Building User-Focused Water/Wastewater Utility Systems with AutomationDirect
Application StoriesPLCProductProgrammable Control

Building User-Focused Water/Wastewater Utility Systems with AutomationDirect

Many water utilities could benefit from using robust and standardized PLC automation, instead of enduring inconsistent and difficult to troubleshoot custom control systems. While many people settle for things that are good enough, sometimes it takes relatively little extra effort to make things excellent. Dennis O’Hara experienced this many times as he progressed from getting…
Helping Automation Users Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
Application StoriesDrivesHMIOperator InterfacePLCProductProgrammable ControlVariable Speed Drives

Helping Automation Users Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

Automation of a tabletop coffee roaster demonstrates how home automation projects can help users explore new technologies and develop their skills. Michael Hoffman, who works at Dragos and is a member of the SANS Technology Institute, wrote a success story for the October 2021 issue of Design World titled Brewing Up DIY Automation Solutions. Here’s…
Industrial Mobile Access Getting Better and Easier
CommunicationsIIoT and DataOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable Control

Industrial Mobile Access Getting Better and Easier

Users are increasingly using AutomationDirect HMI, PLC, and router technologies to provide easy and secure industrial mobile access. Bill Dehner, technical marketing engineer for AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the November/December 2021 issue of Industrial Equipment News titled Evaluating Mobile Access Options. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for the full text. Using…
Contemporary Controls Combined with Classic Camper Chic
Application StoriesPLCProductProgrammable Control

Contemporary Controls Combined with Classic Camper Chic

This retro-look travel trailer is custom-built using aircraft fabrication principles, and the all-electric support systems are automated and visualized using a PLC and other components from AutomationDirect. As a self-employed consultant with many years designing, building, and automation state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, Scott Sutton is a hands-on guy. So, when his family came up with the…
Upgrading Pneumatic Machinery with IIoT
CommunicationsPneumaticsProductProgrammable Control

Upgrading Pneumatic Machinery with IIoT

OEMs making pneumatic machinery are delivering greater value to their end users by integrating smart solenoid manifolds and cloud-capable PLCs. Kevin Kakascik, Technical Marketing Engineer with AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the November 2021 issue of Hydraulics & Pneumatics titled The Age of Intelligent Pneumatics. It shows how OEMs can use intelligent solenoid manifolds and…
Here’s How to Easily Add IIoT to any Machine
CommunicationsProductProgrammable Control

Here’s How to Easily Add IIoT to any Machine

Micro-PLCs with Wi-Fi are key enablers for quickly and economically adding IIoT data connectivity to any type of new or legacy equipment. Bill Dehner, technical marketing engineer for AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the October 2021 issue of Fluid Power World titled Streamlining Equipment IIoT Connectivity. Here’s a summary, click on the link above for…
What is Needed for Industrial Control Panels?
Electrical PowerEnclosures & AccessoriesProductProgrammable ControlRelays & Timers

What is Needed for Industrial Control Panels?

What is Needed for Industrial Control Panels? Industrial control panels are fundamental for protecting electrical, instrumentation, and control devices. The AutomationDirect portfolio of enclosures and components can help users obtain everything they need to create control panel solutions. Industrial control panels are commonly used for distributing power, housing pneumatics, and protecting automation electronics associated with…
Student Brings Joy to Kids During COVID-19 with Automated Halloween Display
Application StoriesAutomationDirect SpotlightCommunicationsHMIPLCProductProgrammable ControlStudent Spotlight

Student Brings Joy to Kids During COVID-19 with Automated Halloween Display

In a typical year, children excitedly count down the days in October to Halloween. However, Halloween 2020 was different due to COVID-19, and many kids felt it was going to be a disappointing nightmare. That wasn’t the case in one town in Utah, thanks to the efforts of Shaun Oaks, father of two young children…
PLCs Provide a Conduit for Better Predictive Maintenance
ProductProgrammable Control

PLCs Provide a Conduit for Better Predictive Maintenance

AutomationDirect PLCs can now easily bridge the OT/IT gap, pulling data from the field and pushing it to the cloud to support predictive maintenance programs. Damon Purvis, PLC Product Manager at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the August 2021 edition of Plant Engineering. The article is titled PLCs Improve Predictive Maintenance, and it shows how…
Cloud-Capable PLCs Enable More IIoT Applications
CommunicationsProductProgrammable Control

Cloud-Capable PLCs Enable More IIoT Applications

PLCs can now be directly integrated with cloud-based computing platforms, empowering end users and OEMs to quickly and easily add IIoT functionality to their systems. Damon Purvis, PLC Product Manager at AutomationDirect, wrote an article for the August 2021 edition of Machine Design. The article is titled Modern PLCs Simplify Cloud-Based IIoT and it talks…