Ethernet

Redline Communications: High-Speed Wireless System for Industrial SCADA

Peter Cleaveland — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 21:12:13 +0000

The networking system makes possible high-speed wireless communications between serial and TCP/IP based SCADA field devices and a remote control center.

The Redline Transport Gateway Connect is a family of wireless networking products designed to securely connect industrial SCADA systems.

Product

Wireless Technology Modernizes Stamping Presses for Kia Motors

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 03:43:29 +0000

Most automotive factories operate on a large scale and the Kia Motors plant in Zilina, Slovakia, is no different.

A Kia Motors Europe pilot project replaces manual operation of gantry cranes with 802.11n industrial radios connected to PLCs

Case Application

Fieldbus Over Ethernet Without a PC Card

Dave Greenfield — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:31:14 +0000

While visiting the Hilscher booth at the 2013 SPS/IPC/Drives show in Nuremberg, Germany, I received updates on several technologies we’ve been following over the past year or so, such as

Computing trends drive the development of Hilscher’s netHost Fieldbus Master, which is designed to provide fieldbus communications over Ethernet connections to the latest computers, which increasingly lack a PC card slot.

News

Ethernet Switch with Built-in Multi-Protocol Integration

Dave Greenfield — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 16:16:36 +0000

One of the biggest advantages embedded technology advances are bringing to manufacturers is support for multi-protocol Ethernet communications.

Innovasic’s new fido5000 real-time embedded Ethernet multi-protocol switch comes with protocol drivers for integration with any industrial Ethernet protocol stack.

News

Networking: EtherCAT Standard Supports Semiconductor Industry Devices

Renee Robbins Bassett — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 15:31:30 +0000

According to market analysts, the global semiconductor industry is rebounding, with expected growth tied to increases in demand for electronics devices, and requirements in new application areas.

New device standard and nine device profiles enable mass flow controllers or vacuum valves to be implemented directly into the EtherCAT system.

News

Manufacturing Intelligence from Existing Data

Dave Greenfield — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 18:40:31 +0000

Manufacturing intelligence applications have been in wide distribution for nearly two decades.

A new enterprise manufacturing intelligence software package from Northwest Analytics is designed to leverage data in existing databases rather than through creation of a new database.

News

Personal Passion Creates Industry Innovation

George Shurtleff — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:22:13 +0000

When you want to control a packaging machine or monitor tank levels at the far side of the plant, enjoying the convenience of a smartphone or tablet computer at home makes the long walk to a tether

When it comes to operator interfaces, mobility is top of mind and everyone wants it yesterday.

Column

Processing & Packaging

FDT Provides Factory Fieldbus Flexibility

George Shurtleff — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:12:05 +0000

Traditionally, Field Device Technology (FDT) had been associated largely with process automation and process field devices, but this is no longer the case.

FDT-enabled applications within the automation system can manage field devices regardless of the device’s manufacturer, and regardless of the fieldbus protocol employed.

Column

Industry View

Moxa Americas, Inc: Network Management Software Supports PoE

Lara Krieger — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:01:00 +0000

These functions are expected to strengthen MXview's value proposition as a comprehensive monitoring, diagnostics and management platform for converged automation networks.

Version 2.2 of Moxa MXview industrial network management software provides new support for Power over Ethernet (PoE) device visualization and third-party device management, along with device availability and inventory reporting capabilities.

Product

OPC A Well-Known Technology

Gary Mintchell — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 15:19:43 +0000

Over 900 manufacturing professionals responded to an online survey in late September 2012 providing information about use and intended uses of OPC and OPC UA.

A joint OPC Foundation / Automation World survey revealed OPC has broad acceptance and brand recognition.

News

Banner Engineering: Embeddable Wireless

Dave Greenfield — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:29:08 +0000

With wireless sensor networks proliferating across industries (outside of facilities where heavy electromagnetic interference can cause communication issues), more companies are opting to use wirel

Banner Engineering releases an embeddable gateway module for use in building out a wireless sensor network to coordinate multiple machines and processes.

Product

The Art and Science of Production Knowledge

George Shurtleff — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 19:34:47 +0000

Databases are the refrigerators of the industrial world.

For the most part, database issues are left the to IT department. But with the volume of production data typically residing in numerous databases in a manufacturing facility, engineers and operators need to be more aware of the databases that house their critical production information.

Feature Article

New Industrial Network Survey Reveals Upgrades Are Needed

Renee Robbins Bassett — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:36:06 +0000

A survey of 128 engineering, operations and IT professionals reveals that, when it comes to industrial networking, their number one concern is reliability.

Industrial Ethernet is firmly in place, and two-thirds are actively using wireless communications, but current network infrastructure is in need of modification.

News

Beckhoff Automation: EtherCAT Box for Incremental Encoder Connection

Lara Krieger — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:32:25 +0000

In order to support I/O connectivity to a wider range of devices outside electrical cabinets, the company has released the new EP5101 EtherCAT Box.

I/O module synchronously reads encoder values via high-precision EtherCAT Distributed Clocks

Product

Four Siemens Customers Awarded for ‘Delivering Success’

Renee Robbins Bassett — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:03:27 +0000

Safety systems, wireless communications, motion control and more were technologies at the heart of superior automation solutions called out by global industrial automation giant Siemens as it wrapp

See why ConocoPhillips Alaska, Fori Automation, GOSS International and GT Advanced Technologies got the nod over hundreds of others.

News

WirelessHART Adapter

Peter Cleaveland — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 06:05:32 +0000

This unit enables existing wired HART field devices from any supplier to communicate with host applications by means of WirelessHART technology; it can also be installed on a non-smart (analog only

The BULLET is for use in explosion-proof applications.

Product

China Leads M2M Growth; Europe Not Far Behind

George Shurtleff — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 19:06:40 +0000

People in the 21st Century love connectivity, everywhere and every time.

China Mobile became the world’s largest M2M connectivity provider at the end of 2011 with around 14 million subscribers. If the trend continues, the Chinese market will surpass the United States within two to three years.

News

Ethernet, Collaborative Platforms are the Future

George Shurtleff — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:39:43 +0000

“We’re simplifying how we think about the industrial communication backbone and focusing on Ethernet,” said Bernie Anger, general manager of control and communication systems for GE Intelligent Pla

With all technology trend lines showing that 1) everything is moving toward the use of Ethernet to enable more connected enterprises and 2) greater use of cloud computing, automation vendor GE Intelligent Platforms (www.ge-ip.com) announced that it has standardized on Profinet as its communication backbone of choice.

Perspective

Interoperability and Ethernet

George Shurtleff — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:55:23 +0000

If I add a new instrument to my industrial network, I expect it to show up in my programming and asset management software, to quickly find documentation about set up and configuration, and to have

We want things to work together. If I add a printer to my network, I expect it to join the network and to start working.

Column

Feed Forward

Device-Level Wireless Solutions Gain Traction in Process Manufacturing

George Shurtleff — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:54:34 +0000

The advent of robust industrial wireless standards in a segment still served largely by proprietary solutions has captured the attention of end users, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and sy

The incremental value proposition for wireless networks in process manufacturing is much larger than for serial and Ethernet-based networks. The tangible business benefits that can be achieved using wireless instrumentation are spurring increased interest and product availability.

Column

Industry View

Wago Launches YouTube Channel

MaryAnn Coyle — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:09:30 +0000

Topics range from basic terminal block marking via WAGO ProServe Software to advanced CoDeSys programming for WAGO’s 750-670 Stepper Controller RS-422 module (pulse/direction).

Wago Corporation’s new YouTube channel features 30+ videos, providing customers with additional training and product support. Produced by WAGO application engineers and product and training managers, the step-by-step videos deliver a wide range of content for both new and experienced viewers.

News

Invensys Operations Management: Industrial Mobile Workforce Software Development Kit Enhanced

Jenn Brink — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:00:00 +0000

IntelaTrac provides configurable software and ruggedized mobile hardware that enable workflow, data collection and general t

Invensys Operations Management has released the latest version of its Wonderware IntelaTrac mobility solution, including an Extensibility Software Development Kit (SDK).

Product

Aaxeon Technologies: Twelve-port Industrial Managed Gigabit PoE Switch

Peter Cleaveland — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:18:35 +0000

The LNP-1204GN 12-port Industrial Managed Gigabit PoE (Power over Ethernet) Switc

The LNP-1204GN 12-port Industrial Managed Gigabit PoE (Power over Ethernet) Switch provides eight 10/100/1000Base-T(X) PoE ports and four 1000Base-X SFP ports and can transmit power up to 30 watts to remote devices per PoE port.

Product

Automation Suppliers Announcements At ARC Forum

Gary Mintchell — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:44:31 +0000

The annual Manufacturing Forum sponsored by the ARC Advisory Group, perhaps the industry’s largest gathering of automation suppliers, was held from Feb. 6-9 in Orlando. Where ever more than 600 industry people are gathered, rumors abound. I spent much time finding facts among the rumors and learning much about the state of the industry.

News

Bosch Rexroth: Decentralized Servo Drive with Multi-Ethernet

George Shurtleff — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:08:21 +0000

In addition, it also al

Using a Multi-Ethernet interface, the IndraDrive Mi enables simple realization of modular machine concepts and varied automation structures with one single type of hardware.

Product