Control Systems

To increase the depth and breadth of its industrial automation and control range Farnell has introduced variable speed drives, Programmable Logic Controls (PLCs) and Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) from Mitsubishi Electric.

Automated control of water systems, whether in swimming pools, washrooms, or drinking water supplies, needs reliable equipment that minimises water hammer and the effects of dezincification. Bürkert’s Type 6213 solenoid valve achieves this and can be specified to meet even the most demanding applications. It is available through the company’s e-commerce site and local valve suppliers.

Continuous water extraction from boreholes is a common source of raw materials for drinks manufacturers as well as water utility companies. In all cases, monitoring water quality is very important, both pre and post treatment, and the frequency of tests establishes the confidence in the data. Bürkert’s Type 8905 Online Analysis System offers continuous monitoring of various water parameters with minimal intervention or maintenance.

Seeq has made available its connectors to CygNet enterprise SCADA and WITSML data storage systems.

Food and beverage manufacturers are constantly under pressure to package a wider variety of products in more types of packaging without compromising productivity. Now they can answer these trends while increasing throughput using the new iTRAK 5730 small-frame intelligent track system from Rockwell Automation. The linear motion control system uses independent cart technology to support smart, flexible and efficient machines.

A time-pressure controller developed for precision dosing of microlitre volumes for medical and pharmaceutical applications has been launched by Bürkert.

A gas controller for refrigerant, toxic and combustible gas detection applications has been released by Bacharach. The MGS-402 is designed for safety compliance in mechanical rooms, cold storage facilities, walk-in freezers, and cold room applications to -40° F/C.

Modern process control valves offer a wide range of features and benefits for industries that require precise control over fluids, steam and other gases. With so many control valves on the market, it is important to establish the features that will deliver the most cost-effective design for a particular application. Damien Moran, Field Segment Manager, Hygienic - Pharmaceutical at Bürkert, looks at some of the basic differentiators as well as some recent design developments.

Two programmable logic controller (PLC) starter packs from industrial automation specialist Allen-Bradley, part of the Rockwell Automation group, are in stock at RS Components. The Micro850 and Micro820 Starter Packs contain all the hardware needed to get up and running with the Allen-Bradley Micro850 and Micro820 PLCs, respectively, including power supplies (PSU), controller accessories and graphic terminals.

The current trend of robot control is changing with PLC-based solutions offering different benefits and opportunities over the traditional dedicated robot controllers. So what needs to be considered when selecting the right solution for the application? Here Barry Weller, Product Manager at Mitsubishi Electric, looks at how to determine which robot control option is best.