Martin Walder takes a look at how demand for increased packaging line speed and flexibility is impacting the use of use of traditional PLCs in the sector
WILLIAMS RACING has announced a new technology and innovation partnership with B&R Industrial Automation, pioneer of factory automation solutions and a unit of ABB's Robotics and Discrete Automation business.
JEREMY SHINTON looks at how the latest controllers designed to manage the convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) can be used to ensure optimal data management and connectivity
A PIONEERING open software service that creates ready-made IO-Link function blocks to integrate data from any IO-Link device into a wide range of common PLC control systems has been launched by the sensor manufacturer SICK.
With the new PLCnext Control AXC F 3152 controller, Phoenix Contact now provides a high-performance Axioline controller based on the open PLCnext Technology ecosystem.
Mitsubishi Electric’s FX5UC Premium Micro PLC fits highly sophisticated data processing and communication capabilities into an exceptionally small footprint, addressing the drive for lighter-weight, more space-efficient equipment and making it suitable for cutting-edge Smart Factory applications.
Mitsubishi Electric’s MELSEC iQ-R PLC now offers an innovative safety module option which provides the performance and integrity of a separate safety PLC but without the added cabinet space.
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
Emerson has completed the purchase of Intelligent Platforms, a division of General Electric. The addition of Intelligent Platforms programmable logic controller (PLC) technologies will enable Emerson to expand its capabilities in machine control and discrete applications and will provide its customers broader control and management of their operations.
RS Components has introduced two programmable logic controller (PLC) starter packs from industrial automation specialist Allen-Bradley, part of the Rockwell Automation group.
Since first finding commercial success in the early 1970s, PLCs (programmable logic controllers) have been at heart of many production lines, machine functions and processes. An industrial computer system that continuously monitors the state of input devices and makes decisions to control the state of output devices, a PLC can greatly enhance any application.
Highly modular, a PLC enables different types of input and output devices to be combined to best suit the application. It also has the ability to change and replicate a process while collecting and communicating resulting data.
