Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered

Why Choose a Repositionable Motor?

Repositionable motors are designed for precise and variable motion control applications and differ from fixed-position motors in that they can easily adapt to different tasks or product configurations without the need for extensive mechanical adjustments. Their ability to quickly adapt to new settings helps drive manufacturing efficiency, reduce downtime and support mass customization. We connected with Ben Van Arsdale, an application engineer with Regal Rexnord’s Power Efficiency Solutions business segment, to learn more about these motors and why they're so popular in the electronics, automotive and packaging machinery industries.

How to Determine the Right Power Supply for Your Application

Learn about the main factors behind the difference in cost between industrial power supplies, what the Power Boost feature is, the value of a power supply's environmental ratings and certifications, the life expectancy of industrial power supplies and the relevance of their IIoT capabilities.

What Should Manufacturers Know About Snowflake?

In this podcast, we talk with Tim Long, global head of manufacturing at Snowflake,  to understand what the company's data cloud services offer to the manufacturing industries, especially considering the wide use of cloud services from Amazon, Microsoft and Google, as well as those from automation technology suppliers. We also discuss the use of Snowflake by well-known manufacturers such as 3M, Sub-Zero, Toyota.

Where AI is Proving Its Value and What's Coming Next

Research from Fluke Reliability and insights from Rockwell Automation show how artificial intelligence is changing predictive maintenance spending and how access to device dark data is poised to expand AI use and manufacturing software capabilities.

Is Low-Code Software Practical for General Manufacturing Use?

In this discussion with Ray Kok, CEO of Mendix, he explains how the development of common-use templates make it easier for manufacturing operations managers and engineers to create the apps they need without having to depend entirely on IT.

Can Internet of Things Technology Improve Safety?

We connect with Devin Murray of Schmersal USA to learn how IoT technologies can be used with safety applications—from e-stops to safety controllers and sensors—and what manufacturers should look for in connected safety devices.

How Automation Can Increase Industrial Job Satisfaction

This episode looks at how automation technologies are improving industrial workers' satisfaction with their jobs and how employers can help their workers understand that automation should not be viewed as a threat.

What Are LiDAR Sensors?

In this episode, we connect with Aaron Rothmeyer from Sick USA to learn about LiDAR sensors, how they differ from other sensors commonly used in the manufacturing industries, how the 2D and 3D images they produce are used, why they're widely used on autonomous mobile robots and how they can be used in quality control operations.

What is a Smart Factory?

Automation World connects with Heather Cykoski, senior vice president of industrial and process automation at Schneider Electric, to learn more about what constitutes a smart factory, how the concept is advancing at manufacturing facilities across the globe, its connection to digital transformation initiatives and the biggest challenges manufacturers face when seeking to become a smart factory.

Why Are Industrial Automation Companies Embracing Nvidia Technologies?

In this episode, we’ll be looking at how Nvidia’s graphics and artificial intelligence technologies are impacting industrial automation on a large scale via collaborations with Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric and Aveva, Siemens, and Teradyne Robotics via its Universal Robots and MiR businesses.