I was recently invited to speak at the Future Mining Summit 2017 event hosted by the Global Mining Standards and Guidelines Group. The two-day conference was held in early December 2017. The venue was a fitting one: 20-metres below ground in Stockholm, Sweden at Epiroc’s test mine.
In manufacturing, it is not enough to say that the operation of machines and systems is critical to the creation of the end product. “Operation” is only one part of the equation. Efficient production of end products depends on the correct operation of machines and systems in all scenarios.
In recent years, automation technology has undergone rapid change. Examples of this include the Internet of Things (IoT), Industrie 4.0 or the constantly growing threat posed by unauthorized access attempts and malware. But what does this mean for manufacturers and users? And what opportunities could arise from such technological developments? The new PLCnext Technology for the up-and-coming controllers from Phoenix Contact provides practical answers.
Utopias are common in fiction, from Plato’s The Republic to The Federation in Star Trek. For manufacturers, a world without unplanned downtime would be the perfect utopia. The question is, is abolishing unplanned downtime a far-fetched dream, or is it closer than we think? Here, Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of obsolete industrial equipment supplier, EU Automation shares his vision for a downtime free age.
Recently Panel Builder & Systems Integrator was invited to Rittal Canada’s Head office in Mississauga, Canada to have a tour of their operation and a sit down with President Tim Rourke. First and foremost, I must admit that I was thoroughly impressed with Rittal’s operation. The facility was extremely well maintained and organized in a manner that clearly provides efficiency between all of the teams whether front of house or back.
A while ago we discussed what SCADA is and how it affects the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Today, we want to expand this topic by highlighting the top 10 features that we, at Kymera Systems, believe will shape the next gen SCADA systems.
According to the Data for the Public Good report by the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) in December 2017, a digital twin of UK infrastructure is necessary to identify inefficiencies in national energy use. Nick Boughton, sales manager at systems integrator Boulting Technology explains how to manage energy efficiency across sectors.
New Electric first opened its doors in 1970, in Burlington, Ontario. The electrical contracting company serviced electrical wiring in homes, shops, and factories. New Electric quickly earned a reputation for excellence, quality and quick response times, and soon became a major contractor throughout southern Ontario.
The development of plastic plug-in connector housings has created an effective alternative to standard aluminum housings. The new heavy-duty Heavycon Eco connectors from Phoenix Contact are not only more cost-effective than the metal version they are modeled after, but they also offer additional advantages thanks to their plastic construction.
In the world of Internet of Things (IoT) the main currency is messages. Even as you read this hundreds of thousands of devices are sending status reports, receiving orders (like “turn up the heat”, “measure the room humidity” etc.), storing data from other devices or doing numerous other tasks that make our lives easier. And they all need to exchange information, as without connectivity, their usefulness is immensely reduced.
In November, the UK Government announced that 2018 would be the Year of Engineering. This coupled with the launch of the Government’s Industrial Strategy and Made Smarter Review has signalled a major vote of confidence in the sector as it pledges to help make the UK a world leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution by 2030.
CSIA Certified Integrators have the right tools to run their businesses at the highest level, when they are certified in the CSIA’s Best Practices. Well-run, professional control system integration companies benefit clients and automation vendors, impacting every manufacturing industry. The white paper demonstrates this by linking business performance data to CSIA Certification.
Clear and consistent marking is becoming increasingly important across all industries – and more and more businesses are opted to implement this. Because manufacturing is becoming increasing decentralized, marking systems must be able to move with it. Phoenix Contact’s new portable, hand-held marking devices optimize labeling on-site.
The rise of cyber related attacks on Internet of Things (IoT) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) infrastructure has made it increasingly vital to have cybersecurity protocols in place to support functional safety and safety-related solutions in commercial or residential buildings and industrial processes.
It is generally believed that by 2030, the IIoT industry could witness a staggering increase of around $7 trillion in its revenue. Various global superpowers are developing national strategies for such technological advancements in diverse industries. There are several such businesses that are believed to be at the verge of a large-scale IIoT disruption
Industry 4.0 scenarios such as Predictive Maintenance are based on the provision of data and networked communication. For this to happen, IoT-compatible devices equipped with the necessary communication options are required. With its new IoT interface, Rittal is now laying the foundation for the optimal integration of cooling units and chillers in Industry 4.0 applications.
This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.
