Featured Articles

Skid-Based Production is Manufacturing’s “New Normal”

Skid-Based Production is Manufacturing’s “New Normal”

Whether it is for hand sanitizer, shampoo ingredients, a medical additive, or any of a thousand other process steps in a thousand different industries, producing chemistries and other products in a modular platform is increasingly the norm. More and more frequently Optimation are seeing requests, and opportunities, for modular or skid-based production and manufacturing process projects.

 

 

 

Electrical Service Upgrades Should Be a Priority for All Businesses

Electrical Service Upgrades Should Be a Priority for All Businesses

In the year of 2017, a report from the United States Fire Administration indicated that over 8,000 businesses experienced electrical fires. In total, the losses exceeded $430 million. While it is true that most businesses throughout the United States perform standard levels of upkeep in order to properly maintain their commercial property, it is also true that many neglect maintenance and servicing of their electrical systems until a problem develops.

 

 

 

Why Are Discrimination Studies Among Protections So Important?

Why Are Discrimination Studies Among Protections So Important?

Discrimination studies are an essential factor in the design of any electrical installations. Professionals carry out an exhaustive analysis of the electrical protections needed to guarantee the continuity of supply in case of failure. A good discrimination study allows the coordination of different protections at different levels of electrical installations.

 

 

 

Modular Electronics Enclosures for Instrumentation Allow Versatile Cooling
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Modular Electronics Enclosures for Instrumentation Allow Versatile Cooling

Electronics enclosures are used in countless test/analytics/measurement devices for many applications. This includes various instrument systems in Oil & Gas, Industrial & Power Control, Medical, Lab/Test, and Military designs. Serving all of these types of devices requires a wealth of cooling options for instrument cases.

elec calc DC, the Module for Direct Current

elec calc DC, the Module for Direct Current

The DC module “Direct current” is an additional module of elec calc. It allows the design and sizing of low voltage electrical installations in direct current, up to a voltage of 1500 VDC. Completely integrated into the elec calc software, it maintains all of its functionality and ergonomics and allows the creation of installations mixing DC and AC parts.

 

 

 

What is Panel Mount?
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What is Panel Mount?

Definition of panel mount 

Panel mount is a mechanical feature or features built into the design of a connector half. It allows the connector to be secured to an equipment panel, external case or enclosure. Often (but not always), connectors fitted with panel mount features will be cable connectors.

 
What are the advantages of panel mount?
  • By having the connector attached to the panel, there is no external strain on the electrical connections on the back of the connector. This will lower the risk of failure and improve the life of your device
  • You can safely allow untrained users to connect and disconnect cables – think of the connections in the back of your PC, these are all panel mount
  • It’s also possible to design whole modules as replaceable items in smaller enclosures, and keep the devices inside each box safe from tampering.

 

Safety in Electrical Installations

Safety in Electrical Installations

The main objective of electrical facilities is to supply reliable power. To guarantee the power supply and the efficient and continuous management of the operations, a highly resistant and secure electrical installation is required. Electrical equipment is potentially hazardous and, in the unfortunate case of failure or anomaly, the consequences can be fatal for both people and properties. This is why it is important to adopt a holistic approach in which personnel, devices, and monitoring systems are integrated.

 

 

 

Panel Building Market Survey Report

Panel Building Market Survey Report

I think many of us right now are caught at a point where we are either looking back at where we were, or forward in hopes of better to quench the worry and uncertainty of the times. And although we have heard it often, we will come through this, and it is those who are focused forward that we all need to follow.

To put things in perspective and consider how the current situation has affected those working in automation and control markets, Panel Builder US conducted a nation-wide survey to gain insight into how this is affecting your industry.

 

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Avoid Costly, Last-Minute Surprises With Virtual Commissioning

It’s that moment you dread: You’re doing controls testing on a new machine as a customer’s start-up date approaches, when you discover a problem. The issue could be almost anything. It could be a functionality problem, like an unexpected stoppage or a missing sensor. Or it could be a last-minute customer concern, like the HMI’s sequence or layout.

 

 

 

Application Notes: Power Off VFD Function

Application Notes: Power Off VFD Function

If the main power is lost to a VFD while the motor is under load, the DC bus of the VFD drops at an accelerated rate compared to no load conditions.  When the DC bus reaches a low level, the VFD would shut down, disabling the output modulation and releasing the motor to coast to a stop.  The motor coasting to a stop under the loss of main input power may not be of concern for many VFD applications.