The new BML SL1 absolute measuring system from Balluff is the right choice wherever positions and end-of-travel need to be determined with high accuracy, fast and precisely over travel distances of up to 8 meters. Regardless of whether the task involves linear or rotary motion, distance or angle measurement, format changes, short or long distances.

Wireless-based identification using RFID is one of the key technologies for smart production processes suitable for Industry 4.0. Turck provides a powerful tool for this with its BL ident RFID solution. A new addition to the portfolio is a robust RFID module with protection class IP67, which makes the connection of factory automation to the IT world much easier due to an integrated OPC UA server.

Regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) frequently adopt regulations aimed at optimizing solutions for patient care and life-saving systems to make medical devices safer. The article shows which solutions Wind River proposes to meet regulatory requirements with integrated safety & security features. The solutions can also be used for industrial automation applications.

Hybrid plug-in connectors save space and are easier to install. When they are designed and used correctly their EMC properties are just as good as dedicated cables. Circular connectors have already become established on the motors side. Weidmüller has developed the OMNIMATE® hybrid plug-in connector for single-cable interfaces on drives in the control cabinet. The article describes the technical background, and the considerations that went into the design.

The Zimmer Group has added a new pneumatic model range to its technology-leading 5000 series of premium grippers – in addition to the existing models with steel linear guides, versions with aluminum linear guides are now also available.

As global manufacturers face increasing competition, the need to optimize the efficiency, productivity, and quality levels within their discreet manufacturing facilities is becoming a matter of business survival. This article shows which solutions Wind River proposes.

At the Motek in Stuttgart, the international trade fair for automation in production and assembly, Dynetics (Hall 8, Booth 8236) presents an extensive range of ball screw drives, stepper motors, multi-axis motion controllers and controller ASICs for stepper and servo motors.

Weidmüller OMNIMATE® Power BUF 10.16 provides a safer and more efficient device connection for power electronics. The PUSH-IN connection technology and the wire-ready function speed up conductor connection.

With the new Servo Drive Product Finder, Panasonic offers a tool that makes it much easier for planners and users to find the right servo drive.

Industry 4.0 and smart factory concepts pose a number of challenges to production processes. Industrial monitors that are capable of displaying the extensive data of servers in a way that enables all parties to quickly grasp the most important information are a key element of stable production processes. Using Kontron as an example, we show the advantages of XXL monitors.

Precise GNSS/inertial systems using global navigation satellite systems such as GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou or Galileo form the basis for recording and evaluating the driving dynamics of motor vehicles and for the navigation of steering robots. GeneSys Elektronik has developed the full GNSS/Inertial System ADMA-Slim especially for applications with space or weight restrictions.

The concept of the seventh axis provides robot applications with an increased motion range. With the Seventh Axis system from the Actuator System Line Rollon offers a practical solution for this task.

On July 7, 2003, the NASA twin robot Opportunity embarked on its journey to the Red Planet from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Today, 15 years later, it is still sending life signs back to Earth – despite a heavy sand storm.

With embedded technology and a particularly large field of view, a new 3D sensor from ISRA VISION offers short scanning times and fast data availability, making it ideal for use directly on the production line.

Yamaichi Electronics now also offers the Y-Circ P series with overmoulded bent relief. This prevents unwanted unscrewing of the connector without the need for gluing.

Feel starfish sucking on your hand - large aquariums as in the Ostsee-Info-Center (OIC (Baltic Sea Information Centre)), in various zoos or at the "Sealife" locations delight visitors of all ages. The aquariums provide exciting insights into the ecosystems of diverse underwater worlds.

It used to be the case that space was beyond reach to all but the richest governments and a handful of private enterprises. Today, opportunities in space look very different. Commercial space activities have taken off, driven in large part by greater functionality in smaller packages. With faster time-to-market, better size, weight, and power features at lower price points, and lower launch costs, new business models and significant venture funding are finding their way to commercial space...

For the first time, Weidmüller presents its Pick-to-Light and Put-to-Light solutions for picking and assembly tasks in industry and intralogistics.

Cognex VisionPro ViDi enables deep learning-based machine vision for automatic identification, inspection and classification.

Kontron announces the KBox B-201, a high performance, compact design computer, as a new member of the Kontron Embedded Box PC family. State-of-the-art 7th Gen Intel® CoreTM processors together with an Intel® Q170 Express Chipset allow for extremely high performance at a low noise level (34 dB(A) max.).

The configurable XMS500 series of AC-DC power supplies from TDK Corporation offer both Class I and Class II (double insulated) construction. All models are compliant to curve B radiated and conducted EMI, with more than 6 dB margin, yet maintain a leakage current of less than 150 µA.

It started with a blank. But how does the workpiece get onto the line or into the machine? Depending on the state it is delivered in, this task can quickly become very complex. Reliable 3D object detection systems optically capture and evaluate data. Liebherr works with a variety of 3D vision systems to match the requirements and smoothly handles the supply of every haphazardly stored part with process precision.

RFID systems with various frequency ranges are finding increasing use in modern production and assembly plants. Each system is designed for different applications. Low-frequency (LF) systems are suited mainly for applications in metallic surroundings. High-frequency (HF) systems are the ideal choice where a greater read/write distance and high speed are paramount. Since each system until now required its own RFID controller type, this was not only cumbersome...

At PCIM, the trade fair for power electronics, intelligent drive technology, renewable energy and energy management, Dynetics presented an extensive range of fans, blowers and stepper motors from Nidec Servo.