Poultry Farm Utilizes PLC Control To Increase Efficiency
AgricultureApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFeature StoryFood and BeverageIndustryIssue 8 – 2007Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable Control

Poultry Farm Utilizes PLC Control To Increase Efficiency

In the New England town of Monroe, New Hampshire, you’ll find picturesque settings filled with family-owned dairy and poultry farms. Situated in the Connecticut River valley at the edge of the White Mountain National Forest is a poultry farm, called Pete and Gerry’s Organics, with something to crow about. Pete and Gerry’s Organics has found…
Electromechanical Relays Versus Solid-State: Each Has Its Place
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 9 – 2007Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductRelays & TimersTechnical Review

Electromechanical Relays Versus Solid-State: Each Has Its Place

Since the introduction of solid-state relays some decades ago, the debate over which is better, solidstate relays (SSRs) or electromechanical relays (EMRs), has gone on. The general answer is neither, as each one has good and bad points. But in terms of specific application requirements, clear winners emerge. The Argument for Solid-State Relays When used…
Welcome PAC: Moving On To The Next Generation Controller
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookIssue 9 – 2007Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductProgrammable ControlTech Thread

Welcome PAC: Moving On To The Next Generation Controller

Log on to any industrial control discussion forum, and you will read passionate debates about the advantages and disadvantages of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) compared to PC-based control. Amongst the PLC/PC debates, there most likely were some threads discussing PACs, which begs the question, “What the heck is a PAC?” PAC, a new acronym, stands…
Anti-Terrorist Barriers Help Protect Facilities
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFacilitiesFeature StoryIndustryIssue 9 – 2007Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlSecurity

Anti-Terrorist Barriers Help Protect Facilities

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the need for perimeter security of potentially threatened facilities has increased dramatically. To accomplish this, several facilities around the globe have been installing devices called anti-terrorist barriers, used as added protection against invasion of potentially dangerous vehicles. Domestically, these anti-terrorist devices can be found at Federal Reserve…
Semiconductor Breakthroughs Promise Smaller, Faster Chips
Automation NotebookIssue 9 – 2007Learning ResourcesMotor ControlsNotebook IssueProductTechnology Brief

Semiconductor Breakthroughs Promise Smaller, Faster Chips

Computer chips are always getting smaller and faster – right? Historically, this has been the trend. This trend was first observed by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore in 1965, and the term “Moore’s Law” was coined several years later. For over forty years this “law” has held, chips have gotten more complex, and transistors have shrunk…
AutomationDirect Launches New Line of Current Sensors
Automation NotebookIssue 9 – 2007Learning ResourcesProcess Sensing & ControlProduct

AutomationDirect Launches New Line of Current Sensors

AutomationDirect announces the addition of current sensors to its product offerings. The AcuAMP series is a family of high performance current sensors offering outstanding features, flexibility, and durability. Backed with a five-year warranty, the complete line of current sensors, transducers, and switches will provide dependable service for virtually any application. The ACT series current transducers,…
Sensors Frequently Asked Questions
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookDiscrete SensingFYIIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProduct

Sensors Frequently Asked Questions

AutomationDirect’s Technical Support Team has compiled a list of customer frequently asked questions for many of our products. The complete listing can be found on the technical support page of our Web site. Here are some of the more commonly asked questions regarding our sensors. 1. Q: How do inductive proximity sensors work? A: Inductive proximity…
Sensor Trends
+Tech TopicsAutomation NotebookDiscrete SensingIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductTech Thread

Sensor Trends

Because of certain drawbacks of physical contact style sensors and switches such as limit switches and float switches, newer technology non-contact style sensors have become prevalent in industry, performing well in many applications. Proximity, photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors can be used in many applications for which they were previously never considered. These non-contact sensors are…
Improving Factory Workers’ Efficiency is All in a Name
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData CollectionHMIIndustryIssue 7 – 2006Learning ResourcesManufacturingManufacturingNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable ControlUser Solutions

Improving Factory Workers’ Efficiency is All in a Name

As most everyone is aware, from a business standpoint, we live in a numbers-based society. In all businesses, whether a small company with a dozen employees or a large conglomerate of thousands, the focus is on the bottom line. Executives are scrutinizing annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, and even daily reports to determine how productivity is…