The vast potential of the industrial internet of things (IIoT) is finally giving industrial companies the ability to control their business performance in real-time and drive operational profitability improvements – safely and sustainably. The IIoT is gaining acceptance each and every day. While all discussion swirls around emerging technology and its potential, thought leaders […]
Flexibility, efficiency and sustainable use of resources are the core points that designers and users of packaging machines are currently focusing on in light of Industry 4.0 and changing customer needs. Andrew Plater and Frank Würthner, of Beckhoff Automation explain in this interview how PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology and the eXtended Transport System […]
With automobiles generating gigabytes of data, FASTR has a plan to secure that data while ensuring user privacy, but it needs help. In a connected world, very few worthwhile things can happen in isolation, and this is particularly true of automotive security and privacy. That’s why the Future of Automotive Security Technology Research (FASTRSM) […]
Pieces of plastic in chocolate bars, bacterial contamination of cream cheese, falsely declared ingredients in pasta-based ready meals – a food product may be recalled for any number of reasons. As well as damaging the manufacturer’s reputation, these situations often come at tremendous expense, with costs rising as the whereabouts of the end products […]
To be competitive in high volume manufacturing industries, robots have been implemented to work hand in hand with employees to produce goods in today’s fast-paced environment. Robots have proven to be advantageous to the fast-moving consumer goods industry by reducing operating costs and improving product quality. Robots also ensure less wastage of raw materials […]
The fear of losing your job to a robot, while somewhat alarmist, is nothing new. This has been a concern from as far back as the industrial revolution. In the ever-developing field of industrial automation and the IIoT, where machines can do a job faster, better, and (potentially) cheaper than a manual workforce, the […]
Everyone knows the importance of the industrial control system (ICS) in any plant. The ICS is the brain and the nervous system of the plant. It performs automated controls and critical safety functions, executing recipes, and regulating production. Hijack the brain and you have total control of the plant. And, if you’re an aggressor […]
Much has been written and said about open building automation systems (BAS) without really clarifying for those in the industry – manufacturers, vendors, engineers and owners – what constitutes an “open system” and more importantly, how to identify and require those features within a specification. The purpose of this article is to look at […]
IO-Link (IEC 61131-9) is an open standard serial communication protocol that allows for the bi-directional exchange of data from sensors and devices that support IO-Link and are connected to a master. The IO-Link master can transmit this data over various networks, fieldbuses, or backplane buses, making the data accessible for immediate action or long-term […]
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems provide a superior base for better-controlled facilities in the upstream, midstream and pipeline markets for oil and gas. Computerised handling of remote installations is integrated with communications and provides a means for reducing operating and maintenance costs and providing effective handling of the oil and gas network. System […]
