Network security is a legitimate fear when it comes to Smart Manufacturing. Overall, SM unleashes the potential of IIoT technologies by integrating three key productivity factors: the automation process which provides operational information, or data, necessary for production, followed by analytics. Smart manufacturing brings together two different work groups – Operation Technology and Information Technology…

Manufacturers on the road to IIOT (Industrial Internet of Things) will be one step closer when Rockwell Automation launches its dedicated network management software. It’s currently the only missing piece in the Connected Enterprise. I caught a glimpse of the beta version of Factory-Talk Network Manager recently at RATechED 2017 in Orlando, FL. Network security…

In some factories where just a fraction of time offline can wreak havoc on the bottom line, diagnostic insight into how your network is running is invaluable. Hardware, such as connections and switches, is critical. Too many industrial environments are ripe with standard office hardware. For years, the unmanaged switch has been the mainstay of…

The surge in Ethernet adoption, combined with lower hardware costs, is rapidly changing how we interact with “smart” control and power devices. Manufacturing facilities on the road to modernization can incorporate smart devices, such as newer variable frequency drives (VFDs), with little to no retrofitting. This eliminates the need to rip and replace, which can…

For many industrial plants, connectivity of control system components can be difficult and expensive. Wireless EtherNet/IP provides an easy way to overcome obstacles and extend your network to remote devices. Once these devices are networked efforts must be taken to keep the products secure and safe from cyber security threats. Other highly utilized areas with…

Motor protective relaying has evolved in utility power and industrial systems since protection was introduced more than 100 years ago. Many large industrial plants today still rely on thermal motor protection commonly based on bimetallic relays. While these relays work to shut down motors in dire situations, they aren’t effective at diagnosing and predicting future…

It’s no secret that motors are the backbone of manufacturing. Therefore, maintaining optimal health of a motor is a critical and endless focus of plant operators. At the heart of any motor is the overload relay, which – historically – protects the motor by detecting and reacting to temperature changes in the current. Thermal overload…

Much of America’s electrical infrastructure is somewhere between end of life and obsolescence. In fact, $65 billion worth of legacy automation systems are reaching end of life, according to a 2011 ARC Strategy Report. Take a sip of your coffee and let that information roll around in your mind for a minute. The thought process of many plant managers…

The K90 indicators are rugged, large 90 mm indicator lights that provide extremely bright and uniform illumination from all directions and longer distances. These multicolor lights can withstand high levels of impact as well as wash-down with an IP67 enclosure rating. Which indicator is right for your application?  The key differences between the K90L and…