Water Utility Successfully Standardizes Automation Practices
IndustryIssue 44 - 2020Notebook IssueWater/Wastewater

Water Utility Successfully Standardizes Automation Practices

This utility standardized and defined best practices for their applications, improving operations while saving time and money. By David Reagan, Helix Water District ndustrial automation installations come in many shapes and sizes. Applications vary from standalone machines up to large processes, and the operating organization may have just one maintenance person or field an entire…
New Customer Community Forum
Issue 44 - 2020Notebook Issue

New Customer Community Forum

The new AutomationDirect Customer Community is a place where like-minded professionals can engage with each other and share knowledge, offer advice or exchange ideas. Inside the community you’ll find technical forums that are active with thousands of users including hobbyists, engineers and even some of our development partners. There is also a Knowledge Base which…
Automating the Hendrick’s Gin Grand Garnisher
Application StoriesDrivesHMIIssue 44 - 2020Notebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductVariable Speed Drives

Automating the Hendrick’s Gin Grand Garnisher

The Grand Garnisher has been turning heads as it tours the United States and Europe. AutomationDirect hardware and software automation underpins the attractive, steampunk contraption. By Stuart Ostroff, Salmon Studios Picture this: you are in the back garden of the grand duke’s estate, enjoying social hour with great company, a botanical cocktail in your hand….
CLICK PLC and C-more Integral for Emergency Ventilator
Application StoriesCommunicationsHMIIssue 44 - 2020PLCProductProgrammable Control

CLICK PLC and C-more Integral for Emergency Ventilator

Using readily available AutomationDirect parts, an Auburn University team converted a CPAP machine to a high-functioning emergency ventilator in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the threat of ventilator shortages during the COVID-19 crisis, various organizations called on developers to build “emergency ventilators”. A team at Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering went…
Brain Teasers - Issue 44, 2020
Issue 44 - 2020Notebook Issue

Brain Teasers - Issue 44, 2020

The Pallet Puzzle The puzzle factory cranked out 100 of their new giant floor puzzles and placed them on five pallets for shipping.  The shipping clerk didn’t have the count for the individual pallets – but was told that there were 52 puzzles on the first two pallets, 43 on the second and third combined,…
Pneumatic Air Preparation Basics
PneumaticsProduct

Pneumatic Air Preparation Basics

Top tips for supplying clean and regulated air for best pneumatic equipment performance. Kevin Kakascik, Technical Marketing Engineer at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the January 2020 issue of Hydraulics & Pneumatics titled The Principles of Pneumatic Air Preparation. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text. For industrial pneumatics systems,…
2-for-1 Control Panel Components Deliver Savings
Circuit ProtectionProduct

2-for-1 Control Panel Components Deliver Savings

Control panel real estate is always at a premium. These innovative solutions help designers save space, time, and money. Brent Purdy, Product Manager for Power & Circuit Protection at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the January/February 2020 issue of Industrial Equipment News titled Saving Time and Money with Control Panel 2-for-1 Components. Here’s a summary,…
Surveying the Industrial Sensor Landscape
Discrete SensingProduct

Surveying the Industrial Sensor Landscape

With so many industrial sensing technologies available, a general understanding of benefits and costs helps designers select the best types for their applications. Andrew Waugh, Product Manager for Sensor and Safety products at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the February 2020 issue of Design World titled A Look at the Industrial Sensors Landscape, providing an…
AutomationDirect Voted “Best of Forsyth” for Second Year in a Row
Company TopicsNews

AutomationDirect Voted “Best of Forsyth” for Second Year in a Row

Every year, our local newspaper, Forsyth County News, conducts their Readers’ Choice “Best of Forsyth” Contest to decide the favorite businesses, groups, and professionals in Forsyth County amongst the community. The 2020 contest featured nominees in over 250 categories and we’re proud to announce that AutomationDirect was among them! AutomationDirect was voted the “Best of…