System safety in automation

As electrification, networking, and automation increase, so does the need for reliable power supply and monitoring. Automation specialists can prevent system failures by integrating a comprehensive supply concept.

Population growth and climate change challenge society and the economy globally. Consequently, the solution is the vision of an All Electric Society, where renewable electrical energy is the primary, affordable, and sufficient energy source worldwide, achieved through the electrification, networking, and automation of all sectors of the economy and infrastructure.

The ArcZero DC connector made from mass-balanced plastic contributes to climate-friendly production

DC grids in industry enhance energy efficiency, increase efficiency coefficients, and simplify installation. Moreover, producing connection technology like the ArcZero DC connector from mass-balanced plastic amplifies these benefits through resource-efficient production.

Further more, most electronic devices and production machines use direct current, which is prevalent in both private and commercial environments despite the global use of AC grids. Although DC technology has faded, especially with the decline of DC motors in factories, it is re-emerging through intelligent DC grids. These grids reduce energy losses, improve grid quality, and better integrate renewable energies.

Clever circuit design that requires minimal space in the control cabinet

If control cabinet space is limited but machine or system functionality has increased, planners and developers can use a multi-level terminal block like the PT four-level terminal block to address this issue.

Increased energy efficiency with reduced costs

Sustainable production using renewable energies starts with an industrial DC grid. Phoenix Contact’s Contactron ELR HDC is a multifunctional DC switching device that includes monitoring and protective functions in a compact design.

Efficient engineering with a hands-on approach

OPC UA remains a key communication technology, offering a wide range of functions for modeling simple to complex information models. While it provides many opportunities, it can overwhelm new users. Phoenix Contact addresses this with intuitive solutions and application examples.

In Industry 4.0, OPC UA is a key technology for mapping and accessing complex data. Driven by the OPC Foundation, it is based on three pillars:

Efficient and resource-saving production

Using anomaly detection in press shops allows early problem detection and proactive maintenance, minimizing downtimes and ensuring product quality, as demonstrated by Changan Automobile.

Automotive companies face global competitive pressure; therefore, they are driven to seek efficient production methods. Moreover, as innovation leaders, they face social and political expectations to build Net Zero factories. Car production, for instance, starts with pressing metal plates into molds to form body parts, a crucial and energy-intensive step. Consequently, this process impacts product quality and can cause significant production delays and cost increases if issues arise.

Implement applications more easily and cost-effectively

AI could revolutionize automation. How can Time-Sensitive Networks (TSN) make AI applications easier and more cost-effective? What network requirements does AI need for the future? What new applications and solutions can TSN enable, and what is the path forward?

Since detailed TSN information is widely available, this article will explore AI-focused applications benefiting from TSN, excluding motion control. These examples aim to inspire exploring options beyond current limits.

The rapid development of AI tools, accelerated hardware capabilities, and integrated Ethernet interfaces is opening new applications and segments. These generally require:

• Transporting large amounts of data from the field to the AI system.
• Providing forwarded data with highly accurate time stamps for comprehensive time series data analysis.
• Feeding AI processing results back into the field.

Conventional 100 Mbit industrial Ethernet can’t fully meet these requirements. Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) offers solutions. The following examples show how AI-focused applications can be implemented or improved by a convergent TSN network.

Greater flexibility and scalability for all system sizes

Virtualization is not new; it was first introduced in mainframe computers in the 1960s. Since 2000, its use has grown and is now widespread in many companies. Phoenix Contact has developed a virtual industrial controller. What advantages does this solution offer for factory automation?

Efficient and safe operation with open automation solutions

Fuel cell systems are crucial for the All Electric Society, requiring efficient, reliable, and safe operation. What benefits do industrial solutions in connection technology, networking, and automation offer?

Though fuel cells have existed for over a century, they have recently gained attention for power generation. They convert the chemical energy stored in hydrogen and oxygen into electrical power, heat, and water without local pollution or noise. Additionally, fuel cells are more efficient than internal combustion engines, as they aren’t limited by Carnot efficiency.

Efficient terminal strip construction and mounting

Control cabinet builders face challenges in cost-effectiveness due to rising costs and a shortage of skilled workers. This article covers the production and mounting process of a terminal strip, from digital construction to marking and mounting, highlighting efficiency solutions for each step.

Despite increased automation in control cabinet building, mounting tasks are mainly manual. Automation is mostly used for material and work preparation, such as preparing the mounting panel and housing, cutting cable ducts and DIN rails, and preassembling wires. Manual tasks include picking components, mounting, wiring, and testing, usually done on the installed mounting panel by a qualified specialist.