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 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.
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.
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.
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”).
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.
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.
Supporting the company’s growth strategy and building toward its goal to remain a generationally sustainable, diversified electrical company, Southwire is pleased to announce the acquisition of American Elite Molding (AEM) of Crestview, FL. Serving the Construction, Industrial, Retail and OEM markets for more than 20 years, AEM is one of America’s leading manufacturers of nylon cable ties.
A short-circuit current rating (SCCR)1 is the maximum current a device or system can safely withstand for a specified time (such as 0.05 seconds), or until a specified fuse or circuit breaker opens and clears the circuit. SCCR is usually expressed in kiloamperes (kA). SCCR labeling requirements create a safe installation and help manufacturers, owners and managers meet OSHA regulations and NFPA codes and standards.
Allied Electronics & Automation has recently added its 50th new supplier in 2020 and now stocks ready-to-ship inventory from more than 500 world-class suppliers of automation and control, electronic, electrical, mechanical, and maintenance products. The company has most recently augmented its offering of power transmission components, switches, sensors, industrial connectivity equipment, industrial controls, connectors, and sanitizing products from Envirocleanse, Ringfeder, E-Switch, Pilz, and Eaton Transportation.
Condition monitoring of critical components on machines delivers enormous benefits to productivity in a plant. Rather than have a motor, pump, or compressor unexpectedly fail and the machine be inoperable until a replacement part is installed, condition monitoring of those critical pieces on the machine can provide warning signs that something is about to go terribly wrong. Vibration measurements on rotating equipment can detect when there is imbalance or degrade on rolling bearing elements.
Unplanned downtime threatens productivity and profit across industrial and commercial sectors. In a recent survey of these customers, 20% rate reaching zero unplanned downtime as their top priority, and 70% consider it a “very high priority.” Often, downtime comes as a surprise because facility operators lack visibility into their operations. Hardware failures and malfunctions account for 45% of downtime incidents – but 71% of field service decision makers aren’t fully aware of their assets’ maintenance schedule.
Using a quality feedback cable is critical to maximizing performance in servo applications. As the saying goes, “A chain is only as strong as the weakest link.” It does not make sense to invest a lot of money in a high-performance servo motor, servo amplifier, and planetary gearhead and then cut corners with an inferior feedback cable since the entire system performance will suffer.
Housing electrical components inside an enclosure is a requirement in industrial applications. The enclosure is required to protect the controllers, power distribution components, power supplies and other electronics from harsh factory floor environments. Factories, plants and facilities often experience relatively warm ambient temperatures, and many of the electrical components housed in the control enclosure generate heat, so many enclosures require cooling. In some instances, such as for outdoor installations, enclosures may require heating.
It’s no secret that Grace Technologies’ Permanent Electrical Safety Devices (PESDs) greatly assist with a more productive and safer Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedure. But how and when each device is best suited for each step of the process may require some clarification. For starters, the GracePESDs voltage indicators are best suited for verifying the presence of voltage. This is visually represented by flashing or non-flashing LED lights from the device that is hardwired to the load side of an electrical feeder or disconnect switch.
Machines, their control panels, and other types of electrical equipment must be designed and sized in accordance with their location of installation. This ensures protection against the damaging effects of a short-circuit in the electrical equipment.
