EPN Industrial Automation Blog

Siemens and Samba

Strange times: traditionally Hardware-oriented companies are currently looking towards Software. For some, this may be a mistake, but in the area of industrial automation, a fitting software solution might just smoothly top off the portfolio.

Rubber for China, business for Europe

A rather good indicator for a booming electronics industry is the need for casings, housings, seals and many other things made of plastic and rubber. It is no surprise that China has a huge demand for these kinds of materials, but Central Europe is profiting from the situation.

Hannover Messe: Eaton and Phoenix Contact cooperate

On the first day of the Hannover Messe, two automation companies announced their cooperation in the field of motor starters. It’s supposed to establish a new communications standard for switchgears.

Cooperation for miniaturization

Even in factory and process automation, systems have to become smaller in order to meet the demands of today’s field infrastructure. A recently announced co-operation among two Swiss/German companies is supposed to provide an impulse for miniaturized field devices.

Japan: News from Distributors

European and international distributors offer online information about the delivery and supply situation regarding their Japanese linecards.

Happy new year, happy new job

With the beginning of 2011, the IEC has a new president – a man who was deeply entangled in the Siemens corruption affair and paid his former employer a half million Euros in compensation. Is this the

SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2010: Leaving on a high note

Just as the trade show SPS/IPC/DRIVES celebrates the post-crisis success of the automation industry, its chairman of the advisory board retires after 12 years.

The standard way to conformity

One of the most annoying tasks for electronic design engineers is securing standard conformity. The sizes of descriptions for IEC, DIN and EN usually range between the telephone directory for Greater Londonand the Encyclopedia Britannica. However, most of the more boring steps can be automatized.

CAD-access to components

Zuken has launched the "Component Manufacturer Alliance Program E³.series" that enables users of E³.series electrical CAD software to access commercial and technical component data for components. Members of the alliance include Siemens, U.I.Lapp, Wago Kontakttechnik and the appointed Harting Technology Group.

Below the ashes, sunshine and roses

“The mood at Hannover Messe is always a good indicator of industry sentiment, so we can now confidently speak of an upswing,” commented Deutsche Messe Managing Board Chairman Wolfram von Fritsch at the end of the trade show on Friday, April 23rd. Even though the first part of the show was “indeed severely impacted by the air travel bans caused by the volcano eruption, the last two days made up for part of this”, he admitted.