LED Lighting Changing the Auto Industry (Backup)
LED lights are being rapidly developed and changing the automotive industry. This new lighting...
Welcome to ACD Connect
ACD Connect brings you the latest news in industrial automation. New technologies, product updates, engineering tips and how-to's. Find it here!
LED Lighting: What is a Foot Candle & How is it Measured? (Backup)
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What is a foot candle?
You may be wondering, what the heck is a foot candle? Why is this so...
Leuze DDLS 500 Product Overview (Backup)
Modern industrial workspaces have dynamic requirements. Industrial networks in high-bay storage...
Leuze Electronic Collaborates with Microsoft to Accelerate IoT Solutions
The Internet of Things (IoT) has taken the manufacturing world by storm. By tapping into the...
Banner Engineering Machine Safety: Safety Relays
Safety relays are control devices that sit between safety equipment and machines, activated either...
3VA Molded Case Circuit Breaker Overview
A circuit breaker is one of the most common protection and control devices used in the vast field...
How to start your first IIoT project
You've probably been wondering about the talk on IoT, Industrial Internet of Things, or data-driven...
Cybersecurity & Resilience: Influencing the Modern Factory
With the growth of interconnected devices and machines within the Industrial Internet of Things, it...
Machine Co-Creativity & Augmented Design: Influencing the Modern Factory
Artificial intelligence has paved the way for many breakthroughs and time-solving solutions in the...
3D and 4D Printing & Additive Manufacturing: Influencing the Modern Factory
The burgeoning technology of 3D printing has taken the industry and popular culture by storm. For...
Digital Twins: Influencing the Modern Factory
Manufacturing is a complex, intricate process with dozens of moving parts. Should an error occur,...
Autonomous Vehicles: Influencing the Modern Factory
Technology has always strived to make life better and easier for the general population. Whether...
Robots & Cobots: Influencing the Modern Factory
As automation in general continues to proliferate in factory environments, so too does the role of ...
Quantum Computing: Influencing the Modern Factory
Modern computing power has given businesses the ability to analyze vast data sets quickly and make...
Computer Vision & Facial Recognition: Influencing the Modern Factory
New innovative technology is continuously enhancing day-to-day life. Whether it’s a virtual...
Cloud and Edge Computing: Influencing the Modern Factory
With the dawn of IIoT and the introduction of smart technology used for tracking and logging...
Robotic Process Automation: Influencing the Modern Factory
Automation has streamlined the modern manufacturing process. Instead of spending hours manually...
Using a Siemens HMI with a non-Siemens PLC
The Basics
A Human-Machine-Interface (HMI) is a user interface or dashboard that connects a person...
Big Data and Augmented Analytics: Influencing the Modern Factory
The ability to analyze and understand large sets of data quickly and accurately is vital to success...
Intelligent and Smart Spaces: Influencing the Modern Factory
As the technology and machinery involved in manufacturing processes become smarter and more...
Tuning a PID Loop
The Basics
A control loop is an increasingly integral device used in industrial applications....
The Internet of Things: Influencing the Modern Factory
The Internet of Things is a system of interrelated computing devices with the ability to transfer...
ACD Announces the Acquisition of Adcon Engineering
ACD Announces the Acquisition of Adcon Engineering
Two great companies become one outstanding...
Natural Language Processing & Voice Interfaces
Burgeoning technology has given rise to time-saving and cost-cutting business opportunities....
ACD Expands into Columbus
ACD Expands Into Columbus, OH
ACD is a new and exciting industrial automation supplier for the...
Smart Motor Control Centers
A motor control center (MCC) is an assembly to control some or all of the electric motors in a...
When a PLC Just Doesn't Cut It
In a modern factory environment, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are integral to day-to-day...
SINAMICS G120 & S120 Drives
A quick-paced modern factory environment requires equally intelligent and high-tech equipment to...
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning: Influencing the Modern Factory
During the past several decades, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have become...
eWON - Cosy vs. Flexy
An industrial router is a key tool to meet a modern factory’s connectivity and data collection...
Applications for the Siemens Open Controller
An open controller (not to be confused with an open-loop controller) is a control system that has...
Importance of Risk Assessment in Manufacturing
Manufacturing companies invest millions in human and equipment in the bid to achieve peak...
Basics of Machine Safety in a PLC
A programmable logic controller (PLC) is an industrial digital computer which is used for the...
Setup of a Banner Wireless Controller
Wireless technology is a burgeoning and now nearly ubiquitous facet of a modern factory...
The Benefits of a Virtual Machine
A virtual machine is an emulation of a computer system, giving the user a completely separate,...
TIA Portal Basics
Modern factory automation is a complex process. Oftentimes, there are dozens of machines...
Addressing Coronavirus/COVID-19
Addressing Coronavirus/COVID-19
During this time of uncertainty, Advanced Controls & Distribution...
Choosing the Right Industrial Motor
The task of choosing the rightindustrial motorcan be daunting. Therearea plethora of options,...
Motor Testing Methods
In the majority of plant environments, industrial motors are the heartbeat of the workspace. Motors...
Overview of IO-Link Devices
With sensor technology becoming more ubiquitous in modern industrial plants, IO-Link devices are...
AC-Direct Driving LED Strings
With each passing year, LED lights (light-emitting diodes) are continuing to offer better...
Difference between AC and DC Drives
Understanding the distinction between AC and DC drives and their roles in the regulation of speed...
The Competitive Value of Machine Safety
The value of Machine Safety extends far beyond safe plant operations and reduced compensation...
Industrial Wireless Automation
From improved productivity and more organized asset management to reduced costs (due to the...
Overview of Industrial Sensors
In the current state of factory operations, sensors are key components to data acquisition and...
Scaling to IIoT Projects
Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) projects are redefining and shaping how modern factories and...
Best Practices for DCS Migration
While modernization and advances in technology can make life easier for operators and company...
Keeping an HMI/SCADA Safe
With aging technology and systems along with the rise of cybersecurity risks, it is now more...
Gain a Competitive Edge with Remote Monitoring
With a large fraction of the working populous constantly traveling, it is hard to routinely...
Why Risk Assessment is Crucial
Because of the rigorous nature of the work and the heavy machinery involved, factories and...
The Impact of AI on Factory Automation
While the general population may have an archaic understanding of the inner workings of a factory,...
Common Terminology for Machine Safety
With the complexities and dangers associated with heavy machinery in a factory or manufacturing...
Beginners Guide to SIL Levels
During the normal course of work, manufacturers must take special care to monitor the safety of the...
The Evolution of Lighting Systems in Industrial Applications
Even though LEDs have proved their worth as energy efficient solution to lighting, the...
Upgrading PLC Hardware
The Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) has formed the backbone of all industrial automation...
Discrete Sensors 101
Discrete Sensors have existed in the automation & control landscape long before the advent of ...
Olsun Cast Coil Transformers
A transformer is an electrical power appliance that steps up or steps down voltage levels, while...
5G Effect on IIoT
It is estimated that by the year 2020, the number of devices connected to the Internet of Things...
How IoT will change the Engineering Industry
When old-school engineers are preached about the upcoming wave of Industry 4.0 technologies and how...
Essentials of designing with LED
The era of LED lighting has given designers several wide-ranging advantages over legacy systems,...
Leuze PRKL Polarized and Retro-reflective Photoelectric Sensors
Any photoelectric sensor, irrespective of its type or technology, uses two parts: transmitter and...
How to Plan a Safety Upgrade
Planning a safety system upgrade can be tricky and can be detrimental to your plant’s productivity....
Weidmuller CB4200 Series Supplementary Circuit Breakers Overview
Circuit breakers are necessary components of any electricity-driven network, protecting devices and...
IIoT Project Planning
The plethora of communication protocols and exhaustive list of security configurations make IIoT...
Top 10 Machine Safety Myths Debunked: Part 2
Poor safety practices within the plant floor can lead to a variety of problems and hazards within...
Top 10 Machine Safety Myths Debunked: Part 1
Poor safety practices within the plant floor can lead to regulatory fines, workers’ compensations,...
Top Digital Supply Chain Trends
Whenever the word “supply chain” is uttered, most professionals usually think of logistics,...
What You Need to Know About IoT and Why
The wide-scale adoption of the Internet of Things and automation technologies is inevitable. For...
Using Data to Detect Safety Risks
The Digital Enterprise architecture is disrupting conventional workflows, changing the ways in...
Yaskawa S7G Gear Motors Overview
The Sigma-7 family from Yaskawa is aimed at bringing greater responsiveness, efficiency and...
Banner Wireless Solution Kit Overview
Banner Engineering’s Wireless Solution Kit enables the monitoring of parameters such as vibrations...
Yaskawa MP3200 IEC Product Overview
The hallmark of Yaskawa’s machine controller MPiec series, the MP3200 offers support for a variety...
Banner Engineering Machine Safety: AG4 Safety Laser Scanners
Laser scanners serve as a safeguarding mechanism in places where normal devices such as emergency...
The Exponential Growth of the IIoT Market
IIoT is no longer a concept limited to research papers, conferences and keynote speeches; it is...
Banner Engineering SolutionsKit9-Vibe: Wireless Vibration Solution Kit
Banner Engineering possesses a wide arsenal of automation components sufficient to fulfill all...
What Status Do Temperature & Vibration Sensors Hold in the Technological Regime of Today?
As we move ahead towards an across-the-board adoption of Industry 4.0 and its associated...
IIoT Implementation Challenges and Solutions
The Industrial Internet of Things may be at a path of certainty, with more companies adopting it,...
Carlo Gavazzi RGTS Soft Starter Overview
Soft Starters are used in conjunction with electrical motors to alleviate the mechanical and...
Industrial Facility Safety Initiatives and Control
For operators working in an automated environment, safety is dependent on two core factors....
Machine Guarding: Creating Safe Work Environments for Humans and Machines
Productivity, efficiency and profits have all soared within the manufacturing industry thanks to...
Banner Engineering 14/30 Series Safety Light Curtains
Safety Light Curtains are an essential part of any plant floor utilizing roboticsand automation...
Top 5 Ways to Increase Engineering Productivity
Working a 9 – 5 engineering job? An 8-hour day for five or six days a week can have a daunting...
Safety System Selection
As factory floors become increasingly complex and incorporate sophisticated modules, the need for...
Magswitch AR Series
The Magswitch range of magnets is a game changer, revolutionizing the metals industry, adding new...
Siemens Industrial Tablet PC - SIMATIC IPT1000
Dubbed rugged, handy and a powerhouse, the SIMATIC IPT1000 is a top of the line industrial tablet PC
Banner Q4X Photoelectric Sensors – What Benefits does it Bring to the Plant floor?
Banner has an impressive portfolio of photoelectric sensors, offering over 12000 different types of...
Emergency Stop and Stop Controllers
Ever been in one of those situations where you wished you just had a ‘pause’ button? Accidents on...
Banner Engineering Lighting and Indicators: Vision Lighting
Vision Lighting completes Banner Engineering’s vast portfolio of safety lights and indicators....
Banner Engineering Lighting and Indicators: LED Indicators
In an industrial setting, lighting is of paramount importance, regardless of the required purpose....
Banner Engineering Lighting and Indicators: Pick-to-Light
Pick-to-light is an ideal, error-proofing technique that can greatly bring down errors and defects...
Banner Engineering Lighting and Indicators: Tower Lights
Combination lighting has often been used in industries for indication purposes in complex...
Banner Engineering Lighting and Indicators: Touch Buttons
Industrial machines hold a lot of power and often require intervention through manual means. Most...
VPN and Cellular Options for Remote Monitoring
Globalization has been a driving force for the industrial world for decades now. Multinational...
Solcon DriveStart
Soft starters are essential pieces of equipment for motor control that are cost-effective and...
Solcon Solbrake
It's important to make sure motors can function properly, and electronic brakes are one method that...
Solcon iStart Overview
As cost-effective and time-saving devices, soft starters are essential pieces of equipment for...
Banner Engineering Emergency Stop Controllers
While the industrial world is making regular breakthroughs in the field of intelligence and...
Banner Engineering Industrial LED Task Lighting
When it comes to industrial spaces, lighting is extremely important. Without the proper lighting,...
Two Hand Controls by Banner Engineering
Two hand controls are safeguarding devices that are used to keep the operator’s hands away from the...
Banner Engineering Safety Limit and Interlocking Switches
In industrial plants, safety is an important factor for any plant floor. Thus, Banner Engineering...
Barcode Readers from Banner Engineering
As simple and nifty as they are, barcode readers play an essential and integral part within...
Banner Engineering Ultrasonic Sensors
Some industry applications are particular tricky, especially stable detection of uneven surfaces,...
Banner Engineering Slot Sensors and Part Sensing
Slot sensors and part sensing arrays are highly resourceful and utilizable devices that can help...
Safety Controllers by Banner Engineering
Often considered just another programmable controller, safety controllers handle the highly...Leuze Electronic Barcode Identification
The identification of objects is a vital part of any assembly line, which as a whole serves a...
WLB32 Industrial LED Lighting Overview: Banner Engineering
Industrial lighting has become a highly important topic of late as plant engineers realize the...
How Banner Can Benefit Assembly and Robotics
Manufacturers are always on the lookout for better assembly methods to meet their production...
Siemens Simatic RF600 RFID Applications
Digital Factory is a term that’s often thrown around frequently, and mostly related with concepts...
Banner Engineering Laser Distance Sensors
Industrial production is composed of a number of tasks, all of which go hand in hand. One of these...
The Essentials of Magswitch Automation Magnets
Electromagnets are highly popular and relied-upon in the entire fabrication industry. But in recent...
Siemens Simatic HMI Comfort Panel PRO
Monitoring and control equipment for operators is a necessity whenever machinery and plants need to...
Banner Engineering Temperature & Vibration Sensors
Temperature and Vibration Sensors are physically minor yet highly impactful components of any...
Simply Safe: Network Integration via PROFIsafe/PROFINET
The RSL 400 is an outstanding laser scanner from Leuze Electronic, and is underlined by its wide...
The Baggage of Variable Frequency Drive Solutions
Over the years, drive technology has truly advanced and gotten more diversified, giving users a...
Magswitch Automation Magnets: Applications
Magswitch claims it's changing the way things are done; a statement that is very much accurate. The...
A Siemens Success Story: Gelco GmbH & Co.
Flexible control of production, efficient management of assets and synchronization of supply...
Banner Engineering Fiber Optics Sensors & Amplifiers
Fiber optics have revolutionized the communication industry globally and filled the vacuum left by...
Simotics VSD4000 with Sinamics S120
Siemens has always distinguished itself from the competition by providing solutions rather than...
eWON Products Provide a Source of Revenue
Manufacturing companies are locked in an all-out war of productivity, with factors such as...
Why Should You Use Automation Magnets?
Magswitch's disruptive technology is making headlines in the automation industry as it has broken...
Emergency Stop and Stop Controllers by Banner Engineering
Have you ever been in one of those situations where you wished you just had a ‘pause’ button?...
Essentials of Remote Machine Access
Remote operation of machines has perhaps been a universal desire of all industrial manufacturers....
RFID in Industrial Applications
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Solutions can play a detrimental role in industrial...
Banner Engineering Measuring Arrays
The increased automation of the workplace has posed a number of risks & hazards for the nearby...
Reliable Detection of Objects and Fill Levels
Detection of objects or fluids is one of the core tasks that are performed in any industry, upon...
Industrial Networks: The Backbone of the Digital Enterprise
The age of digitalization has arrived. Industries are becoming highly reliant on the use of data...
Light Curtain or Safety Laser Scanner? Choosing an Optical Safety Device
Safeguarding machinery is a critical step in all industries from manufacturing to machine building...
TIA Portal: Your Gateway to Automation in the Digital Enterprise
The TIA Portal is an unprecedented innovation in a world heading quickly towards automation,...
Registration Mark, Color & Luminescence Sensors by Banner Engineering
Registration mark sensors are widely used to identify packaging material, position control and...
Safety in Mind with Meltric Decontactor
The Meltric Decontactor series of switch-rated plugs hold a high degree of competitive edge and...
Sinamics S210 & Simotics S-1FK2 Servodrive System
The Sinamics S210 and Simotics S-1FK2 are additional examples where Siemens has proven its...
Infrared Photoelectric Sensor for Water-Based Liquid Detection
Detecting the presence or absence of fluids in clear bottles is one of the most challenging yet...
Siemens Simatic HMI: Taking Efficiency to a New Level
Simatic HMI Pro is an all-round industrial interface solution that covers every aspect that one...
4G LTE Extension Card for eWON Flexy
eWON Flexy is a major revolutionary product that serves as a modular M2M router and data gateway,...
The Best Cable Reel Rack Solution in the Industry
Cable Reel Racks are an essential part of almost every industry, whether its mining, electric,...
Get Accuracy and Reliability with Banner Photoelectric Sensors!
Automation is highly reliant on an accurate & reliable stream of data, which can be processed to...
PRIME8 1500+ Lumen
Portable lighting come in handy in a variety of situations, and are almost a must-have for a number...
eWON eCatcher now on Mobile
eCatcher is Talk2M’s way of allowing you to manage your Talk2M account, and connect to your assets...
I/O Extension Module for Sinamics V20 Increases Converter Scope
For quick-commissioning and cost-effectiveness, Siemens has been offering Sinamics V20 Drive...
Banner Engineering Offers Solutions with Accessories
In addition to offering a vast array of connectivity & sensory products, Banner Engineering...
How Leuze Ensures Continuous Communication for IO-Link
Data is sensed, processed & acted upon within an industry through a wide range of sensors &...
Flood-It Offers Charge 'N' Go, Perfect for Home & Leisure
How many times have the lights gone out on you at a mission-critical time? How many times have your...
Sinamics S120 Booksize Motor Modules
Today, machines have to be manufactured in the most cost-effective manner possible, while offering...
Banner Engineering Improves Production Efficiency with Machine Safety
It is undeniable that machines have helped improve production efficiencies over a large variety of...
3 Tough Level Sensing Applications & How to Solve Them
The manufacturing process of many industries would come to a standstill without level sensors. From...
Banner Sensors' Impact on Packaging Automation
Advancements in sensory technologies are driving the packaging, quality control & track-and-trace...
Reducing Electricity Cost through Use of Premium Efficiency Motors
Over the years, electricity has become a basic necessity, without which life as we know would...
Wireless Sensor Networks: What You Need to Know
Banner Engineering packs a highly impressive wireless products portfolio for providing top...
Lighting & Indicators Overview: Banner Engineering
Proper lighting is a prerequisite in all types of industries in order to ensure smooth operation,...
TIA Portal v15 Engineering Framework: Applications, Digitalization & Efficiency
Siemens has displayed a great deal of attention towards the prospects of digitalization, and the...
eWON Talk2M: Now ISO 27001 Certified
The need for security isn’t that apparent until part of your network or privacy is compromised. ...
Banner Engineering Sensors: How Can Data be Turned into Useful Information?
Data sits at the very core of all automation operations. All modern automation technologies &...
Banner Engineering Offers Solutions for Water and Wastewater Industry
Working with the water & wastewater industry in the fields of monitoring & control can be a...
Electrical Test Instruments: Safety is Still the First Tool
Electrical construction, maintenance and repair work all involve a great deal of attention towards...
What is a Photoelectric Sensor? How Can it Benefit Your Facility?
There are several industrial applications, especially within manufacturing where the distance,...
Siemens helps Manufacturing Companies Become Digital Enterprises
Digitization is affecting all walks of life, from the way we travel to the way we spend our money...
Banner Engineering Machine Vision Overview
Formed by a synergetic mixture of high-performance tools and intelligent features, Banner...
Flood-it Technology: Industry Leading Battery Life
We are heavily dependent on artificial lighting in almost all walks of life, whether its within our...
Overview of the Weidmuller IP20 & IP67 IO-Link Master Modules
Weidmüller has successfully expanded its wide portfolio of Remote I/O products with its two new ...
Industrial IoT Monitoring Defines the Next Phase of Automation
The use of IoT technologies in manufacturing is what simply constitutes Industrial IoT. The concept...
Custom Lights Enable Distant Communication in a Busy Manufacturing Site
Networks of conveyer belts & loading/unloading machinery undoubtedly project an image of harmony &...
Siemens Safety Evaluation Tool
Safety is one of the core components upon which an industrial business depends. Apart from ensuring...
Banner Engineering General-Purpose Panel Indicators
A factory floor has a lot going at any particular instance. In order to avoid a mishap and ensure...
Weidmüller Releases IP20 and IP67 IO-Link Master Modules
IP20 & IP67 IO-Link Modules are the newest edition to Weidmüller’s already impressive product...
Temperature Monitoring: Are You Getting Accurate Data Recordings?
Temperature is one of the major physical parameters that are monitored & regulated in a wide range...
Machine Monitoring & Equipment Effectiveness
The worst method of operating machines is running them to a point of failure, carrying out repairs...
How Industrial Wireless Technology Lowers Cost and Improves Operations
As communications technology advances, the limitations of a wired ethernet network became apparent...
Contactless Energy Transmission will make Automation More Flexible
While there have been major breakthroughs in the field of Electric Power Generation, the concepts...
Cree Delivers New Brighter LED Bulbs to Market
Electric Lighting is often taken for granted when it comes to the consumer sector, and a similar,...
Industrial Wireless Controller DXM
Interconnected systems are becoming hugely popular, and the core focus of every company is to...
What Can Be Done with Anybus Wireless Solutions?
Overview of Anybus Wireless Solutions
Wireless solutions are being increasingly adopted in the...
Improve Efficiency in Assembly & Manufacturing with Error-Proofing Assembly Applications
Manufacturers of every size are always seeking to improve the efficiencies of their industrial...
Dialight Becomes First Industrial LED Lighting Supplier to Reach 1 Million Fixtures
Dialight has been a pioneer in the world of industrial LED lighting, always setting benchmarks in...
50mm Optical Pick-to-Light Sensors: K50 Series – Product Overview
Banner’s EZ-Light Touch K50 Lighted Operators make up for an integral part of the EZ-Light family,...
Magswitch Heavy Lift Frame 8000-M: Increase Productivity & Safety
Magswitch is a mechanical device capable of turning a permanent magnetic field on or off. The...
Benefits of Bearing-free Magnetic Encoder Systems
Magnetic encoder technology is vastly used in heavy industries such as steel mills, ship drives,...
Highlights of the Häwa Aluminum Enclosures
Enclosures are that part of a workspace that doesn’t hold any standard size. Customers always come...
Highlights of the eWON Flexy: How Does it Work?
There was a time when phrases such as Internet of Things, Smart Factory and Industry 4.0, were...
ACD Announces Banner Engineering Product Lines
Effective October 1, 2017, ACD is pleased to announce a partnership with Banner Engineering.
ACD...
What is Anybus?
Launched in 1994 by HMS Industrial Networks, Anybus technology and products have proved themselves...
PNC Park Retrofitted with new LED Lighting
A Win at PNC Park!
PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates has gotten an upgrade in order to cope...
Absolute Encoders: A Necessary Component of the Industrial World
Encoders are a necessary component of the industrial world, and can be found supporting a range of...
Siemens Simatic KP400 HMI
Simatic HMI Panels have been at the forefront of industrial monitoring and control for years, and...
Magswitch Multi Angle 1000 MagVise
Magswitch’s revolutionary ferromagnetic technology has already revolutionized all industries that...
Explosion Proof Enclosures
The importance of sturdy and robust enclosures in an industrial environment can’t be stressed...
Siemens Industrial Tablet ITP1000
Introduced as part of the Siemens portfolio of Simatic Industrial PCs, the new Simatic ITP1000...
Magswitch Hand Lifter 60-CE
The Hand Lifter 60-CE is Magswitch’s take on cordless electric hand lifter hardware, giving users...
Talk2M: A Fundamental Aspect in Industrial IoT
Built to supplement eWON Cosy VPN routers, Talk2M is the first industrial IoT connectivity service...
Overview of Magswitch Magdrill
What would you prefer? Take your work piece to the drill or take your drill to the work piece? This...
eWON Cosy: Industry Leader in Remote Access
For the past two years eWON has been rated as #1 by Control Design Readers in the Machine Remote...
Winery Connects with Meltric Switch-Rated Quality, Consistency and Style
Founded in 1969, ZD Wines has a long history of producing world-class Burgundy wines. Quality,...
How to Implement a Smart Manufacturing Approach
The manufacturing industry has been keen on getting on board with the Industry 4.0 trend, and while...
Siemens Expands Scalance Portfolio
Siemens recently broke news of its expansion of its Scalance Portfolio. The introduction of new...
Closing the Gaps in Industry 4.0
While the quest of next-generation industrial technology has increased the adoption of internet,...