Electricity + Control April 2019

round up CONTROL SYSTEMS + AUTOMATION + SYSTEMS ENGINEERING

RFID antennas with IO-Link which makes them suitable for a wide range of applications. They are suitable for use in identifying work piece carriers in conveyor tech- nology, as only a small amount of data needs to be transmitted. In machine tools, magazines and moulded parts can be detected via RFID and IO-Link. This reduces cycle times and supports an increase in production quantities. In automotive production, body com- ponents or engines can be compared to order numbers via RFID in order to control processing steps or check the final assembly.

ifm offers one of the largest ranges of IO-Link sensors on the market. The new RFID antennas now complete the range. The RFID antennas are designed for connection to IO-Link masters. These masters offer up to eight M12 sockets for connection of IO-Link RFID antennas. Depending on the version, the IO-Link masters have an EtherCAT, Profibus, Eth- ernet TCP/IP, EtherNet/IP or PROFINET interface for communication to the PLC. The robust design of the antennas with protection rating IP 67 and IP 69K means they can be used in harsh industrial envi- ronments. All RFID tags to HF standard ISO 15693 can be used. Enquiries: ifm electronic ZA. Tel. +27 (0)12 450 0400, or email: info.za@ifm.com

The new RFID antennas available from ifm electronic ZA provide for easy integra- tion into automation systems via IO-Link,

A large selection of RFID antennas with IO-Link is available for wide ranging applications.

Simulation software enables virtual system design

Ian McGregor, Emulate3D Global Sales and Marketing Direc- tor, says, “As a former Rockwell Automation Encompass partner, we established great working relationships with Rockwell Auto- mation and its customers. We look forward to building on those relationships under our new ownership. Rockwell Automation’s installed base and our engineering software provides a great op- portunity to better address customers’ needs in today’s rapidly changing, technologically advanced manufacturing environment.” Rockwell Automation will add Emulate3D’s technology to its digital design portfolio to deliver solutions to automotive, logis- tics, materials handling, and other industrial applications. Soft- ware will be sold as Emulate3D by Rockwell Automation, as part of Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk DesignSuite. Enquiries: Michelle Junius, Rockwell Automation. Tel: +27 (0) 11 654 9700 or email: mjunius@ra.rockwell.com

Rockwell Automation has acquired Emulate3D, an innovative engi- neering software developer whose products digitally simulate and emulate industrial automation systems. By using accurate simu- lation models to improve systems planning and decision-making, followed by emulation trials that test the control system before installation, Emulate3D’s software enables customers to test ma- chine and system designs virtually, before incurring manufacturing and automation costs and committing to a final design. “We are excited about the opportunities that Emulate3D’s software offers our customers,” says Fran Wlodarczyk, Rockwell Automation Senior Vice President for its architecture and software segment. “They will now have the ability to improve their time to market and operational productivity through digital machine prototyping and virtual commissioning. This also marks another investment by Rockwell Automation to bring the Connected En- terprise to life.”

Emulate3D’s software port- folio integrates automation software with a 3D CAD model, enabling cus- tomers to test machine and system designs virtually.

10 Electricity + Control

APRIL 2019