Consumers are becoming far more discerning about their beer. That’s why craft brewing is a booming business. According to the Brewers Association, craft beer production grew 5% in the U.S. while the beer market as a whole fell by 1%. Small and independently owned craft breweries now account for 98% of all breweries operating in […]
Touch Screens on the Factory Floor – Siemens SIMATIC IFP PRO Monitor
Touch screen technologies are more popular than ever. Laptops, tablets, smartphones, payment terminals, ATMs and even cashier-less stores are just a few examples. Where deployed, they reduce costs, boost efficiency, minimize lines and improve system navigation. They are rapidly becoming the de facto standard in how people interact with digital systems. With such a growing […]
Controllers Add Motion Control Functionality
The SIMATIC S7-1500 controller family is being upgraded with a pair of advanced CPUs that give the controller family motion control capabilities. The 1516T-3 PN/DP and 1516TF-3 PN/DP, handling tasks and functions such as speed, position, gearing, camming, and kinematic control. The two new controllers come equipped with TIA Portal V15 and Controller Firmware V2.5. […]
SIDOOR Automatic Door Controls
Most people are familiar with door control technology in supermarkets and other public places. As you approach the entrance, a sensor is triggered. The door then opens – or at least, it is supposed to. Sometimes the door moves too slowly. Sometimes the sensor is triggered when people are passing as opposing to entering/leaving the […]
How to Implement a PROFINET Controller on a PC
In a challenging economy, industrial manufacturers look for ways to reduce costs. For example, many now harness standard PCs or internally developed embedded systems. They develop control applications and host them on PCs. As well as lower cost, this can provide advantages such as performance and flexibility. The problem, however, is networking. These machines usually […]
The SIMATIC PN/BACnet LINK
PROFINET (Process Field Net) is the standard for industrial networking in automation. It brings Ethernet to the factory floor where it collects data from, and controls industrial systems, equipment, devices and systems to improve the quality and efficiency of manufacturing. But many other standards and communication protocols exist within the industrial world. One of the […]
Time Sensitive Network Usage Speeds Up
TSN, OPC UA combine to address growing demand for real-time communications The automation world’s drive to do more intricate tasks at increasingly higher speeds is driving interest in Time Sensitive Networking, which lets systems handle real-time communications. PROFIBUS/PROFINET International (PI) plans to start developing ways to use TSN to facilitate the integration of operational technology […]
New Firmware Adds Power and Functionality to SIMATIC S7-1500 and ET 200 Controllers
Siemens SIMATIC S7-1500 Advanced Controllers offer maximum performance for medium-sized to high-end machines and automation systems that experience high demands on performance, communication, flexibility, and technology. SIMATIC ET 200SP controllers are designed to be small, rugged, and powerful enough to withstand harsh industrial environments. The Siemens S7-1500 controllers have been made even better via an […]
TIA Portal V15 Engineering Framework: Focus on Applications, Digitalization and Efficiency
The new version of the TIA Portal V15 engineering framework is now available, with an emphasis on applications, enhancements within the digitalization portfolio and even more functionality ensuring engineering efficiency. The components of the TIA Portal framework, STEP 7 for PLCs, WinCC for HMIs, StartDrive for Drives, and Safety are all available for delivery or […]
The Impact of New IE3 Requirements on Motors and Controls
Ambitious climate goals entail new standards and directives. In terms of the electrical efficiency of devices, it naturally applies to electric motors. In 2015, the IE3 Premium Efficiency standard became mandatory in Europe, and its application has broadened this year to a wider scope of electric motors. What does this mean for control and protective […]
