What's new in: life sciences, automation efficiency

Philadelphia, PA – A lot of learning about life sciences and automation efficiency will be going on in late March as two major industry events converge on Philadelphia. Visitors will attend targeted educational presentations, network with colleagues, see new technologies, and honor their peers.
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Challenge: Mechatronics products, here's help

Boston, MA – Mechanical and electrical products have been around for a long time. Development of high performing mechanical products that can monitor inputs and react is a growing trend. Such mechatronic products possess an integrated system of mechanical, electrical, and software components. Recent Aberdeen research found that, depending on the complexity of a product, mechatronic development can mean more than a month of additional development time and over $93,000 in product development costs. Here's help.
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Capitol voice: Automation Federation strategies evolve

Research Triangle Park, NC – Automation has a voice on Capitol Hill, says The Automation Federation. The federation's board of directors will meet in April for its third annual strategic planning session to review accomplishments, developments, and plans for the umbrella group. Members of constituent groups – WBF, OMAC, WINA, and ISA – have focused on the key issue of workforce development.
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For OEMs: Configurable motion

Plymouth, MN – ACS Motion Control developed a rack-based modular control system that can control up to eight rack servo drives and 64 distributed axes via CANopen. The MC4U motion control system is designed for multi-axis motion control applications for a combination of performance, multiple axes support, flexible drive configuration, PLC motion and logic control, and convenient packaging. Integrates controllers, drives, power supplies and additional I/O and networking capability....
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E-stop: Safety monitors use AS-i network for complex systems

Minneapolis, MN – Turck announced new AS-Interface (AS-i) safety monitors, required for controlling power availability for machine safety (emergency stop) systems using AS-i Safety at Work. Monitors provide a graphical user interface (GUI) for commissioning and field diagnosis of the safety system, along with the capability to link multiple Safety at Work circuits to permit larger, more complex safety systems to be handled via AS-i.
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In print: Build manufacturing efficiency

Many pharmaceutical plants operate at efficiency rates well below comparable conventional process industries -- somewhere around 30% efficiency, with a few world-class operations reaching the 70% range. Pfizer has found it doesn't have to be that way, and talks about how better efficiency can be achieved.
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Online: Cyber security, operator panels, control by thought

• User groups tackle cyber security legacy-system issues
• New source for Windows CE open operator panels
• Motion control via thought - think of the applications