Volume 11 Issue 7, August 2009
We hope you find this issue of our e-mail update of what's new at AutomationDirect informative and, at times, a little amusing.
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Editor's note:

A time of transition...still

As summer begins to wane, we find ourselves in a time of transition. Summer vacations are winding down. For many, the new school year is about to begin. Soon, the big yellow buses will be hitting neighborhood streets in full force. Some children will be starting their first year in school, while others will begin their final school year. It's just one more bit of evidence to help prove that saying, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

Here at AutomationDirect, things are always the same because they are always changing. We continue to increase our product offering by adding new products and improving the way we help meet your industrial control needs. Be sure to check our Web site for what's new.

In this month's newsletter, you'll learn of the newest products we have available, read the latest company news, and then take a break with the Lighter Side.
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Company News

AutomationTalk Webinar Schedule

The schedule of topics for our live webinars continues to grow. Every other week, we provide free live webinars, so be sure to check out the latest schedule at AutomationTalk.com. During the webinar, viewers can submit questions for the presenters to answer. Plus, all attendees areentered in a drawing for a special gift. Sign up for the topic of your choice.Once registered, you will receive an email with schedule and login information.

We have many new topics in our live seminar schedule, such as "CLICK PLC ANALOG", an introduction to the features included in the new CLICK PLC CPUs, and "WHAT'S NEW", a recap of our recent new product offerings. But did you know that we also record and archive all live seminars for on-demand viewing? Visit www.automationtalk.com and view a seminar at your convenience.

We also record additional presentations that may not have been broadcast live. The first such seminar is "C-more to A-B Connectivity". This talk demonstrates the connection capabilities from our C-more touch panels to various Allen-Bradley PLCs, including Ethernet/IP. We also discuss C-more's ability to import the tag database from the RSLogix 5000 L5K file, a huge timesaver for system programmers.

See the complete list of prerecorded seminars at www.automationtalk.com.

If you have a topic you would like discussed, send it to us. The AutomationTalk staff will look at each suggestion and try to add them to the lineup.

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More Videos added to Learn.AutomationDirect.com

We have just added several new videos to our Learn.AutomationDirect.com site. The latest series of short videos help viewers understand the ins and outs of the CLICK PLC and its programming software.

Titles in this series include:

• What is a PLC?
  Basics of PLCs,
  featuring CLICK series
  [view now]

• CLICK PLCs - An Introduction
  Brief Product Overview
  [view now]

• CLICK PLCs - A Closer Look
  Detailed Product Overview
  [view now]

• CLICK PLCs - Getting Started 
  Before you begin using your CLICK PLC
  [view now]

More videos will be added to the series soon.

Be sure to check http://learn.automationdirect.com for these and several other informative videos.

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Product News

ProSense™ now offers motor monitoring relays

AutomationDirect has extended the proSense line to include phase monitoring, alternating and pump seal failure relays.

The PMRU phase monitoring relays utilize microprocessor-based design to protect against phase loss, reversal, unbalance, undervoltage and overvoltage conditions. With a variety of user-adjustable settings, PMRU relays also feature a multi-color LED to indicate normal and fault conditions.

The PMRR series provides protection against phase reversal, while the PMRRL series, with an adjustable undervoltage setting knob, protects against phase loss, reversal and undervoltage. Prices for phase monitoring relays start at $39.

AR series alternating relays feature a three-position selector switch to alternate two loads as normal, or lock the relay to one load or the other. The ARX model is a DPDT cross-wired unit that alternates two loads as normal, or locks the relay to always operate the same load first each time. Alternating relay prices start at $21.

Also available are PSFR series pump seal failure relays, which monitor the shaft seals of submersible pumps. Featuring a user-adjustable sensitivity knob, the relays are available in two 8-pin models - SPDT single channel or dual channel relay with two SPNO contacts. PSFR relay prices start at $47.75.

Accompanying 8-pin 10A, 600V octal sockets are available for $3.50.

To see the complete proSense motor monitoring relay line, visit www.automationdirect.com.

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More IronHorse Motors

AutomationDirect has extended its IronHorse general purpose AC motor line to include 3-phase 1200 RPM six-pole and 3600 RPM two-pole models.

Six new 56C 3600 RPM rolled steel motors are now available, ranging from 0.33 to 2 HP; 13 new T-frame cast iron motors in 3600 and 1200 RPM models are available in sizes from 1 to 10 HP. These TEFC motors have 5:1 variable torque and 2:1 constant torque ratings and are ideal in applications such as fans, conveyors, pumps and more. IronHorse general purpose motors are available for same-day shipping and are backed by a two-year warranty. IronHorse motor prices start at $70.

Check out the full line of IronHorse general purpose motors, including the existing 1800 RPM motors (0.33 to 300 HP).

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Online Store News

Have you tried our latest import feature?

Orders can now be imported into the AutomationDirect web store through .CSV or .XML formatted files.

Available through our "Quick Order" feature, .CSV (Comma Separated Values) files are a quick way to import part numbers and quantities into your cart while XML (eXtensible Markup Language) file imports allow you to also specify some or all of the information necessary to complete an order (such as shipping address, contact information, shipping method, and payment information).

Click to learn more details about order import. (PDF)

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From Automation NOTEBOOK

PC-Based Control System replaces legacy system

PaperPak is a worldwide industry leading supplier of hygienic absorbent products used in the health care and food packaging industries. All of the products rely on some combination of highly absorbent tissue, non-woven material, and film, to create a final consumable product with the desired absorbency.

In their Washington, Georgia facility, the manufacturing process starts by creating a highly absorbent raw material produced on a Beloit tissue machine. This material is then wound into large rolls, and subsequently processed on converting machinery that shape and cut the product into its final form, prior to shipment to the customer.

The Beloit tissue machine at the Washington facility is over 30 years old. Although it functioned mechanically, the process control system was of an older generation and becoming unreliable. Spare parts were expensive, had long lead times, and caused significant down time. Even worse, although the system was programmable, to make changes required bringing in someone well versed in high-level computer languages. With market share growing, tighter control of processes was needed to provide the desired absorbency required by new products. It eventually became obvious that they needed to replace the old DCS control system.

Find out how PaperPak replaced the system with PC-Based Control here.

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The Lighter Side
(from one of those "www." places)

Are you among those who worry about growing older? Well, maybe you should look at aging from a different perspective. For example, when you grow older:

• Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
• No one expects you to run into a burning building.
• There's nothing left to learn the hard way.
• You stop trying to hold in your stomach, no matter who enters the room.
• You no longer view speed limits as challenges.
• You sing along with the elevator music.
• You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.
• Your joints are more accurate than the weatherman.
• Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size.

And best of all --
Your secrets are truly safe with your friends. After all, they can't remember them either.