Industrial Automation News for the Next Generation
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Recent Posts
Each day, New Zealanders are the first to see the sunrise due to the country’s location west of the international date line. But that’s just the beginning of the country’s claims to fame. The first commercial and legal bungee jump was invented and performed there, and New Zealand was the first country to grant women…
Edward Ashcroft was a pioneer in pressure measurement instrumentation. He started the company in 1852 after acquiring the U.S. patent rights for the Bourdon tube from its inventor Eugène Bourdon. This milestone led to the widespread adoption of the “Ashcroft Gauge” in American industry and laid the foundation for the company’s continuous growth and innovation….
Point-to-point wireless I/O technologies provide a helpful solution for efficient low-I/O-count remote connectivity. While some industrial monitoring and control systems are easily connected to their associated field devices, the harsh reality is that many installations are much more complicated. Input/output (I/O) signaling over long distances, especially where there is not a convenient wiring path, is…
16 Tips for an Effective HMI When designing an effective human-machine interface (HMI) system, every screen, button and graphic matters. This article, “16 Tips for an Effective HMI”, offers a clear and practical roadmap—from layout planning and color usage to alarm handling and usability testing—to help you create an HMI that’s intuitive, efficient and reliable….
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…
Press Releases
AutomationDirect has added Dold RK 6929 compact safety relay extension modules from the SAFEMASTER series. They amplify and multiply safety relay outputs while providing galvanic isolation between control and power levels. They support applications requiring safety levels up to Cat. 4 / PL e or SIL 3 and are ideal for machine building and firing…
AutomationDirect has added additional FATH components for T-slotted aluminum rail including sleek casters with lifting foot options for mobility and stability, an ergonomic dual monitor workstation, monitor mount extensions, and a wide array of tool hooks, holders, and accessories that streamline organization and workflow. From cup holders to storage trays and fastening hardware, every component…
AutomationDirect has added AchieVe FBM series rectangular photoelectric sensors that deliver reliable performance at a great price for a wide range of industrial applications. They feature a rugged thermoplastic construction, offer options for visible red LED, pinpoint LED, or infrared light emission, and provide sensing distances of up to 10 meters. Offered in diffuse with…
AutomationDirect has added Murrplastik solid corrugated tubing which provides protection, reliability, and adaptability for wire and cable in demanding environments. The EW-PAB series delivers both chemical and impact resistance for static installations under medium to high mechanical loads. Crafted from modified polyamide 6, this solid-wall tubing is flame-retardant, low-smoke, and engineered for long-term resilience in…
AutomationDirect has added WEG Electric CWBN series contactors that are IEC-compliant and NEMA-rated, delivering robust, dependable performance in a compact IEC-style housing. They are offered at a highly competitive price, in ratings from 2 to 50 hp (95A) at 460 VAC, and meet or exceed the electrical requirements defined by NEMA ICS 2 standards for…
AutomationDirect.com has added Quadritalia OK series 2200mm modular enclosure base components and accessories that include vertical frame rail sets, doors, side panels, rear panels, and subpanels, that are engineered to fit seamlessly together, building a highly adaptable enclosure for industrial, electrical, and data applications. Additional accessories are available to improve enclosure functionality and installation flexibility. These…