Control Engineering hot topics, May 2023

Control Engineering’s most clicked articles in May 2023 included stories on the 2023 career and salary survey, PLC ladder logic, Automate 2023 and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.

By David Miller June 1, 2023

Hot topics in Control Engineering, for May 2023, for stories posted in the last three months included the 2023 career and salary survey, PLC ladder logic, Automate 2023 and more. Links to each article below.

1. How to create PLC ladder logic code with Excel

Programmable logic controller (PLC) ladder logic code can be mass produced with Microsoft Excel to generate repetitive logic like I/O mapping and alarms.

2. How digital twin simulations advance digital transformation in manufacturing

By increasing visibility into a company’s manufacturing operations and testing an unlimited number of what-if possibilities in real-time, a digital twin can provide factories a reliable way to save time and money.

3. Control Engineering Career and Salary Survey, 2023

Leading-edge automation technologies are helping solve workforce shortages and economic challenges by adding efficiency. Automation salaries increased more than bonuses fell. Worker shortages were cited as a threat by nearly half of respondents in 2023.

4. Four things to look for in a robotic integration partner

Partnering with an experienced robotic integrator that utilizes high-performance robots and leading-edge peripherals enables manufacturers to navigate the robotic automation journey.

5. How open process automation will shape the future of pump control

While Industry 4.0 can potentially allow for the intelligent optimization of multi-pump systems, without an open control platform, operators may struggle to properly coordinate their devices.

6. PID loop tuning parameters and control fundamentals

It is important to understand what proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control is and the parameters for closed-loop, open-loop and cascading loops and the parameters involved.

7. Automate 2023 Day Two: Optimize and simplify manufacturing applications

Manufacturers at Automate 2023 are emphasizing products that can perform complex tasks, but are designed to be simple and easy to use.

8. Beyond the purchase: How to get the most from your variable frequency drive

For machine control and other applications, controlling motor speed with variable frequency drives can save energy, but it’s not as easy as just adding a VFD. What else needs to be considered for motor control system efficiency?

9. How an engineer can build people skills

Building people skills helps in critical areas such as engineering project management, engineering sales and engineering product marketing.

10. Automation mergers, acquisitions, capital markets analysis: May 2023

The Bundy Group reported 15 automation transactions in the month of May. Analysis on the acquisitions and reports are highlighted below.