon Keogh, business manager – Factory Automation at Siemens Industry, explained more about the technology... Full Story...

PC or PLC based control – take your pick 26/03/2013
Automation suppliers may never agree on whether PC or PLC-based control offers the best solution – in reality it really depends on the application and user preference. However, with most PLC-based systems now offering the same ‘openness’ as PCs, they look like they will be around for some time. Full Story...

Roll grinding made easy with Ethernet 26/03/2013
A control system is helping machine-tool expert Halifax Numerical Controls (HNC) to achieve success in the competitive market for roll grinders for rubber-coated rollers. Full Story...

What can the Cloud offer the process industry 19/03/2013
Tim Taberner, of Eurotech, looks at some of the benefits and barriers to adoption of Cloud-based technologies within the process industry. Full Story...

In-line particle sizer proves its PAT credentials 12/03/2013
The Parsum in-line particle sizing probe supplied Malvern Instruments is being used as a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) instrument in granulation research being conducted at Ghent University in Belgium. Full Story...

Wireless technology improves visibility 12/03/2013
A move to automated measurements, via wireless technology, has offered greater process visibility for one gas storage operator which has allowed it to work much closer to capacity. Full Story...

Cyber safety – what happens next? 01/03/2013
Recent industrial incidents have provided a timely reminder of the importance of taking effective measures to protect process control systems and infrastructure from attacks from cyberspace. Thomas Lantermann, senior business development manager at Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V., Factory Automation – European Business Group, looks at where vulnerabilities lie and how the problem will be exacerbated in the future, and looks at new security standards that offer protection. Full Story...

Calibration of oil & gas flow meters 01/03/2013
Craig Marshall, project engineer at NEL, explains how operators of calibration facilities, users requesting calibrations and engineers having to establish a calibration for flow meters can best apply the general principles of calibration when measuring fluids and gas. Full Story...

Addressing maintenance issues 26/02/2013
With a survey suggesting that the drive to reduce downtime is compromising health & safety, a trip to MAINTEC 2013 might be in order to discuss the latest developments in predictive, preventive and corrective maintenance solutions, which can help to reduce downtime and increase efficiency. Full Story...

Tackling data security in industrial networks 26/02/2013
Suzanne Gill reports on the Open DeviceNet Vendor Association’s (ODVA) vision for securing the flow of CIP data and Etherent IP assets in industrial networks, which was presented by Katherine Voss, executive director of ODVA at SPS/IPC/Drives 2012. Full Story...

IO solutions for hazardous areas 19/02/2013
An alternative approach to bringing IO signals from hazardous areas to a DCS is said to deliver cost and efficiency benefits. Steve Leech, product manager for the Process Automation business at Siemens Industry Automation in the UK, explains. Full Story...