Digital Transformation, Ai & IIoT.

Step into the future of manufacturing with AI Technology.

An e-handbook which offers a comprehensive look at how artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, and advanced automation are reshaping modern manufacturing. Designed for decision-makers who use or specify automation technologies, it delivers practical insights—whether you're an industry veteran or just beginning to explore AI-driven solutions.

Readers will discover how Ai is driving value through predictive maintenance and optimised production workflows, why cybersecurity is essential in a connected manufacturing landscape, and how software-defined automation is transforming traditional operations. It also explores how Ai-powered robotics can help address labor shortages and explains the crucial role of IIoT gateways in enabling seamless data exchange across industrial systems.

Industry veterans or those exploring Ai-driven solutions for the first time, will find this e-Handbook helpful.

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@automationworld @Skynet_protocol @OPSWAT @TadiranBat @Epicor #PAuto #Ai #IIot

First team supplier award for Red Lion!

Red Lion Controls has been named a “First Team Supplier” by the readers of Automation World magazine, a leading US magazine serving automation professionals. For the third consecutive year, Red Lion received awards in the Data Acquisition Hardware and Networking Components – Ethernet categories. This year, Red Lion also received an award in the HMI Hardware category.

The Automation World “Leadership in Automation 2013” program recognises companies that represent a wide variety of automation technologies, software and products used in the manufacturing industry. Automation professionals were invited to vote for their favorite providers in unaided-recall surveys.

“Chosen by their customers, the First Team Supplier honorees offer outstanding examples of innovation and service,” said Jim Chrzan, publisher of Automation World. “Congratulations to Red Lion and all First Team Suppliers, and a special thanks to all the end users who lent their voice to this program throughout the year.”

Over the course of 2013, Red Lion released a vast array of innovative automation and networking products. Highlights include:

·       NT24k modular switch series: managed Gigabit Ethernet industrial switches designed to handle the most challenging industrial environments with high reliability and wire-speed performance

·       Graphite HMI series: the industry’s first rugged HMI solution to combine flexible plug-in modules with protocol conversion, data logging and web-based monitoring

·       RAM 6021 routers: compact, all-in-one routers that offer industrial and manufacturing site operators a secure, flexible way to remotely connect, monitor and control assets

“We are honoured to be recognized by automation professionals for the third year in a row,” said Mike Granby, president of Red Lion Controls. “These awards underscore how the successful integration of Red Lion, Sixnet and N-Tron into a single, unified company further enables us to innovate and provide high-quality products that meet end user requirements.”

Automation accolades

Red Lion Controls, the global experts in communication, monitoring and control for industrial automation and networking, today announced that the company has been named a “First Team Supplier” by the readers of Automation World magazine, a leading business magazine serving automation professionals. For the second year in a row, Red Lion received accolades in the Data Acquisition Hardware and Networking Components - Ethernet categories for its automation and N-Tron series switches.

The Automation World “Leadership in Automation 2012” program recognizes companies that represent a wide variety of automation technologies, software and products in use by today’s manufacturing professionals across the discrete, batch and continuous process manufacturing industries. This year’s award recipients were selected based on a combination of online reader participation via AutomationWorld.com and a year-long email poll with unaided recall.

“Chosen by their customers, the First Team Honorees offer outstanding examples of innovation and service,” said Jim Chrzan, publisher of Automation World. “Congratulations to them, and thank you to all the end users who lent their voice to this program throughout the year.”

Since first opening its doors over 40 years ago, Red Lion has provided industrial automation and control products such as data acquisition devices, panel meters, PID controllers, signal conditioners, HMI operator panels, large LED and industrial TV displays. Through the acquisitions of N-Tron and Sixnet, the company has expanded its product portfolio to also include industrial Ethernet switches, RTUs and cellular devices.

“We are proud to have grown over the years, expanding both our company size and the range of products and solutions that we offer. But what is more fundamental is the high standard of quality that we have maintained,” said Mike Granby, president of Red Lion Controls. “Being recognized as a ‘First Team Supplier’ by an industry-leading publication like Automation World demonstrates how this is appreciated by our customers and partners, which makes these awards all the more gratifying.”

River of automation content!

One of the leading American automation publications is Automation World. Because we on the Read-out Signpost have limited resources we use publications like theirs to keep up to date and often link to articles which we think our visitors will find useful. They have just updated their website and the following comments from their Digital Managing Editor, Grant Gerke gives the thinking behind this redesign.

"Like most successful electronic products, usability and design are paramount in ensuring an engaging user experience. For us, a good user experience pointed to a two-column design that runs throughout the site, offering solid readability for articles and allowing readers to find videos, news, white papers and sponsored links in the second column (aka “right rail”) running alongside the article.

"Our next design choice was to create a "river" of content in the main column for the navigation landing pages, affording readers the ability to sift through newly added content in an easy, streaming fashion, aided by large headlines and images. Each article, video or white paper in the river has a taxonomy category that helps readers identify specific automation strategies.

 

"The new navigation does away with numerous categories from the older site and simplifies the world of automation with five, major navigation buckets: Control; Operations; Information Management; Safety; Security and Energy. Sub-categories from these five disciplines are shown on the landing pages and allow a deeper dive into a particular discipline. 

 

"Along with a new navigation, the site employs a new taxonomy. Taxonomy terms provide a more granular experience within the site and each piece of content provides an opportunity to click on an automation strategy term, for example, “asset management,” or, an Industry term, such as Oil and Gas. On each page, look for multiple terms in the FILED IN section, click, and land on a page devoted to that topic."

Take a look at the site and see what you think!

How has the new social networking order effected publications in the automation sector?

A fascinating podcast has been released by Telesian Technology, the American company which provides marketing, Web development, and e-business services especially in the field of automation.

This interview was with two of the leading editors in the sector, Walt Boyes of Control Magazine and Gary Mintchel of Automation World. Telesian's Juliann Grant wanted to find about how PR is changing with social media from their point of view. Social media has opened up many new outlets for marketing and PR folks, and editors are actively participating in social media too. What has changed, if anything?

If you download this blog you will learn that stupid is as stupid does in PR. Indeed, straight talker Walt is known for calling out PR pros on the PR Wall of Shame. Social media is changing the way we can share information. And there are many more outlets, that’s all good. But social media is not necessarily changing our relationships with editors and the press. Any good PR pro worth their salt knows that ALL relationships are important and care needs to be taken. Just because we have direct access to an editor or blogger’s Twitter ID doesn’t mean that’s the best way to pitch your idea. It could be, but every instance needs to be evaluated. PR professionals STILL need to take time to understand what an editor will be looking for and work from there. And many don't.

Anyway don't take my word for it, listen to the podcast yourself, it's entertaining as well as educational. And if you want publicity in Read-out or in any Automation periodical worth it's salt this is a good way to learn how!