Industrial Technology

Suspension arm assemblies from ETA

Just introduced by ETA Enclosures UK and offered in three specification variations subject to weight requirements is a new range of ETR Suspension Arm assemblies. The structure of the support arm system is defined by machine size, enclosure dimensions and enclosure weight, the number of connection elements and the profile lengths. Load capacities, defined for a total of 1m profile including enclosure, are rated at 400N, 800N and 1200N.

18th October 2017

Industrial IoT for brownfields

As a comprehensive performance indicator, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) can play an important role in making manufacturing assets more productive. Difficulties gathering the data needed to calculate OEE, however, have often prevented it from being used to improve older brownfield systems. Now, there is a solution that lets you easily tap into the operating data of digitally isolated equipment and benefit from automated acquisition, harmonisation and analysis – including real-time OEE monitoring.

18th October 2017

The age of the PLC platform is now

Can an automation system be more than just the sum of its parts? Barry Weller of Mitsubishi Electric argues that it can and that the age of the PLC platform is now bringing a host of benefits that extend far beyond ease of programming and simplicity of integration.

18th October 2017

The importance of the safety of workers

John Uber of Mettler Toledo highlights the importance of designing right the first time, and of communications between the user and the supplier.

18th October 2017

Balluff introduces long range RFID reader

RFID systems help users to get a handle on the stream of information in a modern factory. Objects can be automatically identified and traced using RFID – a data carrier that functions as a memory is attached to the object and allows it to be identified. Data is transferred between the data carrier and read/write head, via the processor unit, to the controller.

18th October 2017

Micro PLC sets performance benchmark

The new MICRO PLC VIPA Control from Yaskawa sets new standards for ultra-compact, ultra-fast, stand-alone PLC controllers combining high performance, high channel density in a compact, modern design. As the name suggests, space requirements are minimised because the Micro has a width of less than 72mm making it up to 50% smaller than typical micro controllers.

29th September 2017

Siemens partners with University of Sheffield to drive Industry 4.0 commercialisation

A new partnership between Siemens and the University of Sheffield is being launched to accelerate digitalisation, boost digital skills, and promote technology and knowledge exchange to meet the needs of increasingly-digitalised industry.

29th September 2017

HBM October webinar looks at checkweighing with load cells

HBM has announced the date for its latest free webinar on ‘Checkweighing with Load Cells’, which will take place on October 5th 2017 at 9am (GMT). Checkweighing is most commonly used to control completeness of products, assembles or kits. This process describes weighing a certain object against a preset target.

29th September 2017

Two become one: hybrid bus cables tried and tested

Modern servodrives use a single-cable connection, or hybrid bus cable, for the power and encoder signalling. The lack of a dedicated feedback cable not only reduces the connection costs, but also the cable variance. These hybrid cables were first introduced by Igus for moving applications in 2013; Justin Leonard of Igus reviews their performance four years on.

17th September 2017

A modular computing platform for networking

A MICA (Modular Industrial Computing Architecture) is a modular computing platform made from open hardware and software components. Unlike single-board computers such as the Raspberry Pi, the MICA circuit board is divided into three parts, one of which can be customised. The form factor and degree of protection remain unchanged after hardware adjustments.

17th September 2017