Uncover Ethernet, wireless and traditional serial device networks' adoption trends
The worldwide market for factory automation networks at the device level will decline this year but is expected to strongly rebound in 2010, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study.
For the full story, click here.

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Dassault Systèmes to acquire IBM PLM Sales
IBM and Dassault Systèmes have signed an agreement under which Dassault intends to acquire IBM sales and client support operations encompassing Dassault's PLM software application portfolio.
To the full story, click here.

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NASA moon-excavation robot competition digs deep
Leave your opponents in the dust — literally. Student teams, including a Vancouver-based group, used robotics to design and build machines to excavate simulated lunar soil. Check out all the photos and video.
To the full story, click here.

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CAS DataLogger, Ibexis bring remote monitoring solutions to Canada
CAS DataLogger, a distributor of data-logging equipment, and Ibexis, manufacturers of low-power remote monitoring solutions, have announced a partnership for the distribution of Ibexis products throughout Canada and the U.S.
For the full story, click here.

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Features: Material handling

Sucking the cost — and complexity — out of conveying systems
By Bruce Boyers
This is a four-part article outlining the many ways to evaluate a pneumatic conveying system. In today's operating environment with its constant economic pressures and forced attention on the bottom line, it is mandatory for companies to seek alternatives and improvements.
For the full story, click here.

Backlit conveyor sheds light on visual gauging of automotive parts
By MA Staff
A custom integrator of turnkey automated inspection machines for quality control "saw the light," adopting a new LED-backlit conveyor to convert automotive part gauging from a step-by-step to continuous process, more than tripling throughput.
For the full story, click here.

New Products: Material handling

Vacuum tilter-rotator

Conveyor with nosebar tail

Compact modules

Interactive: Join MA on Twitter

Want to be notified of the latest Canadian automation, manufacturing and system design news and events as they're posted? Then join Manufacturing AUTOMATION on Twitter. Don't get left behind — get caught up!
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October 2009 Digital Edition Travelling the road ahead: Our fourth annual Canada Manufacturing Study reveals how companies have been affected by the economic downturn It takes two: Press brakes run in tandem without sacrificing precision or quality Turbo stress: Turbine inspection system combines vision and robotics to reduce defects Machine safety: Jeff Ashcroft talks about ways to new and old press equipment is CSA compliant A selection of the latest safety technology, HMIs and operator interfaces, hydraulics and pneumatics products, machine vision equipment, sensors, as well as the latest in test and measurement technology.

November/December Manufacturing AUTOMATION Line-up

• Cover story: Machine Safety Roundtable
  Six machine safety experts discuss everything from standards and implementation issues to the legal ramifications of non-compliance. The coverage will provide insight to machine builders, integrators and OEMs looking to stay safe while increasing automation and decreasing costs.

• Feature: Process control
  Statistical process control has been used for many years to monitor and improve manufacturing processes. David Manilla and Randy Martin from Ottawa's Sciemetric Instruments describe the role of process signatures in quality manufacturing and the characteristics of a successful process signature implementation.

• Feature: Communications & networking
  Ethernet has been the standard for business enterprise systems for many years, and the industry adoption of Ethernet/IP for control and information has acted as an enabler of network convergence between manufacturing and enterprise networks. Mike Hannah from Rockwell Automation examines how getting real-time information at the right time and at the right levels helps manufactures take advantage of this convergence.

• The Advanced Manufacturing section
  Lean manufacturing: Dr. Timothy Hill gives his latest advice on how to proceed with Lean manufacturing initiatives.

• Column: Machine safety
  Leuze Electronic's Mark Smokowicz talks about the muting function (the temporary suspension of the protective field of a vertically mounted AOPD for access guarding into a danger zone) currently in numerous safety-related automation applications.

Plus: News, appointment announcements, trends and our regular columnists, as well as a selection of the latest software offerings, communications & networking products, motors & drives, material handling products, nanotechnology devices, process control offerings, and robot technologies.

Calendar of Events:

Nov. 5: Understanding Vision - Holiday Inn, Cambridge, Ont.

Nov. 11: Siemens Answers for Industry - Courtyard Montreal Airport, Montreal.

Nov. 12 - 13: 2009 Warehousing Safety Conference - Mississauga, Ont.

Nov. 17: Bosch Rexroth Safe Motion Seminar - Burlington, Ont.

Nov. 17: Energy Management Summit (Saskatoon) - Delta Bessborough Hotel, Saskatoon.

Nov. 17: National Instruments Technical Symposium - Pearson Convention Centre, Toronto.

Nov. 19: Energy Management Summit (Winnipeg) - Holiday Inn, Winnipeg.

Nov. 19: National Instruments Technical Symposium - Marriott Courtyard & Residence Inn, Montreal.

Nov. 23 - 26: MainTrain Toronto - Novotel Toronto Centre, Toronto.

Check out the Calendar of Events on the Manufacturing AUTOMATION website for more upcoming industry seminars, conferences, shows and training sessions.

Got an event you want us to include on the website? Please send an e-mail to editor André Voshart: avoshart@clbmedia.ca.