Plant Automation

The Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute will receive as much as $30 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Defense over the next five years. Image: Katie Spain, CFE Media

Plant Automation February 21, 2019

DMDII receives Defense Dept. funding to strengthen research

Grants totaling $30 million over next five years will fund advanced manufacturing projects.

By Bob Vavra

Average manufacturing salaries by region were up in 2018 compared to 2017, which has helped bolster general worker confidence in spite of uncertainties in the industry. Courtesy: CFE Media

Plant Automation February 18, 2019

2018 Salary Survey: Juggling priorities in challenging times

Manufacturing opens 2019 juggling the challenges and opportunities facing the industry from global trade issues to an aging workforce to a changing plant floor.

By Bob Vavra

PLCs, PACs

A controls and automation upgrade to this traverse winder included eight Siemens S120 Vector drive systems to uncoil, slit, and recoil copper. Six Siemens S120 Servo drive systems were used for traversing. Courtesy: Electronic Drives & Controls Inc.

PLCs, PACs December 13, 2018

Controls upgrade boosts machine productivity 40%

Machine running speed nearly doubled with greater product control, quick ROI.

By Chuck Dillard

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Standards

Clearly defining what colors indicate in your control system is an important—and occasionally overlooked—parameter in system design. Courtesy: CFE Media file image

Standards February 7, 2019

Does your control system have style?

Defining system language, look as important as operating parameters.

By Jason Tippett

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System Integration

System Integration December 15, 2018

CSIA Best Practices provide business value

Best practices for integrators can create a great deal of improvement for a company's business performance and their clients' satisfaction.

By Jeff Miller, PMP

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Wireless

Wireless February 13, 2019

The human factor of IoT in safety

Technology can be part of the ‘culture’ in plants

By Susie Cumberland

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Sensors, Vision

Sensors, Vision January 27, 2019

Vision-guided robot technology benefits

Vision-guided robot (VGR) applications are useful for manufacturing applications and are quickly becoming commonplace as technology costs continue to drop.

By Robotic Industries Association (RIA)

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