Process Safety
How does the ‘Industrial Exemption’ impact automation businesses?
Legalities: For many automation companies, complying with the requirements for the professional licensing of engineers is not required for work in a factory thanks to the “industrial exemption.” State engineering licensing laws vary by state and can change; it is important to evaluate compliance annually.
Wireless alarms for facility showers are crucial to plant safety
Wireless alarms for facility showers can help workers provide quicker first aid to a worker if they have been injured in a remote area or late at night.
A new-age approach to traditional manufacturing issues
The Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit (GAMS) event at IMTS 2018 highlighted the opportunities and pitfalls of the digital age with a focus on maintenance, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), robotics, and cybersecurity in an information-rich age.
OSHA and energy control
Be especially careful with the minor servicing exception in the Lockout/Tagout standard from OSHA. Certain kinds of “minor” activities that occur during normal production operations may not be covered by LOTO (but are covered under other OSHA standard provisions) and other “minor” activities are covered by LOTO; do you know which?
Training provides tips on power, VFDs, standards
Engineering education can help with motors, drives, and lightning control in industrial and commercial applications in retrofit and with new designs. See five misconceptions in applying motor controls.
Industrial robotic safety risk assessment tips
Assessing safety risks from industrial robots is important, but knowing where to start can be difficult, but the long-term benefits make it worthwhile.
Deep learning leading to second machine vision revolution
Deep learning machine vision software essentially allows machines to learn from data representations instead of task-specific algorithms, which could enhance capabilities on the plant floor far beyond what is currently possible.
Six future trends in robotic automation
Robotic automation trends for the future include further IIoT adoption, increased cybersecurity measures, and increased use of collaborative robots on the plant floor.
Double interest in cybersecurity
Think Again: Convergence of cybersecurity efforts from operational and information technology specialists is creating extra interest, encouraging investments, changes in policies and procedures, and training.
End-of-arm-tooling robot companies merge
Three collaborative robot companies, On Robot, OptoForce, and Perception Robotics, have merged together to become OnRobot, an end-of-arm tooling company with headquarters in Denmark.