Industrial Automation News for the Next Generation
Welcome to Library.AutomationDirect.com, where the stacks are filled with tons of industrial automation news & you don’t even need a library card! Here you can read articles from the Automation NOTEBOOK loaded with informative technical articles keeping you on top of what’s happening in the automation industry. Company news, press releases, application stories and more are right here at your fingertips!
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Recent Posts
Solving Frequency Signal Conditioner Challenges Frequency signal conditioners—designed to handle high-frequency pulse signals from sensors and convert them into other useful automation signals—are an important industrial automation design component for both new and retrofit applications. High-frequency pulses may be generated from a proximity sensor associated with a spinning sprocket, between digital motion control systems requiring…
Because industrial automation systems often remain in service for decades, it is important to select a hardware/software supplier and integration specialist familiar with performing incremental updates as needed. By: Randy Ames, Ames Electrical Consulting, Inc. Repair or replace: a conundrum familiar to owners of appliances, consumer electronics, cars, homes, and also industrial processing facilities. For…
When you hop on a thrilling amusement park roller coaster, Ferris wheel, or pendulum ride, you probably don’t think about what makes it stop when it’s time to do so. More likely, you are relieved to finally get on the ride after standing in a long line! And chances are good that you don’t wonder…
Many industrial automation end users are not staffed to deploy cutting-edge cybersecurity provisions, but they all will benefit from performing attainable and practical basic steps. By Tim Wheeler, AutomationDirect Albert Einstein said, “Genius is making complex ideas simple, not making simple ideas complex.” Modern cybersecurity is an example of an extremely complex subject, where a…
+Tech TopicsHand Tools &Test EquipmentIssue 55, 2025Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTech Thread
Outfitting Your Panel Shop to be Safe and Efficient
AutomationDirect has created an extensive portfolio of professional-grade control panel products, tools, and test equipment, all readily available at reasonable cost so that shops can equip their technicians to deliver high-quality results. By Zach Ganster, AutomationDirect The “good/better/best” concept is familiar to most people. When it comes to obtaining anything we use in our daily…
This student team gained valuable STEM experience by developing an underwater remote operated vehicle, and they accelerated their efforts by using commercially available industrial-grade components. By: Geoff Gardener, North Paulding High School Exploration of both the deep sea and of outer space share a lot in common. Both are extremely unforgiving environments where it is…
By Travis Morris, Safety Administrator, AutomationDirect As we recognize National Safety Month this June 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how industrial safety has evolved alongside technological advancement. At AutomationDirect, we’ve seen firsthand how the safety landscape in manufacturing and logistics continues to advance rapidly, creating both new challenges and unprecedented opportunities for…
By: Larry Reynolds, AutomationDirect Safety systems play a crucial role in industrial equipment, protecting personnel, guarding against machine damage, and minimizing unscheduled downtime. To make a machine totally safe, we could build a wall around it, cut the power, send staff home, and lock the doors after them. That approach isn’t particularly practical, however. Instead,…
In the world of manufacturing, efficiency and productivity often take center stage. However, there’s one element that must always be prioritized above allelse: employee safety. Recognizing that June is National Safety Month, AutomationDirect is dedicating much of this issue of NOTEBOOK to addressing the issuesthat impact safety in the manufacturing workplace — from culture to…
Press Releases
May 28, 2025 – AutomationDirect has added CHANNELLOCK tools, which are designed with strength and durability in mind. CHANNELLOCK tools are made in the USA with high-carbon USA steel. The CHANNELLOCK straight jaw pliers feature undercut tongue-and-groove channels to prevent slipping, and Griplock jaw tongue-and-groove pliers have an offset head for greater leverage with patented SAFE-T-STOP® technology to…
May 28, 2025 – AutomationDirect has added Laumas precision-engineered load cells, transmitters, and accessories that deliver reliable performance in industrial weighing and force measurement applications. The FCAL series high-precision bending beam load cells are ideal for low- to mid-capacity systems. CTL series load cells are designed for both tension and compression, with excellent linearity. The…
May 28, 2025 – AutomationDirect has added new Gates hydraulic hose assemblies from Royal Brass & Hose. These hose assemblies eliminate the need to cut and terminate hydraulic hoses on-site and are offered in the ProFlex or MXT series. The ProFlex series features a compact construction with a smaller outer diameter, allowing them to flex…
May 21, 2025 – AutomationDirect has added ifm fail-safe inductive sensors featuring (2) OSSD outputs that can be connected to a safety relay for safety applications requiring the detection of metal objects. These sensors are designed to trigger a safe state (like stopping a machine) if the sensor fails, reducing the risk of injury to…
May 21, 2025 – AutomationDirect has added additional drag chain options to route cables/hoses to moving components and help extend cable/hose life. The igus 2500 series cable/hose drag chains feature a snap-open mechanism along the chain’s outer radius to allow convenient access to the chain’s channel after installation. The hinged crossbar can be swiveled by more…
May 21, 2025 – AutomationDirect has added Patlite industrial signal beacons, which provide a clear and unambiguous visual indication, ensuring quick and easy detection by floor personnel. These beacons are available in three series with various monocolor options and a Fresnel lens that distributes ambient, uniform light from all globe surfaces, including the top. All…