Integrating autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) into your facility can optimize materials transport thanks to the robots’ ability to navigate autonomously, adapt to changing environments, and perform a range of tasks. However, successful AMR implementation requires careful consideration of several key factors: space analysis, floor conditions, and environmental factors, among others.
Optimized Processes and Coordinated System Solutions for Greater Efficiency in Wire Processing – Control cabinet builders face many challenges: international competition, the shortage of skilled workers, and financial considerations such as increasing labor and material costs. While panel shops have little influence over these external challenges, they can find ways to streamline in-house processes and structures.
Automation has been a game-changer in the packaging industry thanks to its significant impact on the efficiency, speed, and accuracy of the packaging process. As packaging companies adopt these new solutions, they’ll be increasingly capable of adapting quickly to meet changing customer demand and withstand the impact of stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic. This article will explore a few of the biggest automation trends in packaging.
July 17, 2023 Human-machine interfaces (HMIs) are a crucial component of industrial control systems, as they allow operators to interact with and monitor the performance of industrial equipment. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in touchless technology, which eliminates the need for physical contact between the operator and the interface. This technology…
Thermal management helps control the temperature within a sealed enclosure to prevent electronic components from overheating. Although individual manufacturer’s specifications vary, most electrical distribution and control equipment operates longer and more effectively under ambient air conditions ranging from 104° – 122°F [40° – 50°C]. Temperatures that exceed this range can damage electronics, causing outages or permanent failure.
All electrical designs start with an initial assessment of your customer’s desired outcomes. How do you, the panel builder, and your customer both agree that what they asked you to design is what you are going to produce for them? When your engineers work without tightly defined specifications, they can produce designs that are essentially workarounds, rather than optimized systems. This costs you time and money.
There are more plant-based food and beverage products on the market than ever before. Whether it’s oat milk or meat alternatives, the appetite for plant-based foods is bigger than it’s ever been, with 6 out of 10 U.S. households purchasing a plant-based food item in 2022. The plant-based food market totaled more than $8 billion in 2022, and industry experts project the popularity and demand for plant-based food products will continue to grow and eclipse $160 billion by 2030. This means food and beverage manufacturers from traditional meat titans like Tyson to meat-free pioneers like Impossible Foods are accelerating their plant-based production to meet demand and lead the charge in the plant-based space.
During the safety design process for a machine or application, manufacturers must choose whether these measures will be implemented as a standalone or networked (integrated) safety solution. Basic safety solutions can work for smaller-size applications, but when people are talking about large automation production lines, for example, complexity makes these unworkable. Integrated safety isn’t just a highly effective way to mitigate risk. In fact, it’s a key element in building a high-performing, future-ready manufacturing facility since it’s capable of improving automation efficiency and boosting throughput.
A recent discussion of current trends in the industrial automation world explored in part how manufacturers are striving for increased digital connectivity in order to leverage a more data-driven, transparent approach to manufacturing. While a more connected ecosystem has a number of benefits in terms of production efficiency, flexibility, and output, it does present some challenges in maximizing the space of your production floor. For example, a more connected automation infrastructure can mean an increased number of industrial enclosures to help power manufacturing equipment.
What is EPLAN Platform as a service? EPLAN Platform as a Service is a cloud-based CAE (computer aided engineering) solution for electrical schematic and cabinet design. EPLAN Platform as a Service brings all of the benefits from the EPLAN platform, with the additional benefits of working remotely, reducing costs in IT infrastructure & operating costs, and less reliance on in-house hardware. Ultimately offering a flexible solution that is accessible for all.
The importance of healthcare cannot be understated. Because keeping a hospital up and running requires a massive amount of reliable power, you need an essential electrical system that’s designed to help reduce energy costs, simplify maintenance and make it easier to comply with regulatory requirements. In the last five years alone, Eaton has completed a multitude of major energy projects at hospitals and far more targeted system updates and upgrades.
The standard EN ISO 13849-1 is the basis for evaluating the safety of complex machine control systems. It is a basic functional safety standard and contains internationally unified requirements, referring to the determination of the required performance level and identification of safety-related control parts, through to implementation of safety functions. The standard is to be applied to safety-related parts of control systems, irrespective of the technology and energy used (electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical).
In the world of cable management, Panduit is a well-known and respected brand. Panduit’s products are trusted by professionals across various industries for their quality and durability. One of their most popular products is the Pan-Steel stainless steel cable ties. These cable ties are highly regarded for their strength, longevity, and are the industry’s standard in harsh environment bundling applications where installation needs to be fast and reliable.
An OT Cybersecurity Risk Assessment is the process of identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing risks and vulnerabilities in OT systems to determine risk posture and mitigate risks. Rockwell Automation cybersecurity specialists conduct on-site data collection and provide customers with detailed report findings, identified risks, and remediation recommendations. Risk Assessments are ideal for situations where a company needs to confirm that no vulnerabilities have been created with new lines, machines, or processes introduced in the OT environment.
Advanced modular suspension arms have made it easier than ever to specify customized supports for your displays, HMI enclosures and panel PCs. By combining profiles, elbows, joints and bases, you can configure your ideal suspension arm very easily. But despite this simplicity, there are still important factors to consider when specifying your perfect suspension arm.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) identified the need to create growth and expand facilities as one of the top trends for manufacturers in 2023. However, the ability to create long-term, sustainable growth hinges on the efficiency and adaptability of your automation infrastructure. When it comes to large enclosures, the choice usually comes down to unibody construction versus a more modular approach. Designing around standard modular enclosures has a much higher ceiling in terms of unlocking new growth opportunities.
