One of the main reasons for installing a control system is to accomplish “real time control.” However, what happens if the communications between the various nodes on your system are not operating in real time? And in an even worse situation what if you do not know that the communications have failed?

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Control's January issue is now online and ready for viewing.

Clearly showing that ABB isn't the only people who can automate all of the controls, both electric and process, in a plant, Siemens released this press release today:

NOVUS ENERGY SELECTS SIEMENS FOR BIOCHEMICAL PRODUCTION PLANTS

George Buckbee is best known as the mouthpiece for Expertune, but he also is the president of a little known effort called PIDTutor.

In that persona, George has written and published a fine little book, almost a "chapbook" really, called Mastering Split-Range Control.

This little book is a "back to basics" approach to split range control. It assumes you know little or nothing about how to use two control valves to control one process variable.

Control's November issue is now online and ready for viewing.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not dissing Rockwell Automation here. It's just that when we're in the middle of producing show dailies at events such as Automation Fair, we get pretty focused. So I'm taking a break here to see what's happening in the rest of the world. For AF updates, go here. For a bit of other news, stick with me.