Automating a Donut Packaging and Labeling Line
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookDrivesFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationIndustryIssue 25 – 2013Learning ResourcesMachine ControlMaterial HandlingNotebook IssuePackagingPLCProductProgrammable ControlUser SolutionsVariable Speed Drives

Automating a Donut Packaging and Labeling Line

When people hear the name Mel-O-Cream, they usually think of donuts. Founded in 1932 as a retail shop in Springfield, Ill, Mel-O-Cream International (www.mel-o-cream.com) manufactures bakery products, primarily for wholesale distribution to supermarkets and bakeries.
PLCs Give Wastewater Pumping Stations a Lift
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData System MonitoringIndustryIssue 19 – 2011Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlUser SolutionsWater/Wastewater

PLCs Give Wastewater Pumping Stations a Lift

Flexible, economical PLCs provide automatic failover, backup pump control, and remote lift station monitoring. The Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is part of the Interceptor Sewer System, which has served Chattanooga, Tennessee, and its surrounding metropolitan areas since it was built in 1952. The WWTP includes pumping stations as well as liquid and solids…
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 20 – 2011Learning ResourcesMotion ControlNotebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Multi-Mirror Solar Array Pleasantville High School

The Industrial Technology students at Pleasantville High School, in Pleasantville, Iowa (southeast of Des Moines), have spent the last three years building a multi-mirror solar array. Students from four different technology classes have contributed to the project over the three year period; the AutoCAD and drafting classes have helped design and document the project, students…
Evolution of the ChemFreePro® Ion Generator
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookData CollectionIndustryIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCProductProgrammable ControlWater/Wastewater

Evolution of the ChemFreePro® Ion Generator

In the 1960s, NASA conducted a research program to develop a small lightweight water purifier. The purifier was for use in the Apollo spacecraft, so low power usage and minimal maintenance were a must. The 9-ounce purifier, slightly larger than a cigarette pack and completely chlorine-free, was designed to dispense silver ions into the spacecraft’s…
Natural Gas Reclaimed from Expired Wells
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 15 – 2009Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfacePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable ControlUser Solutions

Natural Gas Reclaimed from Expired Wells

Natural gas can come from wells specifically drilled to reach gas trapped in pockets beneath the surface of the Earth. These wells produce huge quantities of gas which can be piped directly to distribution centers and then on to consumers. Some wells produce a lower-quality gas which has to be processed to remove unwanted components…
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…