When it first considered an ethernet extension to the Profibus protocol in late 1999, Profibus International initially considered embedding the Fieldbus protocol inside an ethernet frame. It did not take long to realise that this was a dead end street

The real value from an integrated conveyor or sortation system is provided by the layers of control and the manner in which information is captured and integrated into a business system

The control and automation industry has long been considered immune to network attacks. However, corporate demand for centralised data and remote control has created the need for increased connectivity

If only it was that simple. The question is a bit like asking if I should exercise or eat well to stay healthy. In most cases the answer is both, and the same applies to ethernet and DeviceNet

Decentralised motor control architectures leverage the benefits of distributed intelligence and provide ultimate flexibility. Darren Klonowski, applications engineer at SEW-Eurodrive, explores the options

John Immelman from Endress+Hauser thinks that knowledge, far from being universally commoditised, can and should be outsourced to specialist companies

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is to ethernet as spices are to food. You rarely get the best experience from one without using the other

A recently released report says double-digit growth for magnetic flowmeters in China will be driven by investments in infrastructure. Revenues are expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.7 per cent over the next five years

Fifth generation brewer Tim Cooper's decision to 'future-proof' his family company's new brewery by installing cutting-edge Profibus technology has been thoroughly vindicated, writes John Immelman of Endress+Hauser

Choosing the right safeguarding method can be difficult with so many options available. How do you know whether a simple barrier will do the trick or whether you need a more complex system involving safety mats and light curtains?

Selecting the right motor for a positioning application requires review of the application's speed, inertia, acceleration and package size. Vector control technology combines an induction motor with a feedback device, such as an encoder

If you have spent longer than six months in any manufacturing environment, you are well aware that the skid equipment from 'Vendor A' rarely communicates easily with the existing, in-place control system from 'Vendor B'

In recent years, the control valve industry has seen an important debate about the validity of limiting the valve trim exit velocity head to a maximum of 480 kPa in gas and steam application

The measurement of suspended solids is assuming greater importance in industrial applications, driven both by environmental issues and operating cost optimisation

The oxygen concentration in activated sludge is a central parameter of biological wastewater treatment. Aerobic, anoxic or anaerobic zones are required for carbon breakdown, nitrification, denitrification and bio-logical phosphorus removal