It’s usually quite difficult to tell safety-rated components and standard components apart just by their physical appearance. Although they perform similar functions, there are important factors that distinguish them from one another, and these differences are the reason why only safety-rated components are a viable option for use in safety systems.
With more than one million square feet of exhibit and meeting space, the LEED Platinum-certified Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, is the ninth-largest convention centre in North America. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, the convection centre experiences the extreme weather that the Great Lakes region is known for – with temperatures ranging from -31°C (-24°F) to 40°C (105°F).
As an engineer, the responsibility to adopt not just the latest, but the safest technologies, never goes away. Protecting people and machinery has become, quite simply, industry’s number one priority. Safety first. Always.
On November 20 and 21st Rockwell Automation hosted its annual Automation Fair and Drives & Control Solutions was in attendance. The show was kicked off by President Blake Moret who welcomed attendees and Rockwell’s partners and announced the formation of its new Digital Partnership Program and expansions of existing partnerships and collaborations.
AGRANA, the Austrian-based food processing group, recently held the official opening of the second wheat starch production plant at its Pischelsdorf site. ABB supplied, installed and commissioned hundreds of drives and the complete low voltage (LV) power distribution system that ensure the safe, reliable control of every aspect of the plant’s operation, from receiving raw materials, through processing to storage.
Anyone working in the electrical industry knows the importance of labelling for both safety and organization. But at times it can also be an additional step that can take time and possibly different products, or labelers need for various jobs or applications. However, Brother’s PT-E300VP Industrial labeller is a versatile label printer that provides all the necessary labelling needs to anyone industrial electrician. Read a review of the product from fellow electricians here.
Equipment and machine builders are rethinking design, machine intelligence and OEM services to address customer workforce challenges. Many are creating new revenue streams as a result. Industry as we know it is changing rapidly – from a shortage of skilled workers and high turnover to advancements in connectivity and IoT. Innovation is driving us to augment in-house experience and institutional knowledge with intuitive technology and partner support.
By ensuring that machinery is functioning properly, maintenance workers have a direct impact on production line safety. As a company that’s committed to helping our customers achieve safety compliance and protect their employees, we decided to devote a blog post to some of the key things a maintenance team should know about safety.
When is the best time for downtime? For most, the answer is, “No time is a good time.” The real question becomes, how long can your aging DCS limp along before an upgrade is unavoidable?
The best gate safeguard or access control is worthless if unauthorised access to your machine is possible via the IT system. A holistic safety concept is required here, that takes both machinery safety and industrial security into account. Should any security gaps emerge, loss of quality and unplanned downtimes are two of the possible scenarios. So it’s all the more important to protect plant and machinery in such a way that only authorised personnel have access and manipulation of the control systems by attacks from outside is prevented.
Wouldn’t it be nice to know when the devices in your home are on their last legs, so you could fix or replace them before they break? Just imagine how much better life would be. No more air conditioner breakdowns in the dog days of summer. No more unusable dishwashers on busy weeknights. No more computer crashes before you can back up your family photos and personal files.
The frost is in the air, you can see your breath as you step out onto Michigan Avenue and see the glowing holiday decorations. Yet, surrounded by the allure of the fall colors in Chicago, one thing remains top of mind for professionals in the automation industry – Automation Fair.
How can society meet its increasing demand for energy while reducing carbon emissions? Swedish utility Mälarenergi has achieved something significant as it faces this challenge head-on with its waste-to-energy plant Unit 6, one of the biggest in the world.
3M Canada will be hosting a heat trace cables webinar, where you’ll learn about heat trace, heat trace applications (i.e.: pipe freeze protection, roof and gutter, and surface snow and ice melting), and the benefits of self-regulating heat trace cables—TTS™ Heat Trace Cables.
Without power, factory operations cannot continue. That’s why regular scheduled maintenance is important to ensure your electrical distribution system is in working order.
If not properly safeguarded, machine shop equipment is capable of seriously injuring an operator. Lathes, band saws and other simple machines can cut or even sever a finger or a limb. Due to the major potential for harm, it’s essential for manufacturers to comply with all mandated safety standards for the types of machines they employ.
