There's no second-guessing equipment problems at Dannon's Minster, OH, plant. Its twin-camera video system can record events at up to 1/128,000-sec shutter speed and up to 60 frames/sec, boosting packaging-line efficiencies. Able to record hours of video at 60 images/sec at a shutter speed of up to 1/128,000 sec, the high-speed, digital-video system helps Dannon's plants solve complicated production and quality issues, which require the ability to actually see problems as they occur at high speeds. Read more...
Six ways to ensure an ERP implementation delivers value
Robbins-Gioia, an Alexandria, VA-based program management consulting firm, recently reported that 51 percent of ERP projects are considered failures, while a full 30 percent far exceed budget and miss their completion dates by a wide margin. These numbers can be attributed to inherent problems in what are generally considered best practices for enterprise systems implementations. If seemingly tried-and-true best practices can't guarantee project success, what can a company do to improve the chances that its next implementation effort won't flop? Here are some suggestions. Read more...
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Automation theory
On track with machine vision
Machine vision can capture, see and analyze what was previously considered unimaginable. Want to increase inspection time by factor of 10, raise quality, lower costs, augment worker satisfaction, improve safety and lower variability? Advanced machine vision technologies can help. Users, system integrators and vision vendors have tracked results, such as counting 450 clumped objects/sec with irregular shapes and variable sizes, with better than 99 percent accuracy. Read more...
Tutorial tech tips
What is OSHA's stance on new safety standards? With new safety standards and solutions emerging, manufacturers worry about what's missing. Industry consensus standards by themselves are not enough. These standards don't have the force of law except when specifically referenced by a governmental rule or regulation. That gap leads to a question. If an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard changes, what impact does that have on the applicable OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations? A few examples of machine guarding technologies allowed by recent changes in safety standards include; Safety PLC's, Safe Drives, Safe Motion Control, Safe Busses, Safe CNC (Computer Numeric Control) Controllers, E-Stop devices connected to a Safety Bus (eliminating the need for hard wiring to a safety relay) and many more. Read more...
Newsbytes
Good numbers: industrial controls, motion control systems, and packaging machinery
Three recent reports announce positive news for manufacturers, distributors, system integrators and users of industrial controls, motion control and packaging machinery, with some areas in double digits. The reports come from National Electrical Manufacturer's Association (NEMA), ARC Advisory Group and Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI). Read more...
Robot safety standard approved, safety conference planned
The Robotic Industries Association (RIA) has recently updated its safety standards. Approved by ANSI (American National Institute of Standards) last month, ANSI/RIA/ISO 10218-1-2007 Standard, with national adoption of the ISO (International Standards Organization) standard, addresses safety requirements for new robot features in "Robots for Industrial Environment Safety Requirements, Part 1 – Robot." Read more...
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) tests wireless systems
NIST will develop a statistical representation of the radio propagation environment of a production floor as a basis for developing standards to pre-qualify wireless devices for factories. Initial tests at an auto assembly plant were performed last month. In September, testing took place at an engine and a metal stamping plant. Read more...
Service automation has taken its seat at the IT table
High levels of customer satisfaction ultimately lead to new opportunities for revenue recapture, as well as opportunities for revenue creation by increasing current customer "wallet-share" through up-selling and customer referrals. As a result, Service and IT professionals agree that post-sales service improvement initiatives are a high priority. Successful integration of vital service initiatives not only ensures that service automation projects are completed on time and within budget, but it also facilitates improved service and asset performance for customers. Read more...
New products
Drive
New E700 compact variable-frequency drive replaces its nearly decade-old E500 model, and features new technology that has been developed, the co. says. Though it will be simple for E500 users to move to the new model, the co. notes, advantages including superior dynamic performance and an improved speed range, with 200-percent motor torque now possible at 0.5 Hz. Read more...
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc., 847/478-2453. www.meau.com
Robot
Developed with a compact footprint for lean, tabletop manufacturing is the co.'s newest SCARA robot, the RS20. Reportedly with a 220-mm range and a 1- to 8-kg payload, the RS20 is said to feature four degrees of freedom, a hardened AB plastic external housing and electric servo-driven motors for reliability. Read more...
Stäubli Robotics, 964/486-5429. www.staublirobotics.com
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