Articles
Dematic’s smart robot wins SCLAA awards for Nestlé
Selecting a Dematic robotic layer picking system proved to be a wise choice for Nestlé Australia. It received three logistics awards for its Arndell Park national distribution centre (DC), which uses a Dematic system. [ + ]
SEW-Eurodrive conveyor drives keep things moving at Swire
An upgraded conveyor system has helped Australia’s largest cold-chain logistics service provider stay on top of its game. [ + ]
Productivity, quality, risk and safety - the pillars of efficient manufacturing
In today's complex industrial landscape, maximising productivity is paramount for companies to remain competitive. Implementing an effective safety solution is an important step towards improving productivity in the industrial environment. [ + ]
Inductive proximity sensors for special applications
Users of inductive proximity sensors can select from a vast array of standard types to solve almost any general-purpose sensing application. Unfortunately not all industrial sensing applications fall into the general-purpose category. [ + ]
IEC Standard 61131: the benchmark for industrial controllers, Part 2
As we saw in Part 1, the IEC 61131 standard has had a profound effect on the industrial controllers market, particularly in the area of programming. In this part, we’ll look at how an additional standard promoted by PLCOpen relating to motion control has dovetailed into IEC 61131-3 and enhanced the overall usefulness of industrial controllers. [ + ]
Chemical plant avoids fugitive emissions with wireless valve monitoring
Harcros Chemicals has been using manual valves for sampling, directing, injection and extraction processes at its Kansas City plant. Installing wireless valve monitoring has increased safety in hazardous areas and reduced the risk of fugitive emissions. [ + ]
Modelling the way with academia and industry
Companies are looking to engineering schools to produce engineering graduates with stronger modelling and analytical skills, not simply an ability to prototype. And, of course, those newly hired engineers must also have a strong foundation in engineering concepts and mathematics. [ + ]
Evaluating actuators for food and beverage applications
Materials, design, fabrication and maintenance affect actuator performance and compliance with food safety guidelines. [ + ]
Technology, talent and sustainability
The word sustainability has become a passionate collective term for all the research, dreams, ideals, actions and even legislation to protect, nourish and plan for our environment and our resources. But do we have the same awareness of how people skills fit in this quest for sustainability? [ + ]
IEC Standard 61131: the benchmark for industrial controllers, Part 1
There can be little doubting the profound effect the IEC 61131 suite of standards has had on industrial controller product offerings over the last 25 years. Virtually all PLC vendors have adopted if not sections of the standard, then at least some concepts or its general philosophy. [ + ]
Competing for the future - does wireless play a part?
There can be no doubt that the heart of any operation is the process control system. More recently, industry is embracing a paradigm shift away from localised operations via distributed control, to embracing the need for remote operations centres controlling and monitoring multiple facilities. [ + ]
Machine vision provides food and beverage barcode inspections with accuracy and efficiency
Standards for product and ingredient quality are continually being raised due to stringent agency regulations, increasing the importance of barcode reading, verification and grading in many inspection processes. [ + ]
Sparkling clean and easy to swallow
A French pharmaceutical laboratory chooses Simatic control technology to improve cleanliness, increase production efficiency and win over hesitant operators. [ + ]
Bridging the intrinsically safe fieldbus disconnect
At first glance, the concept of intrinsically safe (IS) fieldbus is a study in opposing concepts. After all, fieldbus is about powering multiple devices, while the idea of IS is to limit energy flowing into hazardous areas. [ + ]
Matching valve type to function: a tutorial in valve selection
In selecting valves for instrumentation, the choices are many and varied. The choice depends mostly on the application the valve is to be used for. [ + ]