New STEP 7 Version Handles Motion Control

Siemens Inc. is now shipping STEP 7 Basic V12, an upgrade designed for powerful computing platforms used for complex tasks like motion control. It supports advanced programming languages and offers simpler maintenance and offers improved diagnostics. The successor of STEP 7 Basic V11 works with all existing SIMATIC controllers. STEP 7 Basic V12 provides powerful programming editors with optimized compilers for programming the S7 controllers: Ladder Diagram, function block diagram,... Read More

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Lady Liberty’s New Fire and Safety Technology

Tower Elevator Systems’ newly installed rescue elevator, part of a $27-million Statue of Liberty renovation, makes the most of Safety PLC hardware, PROFIBUS Ethernet and the SIMATIC Comfort Panel HMI. One of the most-recognized structures on earth, the Statue of Liberty, recently underwent a $27 million renovation that brought the 19th century icon into the 21st century. Fire and safety features on the statue, inaugurated by President Grover Cleveland in 1886, were revamped... Read More

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TIA Portal Simplifies Drive Integration and Setup

The Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal from Siemens now gives users the ability to commission and configure Sinamics G-series drives using Sinamics Startdrive software, offering seamless integration of the drive system and the ability to quickly and easily configure and parameterize Sinamics G drives from a single graphical user interface. Simotics motors can also be easily integrated into the engineering framework using Sinamics Startdrive. In addition, optimized safety... Read More

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Siemens Helps SpaceX Change the Game in Outer Space

SpaceX consolidates multiple systems, moves up to Siemens Project Lifecycle Management in its effort to cut the cost of space launches by a factor of 10. Hawthorne, Calif.-based Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) is a privately held company that designs, manufactures, and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other... Read More

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New-generation ‘Soft’ PLCs Drive Oil Exploration

Apache Corp. shares the first-hand benefits gained by moving from traditional PLC racks to the WinAC software PLC to control oil-drilling rigs worldwide. Houston, Texas-based Apache Corporation is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the United States, Canada, Egypt, the United Kingdom, North Sea, Australia, and Argentina. Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jim Rogers, automation advisor at Apache, to talk about the work he is doing... Read More

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WinCC Scada Software Expanded into a Plant-wide System

Siemens Industry has expanded its popular Simatic® WinCC Scada software into a plant-wide information system.  Available globally to acquire, visualize and analyze production data, WinCC Version 7.2 now also offers new information server options and simplifies complex production operations with multi-touch operator inputs. New Simatic Process Historian and Simatic Information Server options offer scalable long-term process data archiving and Web-based analysis and reporting... Read More

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‘Touchdown’ for Mars Rover Curiosity – ‘Assist’ for Siemens

NASA lands car-size rover safely on Red Planet with a little help from Siemens PLM software. See “Curiosity’s Final Seven Minutes of Terror” video. They did it!! We helped! Everybody wins! Wait a minute… sorry…I’m a little bit excited. Let me explain. The United States’ space agency, i.e. the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), just landed a car-sized vehicle on Mars; Siemens provided the software used in its design and development; and everyone... Read More

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Innovative Online Software Speeds Machine Safety Compliance

Learn in five steps the process behind Siemens’ Safety Evaluation Tool to ease your transition to the new ISO 13849-1 machine safety standard. As of the end of 2011, the machine safety standard EN954-1 has been effectively replaced by EN/ISO 13849-1. The new standard addresses the latest technologies not covered by 954-1, imposing new demands on machine manufacturers under the EU Machinery Directive. The replacement occurred because EN 954-1 no longer represented the current... Read More

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Software Update Brings Many New Features

The SIMATIC WinCC V11 Service pack 2 for the TIA Portal improves communications, makes it simpler to migrate projects and supports Windows 64-bit operating systems. The new software from Siemens Industrial also supports the Mobile Panel 277 IWLAN V2. Service Pack 2 provides many new functions. One is that migrating WinCC V7.0 SP2 projects is now a straightforward task. The upgrade also improves communication between WinCC Runtime Professional and Siemens S7-1200. The software... Read More

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Introducing the SIMATIC WinCC/IndustrialDataBridge

Siemens Industry, Inc., introduces the SIMATIC WinCC/IndustrialDataBridge, V7.0 SP3. With SIMATIC WinCC/IndustrialDataBridge, communication connections between different data sources and data destinations can be established via a simple configuration/parameterization. The IndustrialDataBridge can be integrated into WinCC or employed stand-alone (not in conjunction with WinCC). New functions of this release include individual control of each IndustrialDataBridge connection (start,... Read More

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