Rockwell Automation Optimizing Food & Beverage Production Webinar - April 9, 2025
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Rockwell Automation: Optimizing Food & Beverage Production Webinar – April 9, 2025

Rising costs, shifting consumer demands, and production complexity are putting unprecedented pressure on food and beverage manufacturers. Many companies still rely on Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) as their primary performance indicator, yet this traditional approach often fails to provide the depth of insight needed to drive real production improvements. In this webinar, Rockwell will introduce an evolved approach to yield optimization — one that goes beyond OEE to deliver a more holistic yet detailed view of plant operations. By leveraging data more effectively and integrating advanced technologies, you’ll understand how leading companies are able to pinpoint root causes of inefficiencies, minimize losses, and lay a foundation for future AI/ML-driven productivity.

Mar 21, 2025 - Hannover Messe 2025 Partner Country Canada
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Hannover Messe 2025: Partner Country Canada

Canada is leading the way toward a brighter future. With expertise in fields like artificial intelligence, quantum, electric vehicles, advanced materials, clean energy, automation and robotics, Canadians are developing solutions that will shape a more sustainable world. Advanced manufacturing capabilities and world-leading research compliment Canada’s traditional strengths in natural resources. As the exclusive partner country for Hannover Messe, Canada is showcasing 220 of its brightest companies and research organizations in automation, digital transformation, alternative energy, hydrogen, and green technologies. See how Canada is shaping the future.

ABB Medium Voltage Circuit Breakers & Enclosures Now cUL Certified
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ABB Medium Voltage Circuit Breakers & Enclosures Now cUL Certified

ABB medium voltage (MV) circuit breakers and enclosures recently received cUL certification from the standards organization, Underwriters Laboratories of Canada, providing additional assurance that these products are tailored to the stringent requirements of the Canadian market. This certification also validates their reliability and performance under exacting conditions, streamlines approval processes with regulators and facilitates installation and commissioning.

Mar 18, 2025 - Rockwell Automation Keep Chemical Processes in Control with an Integrated Architecture
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Rockwell Automation: Keep Chemical Processes in Control with an Integrated Architecture

Today’s innovative smart technologies – such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, edge computing and digital twins – are driving manufacturers to digitally transform their operations. Chemical manufacturers face a similar technological change as they address various challenges, including aging legacy systems, economic uncertainty, tightening regulatory requirements, varying feedstock and energy costs, safety and environmental incidents, unplanned downtime, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, workforce skills shortage and supply chain disruptions. With the growing emphasis on sustainability and decarbonization, chemical companies are now seeking to invest in renewable energy sources and initiatives that support a circular economy. These challenges highlight the chemical industry’s…

ATS: Optimize Your Parts Inventory to Reduce Obsolescence Risk
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ATS: Optimize Your Parts Inventory to Reduce Obsolescence Risk

In the fast-paced world of manufacturing, unplanned downtime is a significant drain on resources and operational performance, leading to substantial production losses. Obsolescence risk is inevitable and occurs in new and old equipment. Your operation is at high risk for downtime when an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) decides to no longer produce a critical part required to run your production line and there is no available inventory of that part or plan to replace it. Proactive maintenance practices such as planned preventive maintenance (PPM) can go a long way toward reducing the occurrence of unplanned downtime events. However, when these events involve obsolete parts that are difficult to source or replace, the disruption is often prolonged. This is why a strong inventory management program and budget is imperative to manage obsolescence risk. Otherwise, the financial impact of downtime events can be catastrophic.

Phoenix Contact: Transparent & Secure Knx Communication up to 1,200 Ma - Step Power
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Phoenix Contact: Transparent & Secure KNX Communication up to 1,200 mA

KNX is a powerful and flexible standard for building automation. It enables the seamless integration of various devices for controlling lighting, heating, air conditioning, blinds, safety systems, energy management, and more. The KNX Step Power power supply ensures smooth bus communication. It is the first KNX power supply with a nominal current of 640 m and an active KNX choke. This adapts dynamically to the connected load of the KNX devices and increases the efficiency of the bus system up to a KNX communication of 1,200 mA. Unlike the passive KNX chokes available on the market, the full load of up to 1,200 mA can be ensured here without reaching magnetic saturation. In addition, the integrated color display provides all the relevant KNX status information at a glance. It does not just reflect the current system status but also provides a wealth of information via the menu. This is used primarily for the setup, diagnostics, and extension of the KNX system. This results in a range of advantages for the users and system operators: the BUS and AUX outputs can be viewed separately, so that the error analysis can be narrowed down.

SmartD: VFD Leakage Current & Ground Fault Protection: Ensuring Safety & Compliance
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SmartD: VFD Leakage Current & Ground Fault Protection – Ensuring Safety & Compliance

Imagine a bustling manufacturing plant where machines produce thousands of components every hour. The electrical cabinets buzz with energy, and a labyrinth of cables branches out to every corner, connecting motors large and small. In one corner stands a shiny new Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) controlling a high-horsepower motor. Nearby, an experienced technician named Alex notices something on his handheld meter: a small current is flowing to the ground. At first, it might seem like no big deal, just a few milliamps. But is it dangerous? Or completely normal? This is the heart of the story, and it brings up a question that might be obvious to an experienced professional but still makes you think deeply: Why do we place so much emphasis on the small currents? Why do engineers and technicians, meticulously measure, analyze, and sometimes worry about these tiny currents that appear to do no harm? The reason, of course, is because these small currents can be indicators—indicators of normal operation, or signs of a potential problem that could cause serious safety issues. Welcome to the world of leakage current and ground faults in VFD systems. This article will explore these phenomena with a didactic approach, focusing on why they matter, how they behave, and what sets them apart, especially when looking at clean power VFDs. Whether you’ve spent decades in electrical systems or you’re just stepping into this specialized area, this exploration aims to reinforce the concepts and inspire you to dig deeper into the nuances of these tiny but critically important currents.

Siemens: The Future of Intralogistics – Simatic Robot Pick AI Pro
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Siemens: The Future of Intralogistics – Simatic Robot Pick AI Pro

Siemens is presenting its new developments in industrial automation and digitalization for the intralogistics industry at this year’s Logimat. Faced with global challenges like labor shortages, growing sustainability requirements, and demographic change, the technology company is introducing innovative automation and digitalization solutions that increase efficiency, adaptability, and sustainability in intralogistics. With Simatic Robot Pick AI Pro, an industrial vision AI for the development of AI-supported picking robots, Siemens demonstrates in a highlight showcase how the combination of software-defined and data-driven automation creates more adaptability and flexibility in automation solutions in order to overcome the challenges and complexity of today’s intralogistics and to offer future-proof solutions. The Siemens Xcelerator ecosystem plays a central role by promoting innovation and integration across platform boundaries, which is accelerating the transition to a Digital Enterprise.

Navigating Economic Uncertainty: How Canadian Industries Are Adapting in 2025
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Rittal: Liquid Cooling – The Future of Efficient IT & Industrial Climate Control

Rittal discusses how liquid cooling could transform the future of efficient IT & industrial climate control. As industries continue to push the boundaries of high-performance computing and automation, the need for efficient cooling solutions has never been greater. Traditional air-cooling methods are struggling to keep up with increasing heat loads and energy demands, driving the shift toward more sustainable and effective solutions—one of the most promising being liquid cooling.

Electromate: BiSS-C & SSI Encoder Interface Protocols Explained
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Electromate: Hazardous Environments & Sensor Technologies Explained

Electromate Provides Informative Explanation of Hazardous Environments & Sensor Technologies. Hazardous environments present significant risks due to the presence of flammable gases, vapors, or combustible dust. These areas require strict safety measures to prevent ignition and ensure worker safety. The classification of hazardous locations helps determine the appropriate safety protocols and equipment necessary for each setting. A hazardous environment exists when a mix of air and flammable substances creates an explosive atmosphere. The presence of potential ignition sources, such as electrical equipment, increases the risk of combustion. Industries such as oil and gas, mining, and manufacturing must implement specialized safety solutions to mitigate these dangers.

Convergix: 4 Ways Automated Packaging Can Transform Logistics
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Convergix: 4 Ways Automated Packaging Can Transform Logistics

Automated packaging solutions have a host of benefits for any manufacturing business. But the material handling capabilities of robotic technology and leading-edge automation software aren’t limited to packing items in containers. There’s more to getting your products from the factory floor to the loading dock, and automation provides opportunities to increase productivity at every step along the way. Packaging automation technology touches every aspect of logistics, and the advantages add up—especially in warehouses and distribution centers, where storage, transport, packing, and shipping make up a larger part of day-to-day activities. Introducing automation to any one task can streamline your storage and shipping. But if a larger network of automated systems is right for your business, it can transform your logistics and distribution operations.

Navigating Economic Uncertainty: How Canadian Industries Are Adapting in 2025
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Rittal: Navigating Economic Uncertainty – How Canadian Industries Are Adapting in 2025

Entering 2025, Canadian industries are facing a rapidly shifting economic landscape shaped by fluctuating trade policies, rising costs, and ongoing supply chain disruptions. From industrial manufacturing to technology and energy, businesses are adjusting their strategies to remain competitive in the face of uncertainty. Despite economic pressures, Canada’s industrial sectors are showing resilience by leveraging advanced manufacturing, automation, and strategic supply chain adjustments. But with evolving regulations, global market volatility, and a growing emphasis on sustainability, companies must navigate these changes carefully.

Phoenix Contact: New Controller Family for Building and Room Automation
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Phoenix Contact: New Controller Family for Building and Room Automation

Compact distribution boards which offer little space for the hardware to be installed are often used in building and room automation. Phoenix Contact has therefore extended its product portfolio to include devices in the DIN rail-mount format. In addition to the proven ILC 2050 BI building controller, the new Catan C1 EN controller is now available.

Flexible Biomanufacturing Solutions Defy Economies of Scale
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Rockwell Automation: Flexible Biomanufacturing Solutions Defy Economies of Scale

How Digital Technologies & AI Can Offer Flexible Biomanufacturing Solutions. For more than a decade, there have been significant changes in how drugs are manufactured. The pharmaceutical industry has been undergoing a paradigm shift in its manufacturing practices, with an increased focus on flexible manufacturing to accommodate the production of complex, targeted medicines.

OMRON: Advancing Machine Design With the Power of Collaboration and AI
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OMRON: Advancing Machine Design With the Power of Collaboration and AI

The Power of Collaboration in Machine Design. Successful machine integration in the automation industry hinges on collaboration among various stakeholders, including plant management, operators, engineers, safety officers, and IT teams. This collaborative approach is essential for balancing metrics, best practices, quality, risk, and security. Given the unique nature of each project and the rapid pace of technological changes, machine builders play a crucial role in bridging the gap between early adopters and those lagging behind. By providing expertise and technology, they help users make informed decisions and improve efficiency, fostering a data-first culture that values the contributions of all team members.