Drives and Control Solutions

Motors, Control Solutions, Power Transmission and Advanced Motion Technology                                                                 

October, 22, 2019

By Mario Martin

Just picture it, Chicago in November...

The frost is in the air, you can see your breath as you step out onto Michigan Avenue and see the glowing holiday decorations. Yet, surrounded by the allure of the fall colors in Chicago, one thing remains top of mind for professionals in the automation industry - Automation Fair.

But with travel budgets to consider, why travel to Chicago, Illinois, U.S. to attend Automation Fair from November 20-21 this year? Here are a few reasons to brave the Midwest weather for the Windy City:

Automation Fair is an industrial and technology expo– although we do get so have some fun, like watching our friends from FIRST show off their STEM skills, as well as meeting our You Make It Challenge finalists. Still, our event is a serious professional development opportunity, with more than 130 forums, hands-on labs and technical sessions. You could easily spend the entire two days hearing industry professionals present cutting-edge use cases and taking copious notes in interactive sessions.

When you get back to the plant or office, you’ll have months’ worth of lunch-and-learns to train up your team. You can also earn Professional Development Hours (PDHs) for yourself. After Automation Fair, you can apply your new expertise and skillset to help your company achieve faster time-to-market, lower your total cost of ownership and improve your enterprise risk management. You know, all those good things that lead to raises and promotions.

It’s not just Rockwell Automation.Automation Fair is many things Rockwell Automation, but more than 100 of our system integrator, OEM, complementary product and strategic alliance partners are attending and exhibiting. They are staffing booths with their newest innovations and presenting projects that brought quantifiable results for their customers. You can learn what they do, how they do it, and see how it all connects with the latest control, power and information technologies in the industrial automation space.

The networking is epic.Last year more than 11,000 people attended Automation Fair in Philadelphia, and countless informal conversations took place between professionals just like you. Yes, you’ll learn a lot in tech sessions and labs, but the connections you can make with industry peers are equally valuable.

You can walk away from Automation Fair with your LinkedIn profile exploding with new connections. And you never know who you might end up sitting next to at lunch, it could be a system integrator ideal for your next project or a member of the press curious to know more about your business.

Speaking of lunch…did you know lunch is free? Overall, Automation Fair is a pretty cheap trip. There are plenty of hotels near McCormick Place, and Chicago is a hub for major airline carriers, so it’s likely you can score an affordable direct flight. So, book early!

Unlike some events that drag on for a week, Automation Fair is a lean, tight two days. You can easily be back in the office or plant by the end of the week.

Getting away from work can be tough...and even when you’re traveling, it often follows. That’s not a problem with Automation Fair. The programming is broad and flexible enough that if you need to take an hour two for business, you can configure your schedule to make it work.

Plan your days before setting your out of office message so you can make good use of your time – the sessions are organized by track or you can review the offerings by industry with our Ideal Day Planners tool.

Run through our Automation Fair web page and check out the resources to help you get to the premier technology exhibit and educational event for industrial automation.


Editor's Pick: Featured Article


DCS Put to the Ultimate Test Part 1 Torsion Tests by HELUKABEL 1 400x275

Cables and wires in industrial robots and other moving machine parts are often required to withstand extreme stresses caused by torsion. Constant repetitive movements put materials under considerable strain. At the same time, operators expect components to function perfectly and reliably throughout their entire service life to avoid disruptions, outages and safety hazards.

For this reason, at HELUKABEL, we simulate intensive and continuous torsion stresses under realistic conditions with our high-tech testing equipment in Windsbach. We have several types of apparatus for doing this because some of our customers, for example those in the automotive industry, have very precise specifications for how a torsion test is carried out. The tests show that our cables and wires withstand speeds up to 1,000°/s, accelerations up to 2,000°/s² and torsion angles up to 720°. Hence, we make sure that each product always meets our customers’ high standards, and that they receive the impeccable quality they rightly expect from us as a leading supplier of cables, wires and accessories for more than 40 years.

What Is Torsion?

 

To learn the answer, click here 

 


Sponsored Content


30 Minute Live Webinar 2:30 PM ET January 19th, 2023

DCS Siemens Sponsored Content 30 Minute Live Webinar January19 2023 300x250

 

 

With PC-based automation, you can implement applications and solutions that far exceed the functions of a classic controller. SIMATIC PC-based products offer you a flexible, innovative platform with long-term availability that give you a home field advantage when meeting the challenges of the digital factory for your machines and plants.

  

Register now

 


 


DCS Festo Didactic at the Forefront of Developing Canadas Future Workforce 1 400x275

With Canadian manufacturing suffering from a growing labour shortage, the participation of industry in skills development is emerging as a vital component in hiring and retention.

The needs are stark: The Canadian Exporters and Manufacturers Association says almost 40% of its members have jobs they can’t fill. Five years from now, 60% expect to be short-staffed, especially when it comes to skilled trades. Statistics Canada forecasts the country’s labour force growth rate will remain below 0.2% for the rest of the decade, below replacement levels.

This growing shortage is affecting companies of all sizes. Already, some manufacturers acknowledge losing out on contracts because they can’t find the manpower to fulfill them.

In reality, the challenge is two-fold: to replenish and expand the workforce to help close the gap between the number of job seekers and vacancies through 2030 when the last baby boomers reach age 65, and ensure workers get opportunities throughout their careers to upgrade or add to their skillset as current technologies evolve and new ones emerge. Festo, through Festo Didactic, one of the world leading provider of equipment and solutions for technical education, intends to help Canada meet this challenge on both fronts. In essence, the approach Festo has always taken is that the learning never stops.

 

Read more here


 

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DCS New Emerson Valves Deliver Proportional Flow Control Performance 1 400x275

Emerson recently introduced the ASCO™ Series 209 proportional flow control valves, which offer the highest standards of precision, pressure ratings, flow characteristics and energy efficiency available in a purpose-built, compact architecture. With this combination of size and performance, Series 209 valves allow users to precisely regulate the flow of fluid in a wide range of devices that require exacting performance, like those found in the medical equipment, food and beverage, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industries. 

Accuracy, response time and repeatability are critical in high-precision flow control applications, such as controlling tool speed in dental chairs, the flow of steam in coffee makers, water flow in cooling systems and hydrogen flow in fuel cells. Series 209 valves have low hysteresis (less than or equal to 5%), excellent repeatability (less than or equal to 1%) and high sensitivity (less than or equal to 0.2%) that contribute to their precision. 


To find out more, click here


 


Featured Product

DCS Teledyne Announces New Ladybug6 Cameras for High Accuracy 1 400x275 

Teledyne FLIR Integrated Imaging Solutions is pleased to announce the all new Ladybug6— the latest addition to its field proven Ladybug series. Ladybug6 is the leading high-resolution camera designed to capture 360-degree spherical images from moving platforms in all-weather conditions. Its industrial grade design and out-of-the-box factory calibration produces 72 Megapixel (MP) images with pixel values that are spatially accurate within +/- 2 mm at 10-meter distance.

“The new Teledyne Ladybug6 is designed for mobile mapping and all-weather inspection projects requiring excellent image quality and high resolution,” said Mike Lee, Senior Product Manager at Teledyne FLIR. “With the addition of Ladybug6, we are now pleased to offer a wider variety of spherical cameras with higher resolutions ranging from 30 MP to 72 MP.”

 

To learn more, click here


 

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