Manufacturing, global economy: Mild 2024 recession

The global economy is likely heading toward a mild recession in 2024 with a quick recovery, and manufacturers can position themselves in front of these challenges by taking charge; automation is part of the answer.

Upgrading ventilation equipment systems in automotive tunnels

An integration project required upgrading legacy equipment in a tunnel that sees thousands of vehicles driving through every day without causing potential safety issues.

Automation show announced for 2023

Automate 2023 in Detroit will feature more than 600 exhibitors showcasing machine vision, robotics, AI technology and more.

How all-in-one automation platforms simplify machine building and increase design flexibility

Some typical automation challenges are addressed by having one throat to choke

Re-industrialization at risk from automation education gap

A survey by ABB finds there is a growing desire to reshore or nearshore manufacturing, but there's a major automation education gap, which could hamper efforts.

Cooperation to develop an instrumentation device profile

Cooperation will harmonize OPC UA-based field instruments and accelerate development and adoption in automation.

Helping autonomous vehicles navigate tricky highway merges

If autonomous vehicles are ever going to achieve widespread adoption, we need to know they are capable of navigating complex traffic situations, such as merging into heavy traffic when lanes disappear on a highway.

15 pieces of automation advice from ROKLive 2022

Automation can help optimize industrial operations, as noted at ROKLive, a recent conference on industrial operations, maintenance, engineering, and enterprise-wide solutions automation, linking operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT).

Applying automation in today’s manufacturing facilities

Automation is a necessity for manufacturing facilities, and it starts with gathering data and understanding where it is (and isn’t) needed and what technologies can help maximize return on investment (ROI).

Why automation matters for every manufacturer

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can level the playing field with their larger competitors by embracing automation with an approach that best suits their business needs.

Automation and manufacturing trends for the future

Jeff Burnstein, A3 president and the key organizer behind Automate 2022, offered his views on the latest trends in automation and what he sees for the future.

Flexible automation, robotics at Automate

Automate 2022 in Detroit strongly emphasized flexible automation as companies seek ways to address the supply chain and labor shortages exacerbated by COVID-19 and other world events.

Automation can help manufacturers, workers thrive

The growing need for skilled workers and increased automation should be a joint venture that can provide benefits for the company and employees.

Overcoming industrial automation implementation challenges

Industry 4.0, elevated levels of efficiency will lead to better use of assets and increased output, but upfront financial costs can be difficult for some manufacturers.

Combat labor shortages with automated solutions

Implement automated features into the manufacturing process to remain agile and equipped to meet future consumer demands.

Full stack automation operational, workforce benefits

Full stack automation can help manufacturers be more flexible and ready for automation changes and can give engineers better, more accurate real-time information.

Improving sustainability with your communications network

Selecting the right network technology is a key step in enhancing sustainability in manufacturing.

Automation, robotics, AI, ransomware

Think Again: Applying automation, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) may be easier than you think. Preventing a ransomware attack may be more difficult, as explained at the A3 Business Forum in February. See upcoming conferences.

Robotics, motion control, machine vision, AI

Think Again: Business is strong for automation, as explained by speakers at the A3 Business Forum in February.

Entries open for startup challenge at automation show

The Cowen Startup Challenge: Automate to Outperform, taking place at Automate 2022 in Detroit in June, will exhibit innovative companies and entrepreneurs with a $10,000 prize.

Understanding the basics of automation validation

Regardless of role, having a basic understanding of the concepts and typical documentation, will allow engineers to better appreciate the effort involved in ensuring compliance.

Control Engineering hot topics, January 2022

Control Engineering's most clicked articles in January 2022 included stories on Control Engineering hot topics, industrial automation advances, embedded systems, edge computing advances and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.

Top 5 Control Engineering articles January 17-23, 2022

Articles about the industrial automation, lithium-ion batteries, most-viewed articles of 2021, Control Engineering table of contents and industrial cybersecurity hot topics were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 17-23, 2022. Miss something? You can catch up here.

Automation mergers, acquisitions, capital: Curry, Fetch, Revere, Zebra

Global automation is expected to expand 51% from 2020 to 2025, driven by personal shortages, remote monitoring and increased records requirements and productivity demands. Robust mergers and acquisition investments to enhance margins validate the growth, explains the Bundy Group.

Control Engineering August 2021 edition gets a grip on applying automation

How to apply automation is the topical focus of the August 2021 digital edition of Control Engineering. Link to the August issue articles below and to prior 2021 issues.

Applying automation: The right infrastructure for the best results

Realizing the benefits of automation in an industrial setting requires significant upfront investment. Software must be modernized and data must be migrated to the hybrid cloud.

Inside the how-to guide for applying automation

While everything from Control Engineering helps with applying automation, more than a dozen August articles offer advice on applying automation to get the best results.

Making the case for full automation

Opinion: It is in everyone's best interests to move to full automation, particularly for publicly-owned facilities. Experiences running large spinning equipment in a dangerous and unhealthy environment led to exploring ways to reduce, if not eliminate, human involvement in the process.

4 variables to consider before applying new automation technologies

Automation investment advice: Implement leading-edge automation technology, achieve a fast return on investment (ROI) and make it simple for the end user to support. These do not have to be mutually exclusive goals for automation technologies.

How tomorrow’s automation technology will transform workforce

The automation revolution is changing how technology is implemented and how workers are being trained. Companies need to rethink everything from the top-down to thrive in the future.

How warehouse automation business models are diverging

System integrators are looking to expand their service offering through additional network consulting and supply chain software applications, which means the automation hardware itself is becoming a smaller and smaller subset of the solution offering and is changing how companies approach the issue.

Engineering company installs automated production, material handling solutions

Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) completed two major projects at Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co., based in Michigan.

Warehouse automation vendors focusing on after-sales services market

There is plenty of potential growth in the after-sales market for warehouse automation vendors as COVID-19 continues to change the way people consume goods.

Top 5 Control Engineering articles May 10-16, 2021

Articles about connected distribution centers, SCADA master plan frameworks, integrated automation suites, PLC-controlled robots and OPC UA communications were Control Engineering’s five most clicked articles from May 10-16, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.

Automation built for resiliency

Resilient automation products and practices are a necessity for most industrial applications using sensors, wiring, power distribution, controllers, networks, actuators and software integrated into an automation system.

How industrial automation can benefit from 5G

5G is appealing to industrial automation where distance concerns can be overcome easily with many cells and the performance can surpass that of traditional Wi-Fi.

How hyperautomation can help manufacturers

Hyperautomation technologies is a fast-growing concept that offers many benefits for the industrial sector.

Integrated automation suites solve 24/7 connectivity problems

Edge solutions deliver data insights that increase uptime

Data link layer protocol examined

CAN in Automation (CiA) members have developed the CAN XL data link layer specification, which provides the functional and procedural means to transfer frames between nodes and to detect errors that occur in the physical layer.

How to achieve remote automation success

In a remote, yet connected world, this is how to keep pace with the changing face of automation in manufacturing

Challenging human quality inspection

Automated systems still struggle to replicate human efficiency in some visual inspection applications, but there are ways to get machine systems up to speed. Automated machine vision systems can improve over time; see three ways machine vision is catching up.

Six steps for supporting an automation system

There’s nothing revolutionary in this six-step process; however, it is a workable model for helping to find, analyze and correct system issues.

Research project for safer autonomous vehicles

Semcon is working with Vinnova on a research project to devise analysis methods and processes for continuous development of safe connected and automated vehicles. 

Automation benefits on the factory floor

There are many ways automation benefits can be tangibly realized now and they will be needed as the COVID-19 pandemic is changing how we realize value on the factory floor.

Industrial automation partnerships build strength in numbers

Partnerships and collaboration are the foundation that enable end-users and suppliers to develop complete solutions for industrial automation and beyond.

Integrating flow, process control improves operations

System integration, operations advice: Integrated flow and process control can significantly improve oil and gas operations.

Boosting productivity with automation

Manufacturers that adopt automation will gain long-term success

Data flow, alarms, simulation, cybersecurity, robotics

Control Engineering highlights automation, controls and instrumentation successes in every issue at www.controleng.com in between.

Prioritizing next year’s control system integration projects

Get six insights from a system integrator on planning future industrial automation and control system projects.

Automated container terminal streamlines U.S. supply chain

The TraPac San Pedro Bay facility in Los Angeles is the first automated container terminal in North America, bringing more goods through the same footprint, with faster truck turn times and a 90% reduction in emissions

Auto manufacturers are leveraging AR/VR technologies to address COVID-19

More than a third of auto manufacturers are implementing augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies to address COVID-19 social distancing and other challenges according to a survey by Grid Raster.

Redefining the boundaries of industrial automation

Production challenges do not wait on IT developments and automation technology advances enable data access and use from almost anywhere.

Space-rate force/torque sensor developed for Mars 2020 Rover

ATI Industrial Automation worked with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL) to develop a custom force/torque sensor for Perseverance, the Mars 2020 Rover project. See video of the project.

COVID-19’s impact on Chinese automation markets

Influence of COVID-19 on China’s automation market: Initial impact of COVID-19 on the domestic Chinese automation market less than expected; most first-quarter sales came from orders last year. Negative COVID-19 effects on Chinese automation in the second or third quarter may increase; opportunities for automation growth exist. 

Modular window film application system reveals high precision, throughput

PDS IG Equipment doubles window film throughput compared to the industry standard by using EtherCAT and PC-based control.

COVID-19 survey results show impact on automation industry

How the global coronavirus pandemic has effected manufacturing, onshoring, new developments, and more

Maximizing operational efficiency and productivity

Discrete event simulation (DES) on existing processes can help identify and unlock additional production capacity and improve operational efficiency for manufacturers.

Polymer manufacturing technique developed vehicle, packaging production

Purdue University researchers have developed a new way for manufacturers to use nanocellulose that can utilize sustainable cellulose nanomaterials for use in vehicles, food packaging and other manufactured items.

SCADA platform tools save time and money

Installing a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system improved efficiency for a Wisconsin-based automotive supplier. Results included greater visibility, faster problem solving, lower costs and more throughput.

Engineering impact on COVID-19

How are engineers applying what they’ve learned to help during the COVID-19 pandemic? See six ways automation and control engineering industry knowledge can help.

Creating a safe path to digital with open standards

To keep pace with the digital age, the critical infrastructure and automation industries are looking beyond today’s control systems for new, common technologies to help balance requirements for uptime with digital technologies. Open standards can help.

Big Data analytics moves right to the edge

The implications of the introduction of the IEEE 802.3cg standard for industrial automation and what it might mean for 4-20mA or HART systems.

The future of industrial automation training

Smarter workers: Think beyond the limitations of the human brain to help industrial automation and industrial automation education. Use the brain outside your brain (BOYB) to “know” things not previously learned.

What do taxes, water and wastewater services and automation system integration have in common?

Crumbling infrastructure is no joke: Water and wastewater, taxes and automation system integration are linked in five critical ways important for taxpayers and those involved in automation and controls.

Manufacturers focusing on faster automation in wake of coronavirus

GlobalData reports that the coronavirus (COVID-19) has made manufacturers realize the need for faster automation and innovation, but it is going to take time to recover from the virus' economic effects.

Coronavirus will force manufacturers to enhance automation, digitalization

COVID-19 is forcing manufacturers to rely more on automation and digitalization for long-term operations to reduce the financial impact from epidemics and other potential economic challenges.

How to compete and win with automation

With automation at an inflection point, a variety of technologies and interoperable standards efforts are bringing higher levels of flexibility, integration and optimization.

How clear were 2020 automation predictions?

Think again: Did you have 2020 vision? How clear were your foresights? Predictions of automation, controls, and instrumentation for 2020 were spot on, though perhaps closer to the ideal than to where most are. Are you making these changes quickly enough to stay competitive?

SCT Converter by Beckhoff Automation

Beckhoff Automation’s SCT current converters allows users to perform extensive inline analyses, for example, to detect and correct deviations quickly in order to minimize downtime.

Getting the automation zone “just right”

Many automation companies struggle with finding the “Goldilocks Zone” for their automation projects. Learn how companies can find that right balance by asking four questions before starting to automate.

Digital twins, engineering future of automation

Rapid growth of data collection make rapid expansion of digital twins more likely to add automation, supply chain efficiencies and optimization.

Automation software can improve plant flexibility

The automotive industry, which can be rigid and inflexible, can improve production and meet increased demand for customization with automation software.

Is automation going too far?

International: Just because something can be automated doesn’t mean it should. Pay attention to the details. High-profile mission-critical automation applications and smaller-scale control systems should optimize reliability, safety and efficiency.

outdoorScan3 by Sick

Sick’s outdoorScan3 is a safety laser scanner that has been certified to IEC 62998 for use in outdoor applications. 

Taking control of controls

Ford’s 10-year operational evolution started with network standards.

Hannover Messe 2019, Day 1: Innovation challenged by human concerns

Supply chain leaders won’t link with digitalization; AI has human workers nervous.

Don’t ignore these automation trends

Think Again: No one wants to miss the next big thing. What if the next big thing in automation for your applications has been here all along, and you haven’t noticed?

Automated test equipment attributes

What attributes are needed in automated test equipment (ATE)? What automation should be considered for ATE designs? See 10 questions to ask when applying automation.

Automation group re-elects leaders

CAN in Automation re-elected the three members of their board: Uwe Koppe, Christian Schlegel, and Holger Zeltwanger.

Automation trends, insights from a new company president

Companies need to be open to new technologies to see fundamental paradigm shifts in productivity, beyond incremental improvements. Rapid increases in productivity, visibility, flexibility, and agility are needed.

Manufacturing and process facility trends: Optimization

Technology update: Optimization is among key trends for manufacturing and process facilities highlighted in the media session at ARC Forum 2019.

Help for automation design, selection, implementation

Automation product design, system integration, and application advice follows from some of the 2019 Engineers’ Choice winners.

Software can automate devices and systems

Machine manufacturers benefit from software that allows them to stay operational with their many automation devices while cutting costs and staying independent of an engineering framework.

Automation needs to be easy to use

Automation advice: Devices and systems should provide a positive customer experience and be easily connect, monitor, commission, and operate. Use the smartphone benchmark.

Open architecture adds advantages to automation designs

Manufacturers should consider open architectures when designing new automation products for greater flexibility, innovation, and greater competitiveness.

Automation company selects new president

Beckhoff Automation LLC has selected Kevin Barker as the company's new president, taking over for Aurelio Banda, who led the Minnesota-based company for four years.

Automation and robotics company acquired

Motion Industries has acquired Axis New England and Axis New York, an automation and robotics company.

Use the positive effects of automation to plan ahead

Automation helps manufacturing employment, aids exports, and adds productivity. Key concerns include attracting and retaining a quality workforce, price increases in raw materials, trade uncertainties, and rising health care and insurance costs.

Automation standard seminar for newcomers and experts

CAN in Automation (CiA) is hosting a pair of seminars in March 2019 to explain CANopen benefits for beginners and experienced users.

Automation programming advances enhance communication, other capabilities

Automation software and hardware advances reduce programming tasks and provide more built-in configurability, scalability, background communication among software components, simulation/digital twin capability, and usability.

System repairs: 6 steps to find the root cause

Automation systems will eventually need to be repaired. Following a regular procedure while troubleshooting to find the root cause can be a big help.

How to enhance automation systems with instrumentation, advanced analytics

Automation can be enhanced in a number of ways whether its through improving process instrumentation or unlocking the power of the Internet of Things (IoT)

2017 Programmable Controller Software, Hardware Study

Respondents to the 2017 Programmable Controller Software and Hardware Study identified several key findings.