Routeco blog update

Thank you for reading the Routeco blog. Our blogs can now be found here.

Rockwell Automation's updated 'Essential Compontents' catalogue

Updated for 2016 and designed to help you easily select the right product for your application, the Essential Components catalogue expands on the new format introduced last year, highlighting Rockwell Automation’s wide breadth of components.

The new catalogue is now available to browse and download online

For more information about Rockwell Automation products please email info@routeco.com

Prizes up for grabs at Routeco LIVE!

Routeco LIVE kicks off next week and we’re really looking forward to welcoming those who

are attending. 

We’re pleased to announce there will be a number of prizes available to win at both events.

We will be offering a Parrot Bebop Drone with Skycontroller (in red) which is worth £399.99!

To be in for a chance to win you need to visit the Routeco stand and answer our short questionnaire. You will also need to be present at the end of the day when the winner is announced. 

Features of the drone include:

• Live video streaming on your Smartphone or Tablet
• Easy to pilot with the free dedicated App Freeflight 3
• Features 14 megapixels 180 fisheye camera stabilised on 3-axis
• GPS embedded for automatic return home and accurate flight control
• Record video in full HD 1080p with 8GB Flash storage and share instantly

eWON are also offering a eWON Cosy131 – visit their stand to enter and for terms and conditions. The eWON Cosy 131 is an Industrial VPN Router designed to offer easy remote access, across the Internet, to machines and installations at customers or in the field. Full details can be found here. 

Also….

Coming from a galaxy far, far away, BB Droid came over to meet everyone attending Routeco Live, and you can go see him at Stratus’ stand! If you fill in the raffle flyer and get a Stratus representative to sign it, you may be the lucky participant who gets to take BB Droid home. Flyers can be found at the registration desk or at Stratus’ stand. Good luck!

Not yet registered for Routeco LIVE?

Routeco LIVE is a free of charge event but pre-registration is a requirement for attendees. 

To register, email RoutecoLIVE@routeco.com stating your full name, contact details and company stating which event you wish to attend.

Event details:

AJ Bell Stadium, 1, Stadium Way, Eccles, Salford, M30 7EYTuesday 4th October 2016

MK Dons Stadium, Grafton Street, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK1 1ST Thursday 6th October 2016

The events will open at 8.30am with presentations running from 9.30am and closing at 4pm. Breakfast rolls, refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided. More details can be found here.

First EtherNet/IP Linking Device from HMS Networks enables communication between Rockwell Automation PLCs and serial devices

HMS Industrial Networks has released the first product in a new family of EtherNet/IP Linking Devices. The new Serial EtherNet/IP Linking Device allows users to connect any serial device to a Rockwell ControlLogix or CompactLogix PLC.

The main advantage of the new Linking Device is the unique integration to Rockwell’s Studio5000 Logix Designer. All configuration is made from inside Studio 5000.

The new serial EtherNet/IP Linking Device makes it possible to include any automation device with a serial RS-232/422/485 application interface in an EtherNet/IP-based network architecture. It supports all kinds of serial protocols including Modbus, DF1, produce/consume, ASCII and custom protocols.

Besides being a more cost-effective alternative to in-chassis communication modules, the distributed EtherNet/IP Linking Device also brings other advantages:

Improved system architecture

Contrary to an in-chassis module which is physically connected to the PLC, the Linking Device can be mounted close to the connected machine. This means that it is possible to establish a connection via a single Ethernet cable instead of multiple network specific cables. The Linking Devices support ODVA’s Device Level Ring (DLR) for ring topology.

Easier configuration

Users access serial protocol configuration through their existing Studio 5000 software. All configuration is made inside Studio 5000 where there is support for Process Variable Data Tags and manual and automatic generation of named and structured Studio 5000 Controller Tags without any required user logic.

High performance and stability

Since the Linking Devices are stand-alone (distributed), they do not affect PLC backplane performance (PLC execution time), even when large amount of data is transferred. The PLC simply scans the Linking Device as if it were any other I/O device on the network.

For more information please email info@routeco.com or phone 0370 607 1000.

Design Smart Machines With Smarter Tools

Industrial manufacturers and producers across industries are implementing smart manufacturing initiatives into their enterprises.

To succeed, they require smart machines that can easily integrate into a facility, provide access to information and be flexible to quickly react to changing market demands.

As a result,  manufacturing companies are challenging machine and equipment builders to deliver custom, smart and innovative machines that meet their specific needs, and can help them compete and supply globally.

However, building customised, modular machines requires more time and resources – both of which are being stretched thin for many OEMs.

Rockwell Automation have discussed some solutions which can be found on their blog here, including selecting the right equipment, develop smarter, commission more efficiently and maintain for best performance.

What are your thoughts?

For more information about Rockwell Automation products please email info@routeco.com or visit www.routeco.com. 

Arc Flash and how to prevent it

Do you want to know how to prevent arc flash? Rittal and Automation World have produced a white paper that looks at the dangers and causes of arc flash and what can be done to prevent it. Knowledge is power and workplace safety is a planned solution.

The white paper can be downloaded here.

The free white paper looks at the dangers and causes of arc flash and what can be done to prevent it in work environments.

·         Learn several dangerous arc flash misconceptions

·         Find out about NFPA 70E and IEEE 1584 standards for workplace electrical safety

·         Discover how Rittal’s TS 8 series of enclosures serves as a viable arc flash solution

For more information about Rittal products please email info@routeco.com or visit www.routeco.com.

eWON update eBuddy software to release v11.2

eWon have issued a new release for eBuddy, v11.2.

The “Update Firmware” (F3 shortcut key) allows you to upgrade, through the FTP protocol, the firmware of your eWON to a higher version.

Prior to version 11.2, eBuddy considers firmware versions that are available on your computer only. If you don't upgrade your eBuddy firmware repository first, you will not be able to upgrade your eWON to a new firmware.

Starting version 11.2, eBuddy also checks eWON’s website for any firmware versions that are more recent compared to what's currently on your computer. This is totally transparent when going through the Update Firmware process. Of course, this works only if you have an active Internet connection on  your computer.

eBuddy is now able to display an eWON that is currently connected to your computer through eCatcher. This makes it easy for you to perform updates, backups, directly from the list instead of going through the top menu and specifying the IP address as it was required in previous versions.

eBuddy is now equipped with an auto-update feature. This means that, in the future, when a new version is released, you will be automatically  notified inside eBuddy itself.
The checking of new versions and their download are run in the background.

The eBuddy interface has also been revamped including new flat modern style icons.

For more information about eWON products please email info@routeco.com or visit www.routeco.com.