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Become a More Sustainable Industrial Organization
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Become a More Sustainable Industrial Organization

If you’re looking for ways to become a more sustainable industrial organization this year, 98% of manufacturers are thinking the same thing. They are working towards implementing sustainability systems and solutions in their own organizations. As you work towards becoming a more sustainable industrial organization, you’re probably preparing for new mandates that regulatory bodies will require. Additionally, you’re preparing for different corporate targets for sustainability performance and profitability.

Eplan Platform 2024: Why It’s Worth Switching to the New Version
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Eplan Platform 2024: Why It’s Worth Switching to the New Version

With the highlights of the new Eplan Platform 2024, Eplan continues to make engineering and circuit diagram creation as efficient and convenient as possible for users. The company takes a look at the most important innovations, where exactly they are in the software and how users can use the optimizations for themselves. In this article, let’s take a closer look at what makes the new version (even) better than its predecessors from the user’s point of view and why a version change is worthwhile.

Food & Beverage Manufacturing
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Food & Beverage Manufacturing at Scale with MES

External pressures and internal challenges continue to mount for food and beverage and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies. Keeping up with evolving and increasingly stringent food health and safety regulations can be complicated. Regulations such as CFR 21 Part 11, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) changes and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act all have increasing requirements on electronic record keeping of quality and traceability records in manufacturing.

How Does an Enclosure Plinth Work and Why Are They Important?
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How Does an Enclosure Plinth Work and Why Are They Important?

One challenge that manufacturers face with servicing or customizing the wiring and cable configurations of their industrial enclosures is the ability to quickly access the wire systems that require attention. While a more modular approach to industrial enclosure design and configuration can simplify this process, an enclosure plinth makes access faster and easier, and it can also increase the cable and wiring capacity of standard industrial enclosures. Increased cable flexibility is not the only benefit an enclosure plinth provides. In fact, plinths can help manufacturers increase productivity and reduce downtime in a number of key ways.

Arc Flash Reduction: Defending Against Electrical Hazards
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Arc Flash Reduction: Defending Against Electrical Hazards

What is Arch Flash Reduction? According to NEC Article 240.87, arc energy reduction is required for circuit breakers applications of ratings 1200A and above. The requirement from the code includes proof of documentation to show the location, system, and a means of reducing the clearing time of the arc flash. Arc flash reduction as stipulated by NEC is a set of safety measures designed to minimize the risk of electrical accidents caused by arc flashes. But hold on, what’s an arc flash? Well, an arc flash is a sudden release of energy through the air, resulting from an electrical short circuit through air otherwise known as Arc Faults.

Schneider Electric to Invest $140 Million in 2024 to Expand U.S. Manufacturing Presence to Support Critical Infrastructure, Industries, and Data Center Demand
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Schneider Electric to Invest $140 Million in 2024 to Expand U.S. Manufacturing Presence to Support Critical Infrastructure, Industries, and Data Center Demand

Recently, Schneider Electric announced plans to invest $140 million into its U.S. manufacturing operations and create about 750 new manufacturing jobs across the country in 2024. The company will invest $85 million initially to transform and equip an existing 500,000 square foot building in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and upgrade its existing Smyrna, Tennessee manufacturing operations. Both locations will manufacture custom electrical switchgear and medium voltage power distribution products to bolster support for critical infrastructure, industries, and the escalating demand for data center solutions across the U.S.

Webinar: Optimizing Compact Controllers, Solutions for I/O Flexibility and Cloud Connectivity
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Webinar: Optimizing Compact Controllers, Solutions for I/O Flexibility and Cloud Connectivity

Join WAGO for an educational webinar featuring Charlie Norz, Product Manager, WAGO Corporation Automation, as he presents applications of WAGO’s Compact Controller 100, one of the smartest, well-priced controllers on the market. Norz will guide you through the success story of the CC100, revealing invaluable insights such as onboard IO optimization, cutting-edge security measures, innovative programming techniques using Node-RED, and cost-effective web visualization features.

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Busbar Power Systems
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5 Things You Didn’t Know About Busbar Power Systems

For those in the know, busbar power panels have arrived as a more flexible, space-saving, and efficient power distribution system. For example, the automotive industry is already embarking on a massive transition to busbar power, and it’s only a matter of time before other growth-oriented industries like the material handling and power & energy spaces follow suit.

Registration Is Now Open for Automate 2024
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Registration Is Now Open for Automate 2024

Registration is open for Automate 2024—the largest robotics and automation trade show in North America—the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) announced on September 8 of 2023. The Automate Show, May 6-9, 2024, will be a historic one—held at Chicago’s renowned McCormick Place and expected to be 25% larger than the previous record in Detroit in 2023.

How to Select a Filter Fan Based on Application Conditions
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How to Select a Filter Fan Based on Application Conditions

Filter fans protect electrical enclosures from external environmental damage. From heat control to mitigating the ingress of liquid and solid objects, filter fans provide another layer of protection for the electrical equipment housed within enclosures. Filter fans protect critical equipment by reducing thermal load and filtering out airborne particles larger than 5 microns. The dual fan and filter composition keeps electrical equipment running at optimal temperatures while mitigating the amount of dust and other particulate matter from causing buildup and damage.

All-in-One Automation Platform: Enabling Data-Driven IIoT with Deterministic Motion Control and Cybersecurity
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All-in-One Automation Platform: Enabling Data-Driven IIoT with Deterministic Motion Control and Cybersecurity

As the industrial internet of things (IIoT) continues to gain momentum, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and system integrators (SIs) are faced with the challenge of implementing data collection systems without compromising deterministic motion control or cybersecurity. This article will explore how all-in-one automation platforms can address these concerns, allowing OEMs and SIs to meet customer demands, achieve cost-effective data harvesting, and avoid hidden manufacturing costs.

Why Automation Inspection Systems Are Critical for Electric Vehicle Manufacturing
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Why Automation Inspection Systems Are Critical for Electric Vehicle Manufacturing

Safety trumps all other concerns in the automotive industry, and electric vehicle manufacturing is no exception. However, safety can also introduce complexity, and the complexity of today’s vehicles – particularly EVs – is such that manufacturers are no longer able to rely on traditional sample or audit-based inspection methods. Fast, 100% inspection of devices has become a requirement, while inspection accuracy and tolerance demands are also increasing.

EPLAN Export
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Webinar: EPLAN Export from TIA Selection Tool 

The rapid and error-free transfer of information is essential for efficient electrical planning. The TIA Selection Tool already provides you with extensive support in the electrical dimensioning and selection of important components. And now you can export this planning data directly to EPLAN.​ EPLAN will show you how this works, which components are already supported today and what the result looks like in EPLAN electric P8 using an example project.​

Enhancing Efficiency and Scalability in Industrial Control Panel Manufacturing
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Enhancing Efficiency and Scalability in Industrial Control Panel Manufacturing

Efficiency on a large scale is paramount for integrators navigating multiple sectors, as maintaining operational efficiency across complex landscapes becomes synonymous with sustaining competitiveness. For a national integrator, the need to scale operations is imperative to continue growth and meet the multifaceted demands of diverse projects. A national integrator in the oil and gas, material handling, and logistics sector approached Rittal to address challenges hindering their scaling and business management. However, with Rittal’s comprehensive solutions and expertise, the customer was able to overcome complex engineering and manufacturing issues.

How Protocol Gateways Enable Digital Transformation of Smart Grids
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How Protocol Gateways Enable Digital Transformation of Smart Grids

Digital transformation is converting outdated utility infrastructure into smart grids as the race to achieve net zero carbon emissions picks up speed. This model aims to improve energy management by collecting and analyzing data in real-time. However, maintaining a smart grid’s smooth operation is no easy feat, which has engineers scrambling for ways to enable timely notifications, data analysis, and acquisition among complex subsystems.

Pfannenberg Announces Full Suite of M12 Ready Configured Signaling Solutions
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Pfannenberg Announces Full Suite of M12 Ready Configured Signaling Solutions

Pfannenberg, Inc. has recently announced that their full product range of audible, visual, combination, and stacklights are now available with M12 readiness. The latest addition of M12 connectable BR50 Stacklights makes Pfannenberg the only North American provider to offer a full suite of M12 ready signaling solutions. M12 technology removes the need for an electrician or electrical installer to wire the device as the connections and DIP switches are already made. A traditional install may take an expert 5-10 minutes per device, while an M12 connection can be made in 30 seconds with no electrical expertise. This makes installation significantly faster and less costly for the customer.