Transporting 1500 passengers per hour to a height of 400 feet with safety and reliably is an awesome responsibility. Continuing it 14 hours per day, 365 days per year requires the utmost confidence in the control system vendor. That’s why the Coca Cola Orlando Eye trusted a fully integrated Siemens SIMATIC suite to assure passenger […]
Four Ways to Turn a Basic Controller into an Automation Dynamo
Automation in today’s manufacturing environment is being called on to perform increasingly complex tasks faster and more efficiently. While advanced controllers are typically top of mind to perform such functions, smaller controllers should never be ruled out as they are ideal for a wide range of automation requirements. Take the case of the Siemens S7-1200 […]
Siemens Technology Modernizes Town Water Supply
The problems inherent in bringing fresh water to communities have been in the news in recent times. Aging infrastructure, poor filtration, pollution and lack of adequate controls can lead to unhealthy conditions and undersupply. The town of Tega Cay, South Carolina (population 8,000), turned to Siemens integrator Kinard Control Systems to provide its citizens with […]
Oil, Gas Industries Fuel Demand for Seamless Pipes
A drive for efficiency prompted pipe manufacturer Tenaris to automate operation of its largest factory. In recent years, the oil and gas industry worldwide has responded to severe market-pricing pressures by finding ways to gain new efficiencies. That impacts companies like Tenaris, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of steel piping and related services needed […]
Better Beer Via Automated Brewing
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 […]
