White Papers
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Design and Manufacturing
- The Virtual Company: Keys to a Successful Brand Labeling Partnership
If a company wants to expand into a new market or quickly respond to emerging trends but does not have the necessary resources, a “brand label” strategy can be a viable alternative.
Industrial Control Solutions
- Solid-State Drives in Embedded Systems
The benefits of using flash drives in embedded applications outweigh the disadvantages. In addition, there are several ways that a user can mitigate the problems associated with these drives. - Industrial PC's: Addressing the Top Five Challenges on the Factory Floor
With the gaining popularity of PC-based control systems, plant engineers are turning to industrial PCs (IPCs) for control, HMI and data collection applications.
Signal Conditioning and Sensors
- Designing with Thermocouples: Get the Most from Your Measurements
More than 60 percent of all industrial temperature measurement applications in the U.S. use thermocouples. Despite their widespread use, there are many misconceptions about thermocouples.
Machine safety technology
- Functional Safety in Wind Turbine Systems
Wind turbine systems qualify as machines under the European Union (EU) machinery directive. Therefore, they must meet the appropriate functional safety specifications. - Machine Safety Design: Safety Relays Versus a Single Safety Controller
There comes a point in machine safety design when the designer needs to decide if it makes more sense to use multiple safety relays or to upgrade to a safety controller. - Say ‘NO’ to safety reliability calculations
This paper will give readers a simple design strategy in regard to the new European Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC). It will introduce readers to a new safety motor starter pre-certified to meet the new safety standards.
Industrial networking
- Cable into the Future: Industrial Ethernet with 10 Gbps
Today’s machines and plants generally communicate using Ethernet with 100 megabits per second (Mbps). - "Post-Stuxnet Industrial Security": White paper details how to detect industrial malware on day zero (PDF 0,06 MB)
Preventing the next Stuxnet-like attack on the control world might be impossible, but operators can mitigate the effects and contain worms and viruses through early detection. - Protecting Water Industry Control and SCADA Systems from Cyber Attacks
Attacks on critical infrastructure, including water systems, occur regularly as well. The impact of these attacks can go well beyond the loss of sensitive data. - Time for action in industrial automation: Support for Windows 2000 set to expire
With support for Windows 2000 ending in July, industrial control engineers need to review the security of their operating systems. A “defense-in-depth” security solution can protect a control system, even if the operating system no longer provides... - The Role Standards Play in Selecting Industrial Ethernet Components
There are several things to consider when designing and installing structured cabling in an industrial production environment. Most importantly, stick to the basics and adhere to the ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-C design and installation standards. - Selecting cabling and connectors for industrial Ethernet applications
There are several important considerations to take into account when deciding on which type of cables and connectors to use for any specific application. This white paper will help you make the proper selections to meet the needs of your application. - Hacking the industrial network
Industrial control networks are highly vulnerable to intelligent remote attacks, as well as non-intelligent viruses. With threats to these networks increasing in complexity and scope, decision makers need to take action before it's too late.
Energy efficiency and sustainability
- Reducing energy costs with energy-monitoring devices
This paper illustrates how to cut electric utility bills by monitoring energy usage. Even small amounts of excessive current consumption can add up to unnecessarily large utility bills. - Deploying intelligent power supplies to save energy
The proliferation of 24 V DC control requirements is all around us. There is more demand for larger DC control, and power supplies are increasing in size. - Industrial PCs and DC UPSs: Save energy and increase efficiency
A low power consumption 24 V DC-powered industrial PC, when combined with DC UPS, can greatly reduce a control system’s energy consumption, while also increasing the system’s overall efficiency. - Sustainable design for industrial machines
During the earliest stages of machine design, the builder must consider the machine’s entire lifecycle. Low-voltage, DC-based controls can reduce the lifetime costs of a machine, while at the same time improve its efficiency, reliability and safety.
Power quality and surge protection
- Introduction to Lightning Protection of Wind Turbine Electrical Systems and Equipment
This paper provides the basics of how the IEC and IEEE methodologies quantify the threat. It also provides an overview of the four main technologies used in surge protection devices (SPDs) and the standards and tests applicable to them. - UL 1449: Key Changes from 2nd Edition to 3rd Edition (PDF 0,05 MB)
Surge protective devices (SPDs) for industrial applications need to meet very strict standards to prevent downtime and increase reliability. One of the key approvals for SPDs is UL 1449, “Standard for Safety for Surge Protective Devices.” - Surge Protection Technology Used in Power over Ethernet (PoE) Protection
Applications using Power over Ethernet (PoE) and PoE+ in open-air environments are subjected to large surge currents, and protection must be installed to prevent damage. - The Use of Surge Protection Devices in IEEE 802.3at (PoE+) Applications
The ratification of IEEE Standard 802.3at, also known as Power over Ethernet+ (PoE+), increases the power available to Ethernet ports. - Why surge protection is necessary (PDF 0,07 MB)
Surges are a natural result of any electrical activity. Today's sensitive electronics equipment is very vulnerable to damage from surges including lighting and other internal and external surges. - Maximize Your Uptime: Reducing Risk of Power Supply Failure (PDF 0,14 MB)
Single- and three-phase power systems efficiently transmit power. They also efficiently transmit damaging electrical noise and surges created by typical industrial processes.
Industrial wireless technology
- EtherNet/IP: When to Go Wireless
This paper explores the EtherNet/IP protocol from a technical standpoint and applies it to particular system considerations for a wireless network. - Wireless Technologiesfor Hydroelectric Facilities
Wireless systems are no longer the technology of the future; it is the technology of the here and now. More power generation and T&D companies are embracing this form of communications because of obvious advantages in cost, time and labor savings. - Selecting the Right Antenna
Antenna selection can be one of the most confusing parts of designing a wireless system. This paper explores antenna theory and recommends practical rules of thumb to use when recommending and installing antennas. - How to choose wireless technology for industrial applications
Wireless technologies are being adopted for simple monitoring, control to supervisory control and data acquisition. Wireless provides reliable data communications in interference-heavy environments. - Download our white paper “Getting the Most Out of Your WirelessHART® System”
WirelessHART makes the HART protocol more usable, flexible and cost-effective, but there are still some complications. Larger networks can be harder to manage, and bottlenecks in the network can create strain on battery powered devices. - Industrial wireless technology
The demand for industrial wireless technology is growing, but there are many options to consider when deciding what type of wireless technology is best for any given application. - What you don’t know about industrial GSM/GPRS modem communications
Cellular communications are becoming increasingly popular in industrial process applications where traditional wired and wireless communications are not possible. - Wi-Fi…Why Now? (PDF 0,29 MB)
This paper will focus on the industrial use of public standard IEEE 802.11 technology while providing a broad comparison of different spread spectrum wireless technologies currently deployed in industrial automation applications.
Connection technology
- Electronic Housings: Considerations, Standards and Practices for Industrial Applications
Circuit housings used in industrial and utility applications have requirements often not needed in the commercial or consumerelectronics industries. - Customized Electronics Housings - Intelligently Packaged Instead of Just ‘Hidden Away’ (PDF 0,11 MB)
With the increasing globalization of markets, producers of industrial equipment face the pressures of shorter product cycles and falling product prices. - Easy Wiring: Terminal Blocks with Push-In Technology Save Time, Reduce Fatigue
The newest generation of terminal blocks features push-in technology, which simplifies wiring and reduces installation time. There are several key features to look for when choosing a push-in terminal block. - Top 10 concerns for signal connections
As the complexity of PCB design increases, users need to look at a wide factors when choosing signal connections. By looking at each of these factors, the user can better choose the connection to meet the specific needs of the application. - UL 508 A Short Circuit Current Ratings
While it can be difficult to determine the proper short circuit current ratings (SCCR), this application guide breaks the process down into systematic steps. - Relay Output Cards vs. Digital Output Cards (PDF 0,03 MB)
In today’s control platforms, relay output cards continue to be a popular choice when looking for higher current capacities than what most PLC digital output cards can supply.
RoHS, WEEE, Lead-free, and EU Directives
- Material Declarations: Risky Business - Perspectives from your supply base (PDF 0,04 MB)
Component Material Declarations are a key building block for all OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and CMs (Contract Manufacturer) preparing a sound due diligence case for RoHS compliance.