PLC Programming – Ladder Logic versus Structured Text
For decades, ladder logic has been the undisputed leader as a PLC programming language, but today’s controls engineers are taking greater advantage of another option, structured text, for advanced applications incorporating data handling, communications, recipe management, and more.
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Unmanaged+ Industrial Ethernet Switches Simplify OT/IT Connectivity
A new class of edge-optimized Ethernet switches is purpose-built for industrial environments and protocols, providing a streamlined approach for connecting valuable OT data with enterprise IT resources. These Unmanaged+ switches offer improved visibility, analytics, and proactive diagnostics.
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Now Available

Lapp ÖLFLEX 1XL VFD Cable
Starting at $4.02 / ft. (20 ft. min.)

More STRIDE PRO Unmanaged+ Ethernet Switches
Starting at $302.00

Fuji Electric TK-E02 Overload Relays
Priced at $46.00

Lika Electronic Linear Encoders
Encoders start at $207.00

WAGO 207 Series Gelboxes and Additional Splicing Connectors
Gelboxes start at $30.00

Ashcroft T4 Series Mechanical Temperature Switches  
Starting at $459.00

Gefran GRM-H Series Power Controllers
Starting at $295.00

WERMA MC Beacons
MC35 series beacons start at $70.00

Wenglor weFlux2 Flow Sensors
Priced at $300.00

Industrial Motion Control Powers Open-Source Metal 3D Printing
See how a team of students and engineers is taking industrial-scale 3D printing to the shipyard. Their open-source wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) system uses AutomationDirect LS Electric motion control and servo technology to produce large metal parts while delivering the precision and reliability required for demanding maritime applications. 
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Supporting Small and Specialized Automation Applications
Small integration shops are pivotal to American manufacturing, able to keep older lines running and taking on the jobs too specialized or too modest for a big SI to bother with. AutoWorks is one such shop and recently upgraded a highway guardrail post production line with an AutomationDirect Productivity PLC, C-more HMI, and DURApulse VFDs to coordinate conveyors with a refurbished industrial robot.
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Supplier Profile: Sifam Tinsley
Demanding industrial environments call for panel meters that give clear, reliable readings, and Sifam Tinsley Instrumentation Inc. has answered that call. Along the way, the company has also developed solutions for every level of industrial electrical monitoring, becoming a global provider of electrical measurement and process control products.
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Monthly Product Giveaway
This versatile 33-piece Wera set is packed with workshop essentials, including Hex-Plus Imperial L-keys, Phillips and slotted screwdrivers, as well as VDE-insulated and chisel drivers. And because every toolbox deserves a little fun, you’ll also get Tool Rebel coasters, a serving tray, and a Wera Kraftform bottle opener. Enter today for your chance to win! Contest is open for approximately two weeks after the newsletter is sent, 1 winner will be chosen, and is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Winners will be contacted via email.
Enter for a chance to WIN!

Today, it operates 24,000 m² (approximately 258,000 square feet) of production facilities, with two located in Türkiye and one in Germany.  The company has 130 employees serving customers across five continents and more than 65 countries with products under the METE brand.

Mete Enerji designs products using CAD/CAM/CAE-supported systems, and its R&D department develops them to provide flexible solutions for domestic and international markets. Manufactured with advanced machinery and tooling technology, they are tested to meet applicable national and international standards.

Quality Promise for Customers

Quality is central to Mete Enerji’s approach. The company focuses on continuous improvement through innovation, collaboration with suppliers, compliance with applicable standards and legal requirements, and a commitment to maintaining a safe workplace while operating with respect for the environment.

“We believe our employees are our greatest asset, and we are committed to our mission of providing reliable, high-quality products,” said Murat Mete, Chairman of Mete. “Together, we create powerful connections.”

High Performance Products for Industrial Applications

Mete Enerji products include MeteCON heavy duty connectors, MeteCEE industrial plugs and sockets, MeteBOX thermoplastic and aluminum enclosures, MeteAQUA weatherproof switches and sockets, MeteSOLID rubber plugs and sockets, and high-current connectors.

AutomationDirect offers a selection of MeteCON heavy-duty connectors for industrial wiring and connection applications, including:

• Automation: Supports a variety of automation application areas: manufacturing, transport, utilities, defense, facilities, operations and information technology.
• Energy Distribution: Provides flexible and cost-efficient rectangular connector series for energy distribution requirements. As demand for energy grows across industries, sustainable and reliable solutions are needed for power transmission and energy storage in facilities.
• Transportation: Provides connection technology for transmitting data and power in railway and marine applications. These solutions are designed for Ethernet communications and signals, as well as high-power applications such as drive motor interfaces.
• Machinery: Used with automatic presses, packaging and sealing machines, conveyor systems, welding machines, plastic injection equipment, farm machinery and other applications requiring long-lasting connectors for stable connections when exposed to harsh conditions and high mating forces.
• Robotics: Enables efficient and flexible connections for robot groups used in industrial applications, as well as control and automation systems. As robotic technology becomes more sophisticated, these support connections for sensors, motors and actuators.

MeteCON Offerings at AutomationDirect

MeteCON’s multi-wire connectors simplify complex industrial wiring while improving long-term reliability. The AutomationDirect offering includes inserts, housing components (including 32B size) and configuration options.

Inserts are available in multiple pole configurations from 2 poles plus ground up to 108 poles plus ground, with screw or crimp termination types and support for 26–6 AWG conductors rated 10–80 A. MeteCON housings are made of die-cast aluminum with a polyester powder finish or self-extinguishing thermoplastic.

These multi-wire connectors feature gas-tight crimp contacts for secure, corrosion-free connections with very low contact resistance. Rugged housings and UL and CE agency approvals ensure dependable performance in demanding environments while reducing wiring time, installation errors and total system cost.

Pushing Boundaries

Mete Enerji continues to invest in technology, product development, skilled employees and computer-aided manufacturing capabilities.

Mr. Mete said, “We continuously push our boundaries to provide advanced solutions for the changing demands of industry. Our success is measured by the trust we build, the innovations we deliver and the impact we make on the industry.”

For years, a site producing plastic containers operated a 50HP granulator to shed off-spec product into scrap it could sell. In this Machine Design September 2026 article titled A Softer Start for Hard Plastic Production, Pete Baker of Quality Sciences Systems details how one failed contactor led the site to overhaul the entire control panel instead of settling for a quick fix.

Hardwiring was the weak link

The existing control panel relied on a handful of relays, electronic timers, and a wye-delta motor starter. A wye-delta starter provides an economical way to start a big load—first at lower current/torque, then at full speed—but it depends on three contactors switching in an exact sequence driven by relays and timers. All those devices are subject to wear, and eventually a contactor failed.

Rather than just patch the failed part and wait for the next breakdown, the Quality Sciences team planned a four-phase upgrade:

• Phase 1: replace the hardwired controls with a programmable logic controller (PLC) and human-machine interface (HMI), while keeping the wye-delta scheme in service.
• Phase 2: replace the wye-delta starter with a new electronic soft starter.
• Phase 3: add a sensor to monitor the granulator current draw, enabling the PLC to stop the infeed before the equipment becomes overloaded.
• Phase 4: add sensors to monitor feed bin levels for indication and improved control.

Although the team has used AutomationDirect’s CLICK PLCs many times, the Productivity1000 PLC won out for this job. AutomationDirect originally offered this PLC only in a stackable micro form factor, with all input/output (I/O) on separate modules. A newer “mini” version, however, includes some onboard I/O, providing an all-in-one solution to fit this project’s tight enclosure footprint while leaving room to grow.

Sizing the new Stellar soft starter benefited from a call to the AutomationDirect support team: while the grinder’s full-load current pointed to one size, an application engineer recommended sizing it a step higher for this type of high-torque equipment.

The PLC and C-more HMI went in first, after bench testing and simulation, and the changeover took five days from start to finish. The soft starter followed two weeks later, easily programmed using a preset “grinder” profile with a ten-second ramp time.

Once current monitoring came online in the third phase, the PLC could stop the infeed before jams formed, all but eliminating cleanouts that once cost up to 45 minutes each. Now operators work using clear status screens instead of guesswork, and the panel is ready for upcoming improvements, including bin-level sensing.

What began as a reactive repair prompted a shift to a proactive modernization project. After replacing aging and outdated hardwired components with a PLC, HMI and soft starter, the granulator now starts smoother, runs more consistently, delivers clearer visibility and gives maintenance personnel a more reliable way to diagnose problems before they become downtime.

See how AutomationDirect Productivity PLCs, C-more HMIs, Stellar soft starters, and our complete portfolio of automation products can help you achieve upgrade successes like this on your plant floor.

September 16th, 2026-AutomationDirect now offers KNIPEX pliers that are professional-grade hand tools engineered for electricians, panel builders, plumbers, maintenance technicians, and automation professionals. This new lineup includes the industry-renowned Cobra water pump pliers, with pushbutton adjustment and self-locking jaws for fast, slip-free gripping, and the innovative pliers wrench, which combines the versatility of adjustable pliers with smooth parallel jaws that grip fasteners without rounding or damaging surfaces. TwinGrip pliers provide unmatched front-and-side gripping capability for stripped screws and difficult fasteners, while Alligator water pump pliers offer a self-locking jaw geometry for secure holds with minimal effort. The new additions also include high-leverage linemans pliers, diagonal cutters, CoBolt compact bolt cutters, Super Knips precision cutters, cable shears, ErgoStrip wire and cable strippers, hose and PVC cutters, ear-clamp pliers, and a variety of multi-piece tool sets. Select models feature VDE 1000V insulation for electrical safety and tether-compatible designs for work-at-height applications. Forged from premium tool steel with induction-hardened cutting edges, every KNIPEX tool is engineered for exceptional durability, precision, and long service life.

About AutomationDirect:

In business since 1994, AutomationDirect is a distributor offering thousands of industrial automation products for electrical control systems, including PLCs, operator interfaces, AC drives, motors, stepper systems, sensors, motor controls, enclosures and more. Their prices are typically well below the list price of more traditional automation companies because of their business model and focus on efficiency, and the majority of their products are stocked for fast shipping. Plus, get free two-day delivery on orders over $49; some limitations apply. For more information and the most current pricing on products contact them at 800-633-0405 or visit https://www.automationdirect.com/

Editorial Contact: Tina Gable
Phone: 678-455-1845
Email: tgable@automationdirect.com
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September 16, 2026-AutomationDirect has added IronHorse AC motor bases which are designed to simplify installation, improve belt tensioning, and support reliable motor operation. Made in the USA, these motor bases provide convenient mounting and adjustment of AC motors with an expanded selection that includes fixed bases for a wide range of NEMA or IEC frame sizes, pivot-style bases that simplify mounting above or below belted loads, and automatic bases that continuously compensate for belt stretch, centrifugal belt expansion, and changing load conditions. This broad offering provides more options to match the specific requirements of conveyors, fans, pumps, compressors, and other belt-driven equipment.

About AutomationDirect:

In business since 1994, AutomationDirect is a distributor offering thousands of industrial automation products for electrical control systems, including PLCs, operator interfaces, AC drives, motors, stepper systems, sensors, motor controls, enclosures and more. Their prices are typically well below the list price of more traditional automation companies because of their business model and focus on efficiency, and the majority of their products are stocked for fast shipping. Plus, get free two-day delivery on orders over $49; some limitations apply. For more information and the most current pricing on products contact them at 800-633-0405 or visit https://www.automationdirect.com/

Editorial Contact: Tina Gable
Phone: 678-455-1845
Email: tgable@automationdirect.com
Download: High Resolution Image Download
Download: Web Friendly Image Download

September 16, 2026-AutomationDirect has added Lapp OLFLEX TRAY II power/control cable that is a versatile industrial wiring solution engineered for power, control, instrumentation, and wind turbine applications. Its UL TC-ER rating allows exposed runs from cable trays to equipment without conduit for up to 6 feet, helping reduce installation time, labor, and material costs. Built with finely stranded copper conductors, PVC/Nylon insulation, and a durable PVC jacket, OLFLEX TRAY II control cable delivers excellent flexibility and long-term performance in demanding environments. This cable is oil- and UV-resistant, flame-retardant, weather-resistant, and direct-burial rated for reliable indoor and outdoor use. A torsion-rated construction offers reliable performance in wind turbine generator drip loops and other torsional applications, preventing premature cable failure. Multiple certifications, including TC-ER, MTW, WTTC, PLTC-ER, and ITC-ER, enable a single cable family to support a wide range of industrial applications while simplifying specification and inventory management.

About AutomationDirect:

In business since 1994, AutomationDirect is a distributor offering thousands of industrial automation products for electrical control systems, including PLCs, operator interfaces, AC drives, motors, stepper systems, sensors, motor controls, enclosures and more. Their prices are typically well below the list price of more traditional automation companies because of their business model and focus on efficiency, and the majority of their products are stocked for fast shipping. Plus, get free two-day delivery on orders over $49; some limitations apply. For more information and the most current pricing on products contact them at 800-633-0405 or visit https://www.automationdirect.com/

Editorial Contact: Tina Gable
Phone: 678-455-1845
Email: tgable@automationdirect.com
Download: High Resolution Image Download
Download: Web Friendly Image Download

September 9th, 2026-AutomationDirect now offers G.M. International safety solutions that are designed for use in process industries where reliability and operator protection are essential and support safety instrumented functions with features such as SIL-certified performance, high channel density, line and load diagnostics, transparent fault indication, and compatibility with a wide range of control and monitoring systems. New intrinsically safe isolators provide signal interfacing in hazardous locations and new process safety relays are engineered for dependable switching and monitoring in critical applications. Additional benefits include compact DIN-rail mounting, flexible installation options, advanced diagnostics for improved maintenance visibility, and robust construction suitable for demanding industrial environments. These products help simplify system integration while enhancing both safety and operational availability across manufacturing, energy, chemical, and infrastructure applications.

About AutomationDirect:

In business since 1994, AutomationDirect is a distributor offering thousands of industrial automation products for electrical control systems, including PLCs, operator interfaces, AC drives, motors, stepper systems, sensors, motor controls, enclosures and more. Their prices are typically well below the list price of more traditional automation companies because of their business model and focus on efficiency, and the majority of their products are stocked for fast shipping. Plus, get free two-day delivery on orders over $49; some limitations apply. For more information and the most current pricing on products contact them at 800-633-0405 or visit https://www.automationdirect.com/

Editorial Contact: Tina Gable
Phone: 678-455-1845
Email: tgable@automationdirect.com
Download: High Resolution Image Download
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September 9, 2026 – AutomationDirect has added Metal Work 12mm dual guide rod cylinders expanding the existing guided actuator lineup with a new compact bore size for packaging, material handling, and industrial automation applications. With stroke lengths from 10mm to 250mm, these double-acting cylinders feature dual guide rods for enhanced stability, a magnetic piston for position sensing, and integral sensor slots for easy switch installation. 

New Metal Work plastic exhaust silencers are also available and provide a simple, cost-effective solution for reducing pneumatic exhaust noise on valves and manifolds. Available in multiple BSPP and NPT thread sizes, these durable acetal silencers help complete pneumatic systems with reliable, everyday performance.

About AutomationDirect:

In business since 1994, AutomationDirect is a distributor offering thousands of industrial automation products for electrical control systems, including PLCs, operator interfaces, AC drives, motors, stepper systems, sensors, motor controls, enclosures and more. Their prices are typically well below the list price of more traditional automation companies because of their business model and focus on efficiency, and the majority of their products are stocked for fast shipping. Plus, get free two-day delivery on orders over $49; some limitations apply. For more information and the most current pricing on products contact them at 800-633-0405 or visit https://www.automationdirect.com/

Editorial Contact: Tina Gable
Phone: 678-455-1845
Email: tgable@automationdirect.com
Download: High Resolution Image Download
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September 9, 2026 – AutomationDirect has added Klemsan phase monitoring relays that are compact, DIN rail-mounted devices that continuously monitor 3-phase electrical systems to protect motors and equipment from damaging power quality faults. Available in fixed and adjustable versions, these relays detect phase loss, phase reversal, phase unbalance, overvoltage, undervoltage, neutral loss, and PTC thermistor faults, automatically disconnecting equipment before damage occurs. Models support input voltages from 75 to 500 VAC and feature a 10A SPDT relay output, LED status indication, and True RMS measurement technology for reliable operation with VFDs, generators, and other non-linear loads.

The adjustable models offer configurable voltage thresholds, asymmetry settings, and time delays through convenient front-panel adjustments, eliminating the need for software or mobile apps. Select models include integrated PTC thermistor protection, reducing component count and panel space requirements by eliminating a separate motor temperature relay.

All Klemsan phase monitoring relays feature an ultra-slim 18mm housing, UL and CE approvals, and are backed by a 5-year warranty for reliable protection in industrial automation, wastewater, food and beverage, packaging, and power applications.

About AutomationDirect:

In business since 1994, AutomationDirect is a distributor offering thousands of industrial automation products for electrical control systems, including PLCs, operator interfaces, AC drives, motors, stepper systems, sensors, motor controls, enclosures and more. Their prices are typically well below the list price of more traditional automation companies because of their business model and focus on efficiency, and the majority of their products are stocked for fast shipping. Plus, get free two-day delivery on orders over $49; some limitations apply. For more information and the most current pricing on products contact them at 800-633-0405 or visit https://www.automationdirect.com/

Editorial Contact: Tina Gable
Phone: 678-455-1845
Email: tgable@automationdirect.com
Download: High Resolution Image Download
Download: Web Friendly Image Download

September 2nd, 2026-AutomationDirect now offers STRIDE C6A CMR (Communications Multi-purpose Riser) cables that are low-cost Cat6a Ethernet cables designed with an outer foil shield and shielded RJ45 connectors that effectively suppress EMI along the cable and at the connection points. The CMR rating qualifies these cables for vertical installation in building riser shafts, which makes them well suited for industrial automation networks spanning through multiple cabinets or floors while satisfying NEC and local building codes. STRIDE C6A CMR cables meet the fire-resistance requirements for riser pathways in commercial and industrial buildings, and are available in various lengths, with a blue color fire-retardant jacket and 4 shielded twited pairs of 23 AWG solid copper wire conductors.

About AutomationDirect:

In business since 1994, AutomationDirect is a distributor offering thousands of industrial automation products for electrical control systems, including PLCs, operator interfaces, AC drives, motors, stepper systems, sensors, motor controls, enclosures and more. Their prices are typically well below the list price of more traditional automation companies because of their business model and focus on efficiency, and the majority of their products are stocked for fast shipping. Plus, get free two-day delivery on orders over $49; some limitations apply. For more information and the most current pricing on products contact them at 800-633-0405 or visit https://www.automationdirect.com/

Editorial Contact: Tina Gable
Phone: 678-455-1845
Email: tgable@automationdirect.com
Download: High Resolution Image Download
Download: Web Friendly Image Download