Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) is a graphical based visualization of an industrial control system, which in the old days was accomplished through lighting panels or an array of LEDs. Several businesses have started migrating towards HMIs in order to facilitate the workforce and provide more accura

Modern concepts & technologies including Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0 & Smart Factory are upon us. Consumers & enterprises are moving towards devices that would enable them to use these technologies, and compete in a tighter market. But what exactly sits at the core of all the

Machines are built to ease up work load on manual labors, but at the end of the day they’re controlled by users. The platform that allows these machines to be controlled by users is known as HMI or Human Machine Interface. An HMI is simply an interface, and a very broad term that can be used for de

Our personal lives are so much influenced by the latest happenings in the world of technology, that we often can’t wait to get out hands on the latest phones, devices & software, waiting up in queues if necessary. But the same can’t be said for our work environment, why? Most companies are stil

When wiring motor starters, contactors and pilot devices, paying attention to the resources being delegated through intelligent planning can do wonders. People like to attribute time to money, but what they do forget is that every single factor plays a vital role in reducing costs, right from desi

The Process Control Industry is heavily dominated by proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers, however even these marvelous components have their own limitations. The behavior of PID loops is difficult to understand, something which gets worse whenever a fault arises, and troubleshooting

Preventive maintenance is the best approach when it comes to ensuring higher uptimes, greater productivity and maximizing motor efficiency. Unscheduled downtime in plant operations can lead to loss of business and lower client confidence, therefore having preventive schemes in place can allevi

Gordon Moore articulated his all-famous Moore’s Law surrounding computing performance over 50 years ago, and its no less than a wonder that the statement has stood the test of time. The semiconductor industry continues to enhance computing power into more confined spaces at shockingly lower prices,

Understanding the applications and practical limitations of industrial control panels is essential to guarantee proper usage as per the situation and requirements. According to the NEC (National Electrical Code) section 409.2, industrial control panels are defined as an assembly of two or more powe

The industrial sector is heavily reliant on PID controllers for all sorts of automation needs. A control loop is a fundamental feedback mechanism that is put in place to bridge the gap between the measured process variable and the desired set-point. Controllers are used to apply the appropriate cor

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have standardized and almost perfected a charade that involves the use of programmable automation controller, distributed input/output, a touchscreen operator interface and features such as data logging and charting to achieve automation. Today, companie

The number of controllers available in the market are almost as many as the number of applications in which they are used. Most controllers are application independent and can be used for more than one purpose. So which one would you choose? A PLC, a PAC, a DCS or a IPC? Names are of little im

A proactive approach is gaining popularity among companies who wish to keep their automation infrastructure up to date. Waiting for end-of-life to approach simply erodes the competitive edge of a company giving room for others to grow and takes away prospective business. Plant managers simply can’t

Contrary to popular belief, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are as prevalent as ever. Even the introduction of concepts such as Industrial IoT have done little to harm the legacy controller; in fact, it has forced OEMs to bring positive changes to PLCs and other PC-based controls, ensuring th

Control enclosure have slowly but surely taken over industrial plant floors, providing safe & secure housing for electronics, process control equipment, drives and PLCs. NEMA rated enclosures have become a norm in the automation world as the thermal management of the enclosed equipment became m

Humans have naturally looked upon and solved problems using a three-stage process: sense, think and act. For instance, whenever humans encounter something as simple as cloudy weather, they sense impending rainfall, think about taking shelter, and ultimately do so by taking abode under anything with

Fast-paced industrialization and urbanization has contributed greatly to the rise of low voltage industrial controls in several industrial sectors. Industrial controls make up one of the most vibrant sectors because it is present and/or overlaps several other industry verticals. Advancement in tech

When it comes to electrical safety, circuit breakers are one of the first things to come to mind. It’s essentially a fail-safe that protects a system from overloading hazards and other electrical faults. However, the cost to design and build one can get quite high, especially as a circuit breaker’

With every passing year, the world is getting increasingly energy-hungry. While the demand continues to rise, our society can no longer sustain unrestrained and inefficient use of non-renewable resources. The industrial community is following a trend of enhancing their equipment’s energy efficiency

Interoperability is an important yet tricky function in industrial plants. The term interoperable refers to a product’s ability to work alongside and communicate with products from other manufacturers. It’s a basic standardization of machines in the industry. But it isn’t an easy thing to guar