Industrial Automation News for the Next Generation
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Recent Posts
Chances are, when you go to the car wash, you don’t think about the soap and wax metering systems or the low-pressure function controls that work to get your vehicle sparkling clean. In fact, a wide range of industrial and commercial applications rely on equipment behind the scenes to precisely control the flow of liquids…
Tech Advancements Make Motion Control More Accessible Advances in motion control technology are making high-performance automation more affordable and easier to implement. Improved servo, stepper, and networked control solutions are reducing complexity while expanding application possibilities. Learn more Painlessly Connect OT with IT Using Industrial Edge Switches Industrial edge switches are helping bridge the gap between…
Demanding industrial environments call for panel meters that give clear, reliable readings, and Sifam Tinsley Instrumentation Inc. has answered that call. Along the way, the company has also developed solutions for every level of industrial electrical monitoring, becoming a global provider of electrical measurement and process control products. Its history is closely tied to the…
Simple. Intelligent. Modular. Scalable Safety, Simplified WiringThe Z-Range Safety Switch System delivers a flexible approach to machine safety that’s designed for modular machinery. Up to 30 devices can be connected in series to a single safety relay while preserving PLe and SIL 3 ratings, making it ideal for scalable systems. With built-in diagnostics and easy…
Every operation has one machine everyone depends on, the conveyor that never seems to stop, the gantry that positions with precision, the drive system that quietly powers everything behind the scenes. Over time, it becomes clear that even the most advanced systems rely on something simpler: the components that transfer motion. At first, those components are easy…
Facility, system, and machinery safety are important factors to prevent injury and loss of productivity in the workplace. Safety component ratings ensure that the proper device is selected for your application. Understanding these ratings will make this decision much easier. Table of Contents
Taming Ladder Logic with Object-Oriented Techniques Programmable logic controllers (PLCs), prized for their ruggedness and real-time performance, have formed the industrial automation backbone of operational technology (OT) systems since the late 1960s. While traditional PLC programming methods were historically less sophisticated than solutions developed for the information technology (IT) industry, the situation has been steadily…
Every workplace has that one person who seems to notice what everyone else overlooks. In one small manufacturing facility, that person was Bryce, a maintenance supervisor who had a habit of stopping by workstations before shifts began—not to interrupt, but to ask a simple question: “Is everything ready to run safely today?” At first, those…
Modern PLCs Support Dependable SCADA Communications Water and wastewater treatment systems of all sizes are essential and roughly 90% of U.S. systems are considered small (serving 10,000 or fewer people). Though large and small plants often use similar technologies, they operate at very different scales and budgets for automation and staffing. Recognizing this disparity, the…
Press Releases
August 5, 2026 – AutomationDirect now offers Ashcroft T4 series mechanical temperature switches which provide reliable temperature monitoring and control for demanding industrial applications. These rugged switches feature high 15A SPDT switch contacts that can directly control larger loads, reducing or eliminating the need for external contactors or interposing relays. The T4 series offers field-adjustable…
August 5, 2026 – AutomationDirect has added Gefran GRM-H series SCR power controllers that convert analog signals (0–10 V, 4–20 mA), PWM duty-cycle outputs, potentiometer, and discrete ON/OFF commands from PLCs and PID controllers into precise SCR-based control of AC power for industrial heating applications. These ultra-compact controllers are available in 10 A, 25 A,…
August 5, 2026 – AutomationDirect has added WERMA MC beacons which deliver compact, high‑visibility status indication for machines and control panels, combining flexible LED signaling with rugged industrial design. This expanded offering includes 35mm and 55mm panel‑mount beacons, RYG (red, yellow, green) models, multicolor RGB units with up to seven selectable colors, and touch‑enabled variants…
July 21,2026 – AutomationDirect has added WAGO 207 series gelboxes that deliver reliable, maintenance-free moisture protection for electrical connections in some of the toughest environments. Engineered for compatibility with WAGO’s 221 series LEVER-NUTS® and 2773 series PUSHWIRE® connectors, these compact enclosures are filled with a specialized silicone-free sealing gel that fully encapsulates conductors, providing IPX8-rated…
July 21, 2026 – AutomationDirect has added Lika Electronic linear encoders that combine a sliding encoder body and a magnetically coded strip to provide extremely accurate linear position detection over distances up to 20 meters. A quadrature output results in accuracy up to 0.01mm, with single-increment repeatability (0.01mm/count) at speeds up to 20 m/s. AME95 series…
July 15, 2026 – AutomationDirect now offers Fuji Electric TK‑E02 series thermal overload relays that expand the TK‑E lineup with compact, high‑precision protection for smaller motors and lower current applications. Designed to safeguard motor windings from overloads, locked-rotor conditions, and damaging open‑phase faults, the TK‑E02 delivers reliable performance in demanding motor control applications. These relays…