AutomationDirect Offers Free PLC eBook Download
Company NewseBookLearning ResourcesNewsPress ReleasesPress ReleasesProductProgrammable Control

AutomationDirect Offers Free PLC eBook Download

AutomationDirect’s new eBook, “PLC Handbook: A Practical Guide to Programmable Logic Controllers” is now available as a free download. Designed as an easy-to-read guide for users new to PLCs, this eBook explains what a PLC is and its history. It also provides detailed information about what to look for when choosing a controller, with both…
Basic CPU and Remote Modules Added to Productivity3000 Line
New ProductNewsPress ReleasesPress Releases

Basic CPU and Remote Modules Added to Productivity3000 Line

Cumming, GA — December 5, 2012 … AutomationDirect’s Productivity3000 line of programmable controllers now includes basic CPU and remote slave modules. The P3-530 CPU’s five integrated communications ports include Ethernet for programming, monitoring, and networking; a USB port for data logging; USB I/O port for up to four local expansion bases; RS-232 and RS-485 ports for ASCII…
Illinois Institute of Technology Competes in Hybrid Racing
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightEducation/DIYEnergy/UtilitiesIndustryIssue 25 – 2013Learning ResourcesMachine ControlNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable ControlStudent SpotlightStudent Spotlight

Illinois Institute of Technology Competes in Hybrid Racing

A student team, lead by Donald Ruffatto, from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) SAE International chapter contacted AutomationDirect in late 2011, asking detailed questions about our Productivity3000 Programmable Automation Controller (PAC). They were planning to use it to control an electric car that they were building for the Formula Hybrid International Competition, hosted by…
Bio Diesel Fuel Gets a Boost from Automation
ApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookEnergy/UtilitiesHMIIndustryIssue 23 – 2012Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCPneumaticsPneumaticsProcess ControlProcess Sensing & ControlProductProgrammable ControlSimple PLCUser Solutions

Bio Diesel Fuel Gets a Boost from Automation

Systems produce bio diesel for a total cost as low as 67 cents per gallon, turning waste into profit. Imagine if restaurants and other commercial food enterprises could turn used kitchen oil into fuel instead of simply disposing of it. Then imagine if they could do that in an economic and automated way for a…
AutomationDirect's SI Direct Program is Now in Canada!
Automation NotebookAutomationDirect SpotlightIssue 22 – 2012Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueOperator InterfaceProductProgrammable ControlSIDirectSystem IntegratorsVariable Speed Drives

AutomationDirect's SI Direct Program is Now in Canada!

RPM Automation Inc. is a system integration firm located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. As a member integrator of the SI Direct Program, RPM provides an array of design and integration services across industries including manufacturing, oil/gas, water/wastewater, material handling and pulp/paper. Stephen Goodwin founded RPM Automation in 2005, with the goal of delivering technical solutions…
Upgrading From Batch to Continuous Processes Requires High Level Automation
+Tech TopicsApplicationApplication StoriesAutomation NotebookFeature StoryFood and BeverageIndustryIssue 16 – 2010Learning ResourcesNotebook IssuePLCProcess ControlProductProgrammable Control

Upgrading From Batch to Continuous Processes Requires High Level Automation

Many process plants use batch operations for all or part of their production operations. Some processes are inherently batch oriented, but many others can be converted to continuous. Converting a batch process to a continuous operation has many advantages including, but not limited to, better quality, more throughput and less energy use (see Table 1). These…
Powerful PAC Upgrades Tortilla Machine
Application StoriesCover StoriesFood and BeverageFood Beverage AutomationIndustryIssue 18 – 2010Notebook Issue

Powerful PAC Upgrades Tortilla Machine

Advanced automation helps Casa Herrera produce tortillas reliably, quickly and precisely. Casa Herrera builds tortilla preparation equipment for the corn and flour tortilla industry, provides equipment for the bakery and snack food industries, and is the preferred supplier to several national brands. We build several varieties of our machines to meet customer specifications, and we…
Productivity3000
Automation NotebookIssue 15 – 2009Learning ResourcesNotebook IssueProductProgrammable Control

Productivity3000

In past articles we have discussed the definitions of a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), Programmable Automation Controller (PAC), and PC-based control and how each plays a role in today’s industrial marketplace. Today we will discuss the Productivity3000, a new control platform recently released by AutomationDirect. Some say this resembles a PLC; others say it’s a…