Featured Articles

Throughput Doubled in Film Application Using Efficient Automation

Throughput Doubled in Film Application Using Efficient Automation

In order to protect glass windows from damage during shipping and installation in buildings, they are covered with protective PET film during the manufacturing process. For this purpose, PDS IG Equipment developed a modular window film application system, which facilitates adaptation to customer facilities through open control technology from Beckhoff. The system delivers a throughput considerably higher than the industry standard, and it provides increased data transparency, which adds value for system operators.

 

 

 

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What You Need to Know About Lockout/Tagout Audits

To maintain compliance with OSHA lockout/tagout standard 1910.147, it is required to perform annual inspections of both the procedures and employee competency in lockout/tagout practices. Annual audits are an important part of a lockout/tagout program because audits can reveal inconsistencies and problems. When it comes to annual audits, there are three main steps to complete. If you follow these three key components, your lockout/tagout program will stay up-to-date and compliant.

 

 

 

The Art of Mobilization: Ensuring the Continuity of Industrial Production

The Art of Mobilization: Ensuring the Continuity of Industrial Production

Industrial manufacturers require production reliability and continuity.  However, a wide range of conditions can make this challenging – from unexpected emergencies, power grid failures and blackouts to partial plant shutdowns for maintenance, upgrade, replacement, or expansion. So, when uninterrupted power, power storage, water pumping, filtration, treatment etc. is necessary for production, safety, or regulatory compliance, a growing number of manufacturers are looking to mobile trailer and containerized units.

 

 

 

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Siemens’ Tips for Panel Builders Series – Part 7: Door Coupling Rotary Operating Mechanism According to IEC Standards

Control panels in the international market are subject to requirements for protection against direct contact and electric shock according to IEC 61439-1/2 (Low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies) and IEC 60204-1 (Safety of machinery).

 

Southwire’s Denton Campus Receives ISO 9001 Certification Recommendations

Southwire’s Denton Campus Receives ISO 9001 Certification Recommendations

Southwire’s Plant and Customer Service Center (CSC) in Denton, Texas were recently recommended for ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) certifications. Obtaining this ISO certification achievement means the organization has met the requirements in the ISO 9001 Standard, and, according to Tim Reid, Denton’s plant manager, it gives confidence to the company’s customers that processes are in place to meet their needs and deliver consistent performance.

 

 

 

Siemens Honors 22 International Researchers as Inventors of the Year

Siemens Honors 22 International Researchers as Inventors of the Year

For the 26th time, Siemens has recognized employees as Inventors of the Year to honor their outstanding research achievements. The 22 awardees from the three companies Siemens AG, Siemens Energy and Siemens Healthineers are from China, Germany, France, India, Israel, Spain and the U.S. Individual researchers as well as diverse research and development teams that work internationally were honored with the award.

 

 

 

AttaBox Enclosures Provides Guidelines For Effectively Modifying Fiberglass Enclosures With Holes And Cutouts

AttaBox Enclosures Provides Guidelines For Effectively Modifying Fiberglass Enclosures With Holes And Cutouts

One of the benefits of fiberglass enclosures is the ability to create holes and cutouts. They can be modified to allow wire and cable to pass through, or the addition of vents, without the need for heavy machinery. Physically modifying fiberglass can be effectively achieved if certain guidelines are followed.

 

 

 

8 Reasons to Select Non-Metallic Enclosures

8 Reasons to Select Non-Metallic Enclosures

The benefits of non-metallic enclosures versus stainless steel enclosures are many and, when considered together, establish a very clear imperative for selecting non-metallics. It is important that you always consult AttaBox Enclosures for input in meeting application-specific needs in that individual non-metallic enclosure products each feature their own physical performance attributes.

 

 

 

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Yokogawa and InSphero Enter into Partnership Agreement

Yokogawa Electric Corporation recently announced that it had entered into a partnership agreement with InSphero AG, a pioneer in the development of 3D in vitro technologies for drug discovery and safety. The two companies aim to establish and advance methods for the use of high-content analysis (HCA) in drug discovery and safety assessment. They will jointly promote and support the use of high-value-added HCA solutions in drug discovery research that involves the use of 3D in vitro models.

 

 

 

Yokogawa and Power Factors Announce Reseller Agreement for Renewable Energy Asset Performance Management Platform

Yokogawa and Power Factors Announce Reseller Agreement for Renewable Energy Asset Performance Management Platform

Yokogawa Electric Corporation and US-based Power Factors, LLC, announce a global reseller agreement under which Yokogawa will market Power Factors’ industry-leading Drive software platform of asset performance management (APM) solutions for renewable power facilities.

 

 

 

Siemens Delivers AI-Based White Space Cooling Solution for Tier IV Data Center

Siemens Delivers AI-Based White Space Cooling Solution for Tier IV Data Center

Siemens Smart Infrastructure is supplying the first Tier IV-certified data center in the region of Paris, France. The “Thésée” data center will meet the highest industry standards for availability and energy efficiency. Siemens will install its White Space Cooling Optimization (WSCO) smart solution to optimize the building’s energy efficiency as well as the thermal protection of the server rooms by automatically adjusting the operation of the cooling systems.

 

 

 

Condition Monitoring Directly Integrated Into Control Technology

Condition Monitoring Directly Integrated Into Control Technology

A fully digital measurement chain from strain sensor to the control and management levels is a prerequisite for high-performance and integrated condition monitoring in wind turbines. Find out in this interview with Matthias Finke, Deputy Marketing Manager at Leine & Linde, based at the company’s Hamburg location, how this has been achieved in the case of ESR strain sensors in conjunction with PC-based control.

 

 

Ask the Expert with DesignSpark: The Evolution of DesignSpark & the Value of Online Engineering Communities

Ask the Expert with DesignSpark: The Evolution of DesignSpark & the Value of Online Engineering Communities

Allied’s “Ask The Expert” series taps into the experience and expertise of key thought leaders and subject matter experts from the more than 450 global suppliers we work closely with to bring customers solutions for their most challenging problems (and the daily ones, too). In this edition, Allied talk with Mike Bray, head of DesignSpark for RS Components, about the evolution of DesignSpark and the role that online engineering communities play in accelerating design and time to market, as well as inspiring tech for social good.

 

 

 

First Hardware Independent Cloud-Enabled Interlocking in Operation

First Hardware Independent Cloud-Enabled Interlocking in Operation

Together with Siemens Mobility, ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG has put a completely new digitalisation solution in the field of safety and security technology into operation at the train station in Achau, Austria: The “Distributed Smart Safe System” (DS3) is an innovative digitalisation solution and the basis for cloud-enabled interlocking (“Interlocking in the Cloud”).

 

 

 

ABB’s Michael Plaster Elected to the NEMA Board of Governors

ABB’s Michael Plaster Elected to the NEMA Board of Governors

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) elected Michael Plaster, Lead Business Manager for ABB Electrification in the United States, to its Board of Governors. Plaster has been an executive leader with ABB for 15 years including roles in Utility, Construction, and Industrial markets. He has a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree from Purdue University and a Master’s in Business Administration degree from Butler University.

 

 

 

Beckhoff: 40 Years of Innovations

Beckhoff: 40 Years of Innovations

2020 is a year of anniversaries for Beckhoff. Founded 40 years ago, the company started out with PC-based controllers in 1985 and launched its bus terminals in 1995. Ronald Heinze, editor-in-chief of Open Automation, talked with managing director and founder Hans Beckhoff about the company’s many innovations. “We view the current economic situation as acceptably positive,” said Hans Beckhoff.