Weidmüller has added a universal digital I/O module, the PushPull modules UR67 and a multifunctional stepper motor module for motor currents up to 2 amps to its u-remote family, already established on the market.

Inductive coupling systems are the ideal choice wherever fixed wiring of sensors and actuators gets in the way or is subject to premature wear due to fatigue. With their new BIC Q40 inductive couplers, Balluff now offers a solution for applications where the maximum transmittable power plays a central role.

Origami – the art of paper folding originated in Japan and is known worldwide. The art of robot-based corrugated board folding can be admired at Tricor Packaging & Logistics AG, which has its headquarters in the southern German city of Bad Wörishofen. The company specializes in the construction of heavy-duty corrugated board and packaging. And the highly productive and precise operation of the assembly machines can be credited to KUKA Customer Service.

With Sinumerik ONE, the first digital native CNC, Siemens is driving forward digital transformation in the machine tool industry. The new controller works with software to create the machine controller and associated digital twin from one engineering system and thus contributes to the seamless integration of hardware and software.

Since 1979 it has been blazing a trail through woods and fields, mud, gravel and snow: the Mercedes G-Class. To make this feasible, the manufacturer uses particularly stable ladder frames. These frames are built at MAGNA Presstec in the Austrian town of Lebring near Graz. Since 2017, production of the facelift model has been running fully automatically on a line from KUKA. Specialists from the two companies collaborated closely to resolve various challenges,...

In many traditionally grown production networks, the focus is on free data exchange across all components and systems. However, if all paths are open, viruses and malware can spread unhindered in the entire network. To prevent this, it is recommended to segment the production network into manageable logical units – for example with the industrial firewall mbNETFIX from MB connect line.

In Bäretswil in the Swiss canton of Zurich Combitool AG – a division of PackSys Global – develops and produces innovative solutions for manufacturing plastic and laminate tubes. To realize the new machine generation of the BLM Laminat Body Maker, the development engineers at Combitool set ambitious goals for themselves. The system should not only be resource friendly, but also significantly increase machine availability and productivity by drastically reducing setup and startup time. The use of...

Automated, computer vision-assisted systems objectivize quality control in automobile production. Fraunhofer IGD has developed a method for capturing the actual build of a component and comparing it to the design according to the CAD data – in real time.

Automation processes in the industrial sector are becoming faster, more efficient, and more intelligent with the development of new technologies. But the things which add value to companies in this industry often present challenges for the internal employees who need to oversee, monitor, manage, develop, or repair these automated and fully optimized processes. With Augmented Reality (AR), workers can be effectively supported along the entire value chain to ensure the best possible human-machine...

Powerful electronic devices require high-quality fans with optimized air flow, pressure and low noise levels. In this article Dynetics summarises important criteria for the selection of fans and presents various series from Nidec Servo.

In Germany, Europe’s biggest industrial economy, the harnessing of IIoT to digital automation has developed far enough for it to routinely be described as a fourth industrial revolution. However, the more devices, equipment, sensors and applications are connected, the greater the risk of cybercrime.

The trend towards digitalisation in industry requires new solutions, this also applies for components that were previously purely electromechanical in nature. Because without a powerful, comprehensive infrastructure, digitalisation hits its limits fast. The infrastructure includes plug-in connectors and cables whose significance is set to rise and for example will be reflected in intelligent plug-in connectors. Weidmüller is presenting a demonstrator for an intelligent connector for the first...

At the Hannover Messe (Hall 9, Booth H55) Turck is presenting the PS+ series pressure sensors as the first of a new fluid sensor series. They combine functionality together with award-winning design. The keypad features capacitive touch pads that enable unimaginably simple operation. The absence of mechanical operating elements increases robustness and helps to meet the requirements of ISO protection types IP6K6K, IP6K7 and IP6K9K. Flexible installation (overhead and rotatable around 340°) and...

Increasingly, classic control cabinet applications are installed in the field and equipped with communicative components. This increases the complexity and quantity of the cabling. Prefabricated and tested cables enable time savings of up to 75 percent and simplify installation in difficult plant conditions. To cater for these requirements, Weidmüller offers high-quality plug-and-produce solutions for IP20 and IP6x environments.

Kontron's rackmount systems are designed and tested for challenging environments, and are therefore the perfect fit for extreme temperature and mechanical stress conditions.

Dynetics offers an extensive range of motion controller modules, worm gear motors, servo motor controllers, stepper motor drives and controllers – all suitable for complex mechatronic applications.

Linux is one of the most widely used open source operating systems and is available in many different variants. This wide set of choices can make it confusing and challenging to determine the right version for a given use case. Wind River's article offers an introduction to Linux for the enterprise and Linux for embedded products.

Numerous companies are sceptical, hesitating to take the step to digitalization. As an industry pioneer in the area of I4.0 grippers and real-time simulation, Zimmer Group is ready to convert the few remaining doubters and naysayers. The company now offers their customers integrated solutions (“digitalZ”) that are tailored to the software platforms of the customers.

Panasonic Industry is well known for its extensive automation technology portfolio with industry-leading innovations and components. With this article, WA3000 Industrial Automation reports about Panasonic's core competencies in the areas of safety technology, energy management and efficiency.

IO-Link is considered key technology for implementing industry 4.0 and IIoT concepts. For this technology Weidmüller provides IO-Link master modules in IP20 and IP67 degree of protection. Plug-in connectors and pre-assembled cables for the bus connection as well as sensor/actuator cabling complete the product portfolio. The parametrisation and configuration of IO-Link devices can be performed with a web‑based configuration tool that contains an interface to the manufacturer‑independent...

The more compact the machine and plants, the greater the demand for small sensors. If these devices also involve short blind zones, they soon become the universal tool for restricted spaces. Turck has therefore added ten more miniature sensors to its RU ultrasonic sensor series. Twelve new types were added to the RU-Eco series with devices made from highly resistant liquid crystal polymer. This comprehensive portfolio enables the automation specialist to offer the right ultrasonic solution for...

Industry 4.0 – the smart, adaptive factory with short retooling times and decentralized control – aims to generate the most comprehensive data possible within a highly automated process in real-time and provide the most varied instances possible. This status information in the form of process data for control and monitoring of sequences and product data for traceability and quality verification form an objective basis for making decisions in order to take early measures for process optimization.

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.

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.