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Of gorillas and swarms – the manufacturing CIO’s new dilemma
July 2021
Back in the heyday of integrated business systems, the manufacturing CIO was faced with a relatively simple choice: which big ERP vendor to select and what database technology to run the system on?

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Control loop: Case History 178 - An over-filtered hydrogen flow loop
July 2021, Michael Brown Control Engineering
A good example that shows how lack of knowledge of the practicalities of control can result in terrible control characteristics.

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Loop Signatures 1: Introduction to the Loop Problem Signatures series
May 2020, Michael Brown Control Engineering
Over the years I have had many requests to write a book giving more detailed explanations of some of the problems I have encountered in my work on practical loop optimisation. I am by nature and inclination ...

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Loop Signatures 7: Final control elements – Part 3 hysteresis and deadband
June 2021, Michael Brown Control Engineering
Some of the biggest problems associated with the final control element are hysteresis and backlash.

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MES, OT and the IIoT – what’s required for digitalisation?
May 2021
Hand over the data decisions to the OT guys? Calm down IT professionals, there is a time and a place for everything.

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Control loop: Case History 177 - Valves, valves, valves!
May 2021, Michael Brown Control Engineering
75-85% of all industrial control loop problems are caused by valve issues.

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New devices from Endress+Hauser connect pressure measurement to the future
May 2021, Endress+Hauser South Africa
By implementing a Bluetooth interface, devices that were previously difficult to access, or in danger zones, can now be operated easily and safely.

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Loop Signatures 6: Final control elements – Part 2: characteristics.
April 2021, Michael Brown Control Engineering
Feedback theory generally assumes that the process has a linear transfer function, which means that equal changes on the input will result in equal changes on the output.

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Tailored technology meets responsive design with the new Festo website
April 2021, Festo South Africa
Festo South Africa recently launched its new website to demonstrate the company’s continuing commitment to simplifying its customer’s lives through innovative service delivery.

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Control Loop: Case History 176 - The importance of programming PLC control modules correctly.
March 2021, Michael Brown Control Engineering
Every time I work on a plant that is using a PLC and scada system for feedback control, I always first do a test on a controller module to ensure that the controllers have been configured correctly.

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Control Loop: Loop Signatures 5
February 2021, Michael Brown Control Engineering
This article outlines some of the practical problems and rules of thumb relating to final control elements, which can affect control in the real world.

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Unlimited performance in limited spaces
February 2021, KROHNE
The new AF-E 400 is the culmination of KROHNE`s 70 years of expertise in electromagnetic flow measurement and was specifically designed for industrial automation applications.

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Control loop: Case History 175 - Oversized valve disrupts good control
January 2021, Michael Brown Control Engineering
This article provides good insight into the dangers of using largely oversized valves, and into the importance of understanding practical control, and how your controllers work.

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Advanced new Festo valve portfolio gains immense popularity in industrial automation
November 2020, Festo South Africa
Kershia Beharie talks to SA Instrumentation and Control about choosing the right valves for machine applications from the popular Festo range.

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2020 MESA virtual conference – if you missed it you missed out!
January 2021, IT in Manufacturing
Arguably the best lineup of guest speakers in years; to top it you’d have to get Elon Musk and Kanye West to present at next year’s event.

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PMV D30 smart digital positioner from V&A
January 2021, Valve & Automation
While pumps, seals and valves frequently get most of the attention, it is often the actuators and positioning solutions that are running the show.

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Loop Signatures 4: Process dynamics – deadtime and simple lags
November 2020, Michael Brown Control Engineering
Two important dynamic factors occurring in the majority of process responses are deadtime, and the first order lag.

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Control loop: Case History 174 - The importance of setting up your controller properly
October 2020, Michael Brown Control Engineering
It always amazes me that so few people really understand the workings of their feedback controllers. I have met only a few who really understand the practicalities of control blocks.

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Loop Signatures 3: Process Dynamics – process gain
September 2020, Leaderware
If one wishes to control a process, then it is important to have a reasonable understanding of the process itself and certainly one should also be aware of the external influences that can act on it.

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Loop signatures: Case History 173
August 2020, Michael Brown Control Engineering
More control problems in a copper extraction plant.

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