April 15, 2025 By Damien Herwegh Sophia, a dedicated electrical engineer in a large industrial complex, has been tasked with installing a drive system where the motor is located hundreds of meters away from the control room. Like many engineers before her, she considers the usual question: Should I place the drive in the electrical…
April 15, 2025 Ensuring Reliable Wireless Uptime for AGV and AMR Systems As the demand for automated material handling (AMH) systems continues to rise—driven by the expansion of e-commerce and smart factories—the importance of stable wireless networks in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) has never been more significant. With AMRs projected…
April 15 2025 What Are SCARA Robots? SCARA (Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm) robots feature a unique design with rigid vertical movement and compliant horizontal movement. This configuration resembles a human arm with shoulders and elbows that move horizontally while the wrist moves vertically. SCARA robots typically offer: Key Advantages in Manufacturing Speed and Throughput SCARA robots…
April 2, 2025 Discover the future of AI in inspection for specialized tasks to versatile solutions. The landscape of AI and vision technology in inspection and quality control is set to transform with the development of more generalized algorithms. These advanced systems will be capable of tackling a wide range of inspection challenges, moving away…
Apri 2, 2025 If you’ve walked the floor of a modern plant lately, you’ve likely noticed a shift—machines are smarter, lines are faster, and safety systems are more integrated than ever. At the heart of this evolution sits an unsung hero: the safety relay. Once seen as a check-the-box component for regulatory compliance, safety relays are…
April 2, 2025 By Krystie Johnston SmartD Technologies is a Canadian startup company that has created what they say is the world’s first clean power VFD. Industries around the world stand to benefit from their clean sine technology, which eliminates the negative effects of harmonics and pulse-width modulation found in traditional systems. Simon Leblond, CEO…
April 2, 2025 Sensors designed for industrial applications often face harsh conditions, including extreme temperatures, high humidity, exposure to chemicals, and the presence of combustible gases or dust. Two common classifications for sensors used in such environments are hazardous environment sensors and intrinsically safe sensors. While they share some overlap, they serve different purposes and…
April 2, 2025 Automation system PSS 4000 acts as the centralized safety component to ensure smooth mail logistics at Austrian Post. Conversion on the go In Austrian Post’s largest mail logistics centre, an approximately eight-kilometre-long, fully automated conveyor line was to be equipped with modern control technology. The goal and also the challenge: significantly increased…
March 28, 2025 By Elle Bremmer During a recent visit to ABB’s facility in Pointe-Claire, dubbed T-CAN after its location alongside the Trans-Canadian highway, Elle Bremmer, Managing Editor at Kerrwil Media Ltd. saw firsthand how automation is shaping the future of manufacturing. Specializing in plastic injection molding, the plant produces key products for ABB, such…
March 26, 2025 As industries continue to push the boundaries of high-performance computing and automation, the need for efficient cooling solutions has never been greater. Traditional air-cooling methods are struggling to keep up with increasing heat loads and energy demands, driving the shift toward more sustainable and effective solutions—one of the most promising being liquid…
March 24, 2025 DIN rail is a standardized mounting solution that has become the backbone of modern electrical control panels and equipment racks. Originally developed by the German Institute for Standardization (Deutsches Institut für Normung, or DIN), these metal rails have evolved into an essential component across various industries. As an authorized distributor of Phoenix Contact…
March 20, 2025 By Owen Hurst Vention has been on a mission to democratize automation since 2016. Etienne Lacroix, Founder and CEO of Vention, saw what he calls ‘orphaned machines or code,’ and distinct variances between machines, so he started Vention to address this discord. Lacroix says that to date, Vention’s ecosystem has more than…
March 18, 2025 Your route to safe, compliant machinery No Safety without Security! In the connected world of automation, Safety and Security are now a unit: one is no longer possible without the other. The networking of production and industrial plants and new normative requirements mean we are in the midst of a change process. …
March 18, 2025 As we enter 2025, Canadian industries are facing a rapidly shifting economic landscape shaped by fluctuating trade policies, rising costs, and ongoing supply chain disruptions. From industrial manufacturing to technology and energy, businesses are adjusting their strategies to remain competitive in the face of uncertainty. Despite economic pressures, Canada’s industrial sectors are…
March 17, 2025 Learn how to leverage solution providers to automate real-time data collection, detect issues early, and optimize maintenance activities. Introduction to Predictive Maintenance Predictive maintenance is changing the way industries manage their equipment. Unlike traditional maintenance methods, which rely on fixed schedules, predictive maintenance uses real-time monitoring to detect potential issues early. This…
March 15, 2025 By Owen Hurst The National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO) has taken a major step in standardizing electrical training across Canada with the launch of its VR Motor Control Training. This innovative program is the first to standardize motor control training for IBEW electrical apprentices nationwide. Building on the success of their Hoisting,…
This project is funded [in part] by the Government of Canada.
Ce projet est financé [en partie] par le gouvernement du Canada.
