News » World News DIN-rail industrial PCs lead the growth league
Sales of DIN-rail-mounting industrial PCs (IPCs) are growing faster than those of any other type of IPC, according to a new report from IMS Research, now part of IHS. It predicts that sales of these IPCs will expand at a CAGR of 12% between 2011 and 2016 – significantly faster than the IPC market average of 9%.
Online network aims to solve maintenance problems
SKF has launched a Web site where maintenance professionals from around the world can make contact with each other to obtain advice and potential solutions to problems. Called the SKF Maintenance Network, the site is offering incentives to people who suggest answers to problems by rewarding them with points which they can use to obtain prizes from the network’s Web store. The site will also show a “leaderboard” of top problem-solvers.
Vision systems now ‘an integral part of quality control’
In the second analysis of the machine vision market to be published this month, Frost & Sullivan reports that the market was worth $4.5bn in 2012 and predicts that it will reach $6.75bn in 2016. In the earlier study, MarketsandMarkets estimated that revenues would be worth $5bn by 2018.
White House calls in the automation industry for cyber-security talks
The US automation industry has held talks with the Obama administration to help draw up national security standards, guidelines and compliance testing to safeguard America’s critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks.
Machine vision market has sales worth $5bn in its sights
The global market for machine vision systems and components was worth more than $3.1bn in 2012, and is likely to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2013 to 2018, to hit $5bn by 2018. A new report from the analyst MarketsandMarkets says that industrial applications accounted for 75% of sales last year (worth some $2.4bn) and will expand with a CAGR of 7.2% from 2013 to 2018.
OPC Foundation joins forces with TIA on M2M standards
Following last year’s collaboration agreement between the OPC Foundation and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the two organisations have consolidated their development efforts in automation, and cloud and network communications standards, to bridge the gap between their two previously distinct sectors and to develop M2M (machine-to-machine) standards.
Regal buys Schneider’s RAM motors business
The US motor manufacturer Regal Beloit has bought Schneider Electric’s RAM motor business, which produces hermetic motors with ratings from 250–2,500hp (186kW–1.86MW) for commercial HVAC applications. The purchase price has not been disclosed.
Europe’s MV drives sales decline as the rest of world recovers
The global growth in sales of medium-voltage (MV) drives slipped from 20% in 2011 to just 8.8% during 2012.
Prices of compact AC drives drop by 4% in Europe
Average selling prices for small low-voltage AC drives dropped by nearly 4% in Europe and Japan during 2012, according to a new survey from IMS Research.
HMS acquires German comms specialist to create `world leader`
The Swedish industrial networking specialist HMS Industrial Networks has bought IXXAT Automation, a German supplier of communications technologies for automation, machine-building and automotive applications.
Controls operators are duped by bogus emails
In an experiment conducted by US cyber-security researchers, 26% of control systems users were fooled by bogus emails sent to them, and clicked on links in these emails.
