ACCORDING TO the Purchasing Manager’s Index, the UK economy fell rapidly during lockdown. So what can manufacturers, engineers and plant managers do to safeguard their operations to withstand an economy in flux? Sean Robison explains what modern technologies to implement that can improve overall equipment effectiveness and operational resiliency

[Read More]

Bradley McEwan explains how new servo drive and connectivity technologies can help manufacturers do a lot more with less.

[Read More]

Kieran Bennett looks at the latest communication protocol, IO-Link, and the advantages it offers for industrial process control

[Read More]

In order to remain competitive, it is generally accepted that industries should adopt lean manufacturing strategies to improve process efficiency. A key action can be to reduce part count, i.e. the number of components in an assembly or system. This is particularly challenging when it comes to highly accurate cartesian coordinate (linear) motion applications. In these cases, machine builders would often need to use both PLCs and computer numerical controllers (CNCs) in order to fully manage movement within the machine – until now. Barry Weller, Product Manager at Mitsubishi Electric, looks at how to simplify the control architecture of cartesian coordinate robots

[Read More]

PLCs with in-built functional safety and fail-safe condition monitoring are the unsung heroes of many renewable installations, offering off-the-shelf availability, high reliability, fast processing speeds and proven safety functions

[Read More]

Mitsubishi Electric has released its smallest and most powerful compact PLC to date, the FX5UC series Premium Micro PLC. Its diminutive size is set to help machine builders and manufacturers pack ever more functionality into a smaller space - while also providing the web access and network connectivity demanded by the latest Smart Factory applications

[Read More]

Small computer boards originally intended for educational use have been enthusiastically adopted for industrial applications. Although effective for fast proof-of-concept work, engineers need to consider how they will ultimately industrialise the finished product and may need to consider porting to a more suitable hardware platform at the earliest possible opportunity. Tim Liou, application & development engineer, Anders, reports

[Read More]

HMIs have been widely used to facilitate operator control within the factory environment for many years now; however the growing application of automation outside the factory means that HMIs are expected to operate in much harsher applications. To address these needs Mitsubishi Electric has added a new ruggedised variant to its comprehensive HMI product range

[Read More]

John Browett, General Manager of CLPA Europe, looks at how TSN can address the needs of Industry 4.0 and support manufacturers

[Read More]

Ypsomed and Harting collaborate on development of Industry 4.0 digital control systems for retrofitting to plastic injection moulding machines

[Read More]

In cooperation with Pilz-Safe Automation, Stober has designed this new SE6 advanced safety module for its SD6 drive controller

[Read More]

This article shows how valuable manufacturing production line downtime in the pharmaceutical industry can be reduced by ensuring predictive maintenance of tablet making machinery using Harting’s MICA industrial computing platform

[Read More]

Using a new technique developed by drive systems engineers at Saarland University, electromagnetic valves can precisely control the amount of liquid they dispense and electromagnetic door locks can close smoothly and quietly - without sensors

[Read More]

ABB’s Alan Hunt, electromagnetic flow product manager, explains the impact of digitisation on industrial measurement

[Read More]

John Inskip of Technique Services asks how motion control technology is changing to adapt to the fourth Industrial Revolution

[Read More]

AUMA UK has realigned business around the core idea of ‘Servitization’. This article by managing director, Paul Hopkins, provides an overview of the way in which the company has approached the challenges and sought to emphasise the service element of the product/service mix

[Read More]

Today’s mobile devices, with their colourful, dynamic graphical user interfaces (GUIs) have set a high standard in terms of the level of interaction they support. Whether these are home appliances or industrial equipment, designers are under pressure to deliver better user experiences. Mark Patrick, Mouser Electronics, reports

[Read More]

A white paper has been published by Pro-face which looks objectively at the all-in-one control system - a combined human-machine interface (HMI) plus controller unit

[Read More]

A new TÜV certificate confirms that AUMA’s electric actuators have passed the most demanding corrosion protection tests and meet the requirements of EN ISO 12944-6 for corrosivity categories C5-M long (marine, coastal and offshore areas) and C5-I long (industrial areas with high humidity and aggressive atmospheres).

[Read More]

Mark Lilley, Field Segment Manager, Hygienic - Food and Beverage for Bürkert Fluid Control Systems, looks at the best way to implement an automation project and the benefits it can deliver.

[Read More]

Exlar FT Series force tube actuators use a planetary roller screw mounted inside a telescoping tube mechanism. The follower is attached to the moveable force tube,which then extends and retracts as the screw rotates. An external motor (supplied by Exlar or the customer) provides the rotational force.

[Read More]

Giving your process the best start possible

[Read More]

Looking for a compact low cost linear positioning stage? LG Motion has the answer with XSlide™

[Read More]

It doesn't get any easier than this: Define the number of axes for the Mother-board, click, and done.

[Read More]

The POSIROT® range of PRAS (Analogue) and PRDS (Digital) Rotary Sensors are based around a contact free,
magnetically coupled encoder device which has been developed to work in rugged and harsh environments.

[Read More]

‘Intelligent’ Input Expansion Unit That Maintains a PLd Performance Level from elobau

[Read More]

If you need a custom design, Exlar’s Application Engineering department will work with you to engineer a solution specifically tailored to your application.

[Read More]

Intrinsic Safety, Explosion Proof, Flameproof, Increased Safety, Purged / Pressurised, Non sparking, Restricted Breathing and Energy Limitation;

[Read More]

Accudrive Product Family. The breadth of products within the Accudrive product family, will exceed the most demanding needs in motion control applications.

[Read More]

Alongside their single and three phase high powered motors, Tecnotion, the linear motor specialist, offers a selection of both iron core and ironless motors for low voltage purposes.

[Read More]

Running Capacitor

[Read More]

Every part. When you need it. Where you need it. Outstanding quality and constant availability during the complete lifetime of your FANUC product make us a very reliable partner.

[Read More]

Red Lion offers the widest range of panel meters in the industry. Our meters are available in various sizes and capabilities including count, rate, time, voltage, current, process, strain gage and temperature inputs. With almost 4 million units sold, our panel meters are field proven, time tested and have earned the distinction of being the industry’s #1 brand for 16 years and counting.

[Read More]

From instrument coreless motors, to larger high torque DC servo motors and complementary drives.

[Read More]

Powerful, Clean Solutions with a Stainless Reputation. Cone Drive’s stainless steel precision motion gearboxes are designed for sterile manufacturing environments.

[Read More]