Energy savings? I don’t believe it

Energy savings? I don’t believe it.   Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. UK manufacturing needs to improve its productivity. An easy way of achieving this is to reduce energy costs. At least, so you would think. Yet, a report from ABB suggest theory and practice are not the same when it concerns reducing […]

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Manufacturing Intelligence & Data Management

Concise manufacturing intelligence, and real-time and historic reports for all personnel from the plant level to the boardroom will help all involved become more in touch with the actual daily business. According to Mitsubishi Electric, this approach is essential for implementing Six Sigma projects, TPM/ TQM processes and Lean Manufacturing. These are techniques targeted to […]

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Embedded safety over Ethernet

As safety technology advances, it is increasingly popular to embed the functions in to automation equipment like variable speed drives. According to Schneider Electric, as Industrial Ethernet becomes the network of choice, then both will start to merge. Hence, the resulting integration of embedded safety over Ethernet will extend the benefits of both. Modern industrial […]

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Is your Smart HMI hiding anything useful?

Modern automation systems generate large volumes of data about what is happening on a machine or production line. Smart HMIs provide an effective way of collating this date to provide up to the minute information about processes. Increasingly, manufacturing engineers are using the data held within controllers and HMIs to help them maximise efficiency and […]

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Is it cost effective replacing functioning VSDs?

How cost effective is replacing functioning VSDs?   ABB advises replacing functioning VSDs, even if they have not failed, depending on the circumstances. But then, they would say that wouldn’t they, as they get to sell another drive. Their arguments are sound, and suggest an old drive could be costing money unnecessarily, compared to more […]

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