Loop signature 23: Tuning Part 2. August 2024, System Integration & Control Systems Design It is my opinion that most tuning methods are very crude. They do of course also offer a starting point for tuning if one is not fortunate enough to have a sophisticated tuning package like a Protuner around.
Top 10 emerging technologies August 2024, News The World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified ten technologies likely to make a significant positive impact in the next three to five years. These are detailed in the ‘Top 10 Emerging Technologies’ report, which explains each technology’s potential for addressing global challenges and the factors that will shape the future and revolutionise connectivity still further.
Hack-proof measurement technology August 2024, VEGA Controls SA, IT in Manufacturing Users in the process industry have not prioritised cyber security. This might be because they assume the IT department’s responsibility, or they don’t feel directly threatened. However, both attitudes are neglectful, and here’s why: IT security should always be a joint task between IT and OT.
Into the future with green hydrogen Technews Industry Guide: Sustainable Manufacturing 2024, Pepperl+Fuchs, Electrical Power & Protection German company, Pepperl+Fuchs is a pioneer and innovator in explosion protection and industrial sensor technology. SA Instrumentation & Control’s editor caught up with Marc Van Pelt, managing director of Pepperl+Fuchs South Africa, to find out more about the company’s involvement in sustainable manufacturing, and especially green hydrogen.
A green hydrogen economy Technews Industry Guide: Sustainable Manufacturing 2024, Electrical Power & Protection Hydrogen is an important feedstock in processes ranging from steel, ammonia and fuel production to energy generation and storage. Traditional hydrogen processes generate large amounts of carbon, but green hydrogen has emerged as an important contribution in the global shift towards sustainable energy.
Emission-free mobility with hydrogen Technews Industry Guide: Sustainable Manufacturing 2024, Motion Control & Drives We are now used to cars powered by electricity; but in the quest for zero carbon emissions, hydrogen cars, or hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), could be the next big thing in the automotive industry.
Navigating the energy crossroads Technews Industry Guide: Sustainable Manufacturing 2024, Electrical Power & Protection In South Africa, industry is at an energy crossroads, caught between optimising energy usage to contain costs, and reducing carbon footprints in line with global sustainability and compliance legislation, and in line with global parent companies’ best practice standards. It is a juggling act to emulate the rest of the world in reducing carbon emissions, while still needing cost-effective, higher carbon fuels simply to keep operating; but there are solutions.
2024 global energy outlook Technews Industry Guide: Sustainable Manufacturing 2024, Schneider Electric South Africa Schneider Electric’s 2024 Global Energy Outlook highlights five key trends shaping the future of the global energy market.
Five steel producers taking action to decarbonise steel production Technews Industry Guide: Sustainable Manufacturing 2024, IT in Manufacturing Steel is crucial for engineering, construction and the energy transition. There is rising demand, but it produces 7% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, by 2030, near-zero emission steel at scale can be achieved by using ambitious, innovative technologies, and collaboration between steel purchasers, producers and companies providing enabling technologies.
Control technology for energy-efficient biogas power plants Technews Industry Guide: Sustainable Manufacturing 2024, Beckhoff Automation Reverion’s goal is to help solve two of the biggest problems facing humanity by creating a truly sustainable energy system and removing gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere. The new generation of biogas power plants makes it possible to maximise the potential of biogas, and also benefit from surplus solar and wind energy that would otherwise remain unused.
PC-based control for waterjets I&C July 2024, Beckhoff Automation Control systems are subject to very specific demands from every form of production technology, including waterjet cutting. IGEMS from Sweden set itself the goal of taking this process to a new level in terms of precision and speed, and achieved it with the help of PC-based control.
Case History 193: The big dipper. I&C July 2024, Michael Brown Control Engineering This article gives an example of an important flow control system for flare gas in a petrochemical refinery. The control was suffering from serious problems, often cycling severely, and at other times the flow process variable (PV) would suddenly move quite a lot away from the setpoint (SP).
Edge computing: Introducing AI into the factory I&C July 2024, IT in Manufacturing As AI evolves, it is evident that the most powerful models will be cloud-based, and hosted in data centres that are beyond the control of the average business. The practical application of AI in manufacturing control and automation will only be possible if some of the computing workloads can be brought onto the plant, inside the firewall and inside the plant network.
36 years of innovation and success I&C July 2024, SAM Systems Automation & Management , System Integration & Control Systems Design Systems Automation & Management was established in 1988 at a time when there were no other systems integrators (SIs) in the process business. SA Instrumentation & Control’s editor caught up with managing director, Claudio Agostinetto to find out more about how this thriving company has prospered over the last 36 years.
The world’s greatest model railway June 2024, Horne Technologies, Motion Control & Drives Located in Hamburg’s traditional warehouse district, Speicherstadt features the largest model railway in the world, and is one of the most exciting tourist attractions in Germany.
Loop signature 23: Tuning part 1. June 2024, Michael Brown Control Engineering This is the first of several articles dealing with the subject of tuning. I have found that many people think that optimisation consists solely of tuning. I would stress once again that tuning is the last thing one should do when optimising regulatory controls.
Plastics meets packaging for consistent and efficient process control June 2024, Beckhoff Automation PC- based and EtherCAT-based control and drive technology from Beckhoff represent a universal solution that transcends industry and application boundaries. This standardised and scalable automation platform offers numerous advantages. Industry experts delve into how machine builders and end users in the plastics and packaging industry can capitalise on these advantages.
Continuous corrosion resistance June 2024, ifm - South Africa, Sensors & Transducers The polypropylene version of ifm’s LDL400 conductivity sensor is based on the proven LDL200 inductive conductivity sensor. Its material properties make it the ideal choice for applications in which metallic sensors tend to corrode.
Control architecture leads to faster, easier product development for refrigeration May 2024, Opto Africa Automation, IT in Manufacturing What’s the secret to providing superior service and staying competitive in a changing market? You might learn something from ALTA Refrigeration’s experience. Over ten years, it transformed itself from a custom engineering services company into a scalable industrial equipment manufacturer, using an edge-oriented control architecture to manage a growing installed base.
Step into the visual factory May 2024, Turck Banner Southern Africa, Electrical Power & Protection At Banner, the visual factory comprises three key applications for lighting and indication in industrial settings. These applications include the ability to help machines and workstations quickly communicate their status to people nearby, to use light to guide workers to perform certain tasks such as part picking, and to provide illumination for work areas and tasks.
