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
The right surge suppression technologies help protect valuable equipment and digital systems from electrical surges, while ensuring designs comply with regulatory requirements. Electrical surges represent a persistent yet often underestimated threat to today’s technologically advanced commercial and industrial facilities. In this Automation World December 2025 article titled Industrial Surge Protection: Essential Technologies and Installation Standards…
Industrial motion control is used to operate a variety of apparatuses, including gripping, transporting, and moving mechanisms on small machines, plus multi-axis robotics, large web handling systems, and much more. This overview explains the key concepts of motion control systems. In an industrial automation context, the term “motion control” usually refers to using an electric…
Every workplace shares a common goal to keep employees safe and productive while preventing costly accidents. The reality is, moving machinery means risk. But with the right protection, that risk can be minimized. That’s where Velox Machine Guarding comes in. Designed to create a safe perimeter around equipment, it helps businesses meet regulatory standards, reduce…
Highlights When it comes to keeping the plant running efficiently, there’s an element that is always present but often overlooked. It’s the power and current that runs through machines. And all that needs to be managed and protected. In this issue of NOTEBOOK, we explore all aspects of this invisible force, exploring the need for…
When a plant’s main control panel went up in flames, it wasn’t a lightning strike or a voltage surge that caused the damage. The root cause was far more preventable and far more common: an undersized circuit protection device that couldn’t handle the available fault current. The result was catastrophic. The customer lost the entire…
By: Brent Purdy and David Saenz, Automation Direct Introduction Is your facility plagued by high energy costs, frequent nuisance trips, and repeated asset failures? Power monitoring could be just solution you need. Without data, it’s impossible to make informed decisions. After all, you can’t fix it if you can’t see it. Power monitors, or power…
Stepper Motors: What They Are and Their Role in Industrial Automation Trying to get perfect, repeatable motion can be a headache. A small mistake in positioning can ruin a job and cost you time. The solution is precision motion—that’s where stepper motors come in. So, what is a stepper motor? Watch the video PLC or…
Tie Fighter Let’s number the 4 ties that we plan to move: Then move them to these new positions: Do Your Level Best Here is a sketch of the tank with the block lowered into place. Let h represent the height of the increased level (as shown) that we wish to determine. Let’s also label three areas:…
Tie Fighter Move only four cable ties so that the cable ties form three unique equilateral triangles. We’ve recently added a number of additional specialty cable ties and cable tie mounting products including the “winged push-in panel ties” shown in this puzzle. Check them out here: go2adc.com/sapiselco Do Your Level Best The liquid level in the…
Press Releases
AutomationDirect now offers Klemsan slim interface relays which feature a highly compact 6.2mm-wide design in a durable, self-extinguishing housing. These high-performance relays are engineered for long life and are ideal for space-constrained control panels and automation systems. They offer flexible integration across various applications with support for a wide range of coil voltages (12 to…
AutomationDirect has added Halex liquid-tight metallic and non-metallic fittings which ensure a secure bond between conduits and enclosures, delivering a dependable seal that protects against moisture, oil, and contaminants. Available in trade sizes from 3/8 inch to 2 inch in both straight and 90-degree configurations, these fittings come with insulated and non-insulated options. Reusable components…
AutomationDirect.com has added Pfannenberg PYRA series custom traffic light systems which consist of pre-wired bases, industrial traffic light elements, and signal horns that can be assembled into a custom multi-tier indicator. PYRA LED traffic light bases are pre-wired for a 1-to-4 stage visual traffic light using assorted colored light elements (red, green, yellow, or blue) or for…
AutomationDirect has added ProSense HUM series humidity sensors provide reliable temperature and relative humidity (RH) measurements for HVAC, cleanroom, and general industrial applications. They offer versatile mounting options and wide measurement ranges (-4 to 140 deg F, 0 to 99.9% RH), with select models providing a seven-segment display for quick, at-a-glance monitoring. Duct mount sensors include…
AutomationDirect now offers GT Line of premium tool storage solutions which are designed for professionals who demand durability, organization, and comfort on the job. Crafted from tough polyester canvas, GT Line tool bags feature a sophisticated compartment system that ensures effortless transport and efficient organization with a rigid-bottom design for stability and protection for your…
AutomationDirect has added Wiha foam tray tool sets which offer utmost organization and accessibility, with each tray featuring durable tri-layer foam construction with clear tool outlines and printed labels for quick identification and inventory control. Modular sizing allows seamless integration into drawers, tool chests, or mobile workstations. Options include standard and insulated screwdriver trays, plier…