Motion Industries, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Numatic Engineering. Execution of the transaction will occur on August 1, 2017. Founded in 1955, Numatic Engineering has over sixty years of experience selling and supporting automation components. Their vast product offerings […]
New Sure-Flex Plus coupling cost savings calculator from TB Wood’s
TB Wood’s has created a new program that allows users to quantify just how significant the savings can be when replacing a copy-cat coupling sleeve with the high performance Sure-Flex Plus EPDM or Neoprene sleeve. The program is now available at www.tbwoods.com or it can be installed as a smartphone app on any Android or […]
New direct-drive servos from Yaskawa for backlash-free automation
A new direct-drive servomotor from the Drives & Motion Division of Yaskawa America, Inc. packs a new level of performance into a more compact size. The new Yaskawa SGM7F line of direct-drive servomotors delivers from 4 to 35 Nm of torque in a device as small as 2.1-in. high and 5.3-in. in diameter (53 x […]
What is EtherCAT?
Ethernet for Control Automation Technology (EtherCAT) was developed by Beckhoff. It’s based on the CANopen protocol and on Ethernet but differs from internet communication or network communications in being specifically optimized for industrial automation control. The standards are defined and maintained by the EtherCAT technology group. Using the OSI network model, Ethernet and EtherCAT rely […]
Festo expands custom assembly and kitting operations in North America
Festo, a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components, and controls for process and industrial automation, will close its Appleton, WI, center and move custom assembly and kitting services to a larger facility in Mason, Ohio, near Cincinnati. The move places custom services within a few miles of the parts and logistics resources of […]
Schneider Electric launches new three-level, low-harmonic drives
The Altivar 680 and Altivar Regenerative 980 Compact Low Harmonic Drives are a packaged, high-performance solution for low-harmonic applications. These active front end (AFE) drives feature a three-level input switching stage, which reduces common mode voltage and improves performance and efficiency. These benefits are a result of the new Drives’ custom filtering and three-level design. […]
What is hot swapping in PLC systems?
For computer systems in general including PLCs, hot swapping refers to the process of adding or replacing components in a control system or a PLC without having to shut down power to the system. In a PLC, this typically refers to I/O modules that plug into the PLC chassis. For PLCs that don’t have hot […]
IronHorse shaft-mount gearboxes added by AutomationDirect
New IronHorse® Shaft Mount Gearboxes (speed reducers) from AutomationDirect feature shafts and gears manufactured from the highest grade steel, case hardened and precision ground to AGMA standards for long lasting durability. The gearbox shafts have reinforced double lip seals to protect against contamination and prevent oil from escaping. Premium ball and tapered roller bearings provide […]
More Beckhoff PC-based controllers earn Microsoft Azure certification
To provide plants, factories and machine builders with even more system-integrated solutions for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Beckhoff Automation has announced Microsoft Azure™ certification for the C6015 Industrial PC (IPC) and CX5140 Embedded PC. All certified devices from Beckhoff can be found in the Microsoft “Azure Certified for IoT” device catalog, providing customers with […]
New mini motors from Portescap offer high torque in a compact package
Portescap has added a new 22-mm diameter motor to its DCT line of Athlonix Brush DC motors. The new 22DCT motor features proven energy efficient coreless design with an optimized self-supporting coil and magnetic circuit, delivering higher performance in a compact package. The motor is capable of reaching a continuous torque up to 13.29 mNm […]