In from the Cold: Geothermal Energy is Making a Comeback

Well-read science fiction fans are pretty familiar with geothermal energy production concepts. Geothermal is one of the most popular forms of energy production in sci-fi novels and stories, and many futuristic worlds are powered by tapping the virtually limitless heat inside the planet to generate energy, but there is nothing fantastical about the technology involved. In fact, geothermal energy has been around in one form or another since the days of Ancient Rome where hot springs... Read More

Delivering Plant Intelligence with Smart Motor Starters

The automated motor starter is quite possibly the most integral single piece of any automated manufacturing set up. Nothing moves without being turned on. This ubiquity makes it an ideal intelligence platform for factory control, performance management, safety, maintenance and all those other systems that promise more uptime, better efficiency and more profitability. “Everyone in the plant is screaming for more information these days,” says Matthew Thornton, a marketing manager... Read More

Why PROFINET? And, Why Now?

“Bandwidth.” When asked what the major advantage of PROFINET over traditional Fieldbus technologies is for industrial automation, Carl Henning says it starts with bandwidth. Henning is the Deputy Director of PROFIBUS & PROFINET International, an industry group dedicated to providing PROFIBUS and PROFINET education and training. “Fieldbus has been around for 20 years, so it’s nothing new,” he adds. “Based on RS 485 it can move 244 bytes at up to 12 MBaud. PROFINET,... Read More