Factory

Automation technologies related to discrete manufacturing industry verticals such as automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, textiles, and electronics.

Articles

Design Phase Planning for Machine Vision Lighting

Understanding the difference between seeing and detecting defects, and the limitations of current technology, is essential for setting realistic project goals and achieving successful implementations.

Snowflake’s Tim Long explains how Snowflake fits among the cloud computing providers and how its SaaS model enables manufacturers to access massive compute power on demand.

Why ERP Needs MES for Manufacturing Success

Ryan McMartin

Pairing ERP with an MES empowers manufacturing operations to achieve new capabilities and new benefits that are not otherwise possible.

How to Assess HMI Hardware Buying Decisions

Mat Dirjish, contributing writer

From navigating different hardware options and worker training issues to integration and future trends, seven industry experts offer their advice on how to approach your HMI hardware...

Challenges and Ethical Considerations of Implementing Generative AI in Manufacturing

Luigi De Bernardini

A system integrator’s recommendations on navigating the complex issues related to data privacy, ethical artificial intelligence use and workforce training when it comes to generative...

Why Pneumatics Remain an Automation Mainstay

Beth Stackpole, contributing writer

Greater intelligence, coupled with cost and sustainability advantages, keep pneumatic motion control a staple of modern automation.

Low-Code: Why It’s No Longer Just an IT Tool

David Greenfield, editor in chief

Automation World spoke with Ray Kok, CEO at Mendix, a Siemens business that provides a low-code platform for app development to learn how manufacturers are using low-code apps...

How Open Systems Enable Practical IIoT Data Use

David Greenfield, editor in chief

Weidmuller demonstrates how the open architecture of its control systems and the built-in intelligence of its edge devices enable straightforward applications of operations data...

Products

Ergonomic HMI Tablet Device

IDEC Corporation

IDEC has introduced the new HT4P Safety Commander— an ergonomic device allowing users to safely hold a HMI tablet while providing power, networking and hardwired emergency stop...

4K 3D Profile Laser Line Profile Sensor

Teledyne DALSA

The Z-Trak LP2C 3D profile sensor family for in-line 3D measurement and inspection applications is the latest member of Teledyne Dalsa’s Z-Trak family. The sensors deliver 4,096...

3D Volume Sensor

Banner Engineering Corp.

The ZMX series 3D time of flight sensor provides a single sensor for volume monitoring. The ZMX sensor is installed over the bin to be filled and through the use of digital imaging...

AutomationDirect adds Linear Position Potentiometers

AutomationDirect

AutomationDirect has released the Gefran linear potentiometers and accessories, used to detect position and linear direction movement.

Videos

Robotic High-Force Torque Driving

David Greenfield, editor in chief

A look at the Universal Robots-Estic high-torque screwdriving platform.

ABB's New IRB 7710 and IRB 7720 Robots

David Greenfield, editor in chief

ABB AMR with Visual SLAM

David Greenfield, editor in chief

The new T702 from ABB is a tug-style autonomous mobile robot (AMR) that uses Visual SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) navigation to create a 360-degree point cloud ...

Bosch Rexroth's Smart Function Kit

David Greenfield, editor in chief

At Automate 2024, we caught up with Richard Vaughn, automation engineering manager at Bosch Rexroth to learn about Bosch Rexroth’s Smart Function Kit for Handling. These...