With the release of NFPA 86 2015, designers and providers of industrial heating systems could finally control all aspects of their heating control system—from startup to shutdown—using a single programmable logic controller (PLC). This development opened up new doors for Safety PLCs in burner management systems (BMS). Now, in addition to directly controlling combustion safeguard […]
Siemens and AUTOParkit Bring Parking into 21st Century
Transportation is in the midst of unprecedented changes. New vehicles are being equipped with automated parallel parking, forward collision detection, lane departure sensing and even teen driver safety assistance. Ride sharing apps like Uber and Lyft have turned the conventional taxi business on its head. The increase of electric vehicles (EV) is increasing the demand […]
New Industry Web Panels Bring Greater Scalability, Configurability and Usability
A new set of Industry Web Panels from Siemens is now available. Based on entry-level SIMATIC HMI Basic Panels 2nd generation, they come in 7″, 9″ and 12″ displays, as well as with combined key or touch operation. These widescreen displays offer high resolution with 64,000 colors. They can be installed in portrait mode and […]
Otto Bock Kunststoff Plant Uses PROFINET, Smart Drives for Accurate Liquid Plastic Mixing
Polyurethane foam plays an essential role in automotive applications, particularly in the area of soundproofing. The exact recipes are frequently fine-tuned with additives to deliver customized materials properties. To increase its production capacity, polyurethane foam specialist Otto Bock Kunststoff (since renamed FoamPartner), added a new facility next to its Rochester, NY North American headquarters. Built […]
Design and Create Great HMI Visual Solutions
According to Apple founder Steve Jobs, “Design is not just what it looks and feels like. Design is how it works.” This is one of the guiding principles outlined in a series of videos by user experience expert Oliver Gerstheimer of Siemens. The goal of the series is to teach others great HMI design. From […]
TIA Portal Simplifies Rockwell to Siemens HMI Conversion
Control conversions happen all the time when new tooling is replaced in plants. The process takes time and costs money. From the OEM and integrator perspective, the goal is to make the conversion as transparent as possible so that the experience of configuring and commissioning is the same. Siemens designed the Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) […]
Two Brand New SIMATIC HMI Mobile Panels Released
SIMATIC second generation Mobile Panels offer performance, flexibility, convenience, and quality. Recent improvements include compact connection options, unique safety features, USB interfaces, simplified connections, and engineering elegance. Their deployment in the field or in the factory makes mobile operation and monitoring even safer and more efficient. Available with either a 4-, 7-, or 9-inch display […]
HMI PRO Extension Facilitates Customer Customization
Siemens just expanded the portfolio of system components for SIMATIC HMI PRO devices with the Extension Unit box, which can now be ordered in sizes ranging from 12 inches to 22 inches. The Extension Unit box is there to facilitate customer customization. It consists of an empty enclosure into which customer-specific components can be installed. […]
Better Panels for Food and Pharma
There are many challenging conditions to be faced in the workplace. The food and beverage industry, for example, often uses high-pressure washers. Equipment in such areas must be rated for IP69/ IP69K protection. Similarly, the pharmaceutical industry must uphold the highest standards of cleanliness. Hence computers, HMIs and other devices must be resistant to disinfectants. […]
More Screen, More Resolution with the SIMATIC HMI TP1000F Mobile
Personnel on the factory floor, conducting inspections, or involved in field service often have to work in conditions that are far from ideal. Lighting can either be too bright, too dull, or completely absent. Temperatures can either be uncomfortably high or frigid. The presence of particulate matter or smoke in the air can greatly impair […]
