Linking Machines to IT Systems
+Tech TopicsApplicationCommunicationsCover StoriesData and IIoTData CollectionIIoT and DataIssue 33 - 2015Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable Control

Linking Machines to IT Systems

Once upon a time, individual machines were stranded on an island, or just linked to other machines using a few discrete I/O and dry contact relays. Then came machine-to-machine data links such as a proprietary PLC-based network. Today, and certainly in the future, machines are being linked to IT systems.
Choosing an OEM or a System Integrator
Automation NotebookIssue 31 - 2015Learning ResourcesNotebook Issue

Choosing an OEM or a System Integrator

When a new production line is needed, which is the better partner, an original equipment manufacturer or a system integrator? Many production facilities do not have the resources to plan, specify, design, build, start up, and validate new production equipment as it requires a significant number of mechanical engineers, controls engineers and technicians. On large projects,…
Beyond the Machine: OEMs Provide System Integration
ApplicationAutomation NotebookCover StoriesIssue 28 - 2014Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook Issue

Beyond the Machine: OEMs Provide System Integration

Machine builders use technologies and expertise to provide system integration services that were once the realm of systems integrators and engineering firms. As automation systems become more integrated, the design, installation and commissioning of machines and robots on the factory floor can be a complex process. The machines must interact not only with existing production…
Reducing Total Cost of Ownership
+Tech TopicsApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookCover StoriesEnergy/UtilitiesFacilitiesIndustryIssue 24 - 2012Learning ResourcesManufacturingNotebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable Control

Reducing Total Cost of Ownership

Automation is a key component when developing strategies to help customers reduce their operating costs. Many times when making buying decisions, people look only at the initial price of an item without considering other factors that contribute to the overall cost of owning that product. For example, a certain laptop may seem like a great…
Cellular Remote Access Gives Companies Competitive Edge
+Tech TopicsApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData and IIoTData CollectionData System MonitoringFeature StoryHMIIIoT and DataIssue 22 – 2012Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProduct

Cellular Remote Access Gives Companies Competitive Edge

Internet and cellular technology make monitoring and control easier than ever. The automation world, with its distant and often isolated sites, has long sought reliable remote access to cut costs and improve reliability. Instead of sending technicians to distant locations, operators can now access critical information and control systems quickly and easily.
Is It Time to Upgrade Your Control System?
ApplicationAutomation NotebookCover StoriesIssue 19 – 2011Learning ResourcesManufacturingNotebook IssueOnline Blog

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Control System?

Are your machine or robot control systems good enough, or should you make a change? The machines and robots you build work well. You’ve kept up with periodic improvements. Most of your support calls are predictable. Why rock the boat? As a machine or robot builder OEM, you understand the favorable economics of selling machines…
Machine Automation 2010: What’s Hot and What’s Not
+Tech TopicsApplicationAutomation NotebookCover StoriesIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueProductProgrammable Control

Machine Automation 2010: What’s Hot and What’s Not

Machine and Robot Builders Look Ahead to the New Decade As a new decade dawns, machine and robot builder OEMs are looking to embrace new trends and put the past behind them. Recent economic travails seem to be lessening, especially in the developing world. The hope is for continued improvement in the world economy, spurring…
Maintaining Machine Quality While Reducing Time to Market
ApplicationAutomation NotebookFeature StoryIssue 18 – 2010Learning ResourcesMachine ControlManufacturingNotebook Issue

Maintaining Machine Quality While Reducing Time to Market

Machine and robot builder OEMs and their end user customers face similar challenges. For OEMs in a highly competitive market, quick machine delivery can make the difference between getting the order and losing it to a competitor. In a challenging economy, end users tend to take more time making machine upgrade or purchasing decisions. However,…
Finding and Selecting a System Integrator
+Tech TopicsApplicationAutomation NotebookCover StoriesIssue 8 – 2007Learning ResourcesManufacturingNotebook Issue

Finding and Selecting a System Integrator

Successful automation projects depend on a number of factors, from process definition to system installation. The number of automation vendors, software components, hardware components, and related automation stuff is growing. As the products and product sets have become more complex, more end users are turning to system integrators to help them in product selection, development…