New Products: Machine Safety, Machine Vision and Sensors

Low-profile safety light curtains	Safety padlocks	Multi-point measurement

> View all product categories online

Upcoming Online Spotlights:

December 21: Hydraulics and Pneumatics

January 4: Education and Training, and CAD/CAM, ERP and PLM Software

January 11: Machine Tools and Machine Safety

January 18: Energy Management and Hydraulics and Pneumatics

January 25: Material Handling/Packaging and Wire and Cable

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! To sign up or join us, click here.

November/December 2011 Digital Edition Making machines safe: Our third annual machine safety roundtable participants discuss the keys to safeguarding success Innovation through Automation: Instead of bending to pressure to move overseas, one manufacturer finds a way to boost productivity and improve safety, while still keeping jobs in Canada The gift of sight: A four-step approach to setting up a machine vision system for robot-based manufacturing

January/February 2012 Manufacturing AUTOMATION Lineup

Cover story: Automation Education and Training

• The 13th Annual Automation Education and Training Guide: A directory of automation-specific education and training courses offered at colleges and universities across Canada. Keep it as your reference guide year round.

• Share your skills: We have been hearing about the looming skilled trades shortage for years, but what are you doing about it? This article will highlight some of the options available to individuals and companies interested in helping to shape the next generation of skilled workers — from volunteering as a mentor to sponsoring a team of elementary or high school students — and provide information on how to get involved.

Feature: Top 5 in 2012

• What are the top technologies you should have on your plant floor in 2012? We've asked a handful of industry experts to name the top five automation technologies and trends they think will make a difference in 2012. Don't miss what our experts have to say.

Feature: Top tips for retooling equipment in manufacturing

• Most manufacturing equipment was purchased for the lifetime of one particular product. As this product is phased out, the equipment becomes obsolete. What if you could use this existing equipment to manufacture a new product? This could translate into huge savings and allow Canadian manufacturers to guard their investment and be more competitive. In this article, Konnexio's Konrad Konnerth will highlight how manufacturers can gain competitive advantage by reusing existing equipment — and how to do this with minimum disturbance to your existing production. He will also cover determining the feasibility of the machine upgrade/retool, and what to look for when purchasing new equipment to ensure that it can be upgraded easily.