Human Centred Design Drives Emerson’s New Technology Development (06 February 2010)
Five years ago Emerson Process Automation established a research institute to design its next generation automation and control systems. The emphasis was placed on driving simplifications that are badly needed if automation systems are to adapt to the demographics of future users. Peter Zornio, Emerson’s chief strategic officer, described the vision at his company’s office in Rijswijk, The Netherlands....FULL STORY

OPINION: UK Industry Leaders Should Support Manufacturing Diploma (03 February 2010)
Simon Moorhouse, managing director of Denford Ltd., says he backs a pioneering British qualification aimed at giving young people a hands-on education in manufacturing. He has joined other industry leaders to encourage colleagues to get involved with the Diploma for Manufacturing and Product Design (MPD), which was introduced for 14 to 19 year olds in schools and colleges around England in September 2009....FULL STORY

Keeping Data Centres Cool Becoming Big Problem (03 February 2010)
An area of increasing environmental concern is the rapidly growing need to power Internet applications and ‘cloud’ computing. The technology requires enormous data centres running thousands of servers. It has grown to such an extent, it is now estimated that it consumes 1.5 to 2.0% of all electrical energy in the U.S.A....FULL STORY

B&R automates its intralogistics centre (01 February 2010)
During the recent plant expansion at B&R’s headquarters in Eggelsberg, Austria, a fully automatic high bay warehouse was constructed using control, visualisation and drive technology from B&R. The high bay warehouse has a total area of 6,600 sq. m., a shelf height of over 19 m, a shelf length of 72 m and a capacity of 18,000 palettes....FULL STORY

Opinion: Using Machine Controls for ‘Energy Engineering’ (01 February 2010)
We are constantly being urged to fit inverter drives and save energy. But Jeff Whiting, energy spokesman for Mitsubishi Electric’s Energy Centre, says we should not overlook their sister technology – controls....FULL STORY

AC motors power heavy oil recovery process in 50 degree Omani desert heat (01 February 2010)
Steam injection technology is a process in which heavy viscous oil is thermally stimulated to improve recovery. The technology is being used in Oman, where the more readily accessible oil reserves are depleted, limiting future production to the heavy formations in the hot, arid regions of the country’s interior. With depletion of global oil resources now a common problem, injection technology is increasing in use throughout the world....FULL STORY

Dalsa's Boa smart camera brings colour to end-user machine vision applications (29 January 2010)
Dalsa, provider of machine vision technology, offers colour processing for its Boa vision system, Dalsa's highly integrated smart camera. Supported with a full suite of vision tools, the new colour version of the Boa sets a new cost/performance standard for colour enhanced smart camera solutions....FULL STORY