MA E-newsletter December 2005

"Canada's leading publication providing industrial automation news and technology information aimed at the discrete and process industries."

In this issue

From the editor

Happy Holidays!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you, the readers, for your support in the last few months, as I've settled into the role of editor for Manufacturing AUTOMATION. 2005 was a strong year for the publication, and 2006 promises to be even better.

The year will kick off with a great January/February issue, which focuses on education. The issue will include:

The 7th Annual Automation Training and Education Guide: A directory of automation-specific education and training courses offered at colleges and universities across Canada.

Looking for Mr. and Ms. Right: We talk to recruiters, industry, colleges and universities to find out what skills the manufacturing industry is looking for in graduates, and what is being done to address the looming skilled trades shortage.

Top five: Industry experts reveal what they see as the top industrial automation technologies you should have on your plant floor in 2006 and beyond.

Test and measurement: The ABCs of leak detection: Pressure decay, mass flow and helium testing technology today.

Plus: The latest news, appointment announcements and trends, as well as a selection of the latest power supplies, test and measurement solutions, interconnection devices, wire and cable products, and automation software offerings.

Keep an eye out for it at the end of January. I encourage you to send me a note and let me know your thoughts on our magazine. Tell me about the issues you face, and please share what you are doing to overcome the industry's hurdles. I want to hear your stories. I hope to meet more of you in the coming year. Have a safe and happy holiday.

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In the news

ATS to sell precision metals division
CAMBRIDGE, Ont. - ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc. will sell the assets of its precision metals division to Autocam, a precision-machined solutions provider. The companies have signed a binding purchase agreement and expect to close the transaction in early January. The purchase price and the terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The precision metals business of ATS staffs 230 people at its facility in Kitchener, Ont. ATS designs and produces turn-key automated manufacturing and test systems. The company employs approximately 4,000 people at 26 manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.
www.atsautomation.com
www.autocam.com

Siemens names exclusive distributor for Ottawa and Quebec
MISSISSAUGA, Ont. - Franklin Empire Inc., headquartered in Montreal, Que., is the new exclusive industrial distributor for Siemens Canada Ltd. in Ottawa and Quebec, effective January 1, 2006. The distribution agreement is for Siemens' automation products, safety products, variable frequency drives, motion control products and industrial control products.
Franklin Empire Inc. has carried the Siemens brand for many years, and is the Siemens Master Motor distributor for Quebec.
www.feinc.com
www.siemens.ca

Globalization drives PLC market growth
DEDHAM, Mass. - A study by the ARC Advisory Group, Programmable Logic Controller Worldwide Outlook, forecasts that the programmable logic controller (PLC) market will grow to more than $9 billion in 2009, up from nearly $7 billion in 2004. The expected compounded annual growth rate of 5.9 per cent over the next five years is being attributed to the fact that many elements of modern information technology (IT) are incorporated into PLCs, raising their attractiveness as a centre stage plant-floor controller among worldwide manufacturers, according to the report.
"Global manufacturers are challenged to seek automation equipment that supports their business objectives such as improving return on assets, enhancing overall equipment effectiveness and providing real-time performance management," said senior analyst Himanshu Shah, the principal author of the study. "The PLC, being primarily an automation controller designed with modern IT features, plays a key role in supporting these objectives."
The report forecasts a modest turnaround in overall capital spending in 2005 and beyond, as manufacturers gear up production to meet rising global demand. This turnaround, according to the report, should result in a growing demand for automation equipment, including PLCs.
Information about this study is available at www.arcweb.com/res/plc.

From left to right: Robert Mathieu, group show manager, Reed Exhibitions; Mark Schick, president, Advanced Motion & Controls Ltd.; Erin Smart, marketing services, Advanced Motion & Controls Ltd.; Tyrone Penton, area sales manager, Advanced Motion & Controls Ltd.; Denise Hayward, show manager, Reed Exhibitions; Dave Lawson, vice-president and general manager, Advanced Motion & Controls Ltd.; and Rhonda Lavigne, support and services manager, Advanced Motion & Controls Ltd.

Advanced Motion & Controls Ltd wins best booth at CMTS show
Advanced Motion & Controls Ltd took home the Best Booth Award for the National Factory Automation Pavilion at the Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show. The Barrie, Ont.-based company had five booth displays with industrial solutions for motion control.
www.advancedmotion.com

People watching

Trevor Jones

Robotics association names first Canadian president
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Trevor Jones, director of OEM business development of Burlington, Ont.-based Thermo Electron Corporation's laboratory automation and integration business, is the new president of the Robotic Industries Association (RIA). Jones, the association's 17th president, is the first Canadian to assume the role. He succeeds Ake Lindqvist, group vice-president, Robotic Products and Automation N.A. of ABB, Inc., who served as RIA president for the 2004 and 2005 terms. Lindqvist will remain on the RIA board as past president.
Jones has been on the RIA board of directors since 1999, and was most recently first vice-president and three-term chairman of the new markets committee. In 1983, he co-founded CRS Robotics, which was acquired by Thermo Electron Corp. in 2002.
www.roboticsonline.com

ISA hires new executive director
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. - Patrick Gouhin joins the Instrumentation Systems and Automation Association (ISA) as executive director, effective January 3, 2006.
Gouhin is currently chief operating officer of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). He has a bachelor of science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Ohio State University, and a master's in engineering management from George Washington University.
www.isa.org

Wonderware exec joins MESA board
LAKE FOREST, Calif. - Claus Abildgren has been appointed to the board of directors of Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association (MESA) International. Abildgren is program manager for production and performance management software solutions at Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys Systems Inc.
MESA is a non-profit organization promoting the exchange of best practices, strategies and innovations to achieve plant-floor execution excellence.
www.mesa.org

Web sitings

Web community for test tool users
Fluke Electronics Canada, a provider of electronic test tools, has launched a website where users of test and measurement tools can exchange information, access resources on products and safety issues, and get support on a wide range of tools and applications.
Sponsored by Fluke, Test Tool Talk, the Test Tool Users Online Community, is designed as a peer-to-peer, information source for test tool users. It includes tips, best practices and information on new technologies and products.
www.flukecanada.ca/community

Resource for OEE tools and training
Vorne Industries, Inc. has launched www.oee.com, a lean manufacturing resource designed for the study and understanding of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). The website was developed for those seeking to understand OEE and how it can improve plant productivity, effectiveness and the bottom line.
The site is organized around OEE concepts, including fast track OEE (an introduction), OEE factors, the six big losses, world-class OEE and calculating OEE. Additional resources include a glossary of definitions for OEE-related terms and an FAQ area.
www.oee.com

Product focus: Pneumatics/Hydraulics

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For more details or information on our most recent technologies and Direct! service, please click here.
www.keyence.com

Mark your calendars

Your peek at what's ahead in 2006:

daratechPLANT2006
January 23-25, 2006
Houston, Texas
The sessions and presenters will identify best practices in plant optimization, as well as explore the full extent of how they and others have benefited from implementing emerging technologies. This event includes three conference tracks: asset lifecycle management, instrumentation and real-time operations, and plant maintenance.
www.daratech.com/plant2006/register

ARC's 10th Annual Next Generation Manufacturing Forum
February 20-24, 2006
Orlando, Fla.
Join industry leaders as they share their vision and experiences for transforming today's plants and factories into highly optimized manufacturing facilities of the future.
Contact: 781-471-1122
www.arcweb.com/res/forumorl

The Fieldbus Foundation's Annual General Assembly
February 28 - March 1, 2006
Shanghai, China
This year's event will address the needs of the expanding foundation fieldbus market in China and Asia/Pacific, and will feature an end user-oriented agenda that includes case study presentations, technical training workshops and tabletop exhibitions.
www.fieldbus.org

National Manufacturing Week
March 20-23, 2006
Donald E Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Ill.
Manufacturers come together for in-depth education and exhibits covering enabling technologies, systems, products and solutions to grow and compete in the global economy.
www.manufacturingweek.com

NA06 - The Material Handling & Logistics Show and Conference
March 27-30, 2006
I-X Center, Cleveland, Ohio
See and compare the latest solutions essential to the productivity of manufacturing, warehousing and distribution operations.
Contact: Carol Miller, cmiller@mhia.org or 800-345-1815
www.mhia.org

Advanced Manufacturing Expo
March 29-30, 2006
International Centre, Mississauga, Ont.
The expo will help address manufacturing challenges through innovations on the show floor, and includes a comprehensive educational program.
www.reedexpo.ca/assembly/

Hannover Fair 2006
April 24-28, 2006
Hannover Exhibition Grounds; Hannover, Germany
The fair will showcase innovative end-to-end solutions for all sectors of industry, as well as more than 1,000 forums, lectures, panel discussions and displays.
Contact: info@hf-canada.com; 800-727-4183
www.hf-canada.com or www.hannovermesse.de

Health & Safety Canada 2006
May 1-2, 2006
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ont.
The show includes a line up of keynote speakers, leading-edge concurrent sessions and workshops, and professional development courses, as well as a 200,000-sq.ft. trade show, exhibiting health and safety products and services.
www.iapa.ca/conference_2006/index.asp

Montreal Manufacturing Technology Show
May 15-17, 2006
Place Bonaventure, Montreal, Que.
Experience two shows in one. The Montreal Fabricating & Machine Tool Show is the largest marketplace for machine tools, accessories and industrial supplies in Quebec, while the National Factory Automation Show allows visitors to compare hundreds of products and services for plant floor automation, integration and control systems.
www.reedexpo.ca/montreal/facts.asp

Automatica 2006
May 16-19, 2006
New Munich Trade Fair Centre, Munich, Germany
Automatica brings all areas of robotics and automation together under one roof. It is held every two years.
Contact: Stefanie Fischer-Kleiner, r-kleiner@messe-muenchen.de

The 2006 Canadian Apprenticeship Forum
June 4-6, 2006
The Delta Centre-Ville, Montreal, Que.
Delegates will hear about CAF-FCA research on the cost of apprenticeship - return on training investment, research on essential skills and apprenticeship, as well as updates on the Promoting Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship project. Delegates will also learn about the mobility of workers in apprenticeship, winning formulas and leading-edge initiatives.
www.caf-fca.org/conf2k6/index.asp

Southwestern Ontario Industrial Show (SOIS)
June 7-8, 2006
Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Kitchener, Ont.
SOIS is a forum for manufacturing and industrial professionals in Southwestern Ontario to find industrial solutions to their design, machinery, maintenance and supply chain challenges.
www.reedexpo.ca/southwestern/

Measure Up for Success
June 12-15, 2006
Kitchener, Ont.
North American companies will share their best practices with 600 manufacturing change-practitioners.
www.measureupforsuccess.com

Canadian Manufacturing Week (CMW)
September 26-28, 2006
International Centre, Mississauga, Ont.
Held every two years in Toronto, CMW offers manufacturing decision-makers the full spectrum of technology, products, ideas and innovations for all aspects of their operations.
www.reedexpo.ca/cmw/

ISA Expo 2006
October 17-19, 2006
Reliant Center, Houston, Texas
Designed for automation and control professionals, the event provides state-of-the-art technology and solutions, as well as innovative real world expertise, under one roof. The show includes a technical conference, an education and training program, and advanced technologies showcased on the trade show floor.
www.isa.org

For more industry events, visit www.automationmag.com, where you can also subscribe to the magazine and read online exclusives.

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