Recently, there has been a lot of discussion on using mechanical meters versus magnetic meters for the measurement of conductive liquid. While both flow meters offer benefits, is one more efficient and effective for you to use? The purchasing price is certainly a consideration, but it’s not the only thing that you should consider when looking at upgrading your system.
Inline quality control in battery production is a highly sought-after but also very demanding task in this complex process. This applies to various levels of battery manufacturing: electrode, cells, modules and packs. A common concern throughout – the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Having the right combination of suitable hardware – sensors, cameras or inspection systems – as well as AI-assisted software for evaluating the quality-relevant data generated in the process plays an important role in this. Manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems (ESS) is an extremely complex process. Many of the sub-processes are themselves complex. It is therefore not a given that the user or plant will achieve a low reject rate.
Rockwell Automation announced the results of the 10th annual “State of Smart Manufacturing Report.” The global study, fielded in March 2025, surveyed more than 1,500 manufacturers across 17 of the leading manufacturing countries. As manufacturers continue to face uncertainty driven by economic shifts, the report highlights how companies are turning to smart technology solutions to manage risks, improve performance, and support their workforce. It also examines adoption of emerging technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud-based systems.
Electrical safety is critical to modern infrastructure in various settings. Fuses and circuit breakers are two primary devices that protect from overloads and short circuits which is essential. These components offer effective protection for electrical networks. They prevent potential hazards and ensure safe electrical operations. Fuses are simple devices. They are designed to protect circuits from excessive current. They feature a thin metal wire or strip. It melts when electrical current exceeds a specific threshold. Fuses are commonly used in various settings like household appliances and electrical panels. Automotive electrical systems also use them. When a fault occurs, the wire breaks, interrupting the electrical flow and preventing potential damage.
The Retrofit program will release semi-annual updates each spring and fall. As part of these updates, new measures and incentives are being added to the Retrofit program to enable businesses to continue to save on energy costs and to take advantage of a variety of technologies and products to help improve the overall operations of buildings and facilities. Below is the list of measures and incentives currently available under the Retrofit program.
Sorting textiles is not just about separating fabric types, it’s about giving value to textiles. The success of a circular textile economy depends on sorting accuracy, efficiency, and adaptability. That’s why Siemens is evolving textile sorting into a generative AI-powered decision-making process, where a sorting agent acts as the main actor in a sorting facility. And, this isn’t just an automated process, the agent integrates your feedback into the process.
Proax provides an insightful electrical enclosure guide for industrial applications since choosing the right enclosure for your industrial project can feel overwhelming with so many options available. But get it right, and you will safeguard your equipment while ensuring reliable operation for years to come. Get it wrong, and you might face premature equipment failure, safety hazards, or costly replacements down the line. Whether you are planning a new installation or upgrading your current setup, taking time to understand what makes an enclosure right for your specific needs pays dividends in both performance and peace of mind.
AI workloads cause dramatic fluctuations in computing requirements, necessitating resilient, intelligent, and scalable power infrastructure for AI data centers. This includes implementing 3-phase uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) that can handle substantial load increases and dynamic changes. UPSs must be AI-tolerant. AI workloads are unpredictable, triggering power surges in milliseconds that place significant stress on supporting equipment. AI training algorithms are executed in sync on the graphics processing units (GPUs) in the data center, resulting in an oscillating load profile. The first line of defense against this stress is the UPS, so if the UPS is not designed to handle these frequent fluctuations, a load drop may occur.
Reliability and maintenance assessments are conducted to improve operational performance by examining changes made to your operations over the years and analyzing how current processes can be optimized. Assessments are designed to identify risks in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and critical functions impacting your manufacturing line. With operations teams entrenched in their daily procedures and striving to hit production targets, it’s hard to look beyond short-term fixes and dedicate time to evaluate criticality or identify root causes of systemic issues impacting efficiency and performance. Imagine an automated manufacturing operation as a dense forest. Each machine, process, and component represent a tree. In the daily grind, manufacturers often focus on individual trees — managing a malfunctioning machine with a quick fix and improving a specific process or quality issue with an ad hoc solution. This approach can be necessary, but it often leads to a narrow view, missing the bigger picture.
Rockwell Automation has announced the launch of FactoryTalk PharmaSuite 12.00. The latest release of its manufacturing execution system (MES) is designed to support the unique needs of regulated pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing environments, helping companies simplify system management, accelerate deployments and scale production more efficiently.
In the rapidly evolving world of industrial automation, version control remains a critical aspect of maintaining reliable and efficient operations. The wrong version control system can lead to increased troubleshooting time, security vulnerabilities, and unnecessary costs. For instance, an expensive cloud-based solution might be overkill for a machine that rarely changes, while a redundant PLC setup might not suffice for complex, frequently updated systems. Selecting the right version control system for specific factory needs is crucial. The wrong system can lead to a host of issues, including increased downtime and security risks. Understanding the unique requirements of each application, such as the frequency of updates, network connectivity and cybersecurity needs, is essential. For example, a simple backup on an hard drive might be sufficient for a stable, long-running machine, while a more sophisticated cloud-based solution is necessary for systems with frequent changes.
Siemens has announced an expansion of its industrial AI offerings with advanced AI agents designed to work seamlessly across its established Industrial Copilot ecosystem. This new technology represents a fundamental shift from AI assistants that respond to queries towards truly autonomous agents that proactively execute entire processes without human intervention. Siemens’ new AI agent architecture features a sophisticated orchestrator. Like a craftsman, it deploys a toolbox of specialized agents to solve complex tasks across the entire industrial value chain. These agents work intelligently and autonomously – understanding intent, improving performance through continuous learning, and accessing external tools and other agents as needed. Users retain complete control, selecting which tasks they wish to delegate to AI agents. “With our Industrial AI agents, we’re moving beyond the question-answer paradigm to create systems that can independently execute complete industrial workflows,” said Rainer Brehm, CEO Factory Automation at Siemens Digital Industries. “By automating automation itself, we envision productivity increases of up to 50% for our customers – fundamentally changing what’s possible in industrial operations.”
M12 Cables have become the industry standard for sensor/actuator connectivity in industrial automation environments. When selecting the right M12 cable for your application, the jacket material is one of the most critical factors that will determine performance, durability, and reliability. This guide compares the three most common M12 cable jacket materials: PUR (Polyurethane), PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), and TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer). The right cable jacket material can mean the difference between a reliable connection that lasts for years and frequent cable failures resulting in costly downtime. In fact, according to industry research, up to 70% of field failures in industrial networks are related to cabling issues. By understanding the properties of different materials and making informed selections, you can significantly improve your system’s reliability.
The rapid expansion of data centers has brought about significant challenges in maintaining data security standards. According to Statistics Canada, recovery costs from cyber security incidents in 2023 were $2.1 billion, up from $600 million in 2021. This critical situation requires a more robust cable management design to protect data from being intercepted and cables from being tampered with. Currently, developing a secure solution is both time-consuming and expensive. It often requires contractors to transition from wire mesh to ladder tray or trough tray, a process that involves navigating multiple installation guidelines, purchasing more materials and managing all the materials on the job site.
As this industry expands, it’s critical for commercial builders, specifying engineers, and facilities managers to safeguard their massive investments with rugged surge protection solutions like PANELGUARD and PANELGUARD+ from Intermatic. While the latest smartphones, gaming systems, and social media apps tend to garner the most buzz and attention from consumers, the digital world interacted with every day would not exist without a quiet yet formidable hero: the data center. These fortified structures can be found in communities from coast to coast and help people do everything from saving photos to streaming video calls to sharing medical records. They are an essential and growing part of the world’s infrastructure.
Circuit breakers serve crucial functions. They rapidly stop faulty electric currents to prevent costly damage to equipment. Their designs differ depending on intended use and load capacities. Two common categories are Molded Case Circuit Breakers and Air Circuit Breakers. Though each disconnects power during problems, they have unique attributes. These make one preferred over the other for a given installation or application. Therefore, it’s useful for installers to know the features and differences in ACBs and MCCBs to select the right solution.
This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.
