Once upon a time, plant floors were isolated from the public network. But, today, all sorts of manufacturing technologies get connected to the internet, largely due to globalization and the resulting need to transfer more and more data via the web.
The rise of connectivity and connected devices has been a major focus and the driving factor behind advancing automation and control products and solutions. And while connectivity is a shining star in terms of creating efficiencies and growth, we are all aware of the darker side of connecting devices, namely the threat posed by nefarious individuals.
Jenny Ng is a Business Development Manager for the Power Solutions Division of Schneider Electric. Thus far, she has spent the whole of her career in the energy sector in various roles.
An automotive supply company with manufacturing facilities across Ontario faced a common but often overlooked problem with their approach to asset management. Due to the lack of a unified tool and centralized system, their current assets were not held to the level of security or organization required for such high value and sensitive materials.
Consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers are under increasing pressure to add more product variety – more sizes, more flavors, more combo options, you name it. To retain the loyalty of customers, it’s essential for CPG companies to remain highly adaptable to the whims of the market while successfully managing the complexity of SKU proliferation.
In times past, farmers were at the mercy of the elements to determine a successful yield of crops. As the global population grows and consumer preferences evolve, today’s modern farmer must also consider the scarcity of natural resources, the threat of climate change and the growing problem of food waste. Here, Darcy Simonis, Industry Network Leader for food and beverage at ABB, explores the rise of the smart farm and the electrical considerations that accompany bringing farming into the digital age.
As plant floors become more connected – from the equipment to the systems – the way manufacturers manage internal and external access to that technology is evolving. Digitization has myriad benefits, but it also comes with inherent risks, and IT/OT convergence doesn’t make it any easier. Every manufacturer should be concerned about the rise in ransomware and cyber attacks that have taken advantage of the vulnerabilities specific to the OT environment.
Anyone working in the electrical industry knows the importance of labelling for both safety and organization. But at times it can also be an additional step that can take time and possibly different products, or labelers need for various jobs or applications. However, Brother’s PT-E300VP Industrial labeller is a versatile label printer that provides all the necessary labelling needs to anyone industrial electrician. Read a review of the product from fellow electricians today.
On November 19, 2019 The German Technology Day hosted by Rittal, Eplan, Wago and Pilz was held in Mississauga. The event showcased a unique conversion of 4 companies in an effort that strongly resembles the collaborative efforts that German companies have largely embraced and is often showcased in European shows but has yet to be fully embraced in North America.
To keep up with the demands of today’s consumer-driven economy, manufacturers are increasingly adopting flexible production strategies. This can help companies be much more responsive to the whims of the market, but it creates some new challenges in its own right. Such challenges include reduced throughput, extra complexity and high installation costs.
Sometimes, when we’re presented with disruptive change – like we are today with the industrial IoT – we can learn a lot by looking to the past. For decades, industrial producers have built their production systems by turning to a mix of vendors – distributors, machine builders, system integrators and many others.
Schneider Electric has announced a new White Paper #281, “Essential Guidance on DCIM for Edge Computing Infrastructure”, available for immediate download at the Schneider Electric website. The paper provides data center operators, channel partners and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) with best practices for the successful deployment of next-generation Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software in edge computing environments.
Traditional methods of machine and production line design, commissioning and startup can be costly and impede speed to market. CPG producers are turning to emulation as a tool to research, test and validate their process in a virtual space. Before making physical changes to plant layout and workflow.
At first glance unspectacular – but on closer inspection more versatile than virtually any other clamping device: tombstones and clamping pyramids are have regarded as somewhat mystical, probably because they also change their appearance from machine to machine. When used carefully, they multiply the number of workpieces in the machine room and thus offer ideal preconditions for reducing idle time and catapulting the unmanned machine running time upwards with high flexibility – provided that the clamping devices are carefully matched to this.
When is the best time for downtime? For most, the answer is, “No time is a good time.” The real question becomes, how long can your aging DCS limp along before an upgrade is unavoidable?Today’s pulp and paper mills operate under constant pressure to reduce production costs and increase yields. “If it isn’t broken (yet), don’t fix it,” is a risky approach and with any legacy system, and especially a DCS that has seen more productive days.
The frost is in the air, you can see your breath as you step out onto Michigan Avenue and see the glowing holiday decorations. Yet, surrounded by the allure of the fall colors in Chicago, one thing remains top of mind for professionals in the automation industry – Automation Fair.
This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.
