Author Archives: Rachel Boyd

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About Rachel Boyd

Digital Marketing Specialist

Looking forward to 2017!

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Written by Rachel Boyd, E-Marketing Specialist

Happy New Year!  Welcome to a brand new year of blogging.  As always, our marketing department has a busy year of exhibitions and seminars planned.  Why not join us at one of our events?  Meet our industry specialists and discover more about new products that will be launched this year.

Hannover MesseHannover Messe- 24-28th April
Phoenix Contact exhibit at Hannover Messe every year.  With one of the biggest stands at the show, we are able to showcase a huge range of our product portfolio- there’s something there for everyone.  Many of our new products are launched at Hannover Messe, so if you are able to visit the show you will most certainly be one of the first to see our new innovations for 2017. Keep an eye on our exhibitions page for more information closer to the time. Continue reading →

Merry Christmas! A look back at 2016…

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Written by Rachel Boyd, E-marketing Specialist

Wow, can it really be that we’ve almost reached the end of 2016 already? I hope that you have enjoyed the team’s blog posts this year, but if there are any that you have missed, I have put together a few highlights for you to look back on.  So grab a cup of tea and ease yourself into the festive season…

Beware of cyber attacks
Safe and Secure workshopsGareth is the newest member of our blogging team. He is our cyber security specialist, and blogs about the growing awareness of industrial network security. This blog from March really shows that industrial security should be at the top of your list.  If you want to know more, join us at one of our Safe & Secure workshops next year where Gareth demonstrates just how easy it can be for hackers to gain access to your networks.

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Configurable Safety

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Written by Andy Maskell, Product Manager- Safety, I/O & Networks

As machines become more complex, so does the safety required to protect personnel and keep machines running as they were intended.  The implementation of safety should not restrict the functionality of the machine, but should enhance it. Using fixed logic safety devices greatly reduces the opportunity to do just that.

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RPI- BC: What will you do with yours?

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Written by Duncan Nicol, Market Segment Manager- Device Connections

Raspberry Pi HousingThe other week I went to visit the Abraham Darby Academy Raspberry Pi Robot Club which is not far from our UK headquarters in Telford. The club has been set up by their ICT Fellow Kevin Brace to build projects using the Raspberry Pi single board computer, and Phoenix Contact is proud to sponsor the club by donating some RPI-BC enclosure kits and provide an insight into our world of engineering.

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When is a PLC not a PLC?…

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Written by Gareth Chamberlain, Network and Cyber Security Specialist

…when it’s a Phoenix Contact ILC.

ILC 100 classToday, the need for visibility into process data by senior management is not a desired feature, it is a requirement.

By having this functionality, any deviation from set objectives for business performance can be addressed in a timely manner. This way, performance can be kept at optimum levels at all times and continuous improvements can be made to the manufacturing process.

The key to becoming more efficient is to obtain real time data from the manufacturing process as it occurs and, as quickly as possible, enter this information into a relational database.

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2000 markers for the Rail Industry

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Written by Andy Neat, Product Manager- Marking & Installation

Since Phoenix Contact’s overhaul on the marking world a few years ago, the product range has grown and grown. In some part is a bit of a headache to manage at times, especially when I’m informed that next year over 100 pages will be added to our marking catalogue! I’m not complaining though, it’s good to work for a company with ambition and the foresight to never stop innovating new ideas for marking – plus it keeps me in a job!

Marking for railway industryThis year, the marking range was boosted dramatically with the introduction of RFID technology, (you may recall my ramblings from my last blog).  This took Phoenix Contact, in my opinion, to a new level. It set us a part from our competitors. Bold talk, I know, but Phoenix Contact didn’t stop at marking terminals and cables, the possibilities are almost endless. Plus we have the largest marking range in the world now.

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Push-in solutions for building installations

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Written by Scott Mulholland, Product Manager- Industrial Components

When the work environment needs to be smarter, so do the facilities that underpin them.

Installation terminalsState-of-the-art building installations place high demands on terminal block systems. All of the components must be able to be installed quickly to keep costs to a minimum, and the wiring must be transparent and reliable.

As a consequence, terminal blocks that are specifically used in installation systems have special features. For instance, the mounting dimensions for installation distribution systems must be maintained. The neutral conductor busbars used in installation systems must be routed next to terminal blocks so that touch protection is assured. Neutral conductor disconnect terminals must be used to measure the insulation resistance of the neutral conductors with respect to ground without having to disconnect any conductors. It is imperative that the terminal points are clearly labelled to obtain transparent wiring. The labelling also simplifies subsequent documentation. Ideally, existing installation distributors should be able to be expanded without any restrictions.

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Applications for a changing world

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Written by Fraser Cowie, Product Marketing Manager- Interface

Smart Phone appsAs I head inexorably towards my 1st half century on this planet I am beginning to reflect on life and how things have changed – particularly in the last 10 years.

Last night, as I sat at home watching my kids ignore me while they looked at their various mobile devices, I started to think about my own phone and how it has evolved.

Do I long for the days of the Nokia 6210 and its simple features, robustness and almost endless battery life? – the answer is yes and no.

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How to MUX with Phoenix Contact

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Written by Andy Maskell, Product Manager – Safety – I/O & Networks

MUX has many different meanings depending on who you are and where you are from. Look it up, it is quite amusing.

For the purposes of this blog, I will use MUX as being short for MULTIPLEX.

In its simplest form, a MULTIPLEXER transfers an input signal form one controller to an output signal on another and in both directions.

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How to communicate?

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Written by Nigel Dawbarn, Market Segment Manager- Industry Management and Automation

Let’s face it, everyone wants a straight-forward way to engineer a system which keeps costs down and can be achieved with minimum effort.

Industrial CommunicationsAfter discussing the range of products Phoenix Contact has to offer with many customers, one of the big factors which I believe makes us stand out is the variation of communication options we can offer for many different applications. With the need to acquire more data to be able to monitor your equipment or system, you need to choose the best way to establish that line of communication. Continue reading →