Control Engineering articles from January 2006

Control Engineering archives from January 2006

Inflection point.(Editorial)
January 1, 2006... The current economic upswing is tangibly different for manufacturers, with some of the most dramatic effects not only being felt by low-skilled production personnel, but also by highly trained engineers. Though prospects are dim for low-skilled...

Neglect patents at your peril.(engineering and the law)
January 1, 2006... One of the simplest ways for a company to suffer huge losses in a single year, or even worse--self-destruct--is to infringe on someone else's patent. Lawsuits for patent infringement are guaranteed to cost a company hundreds of thousands of...

RSS finds pertinent manufacturing data.(IT & engineering)
January 1, 2006... On many Web sites you may see a button labeled "RSS" or "XML feed." These small buttons represent a way of selecting and collecting Web accessible information. RSS is short for Really Simple Syndication and is an XML-based method for any Web...

AutomationDirect celebrates 11 years of growth.(Company Profile)
January 1, 2006... AUTOMATIONDIRECT, originally founded as PLCDirect in 1994, has grown quickly from a tiny PLC company to a well-recognized name in the industrial automation market. As the first industrial controls company to successfully use a direct sales...

Fuses & FuseHolders.
January 1, 2006... Starting at $0.70 each (price per piece, sold in 10-packs) We've partnered with Edison Fuse, a subsidiary of Cooper Industries, to offer fuses and accessories that can be cross referenced to other name-brand fuses, such as Littelfuse and...

DC power supplies.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Starting at $57 24V/24W model The new RHINO PSM series are versatile 12 and 24 VDC switching power supplies that feature rugged ultracompact metal cases made to withstand harsh industrial environments. Options include: * Redundancy...

Pushbuttons & indicators.
January 1, 2006... 30 mm starting at $14 22 mm starting at $6 Our offering of 30 mm NEMA series and 22 mm IEC pilot devices give you a wide array of pushbuttons, selector switches and indicating lights whose modular construction makes on-the-job...

Stacklights: Eaton/Cutler-Hammer E26 stacklights.
January 1, 2006... The E26 stacklight series is a modular "no tools assembly" system that provides illuminated and audible status indication in all directions. Complete stacklights are easily assembled in a variety of configurations using plug-in modular units....

Sensors: exceptional quality at an AutomationDirect price!
January 1, 2006... Photoelectric Sensors NEW! The Cutler-Hammer Enhanced 50 Series, manufactured by Eaton, is a family of high performance photoelectric sensors which offers outstanding features, flexibility and durability at an incredible price. Choose from...

IEC contactors & starters.(Independent Electrical Contractors )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Starting at $13 (9A contactor) AUTOMATIONDIRECT has partnered with Fuji Electric to carry Fuji's DUO and Odyssey series of motor control solutions, with over 250 parts in sizes up to 300 hp (at 480 VAC or 360 A in class AC3). Contactors,...

Relays & timers.
January 1, 2006... Starting at $4 and $17.50 (electromechanical) (solid-state) Our general purpose industrial relays are a low-cost way of adding control and isolation to any automation project. * Electromechanical relays are available in cube (octal or...

Terminal blocks: buy direct and save big!
January 1, 2006... DINnectors DIN-rail mount terminal blocks are available in both screw-type and screwless spring-clamp styles at prices you'll love. Styles available include: ** Feedthrough ** Multi-level ** Ground blocks ** Glass fuse...

Enclosures.
January 1, 2006... NEMA starting at $6 (NEMA pull box) Over 1200 part numbers NEMA 1, 3R, 4, 4X, 12, and 4/12 Check out our full line of quality enclosures and cabinet accessories from Hubbell/Wiegmann. Metal and Non-Metal * Hinged, screw...

Wire duct: rigid or flexible wire duct.
January 1, 2006... Available in white or grey with covers included, wire duct is sold in single pieces or in cases. Wire retainers, marking tags, separators, mounting inserts, spiral wrap and braided sleeving are also available. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

You get award-winning service with every order!
January 1, 2006... 2001 -- Voted #1 service by independent survey * Control Design magazine's Readers' Choice Awards 2001 -- best service of any supplier for PLC Hardware and PLC Software 2002 -- Voted #1 service by independent survey * Control...

Migrating to a DCS brings multiple benefits.(distributed control systems)
January 1, 2006... Based in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, near Allentown, and operating in 30 countries, Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (AP) is a top world supplier of gases, chemicals, and equipment to high growth markets, including: electronics, performance...

Exceed your productivity goals with System 800xA Extended Automation.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... "The goal was to increase the plant's flexibility... and to increase productivity by 20%... Repsol YPF is achieving--and in some cases exceeding--these efficiency improvements with System 800xA. Its capabilities strengthen our process...

Ultrasonic sensors fit in limited space.
January 1, 2006... New line of UHZ miniature ultrasonic sensors from AutomationDirect includes four models of rectangular through-beam units. Tiny devices measure 30 x 20 mm and are specifically intended for applications with limited mounting space. Benefits...

Device servers for Ethernet retrofits.(technology UPDATE)
January 1, 2006... Because the majority of today's industrial equipment requires hardware replacement to enable Ethernet connectivity, and typically only top-of-the-line new products offer the newest TCP/IP technology (costing much more than the non-Ethernet...

SPS/IPC/Drives 2005 continues to grow.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... 'Bustling' would be one way to describe the first impression a visitor got at the opening of the electric automation show SPS/IPC/Drives in Nuremberg, Germany, the city of "Die Meistersinger" for a three-day run (Nov. 22-24, 2005). Leading...

Instrumentation project boosts HDPE production.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... Replacing old pneumatic instrumentation with a new automated control system has helped a Yugoslavian petrochemical company reach record production levels. HIP-Petrohemija complex in the industrial zones northeast of Belgrade in Serbia...

Mathworks and Aspen-Tech link software.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... The MathWorks and Aspen Technology Inc. announced that the two companies are offering a co-simulation link between their products, Simulink and Aspen Dynamics. The link, available as a Simulink block within Aspen Dynamics, enables engineers to...

Software anchors Siemens' internal and external projects.(SmartPlant software)
January 1, 2006... Siemens recently made separate announcements regarding its use of applications to streamline internal processes and a partnership that led to the development of software for regulatory compliance. The announcements were: * Siemens AG's...

What types of employees are expected to be in short supply?(NEWS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... High-performance workforce requirements have significantly increased due to the skills-gap shortage and the challenge of competition in a global economy, according to nearly 75% of respondents to a recent survey conducted by the National...

IBM controls light speed.(NEWS)(International Business Machines)
January 1, 2006... Light's speed can be slowed in dispersive materials. IBM scientists have successfully slowed light to 3.3% of its normal 186,000-miles/sec speed with a bit of silicon called a crystal waveguide. Researchers created waveguides with...

Color graphics displays to control railroad switchyard.
January 1, 2006... Canadian National Railway Co. (CN), Canada's largest railroad, will upgrade switchyard workstation displays with color graphic systems. The equipment, TessE[m.sup.7000] from Newcon Data, will be used at CN's MacMillan yard in Concord, ON,...

Ford Motor selects ActivPlant software.(Activplant Performance Management System )
January 1, 2006... Ford Motor Co. has signed an agreement to use Activplant Performance Management System (APMS) software across its North American Power-train plants. The deployment of Activplant's software at Ford is expected to result in improved throughput...

Digital network connectivity grows in level measurement.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... Digital networks transport an increasing share of continuous measurement information, according to a new Venture Development Corp. (VDC) market-study on the global process level measurement market. Forecast continuous process-level...

Process analytical technologies' (PAT) economic benefit.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... Dr. Peter G. Martin, author and authority on real-time performance management and vice president of performance management at Invensys Process Systems, presented a seminar entitled "Optimizing PAT with Metrics that Matter," on Nov. 9, 2005, to...

Technology reduces display 'squint factor'.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... A new technology is helping reduce "squint factor," the problem of viewing monitors exposed to high ambient light conditions. V-Bond from VarTech Systems is a solid, transparent bond that optically couples the front cover glass or touchscreen...

Maritza power-plant awards $11-million contract.(NEWS)
January 1, 2006... Bulgaria's largest thermal power-plant, Maritza East 2 electric utility--near Stara Zagora, awarded an $11-million contract to Honeywell International Inc. The upgrade will completely refurbish the controls for three units that produce 178 MW...

GE Fanuc names InfoPortal for Mexico.(GE Fanuc Automation Americas Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... GE Fanuc Automation Americas, Inc. has named InfoPortal (IP) as an authorized representative for Mexico. Its parent, InfoLink, is the official representative for parts of the southern U.S., including: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi,...

By the numbers.
January 1, 2006... 17 careers (of 65 total listed) are under the Math, Science, and Computers categories on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Career Information Home Page. Except for Teacher, no engineering-type careers are listed under the Helping People category....

How safe? You decide.(Editorial)
January 1, 2006... Newer safety standards offer more flexibility. Does that make your figurative cup half empty or half full? Rather than following exact safe-design instructions, you can evaluate risks, assess probability of failures, see how they match, and...

Assess risk: using safety integrity levels (SIL) offers different, perhaps more flexible, means of assessing risk and augmenting safety at discrete manufacturing sites. Look at risk early and often.(HOW TO)
January 1, 2006... "Just tell me how I'm supposed to build the stuff to comply with current safety requirements and avoid injuries, fines, and litigation." That's what engineers want to know. Yet most recent safety regulations add flexibility, especially for...

System integrator demographics: who system integrators are and exactly what they can do could make a difference in selecting help for your next automation project.(INDUSTRY RESEARCH)
January 1, 2006... The automation system integration business accounts for nearly $20 billion worldwide in engineering services and related product revenues, according to the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA). Exactly what that figure represents...

Data acquisition: DAQ download targets change along with operating systems, as technologies upgrade.(data acquisition )
January 1, 2006... In its purest form, data acquisition (DAQ) is the process of gathering information in an automated fashion from analog and digital measurement sources and presenting that information in a meaningful way. Depending on your industry, DAQ...

Seal of approval best technologies of 2005: service to the industry, technological advancement, and market impact are Control Engineering editors' criteria for these 19th annual awards.
January 1, 2006... Forty-five Editors' Choice Award winners were selected from among products covered by Control Engineering during 2005. Winners are based on service to the industry, technological advancement, and market impact. This is the 19th year editors...

Control methods series Part 7, model predictive controller: higher performance aids achievement of tighter production and efficiency targets.(model predictive control )
January 1, 2006... Despite many challenges in applying model predictive control (MPC) to a process control problem, it is worth the effort. Performance of this technology can be significantly better than more familiar control methods. Consequently, its use is...

Good for your system.(Interphex USA 2006)(Advertisement)
January 1, 2006... Today's pharmaceutical company runs on information and efficiency. If it's your job to provide accurate information, when and where it's needed, you need to be at INTERPHEX[TM]. With more than 950 exhibiting companies, INTERPHEX provides tools...

Challenge: boost efficiency of the efficient; Advanced process control enhances competitiveness in the dog-eat-dog ethanol and grain marketplaces.(INSIDE PROCESS)
January 1, 2006... A top-performing dry-mill ethanol plant in Watertown, SD, sought even greater improvements in energy and yield. Glacial Lakes Energy LLC (GLE) operates this plant, which processes over 17 million bushels of corn annually, yielding 48-million...

High-speed production line modernized without downtime: CC-Link digital fieldbus and related automation improved throughput, added flexibility, and boosted efficiency nearly 30%.(INSIDE PROCESS)
January 1, 2006... Although use of plastic--rather than glass--bottles is the current consumer trend, Longslow Dairies Group thinks otherwise. It holds that, in this new age of environmental friendliness and recycling, products in glass bottles will give...

Spectrometer for gas applications.
January 1, 2006... InterceptIR spectrometer for gas manufacturers provides research-grade performance, speed, and sensitivity for trace gas analysis in demanding process environments and monitors air separation units for hydrocarbon buildup. Based on the...

Actuator for washdown applications.
January 1, 2006... Series HYG guided hygienic actuator provides high-loading capabilities of a guided cylinder and can be used in hygienic washdown applications or places in which the cylinder is exposed to liquid. Uses include food-processing machinery, bottling...

Control option for material handling.(inside process PRODUCTS)
January 1, 2006... PCC Cruise Control integrated control option is designed to fine-tune vacuum pump performance, lowering energy consumption. It is intended for automated handling of porous materials in a variety of manufacturing applications. Device...

Temperature recorder for harsh environments.
January 1, 2006... HiTemp 150 stand-alone temperature logger features a stationary base for placement inside autoclaves, ovens, dishwashers, or other harsh environments Rugged, waterproof device automatically records from -40 to 150 [degrees]C at 0-100% relative...

Options for pneumatic actuators.
January 1, 2006... Series 79 pneumatic actuators offer two new options: safety spring and integral travel stop. Safety spring, available for the C79P through G79P line of single-acting devices, allows for end cap removal for maintenance or changing the fail...

DeviceNet to serial, Ethernet gateway.(PRODUCTS & software)
January 1, 2006... DRL-DVN-SRE Direct-Link gateway for DeviceNet is designed to connect a DeviceNet network to a serial or Ethernet network or device. No programming is necessary; the gateway transfers I/O data cyclically between the two networks according to...

Bearings protect against current damage.
January 1, 2006... Inscoat electrically insulated rolling bearings protect against potential damage caused by the passage of electric current in ac and dc motors, generators, and associated equipment. Electrical insulation function is integrated into the bearing....

PAC Ethernet interface unit.(PRODUCTS & software)
January 1, 2006... PACSystems-RX3i Ethernetnetwork interface unit (ENIU) makes it possible to use PACSystems PX3i and Series-90-30 I/O remotely on an Ethernet network. Once configured, data exchange is automatic. High-speed expansion unit reduces downtime with...

Cam-operated rotary switches.
January 1, 2006... Complete range of cam-operated rotary switches include: on/off, changeover, multi-step, ammeter, voltmeter, and motor reversing types available with up to 6 positions and 10 poles. Switches are certified as manual motor controllers according to...

Acquire video, PCM, avionic bus data.
January 1, 2006... D5000 Series--with enhanced signal module capabilities for the acquisition of video, PCM, and avionics bus data--features compact, high-channel capacity signal interface modules and flexible configuration solutions that can easily adapt to...

Dual synchronous step-down dc/dc converter.
January 1, 2006... LTC3417 dual output, high-efficiency, 4-MHz synchronous buck regulator delivers up to 1.4 A of continuous output current from one channel and up to 800 mA from the second. Device uses constant frequency and current mode architecture and...

Fanless, rack-mount flat PC.(PRODUCTS & software)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... ThinkIO-P modular rack-mount flat PC fits into any control cabinet on the market. Completely enclosed, fanless unit, shown recently at SPS/IPC/Drives in Germany, can be equipped with processors ranging from a 600-MHz Intel Mobile Celeron--with...

What is a smart sensor?(back to BASICS)
January 1, 2006... One of the biggest advances in automation has been the development and spread of smart sensors. But what exactly is a "smart" sensor? Experts from six sensor manufacturers define this term. A good working "smart sensor" definition comes...