Tech Brief - HMIs
Issue 50 - 2023Operator InterfaceProduct

Tech Brief - HMIs

Human beings are visual creatures. It’s believed that our brains can process visual information 60,000 times faster than text, with 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain being visual and over half of the brain being devoted directly or indirectly to vision. Knowing that, it’s easy to see how a visualrepresentation of an automated…
In-House Automation Focuses on People, Plant, and Profit
ApplicationApplication StoriesFood and BeverageHMIIndustryIssue 51 2024Machine ControlOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable Control

In-House Automation Focuses on People, Plant, and Profit

A cheese manufacturer developed in-house automation capabilities to keep legacy equipment running and responsively adjust to production demands. Many companies rely on external firms for automation upgrades and changes, and this works well for countless applications. But Pacific Cheese Company faced a dual challenge of maintaining and improving manual and legacy systems, while at the…
Supplier Profile: Peninsular Cylinder, Co. | Superheroes of Cylinders
AutomationDirect SpotlightPneumaticsProductSupplier ProfilesSupplier Profiles

Supplier Profile: Peninsular Cylinder, Co. | Superheroes of Cylinders

The Marvel Cinematic Universe™ is full of superheroes with incredible powers and abilities. But even superheroes need the right tools and equipment to get the job done. Just like how Iron Man’s suit is equipped with hydraulic and pneumatic systems, Peninsular Cylinder Co.’s cylinders can provide the necessary power and precision for your machinery to…
Industrial Enclosure Q+A
Enclosures & AccessoriesProduct

Industrial Enclosure Q+A

An AutomationDirect product manager provides industrial enclosure selection essentials for Control Engineering readers. Industrial enclosures protect essential automation components that otherwise wouldn’t stand a chance in the face of harsh factory and field conditions. As automation technologies are trending toward more instrumentation and greater decentralization, the role of enclosures is adapting. Control Engineering interviewed AutomationDirect’s…
VFD Torque Control Basics
ProductVariable Speed Drives

VFD Torque Control Basics

Modern VFDs can now perform torque control for winding/unwinding and other applications, expanding options for equipment designers. Variable frequency drives (VFDs) are commonly used by automation systems to vary the speed of an AC electric motor, but there is another class of applications where torque control, regardless of speed, is the primary goal. Kevin Kakascik…
Building IIoT with Field-Level Communications
CommunicationsData and IIoTIIoT and DataIssue 51 2024

Building IIoT with Field-Level Communications

IIoT projects should begin incrementally at the edge, using proven combinations of fieldbuses and controllers. Basic hardwired connectivity has long been typical for automation system designs. However, this approach is shifting as digital transformation and IIoT initiatives are expanding. InTech April 2023 features an article titled Field-Level Comms Improve IIoT Implementations, where Bill Dehner at…
Vacuum Gripper Advantages
PneumaticsProduct

Vacuum Gripper Advantages

Modular gripper system kits provide a versatile way for designers and OEMs to quickly create material handling and robot end-of-arm tooling solutions. Many types of industrial equipment must reliably pick-and-place products, materials, containers, and other objects to perform their functions. Designers now have new options to accelerate creation of these gripping solutions, as explained by…
Modern PLCs Provide Support for Advanced Data Access
CommunicationsData and IIoTData System MonitoringIssue 51 2024Operator InterfaceProgrammable Control

Modern PLCs Provide Support for Advanced Data Access

Although many think of PLCs as primarily for real-time control, modern versions make it easy to implement extensive data connectivity and analytics. While everyday consumers are familiar with getting things their way, this type of flexibility has often been less available within the industrial manufacturing arena. This is an issue for many end users when…
Finding the Right Balance of Local Automation and Remote Connectivity
ApplicationCommunicationsData and IIoTData CollectionData System Monitoring

Finding the Right Balance of Local Automation and Remote Connectivity

Robust real-time industrial control is essential, and remote connectivity is also becoming indispensable for many users. Here are some considerations for achieving the best of both worlds. Damon Purvis at AutomationDirect wrote an article for the February 2023 issue of Processing. Titled Balancing Local Automation with Remote Connectivity, this article explores some concepts around designing…