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Cybersecurity and Manufacturing – Keeping Critical Information Safe From Attackers

We all know that we’re supposed to back up our data and secure our devices against attack. But too often we put it off until it’s too late. We’re busy, and we’ll get to it another day. And then, one day, we turn on our device, look for a file, and realize something is wrong. We’ve been hacked. The thought of losing our files, pictures, and data is scary. Scale that up to an entire company and the consequences can be severe.

 

 

 

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Modern Manufacturing Needs Skilled Workers with Automation Training

The need for skilled workers with automation training certifications is growing. According to the Manufacturing Institute, there are over 600,000 unfilled manufacturing positions in the US, but many applicants lack the skills and training to do the job. In the next ten years, this gap is expected to grow with well over two million manufacturing jobs predicted to go unfilled as the number of manufacturing jobs requiring higher skills continues to outpace the pool of trained candidates.

 

 

 

Phoenix Contact Control Cabinet Classroom Ep. 6: How to Determine Supplementary vs. Branch Circuit Breakers

Phoenix Contact Control Cabinet Classroom Ep. 6: How to Determine Supplementary vs. Branch Circuit Breakers

Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between types of circuit breakers, especially since in appearance they look so similar. In this episode, the focus will be on the differences between two types of circuit breakers: Branch and Supplementary.

 

 

 

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Out With the Old – How a New Product Design Resulted in a Better Manufacturing Process

The scenario

A local manufacturing company had several high-speed production lines in their facility. After making changes to improve the design of one of their products, the existing system was unable to cure the new materials required by the company. In response, the company began sourcing a curing solution that would be able to bond the materials when they ran the new product.

 

 

 

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Four Ways New DCS Technology Makes Life Simpler

More frequent process changes. New technology. Larger datasets. Greater traceability and compliance requirements. Tighter budgets. Sound familiar? From oil refineries to food and beverage plants, process engineers are being asked to manage increasingly complex systems – and to do more with less. The good news is the latest distributed control system (DCS) platforms have kept pace with technological developments.

 

 

 

Five Things to Consider When Selecting a Safety Light Curtain

Five Things to Consider When Selecting a Safety Light Curtain

Light curtains go a long way in making your operations much safer for machine operators and maintenance personnel. That said, simply purchasing and installing one doesn’t ensure that all safety needs are fully met. It’s important to make sure that the light curtain meets all the requirements for reducing the risks of your particular application.

 

 

 

Keep Your Cool & Avoid Expensive Business Disruption

Keep Your Cool & Avoid Expensive Business Disruption

The phrase “up-time” is an oft-repeated phrase for IT professionals, reflecting the fact that a key measure of their success is service availability. Modern climate control systems support “up-time” but to understand why, you first need to consider the impact of poor climate control in order to decide which equipment to employ to take an installation to the next level.

 

 

 

Induction Welding with Chillers

Induction Welding with Chillers

 Electrical enclosures need cooling units in order to enhance performance and prevent failure. The acceptable operating temperature for most electrical devices exceeds 40 °C (104 °F). Devices often placed in cooling enclosures include variable frequency drives (VFDs), servo drives, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), starter kits, power supplies, inverters, relays, terminal blocks, indicator lights, and transformers.

 

 

 

How Omron’s Robotic Solutions Increased a Chocolate Company’s Production By 40%

How Omron’s Robotic Solutions Increased a Chocolate Company’s Production By 40%

At BOLCi Bolu Chocolate, a Turkish manufacturer of elegant truffles and other delicacies, the opportunity arose for some improvements to its production system. With over 300 employees and a 20,000-square-meter factory, BOLCi has a product list of over 800 different items and produces and average of 200 tons of chocolate items each month.

 

 

 

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I 4.0 Project with Bosch: Pepperl+Fuchs and Neoception Implement a Smart Kanban Rack

In a joint venture, Pepperl+Fuchs, Neoception, and Bosch Connected Industries (BCI) have digitalized and automated the supply and picking processes of Kanban racks from end to end. In addition to automation expertise, Pepperl+Fuchs contributed the necessary sensor hardware—in particular a newly developed scanning sensor rail. Neoception was responsible for the software interface to the Intralogistics Execution System (IES) Industry 4.0 application developed by BCI.