Blog

Automation Brings Sophistication to Biomass Industry

Travel back a few decades, or just 10 years for that matter, and you might find a biomass infrastructure that looks a lot different. For instance, you might not see a biomass control room with operators en masse—but there’d be more than just a handful. Now, biomass plants operate with fewer on-site personnel, and intuitive…
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How (And Where) To Find Expertise in Booming Industries like Biogas

Let’s pretend you have a cable bundle at your house. The cable company gave you their top-of-the-line, next-generation technology, but it’s Friday night and you’re having issues. Shocking, right? Your internet connection is in and out, your TV picture is staticky, and your remote won’t change channels. You pick up the phone and call tech…
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6 Ways IIoT Helps Metals Manufacturing Run Efficiently

Nowadays, new technologies help scale up production efficiency for a number of industries, including metals manufacturing. State-of-the-art strategies streamline processes, leading to increased productivity, improved performance, and northbound profits.  Sweeping onto the scene in 2012, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has altered the trajectory of a number of manufacturing sectors—metals manufacturing among them. IIoT…
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5 Steps to Automation Modernization

When mulling over automation upgrades, roadblocks and costs can cause concern—especially if they’re significant. Oftentimes, progress stalls due to the swarm of questions surrounding the process. But it shouldn’t; in fact, now might be the perfect time to adopt a new or renewed automation approach. It may be tempting to balk at updates, but the…
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The SCADA Development Community: A Prime Place for Collaboration

The applications that underpin successful automation rarely prove overtly simple. However, a new open source movement has increased the accessibility of one key automation component: SCADA. These hubs for SCADA development help link resources to developers, allowing organizations to bypass some economic and start-up hurdles.  Open Source in Automation Open source’s headway in the technological…
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Automating Your Systems? Don’t Forget About Safety

It’s no secret that automation’s inroads into the manufacturing sector continue to see growth. These spikes in automation’s presence provide ample opportunity for increased productivity—but also pose a new set of risks in the workplace. System automation compels  your industries’ safety concerns to come to the forefront.  Evaluate Your Risks As you may know, a…
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Finding Success in Industry 4.0 Without the Benefit of Historical Data

Producing quality products at a breakneck pace has become the rule, rather than the exception. For producers, meeting demand in today’s climate means tightened schedules, constricted budgets, and dynamic change. This is the result of the new industrial revolution we find ourselves in: Industry 4.0.  Navigating the New Age: Industry 4.0 Since its inception in…
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Upgrading Your Control Systems Without a Lot of Downtime

Just like any piece of equipment in your facility, control systems age. Over time they grow outdated, in turn growing more and more expensive to maintain—and causing more disruptions to your operations. If this is true for your system, you’re probably nodding your head right now. If you know that you need an upgrade but…
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Keeping Your Control Systems and Your Data Secure

More and more, manufacturers and utilities are discovering the many benefits of expanding their digital networks—but that can’t be effectively done without addressing the growing cybersecurity threats that come with it.  Cybersecurity Threats in Light of COVID-19 Manufacturing and utility operations are facing a wide variety of different cyber threats today. The latest? The theft…
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The Power of Data-Driven Productivity

Automation is about a lot more than just advancing technology—it’s about helping companies achieve operational goals that align with their business strategies. Keep reading for more information about how implementing automation can boost productivity and business growth.  Decisions Based on Data Once you’ve reviewed your business’s strategies, you need to find the data to support…
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Essentials of a Connected Manufacturing Strategy

Our world is always changing—both for our personal lives, and our professional lives. The number of connected devices is steadily on the rise, while the cost of technology is steadily decreasing. We have a steady stream of information coming at us all the time, allowing us to stay connected to pretty much whatever or whoever…
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Now Is the Ideal Time to Automate Your Production—Here’s Why

Many in the manufacturing sector are dealing with uncertain futures in the wake of COVID-19. The pandemic has done a number on a wide variety of industries. The manufacturing industry has been hit especially hard by supply chain disruptions and unexpected shifts in demand.  If the uncertainty you’re facing is based on if your facility…
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