Mission Control Built on an Industrial Foundation
Application StoriesAutomationDirect SpotlightIssue 59, 2026Notebook IssuePLCStudent Spotlight

Mission Control Built on an Industrial Foundation

These engineering students relied on an industry-proven automation platform and other products, to rapidly create a reliable rocketry ground test system. Byline: Jayden Sorensen, Electrical Lead As rocket companies have advanced from using single-use, expendable rockets to now achieving landing and reuse of the vehicles, much of the cost of transporting people and payloads into…
Supplier Profile: RuB Inc
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Supplier Profile: RuB Inc

Fluid control plays a critical role in everyday life. Gas, water, air, oil – they all need precise control to ensure comfort and safety at home and within an array of industries. Behind the scenes, one family-owned company has spent over seven decades engineering the valves that keep these important systems running. RuB Inc. is…
Supplier Profile: Penn Union
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Supplier Profile: Penn Union

We all learned at an early age that electricity powers the world. The team behind Penn-Union learned how to harness that power, creating electrical connection solutions that perform even in some of the most challenging applications across industries such as commercial construction, utilities, data storage, telecom and aerospace. Founded in 1928, Penn-Union operates a fully…
Supplier Profile - Fibox
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Supplier Profile - Fibox

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…
Supplier Profile – Datasensing
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Supplier Profile – Datasensing

In industrial automation, detecting the presence, position or quality of objects across production and logistics sectors is critically important. Factory floors and automated warehouses depend on it for safer operations, not to mention better efficiency and process control. Enter Datasensing, which builds on more than 50 years of sensor expertise rooted in Italy’s automation history….
Supplier Profile – Ashcroft
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Supplier Profile – Ashcroft

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….
Husky Rack & Wire - Supplier Profile
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Husky Rack & Wire - Supplier Profile

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…