In 1986, Top Gun was in the cinemas and the first Nintendo consoles were landing in living rooms. Out on factory floors, control systems were still, mostly, serious grey boxes that did one job at a time. Enter PC-based control, a new philosophy and a new era in automation and machine-building. Mark Richards, reflects on the 40th anniversary of Beckhoff’s first PC-based controller. [Read More]

CHOOSING HYGIENE-COMPLIANT IT solutions for food and pharmaceutical operations is more important than ever, given the stringent compliance and regulatory requirements. Ensuring you have the right technology at the plant level is critical. [Read More]

NEW FR901 and S10 readers offer advanced, unrivalled RFID performance for enterprises in retail, logistics, healthcare and more. [Read More]

GCE HAS launched its new Industrial website, gce-industrial.com, a dedicated digital destination that makes it easier for customers to find industrial gas control, cutting and welding products, information and support. The website features user-centric navigation built around real search behaviour rather than assumptions about how products should be organised. [Read More]

What if your next site inspection were scheduled for tomorrow? Any system operators who feel nervous about this prospect should take a critical look at their internal processes. The good news is that, with the right approach, risks in industrial automation can be reliably identified and eliminated in good time before the next inspection date, explains Frank Bauder [Read More]

WESTCOTEC HAS developed the Automatic Speed Watch Camera (ASWC), an automated system that combines speed measurement and vehicle identification. [Read More]

By applying structured lubrication strategies, supported by expert assessment and automated delivery systems, manufacturers can reduce unplanned downtime, extend component life and lower long-term maintenance costs, explains Jay Goodgame [Read More]

Smart Manufacturing Week returns to the NEC Birmingham on 3-4 June 2026, uniting Smart Factory Expo, Drives and Controls, Maintec and Design + Engineering Expo in a two-day showcase of the technologies and ideas shaping modern manufacturing [Read More]