Automation Chat

Automation Chat News Roundup, March 2025

In this episode’s news roundup, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck reports on issues affecting manufacturers and producers every day, including:

• The low percentage of risk management leaders who successfully balance data security & business goals.
• Projected source of most AI data breaches.
• Large percentage of manufacturing OT devices already vulnerable to ransomware.
• Projected market growth for cobots, mass flow controllers, and process automation & instrumentation.
• Updated ISO 10218 global standard for industrial robot safety.
• SME honors program for manufacturing students & young workers.
• And more.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Learn more about & apply for the SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) “30 for 30” program recognizing talented young manufacturing leaders.
• Download Claroty’s Team82 “State of CPS Security 2025: OT Exposures” report.
• Request the Process Automation and Instrumentation Market report from Future Market Insights.
• Download the 2025 edition of ISO 10218 from A3.
• Subscribe to The Journal’s 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

 

Please share this episode with someone else who would benefit from the information. And kindly give us a 5-star rating and a review. 

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

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Got a topic you want us to cover? Questions or comments? Email Executive Editor Theresa Houck at thouck@endeavorb2b.com.

** Named “Best Podcast” for 3 Consecutive Years! 2022 - 2024 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

Linear Rotary Motors Enable Combined Movements in 1 Housing: BONUS Solution Spotlight

** Named “Best Podcast” 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Award of Publication Excellence.

In this exclusive episode of our “Automation Chat” podcast from the show floor at Automation Fair 2024, The Journal’s Managing Editor Amanda Joshi chats with Max Davitt, Regional Sales Manager with LinMot USA, about the company’s linear motors, linear rotary motors and other linear systems. Learn how its linear rotary motors with CIP Sync provide flexibility and speed, combining two electromagnetic servo motors in just one slim housing, enabling combined linear and rotary movements.

Also learn about LinMot E-Guides, which are linear guides that can be mounted together to form a gantry or semi-gantry design and can be used with multiple stators on the same guide. And, learn about the company’s IP69K-rated motors for harsh environments.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Learn more about LinMot USA.
• Watch their discussion on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Wp1JmeejejY.
• Subscribe to The Journal’s 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

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Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Please share this episode with others who would benefit from the information.

How Kimberly-Clark Made Major Efficiency Gains After a DCS Upgrade

In this episode, The Journal’s Digital Editor Maggie MacHale brings the written word to life by reading the article, “How Kimberly-Clark’s DCS Upgrade Eased Scalability.” It’s written by David Greenfield, Editor in Chief of our sister publication Automation World and Contributing Editor to The Journal. 

You’ll learn how a unified control system helped this global consumer packaged goods company integrate production technologies while reducing workforce training for its tissue manufacturing operation.

Resources from this episode:

• Read the article online: “How Kimberly-Clark’s DCS Upgrade Eased Scalability.”
• Subscribe to our 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

 

** Named “Best Podcast” for 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

Please share this episode with someone else who would benefit from the information. And kindly leave us a 5-star rating and a review.

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Find us on YouTube.

Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Got a topic you want us to cover? Questions or comments? Email Executive Editor Theresa Houck at thouck@endeavorb2b.com.

Connected Workers Help Boost Manufacturing Efficiency: Solution Spotlight

** Named “Best Podcast” 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Award of Publication Excellence.

In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck chats with Anthony Murphy, Vice President of Product Management at Plex, by Rockwell Automation, about:

• How manufacturing is evolving.
• Plex Connected Worker solutions with step-by-step guidance while automating low-value tasks.
• How workers use it.
• How it helps with the skilled worker shortage.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Watch their discussion on YouTube at https://youtu.be/8Pm670QAO9E.
• Plex Connected Worker solutions.
• Learn about Plex, by Rockwell Automation.
• Free eBook, “Quality Management for Dummies,” by Anthony Murphy, VP of Product Management and Brian Martensen, Product Manager, Plex, by Rockwell Automation
• Subscribe to our 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

 

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Find us on YouTube.

Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Please hit the Share icon and share this episode with colleagues who would find this information helpful.

News Alert: Manufacturing & Automation, February 2025

In this February 2025 news alert, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck reports on issues affecting manufacturers and producers every day, including:

• Looming 25% tariffs on semiconductors, automotive and pharmaceuticals.
• Food manufacturing industry trends.
• The most in-demand manufacturing jobs of 2025.
• Projected market growth for PLCs and servo motors & drives.
• Scholarships for students going into manufacturing.
• And more.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Apply for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association manufacturing students SparkForce summer/fall 2025 scholarships.
• Learn about the Pepperl+Fuchs and Rockwell Automation ThinManager partnership.
• Download the 2024 Rockwell Automation Sustainability Report.
• Subscribe to The Journal’s 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

 

** Named “Best Podcast” for 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence.

Please share this episode with someone else who would benefit from the information. And kindly leave us a 5-star rating and a review.

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Find us on YouTube.

Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Got a topic you want us to cover? Questions or comments? Email Executive Editor Theresa Houck at thouck@endeavorb2b.com.

8 Key Industrial Automation Trends in 2025

** Named “Best Podcast” 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Award of Publication Excellence.

Digitization is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, and advanced technologies are helping manufacturers create a connected environment to increase efficiency and mitigate the skilled worker shortage. In this insightful episode, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck discusses 8 important industrial automation trends helping companies develop smart industrial plants.

You’ll learn about smart technologies such as artificial intelligence, edge & cloud computing, digital twins, robots & cobots, connected worker technology, wireless private 5G connectivity and more.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Read Theresa’s full, comprehensive article from the February 2025 issue of The Journal.
• Subscribe to The Journal’s 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

 

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Find us on YouTube.

Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Please share this episode with colleagues who would benefit from the information.

Ultra-Fast Automated Tank/Vessel Weight Indicators: Product Spotlight

** Named “Best Podcast” 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Award of Publication Excellence.

In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck chats with Griffin Hodnett, Product Manager of Automation at Mettler-Toledo, about the company’s IND360 MultiACM weight indicators for automated tank/vessel weighing.

You’ll learn how these weight indicators are designed for easy integration into automation systems to minimize complexity for OEMs, system integrators and end-users, and help customers set up tank systems quickly and get additional data from tank weighing scales. Individual weight values are available for up to 4 strain gauge load cells for better condition monitoring. The LoadAdvisor feature provides live guidance for commissioning tank systems, cutting costs, eliminating errors and improving measurement accuracy.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Watch Theresa & Griffin's discussion on YouTube at https://youtu.be/60G1AGb-6aw.
• Details about the IND360 MultiACM.
• Video of IND360 MultiACM — Enhanced Data Insights for Analog Load Cells.
• Video of IND360 MultiACM Configuration Using LoadAdvisor.
• Subscribe to our 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

 

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Find us on YouTube.

Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Please hit the Share icon and share this episode with colleagues who would find this information helpful.

Secure, Zero-Touch, Fault-Tolerant Edge Computing Platform: Product Spotlight

In this exclusive episode of our “Automation Chat” podcast from the Automation Fair 2024 show floor, The Journal’s Managing Editor Amanda Joshi talks with Mike Wurster, Director of Strategic Alliances and Dave Ulmer, Channel Support Engineer at Stratus Technologies. Learn about the company’s ztC Edge, a secure, zero-touch, DIN-rail mountable edge-computing platform with built-in virtualization and fault-tolerant workload protection. With industrial interoperability and OT manageability, it enables quick, easy delivery of both highly available and fault-tolerant virtualized edge applications.

Also learn how the company collaborates with Claroty, Fortinet and Rockwell Automation to include pre-validated cybersecurity protection.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Watch their discussion on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rAW7qSGVu_I.
• Learn more about Stratus Technologies.
• Subscribe to The Journal’s 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

 

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Find us on YouTube.

Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Please share this episode with others who would benefit from the information.

** Named “Best Podcast” 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Award of Publication Excellence.

What’s Coming Up in The Journal’s February 2025 Issue

** Named “Best Podcast” 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Award of Publication Excellence.

In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck tells you what topics we’re covering in the next edition of The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine — our February 2024 issue. Our print magazine mails February 25, and our digital issue launches February 27. Learn about upcoming stories on:

• Data-ready machines that help users increase efficiency & business value.
• How a chocolate maker improved packaging-line throughput.
• Risks of unpatched software in consumer packaged goods operations.
• Highlights from the 2024 Automation Fair event.
• Top industrial automation trends of 2025.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources:

• To subscribe to our 4 print magazines (Feb., May July and Oct.), e-mail Anna Hicks at ahicks@endeavorbusinessmedia.com.
• Subscribe to our 4 digital magazines by visiting http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Find us on YouTube.

Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Please hit the “Share? icon share this episode with colleagues who would benefit from the information.

ODVA-Compliant Universal Industrial Gateway for Multiprotocol Systems: BONUS Product Spotlight

In this special episode of our “Automation Chat” podcast from the Automation Fair 2024 expo floor, The Journal’s Managing Editor Amanda Joshi talks with Garrett Edwards, Director of Product Management and Marketing at Spectrum Controls. Learn about the company’s Universal Industrial Gateway with 12 protocols, a single-box solution for multidevice/multiprotocol systems that’s now ODVA compliant, meaning it's EtherNet/IP™ capable.

Also learn about developments on its 5069-OV16F-SC output module and 5069-IV16F-SC input modules for Allen-Bradley^® Compact 5000™ I/O systems from Rockwell Automation, and Spectrum’s 1769 OV and IQ I/O modules.

And as always, get your family-friendly, silly Joke of the Day.

Resources from this episode:

• Watch their discussion on YouTube at https://youtu.be/rEGyT9IfkxU.
• Learn more about Spectrum Controls.
• Subscribe to The Journal’s 4 digital magazines at http://rok.auto/thejournal-subscribe.

 

Automation Chat is brought to you by The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine.

Find us on YouTube.

Find us on LinkedIn.

Find us on Facebook.

Find us on X (Twitter).

Please share this episode with others who would benefit from the information.

** Named “Best Podcast” 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Award of Publication Excellence.