SERAPID Group — a leading supplier of lifts, quick die change, and horizontal transfer systems — has launched its new website at www.serapid.com. “We are proud to provide customers with a new and improved website,” said SERAPID Group Chief Operating Officer Guillaume Davies. “With this new site we aim to create an exciting experience for visitors […]
Industrial Automation
Interroll exhibiting conveyor solutions for hygienic food processing and dynamic storage
One of Interroll’s key exhibits at the IPPE will be the DM0080 drum motor platform. This innovative motor platform is to be predominantly used in modern conveyor belt systems in manufacturing, food and beverage, distribution centers and airports. It features a completely modular design and offers both synchronous and asynchronous drive solutions. Initially, motors with […]
HMI basics video: Human-machine interface communications, GUIs, and more
A human machine interface — or HMI for short — is a control terminal on machinery to let operators monitor machine functions and adjust them as needed. This interaction is through a graphical user interface — GUI for short —that allows communications to and from supervisory controls and machine HMIs. HMI hardware takes the form […]
Networking and IoT to support automated warehouse for e-commerce
The Internet has changed human life around the world, and one major way has been in the form of e-commerce. Annual U.S. retail e-commerce sales now exceed $320 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. It’s even sustained 15% year-over-year growth, and retail e-commerce sales now account for more than 10% of total sales. […]
POSITAL in launch of BiSS Association: New organization promotes open-source interface technology
POSITAL FRABA his participating as a founding member of the BiSS Association — a new organization dedicated to encourage the use of the BiSS family of open-source industrial communications protocols. BiSS communications protocols were developed by the German company iC-Haus GmbH as an efficient and feature-rich digital interface for communications between industrial sensors, actuators and […]
Application example: HMI on medical-device manufacturing equipment
Most hospitalized patients receive an IV soon after admission … and sometimes insertion of the needle is painful. But once placed, discomfort subsides — as the plastic tubing that connects the IV bag to the arm is shaped to smoothly glide into veins and remain comfortable during use. Equipment made by Silverstone Automation — the manufacturer’s […]
Belt drive axes can reduce automation costs
Mechanical engineers often need a basic, space-saving linear guide when designing technology that performs simple tasks, such as vending machines. Since such technology does not handle high loads, high speeds or high positioning accuracy, intricate linear guides are not necessary. However, most solutions on the market are very advanced, leaving manufacturers forced to either pay […]
Pallet conveyors for assembly — enabling flexible automation with versatility
By Kate Nadeau, engineer with mk North America Automation and robotics are the here and now (and future) of America’s manufacturing sector, which means the time is also right for advanced conveyors. These conveyors are lean and durable as well as dependable, fast, intelligent, and adaptable. Unlike yesteryear’s conveyors, today’s advanced conveyor systems (which will enable […]
Schneider Electric IIoT-enabled smart machine setups at Pack Expo 2017
Schneider Electric is now showing its smart-machine setups for packaging at Pack Expo 2017 (America’s largest packaging trade show) this week in Las Vegas. Schneider Electric’s smart machine setups are built on its Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled open and interoperable EcoStruxure system architecture and platform that (according to the manufacturer) delivers innovation from connected products […]
Nippon Pulse PPCIe8443 controller board with PCI-Express bus interface
Nippon Pulse now sells its newest available controller board, the PPCIe8443. An upgrade from Nippon Pulse’s previous PPCI7443 controller board, the new “PCI Express” board uses an updated PCI-express bus interface that can control up to 4 axes of coordinated motion. PPCIe8443 comes equipped with Nippon Pulse’s PCL6046 large-scale integration chip, and can generate high-speed […]