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WE BELIEVE KNOWLEDGE IS MORE POWERFUL WHEN SHARED.

Ethernet-APL: The New King of the Hill?

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As industrial automation technology continues to evolve and improve, the issue of Ethernet-based instrumentation and controls remains of great interest to many. Currently, a number of vendors support an Ethernet-based connection for sensor or device data. For example,...

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UL 508A vs UL 698A

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Understanding the general differences between UL 508A and UL 698A is the first step in meeting the standards for engineering control panels. read more

UL Control Panel Standards

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Standards are everything when it comes to control systems engineering. Whether it’s high-performance practices for HMI development, iterative quality control for PLC programming, or peer-review design for industrial process control, enforcing standards is a critical aspect of any legitimate engineering endeavor, including control panel design. read more

The Relationship Between Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

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>As one of the most trusted safety certification organizations, Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) is heavily involved in the work of the National Fire Protection Association when it comes to NFPA 70: National Electric Code (NEC). In fact, UL has helped to update and maintain the NEC since its very first edition in 1897. In order to react to changes in user needs, as well as respond to ever-changing technology, the NEC is revised based on a public input process, committee review, and adoption into the code. read more

Concerned about the Florida Water System Hack?

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On February 8, 2021, there was a press conference stating that a municipal water system in Florida was the target of a malicious and unlawful cyber-intrusion into their water treatment plant control system.  Many of our clients are concerned about the safety and security of their systems. As a national Water/Wastewater Systems Integrator, we are not surprised that an event like this occurred. System operators are increasingly seeking the benefits of having remote access for support of their plant control system, mobile access to their SCADA (Supervisor Control and Data Acquisition) or HMI (Human Machine Interface) system, and the data gathering flexibility from IIoT (industrial internet of things) devices which can put an organization at risk if certain best practices are not followed. read more

Navigating NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC)

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At first glance, the National Electrical Code (NEC) is an intimidating-looking book. Coming in at over seven hundred pages, it’s difficult to know where to begin. Thus, a basic overview of the layout and numbering of the NEC can be tremendously helpful in getting started. read more

Trust is the Basis for Long Term Excellence

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“There’s no higher calling in terms of a career than public service, which is a chance to make a difference in people’s lives and improve the world.” -Jack Lew If you run a water or wastewater system, your business is public service.  Your career involves a special...

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SCADA Life Cycle – A Look Back and Ahead

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I have been providing design and integration services for water/wastewater SCADA systems for over 19 years now, and see a common thread in the life cycle of a SCADA system: SCADA servers need to be replaced about every 5 years and the industrial control hardware (PLCs, operator interface terminals and telemetry) should be replaced about every 15 years. Why replace them? read more