Digital, mobile, networked and standardized solutions are providing new connectivity for process control users to communicate via HART, FOUNDATION Fieldbus and Profibus PA. The result is that machine and field device data is more available to improve and rationalize processes for configuration and troubleshooting.

The oil and gas industry has entered the world of automation and digital process control. Norway-based Robotic Drilling Systems AS and Siemens have teamed up to develop a game changing drill floor solution comprising robotic technology for fully unmanned oil and gas drill floor operations.

Two older water utility systems had become increasingly difficult to maintain, and upgrade with connections to new PLCs. There wasn’t enough data or automation for the department to operate efficiently, so the utility looked to a new SCADA software platform to provide solutions for a wide variety of projects.

Faster development of SCADA projects means building a system that can solve one issue right now, but can then be expanded to include other processes, new data sources, different viewing methods and changing metrics. Advanced SCADA solutions add further value by providing a single point for project engineering.

Highly dynamic servo drive technology optimizes forming machine used for precise fastener production. Using this solution, all cam-setting restrictions have been solved. Adjustment of gripping force for fingers, which used to be mechanical, is now done in software, along with receiving feedback from the servo drives.

FlexEnergy used IP router technology that simplified both the machine installation and commissioning, along with the Ethernet network configuration within the control system for its gas turbine systems. The solution enabled technicians to have dependable external access to the devices without IP address conflicts.

More flexible approaches to motion control are abandoning complex mechanical systems to speed up changeovers and boost productivity. Adoption of smart motion systems is growing as manufacturers embrace smart machines that make better use of production information.

Everyone knows the “Who invented it?” slogan from TV and radio ads that made the Swiss company Ricola famous. Now, the firm is proving that its traditional cough drops can go hand in hand with modern technology by turning to Proficloud as a solution to meet strict FDA requirements cost-effectively.

Industry 4.0 machine predictive maintenance improves pharmaceutical productivity. For manufacturing tablets using automated presses and punch tools, data collected using passive UHF RFID “on metal” transponders is used to retrofit existing tablet press machines.

EtherCAT modules, in conjunction with a customer-specific signal distribution board, helped Mühlbauer GmbH increase the throughput of its die-sorting machines from 20,000 to 30,000 chips/hour, simplifying machine setup and operation, and reducing costs by 20 percent compared to previous machine models.