May 2010 Issue Preview
Ad Closing: April 12, 2009 | Material Closing: April 19, 2009
Cover Story
Machine Safety
End users are using new risk assessment procedures and tools in their machines and applications. In this month’s cover story, Executive Editor Jim Montague, demonstrates how machine builders can do it and provides an update on the increased harmonizing among many safety standards, along with an understanding of how to benefit from these changes.
Input/Output Systems
Wireless Sensors
WirelessHART technology provides a new flexibility in manufacturing that addresses both monitoring and control applications. A major benefit of WirelessHART is that equipment may be moved with no impact on control system configuration. However, when applying any new technology, it is important to consider if the technology is appropriate for the application. This case history explores how and where WirelessHART was applied to a portable, skid-mounted, single-use bioreactor.
Measurement, Sensing & Vision
Diagnostic Tools: Live Wire
A downside of some components is the lack of diagnostics they provide. When the machine stops, you have to go out and do some troubleshooting, find and repair the problem and then restart the machine. In this issue’s Live Wire column, Managing Editor Mike Bacidore investigates how diagnostics issues are now driving decisions on components.
Machine Control
Programmable Controls: Product Roundup
This issue’s Product Roundup focus is on mechanical motion components. Email us information on your most recent, most important product offering [one product only]. Indicate “CONTROL DESIGN Roundup May 2010, [Company Name]” and attach a 300 dpi (at 2x2 in.) JPG, EPS, or TIF graphic. Direct it to CDRoundup@putman.net.
Drives & Motion Control
Motor Technology: TechFlash
Motor technology trends typically include efficiency gains and drive improvements. In this month’s TechFlash column, Executive Editor Jim Montague also examines sophisticated monitoring methods, added software intelligence and networking technologies that are emerging.
Operator Interface
M2M Communications: Real Answers
A machine builder added open connectivity via an Ethernet port on an industrial PC, but some customers are inquiring about wireless connectivity to pull operating data from places that would be cost-prohibitive. This month’s Real Answers question asks what’s analogous to wired Ethernet in terms of widespread industrial acceptance.
For advertising information, get details at www.controldesign.com, contact your account manager, or call Anetta Gauthier at 630/467-1300. Send insertion orders to Anetta at control design, 555 W. Pierce Rd., Itasca, IL 60143; Fax: 630-467-1124 agauthier@putman.net
Plus Ongoing Digital Opportunities:
Virtual Panel Discussions
Sponsorships are available for these new webcast-format panel discussions on a variety of industrial automation-related topics. Panelists will include sponsoring vendors and one of the vendor’s machine builder or integrator customers. The questions for the discussion will be created by the Control Design editorial staff, and the moderator will be a Control Design editor. Ask your Account Manager how to take full advantage of sponsoring this extraordinary opportunity.
ControlDesign.com Products Section Now Features Videos
Our New Products section can now accommodate videos of control and automation components and applications in action. Send us a video (5-7 minutes is optimal length, but this is merely a suggestion) of your product’s features being demonstrated in an application, and we’ll include it with your product listing on our site. Preferred video specs are FLV format, 400x300. We also can convert AVI (720x480 or 640x480), MOV (720x480 or 640x480), WMV or MPEG (640x480 at minimum of 1Mbps or 400x300 at minimum of 500 Kbps). Please send video to or contact Mike Bacidore (mbacidore@putman.net).
ControlDesign.com Call for White Papers
We’re populating our ControlDesign.com white paper library with automation topics relevant to each website channel. If you have a paper that is an instructive, generic treatment about a topic in the areas of Control Platforms, Machine Safety, Motion Control, Operator Interface, Machine Vision, Industrial Networking or Sensing & Measurement, contact Joe Feeley at JFeeley@putman.net.
The website also provides opportunities for your “sponsored” white paper to be prominently identified to site visitors and/or to be singled out as part of our expanded newsletter content. Your Account Manager has all the details.
Events Calendar
ControlDesign.com wants to include your events info on the website. Please submit the details of important events, seminars, conferences, etc., that you want industrial OEM site visitors to know about at http://www.controldesign.com/events/submit_event.html.
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