In order to comply with FDA UDI standards, all medical device manufacturers must properly format their labels and include a unique device identifier (UDI) to help end users easily identify package contents. Changing requirements can be a challenge for manufacturers in this industry, while incorrect information can lead to fines, recalls and a reduction in consumer confidence.
Just as most people haven’t crossed paths with sophisticated criminals in their everyday lives, most industrial automation users have not had to face major cyber threats from bad actors. Many manufacturers and producers don’t know how vulnerable their systems are – and unfortunately, the ramifications of an attack go deeper than lost product. Threats and bad actors are out there – just ask the 18,000 companies affected by the recent SolarWinds hack, or the industrial and energy-producing facilities targeted by the Stuxnet malware attack on PLCs in 2009.
In 2014, the University of Richmond (U of R) realized they needed to enhance their building management to keep up with campus expansions and student needs. They chose to work with MACC, a local building controls contractor with extensive experience. Part of MACC’s objective was to optimize occupant comfort while at the same time minimizing energy use.
Schneider Electric had recently announced the launch of its Wholesale Building Management Distributor Program. This new formalized partner program highlights Schneider Electric’s commitment to providing the resources, incentives and support distributors need to sell more product, grow their business and increase revenue.
Manufacturers can face hefty fines and serious reputational damage when erroneous labels escape into the supply chain. To combat this, it’s essential to install a system that will catch misprints, reveal printer maintenance problems, and prevent debris and foreign matter from obstructing the label. This all starts with print quality inspection.
If you are reading this, you are probably wondering “Should I use a polycarbonate enclosure or a fiberglass enclosure?” This is a very valid question to have. Often we find companies continue to use fiberglass because they are unaware of the advantages of working with polycarbonate; and, the inherent value in using this versatile thermal set plastic. When it comes to the NEMA ratings, a 4X enclosure is a 4X enclosure when it leaves the factory, regardless of the material.
Earlier this year, Graybar and Sanveo asked contractors about their adoption and use of technology to see what has changed since they last surveyed them in 2018. The results reveal that contractors are becoming increasingly comfortable using technology in some cases, but hesitate to fully digitize their workflows. The resulting data silos may be making supply chains less efficient and hurting productivity on the jobsite.
As the demand for electric power continues to increase, so does available fault currents. When available fault currents at the HVAC equipment exceed the panel’s short circuit current ratings (SCCRs), there can be catastrophic results. Watch Littelfuse’s new video Learn How to Calculate and Increase the SCCR for an overview of the popular method using the UL 508A Supplement S-B.
The events of 2020 rapidly accelerated a global, cross-industry digital transformation, underscoring the mission criticality of data centers as the backbone of the world’s virtual economy. In fact, the data center market is expected to grow by nearly 14% in 2021. ABB Power Conversion – a global provider of comprehensive, end-to-end power solutions in mission-critical environments – recently issued a new data report.
Whether manufacturing packaging machines or components for airliners, companies must be able to guarantee all metal parts will remain durable and dependable throughout the product’s lifecycle. Recognizing this challenge, LSP Technologies pioneered an effective method to increase the strength of metal parts: surface treatment with pulsed laser beams.
Much has been said about the potential of big data and artificial intelligence (AI), and there’s still a hope that some AI technologies will eventually become plug-and-play solutions. At the moment, however, false positives and false negatives remain prevalent, and it’s likely that these may never completely stop occurring. That said, AI is still a useful technology with the right business case, and it’s likely to play a major role in the factory of the future.
Recently Panel Builder US had the opportunity to chat with Bill Sellitto, Vice President of Engineering and Jim Sellitto, Vice President of Business Development from MartinCSI. MartinCSI (MCSI) is a Systems Integrator in Plain City, Ohio that provides Design & Integration of Industrial Control Systems to a wide variety of end-users including, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals. Glass and Plastic, Chemical, Utilities, OEM, Packaging, and the Automotive sector.
Johnson Controls recently announced results of independent surveys of 800+ building decision makers showing a clear shift to increased investment in healthy building trends and technologies. “At the center of a vision for a healthy world must be healthy buildings, and that means delivering on the most critical elements to serve People, Places and Planet,” said George Oliver, CEO of Johnson Controls.
There are two common methods for performing insulation resistance testing on cables, wiring and electrical equipment. One uses a megohmmeter to measure insulation resistance. The other uses a hipot tester to check for insulation breakdown. Both apply a high voltage, either ac or dc, to the device under test (DUT) and measure the resulting current flow. A modern megohmmeter (or megohm meter) applies a dc voltage to a DUT and measures the dc current (nanoamps or microamps).
Selecting a panel meter for a particular application can be a daunting task, given the wide variety of products that are available today. There are many factors to consider when making a decision. Let’s look at a few of the major items. Panel meters can be categorized by type, size, style or other criteria. One way to begin the selection process is to look at the meter’s function – what measurement is this meter making?
For years, urban citizens have been unhappy with their mobility experience: too much traffic causing long transportation times, too much noise, poor air quality, and limited parking options, to name but a few of the issues. Then, in one day, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the order to “stay at home” has completely reshaped cities, forcing us to reconsider the way we live our lives and the way we do business.
