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 AutomationDirect BRX PLC incorporates capabilities essential for this software services company to create a reliable SCADA solution tailored for municipalities. Massive metropolises and humble hamlets both depend on reliable water and wastewater treatment facilities. In the United States, some estimates indicate that relatively few large systems may serve about 80% of the population, while…
Moisture, dust, chemicals, physical impact—just a few environmental factors that can wreak havoc on electrical and electronic components. For the past 40 years, Fibox Enclosure Systems has been designing and manufacturing thermoplastic enclosures that protect equipment in even the most hostile and hazardous environments. Fibox leads the industry in UL-listed, NEMA-rated non-metallic polycarbonate enclosures that…
Overcoming Problematic Installs with Wireless I/O 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 a costly proposition. Learn more Supplier Profile…
Highlights With every new year comes the obligatory “top technology predictions” from industry pundits who look into their crystal ball to figure out the future. Well, we’re doing it too. In this issue of NOTEBOOK, we ring in the new year by enlisting the help of Bill Makley, principal at BMC Consulting, who, for over…
For decades, the HMI took the form of a panel-mount device at the machine or on the front of the cabinet. It was a natural fit for the era in which most factories, plants, and facilities were populated by discrete equipment, controlled locally. As facility design and usage models have changed, however, users seek the…
AI isn’t new to manufacturing. Vision systems can already spot defects; predictive maintenance models can keep bearings from failing unexpectedly; and scheduling software can adjust production on the fly. What’s changing in 2026 is the reach and capabilities of these tools as well as their potential to expand returns on a plant’s investment in the cost,…
The recent introduction of user defined instructions in AutomationDirect PLCs provides another tool for accelerating PLC and HMI development. By Tim Ensminger, AutomationDirect Many industrial automation products and practices have been developed as more robust versions of commercial-grade technologies. As microprocessors, memory, and communications hardware and software have evolved throughout the information technology (IT) world,…
Headless HMIs slash costs, simplify installation, and unlock creative display options ranging from handheld tablets to wall-mounted scoreboards. By Bobby Thornton, AutomationDirect On a traditional factory floor, operators usually monitor and control equipment using classic panel-mounted touchscreen human-machine interfaces (HMIs). But to meet the demands of a modern facility, designers need technologies to more effectively…
After running for decades on its original electro-hydraulic drive, Timber Lake Playhouse’s revolving stage system received significant behind-the-scenes AutomationDirect upgrades in 2007 and 2025. By Ryan Poethke, ShowFab Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP), adjacent to its namesake body of water and surrounded by woods and acres of farmland beyond, has been operating as a professional, non-profit…
Press Releases
March 11, 2026 – AutomationDirect now offers RuB manual ball valves that bring unmatched versatility, performance, and reliability to fluid and air control applications. Featuring a lifetime warranty, the available offering spans everything from compact micro and mini valves, perfect for tight space OEM builds, to high flow industrial options engineered for demanding environments. General…
March 11, 2026 – AutomationDirect has added Peter Electronic VSII Plus soft starters which provide durability, a high number of starts/hour, and a simple setup for standard or light-duty applications up to 105A. Quick configuration is achieved by adjusting the positions of 3 trim pots, and status LEDs indicate the units’ operational status. Built-in DIN-rail…
March 5, 2026 – AutomationDirect now offers STRIDE PRO Unmanaged+ industrial Ethernet switches which are a step up from basic unmanaged switches, adding efficient network optimization by seamlessly integrating essential features such as IGMP snooping (traffic prioritization), port monitoring, port alarms, VLAN support, and more. IGMP snooping ends network flooding by transmitting data only to…
March 4, 2026 – AutomationDirect now offers Sensy 2172L series single point, 5510 series shear beam, and 2782 series tension/compression load cells that deliver flexible solutions for weighing and force measurement. They are ideal for applications ranging from small packaging scales to rugged industrial tanks and conveyor systems. Built from aircraft-grade aluminum or stainless steel,…
March 4, 2026 – AutomationDirect now offers Schmersal PROTECT PSC1 safety controller which is a compact safety control system with scalable I/O from a trusted leader in machine safety. E-stops, light grids, and almost any safety device can be monitored with ease, and the universal interface ensures instant connection to every standard fieldbus. The base…
February 25, 2026 – AutomationDirect now offers Penn-Union split bolt connectors, power bars, service post connectors, and more. Split bolts deliver a secure, long‑lasting connection for two conductors in a wide range of power distribution applications. With options engineered to handle multiple wire gauges and material combinations—including CU‑CU, CU‑AL, and AL‑AL—they offer the flexibility installers…